Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Angela Brogden (0113) 37 88661  Email: angela.brogden@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Late Items

 

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

 

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

Minutes:

The following late information was submitted to the Board:

 

·  Agenda item 8 – 2016/17 Best Council Plan Performance Report – revised versions of the appendices.

 

The above information was to be made available on the Council’s website.

 

2.

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 disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting.

 

3.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

 

4.

Scrutiny Board Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 120 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting the Board’s terms of reference.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report which presented terms of reference for the Inclusive Growth, Culture and Sport Scrutiny Board for Members’ information.

 

In acknowledging the special responsibilities assigned to particular Scrutiny Boards, the Board requested that further clarification be sought from the Council’s Chief Executive and Leader regarding the formal role of Scrutiny in relation to the Council’s approach towards preparing Leeds’ citizens, businesses and public sector services for the potential impacts of Brexit. 

 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Board’s terms of reference be noted.

(b)  That further clarification is sought from the Council’s Chief Executive and Leader regarding the formal role of Scrutiny in relation to the Council’s approach towards preparing Leeds’ citizens, businesses and public sector services for the potential impacts of Brexit.

 

5.

Co-opted Members pdf icon PDF 111 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support on the appointment of coopted members to Scrutiny Boards.

Minutes:

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report which sought the Board’s formal consideration for the appointment of co-opted members.

 

The Board was informed that they could appoint the following:

 

·  Up to five non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that does not go beyond the next Annual Meeting of the Council; and/or

·  Up to two non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that relates to the duration of a particular and specific scrutiny inquiry.

 

RESOLVED – That the Board considers the appointment of co-opted members on an ad-hoc basis for any inquiries where it was deemed appropriate.

 

6.

2016/17 Best Council Plan Performance Report pdf icon PDF 264 KB

To receive a report from the Director of City Development and Director of Children’s Services presenting a summary of performance against the strategic objectives for the council relevant to the Inclusive Growth, Culture and Sport Scrutiny Board within the annual 2016/17 part of the Best Council Plan 2015-20.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of City Development and Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which presented a summary of performance against the strategic objectives for the council relevant to the Inclusive Growth, Culture and Sport Scrutiny Board within the annual 2016/17 part of the Best Council Plan 2015-20.

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Councillor Richard Lewis, Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning

-  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

-  Sue Wynne, Chief Officer (Employment and Skills)

-  Tom Bridges, Chief Officer (Economy and Regeneration)

-  Cluny Macpherson, Chief Officer (Culture and Sport)

-  Mark Allman, Head of Sport and Active Lifestyles

-  Andrew Eastwood, Chief Officer (Learning Improvement)

-  Richard Amos, Partnership Team Senior Manager 14-19.

 

The key areas of discussion were:

 

Inclusive Growth

 

·  An overview of the local economy, particularly the development of legal, financial and digital sectors.

·  General issues surrounding low wage sectors and initiatives to support individuals and employers to improve skills and progression into better jobs.

·  The role of the More Jobs Better Jobs Partnership, particularly in encouraging businesses to pay the Real Living Wage (currently £8.45 an hour).

·  The need for identifying and targeting investment in priority neighbourhoods.

·  Concern about marginal growth in relation to manufacturing and the role of the Council in assisting to attract more people into the industry.

·  The need to develop a workforce in the context of technological change.

·  Monitoring growth and innovation and developing close links with local universities.

·  The need for businesses and partners to publish details of their gender pay gap.

·  An update regarding recent changes to data collection and recording of NEET figures. 

·  The Board was advised that the new draft Inclusive Growth Strategy was being submitted to Executive Board in July for approval to formally consult on the draft Strategy over the summer.  In acknowledging that many of the issues raised by the Scrutiny Board are captured within the draft Strategy, it was suggested that the Board also feeds into this consultation process. 

 

Culture

 

·  Reference was made to the Leeds bid for European Capital of Culture 2023 and it was noted that the Chair had already requested a detailed update on this as part of the Board’s July meeting.

·  Whilst acknowledging that the Leeds Culture Strategy 2017-2030 was being reported to Executive Board in July for formal approval, the Board expressed a wish to maintain a watching brief of the delivery plan linked to the new Strategy.

·  The need to improve accessibility to arts and cultural events.  It was advised that work was being undertaken with organisations aimed at ensuring that all communities benefited.

·  The importance of transport and infrastructure to access events.

·  Clarification provided regarding the role of the European Advisory Group.

 

Sport

 

·  Concern about the high levels of physical inactivity and the poor health implications that then result. This being especially prevalent in deprived communities.

·  An update on the development of the pitch strategy.

·  Development of work with GPs and public health to encourage more active lifestyles.

·  The impact of health inactivity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 116 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 provided information on potential sources of work and areas of priority within the Board’s terms of reference.

 

The following information was appended to the report:

 

-  Vision for Scrutiny at Leeds

-  Best Council Plan 2017/18: Tackling poverty and reducing inequalities

-  Scrutiny Board (Inclusive Growth, Culture and Sport) draft work schedule for 2017/18 municipal year.

 

Reflecting on the discussion held during the previous agenda item, the Board expressed an interest in undertaking further scrutiny work as follows: 

 

·  To scope a review that will add value towards the Council’s objective to achieve inclusive growth, with particular focus on addressing local employment and skills gaps.

·  To scope a review that will add value towards the Council’s work in tackling health inequalities through the promotion of more active lifestyles for the citizens of Leeds.

·  To maintain a watching brief and help inform the Council’s approach towards devolution.

·  To maintain a watching brief on the delivery plan linked to the new Culture Strategy 2017-2030.

·  To proactively respond to the Council’s consultation on the new draft Inclusive Growth Strategy.

·  To maintain a watching brief and help inform the Council’s European Capital for Culture 2023 bid.

 

RESOLVED –  That the Principal Scrutiny Adviser works with the Chair to incorporate the areas of work agreed by the Scrutiny Board into its work schedule for the forthcoming year.

 

8.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Wednesday, 26 July 2017 at 10.30 am (pre meeting for all Board Members at 10.00 am)

Minutes:

Wednesday, 26 July 2017 at 10.30am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.00am)

 

 

(The meeting concluded at 1.00pm)