Agenda and minutes

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

Items
No. Item

45.

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.

46.

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.

47.

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:

There were no formal late items added to the agenda. However the following supplementary information was circulated at the meeting:

 

  • Agenda Item 7. ‘Scrutiny of Flood Risk Management’ The draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 2012 was circulated for Members information (Minute 51 refers).

 

  • Agenda Item 10. ‘Draft Terms of Reference – Scrutiny Board Inquiry on the Role of Leisure and Culture in Promoting Public Health.’ The draft terms of reference were circulated (Minute 54 refers).

 

  • Agenda Item 11. ‘Work Programme’. Draft terms of reference were circulated for the inquiry on marketing and promotion of the City, in order that the inquiry could commence at the next Board meeting (Minute 55 refers).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

48.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

There were no declarations made.

 

The Board noted that Councillor J McKenna abstained from declaring an interest in light of him receiving training in this area in the near future.

 

49.

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 B Urry with Councillor M Harland in attendance as substitute.

 

50.

Minutes - 20th September 2012 pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 20th September 2012.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 20th September 2012 were approved as a correct record.

 

51.

Scrutiny of Flood Risk Management pdf icon PDF 69 KB

To receive and consider  a report of Flood Risk Manager providing background for the work of the Board in Scrutinising Flood Risk Management Authorities on their work on flooding issues.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Flood Risk Manager presented a report which provided background for the work of scrutinising Flood Risk Management Authorities on their work on flooding issues. The report also provided information to the Board to help it decide on the level of scrutiny required regarding such issues.

 

Members discussed the report in detail challenging the Flood Risk Manager on the following points:

 

The causes of flooding were discussed and the possible actions to reduce the risks of properties flooding. Suggestions were made that care needs to be taken in the planning process to ensure that buildings are not erected on flood plains.

 

In discussion with the Flood Risk Manager Members identified some issues which they wished to scrutinise in more depth, these being:

 

·  how well the relevant council services perform their respective roles;

·  the role of Yorkshire Water; and

·  the role of the Environment Agency.

 

It was noted that the Board would also be formally consulted on the draft Flood Risk Management Strategy as part of the council’s budget and policy framework.

 

Members suggested options for reducing flooding risks including the infrastructure which could be constructed to help with this.  In addition to this Members considered the existing infrastructure and emphasised the importance of ensuring this is maintained.

 

The Flood Risk Manager was also asked to provide information to Members on door replacements for properties at risk of flooding and the cost of these doors.

 

 

RESOLVED

 

(a)  that further scrutiny be undertaken in this area focusing on:

 

·  how well the relevant council services perform their respective roles;

·  the role of Yorkshire Water; and

·  the role of the Environment Agency .

 

that information requested by Members in relation to provision for door replacements at flood affected properties and the costs of these be provided.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

52.

Proposals For New Council Approach to Environmental Issues in Procurement pdf icon PDF 155 KB

To receive and consider a report of the Chief Officer (Public Private Partnerships and Procurement Units) which acknowledges Member interest in the environmental credentials and performance of suppliers and updates the Scrutiny Board on changes to the Council’s approach to such issues.

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Public Private Partnerships and Procurement Units) submitted a report which acknowledged Member interest in the environmental credentials and performance of Council suppliers. The report also updated the Board on proposed changes to the Council’s approach to such issues, which will be brought about as part of the transforming procurement programme.

 

Philippa Toner (Senior Executive Manager) and Peter Leighton-Jones (Project Officer) were in attendance to answer Members’ questions.

 

Members discussed the report in detail. They requested further information on the consideration given to the cumulative impact on local people’s health of the procurement of an incineration plant in East Leeds, given other facilities in the area .

 

Members considered that it was important that policies and processes used in the procurement process were made publicly available to ensure that bidding for Council contracts was open to all and that appropriate standards for each type of procurement be adopted. Following on from this Members thought it important that value for money was achieved by the Council within an overall objective of saving money.

 

The Board asked officers present to explain in more detail Appendix 1 (attached to the report) specifically in relation to the type of contracts that  might produce a ‘quick win’.

 

Members also discussed with officers what opportunities there were for influencing others outside the Council to adopt similar approaches to improve the environmental performance of the City.

 

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Scrutiny Board notes the report and offers its support and commitment to the proposals detailed.

 

53.

Recommendation Tracking - The engagement of young people in culture, sporting and recreational activities pdf icon PDF 92 KB

To receive and consider a report of the  Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer and the Director of Children’s Services. The report in forms the Board on the actions taken to deliver the recommendations of the 2011/12 Scrutiny Board.

Minutes:

The Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer and Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which reported on the actions taken to deliver the recommendations of the 2011/12 Board.

 

The Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer (Catherine Blanshard) and the Head of Service for Young People and Skills (Ken Morton) were in attendance.

 

Councillor Chapman reported on the work of the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) in relation to the Youth Service review.

 

Members voiced concerns that all children in Leeds had still not been issued a Breeze Card despite this being something that was requested by Members last year. Members considered that officers should devise a system to establish which children have not received a Breeze Card and then follow this up by issuing them with one.

 

Members considered it important that in terms of providing youth services in the City that there is no duplication of effort by differing services and that responsible departments co-ordinate their resources.

 

Members thought it important that various sports be offered to children in the City in order to encourage participation.

 

 

RESOLVED –  that the following actions be taken with regards to the Recommendations detailed within the report:

  • Recommendation 1 – that this recommendation be signed off;
  • Recommendation 2 – that a further report on the universal issue of Breeze Cards to young people be submitted prior to budget decisions being taken; and
  • Recommendation 6 – that the Board continues to monitor progress against this recommendation.

 

54.

Draft Terms of Reference - Scrutiny Board inquiry on the role of leisure and culture in promoting public health pdf icon PDF 53 KB

To receive and consider a report of the  Head of Scrutiny and Member Development requesting that the Board agree the terms of reference for the inquiry.

 

The Terms of Reference to Follow.

Minutes:

The Principal Scrutiny Advisor presented a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which asked Members to comment on and agree the terms of reference for the inquiry.

 

RESOLVED – That the Board agrees the terms of reference for the inquiry subject to any comments received between the close of the meeting and Friday 26th October 2012.

 

55.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 51 KB

To receive and consider a report of Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

Members discussed the scheduling of the further work that the Board agreed to take on in relation to Flood Risk Management (Minute 51 refers). It was agreed that the Chair and the Principal Scrutiny Adviser would bring back a proposal to the Board.

 

 

RESOLVED –

 

(a)  that the work schedule be noted; and

(b)  that the draft terms of reference for the inquiry on marketing and promotion of the City be approved, subject to any comments received between the close of the meeting and Friday 26th October 2012, in order that the inquiry can commence at the next Board meeting.

 

56.

Date and time of next meeting

Thursday 10am, 22nd November 2012, Civic Hall, Leeds.

 

(Pre-meeting for Board Members at 09:30am)

Minutes:

10am, Thursday 22nd November 2012 (a pre – meeting will commence at 09:30am for Board Members).