Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development  attaching a request for scrutiny received from Ward Councillors representing Hyde Park and Woodhouse Ward and Headingley Ward concerning the consultation process carried out to determine whether to go ahead with a designated BBQ area on Woodhouse Moor.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report notifying Members of a request for scrutiny which had been received from Ward Councillors representing Hyde Park and Woodhouse Ward and Headingley Ward.  The request for scrutiny concerned the consultation process carried out to determine whether to go ahead with a designated BBQ area on Woodhouse Moor.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Councillors Hamilton and Matthews from Headingley Ward and Councillor Ewens from Hyde Park and Woodhouse Ward. 

Due to the unavailability of the Director of City Development, Sean Flesher, Acting Head of Parks and Countryside, was welcomed to the meeting to respond to this request for scrutiny and present the Department’s report.

On behalf of Headingley and Hyde Park and Woodhouse Ward Councillors,  Councillor Hamilton was invited to explain to the Board the reasons for the request to scrutiny.

Councillor Hamilton summarised the background to the issue and local Ward Members’ concerns.  The Board were advised that concerns centred around the validity and integrity of the survey, in particular whether the questionnaire was delivered and received by all householders in the 800m catchment area around the Park.  Also of concern was the fact that the survey was distributed when a significant part of the population (ie students) might not have been present and that the survey did not have a return date.

The Acting Head of Parks and Countryside summarised the rationale and process of the consultation exercise as outlined in the Department’s report and responded to queries and comments from the Board.

After lengthy discussion and questioning of witnesses by Members of the Board, it was agreed that further information was necessary in order to ascertain whether the consultation had been carried out correctly and consequently whether to accept or refuse the request for scrutiny.

The additional information, by way of a report, was to be provided to the July meeting of the Scrutiny Board (City Development) and should include the following information:

·  The total number of completed questionnaires returned.

·  A list of the streets where completed questionnaires had been returned.

·  A list of all the streets in the 800m catchment area.

·  The benefits and disadvantages of the Department carrying out the survey again.

·  How the questionnaire was delivered ie was it in an envelope and if so, was it addressed personally to residents.

·  How many returned questionnaires were found to be photocopies.

Members also requested that a representative of DBS, the distributors of the questionnaire, be invited to attend the July meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and request for scrutiny by Ward Councillors representing Hyde Park and Woodhouse Ward and Headingley Ward be noted.

(b)  That the response report of the Director of City Development be noted.

(c)  That a further report be requested of the Director of City Development to the July meeting of the Board, in order to assist Members in their decision to either refuse or accept the request for scrutiny.  The report to include information as listed above.

(d)  That a representative of DBS be invited to attend the July meeting of the Board.