Agenda item

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny review of Housing Growth in Leeds. 

Referring to Minute 79 of the meeting held on 28^th February 2012, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny review of Housing Growth in Leeds.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents were submitted for the information/comment of the meeting:-

• Recommendation tracking flowchart and classifications: Questions to be considered by Scrutiny Boards (Appendix 1 refers)

• Review of Housing Growth in Leeds (Appendix 2)

• Housing Growth Scrutiny Inquiry Report (Appendix 3 refers)

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:-

-  Councillor R Lewis, Executive Board Member, Development and the 

  Economy

-  Councillor P Gruen, Executive Board Member, Neighbourhoods, Housing

  and Regeneration

-  David Feeney, Head of Forward Planning and Implementation, City 

  Development

-  Susan Morse, Programme Delivery Manager, City Development

-  Andy Haig, Regional Policy Team, Planning, Policy and Improvement 

  Directorate, City Development

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That the Principal Scrutiny Adviser make changes to the proposed category status of Appendix 2 of the report as follows:-

Recommendation 1 remains at category 4

Recommendation 2 remains at category 4

Recommendation 3 remains at category 4

Recommendation 4 remains at category 2

Recommendation 5 change from category 4 to category 3

Recommendation 6 remains at category 2

Recommendation 7 change from category 4 to category 3

Recommendation 8 remains at category 4

Recommendation 9 (a) change from category 4 to category 3

Recommendation 9 (b) remains at category 3

Recommendation 10 change from category 4 to category 3

Recommendation 11 remains at category 4

Recommendation 12 remains at category 2

c)  That in relation to Recommendation 2, the Board welcomes the  offer by the Executive Board Member, Neighbourhoods, Housing and 

  Regeneration to pursue this recommendation on behalf of the Board.

d)  That in relation to Recommendation 5, the Director of City Development circulate to all Members of the Scrutiny Board details of the number of new affordable homes which had come to fruition since the interim  affordable housing policy was introduced by the Executive Board in November 2011.

e)  That in relation to Recommendation 7, the Board conveys it’s concern at the “duty to cooperate” and the lack of tangible progress with regard to the Scrutiny Board’s proposals to “pool” under and over provision of houses across the city region. (It was reported that the Leaders Board on 2^nd February 2012 had considered a paper on future arrangements for Spatial Planning which included an exploration of how directive the Partnership wished to be in regard of strategic planning. It was confirmed that the Leaders Board was a long way from considering the  “pooling” of  their collective housing provision)

f)  That in relation to Recommendation 9 (a), the Board notes that this recommendation should be directed via the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer and Access) portfolio and not through Environment and Neighbourhoods.

g)  That in relation to Recommendation 9 (b), the Head of Forward

  Planning and Implementation, City Development be requested to

  Circulate SI 2012 No 637 The Neighbourhood Planning (General)

  Regulations 2012 to Board Members via the Principal Scrutiny Adviser.

(Councillor B Atha joined the meeting at 11.15am during discussions of the above item)