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.

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 was no exempt information considered by the Board.

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 interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies were received from the Executive Board Member for Communities in relation to Item 7 of the agenda pack.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2024

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 January 2024, be approved as an accurate record.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser highlighted the following areas as matters arising from the 15 January 2024 meeting of the Board:

Min 71 – Financial Reporting -  Members have been provided with additional information on the HRA following questions from Board members at the last meeting – the HRA now has a plan in place to address the reported overspend.

Min 72 – Budget 2024/25 – A composite report summarising this Board’s discussion of the budget (and the other four boards) was submitted to Executive Board on 7 February as set out under this item in January and will also be in the agenda pack for the full Council meeting on 21 February 2024.

Min 73 – Performance Report – The information on the representative workforce KPI has been received and will be provided to the Board later this week.

Min 74 – Best City Ambition Update – Following the meeting the Chair sent a letter to the Leader of Council and Director of Strategy and Resources setting out the board’s views on the BCA 2024 update in accordance with the budget and policy framework.

To receive an update report from the Director of Strategy and Resources on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) which includes input and feedback from each of the Council’s staff networks. This item builds on previous work undertaken by the Board in 2022/23 which sought to hear directly about lived experiences working for the Council from the staff networks and also to review and comment on the corporate approach to EDI.

The Board considered a report from the Director of Strategy and Resources providing an update on the Council’s approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) which includes input and feedback from each of the Council’s staff networks. This item follows previous work undertaken by the Board in previous municipal years which sought to hear directly about lived experiences working for the Council from the staff networks and also to review and comment on the Council’s wider approach to EDI.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Cllr Debra Coupar, Executive Board Member for Resources

·  Tom Riordan, Chief Executive

·  Mariana Pexton, Director of Strategy and Resources

·  Andy Dodman, Chief Officer HR

·  John Ebo, Head of HR – EDI

·  Vanessa Wenham, Freedom to Speak Up Guardian (FTSUG)

·  Kat Denvir, LGBT+ Network Chair

·  Terry Pycroft, DAWN Network Chair

·  Maisie Roberts, DAWN Network Vice-Chair

·  Lydia Anchen, Women’s Voice Network Chair

·  Carole Gentles, Race Equality Network Co-Chair

·  Hayley Lloyd-Henry, Race Equality Network Co-Chair

·  Mej Chaudhry, Carers Network Chair

·  Helen Saunders, Healthy Minds Network Chair

·  Sasha Walton, Career Advancement Network Co-Chair

·  Paul Leahy, HR Business Partner

The Chief Executive, Tom Riordan recorded his thanks for the work of the networks and in particular the Chairs who take on the responsibility in addition to their daily roles for the Council. It was noted that EDI is a key priority of the Council to reduce stigma and stereotyping and enable people to bring their whole selves to work and achieve their potential. It was emphasised that EDI is central to the Council and what it is trying to achieve on key issues such as having a workforce that reflects the diversity found in Leeds. It is not an easy agenda and sometimes there are difficult issues to address but progress has been made. The recent drive to provide mandatory EDI training to managers was highlighted as a key example of recent work but there is still work to do to ensure that progress continues.

The Chair of the Board, Cllr Khan also added his thanks and appreciation to the networks for the work they do and highlighted the diversity found in Leeds as a strength of the city adding to its vibrancy and contributing to its success.

The Board received a presentation setting out the Council’s overall approach to EDI and the progress made since the issue was last considered by the Board in the 2022/23 municipal year. Key elements of this included:

·  Details on the five workforce priorities on EDI – Training, Recruitment, Data Monitoring, Speaking Up/Discrimination and Progression

·  Information on the five step Be Your Best training programme for the Council’s 2,200 appraising managers, highlighting that the Council is now on the final step of the five step programme which is review and reflection of what the impact has been following this work

·  Voluntary training has also been delivered to elected members with a focus on the committee chairs, Executive Board and other senior elected members

·  The ongoing work of the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

To consider a report from the Chief Officer Economy and Culture setting out an update on delivery of the programme in the second half of 2023, governance arrangements and closedown of the Leeds Culture Trust, evaluation and impact, beyond 2023 and funding and sponsorship. This follows consideration of an update report on Leeds 2023 at the Boards meeting on 17 July 2023 and previous consideration of the programme as part of the Board’s work programme over a number of years.

The Board considered a report from the Chief Officer Economy and Culture setting out an update on delivery of the Leeds 2023 programme in the second half of last year, governance arrangements and closedown of the Leeds Culture Trust, evaluation and impact, beyond 2023 and funding and sponsorship. This follows consideration of an update report on Leeds 2023 at the Boards meeting on 17 July 2023.

In Attendance for this item were:

·  Cllr Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Economy, Culture & Education

·  Eve Roodhouse, Chief Officer, Culture & Economy

·  Karen Murgatroyd, Executive Manager – Leeds 2023

·  Kully Thiarai, Creative Director and CEO Leeds 2023

·  Abigail Scott Paul, Director of External Relations & Strategic Partnerships Leeds 2023

·  Richard Coram, Director of Finance & Operations Leeds 2023

The Executive Member for Economy, Culture & Education opened the item by passing on thanks for the work done by the Leeds 2023 team, noting that it will be the last time they attend scrutiny albeit the final evaluation report will return later in 2024. The Executive Member noted the hundreds of events that had been delivered, the excellent coverage received for the city and the lasting impact the programme will have in terms of inspiring people and economic benefits.

The Board received a presentation from Leeds 2023 setting out the unique Covid-19 impacted circumstances of the programme, the events that had taken place, the goals of the programme, the local and national media coverage, the partners that had taken part, creative engagement and learning and details on evaluation and legacy.

In response to questions and comments from Board members, the following was discussed:

·  The Board asked about neighbourhood hosts and how they integrated/interacted with existing community groups during 2023 and the plans for future work through communities and the neighbourhood hosts. In response the Board were informed that there will be a direct evaluation with the neighbourhood hosts and there is ongoing discussion between the Council and Leeds 2023 around future plans both through community groups and neighbourhood hosts. It was also noted that The Centre for Cultural Value (Leeds University) is conducting specific research on the neighbourhood hosts that will lead to a detailed, qualitative report on their roles. In addition, the neighbourhood host role was new and learning from it will be passed on to the Council around things that could be changed about the approach taken. It was also noted that plans on this and how to take it forward are still being developed a key issue being around funding of any future activity. The Paul Hamlyn Foundation were also to be approached in regard to funding a continuation of the neighbourhood host scheme, and they retain ambition to develop devolved approaches to this type of activity and understanding the impact of grassroots working. The Board also heard that the impact of the pandemic played a part in how the role developed as people were not allowed to meet in person for much of the planning phase.

·  Members wanted to understand more about  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser updated Board members on the following:

·  The March meting is likely to be a busy agenda and it was agreed that the Chair and Adviser would go away and prioritise items mindful of the option to also recommend work items to the successor board in 2024/25, which had been the subject of discussion in the pre-meeting.

Resolved:

The Board:

a)  Noted the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year.

b)  Agreed that in consultation with the Chair items would be prioritised for the March meeting following discussion at the pre-meeting.

The next public meeting of the Board will take place on 25 March 2024 at 10.00am. There will be a pre-meeting for all board members at 9.30am.

The next public meeting of the Board will take place on 25 March 2024 at 10.00am. There will be a pre-meeting for all board members at 9.30am.

Meeting concluded at 13.14.