Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions

Contact: Sandra Pentelow (0113) 37 88655  Email: sandra.pentelow@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

20.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests declared at the meeting.

 

 

21.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted by Cllr N Dawson, Cllr A Ogilvie and Cllr E Taylor. Cllr N Dawson was substituted by Cllr J Pryor and Cllr A Ogilvie was substituted by Cllr J McKenna.

 

 

22.

Minutes - 19 July 2017 pdf icon PDF 73 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2017.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2017 be approved as a correct record.

 

23.

Transport for Leeds - Supertram, NGT and Beyond - Draft Scrutiny Inquiry Report pdf icon PDF 97 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support which presents the draft Scrutiny Inquiry Report, ‘Transport for Leeds, Supertram, NGT and Beyond’, for agreement.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Supported submitted the draft Scrutiny Inquiry Report, ‘Transport for Leeds – Supertram, NGT and Beyond’, for consideration and agreement.

 

The following information was appended to the report:

 

-  Draft Scrutiny Inquiry- Transport for Leeds – Supertram, NGT and Beyond, 27 October 2017

 

The following representatives were in attendance to respond to members questions:

 

-  Martin Farrington – Director of City Development

-  Gary Bartlett – Chief Highways Officer

-  Dave Haskins – Head of Feasibility and Assurance (WYCA)

-  Cllr Richard Lewis – Executive Board Member

-  Sandra Pentelow – Principal Scrutiny Advisor

 

The key areas for discussion were:

 

·  Future investment in the transport infrastructure for Leeds in the short term and long term, and the investment of the £173.5m

·  The success of park and ride schemes and the aspiration to double bus patronage in Leeds.

·  The relationship with bus companies and the current approach of working in partnership to deliver transport improvements. The Board made reference to the recent Bus Services inquiry and the intention to understand powers and opportunities made available under the Bus Services Act 2017.

·  Clarity was sought regarding the intention to consider larger transport schemes.

·  The importance of connecting communities

·  The issue of congestion. The Board requested a report regarding the plan for Leeds be brought to the November meeting.

·  The Boards intention to ensure that lessons learned with regard to consultation and engagement are reflected in further conversations across the city.

 

RESOLVED –

 

The Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure and Investment):

a)  Agreed their inquiry report ‘Transport for Leeds – Supertram, NGT and Beyond.’

b)  Requested a Directors response to the inquiry report in November 2017

c)  Will consider further reports regarding Public Transport Investment and Consultation, and Congestion in November 2017 in accordance with the work programme of the Scrutiny Board.

24.

Highway Asset Management - The Approach To Road Surfacing pdf icon PDF 328 KB

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Highways and Transportation) in response to the request for scrutiny from Cllr Matthew Robinson.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Highways and Transportation) submitted a report in response to the request for scrutiny from Cllr Matthew Robinson regarding highways asset management and the approach to road surfacing.

 

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Highways Maintenance Funding 2002 to 2021

-  Condition Surveys and Condition Banding

-  Life-cycle planning and value for money

-  Treatment Selection

-  Delivery and Monitoring

-  Gully Cleaning Service

-  Letter to Cllr Paul Truswell from Cllr Matthew Robinson 1 June 2016

 

The following representatives were in attendance:

-  Gary Bartlett - Chief Highways Officer

-  Andrew Molyneux – Highways Asset Manager

-  Cllr Richard Lewis – Executive Board Member 

-  Cllr Matthew Robinson

 

The key areas for discussion were:

 

·  The level of investment in carriageway maintenance and the repair of footways and kerbs.

·  Contract management, and the monitoring and inspection of work. The Board was advised that where a failure occurs contractors are asked to correct the defect at their own cost. They are also paid on completion of a job.

·  The removal of invasive weeds and the difficulties of weed treatment due to the regulations in place on the use of herbicides.

·  Standing water and the treatment of kerbs and gullies during and after road treatment.

·  The work backlog and the impact of reduced funding. The board was advised that the value of the backlog is currently £124m

·  The regulation and utilities and working in collaboration with these companies to minimise disruptive road works. It was suggested that a hotline to report issues would be useful.

·  The perception that investment could be targeted more effectively. Slurry top sealing a pavement that was perceived to be in good condition was provided as an example.

·  The intention to continue data monitoring for service life of highways treatments.

 

 

RESOLVED – The Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure and Investment) noted the content of the report in response to the request for Scrutiny.

 

Cllr P Wadsworth left at 12:10pm during consideration of this item.

 

 

25.

Scrutiny Inquiry - Sustainable Development - Session 2 pdf icon PDF 128 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and the Director of City Development which provides information with regard to the second session of the scrutiny inquiry.

Minutes:

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and the Director of City Development submitted a report which provided information to support the 2nd session of the scrutiny inquiry into Sustainable Development.

 

The following representatives were in attendance:

 

-  David Feeney – Head of Strategic Planning

 

The key areas of discussion were:

 

·  It was clarified that there are limitations to sustainable development within the planning system and in national planning guidance. 

·  The intent behind the NPPF and the regular updates due to Ministerial statements and revised planning guidance.

·  Sustainability in planning and its reference to economic development and housing growth with little focus on the management of environmental resources, air quality, transport, public health or climate change.

·  The issues that have arisen relating to housing growth and housing numbers, and the 5 year housing land supply, viability of development and deliverability and developer contributions of S106 and CIL.

·  Concern about the shortfall of developer CIL and S106 contributions and how this is reported and monitored.

·  The perception by some that the NPPF is a Developer’s charter

·  The need to seek reassurance that for future planning proposals, particularly large ones, that all parts of the Council and partners are working properly and genuinely together, including Education, Health and Highways authorities.

·  A request for examples of planning applications which the council turned down in the belief that they were not sustainable and then subsequently upheld by planning inspector.

·  Build out rates on brownfield land and the ongoing dialogue with Developers.

 

 

 

RESOLVED - The Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure and Investment): 

 

a)  noted the information contained within the report.

b)  requested further information regarding CIL, S106 and planning applications referred to above at the October Scrutiny Board meeting. 

 

26.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 91 KB

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2017/18 municipal year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s draft work programme for the 2017/18 municipal year

 

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Draft Scrutiny Board Work Schedule 2017/2018 Municipal Year.

-  Executive Board Minutes 17 July 2017

 

Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Advisor was in attendance to respond to members questions.

 

The key areas of discussion were:

 

·  the structure of the work programme for the remainder of the municipal year and the time framework for the inquiry.

 

RESOLVED – The Scrutiny Board noted the content of the report and agreed the work programme.

27.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Wednesday 25 October 2017 at 10:30 am

 

(pre-meeting for Board Members at 10:00am)

 

Minutes:

The next meeting of the Board will be on Wednesday 25 October 2017 at 10:30am with a pre-meeting at 10am

 

The meeting concluded at 13:10pm