Agenda item

To receive a report of the City Solicitor which presents the annual report to the committee concerning the Council’s decision making arrangements.

The Head of Governance presented a report of The City Solicitor which provided the annual report to the Committee concerning the Council’s decision making arrangements.

The report provided one of the sources of assurance which the Committee is able to take into account when considering the approval of the Annual Governance Statement.

Members were asked to consider the results of monitoring documented within the body of this report and to note the assurances given by the Head of Governance Services, the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration and the Chief Planning Officer, that the decision making framework in place within Leeds City Council is up to date, fit for purpose, effectively communicated and routinely complied with.

The Section Head (Taxi & Private Hire Section) and The Head of Development Management were in attendance to answer any questions relating to Licensing and Planning.

RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to note the positive assurances provided in the submitted report in relation to executive decision making, the regulation of investigatory powers, licensing, and planning.

 Particularly:

(a)  In relation to executive decision making:-

• assurance that the Constitution is maintained up to date, relevant, compliant with legislation and fit for purpose;
• assurance that continuous review of delegation and publication arrangements ensure that decisions are made appropriately and transparently;
•  assurance that ongoing monitoring takes place in relation to key performance indicators including the publication of agendas, minutes, and forthcoming Key decisions and the availability of decisions to call in; and
• assurance that training in relation to the Council’s structures and decision making arrangements ensure that they are understood and embedded in decision making culture and are routinely complied with; and
• assurance that regular reviews of decision making governance arrangements confirm that they are updated as necessary to ensure that they are fit for purpose.

(b)  In relation to the regulation of investigatory powers:-

• Assurance that appropriate preparations have been made, including the delivery of training to relevant colleagues, in anticipation of use of powers to acquire communications data by colleagues in Environmental Action;
• Assurance that guidance and procedure documents have been reviewed and updated and that no further changes to Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act policy are recommended by officers at this time;
• Assurance that appropriate steps are taken to embed and enforce good practice; and
• Confirmation that there have been no applications for directed surveillance or CHIS authorisations in the reporting period.

(c)  In relation to planning:

• Assurance that the framework for determination of planning matters and arrangements for the delegation of planning functions are regularly reviewed;
• Assurance, from internal audit, that decision making arrangements are fit for purpose and routinely complied with;
• Confirmation that ongoing performance monitoring reviews:-
  • Workload;
  • compliance with statutory timescales;
  • appropriate use of agreed extensions of time;
  • decisions against officer recommendation;
  • appeals; and
  • complaints;

• Provision of appropriate training for both officers and Members has taken place; and
• Confirmation that work is ongoing to build and develop relationships with partners and customers.

(d)   In relation to licensing to:-

• Note the reports received by Licensing Committee on 9th February 2016, and specifically the assurances contained in those reports in relation to licensing decisions, practice and procedure; and
• Note the work undertaken to promote safeguarding in relation to taxi and private hire licensing as outlined in the report received by Executive Board on 16th December 2015.