Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the municipal year.  The Chair also welcomed Councillors Judith Cummins, Josie Jarosz and Terry Wilford to their first meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Resources and Council Services).  In addition, Members thanked John Hardy for his contribution to this Board and asked that the Chair write to him on their behalf accordingly.

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.

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 7 April 2014.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 April 2014 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Board’s terms of reference.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting the Board’s terms of reference as agreed by Council on 9 June 2014.

RESOLVED – That the Scrutiny Board’s terms of reference be noted.

To receive a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on potential sources of work for the Scrutiny Board.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which provided information and guidance on potential sources of work to be developed within the Board’s Work Programme for 2014/15. 

Appended to the report was a copy of the Best Council Plan and details of work previously carried out by this Scrutiny Board.

Alan Gay, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Resources attended the meeting and outlined his portfolio and also gave a summary of the financial and organisational issues facing the Council.

The Chair invited all Board Members to have an input in relation to their own preferred areas of work for the Scrutiny Board.

It was agreed for the July meeting that updates would be received in the following areas:

·  Contact Centre performance data

·  HR People Score Card

·  Welfare Reform

·  Community Centre lettings

·  Grants to third parties

·  Enterprise Leeds

·  Translation Services

·  Financial Performance: Outturn Financial Year Ended 31 March 2014

A discussion was held regarding asset management and it was noted that this would be progressed by Scrutiny Board (Sustainable Economy and Culture), with the Chair representing this Scrutiny Board.

A discussion was also held with regards ‘Individual Electoral Registration and  its impact.  Further inquiries would be made with regards to this topic.

The Board also considered inviting an MEP for Yorkshire & Humber to a future meeting to discuss general funding issues.

RESOLVED –

(a)  To agree to receive the updates listed at the July meeting

(b)  To authorise the Chair, in conjunction with officers, to draw up a detailed work programme.

To consider the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the draft work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year. 

RESOLVED – That the Board’s work schedule be updated to reflect the work areas identified during today’s meeting.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the appointment of co-opted Members to Scrutiny Boards.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development sought the Board’s formal consideration for the appointment of Co-opted Members.

The Board was informed that they could appoint the following:

·  Up to five non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that does not go beyond the next Annual Meeting of Council; and/or

·  Up to two non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that relates to the duration of a particular and specific scrutiny inquiry.

RESOLVED – To appoint co-opted members on an ad-hoc basis for any inquiries where it was deemed appropriate.

Monday, 21 July 2014 at 10.00am (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30am)

Tuesday 22 July 2014 at 10.00am (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30am)

(The meeting concluded at 11.00am).