Agenda item

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Board’s current outline work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year, for the Board to consider, amend and agree as appropriate.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting an outline work programme for the Board to consider, amend and agree as appropriate.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the

information/comment of the Board:-

•   Draft Terms of Reference for a Scrutiny Board (Health) Inquiry into the role of the Council and its partners in promoting good public health (Appendix 1 refers) with the associated inquiry selection criteria pro-forma (Appendix 2).

•   Scrutiny Board (Health) - Draft Work Programme 2009/2010 (Appendix 3).

•   Scrutiny Board (Health) – Health Proposals Working Group Terms of Reference (Appendix 4).

•   Minutes of the Executive Board meetings held on 22^nd July and 26^th August 2009 (Appendices 5 and 6).

The Chair advised Members that the Board were being requested to reconsider their decision at their meeting on 30^th June 2009 not to re-establish the Health Proposals Working Group.  The was due to subsequent discussions with officials at NHS Leeds revealing the degree to which the working group had provided a useful vehicle to keep members of the Scrutiny Board appraised of developments across local NHS Trusts.  As such, the previously proposed terms of reference were attached to the report for Members’ reconsideration.

Following discussion, Members agreed to reinstate the Health Proposals Working Group.  With regard to membership of the working group, it was agreed that there would be a core membership of Councillors Dobson and Chapman and that all other members of the Board would attend whenever possible.

With reference to the Executive Board Minutes of 26^th August 2009 and the Council’s proposal to establish barbecue areas on Woodhouse Moor, a Member of the Scrutiny Board raised the issue of whether respiratory conditions were affected by barbecue smoke.  

Following discussion it was agreed to seek advice from NHS Leeds regarding the impact of air pollutants, such as barbecue smoke and emissions caused by road traffic and power stations, on people with respiratory difficulties. 

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the draft terms of reference for the Inquiry into the role of the Council and its partners in promoting good public health (Appendix 1) and the associated inquiry selection criteria pro-forma (Appendix 2) be agreed in lieu of the previously agreed terms of reference for a scrutiny inquiry solely around alcohol related harm.

(c)  That the outline work programme, as attached at Appendix 3 to the report, be agreed.

(d)  That the Health Proposals Working Group be re-established in line with the draft terms of reference as attached at Appendix 4 to the report, and that there would be a core membership of Councillors Dobson and Chapman, with other Members of the Board attending whenever possible.

(e)  That NHS Leeds be requested to provide advice on the impact of air pollutants, such as barbecue smoke and emissions caused by road traffic and power stations, on people with respiratory difficulties, in order for the Board to determine whether this issue required scrutiny.