Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th June 2008.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th June 2008 be approved as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest made at this point, however Councillor Procter declared a personal interest during consideration of the item in relation to Substitute Arrangements on Boards, Panels and Committee (minute 10 refers)

(a)  Further to minute 2(a) of the meeting held on 10^th June 2008 Members requested that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee in relation to the PDA roll out.

(b)  Further to minute 2(a) of the meeting held on 10^th June 2008 Members requested that a report of the IT working group be submitted to a future meeting.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive(Corporate Governance) outlining the current extent of substitute arrangements for Boards, Panels and Committees and responding to concerns expressed by Whips that current substitute arrangements for the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee are not adequate and that substitute arrangements should be introduced in relation to all meetings.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) submitted a report outlining the current extent of substitute arrangements for Boards, Panels and Committees.

Detailed discussion ensued on this item particularly in relation to substitution arrangements for Standards Committee due to the nature of the work of the Committee and the current number of members from each group who serve on the Committee.

Discussion also took place on current substitute arrangements as detailed in Council Procedure Rule 26 and more generally the current Standards arrangements particularly in relation to member conduct issues.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Constitutional Proposals Committee in relation to:-

·  substitute arrangements for Standards Committee

·  substitute arrangements for Scrutiny meetings

·  possible amendments to Council Procedure Rule 26.1(a) with regard to training requirements for regular members

(b)  That a report be submitted to the next meeting of this Committee in relation to:

·  the review of existing standards arrangements

·  the possible attendance of the Standards Committee Chair at this Committee

·  the training arrangements for non-elected members on Standards Committee

·  the training arrangements for council officers to spend a ‘day in the life’ of an Elected Member  

(Councillor Procter declared a personal interest in this item as a member who is the subject of a complaint)

(Councillor Blackburn arrived during consideration of the item on substitute arrangements)

To consider the joint report of the Assistant Chief Executive(Corporate Governance) and Director of Resources advising Members of the current policy in place to indemnify Members against the legal costs of defending themselves from allegations of misconduct and advise members how to set in motion the process by which they may obtain legal representation under the insurance arrangements.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) and Director of Resources submitted a joint report advising Members of the current policy in place to indemnify Members against the legal costs of defending themselves from allegations of misconduct and advised Members how to set in motion the process by which they may obtain legal representation under the insurance arrangements.

RESOLVED –

(a)  To receive and note the report.

(b)  That by the end of October proposed revised insurance proposals should be circulated to all members of this Committee.

(c)  That a report detailing the current position be submitted to the next meeting of this Committee.

(Councillor Hamilton left the meeting during consideration of the item on Insurance Arrangements)

To consider the report of the Chief Executive of Education Leeds seeking agreement to a nomination for a position on the city wide Pupil Referral Units (PRU) Management Committee

Further to minute 3 of the meeting held on the 10^th June 2008 the Chief Executive of Education Leeds submitted a report seeking a nomination for a position on the city wide Pupil Referral Unit’s Management Committee.

RESOLVED –

(a)  To note that 2 places for elected members were available on the Pupil Referral Unit Management Committee.

(b)  That this body be allocated as Strategic and Key and Member Management Committee be the appointing body.

(c)  That 1 place be allocated to the Labour Group as a Whip’s nominee and 1 place be allocated to the Administration.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive of Education Leeds seeking agreement to a nomination for a position on the Prent partnership Board.

Further to minute 4 of the meeting held on the 10^th June 2008 the Chief Executive of Education Leeds submitted a report seeking a nomination to be a member of the Parent Partnership Advisory Board.

RESOLVED –

(a)  To note that 2 places for elected members were available on the Parent Partnership Service Advisory Board.

(b)  That this body be allocated as Strategic and Key and Member Management Committee be the appointing body.

(c)  That 1 place be allocated to the Labour Group as a Whip’s nominee and 1 place be allocated to the Administration.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods seeking to establish the principle of allowing the council’s Area Committees to appoint elected members from the Area Committees on to the local, district, partnership groups of Leeds Initiative.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report seeking to establish the principle of allowing the Council’s Area Committees to appoint elected Members onto the local, district groups of Leeds Initiative.

RESOLVED -  That the report be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee in order that a representative from the Department of Environment and Neighbourhoods can be in attendance to deal with any queries that members may have.

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 to provide Members with an update on training and development issues relating to elected Members, specifically in relation to the:-

• Draft Member Development Strategy for 2008-2011
• Proposed events programme for autumn/winter 2008/09
• Review of this year’s induction for new members
• Summary of other ongoing projects, including mentoring
• Planning scrutiny review of Member Development

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Member Development Strategy 2008 to 2011 including the Foreword be endorsed.

(b)  That the contents of the report and in particular the plans to scrutinise the Member Development function be noted.

(c)  That information in respect of officer training particularly in relation to the awareness of the role of elected members be submitted to a meeting of this Committee.

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

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report on Member appointments to outside bodies and provided an update in relation to:

• Harrison and Potter Trust/Josiah Jenkinson Charity
• David Young Community Academy
• Environment Agency – Ridings Area Environment Group
• Leeds College of Art and Design
• Normandy Veterans Association – Leeds Branch
• Appointments made since June 2008 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That Councillor Bentley be appointed to the Harrison and Potter Trust/ Josiah Jenkinson Charity.

(b)  (i)  That Councillor Gruen remain a governor on the David Young Academy

  (ii)  That officers write to the Diocese requesting that they go through the procedure that will bring about the City Council having 2 representatives on this body

(c)  That the position in relation to the Environment Agency-Ridings Area Environment Group be noted.

(d)  That the position in relation to the Leeds College of Art and Design be noted.

(e)  (i)  That Councillor Lancaster be appointed as a Veterans Champion for the Normandy Veterans Association-Leeds Branch

  (ii)  That officers contact the Association to establish if the Council could have one additional role of champion for Councillor Lyons

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

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor Gruen required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting in relation to resolution (b)(i).