Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the Municipal Year and invited those present to introduce themselves.

The Chair also thanked Councillors Bentley and J Procter for the manner in which they had chaired the Committee in previous years.

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:

Investment Partnership for South Leeds (minute 7 refers)

To allow urgent consideration of the matter in order that the Council representatives can be appointed and attend meetings of the Partnership.

The Chair also reported that one additional piece of information that related to the report on Role Descriptions had been circulated (minute 12 refers)

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 Gruen declared a personal interest in the item relating to the West Yorkshire Playhouse(minute 11 refers) as a Member of the Board.

Councillor G Hyde declared a personal interest in the item relating to ALMO Appointments (minute 15 refers) as a Member of East North East Homes

Councillor Lobley declared a personal interest in the item relating to Appointments to Outside Bodies (minute 16 refers) as the Chair of Re’new Leeds Ltd and Renewal Leeds Ltd

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th February and 20^th April 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 16^th February 2010 and 20^th April 2010 be approved as a correct record. 

Minute 42 refers (Update on ICT Matters)

A representative from ICT attended the meeting and provided Members with an update in respect of ICT projects and issues that impacted upon Members ; the main areas of discussion were;

·  The provision of IT facilities to the 11 newly elected members

·  Case Management System

·  Broadband provision

·  Support arrangements for Members

·  Wireless provision within the Civic Hall

RESOLVED - 

That a report be submitted to this meeting in October 2010 updating Members in relation to ICT for Members.

The Chief Officer for Children and Young People’s Social Care submitted a report seeking Member Management Committee approval to designate the Corporate Fostering Panel as a Strategic and Key Partnership and appoint elected members to that Panel from a pooling arrangement.

The Chief Officer for Children and Young People’s Social Caresubmitted a  report seeking approval to designate the Civic Fostering Panel as a Strategic and Key Partnership and appoint members to that Panel.

RESOLVED - 

a)  That the Civic Fostering Panel be designated as a Strategic and Key Partnership.

b)  That a pool of 5 members be agreed for this Panel.

c)  That the appointments/appointments be made as follows;

·  Councillor Coulson (Labour)

·  Councillor Morgan (Labour)

·  1 Whips nominee (Conservative)

·  1 Whips nominee (Liberal Democrat)

·  1 Whips nominee (Morley Borough Independent)

To consider the joint report of the Chief Planning Officer and Chief Regeneration Officer seeking the appointment of Elected Members to the Partnership.

The Chief Planning Officer and Chief Regeneration Officer submitted a joint report providing Members with the latest position in relation to the work of the Investment Partnership for South Leeds (IPSL), and seeking approval for additional steering group members and substitutes should members be unable to attend meetings.  It also outlined the extension of the study area to include Hunslet, reflecting representations made at the consultation event held in October 2009.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the Investment Partnership for South Leeds be designated as a Strategic and Key Partnership.

b)  That the increase in size of the Investment Partnership for South Leeds steering group through adding 1 public and 1 private sector representative be noted .

c)  That the appointment of the 2 new members to the steering group be noted and supported:

·  Steve Williams, Chief Executive – Re’new (Chair of the PEG)

·  Bob Murray, Chairman – Sterling Capitol

d)  That the Members be appointed to the following positions as follows;

·  Executive Member for Development & Regeneration – Cllr R Lewis

·  Leader Morley Borough Independent Group – Cllr Finnigan

·  Lead Executive Member Children’s Services – Cllr Blake

·  Beeston and Holbeck ward member – Cllr Gabriel

·  Leader Liberal Democrat Group – Cllr Golton

e) That the Members appointed be approached to nominate substitutes.

To consider the report of the Interim Director of Children’s Services seeking  support to Elected Member involvement on the boards of School Trusts.  It recommends that the relevant Area Committee consider the appointment of an elected member representative to become a trustee.

The report specifically covers proposals for the Brigshaw Federation – A Co-operative Trust which has now been established and recommends that an Elected Member from Outer East Area Committee becomes a trustee.

The Interim Director of Children’s Services submitted a report seeking support for involvement on the boards of School Trusts. The report specifically covered proposals for the Brigshaw Federation – A Co-operative Trust which has now been established.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the Brigshaw School Trust be designated as a Strategic and Key Partnership and that Member Management Committee be the appointing Body.

b)  That the position be allocated to the Labour Group as a Whips nominee.

c)  That a report be submitted to a future meeting detailing arrangements in respect of future Trusts. 

The Interim Director of Children’s Services submitted a report asking that Elected Member representation on the recently formed Children’s Trust Board be amended.

The Interim Director Of Children’s Services submitted a report seeking a Member Management Committee appointment to the Children’s Trust Board.

RESOLVED -  That Councillor Dowson be appointed to the Children’s Trust Board

To consider the report of the  Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer seeking the appointment of elected members to the Board of the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House Ltd.

The Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officersubmitted a report seeking the appointment of four Councillors in addition to the Chair to the Board of Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House Ltd..

Further discussion followed on representation on similar organisations, particularly those receive financial support from the Council.

RESOLVED -

a)  That the following Members be appointed to the Board in addition to the Chair ,Councillor Ogilvie;

• Councillor Nash 
• Councillor Mulherin
• Councillor J Procter
• Councillor Gettings

b)  That a report be brought to a future meeting of this Committee that details supports to similar organisations and what the Council’s representation is on those organisations. The report should also provide information on whether representation on the organisation is proportionate to the Council’s financial contribution. 

To consider the report of the  Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer seeking the appointment of elected members to the West Yorkshire Playhouse Board.

The Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer submitted a report seeking to finalise the appointment of elected members to the West Yorkshire Playhouse Board.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer investigate the potential of making an additional seat on the Board a requirement of future Council grant support.

b)  That Councillor Townsley be appointed to the current vacancy on the Board.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer presenting draft Member role descriptions for discussion.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report presenting draft Member role descriptions for discussion.

RESOLVED – That the attached Member role descriptions be endorsed.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer providing Committee with the Member Development Annual Report 2009/10. The Member Management Committee is asked to note the contents of the Member Development Annual Report 2009/10, and to agree the continuation of the Member Development Working Group and to determine its Membership.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report providing the Member Development Annual Report for 2009/10. Member Development is a key component of the Council’s Annual Corporate Governance Statement.   The Member Development Annual Report details the achievements made in 2009/10 and outlines the actions to be taken in 2010/11.

The report also asked members to note the contents of the Member Development Annual Report 2009/10, and to agree the continuation of the Member Development Working Group and to determine its Membership.

RESOLVED -

a)  That the Member Development Annual Report 2009/10 be noted

b)  That  the continuation of the Member Development Working Group as proposed in paragraph 2.3 of the report be agreed and that Councillor  Dowson Chair this Group.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer requesting that the Member Management Committee establish a working group for the purposes of giving advice and guidance to officers on the development and management of the Members’ lounge facility.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report requesting that members establish a working group for the purposes of giving advice and guidance to officers on the development and management of the Members’ lounge facility.

RESOLVED –

a)  That a working group be established for the purposes of giving advice and guidance for the operation and management of the Members’ lounge and other accommodation matters with implications for Members.

b)  That Councillor Nash Chair the Group and that Cllr G Hyde and Lancaster serve on the group with 1 Conservative member.

To consider the report of  the Head of Strategic Landlord outlining the process agreed in 2006 for appointments of Council Board Members to ALMO boards and providing an update on ALMO boards following the local elections in May 2010.

The Head of Strategic Landlord submitted a report updating Members on the process for appointment of Council Board Members to ALMO Boards, outlining the current position and associated issues following the May 2010 local elections and recommending that the existing process is retained for the appointments to ALMO boards.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the process agreed in December 2006 for the appointment of Council Board Members to ALMO boards be re-affirmed

b) That appointments to the ALMO Boards be made as follows;

  Aire Valley Homes  Cllr Gruen (Labour)

  Cllr Driver  (Labour)

  Cllr Golton  ( Liberal Democrat)

  Cllr Finnigan (MBI)

  East North East Homes  Cllr Wilkinson (Conservative)

  Cllr G Hyde  (Labour)

  Cllr R Grahame  (Labour)

  1 x Lib Dem nominee

  West North West Homes  Cllr A Blackburn (Green)

   Cllr Lowe  (Labour)

   Cllr Chastney (Liberal Democrat)

   1 x Conservative nominee

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer outlining the roles and responsibilities of the Member Management Committee in relation to Elected Member Appointments to Outside Bodies.

The report also provides an update on the Members currently serving on outside bodies and details appointments made since the last meeting of this Committee in April 2010.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report outlining the Member Management Committee’s role in relation to Elected Member Appointments to Outside Bodies and asking the Committee to agree a schedule detailing those organisations that the Council will continue to make an appointment to and agree the nominations to those organisations which fall to the Committee to make an appointment to.

Members discussed in detail the appointments to the various organisations and agreed the allocation of places..

RESOLVED -

a)  That the Appointments to Outside Bodies Procedure Rules appended to the report be noted.

b)  That the schedule appended to the report detailing those organisations that the Council will continue to make an appointment to be agreed

c)  That the nominations to those organisations which fall to the  Committee to make an appointment to be agreed ;

d)  That Councillor Driver or in his absence Councillor A Blackburn be authorised to cast the Council’s vote at the meeting of Groundwork Leeds;

e)  That the change of appointments since the last meeting of the Committee as detailed in 5.7 of the report be noted as follows;

  Outside Body  Member Appointed

  West Yorkshire Playhouse Theatre  Board  Councillor Gruen

  Leeds Children’s Trust Board  Councillor Mulherin

  Leeds Initiative Climate Change  Councillor Murray