Agenda and minutes

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).

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

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 have been identified on this agenda.

There were no resolutions to exlude the public.

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 2011and paragraphs 13-18 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 Councillor J McKenna and Councillor J Marjoram.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meetings held on 21^st February 2013 and 7^th March 2013.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 21^st February and 7^th March 2013 be approved as correct records.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member development presenting evidence as part of the Board’s inquiry into the role of leisure and culture in promoting public health.

 The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented evidence as part of the Board’s inquiry into the role of leisure and culture in promoting public health.

In attendance to address the Board and answer Members’ questions were:

Councillor Adam Ogilvie, Executive Member, Leisure and Skills;

Mark Allman – Head of Sport and Active Lifestyles;

Janette Munton – Head of Public Health Partnerships and Projects;

Mathew Sims – Arts and Venues Manager; and

Jan Burkhardt – Public Health

The Chair commented that the Board will revise the terms of reference for the inquiry following this session to provide greater focus on the Leeds Lets Get Active programme. The revised terms of reference will be circulated to Board members for comment and brought back to a future meeting for approval.

Members noted that there were three different Scrutiny Boards involved in this inquiry, and welcomed Councillor J Illingworth (Chair of Health & Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Board) to the meeting.

Councillor Chapman, Chair of Children and Families Scrutiny Board, commented that her Board had discussed a report on the changes in public health recently and she highlighted the partnership work which is on-going with nursery aged children to further educate them, through trained staff, about the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Members commented on the statistic that 45% of Leeds school children are not leading active lifestyles and that in order to encourage greater participation, a wider range of activities needed to be available to children.

The Board felt that it was more difficult for people to be active in inner city areas due to the limited amount of green space. However, it was also noted that the Council’s leisure facilities had been improved in some areas and Members noted the positive impact that this has had on participation.

Hard to reach communities were discussed by the Board, specifically the need to pro-actively encourage women of South Asian origin to use leisure facilities.

A link to poverty and participation was drawn by the Board, it being a barrier to participation in physical activity due to the cost implications of using sporting facilities.

Cycling was raised as a good way to get people active and the Tour De France Grand Depart in Leeds was considered to be a great way to encourage more people to take up cycling for leisure purposes and as a way of getting around the City.

RESOLVED –

   (a) That the issues raised by the first session of the inquiry be noted; and

   (b) That revised terms of reference for the remainder of the inquiry be  

   brought back to the Board for approval.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the strengths and areas for development in relation to the Sustainable Economy and Culture Partnership Board.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented the strengths and areas for development in relation to the Sustainable Economy and Culture Strategic Partnership Board.

In attendance to address Members and answer questions were:

Nigel Foster – Chair of Sustainable Economy and Culture Strategic Partnership Board;

Martin Farrington - Director of City Development;

Councillor R Lewis – Executive Member, Development and the Economy;

Councillor A Ogilvie – Executive Member Leisure and Skills; and

Peter Roberts - Principal, Leeds City College and Partnership Board Member.

The Board listened to a presentation which updated Members on progress being made in the City in relation to the Sustainable Economy and Culture Partnership Board.

Members discussed the recent Scrutiny Inquiry which had looked into young people who were considered to be NEET. It had been noted that there were more apprenticeships available than can be filled, owing to many young people not having the required Maths and English skills. It was acknowledged that ultimately it was employers’ decision who to take on.

Members considered the link between regeneration and the Housing and Regeneration Board as growth needs to be spread across communities, to help enable people in deprived areas to feel part of a vibrant city. The Board were informed of the large scale projects in the city centre which are reaching out to deprived areas of the city in terms of sourcing employees.

The importance of ensuring all children get the chance to succeed and to make the best of opportunities presented to them was discussed by the Board. Adults were also considered and it was agreed that developing skills and creating employment opportunities for all was important.

The Board viewed a good transport infrastructure as a way of stimulating growth and opportunities in the City and that as a city Leeds should be thinking ahead for the next transport project following the delivery of NGT.

Members discussed the challenge of achieving progress across all areas of the Partnership’s broad remit, and noted the ambition to identify more significant projects to progress the environmental sustainability ambitions for the city.

The Board agreed that all communities need to be involved in the economic regeneration of the city and that it was important that representation on the Sustainable Economy and Culture Partnership Board should reflect the diversity of Leeds.

RESOLVED – That the information from discussions today be used to inform the scrutiny report on strategic partnership boards.

To receive and consider a report from the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) providing a summary of performance information against the strategic priorities for the council and city relating to the Sustainable Economy and Culture Scrutiny Board.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Services and Performance) submitted a report which provided a summary of performance information against the strategic priorities for the Council and City relating to the Sustainable Economy and Culture Board.

In attendance to address the Board and answer questions were:

Councillor R Lewis – Executive Member, Development and the Economy;

Councillor A Ogilvie – Executive Member Leisure and Skills; and

Paul Maney – Head of Strategic Planning, Policy and Performance, City Development.

The Board noted that the city priorities had been covered in the previous agenda item. Members asked about the road accident figures and were informed that accident figures were at their lowest since records began.

RESOLVED – That the Quarter 3 performance information be noted.

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

 The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which outlined the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the municipal year.

RESOLVED - 

(a)  That the work schedule be noted; and

(b)  That the Executive Board minutes be noted.

Tuesday, 23^rd April 2013 at 10.00am (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.15am)

10am, Tuesday 23^rd April 2013 (A pre meeting for Members will take place at 09.30am).