Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Sustainable Economy and Culture) for the 2013/14 municipal year. In particular he welcomed Councillors Castle, Coupar and Khan who had joined the Board this year and he also welcomed Councillor Yeadon in her role as Executive Member for Leisure and Skills.

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 formal late items of business to consider. However the Chair agreed to accept the following items as supplementary information:

-  Draft report of the Sustainable Economy and Culture Scrutiny Board on the Sustainable Economy and Culture Strategic Partnership Board (Agenda Item 7) (Minute 5 refers)

-  Draft terms of reference for an inquiry on the role of the Leeds Let’s Get Active Scheme in promoting public health (Agenda Item 10) (Minute 8 refers)

-  Briefing Note for Scrutiny Board (Sustainable Economy and Culture) Categorisation of Executive Decisions (Agenda Item 12) (Minute 10 refers).

These documents were not available at the time of the agenda despatch, but have been made available to the public on the Council’s website.

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 at the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

There were no apologies for absence or notification of substitutes.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2013

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2013 be confirmed as a correct record.

(Councillor Ingham joined the meeting at 10.10am during discussion of the above item.)

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

The Board considered a report setting out its terms of reference and the alignment with Executive Member roles and the Sustainable Economy and Culture Strategic Partnership Board. A report summarising the Scrutiny Board’s observations and recommendations following scrutiny of the Strategic Partnership Board in April 2013 was appended to the report.

In addition to the relationships outlined in the report, the Chair drew the Board’s attention to the link to Councillor Dobson’s cross-cutting champion role to deliver the city’s low carbon agenda, which is a key priority in the Sustainable Economy and Culture City Priority Plan.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the Scrutiny Board’s terms of reference; and

b)  To note the report of the Sustainable Economy and Culture Scrutiny Board on the Sustainable Economy and Culture Partnership Board.

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

The Board considered a report which provided guidance on the appointment of co-opted Members.

RESOLVED – That, in line with the options available outlined in the report, no standing co-opted members be appointed to the Board, but that the Board retains the option to appoint co-opted members to support specific scrutiny inquiries.

(Councillor Khan joined the meeting at 10.15am during discussion of the above item.)

To receive a report from the Deputy Chief Executive summarising the quarter 4 performance data relevant to the Scrutiny Board.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report which summarised performance against the strategic priorities for the city council and city relevant to the Scrutiny Board.

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

-  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Member, Leisure and Skills

-  Councillor Richard Lewis, Executive Member, Development and the Economy

-  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

-  Paul Maney, Head of Strategic Planning, Policy and Performance.

The Director presented an overview of the key performance issues and particularly highlighted support for over 3,000 people to enter work; 10.2% reduction in carbon emissions; funding for the city centre flood alleviation scheme; international recognition for the Arena; and the successful funding bid for the Leeds Let’s Get Active scheme.

Members noted the intention not to bring a quarter 1 report to the Board in September, while the performance system is being revised to match the new Best Council business plan. The next scheduled report is therefore the quarter 2 report in December. The Head of Strategic Planning, Policy and Performance offered to provide an interim update to the Board on the development of the new performance framework, to provide them with an opportunity to influence the new reporting format.

The following key points were raised in discussion:

·  local activity to support young people to improve their skills and access employment. It was suggested that the Board consider an inquiry looking at the impact in localities of our plans and policies to promote jobs and skills and tackle worklessness;

·  Praise for the Arena project;

·  The council’s ability to promote local employment opportunities through contracts, procurement and planning roles;

·  The added value of the third sector;

·  Monitoring of current carbon emissions in the area where the new incinerators are due to be built.

RESOLVED – That the Quarter 4 performance information and the issues which have been highlighted be noted, and that the Board considers undertaking further scrutiny work to support improvement over the coming year in relation to the impact in localities of our plans and policies to promote jobs and skills and tackle worklessness.

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

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

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

-  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Member, Leisure and Skills

-  Councillor Richard Lewis, Executive Member, Development and the Economy

-  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

-  Paul Maney, Head of Strategic Planning, Policy and Performance.

The Board noted apologies from Councillor Peter Gruen, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services and from Nigel Foster, Chair of the Sustainable Economy and Culture Partnership Board.

The Board discussed potential topics of work for the coming year with the Director and Executive Members. This included consideration of items brought forward from the previous year’s work programme. It was agreed that there was no longer a requirement to consider Section 106 financial obligations.

The Board acknowledged that the list of priority areas identified represented a challenging programme, and that additional topics may also come up during the course of the year.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the following areas of scrutiny be prioritised for the coming year:

-  Tour de France – community involvement in the event and legacy plans

-  Joint working group with the Children and Families Scrutiny Board as part of that Board’s ongoing scrutiny of youth services

-  The impact in localities of our plans and policies to promote jobs and skills and tackle worklessness

-  The manufacturing sector in Leeds

-  The engagement of cultural organisations in local communities

-  The role of the Leeds Let’s Get Active scheme in promoting public health

-  Closure of the West Park Centre

-  Draft Sports Strategy

b)  That the terms of reference for the inquiry into the role of the Leeds Let’s Get Active Scheme in promoting public health be agreed;

c)  That the Chair writes to the Chair of the Inner North West Area Committee with regard to the timing of the scrutiny inquiry on the closure of the West Park Centre.

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

The Board noted the draft work schedule and agreed that the Chair and the Principal Scrutiny Adviser be asked to incorporate the issues raised in the discussion under the previous agenda item.

RESOLVED – That the Chair and the Principal Scrutiny Adviser bring back a revised work programme to the Board’s next meeting for confirmation.

(Councillor Chapman left the meeting at 11.30am following discussion of the above item.)

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting a request for scrutiny.

The Board received a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development, advising Members of a request for scrutiny from Councillor John Procter in relation to the decision-making process for the proposed introduction of charges for Party in the Park.

The Board noted that this was the first occasion on which the constitutional mechanism for identifying decisions which appear to have been wrongly treated had been invoked. Members were informed that, if the Scrutiny Board determined that the decision should have been treated as a key decision, it had the right to require the Executive to submit a report to Council (within such reasonable time as the Scrutiny Board specifies) setting out particulars of the decision; the reasons for the decision; the individual or body making the decision; and if the Leader is of the opinion that it was not a key decision, the reasons for that opinion.

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

-  Councillor John Procter

-  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Member, Leisure and Skills

-  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

-  Catherine Blanshard, Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer

-  Andy Hodson, Head of Governance Services

-  Kate Sadler, Principal Corporate Governance Officer

Councillor Procter outlined his request to the Board. He considered that this decision should have been treated as a ‘key decision’ as defined by the constitution, rather than a significant operational decision. He outlined his arguments in relation to both the financial criteria and the significance of the impact of the decision on local people. He stressed his view that the decision should have been available for scrutiny by councillors, and emphasised the importance of this element of the delegation scheme agreed by Council. He highlighted the responsibility of councillors to ensure that the delegation scheme they had agreed was properly implemented.

In response, the Director of City Development outlined the consideration given to the financial and significance issues by the Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer in coming to the conclusion that the decision did not meet the criteria for a key decision. He circulated an extract from Article 13 of the council’s constitution relevant to the decision-making process. He acknowledged that there was a degree of subjectivity involved with regard to assessing the significance of the effect on communities

The following key points were raised in discussion:

·  The significance of the event as one of the largest free concerts in the country;

·  The expected reduced size of the audience and the reasons why people might not buy tickets;

·  Discounted prices and the allocation of 2,000 free tickets for young people living the most challenging lives;

·  The financial choices facing the authority as a context to this decision;

·  Agreement that delegated decisions should continue to be subjected to close scrutiny;

·  A proposal from the executive Member that cross-party discussions take place to explore the future sustainability of events such as Party and Opera in the Park, either through the scrutiny process or by an alternative mechanism.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Tuesday 16 July 2013 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds (pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am)

Tuesday 16 July 2013 at 10.00am (a pre-meeting will commence at 9.30am for Board members).

(The meeting concluded at 12.15pm.)