Agenda and minutes

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

There were no late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Jarosz and N Walshaw.

Councillor C Towler substituted for Councillor J Jarosz.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2014.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny inquiry aimed at tackling domestic violence and abuse.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development set out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the earlier Scrutiny review on tackling domestic violence and abuse.

The following were in attendance to respond to Members’ questions:

-  Councillor Mark Dobson, Executive Member, Cleaner, Stronger and Safer Communities

-  Bridget Emery, Chief Officer, Strategy and Commissioning

-  Louise Hackett, Programme Leader, Public Health

-  Michele Tynan, Chief Officer, Access and Care, Adult Social Care

-  Maxine Naismith, Head of Service, Adult Social Care.

In summary the main areas of discussion were:

·  Consideration of the position status of the Board’s recommendations in terms of their on-going relevance and the progress made in implementing the recommendations based on a standard set of criteria.

·  The role of the CPS.

·  The importance of an inclusive multi-sector partnership approach.

·  The ongoing work of the ‘breakthrough’ project in relation to domestic violence.

·  The need to have in place a variety of safe and appropriate environments in which domestic violence can be reported and discussed and the recognition that people will have different needs at different times.

·  Arrangement in place to ensure any lessons learnt from HMIC inspections and resulting recommendations are progressed and monitored.

·  Methodologies used to ensure initiatives are tracked, validated and reviewed to ensure successful delivery and that desired outcomes are met.

·  Members support for the Caring Dads initiative.

·  Clarification around the workings of the Claire’s Law Panel.

·  The recognition that improved reporting of domestic violence will affect occurrence statistics and the need to have a communication strategy in place to describe this.

·  The need to ensure all front line staff can recognise signs of domestic violence and feel empowered to report it.

RESOLVED –

(a) That the report be noted.

(b)  That recommendations 1, 10, 11, and 21 be classified as ‘achieved’ (category 2) and that the remaining recommendations be classified as ‘not fully implemented. Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring (category 4).

(c) That the Board reviews progress in six months.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting an update on the current situation regarding migration in Leeds.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) submitted a report providing an update on a range of issues relating to migration in Leeds.

The following were in attendance to respond to Members’ questions:

-  Councillor Gruen, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Personnel

-  James Rogers, Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities)

-   Liz Cook, Chief Officer, Housing Management

-  David Brown, Head of Migration Yorkshire

-  Anne McMaster, Executive Officer, Citizens and Communities.

In summary the main areas of discussion were:

·  The acknowledgement of the positive contribution, both economically and culturally made by migrants, now and in the history of Leeds.

·  Managing and understanding the perception of migration.

·  The need to equip elected members with appropriate and correct information in relation to migrants in order to address any questions raised by constituents.

·  The respective roles of Leeds City Council and the Home office in relation to some services, particularly asylum seekers.

·  The issue of trafficking.

·  The importance of MESH and other language learning provision.

·  Clarification regarding housing eligibility and associated statistics.

·  The need for further work in relation to understanding the migrant population in Leeds and their service needs.

RESOLVED –

(a) That the report be noted.

(b)  That the appropriate Scrutiny Board be asked in the municipal year 2015/16 to undertake further work in this area. The focus of which will be determined by the successor Board.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2014/15 municipal year.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the Board’s current work schedule.  The minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 17 December 2014 were also appended to this report for Members’ information.

RESOLVED – That the Board’s work schedule and the Executive Board minutes be noted.

Monday, 16 March 2015 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds

(Pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am)

Monday, 16 March 2015 at 10.00 am.  (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 am)

(The meeting concluded at 11.45 am)