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 the following late item to the agenda as follows:

Council Housing Investment Review – Councillor Consultation Group (minute 35)

To consider the composition and membership of the Group in  order to facilitate progress of the review and allow for the commencement of meetings in April.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th November 2008.

RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th November 2008 be approved as a correct record.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report seeking agreement to establish a Councillor Consultation Group to support the review of Council Housing Investment following approval from Executive Board in January 2009.

RESOLVED –

(a)  To support the establishment of the Councillor Consultation Group and that the appointments be designated as Strategic and Key.

(b)  That the group consist of 9 Councillors (4 Labour, 2 Conservative, 2 Liberal Democrat and 1 from the minority groups)

(c)  That Councillor Richard Lewis and Councillor Les Carter be appointed and that the remaining vacancies be allocated as Whips nominees.

(a)  Further to minute 22 (Members ICT Development) the current position was noted and it was agreed that a report updating Members be submitted to the next meeting.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods seeking to establish the principle of allowing one elected member from Outer East Area Committee to sit on the committee of Cross Gates Good Neighbours and one member to sit on the committee of HOPE.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report seeking to establish the principle of allowing one selected member from Outer East Area Committee to sit on the committee of Cross Gates Good Neighbours and on member to sit on the committee of HOPE.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That appointments to the committees of Cross Gates Good Neighbours and HOPE be approved.

(b)  That such appointments be categorised as being ‘Community and Local Engagement’ and that such appointments be made by the relevant Area Committee.

To consider the joint report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) and Director of Resources on options in respect of Members’ legal expenses insurance for Members who are subject to a Code of Conduct Enquiry.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) and Director of Resources submitted a joint report on options in respect of Members’ legal expenses insurance for Members who are subject to a Code of Conduct Enquiry.

RESOLVED – That the report be deferred for consideration at a rearranged meeting of this Committee.

To consider the joint report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) and Director of Resources on the insurance protection provided specifically for Members, the indemnity provided for officers and the potential for widening the scope of the Leeds City Council indemnity to include Members.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) and Director of Resources submitted a report on the insurance protection provided specifically for Members, the indemnity provided for officers and the potential for widening the scope of the Leeds City Council indemnity to include Members.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted and the intention of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) to report to the Executive Board on the matter of indemnities and to give such guidance as considered appropriate also be noted.

(b)  That a further report be submitted to this Committee on insurance and indemnities for members.

(c)  That a letter be forwarded to the LGA in respect of the legislation that requires a Member found in breach of the Members Code of Conduct to repay the amount expended for legal representation.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer providing Members with an update on training and development issues relating to Elected Members.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report providing Members with an update on training and development issues relating to Elected Members.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That this Committee endorses the commitment to achieving the Member Development Charter and Charter Plus.

(b)  That the report be noted particularly the attendance summary appended to the report.

(c)  That a report be submitted to a future meeting detailing the approval mechanisms for attendance at conferences in respect of standards issues.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Service Officer updating  Member Management Committee on progress made to deliver a learning and development project to improve the political awareness skills of front-line and management staff.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report updating Members on progress made to deliver a learning and development project to improve the political awareness skills of front-line and management staff.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the proposed content of the learning and development project be endorsed.

(b)  That the roll out timescales and management arrangements for the project be noted.

(c)  To note that Members wished to be involved in this process.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer asking  Member Management Committee to note the current and proposed arrangements in respect of support to Members when appointed to an outside body, what indemnities are in place for Elected Members when representing the Council on Outside Bodies and to seek agreement to the method in which feedback is received from organisations who have elected members serving on their body.   

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report asking Members to note the current and proposed arrangements in respect of support to Members when appointed to an outside body, what indemnities are in place for Elected Members when representing the Council on outside bodies and to seek agreement to the method in which feedback is received from organisations who have elected members serving on their body.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the proposed support for Members as detailed in section 3 of the report be agreed.

(b)  That the proposal in paragraph 5.2 of the report to continue the practices referred to in paragraphs 5.3 and 5.4 of the report be agreed.

(c)  That officers write to the Bishop seeking a meeting to discuss the Council’s representation  on the David Young Community Academy Governing Body.

(d)  To note the following appointments confirmed by the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) since the last meeting of this Committee:

  Outside Body       Member Appointed

  Pupil Referral Unit Management Committee  Councillor Ewens

  JCC (Teachers)    Councillor Campbell

Members Pensions

RESOLVED – That a report be submitted to a future meeting in respect of the current pension arrangements for Members.