Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25* of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(* In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

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

  No exempt items have been identified.

There were no exempt items.

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

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

There were no late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

No declarations or disclosable pecuniary interests were made.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received from the following Councillors, some of whom had sent representatives:

·  Councillor Firth, with Councillor Barry Anderson substituting;

·  Councillor Seary, with Councillor Trish Smith substituting;

·  Councillor Tunnicliffe, with Councillor Ron Grahame substituting; and

·  Councillor Ragan.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Scrutiny Board (Strategy and Resources) meeting held on 1^st April 2019.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 1^st April 2019 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting the Scrutiny Board’s terms of reference.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report setting out the Terms of Reference for the Scrutiny Board (Strategy and Resources) for Members’ information.

Members’ attention was drawn to the appendices of the submitted report.

RESOLVED – To note the Scrutiny Board’s terms of reference.

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support on the appointment of co-opted members to the Scrutiny Board (Strategy and Resources).

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support provided guidance to the Scrutiny Board when seeking to appoint co-opted members.

The Board was informed of the following options for the appointment of co-opted members:

·  Up to five non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that does not go beyond the next Annual meeting of council; and/or

·  Up to two non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that relates to the duration of a particular and specific scrutiny inquiry.

RESOLVED –

(a) To note the information presented and options available for the appointment of co-opted members.

(b) To consider the appointment of co-opted members on an ad-hoc basis for any inquiries where it was deemed appropriate.

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support on potential sources of work for the Scrutiny Board.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report which provided information and guidance on potential sources of work to assist the Board in determining its work schedule for 2019/20.

Appended to the report was a copy of the Vision for Scrutiny at Leeds, Best Council Plan update for 2019/20 – 2020/21 and Leeds City Council 2019/20 Budget Report – Resources and Housing, Strategic Central Accounts and Communities and Environment.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Councillor James Lewis, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Resources
• Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment
• Neil Evans, Director of Resources and Housing
• Victoria Bradshaw, Chief Officer Financial Services
• Cluny MacPherson, Chief Officer Culture and Sport
• Lee Hemsworth, Chief Officer, Customer Access and Services
• Tim Rollett, Intelligence and Policy Manager

Those in attendance were invited to give a summary of their areas of responsibility, including priority areas and some of the financial and organisational issues facing the Council.  Members of the Scrutiny Board also shared their views on potential areas of Scrutiny work. 

During the Board’s discussion, it was suggested that further Scrutiny work be undertaken in relation to the following:

·  To review the Council’s financial strategy and future medium term financial planning approach;

·  To consider existing and future efforts towards the reduction of energy consumption in council buildings;

·  Exploring methods and opportunities to promote sustainable travel options for staff.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted and used to inform the

Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.

To receive a report from the Director of Resources and Housing and Director of City Development which provides a summary of performance information relevant to the Board’s remit.

The report of the Director of Resources and Housing and the Director of City Development provided Members with key performance information to also help identify key areas for future scrutiny work in terms of supporting improvement across council outcomes, priorities and values.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Councillor James Lewis, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Resources
• Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment
• Neil Evans, Director of Resources and Housing
• Victoria Bradshaw, Chief Officer Financial Services
• Cluny MacPherson, Chief Officer Culture and Sport
• Tim Rollett, Intelligence and Policy Manager
• Lee Hemsworth, Chief Officer, Customer Access and Services

Members’ discussions focused on the following areas:

·  Procurement of locally supplied services and goods. Members were particularly interested to receive more information on this area. Linked to this, it was acknowledged that the Council’s new Procurement Strategy was due to be considered for approval by Executive Board in June. It was therefore suggested that the Scrutiny Board maintain a watching brief on the delivery of this Strategy.

·  Demographics of the Council’s workforce, including equality criteria.  Members noted the ongoing efforts being made to increase diversity disclosure rates in relation to criteria such as disability, sexuality, or carers. A suggestion was made for future reports to also illustrate performance trends in this area of work.

·  Employment in the Creative Industries in Leeds.  Members noted the year-on-year fall of people employed in the Creative Industries in Leeds and the association of this sector with the ‘gig’ economy, with more people potentially moving from employed to self-employed, working as-and-when required.  It was also felt that the re-location of Channel 4 to the city will help attract further jobs and other companies associated with this sector.

RESOLVED – To note the performance information in the report and the issues which have been highlighted.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2019/20 municipal year.

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support requested Members give consideration to the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming year.

A draft work schedule was attached to the submitted report. Included within the draft work schedule were traditional items of scrutiny work in relation to tracking of work previously undertaken by this Board; performance monitoring reports and any Budget and Policy Framework Plans.

As well as reflecting on the potential areas of work identified earlier in the meeting, further suggestions were made for the Board to continue monitoring progress with regard to Devolution and to request an update on local preparations associated with Brexit.

RESOLVED –

(a) That the draft work schedule be noted.

(b) That the Principal Scrutiny Adviser works with the Chair to incorporate the

areas of work identified by the Scrutiny Board into its work schedule for the

forthcoming year.

Monday, 15 July 2019 at 10.30 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.00 am)

The next meeting of Scrutiny Board (Strategy and Resources) will be on Monday 15^th July 2019 at 10.30am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.00am)