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)

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair admitted two late reports to the agenda for consideration.  Item 11 ‘Local Authority Appointments to Outside Bodies – Nominations for Regional Structures’ and Item 12 ‘Local Authority Appointments to Outside Bodies – Local Government Association General Assembly and Urban Commission.’ The Chair agreed that these items be added to the agenda due to the need to confirm appointments to various bodies.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 13 of the Members Code of Conduct

A declaration of interest made during the meeting is referred to in minute no. 7 (Councillor Procter.)

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th February 2007.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th February 2007 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer on the provision of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) for use by Members.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer presented a report which sought Members’ views on the provision of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) for use by Members. Following a pilot exercise earlier in the year, Officers had undertaken to investigate potential demand for the equipment. On the basis of this it was reported that funding was available for the purchase of up to 50 in the first year, and 25 in the second.

In principle it was intended that PDAs be offered to all Members in the first instance, with a proposal that the roll out programme include a briefing session for interested Members before a formal request for the device would be considered. Individual allocations would then be reviewed on a six-monthly basis.

RESOLVED –

a.)  That the contents of the report be noted;

b.)  That the proposal to commence with rolling out PDAs, as outlined in the report, be endorsed;

c.)  That a further progress report be submitted to the Committee within six months.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer on the Member Development Annual Report for 2006/07.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report regarding the Member Development Annual Report for 2006/07. Contained within the report was a suggestion that the Member Development Working Group be reinstated to continue the work that had begun in the previous year. Members also heard details of a proposal from the Association of West Yorkshire Authorities (AWYA) to fund two places on the IDeA’s Leadership Academy Programme.

RESOLVED –

a.)  That the Member Development Annual Report for 2006/07 be noted;

b.)  That Officers be notified of nominations for two Members to attend the IDeA Leadership Academy, one being reserved to the Labour Group;

c.)  That the Member Development Working Group be reinstated for the new municipal year, with a membership of Councillors Latty, Dowson and Hollingsworth.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods seeking to establish the process through which nominations of Members to the ALMO Area Panels is made.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods presented a report to establish the process through which nominations of Members to the ALMO Area Panels are made. Members were reminded that as part of the process to reduce the number of ALMOs in Leeds from six to three, Executive Board had agreed that Area Panels be established in order to continue to develop tenant participation.

It was proposed that an Area Panel would consist of one main Board member, two Elected Members from the area and six tenant representatives. Area Committees would be charged with nominating to the Panels, with the exception that an Elected Member already serving on a main Board could not be appointed to a Panel.    

RESOLVED – That Area Committees be authorised to make appointments to the ALMO Area Panels.

To consider the report of the Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer seeking members agreement to the appointment process and seeking the appointment of elected member representation including the Chair to the new Grand Theatre and Opera House Ltd Board.

The Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer submitted a report regarding the appointment process for the new Grand Theatre and Opera House Ltd Board and to appoint elected Member representation, including the Chair, to the Board.

Members heard that Executive Board had agreed to the establishment of a new Board made up of five elected Members and four independent members. It was reported that a cross representation of parties was sought, with one member from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Green group, plus the Chair who was proposed to be the relevant Executive Board Member for Leisure. A rota system of 1, 2 and 3 year appointments was proposed in order to develop a rolling programme of membership.

During discussions, it transpired that Councillor D Blackburn no longer wished to sit on the Board as a representative of the Green group. However it was reported that the Morley Borough Independents had expressed an interest in fielding a Member.

RESOLVED –

a.)  That the appointments process for the new Grand Theatre and Opera House Ltd Board be agreed;

b.)  That Councillor Procter (Executive Member for Leisure) be appointed as Chair, that Councillors Blake and Gettings be appointed and that one further Liberal Democrat and one Conservative nominee be forwarded to Officers for action.

(Councillor Procter declared a personal interest in this matter as the Executive Board Member for Leisure.)

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer in relation to  Elected Member appointments to Outside Bodies.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report on Member Appointments to Outside Bodies. The report outlined the Member Management Committee role in relation to Elected Member appointments to outside bodies.

RESOLVED-

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

b.)  That approval be given to the schedule detailing organisations that the Council will continue to make appointments to;

c.)  That the following appointments made by this Committee be approved:

i.)  Children Leeds Partnership – Councillor A Lowe (replacing Councillor P Gruen;) 

ii.)  IGEN – Councillor T Murray (replacing Councillor S Bentley;)

iii.)  Joint Consultative Committee (Teachers) – Councillor A Lowe (unallocated vacancy;)

iv.)  Leeds Admissions Forum – Councillor M Coulson (replacing Councillor J Dowson;)

v.)  Leeds Ahead Board – Councillor M Harris (new appointment;)

vi.)  Leeds Community Foundation – Councillor M Harris (new appointment;)

vii.)  Lord Mayor of Leeds Appeal Fund – Councillor P Gruen (replacing Councillor T Hanley;) 

d.)  That the following resignations be noted:

i.)  Association of West Yorkshire Authorities – Councillor D Blackburn;

ii.)  Leeds Grand Theatre Board and Opera House Board of Management – Councillor D Blackburn;

iii.)  Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Broadband Joint Committee – Councillor R Harker;

e.)  That any further amendments to the schedule be forwarded to

officers for action;

f.)  That the possibility of Councillors Morgan and Coulson being appointed   to serve on Adoption Panels be explored.

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer on Member nominations to regional bodies.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report seeking nominations for positions on regional bodies. Members heard that nominations to various bodies were being sought by both the Local Government Yorkshire and Humber (LGYH) and the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly.

RESOLVED –

a.)  That Councillors Andrew Carter, M Harris, John Procter and S Golton be reconfirmed as the Leeds City Council representatives on Local Government Yorkshire and Humber;

b.)  That the pattern of representation on the following functional boards as outlined below be agreed as the Leeds position to be put forward to the sub and city regional meetings for a final decision:

i.)  Yorkshire and Humber Regional Executive Board – Councillor Andrew Carter representing Leeds City Region;

ii.)  Yorkshire and Humber Regional Transport Board – Councillor Andrew Carter representing Leeds City Region;

iii.)  Yorkshire and Humber Regional Planning Board – Councillor B Anderson representing West Yorkshire;

iv.)  Yorkshire and Humber Housing Board – Councillor Amanda Carter representing West Yorkshire Housing Partnership.   

To consider the report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer on Member appointments to the Local Government Association General Assembly and the Urban Commission.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer presented a report seeking Member representation on the Local Government Association (LGA) General Assembly and the Urban Commission. Members heard that as a major metropolitan authority, Leeds were entitled to four representatives on the General Assembly. In terms of the Urban Commission, the Committee were informed that continuation of the current representation of one officer and one Member was suggested.

RESOLVED –

a.)  That four representatives (one Conservative, one Liberal Democrat, one Labour and one Morley Borough Independent) be nominated for the LGA General Assembly;

b.)  That one officer and one Member be appointed to the Urban Commission, the Member representative being reserved for Councillor Andrew Carter as the portfolio holder for Development and Regeneration.