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

78.

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 late items.

 

79.

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 to the meeting.

 

80.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors C Campbell and P Grahame.  Notification was received that Councillor R Grahame was substituting for Councillor P Grahame.

 

81.

Minutes - 24 February 2015 pdf icon PDF 63 KB

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2015.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2015 be approved as a correct record.

 

82.

2014/15 Quarter 3 Performance Report pdf icon PDF 136 KB

To consider performance management information relating to services within this Board’s portfolio

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Housing and the Director of City Development submitted a joint report which provided a summary of performance against the strategic priorities for the council and city relevant to the Scrutiny Board (Housing and Regeneration).

 

The following information was appended to the report:

 

-  A summary of performance at Quarter 3 across both City Priority Plan (CPP) and Best Council Plan (BCP) priorities

-  Additional information requested by Members at the February Board meeting.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

-  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

-  Simon Costigan, Chief Officer (Strategic Housing)

-  Anna Tansley, Service Manager, Performance and Business Improvement

-  Steve Speak, Deputy Chief Planning Officer.

 

The key areas of discussion were:

 

·  Concern that a case of under occupancy had resulted in an eviction.  Board Members were advised that the tenant had not responded to any contact or correspondence regarding support that was available.  Checks with adult social care and children’s services confirmed that no vulnerable persons lived at the property.  The Board requested that background information about the case be reported back to Board Members.

·  Concern regarding the % of repairs completed within target in the East and North East area.  Board Members were advised that there had been issues in relation to I.T infrastructure and resource requirements (There were currently 40 vacancies for operatives).

·  The need for greater engagement with under occupancy cohort experiencing increased debt.

·  A request that a breakdown be provided regarding the reduction in long term empty properties (reported as 3,976 in November 2014, a reduction of 771 from April 2014)

·  A request for details of the affordable housing included within the number of new homes built.

 

RESOLVED –

 

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted

b)  That the information requested be provided to Board Members.

 

83.

Financial Position Statement 2014/15 - City Development and Environment and Housing Directorates pdf icon PDF 190 KB

To consider a financial update report in relation to services within this Board’s portfolio

Minutes:

The Directors of Environment and Housing and City Development submitted a joint report which presented a financial update report in relation to services within this Board’s portfolio.

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Richard Ellis, Head of Finance (Environment and Housing)

-  Simon Criddle, Head of Finance (City Development)

 

RESOLVED – That the Scrutiny Board notes the projected financial position of the Directorates of City Development and Environment and Housing at period 10 of the financial year 2014/15.

 

(Councillor J Illingworth joined the meeting at 2.20pm during the consideration of this item.)

 

(Councillor M Iqbal left the meeting at 2.30pm during the consideration of this item.)

 

84.

East Leeds Orbital Road pdf icon PDF 121 KB

To consider a progress report in relation to the East Leeds Orbital Road

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of City Development submitted a report which provided an update in relation to the East Leeds Orbital Road.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

-  Adam Brannen, Head of Regeneration, City Development

-  Andrew Hall, Head of Transportation, City Development.

 

The main areas of discussion were:

 

·  A request that details of amendments to the delivery timetable be reported back to the Board.

·  Confirmation that gateway 1 was complete.  Investment case and resources had been released to progress gateway 2 (due for completion in November 2017).

·  A request that the draft route alignment be provided to Board Members.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(a)  That the progress report be noted

(b)  That the information requested be provided to Board Members.

 

85.

Delivering Housing on Council Brownfield Land - Quarterly Update pdf icon PDF 91 KB

To consider a quarterly progress report in relation to the development of housing on council owned brownfield land

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of City Development submitted a report which provided an update on progress to bring forward new housing development on previously developed land within Council ownership.

 

The following information was appended to the report:

 

-  Council Brownfield Land Update Schedule.

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Adam Brannen, Head of Regeneration, City Development

-  Mark Mills, Executive Manager (Regeneration), City Development.

 

The key areas of discussion were:

 

·  Involvement of Ward Members and potential role of Community Committees in supporting prompt decision-making about the future use of council property that was no longer required for operational purposes.

·  Exploring opportunities for early marketing of sites for disposal. 

 

RESOLVED –

 

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That Community Committees be requested to play a role in supporting prompt decision-making about the future use of council property that is no longer required for operational purposes.

 

(Councillor D Nagle left at 3.05pm during the consideration of this item.)

 

86.

Recommendation Tracking pdf icon PDF 85 KB

To track recommendations from previous scrutiny inquiries

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which invited the Scrutiny Board to monitor progress against a recommendation from the inquiry into private rented sector housing.

 

The following information was appended to the report:

 

-  Recommendation tracking flow chart

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  John Statham, Head of Housing Partnerships, Environment and Housing.

 

The status of the recommendation from the scrutiny inquiry into private rented sector housing was agreed as follows:

 

·  Recommendation 2 (ii) – Achieved.

 

RESOLVED – That the above recommendation status be approved.

 

87.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 82 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the current municipal year.

 

The following information was appended to the report:

 

-  The Scrutiny Board’s work schedule

-  Minutes of the Tenant Scrutiny Board meeting held on 18 February 2015.

 

It was suggested that the Board meeting on 28 April 2015 be cancelled.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(a)  That the Board meeting on 28 April 2015 be cancelled.

(b)  That the areas of work scheduled for April 2015 be included in the Board’s work schedule for 2015/16.

 

88.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Tuesday 28 April 2015 at 1.30pm (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 1.00pm)

Minutes:

To be confirmed.

 

89.

Kate Arscott

Minutes:

The Chair advised the Board that Kate Arscott was leaving the Council at the end of the month.  Members thanked Kate for her hard work and support to the Scrutiny Board and wished her all the best for the future.

 

(The meeting concluded at 3.30pm.)