Agenda and minutes

Contact: Phil Garnett (0113) 395 1632  Email: philip.garnett@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25* of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

 

(* In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

 

Minutes:

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

2.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

 

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

 

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

 

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

  No exempt items on this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no resolutions to exclude the public.

3.

Late Items

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

 

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

 

Minutes:

Agenda item 11a – Work Schedule was admitted to the agenda.

4.

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Urry declared a personal interest in Agenda item 10, 2011/12 Q4 Performance report and Refresh of the Council Business Plan 2011-15, as a Member of Roundhay Environmental Action Project (REAP).

 

At  this point Members raised the issue of the new rules with regards to declaring interests after the 1st July 2012. Members were informed that training will be available for Members.

 

RESOLVED – That the dates for the Member training be circulated along with a briefing note on the new arrangements.

 

5.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Chapman, Cllr S Bentley was in attendance as substitute.

6.

Minutes - pdf icon PDF 66 KB

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meetings held on 19th April 2012 and 23rd April 2012.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on the 19th and 23rd of April 2012 were approved as a correct record.

7.

Changes to the Council's Constitution in relation to Scrutiny pdf icon PDF 67 KB

To consider the report of  the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing the Board with information on recent amendments to the Council’s Constitution, as agreed by Council on 21st May 2012, which directly relate to and/or impact on the work of Scrutiny Boards.

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented his report which provided the Board with information on recent amendments to the Council’s Constitution, as agreed by council on 21st May 2012, which directly relate to and/or impact on the work of Scrutiny Boards.

 

RESOLVED – That the amendments to the Council’s Constitution outlined in the report be noted.

 

8.

Co-opted Members pdf icon PDF 79 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development seeking the Scrutiny Board’s formal consideration for the appointment of co-opted members to the Board.

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented his report which sought the Board’s formal consideration of the appointment of co-opted Members to the Board.

 

RESOLVED – That only where required for specific Inquiries will co-opted members be appointed to the Board.

 

9.

Equality Improvement Priorities 2011- 2015 pdf icon PDF 70 KB

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) providing the Scrutiny Board  with the new Equality Improvement Priorities and the revised Equality and Diversity Policy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 The Senior Policy and Performance Officer presented a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance). The report brought the new Equality Improvement Priorities and the revised Equality and Diversity Policy.

 

Members discussed the item in detail. They questioned the officer present as to the amount of monitoring that took place in relation to compliance with the Council’s Policies on equality.

 

Members expressed the importance of the continued efforts of the Chief Executive to ensure that 100% of staff receive an appraisal with the hope that this would identify any issues that staff may be facing with regard to discrimination.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(a)  that the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)  that a report be submitted detailing the ethnicity of the work force within the City Development Directorate.

 

 

(Councillor Wadsworth entered the meeting at 10.20am during the discussion of this item)

 

10.

2011/12 Q4 Performance Report and Refresh of the Council Business Plan 2011-15 pdf icon PDF 81 KB

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) presenting the Scrutiny Board with a summary of the quarter four (year end) performance data for 2011-12 which provides an update on progress in delivering the relevant priorities in the Council Business Plan 2011-15 and City Priority Plan 2011-15. This report also brings proposed changes to the Council Business Plan for the Scrutiny Board to consider prior to sign of by Executive Board in July.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 The Director of City Development (Martin Farrington) presented a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance). The report presented to Scrutiny a summary of the quarter 4 (year end) performance data for 2011/12 which provided an update on progress in delivering the relevant priorities in the Council Business Plan 2011-15 and City Priority Plan 2011-15.

 

The Head of Strategic Planning, Policy and Performance (Paul Maney) was also in attendance to help answer Members questions.

 

Members discussed the report in detail.  Officers were questioned about the procedures surrounding Section 106 agreements and how best to ensure money from these agreements can be used to benefit communities in Leeds. Members also asked about planning application numbers and discussed the difficulties in getting developers to build on brown field sites.

 

Members also considered the importance of ensuring Leeds has a low carbon economy Members agreed that better infrastructure and public transport could help achieve this. A discussion was held on the appropriateness of the indicator used in relation to marketing and promotion of the City and whether conversion rates should be used rather than Inquiries.

 

Discussion was also held on the rationale behind making targets for the number of Inquiries. That manufacturing should also be included in the BUS 2 indicator (apprenticeships) and the objective of the Quality Bus Contracts.

 

Also that written answers be provided:

 

  • In relation to the number of apprenticeships; and
  • In relation to library usage and the inaccuracy of previous figures.

 

 

 

RESOLVED –

 

(a)  that the Board note the Q4 performance information and the issues that were highlighted within the City Priority Plan Performance report;

(b)  that a report be received with regards to developments in Quality Bus Contracts; and

(c)  that the further information requested be provided.

 

(Councillor Bentley left the meeting during the discussion of this item at 11.30am)

 

11.

Sources of work for the Scrutiny Board pdf icon PDF 66 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which assists the Scrutiny Board in effectively managing its workload for the forthcoming municipal year, this report provides information and guidance on potential sources of work and areas of priority within the Board’s terms of reference.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented his report which provided information and guidance on potential sources of work and areas of priority within the Board’s terms of reference.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(a)  That the following areas of Scrutiny be considered for the forthcoming municipal year:

1.  Marketing and promotion of the City, including accessibility and value for money of the cultural events and activities provided by the City;

2.  The use of Bus Lanes by Hackney Carriage vehicles;

3.  The role of Leisure and Culture in the promotion of Public Health; and

4.  Bus Services in Leeds.

(b)  That the Chair be authorised in conjunction with officers. To draw up inquiry terms of reference fo subsequent approval by the Scrutiny Board.

 

12.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 51 KB

To receive a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development to consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented a report which considered the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(a)  That the report be noted; and

(b)  That working groups be established to draw up terms of reference for inquries.

 

13.

Date and time of next meeting

10am,  Thursday, 12th July 2012.

Minutes:

10am, Tuesday 12th July 2012.