Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th October 2009.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th October 2009 be approved as a correct record.

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

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

a) Minute 24(b) - Local Codes and Protocols 

RESOLVED – To note that the current legal support to Members who are subject to a Standards complaint is working well and that any concerns in this regard should be referred to the Assistant Chief Executive(Corporate Governance).

b) Minute 24(a) - Local Codes and Protocols 

RESOLVED – That the Assistant Chief Executive(Corporate Governance) be invited to attend this Committee on a regular basis.

c) Minute 24(a) - Local Codes and Protocols 

RESOLVED – That the newly appointed Chair of the Standards Committee be invited to attend future meetings of this Committee.

To consider the report of the Head of Regeneration, East Projects Office  informing members of a proposed review of membership of the Aire Valley Leeds Regeneration Board and to seek nominations of Elected Members to the Board.

The Head of Regeneration, East Projects Office submitted a report informing members of a proposed review of membership of the Aire Valley Leeds Regeneration Board and to seek nominations of Elected Members to the Board.

RESOLVED – That the report be withdrawn and reconsidered at a meeting of this Committee in January 2010.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer for Young People’s Social Care  seeking appointments to the recently formed Civic Fostering Panel.

The Chief Officer for Young People’s Social Care submitted a report seeking appointments to the recently formed Civic Fostering Panel and seeking to fill vacancies in respect of the existing Fostering and Adoptions Panel.

RESOLVED – 

a)  That a further report be submitted to this Committee in February with proposals for alternative mechanisms for the compilation of Fostering and Adoption Panel(s) that could potentially draw upon a larger pool of Elected Members.

b)   That any such report should clearly identify the Statutory requirements in respect of the Fostering and Adoption Panel(s) particularly with regard to the elected Member role and the appointment of the Chair.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer informing Members of the responses to a second questionnaire which was recently circulated amongst Councillors regarding plans to redesign the Council Diary.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report informing Members of the responses to a second questionnaire which was recently circulated amongst Councillors regarding plans to redesign the Council Diary.

RESOLVED  - That the production of the pocket diary be discontinued whilst still producing a filofax version with a calendar section pre-populated with the dates of all Council Meetings.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive(Corporate Governance)proposing an amended training plan which details the training which should be undertaken by Members of the Standards Committee and seeking views of Member Management Committee as to whether Members of the Standards Committee should sit as Members of the Assessment, Review or Hearings Sub-Committees unless and until they have completed the training relevant to the Sub-Committee in question.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) submitted a report proposing an amended training plan which detailed the training which should be undertaken by Members of the Standards Committee and seeking views of Member Management Committee as to whether Members of the Standards Committee should sit as Members of the Assessment, Review or Hearings Sub-Committees unless and until they have completed the training relevant to the Sub-Committee in question.

A detailed discussion followed in respect of:-

·  whether a Standards Committee elected Member was the most appropriate elected Member to be delivering training in respect of council business and political context; 

·  whether it was appropriate for those receiving the training to have the option not to attend the whole of a meeting when they were attending that meeting to gain an understanding of how those committees worked;

·  the need to seek agreement of the elected Member who it is proposed to observe as part of this process;

·  the need to inform whips of Members who have not had the appropriate training. 

·  the provisions for dealing with non compliance by members of the Standards Committee who are not members of Leeds City Council.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the proposal that specified elements of the Standards Committee Training Plan be compulsory be endorsed subject to the concerns raised by this Committee being incorporated as revisions to the proposed training plan.

b)  That the proposed amendment to Article 9 of the Constitution be recommended to the General Purposes Committee for consideration and recommendation to Full Council.

The Chief Officer (ICT) submitted a report providing a position statement on the ICT projects and services which will impact on elected members.

The Chief Officer (ICT) submitted a report providing a position statement on the ICT projects and services which will impact on elected Members.

The Head of ICT Operations, a system administrator and IT Business Relationship Manager attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries in respect of:-

·  archiving solutions;

·  PDA migration and confirmed compatibility with Outlook;

·  timings and the criteria used in respect of the migration process;

·  case management issues and the need for the implementation as soon as possible;

·  the protocols in respect of the redirecting of emails to personal email accounts;

·  who has the ability to access Members email accounts, how often this occurs and in what circumstances this would be done.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report.

b)  That a report be submitted to the February meeting of this Committee updating Members on ICT matters and providing copies of the logs/relevant documentation in respect of Members email accounts.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer proposing a minor amendment to the Appointments to Outside Bodies Procedure Rules.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report proposing a minor amendment to the Appointments to Outside Bodies Procedure Rules.

Members felt that the amendment to the procedure Rules should be as  proposed with the addition of the words ‘or nominee’.

RESOLVED –

That the proposed amendment to the Appointments to Outside Body Procedure Rules 4.6(iii) be submitted to the General Purposes Committee with a recommendation that Council amend the Appointments to Outside Body Procedure Rules 4.6(iii).

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer providing an update on the current position regarding member appointments to Outside Bodies and seeking  to confirm member nominations to remaining vacancies.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report providing an update on the current position regarding Member appointments to Outside Bodies and seeking to confirm Member nominations to remaining vacancies.

Detailed discussion followed in respect of the following Outside Bodies:-

·  Investigation of Air Pollution Standing Conference

·  The National Society for Clean Air Divisional Council

·  Yorkshire Power Stations Joint Environmental Committee

·  Yorkshire & Humber Construction Sector Network

·  Joseph Priestley College Governing Body

·  Appointments Made Since October 2009

RESOLVED –

a)  That the Investigation of Air Pollution Standing Conference be reserved to the Executive Member Environmental Services or nominee.

b)  That the National Society for Clean Air Divisional Council be allocated as a Liberal Democrat appointment.

c)  That the Yorkshire Power Stations Joint Environmental Committee be reserved to the Executive Member Environmental Services or nominee.

d)  That the Yorkshire & Humber Construction Network be categorised as a Strategic and Key Partnership and Councillor Bale be appointed to the body.

e)  That the relevant Chief Officer submit a report to a meeting of this Committee in respect of the Councils relationship with Joseph Priestley College and the value of having a representative on the Governing Body including any personal liabilities that a Member representing the Council on such a governing body may have.

f)  To note the appointments made in accordance with the Appointments to Outside Body Procedure Rule 4.6 since the last meeting of this Committee.