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 notifications of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillor A Lowe.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2014.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2014 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development in relation to the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry into Leeds City Council’s Decision Making Process and Due Regard to Equality.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the Board’s draft Inquiry report following its Inquiry into the Council’s decision making process and due regard to equality.

Geoff Turnbull, Senior Policy and Performance Officer confirmed that the Board’s recommendations would be accepted.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To agree the Board’s Inquiry report.

(ii)  To request that the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development monitors progress on the implementation of the Board’s recommendations in line with Scrutiny’s recommendation tracking process.

To receive a report from the Chief Officer Customer Services updating the Scrutiny Board on progress of a draft policy for interpreting and translation services following previous Scrutiny Board inquiries.

The Chief Officer, Customer Services submitted a report providing an update on progress on the development of a draft policy for interpreting and translation services.

The following were in attendance and responded to Board members questions and comments:

-  Geoff Turnbull, Senior Policy and Performance Officer

-  Jayne Grant, Interpreting and Translation Team Co-ordinator 

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

·  The anticipated projected savings arising from the new policy

·  The use of ESOL Classes

·  Joint working with other public sector organisations, for example the NHS

·  The use of children for interpreting.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To recommend that the policy states that children would not be used for interpreting purposed except in emergency situations.

(ii)  To support and recommend approval of a formal policy.

(iii)  To support the decision making in that the Interpreting and Translation Team has the final decision on whether an interpreter is to be provided.

(iv)  To recommend that the Interpreting and Translation Team Co-ordinator    takes appropriate action if interpreting services are used by service areas directly “off contract”.

(v)  To recommend that the Interpreting and Translation Team Co-ordinator be responsible for implementing any new policy.

This was the last meeting of the municipal year and the Chair expressed her thanks to all Board members for their hard work and diligence.

(The meeting concluded at 10.35 am).