Agenda and minutes

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.

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.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2015 as a correct record

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2015 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider evidence as the second session of the Board’s inquiry on employment and skills

The Board received a presentation on mental health and employment as part of the evidence for its inquiry on employment and skills

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

-  Sue Wynne, Chief Officer, Employment and Skills

-  Jane Hopkins, Head of Employment and Skills

The presentation covered the following areas:

·  Background to the identification of mental health and employment as a target area

·  Context to the proposed partnership way forward

·  Levels of mental health, the causes and the associated costs

·  The health/employment divide

·  The development of the proposition to move more long term unemployed residents presenting with mental health issues into recovery and ‘good work’

·  The proposed approach and associated health and employment outcomes

·  The proposed methodology

·  Delivery model

·  Next steps and future work to take forward the proposition

The following issues were raised in discussion:

·  Reference to the pilot currently taking place in Manchester

·  The numbers of employers taking part in initiatives such as ‘two ticks’ and mindful employers

·  Links with the Chamber of Commerce to encourage employers to have a positive approach to mental health

·  The male/female split in numbers of unemployed people with a mental health condition

·  The likelihood of physical ill health being compounded by mental health issues over time

·  The use of sanctions with unemployed people with a mental health condition

·  Confirmation that all Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are signed up to the mental health framework for Leeds, but that the North CCG has the lead role on mental health services

·  Reference to the Our Place and Patient Empowerment Project initiatives in the West of the city

·  The need for early identification of dyslexia in schools so that appropriate support can be provided

·  The support requirements of people with physical and mental health conditions in order to access work

·  The mixed economy locally of providers to meet a range of needs, which is both a strength and a weakness

·  The good work carried out by Job Centre Plus with certain cohorts and the aim of the proposition presented here to complement that work and address gaps in the current provision

·  The crucial importance of getting the necessary data sharing agreements in place at the outset

·  Specific support needs of people with autism or Asperger’s conditions

·  The availability of apprenticeships

·  Support for people with drug and alcohol problems, and also obesity

·  The impact of unstructured lifestyles

·  The importance of helping people back into society as well as into work

·  A desire to help all people in Leeds to be job ready in order to maximise the job growth opportunities associated with the Leeds City Region growth deal

·  The desirability of a social contract with employers

·  The role of the Council Tax Support Scheme

RESOLVED

a)  That the Board supports the further development of the proposition on mental health and employment

b)  That the issues raised by this session of the inquiry be noted and that the Board now has sufficient information to conclude the inquiry and produce a report of its  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

To consider plans to maximise the potential employment opportunities in Leeds arising from the development of District Heating schemes

Further to a report to the Board in October 2014, Members considered an initial review of the employment and skills potential associated with District Heating, together with an indication of future work required to maximise these opportunities.

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

-  George Munson, Senior Programme Leader, Public Private Partnerships and Procurement Unit

-  Noel Collings, Senior Project Officer, Infrastructure and Investments, Strategy and Resources

The following issues were raised in discussion:

·  The work undertaken to date to understand the employment potential associated with District Heating, and to look at how to maximise the potential within what is expected to be a limited field, for example through developing a pipeline of work

·  That most jobs would be associated with the construction phase, and the council would apply its usual jobs and skills obligations within any contracts

·  Early exploration of the regional potential to develop as a centre of expertise through including relevant skills within local college and university courses, which had been well received

·  Ongoing issues with the current district heating provision at Saxton Gardens

The Chair thanked officers for a very positive report in response to the issues raised by the Board in October.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the findings of the report be noted; and

b)  That the Director of Environment and Housing and the Employment and Skills team be requested to develop a comprehensive plan to maximise training and employment opportunities associated with district heating on the basis set out in the report.

To consider a further report on the implications of Leeds bidding to become European Capital of Culture 2023

The Board considered a report on the costs and benefits of preparing to mount a Leeds bid for European Capital of Culture 2023. The report was a follow-up as requested by Scrutiny in November 2014, prior to the Executive Board taking a decision on whether to progress with further work on a bid.

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

-  Cluny Macpherson, Chief Officer Culture and Sport

-  Dinah Clark, Policy and Performance Manager, City Development

The following issues were raised in discussion:

·  An update on the consultation and the clear majority view in favour of a bid, although recognising that both supporters and opposers of the bid had provisos

·  That much of the work associated with developing a bid, for example developing a cultural strategy, is work that the council would want to do anyway

·  The level of potential financial/in kind support that was being pledged if a bid was to be developed

·  The potential benefits of bidding even for unsuccessful cities

·  The recent unanimous vote by the Leeds University Students Union in favour of European Capital of Culture as a strategic priority for the next 3 years

·  Clarification of the allocation and cost of officer time to the bid so far, and the expected allocation going forward

·  Concern about the potential broader impact on council staff if a decision is taken to develop a bid

·  Some Members’ continued reservations about bidding unless much clearer costings were included in the Executive Board report

·  The range of existing contact and partnerships with Europe across the cultural sector

·  The need to project Leeds as a European city

·  The need to balance costs with benefits to the community and progress towards the best city ambition by 2030

·  The importance of areas of deprivation benefitting from any bid, and confirmation that this was the strongest message coming through the consultations

·  The need for a wide range of people to be involved in shaping the bid

·  The need for the report to Executive Board to contain more detailed information on the messages from the consultation activities, and also on the costs of taking the bid forward.

RESOLVED

i)  That the Scrutiny Board confirms its support for progressing arrangements over the coming twelve months as outlined in the report, should the city decide to bid; and

ii)  That officers be requested to come back with a progress report in February 2016.

(Councillor Hussain left the meeting at 3.15pm, during discussion of this item.)

To consider an update on progress in establishing the Programme Board

The Board considered an update on the establishment of the Cycling Starts Here Partnership Board, as requested at the January meeting.

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

-  Cluny Macpherson, Chief Officer, Culture and Sport

-  Mark Allman, Head of Sport and Active Lifestyles

Members welcomed the progress made since the January Scrutiny Board meeting and the draft terms of reference for the Programme Board.

RESOLVED – That the Board notes the progress in establishing the Cycling Starts Here Partnership Board.

(Councillor Wadsworth left the meeting at 3.25pm at the conclusion of this item.)

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

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 noted that the Board’s report on the Grand Theatre and Opera House Trust Ltd had been considered at the Executive Board meeting on 11 February, and that the Executive Board had thanked the Scrutiny Board for its work on this topic.

The Chair also reported that the Board had been thanked by the Executive Board for its pre-decision scrutiny report on the Community Infrastructure Levy proposals, which was also considered by the Executive Board on 11 February. This was one of two pre-decision working group meetings which had taken place since the last Scrutiny Board meeting, the other one being in relation to the Arts@Leeds grants scheme.

The Board was informed of an inquiry on housing mix to be carried out by the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Board, with participation from this Board invited at appropriate points.

RESOLVED

i)  That the work schedule be agreed;

ii)  That Cllr Groves be nominated to represent the Scrutiny Board on the housing mix inquiry being led by the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Board.

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

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

(The meeting finished at 3.30pm)