Agenda and minutes

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

The Chair admitted to the agenda a late item of business entitled, ‘Reductions in Funding: Contract, Service Level Agreement and Grant Variations’ (Minute No. 80 refers).

Further to a related decision of Executive Board on 25^th August 2010 (Minute No. 71(b) refers), which had been the subject of a Scrutiny Board (Central and Corporate) call in meeting and subsequent discussions at full Council, it was determined essential that this matter was considered by Executive Board at the earliest opportunity in order to efficiently manage the decisions which needed to be taken in respect of funding reductions, following Government announcements.

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

Councillor Yeadon declared a personal interest in the item relating to reductions in funding (Minute No. 80 refers), due to being a former employee of, and having close personal connections with employees of Royal Mencap.

Councillor Murray declared a personal interest in the item relating to reductions in funding (Minute No. 80 refers), due to being a Director of IGEN and a personal and prejudicial interest in this item as the Chief Executive of the Learning Partnerships organisation.

Councillor Blake declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the item relating to reductions in funding (Minute No. 80 refers), due to being vice chair of the trustees of the Health For All organisation.

Councillor Wakefield declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the item relating to reductions in funding (Minute No. 80refers), due to being a member of and having close personal connections with Meanwood  Valley Urban Farm.

Councillors Wakefield, Blake, Gruen, R Lewis, Murray, Ogilvie, Yeadon, Dowson, A Carter and Golton all declared personal interests in the item relating to Community Use of Schools Policy (Minute No. 79 refers), due to their respective positions as school governors.

To consider the report of the Interim Director of Children’s Services regarding a Community Use of Schools Policy, which was the subject of a Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services) call in meeting on 8^th September 2010.

The Interim Director of Children’s Services submitted a report regarding the removal of the central subsidy provision for all community use of schools from November 2010, the establishment of a Community Use policy setting maximum charges levied by schools to recommended user groups, outlining revised policies and procedures around safeguarding the access of such groups to school premises and on the establishment of a central ‘hardship’ grant fund to provide support to users meeting corporate priorities.

This matter had previously been the subject of a delegated decision taken by the Interim Director of Children’s Services, which was subsequently called in and considered by Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services). The Scrutiny Board recommended that this decision was referred back to the decision taker for reconsideration and submitted to Executive Board for determination.

Officers undertook to provide Executive Board Members with a breakdown of financial balances for individual schools and to keep Members briefed on any matters arising from the policy change. Members referred to the possibility of increasing the £50,000 support fund, should this be required.

RESOLVED –

(a).  That approval be given to the ceasing of the central subsidy on community use of schools from November 2010.

(b).  That approval be given to the establishment of a support fund of £50,000. 

(c).  That revised policies and procedures, as set out within section 5 of the submitted report, be approved.

(d).  That an additional grant of £10,000 be provided in order to support supplementary schools, with the administration being carried out by the Head of School Improvement, Education Leeds.

(e).  That the policy, as set out at section 5 of the submitted report, be applied to PFI properties, the lettings of which are administered directly by the Lettings Unit.

(f).  That an update report which provides Board Members with an opportunity to consider and monitor any issues arising from this policy change be submitted to a future meeting of the Board.

(In accordance with Scrutiny Board Procedure Rules, the decisions detailed at (a) to (e) above, being matters which have been the subject of a previous call in, were not eligible for call in on this occasion)

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillors A Carter and Golton required it to be recorded that they had voted against the decisions taken at (a) to (e) above)

To consider the report of the Interim Director of Children’s Services regarding proposals in respect of variations to contracts, Service Level Agreements and grants to external providers, as detailed within the report.

Further to Minute No. 71(b), 25^th August 2010, a report was submitted by the Interim Director of Children’s Services outlining proposals on the management of reductions in expenditure, specifically in respect of payments to internal and external children’s services providers, following the in-year reduction in grants received by the Council. 

The related decisions taken by Executive Board on 25^th August 2010 had been the subject of a Scrutiny Board (Central and Corporate) call in meeting and subsequent discussions at full Council, and it was determined essential that this matter was considered by Executive Board at the earliest opportunity in order to efficiently manage the decisions which needed to be taken in respect of funding reductions, following Government announcements.

Officers undertook to provide Executive Board Members with information relating to those organisations with contracts, grants and service level agreements worth £15,000 or less, and offered to report back to the Board should any significant issues arise in terms of individual organisations.

The Board highlighted the scrutiny inquiry currently being undertaken by Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services) on the funding arrangements for children’s outdoor activity centres, and considered how the findings could be utilised in terms of an individual organisation included within the proposals.

RESOLVED –

(a).  That the schedule of variations to contracts, service level agreements and grants to external providers, as detailed at appendix 1 of the submitted report, be approved.

(b).  That Executive Board request Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services) to prioritise the inquiry it is currently undertaking into the funding arrangements for children’s outdoor activity centres, with the conclusions from the inquiry being presented to Board Members at the earliest available opportunity.

(Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this matter, due to being a member of and having close personal connections with Meanwood Valley Urban Farm, Councillor Wakefield vacated the Chair in favour of Councillor R Lewis and withdrew from the meeting room for the duration of this item)

(Having declared personal and prejudicial interests in this matter, Councillors Murray and Blake withdrew from the meeting room for the duration of this item, due to their respective positions as the Chief Executive of Learning Partnerships and vice chair of the trustees of the Health For All organisation)

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillors A Carter and Golton required it to be recorded that they had voted against the decision taken at (a) above)

DATE FOR PUBLICATION:  27^th September 2010

LAST DATE FOR CALL IN

OF ELIGIBLE DECISIONS:   4^th October 2010 (5.00 P.M.)

(Scrutiny Support will notify Directors of any items called in by 12.00noon on 5^th October 2010)