Agenda and minutes

To identify items where resolutions may be moved to exclude the public

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as exempt on the ground that it is likely, in the view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of proceedings, that if members of the public were present there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information so designated as follows:

(a)  Appendix 1 to the report referred to in minute 90 under the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3) and on the grounds that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information as the information relates to the financial or business affairs of a third party and of the Council and the release of such information would be likely to prejudice the interests of both parties.

(b)  The annexe to the report referred to in minute 91 under the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3) and on the grounds that the information relates to the financial or business affairs of the Council.  It is considered that the release of such information could prejudice the Council’s commercial interests in relation to the disposal of this property or other similar transactions about the nature and level of offers which may prove acceptable to the Council.  It is considered that whilst there may be a public interest in disclosure, much of this information will be publicly available from the Land Registry following completion of this transaction and consequently the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing this information at this point in time.

(c)  The final appendix to the report referred to in minute 101 under the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(1) and (2) and on the ground that the public interest in maintaining this appendix as exempt outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because it refers to matters at a preliminary stage which may at some future point have a significant impact on certain schools. Disclosure of the information at this time could lead to speculation prejudicial to the duty of Education Leeds to secure improvement and increased confidence in schools which would be prejudicial to the public interest.

(d)  Appendices 1 and 2 to the report referred to in minute 88 under the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3) and on the grounds that the information relates to the financial or business affairs of a particular person and of the Council. This information is not publicly available from the statutory registers of information kept in respect of certain companies and charities.  It is considered that since this information was obtained through inviting offers for the property/ land then it is not in the public interest to disclose this information at this point in time as this could lead to random competing bids which would undermine this method of inviting bids and affect the integrity of disposing of property/land by this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct

Councillors Blake, Harrand and J Procter declared personal interests in the item relating to City Varieties Music Hall (minute 90) as members of the Grand Theatre Board of Management.

Councillors Blake and Harrand declared personal interests in the item relating to Local Implementation of the National Framework for Continuing NHS Care (minute 89) as a PCT member and as a governor of Leeds Mental Health Trust respectively.

Councillor Wakefield declared a personal interest in the item relating to Secondary and Post 16 Provision in Leeds (minute 101) as a member of the Learning and Skills Council and Councillor Finnigan a personal interest in the same item as a governor of Joseph Priestley College.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th September 2007.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th September 2007 be approved.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development on public consultation on the Holt Park District Centre regeneration proposals, proposed progression of the proposals, issues with regard to the proposed fencing of 2 pitches at Tinshill Recreation Ground in association with the new Ralph Thoresby High School, including a response to a deputation to Council, and seeking endorsement to the fencing of the pitches.  

Referring to minute 34 of the meeting held on 6^th July 2005 the Director of City Development submitted a report on public consultation on the Holt Park District Centre regeneration proposals, proposed progression of the proposals, issues with regard to the proposed fencing of 2 pitches at Tinshill Recreation Ground in association with the new Ralph Thoresby High School, including a response to the deputation to Council and seeking endorsement to the fencing of the pitches.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the development of regeneration options at Holt Park District Centre be progressed on the basis of the inclusion of the former Ralph Thoresby High School site within the overall redevelopment area

(b)  That the outcome of public consultation on the proposed regeneration of Holt Park District Centre and the fencing of two pitches at Tinshill Recreation Ground be noted

(c)  That a 1.8 metre high, steel mesh fence with four gates to the two pitches at Tinshill Recreation Ground adjacent to Farrar Lane, be procured and erected.

(d)  That a report be brought back to this Board detailing the terms for access to the two fenced pitches both for organised sport and general public access.

          (Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5 Councillor Wakefield required it to be recorded that he voted against this decision)

To consider the report of the Director of City Development on the outcome of the marketing exercise of the Roundhay Mansion seeking a third party operator for the café/restaurant/bar/function rooms at the property.

Appendices 1 and 2 to this report are designated exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3). Appendix 2 will be circulated at the meeting.

The Director of City Development submitted a report on the outcome of the marketing exercise of the Roundhay Mansion seeking a third party operator for the café/restaurant/bar/function rooms at the property.

The report gave detail in relation to the following options:

1  Do nothing

2  Accept an offer from one of the offerors, subject to agreement on the lease

3  Repeat the marketing exercise for a third party operator

4  Expend further Council capital on stripping out and providing a shell for the commercial element of the development and then repeat the marketing exercise for a third party operator

5  Consider and pursue alternative uses for the Mansion

6  Consider the remarketing of the opportunity on the basis that the Council will make a contribution towards the cost of the initial capital fit out works.

Following consideration of appendices 1 and 2 (appendix 2 being circulated at the meeting) designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4(3), which were considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED – That the site be remarketed on the basis of option 6 as referred to above and as set out in the report, following further investigation of costs of refurbishment and that a further report on offers received be brought to this Board at the appropriate time.

To consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Services on the adoption of the new national framework by the Health and Social Care Community in Leeds with effect from 1^st October 2007

The Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report on the adoption of the new national framework by the Health and Social Care Community in Leeds with effect from 1^st October 2007.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that the formal local adoption of the National NHS Continuing Care Policy with effect from 1^st October 2007 be endorsed.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development on the successful Stage 1 bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund  for £3,000,000 to assist with funding the refurbishment of the City Varieties Music Hall  and on proposals to progress the scheme.

The appendix to this report is designated exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3).

Further to minute 178 of the meeting held on 9^th February 2007 the Director of City Development submitted a report on the successful Stage 1 bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £3,000,000 to assist with funding the refurbishment of the City Varieties Music Hall and on proposals to progress the scheme.

Following consideration  of appendix 1 to the report designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the successful £3,000,000 Stage 1 bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund be noted and that preparation of the Stage 2 application be commenced.

(b)  That work on the project be continued during the Stage 2 application assessment period.

(c)  That the issues with regard to the acquisition of third party property be noted and that agreement be given to the principle of making a Compulsory Purchase Order should progress on outstanding matters be not satisfactory, subject to a report being brought back to this Board should it become necessary for the Council to pursue such a course of action.

(d)  That the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House Ltd Board of Management be invited to commence their fundraising campaign.

(The urgent need to progress the Stage 2 bid to the HLF precluded this decision from eligibility for Call In).

To consider the report of the Director of City Development on the alternatives available to address the future of Otley Civic Centre and offering a proposal as to how the City Council can support the Town Council in the implementation of the Town Council’s preferred option.

An appendix to this report is designated exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3).

The Director of City Development submitted a report on the alternatives available to address the future of Otley Civic Centre and offering a proposal as to how the City Council could support the Town Council in the implementation of the Town Council’s preferred option.

The report outlined a number of options:

1  To do nothing

2  To undertake repairs to the external fabric of the Civic Centre independent of any action by the Town Council

3  To progress one of the following options identified in the feasibility study:

·  Refurbishment of the existing Civic Centre in its present form

·  Refurbishment and expansion of capacity of the existing Civic Centre (the Town Council’s preferred option)

·  Building a new Civic Centre on an, as yet unidentified site

·  Partial conversion and new build of a property at North Parade

·  To split the existing centre and construct a new hall at North Parade

Following consideration of the annexe to the report designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Director of City Development make a formal approach to Otley Town Council with an offer from the City Council to transfer the freehold of the Civic Centre following its refurbishment on the basis of the costs of the refurbishment programme being shared by the two Councils as set out in the confidential annexe to the submitted report.

(b)  That the Director of City Development report back to this Board with the outcome of that approach and, if appropriate, submit a request for a fully funded injection into the Capital Programme for the refurbishment works.

(c)  That approval be given to the ring-fencing of the capital receipt from the disposal of the North Parade site towards the implementation of the refurbishment works subject to the Town Council agreeing to share this cost as set out in the confidential annexe to the report.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer on the proposed creation of the “Leeds Award” to recognise people who have brought credit to the City.  

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report on the proposed creation of the ‘Leeds Award’ to recognise people who have brought credit to the City.

RESOLVED – That the creation of the ‘Leeds Award’ be approved and that the administration of the Award be as detailed in the submitted report.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development on the proposed adoption of a clear policy on honouring citizens of Leeds with a memorial

The Director of City Development submitted a report on the proposed adoption of a policy on honouring citizens of Leeds with a memorial.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That a Memorial Panel as described in paragraph 4.1 of the submitted report be established to agree the criteria for honouring Leeds citizens with a memorial and to consider applications for memorials.

(b)  That all memorials take the form of a suitable inscription engraved in the flagstones of Merrion Gardens.

(c)  That these arrangements should not preclude an alternative memorial in the specific circumstances of a given case.

To consider the report of the Director of Resources on a proposal to establish a single-managed Counter-fraud Service for Leeds in conjunction with Job Centre Plus and in relation to the full range of benefits administered by the two organisations.

The Director of Resources submitted a report on a proposal to establish a single-managed Counter-fraud Service for Leeds in conjunction with Job Centre Plus and in relation to the full range of benefits administered by the two organisations.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the establishment of a single managed fraud team that will see operational management provided by Job Centre Plus and strategic management provided by a Joint Management Board.

To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive giving a 6 monthlyupdate on progress of PPP/PFI projects and programmes and the implementation of the governance framework.

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report giving a 6 monthly update on progress of PPP/PFI project and programmes and the implementation of the governance framework.

RESOLVED – That the current status of PPP/PFI projects and programmes together with the information on management of attendant risks be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on the Burley Lodge Group Repair external enveloping scheme intended to extend the life of 52 properties by 30 years. It is also anticipated that 11 miscellaneous ALMO properties within the area will also be similarly improved and this will be subject to approval by the  West North West Housing Ltd Board.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on the  Burley Lodge Group Repair external enveloping scheme intended to extend the life of 52 properties by 30 years.  The report further indicated that it was also anticipated that 11 miscellaneous ALMO properties within the area would also be similarly improved subject to approval by the West North West Housing Ltd Board.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the injection into the Capital Programme of £2,311,163 of Regional Housing Board funding and £256,959 from owner occupiers be approved.

(b)  That Scheme Expenditure to the amount of £2,567,959 be authorised.

(c)  That a report on progress of the scheme be brought to a future meeting of this Board.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on progress to help private homeowners to improve their homes and on a proposal to spend £1,300,000 government grant for the remaining elements of the scheme.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on progress to help homeowners to improve their homes and on a proposal to spend £1,300,000 government grant for the remaining elements of the scheme.

RESOLVED – That expenditure of £1,300,000 of Regional Housing Grant funding for this scheme be authorised.

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services on the significant reforms proposed for Looked After Children in Leeds in the White Paper and indicates the current position in Leeds in terms of the work both being done now and planned for the future that responds to this.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report on the significant reforms proposed for Looked After Children in the White Paper and on the current position in Leeds in terms of both current work and work planned for the future in response to this.

RESOLVED – That the report, tabulation of impact assessment and proposed future actions be noted.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) on options available to the Council to decide upon proposals formerly dealt with by the School Organisation Committee

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) submitted a report on options available to the Council to decide upon proposals formerly dealt with by the School Organisation Committee.

The report presented the options of

• Executive Board to make the decision
• Executive Board to make the decision following recommendation of an Advisory Board
• An officer to whom the authority has been delegated to make the decision or
• An officer to whom authority has been delegated to make the decision following recommendation of an Advisory Board

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Executive Board makes decisions on all statutory proposals where they have the responsibility to do so as set out in appendix A to the report.

(b)  That where there are objections to proposals they be first referred to an Advisory  Board for a recommendation to be made to the Executive Board.

(c)  That an Advisory Board be set up to advise the authority on proposals

(d)  That the draft Standing Orders at appendix B of the report be adopted as the Standing Orders for the Advisory Board.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive of Education Leeds giving statistical information in relation to the admissions process and highlighting issues which need to be addressed for the 2008 admission round.

The Chief Executive of Education Leeds submitted a report giving statistical information in relation to the admissions process and highlighting issues which need to be addressed for the 2008 admission round.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider the joint report of the Director of Children’s Services and the Chief Executive of Education Leeds on proposed consultation on an approach to the transformation of secondary and post-16 provision in Leeds.

An appendix to this report is designated exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(1) & (2).

The Director of Children’s Services and the Chief Executive of Education Leeds submitted a joint report on proposed consultation on an approach to the transformation of secondary and post-16 provision in Leeds.

A four page appendix, circulated with the agenda as exempt, was circulated at the meeting in a revised form which included two pages of open information and two pages of exempt information.  In introducing the item the Executive Member (Learning) indicated that all references to “The Central Leeds School Improvement and Learning Alliance” should be amended to read “The Leeds Learning Alliance”.

Following consideration of the two page final appendix to the report designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4(1) and (2), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That consultation be undertaken on the following:

·  The Transforming Secondary and Post-16 Provision in Leeds paper

·  The Academies in Leeds paper

(b)  That the publication of the Central Leeds School Improvement and Learning Alliance prospectus be approved.

(c)  That the progress being made with the Learning and Skills Council Review be noted and that a further report be brought to this Board in November commenting as part of the formal consultation on the Learning and Skills Council preferred way forward.

(d)  That further reports be brought to this Board outlining the outcome of consultation and expressions of interest in joining the Alliance and sponsoring any Academies in Leeds.

To consider the report of the Chief executive of Education Leeds summarising the recent progress of South Leeds High School.  

The Chief Executive of Education Leeds submitted a report summarising the recent progress of South Leeds High School.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and the need for continued support for the school be noted.

(b)  That the Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services) be requested to examine the processes whereby Key Stage Four results are initially published with a view to ensuring that the level of risk that incorrect results may be published are minimised.

DATE OF PUBLICATION:  19^TH OCTOBER 2007

LAST DATE FOR CALL IN:  26^TH OCTOBER 2007 (5.00 PM)

(Scrutiny Support will notify Directors of any items called in by 12 noon on Monday 29^th October 2007)