Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions

Contact: Kate Arscott (0113) 24 74189  Email: kate.arscott@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

58.

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 of business to consider.

 

59.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

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.

Minutes:

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared at the meeting.

 

However, in relation to the item entitled Tour de France Legacy for Leeds - Update, Councillor Selby drew the Board’s attention to his position as a governor at both the David Young Academy and the Co-operative Academy (minute  63 refers).

 

60.

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 A Hussain, with Councillor Iqbal in attendance as a substitute, and from Councillor Chapman.

 

61.

Minutes - 16 December 2014 pdf icon PDF 77 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2014 as a correct record

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2014 be confirmed as a correct record.

 

62.

2015/16 Initial Budget Proposals pdf icon PDF 85 KB

To consider and comment on the Executive’s initial budget proposals for 2015/16 in relation to services within this Board’s portfolio

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board considered a report on the Executive’s initial budget proposals for 2015/16. In attendance to address the Board and answer Members’ queries were:

 

-  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Member for Digital and Creative Technologies, Culture and Skills

-  Councillor Richard Lewis, Executive Member for Development & Economy

-  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

-  Ed Mylan, Chief Officer for Resources and Strategy, City Development

-  Simon Criddle, Head of Finance for Strategy and Resources, City Development

 

The Executive Members and Director introduced the item by summarising the key proposals, along with the Council’s and the Directorate’s ambitions for the city’s future. The following issues were then raised in discussion:

 

·  Further detail on the expected loss of income during the refurbishment of Kirkgate Market;

·  Confirmation of the consultation timetable and implementation of the further savings from switching off and dimming of street lights;

·  Support for the intended increased income from commercial property management;

·  Confirmation that a proposal is being developed in relation to the shops next to the Grand Theatre;

·  Details of the operation of the Early Leavers Initiative within the Directorate;

·  Confirmation that the proposed Community Asset Transfers would probably need some initial support to be viable propositions;

·  Discussion of the extent to which the directorate had considered zero based budgeting across some or all service areas;

·  A request for confirmation that the proposed savings from the lights switch on related only to the city centre, following delegation of local budgets to Community Committees.

 

RESOLVED – To note the initial budget proposals for 2015/16 in relation to the Scrutiny Board’s portfolio.

 

63.

Tour de France Legacy for Leeds - Update pdf icon PDF 175 KB

To consider a progress report on delivery of the Tour de France Legacy

Minutes:

The Board considered an update report on the legacy of the Tour de France. In attendance to address the Board and answer Members’ queries were:

 

-  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Member for Digital and Creative Technologies, Culture and Skills

-  Cluny Macpherson, Chief Officer, Culture and Sport

-  Mark Allman, Head of Service for Sport

-  Simon Brereton, Economic Development Programme Leader

-  Tim Draper, Principal Transport Planner – Influencing Travel Behaviour

-  Gill Keddie, Sport and Active Lifestyles Development Manager

 

The Executive Member and officers presented an overview of legacy activity since the previous report in July 2014, including key economic data and the ‘Three Inspirational Days’ report on the impact of the UK stages of the Tour de France. The Board was informed that recent research through the Citizens’ Panel would provide a good baseline of cycling activity in the city.

 

The following issues were raised in discussion:

 

·  Congratulations to Peter Smith on his MBE award

·  Members were pleased to note the amount and range of activity reported and stressed the need to maintain the momentum for the legacy to be successful

·  A suggestion that the display currently in the Civic Hall ante chamber would be seen by more people if it was housed in the museum, and confirmation that artefacts were being collected for a display at the Museum

·  Confirmation that the Countdown Clock was currently on public display at the Doubletree Hotel on Granary Wharf while a permanent home is found

·  A possible Sustrans bid to develop a cycleway from Crossgates to Thorner

·  Recent announcements about new national City Connect funding and likely allocations for West Yorkshire through the Combined Authority

·  Development of the tourist offer in Leeds, building on the Tour de France and Tour de Yorkshire

·  Parental concerns about children’s safety as a significant barrier to more children cycling

·  Work with British Cycling to target mothers as the key to increasing family participation in cycling

·  Issues about the behaviour of cyclists and pedestrians in shared areas and the need for considerate sharing of space

·  The availability of Bike to Work and other salary sacrifice and bike recycling schemes

·  Cycling should be for everyone; it should be normal and safe

·  The sea change needed in funding and attitudes if cycling is to really take off as a preferred mode of transport

·  Information about the Tour de Yorkshire from 1-3 May and the need to communicate with local residents and businesses as soon as the final route is announced on 21 January

·  Queries about the timing of the event so close to the General Election

·  Concern at the delay in establishing the Programme Board. The Scrutiny Board requested that resources be reprioritised to progress this and that an update be provided at their next meeting

 

RESOLVED

 

(a)  That a progress report on the establishment of the Cycling Starts Here Programme Board be brought to the Scrutiny Board’s next meeting; and

(b)  That a further progress report on the Tour de France Legacy be brought to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

64.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 86 KB

To agree the Board’s work schedule for the remainder of the municipal year

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which set out the latest version of the Board’s work schedule.

 

Members also discussed and agreed a proposal to carry out pre-decision scrutiny of the Arts@Leeds grant scheme through a working group.

 

RESOLVED

 

(a)  That the work schedule be agreed, subject to the addition of a progress report on the establishment of the Cycling Starts Here Programme Board to the schedule for the February Board meeting;

(b)  That the Chair and the Principal Scrutiny Adviser be authorised to finalise the Board’s report on the Grand Theatre for submission to the Executive Board, following email consultation with all Board Members; and

(c)  That a working group meeting be arranged to carry out pre-decision scrutiny of the Arts@Leeds grant scheme.

 

65.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Tuesday 17 February 2015 at 1.30pm (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 1.00pm)

Minutes:

Tuesday 17 February 2015 at 1.30pm (a pre-meeting will start at 1.00pm for Board members.)

 

The meeting finished at 3.40pm