Agenda and draft minutes

There were no appeals against refusals of inspection of documents.

There were no items excluded from the public domain.

There were no late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations of interests.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies were received from Cllr Sonia Leighton, Cllr Izaac Wilson and Cllr Matthew Robinson.

Cllr Annie Maloney attended as a substitute for Cllr Leighton.

The Chair welcomed new members to the Scrutiny Board and also thanked former members including the 2023/24 Chair, Cllr Abigail Marshall-Katung.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2024. 

The Chair invited the Principal Scrutiny Advisor to provide an update on matters arising from the minutes of 3 April 2024.

The following matters were subsequently noted:

-  The approved End of Year Statement referenced at minute 85 has been published on the committee webpage, along with those of the other four scrutiny boards. The 2023/24 Scrutiny Annual Report will also be published on the same webpage once it has been considered at full Council on 10 July. 

-  A letter has been received from the office of the Secretary of State for Transport, apologising for the delay in responding to the concerns raised by the Scrutiny Board about road deaths involving young people and the reconsideration of graduated driving licences. Unfortunately, a detailed response will not be received until after the General Election. 

RESOLVED: The Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth) approved the minutes of 3 April 2024 as a correct record.

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic Services presenting the Scrutiny Board’s Terms of Reference.

It was noted that the accompanying report sets out the Scrutiny Board’s Terms of Reference as agreed by Council at the AGM on 23 May 2024.

The following appendices were noted:

-  Appendix 1: General Terms of Reference applicable to all Scrutiny Boards

-  Appendix 2: Article 6 of the constitution, which outlines Scrutiny Board remits and any special responsibilities. Members were advised that responsibility for flood risk management is allocated to the Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment & Inclusive Growth).

-  Appendix 3: Scrutiny Board alignment with officer Delegated Functions and Executive portfolios 2024/25.

The Principal Scrutiny advisor highlighted changes in Executive responsibilities relating to the Scrutiny Board and advised members that two additional functions now fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Board – international and domestic inward economic investment and culture.

RESOLVED: Members noted the contents of the report.

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic Services on the appointment of co-opted members to the Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment & Inclusive Growth).

Members were advised that the Council’s Constitution includes provision for the appointment of co-opted members to individual scrutiny boards.

This report sets out general provisions regarding co-option which are applicable to all Scrutiny Boards.

There are no specific legislative requirements for this Scrutiny Board to co-opt external representatives.

Typically, this Scrutiny Board has determined not to co-opt external individuals to the Board. Instead, members have agreed to bring expert witnesses to meetings for specific items of business as required. This is in part due to the breadth of subjects within the Board’s remit.

It is recommended that this approach does not change unless or until members reach a point where they determine co-option would add specific value.

RESOLVED: Members agreed not to co-opted any additional individuals to the Scrutiny Board at the current time.

To receive a report from the Director of City Development outlining progress against organisational and city priorities that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth).

The Chair introduced the performance report, which summarises performance against strategic priorities that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth).

Those in attendance for this item were:

-  Cllr J Pryor (Executive Member, Economy, Transport & Sustainable Development)

-  Cllr J Lennox (Executive Member, Housing)

-  Martin Farrington (Director City Development)

-  Eve Roodhouse (Chief Officer, Culture & Economy)

-  Dave Feeney (Chief Planning Officer)

-  Martin Elliot (Head Strategic Planning)

-  Angela Barnicle (Chief Officer, Asset Management & Regeneration) 

-  Emma Kamillo-Price (Senior Intelligence Officer)

Unemployment in Leeds

Members sought clarity about whether unemployment data can also be a determinant of health outcomes. In response, Eve Roodhouse advised the Scrutiny Board that joint work is taking place between the employment and skills service and health colleagues to examine this issue in more detail.

Eve noted the data confirms that the wards with the highest numbers of Universal Credit claimants are also the areas where there are known to be higher levels of deprivation. Given these existing links there is a significant amount of targeted work in these communities.

Members queried how the service measures the impact of targeted interventions within specific communities. The Scrutiny Board was advised that this is challenging. Outcomes relating to individuals who engage with Council services are tracked. However, it is difficult to continue to track outcomes once individuals move beyond Council services.

Members were provided with examples of the outstanding work of tutors who focus on supporting learners to develop their skillset in order to progress into work, further study or volunteering.

Members requested further information about the number of people who are categorised as economically inactive.

Eve confirmed that ONS data about economic inactivity is available and can be provided at a future meeting. She noted that there is a need to understand why people are economically inactive so interventions can be effectively targeted. Members expressed concern about an increase in those who are inactive due to physical or mental health issues.

The Chief Officer was asked how people in communities with high Universal Credit claimants can be supported to develop the skills necessary to access new jobs that are being created in the city.

In response Eve reassured members that the employment and skills team already carry out work with specific groups who may be struggling to access work.  The SEND Next Choices event provides an example of good practice which has been adopted in other areas.

A recent Ofsted inspection judged the adult skills service to be outstanding. An example of the work of this service is the support provided for people who had been forced to flee Afghanistan.

It was noted that the Council seeks to identify opportunities to influence partners through the Business Anchors Network to support the development of more apprenticeship schemes and to encourage changes in business practice designed to encourage more diverse workforces.

Eve offered to provide a separate briefing for Cllr Ali on matters linked to Gipton and Harehills.

Business Start-ups,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic Services on potential sources of work for the Scrutiny Board and the draft work programme for 2024/25.

The Principal Scrutiny Advisor set out potential sources of work for the Scrutiny Board to help shape consideration of the work programme.

The Board was advised that the draft work schedule included in the agenda pack is a live document that will be considered by members at every Scrutiny Board meeting.

The initial draft collates requests from members of the 2023/24 Board and known items of business such as budget consultation and performance monitoring.

The Chair proposed that meetings include both ‘big ticket’ items and smaller items where there is potential for greater short-term impact on decision making.

Matters noted as areas of interest for Scrutiny Board members included:

-  Legacy of Leeds 2023, potentially involving representatives from the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board.

-  Leeds Museums and Galleries: work with communities with protected characteristics

-  Availability and storage of replacement materials including Yorkshire Stone.

-  Innovative approach to UTMC

-  Transition from building to long term operation of FAS2 including challenges of revenue and operational intelligence.

-  Establishment of the Aire Resilience Company

-  Urban Drainage with a focus on consistency of duties linked to the building of reservoirs.

-  Integrated water management, with links to natural flood risk management.

-  Biodiversity net gain and river credits.

-  Meanwood Valley Farm site visit at a future date as a potential model of natural flood risk management (pending further discussions over the summer).

-  Working Group on how funding for affordable housing delivery operates.

-  Private roundtable with stakeholders on challenges and opportunities for affordable housing ahead of public discussion on affordable housing in January.

-  Delivery of new Council and affordable housing, including consideration of social and affordable rents.

-  An evaluation of the use of EDI assessments in planning.

-  Accommodation BID

-  Associations between unemployment and health outcomes.

-  Working Group / remote training session on the latest developments with the Social Progress Index

Cllr Buckley raised concern about the potential future expansion of motorbike access to bus lanes following the successful trial on the A65.

It was agreed that Gary Bartlett will provide an initial written briefing on the current situation to inform a decision by members as to whether further scrutiny is required.

RESOLVED:

The Principal Scrutiny Advisor is asked to update the work draft 2024/25 in line with member requests.

Gary Bartlett will provide a briefing on the current position regarding access to bus lanes for motorbikes.

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment & Inclusive Growth) will take place at 10.30am on 17 July 2024. There will be a pre meeting for all Board members at 10.00am.  

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Board will take place on 17 July 2024 at 10.30am. There will be a pre-meeting for all Scrutiny Board members at 10.00am.