Agenda and minutes

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

Councillor Taylor declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7, Call-In - Review of Parking Fees, due to her position as Deputy Lead Member for Environmental Services. Minute No. 14 refers.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Hamilton, Harrand, Jarosz and Taylor.

Councillors Fox , Matthews, Pryke and Robinson were in attendance as substitutes.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development informed Members of the Call In arrangements in accordance with the Council’s Constitution and the options of action available to the Board.  It was reported that the following options were available to the Board:

• Release the decision for implementation
• Recommend that the decision be reconsidered
• Recommend that the decision be reconsidered and refer the matter to full Council if recommendation not accepted

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

In accordance with Scrutiny Board Procedure Rules, to review a Delegated Decision Notification regarding the Review of Parking Fees

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the background papers to a decision which had been Called In in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  The decision was a Delegated Decision Notice of the Parking Manager regarding the Review of Parking Fees.

The Chair welcomed the following to the meeting:

·  Councillor M Lobley – Signatory to the Call In

·  Councillor M Dobson – Executive Member for Environmental Services

·  Andrew Mason – Chief Officer, Environmental Services

·  Graham Wilson, Environmental Health Manager

·  Mark Jefford, Parking Manager

Councillor Lobley outlined the reasons for the Call In of the decision.  These included the following:

• Lack of detail in the report – that the aims of this particular review were unclear within the report and also lacked sufficient supporting evidence
• Concern that no consultations with Ward Members and/or other stakeholders had been carried out at that stage (as stated in the report)
• There was no mention of background information or surveys to show the impact on traffic flow given that prices had been set for traffic management reasons.
• That this review of parking fees was being taken prior to, and in isolation of, the wider Parking Strategy, which was due to be considered by Executive Board in September.
• Concern regarding the issue of a press release surrounding the revised parking charges prior to the end of the scrutiny call-in period.

A submission from Councillor A Carter was also submitted to the Board and read out at the meeting.  This reiterated the points raised by Councillor Lobley and also made reference to previous discussions at Executive Board that a detailed and fully consulted set of proposals would be submitted for Executive Board to consider and concern that Elected Members were not fully involved in the decision making process.

In response to the concerns raised, Officers present raised the following issues:

• That the Executive Board agreed in February 2011 that income budgets would rise by 3%. It was also acknowledged by the Executive Board that the Directorate would undertake a review of car parking prices and tariff bandings for both on street and off street parking across the city, which would be implemented through a delegated decision, with at least a 3% increase assumed.
• Leeds City Council was only responsible for 20% of parking across the City and a clear and competitive approach to pricing had been adopted with a view to generating an extra 3% income.
• Prices introduced aimed to encourage people to shop in the City Centre.
• Consultation had taken place with colleagues involved in Transport and Highways with consideration given to traffic flow and demand.
• In reference to concerns regarding the lack of consultation, it was reported that there was ongoing work in reference to looking at parking provision in the wider context of transport needs for the City and this would be reported to Executive Board in September.
• The Executive Member was fully informed of the proposals as they were developed on a site by site basis.

Councillor Dobson,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

In accordance with Scrutiny Board Procedure Rules, to consider the Board’s formal conclusions and recommendations(s) arising from the consideration of the called-in decision.

Following a vote by Members present, it was

RESOLVED – to release the decision for implementation

Monday, 18 July 2011 at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 a.m.)

Monday, 18 July 2011 at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting at 9.30 a.m. for all Board Members.

The meeting concluded at 12:25 p.m.