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

49.

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 11 – Draft terms of reference relating to the Board’s forthcoming inquiry into Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) provision in Leeds.

 

The above information was not available at the time of agenda despatch but was subsequently made available on the Council’s website.

 

50.

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.

 

51.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

An apology for absence was submitted by Councillor M Robinson.  Notification had been received that Councillor D Cohen was to substitute for

Councillor Robinson.

 

52.

Minutes - 13 December 2017 pdf icon PDF 75 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13th December 2017.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 13th December 2017 be approved as a correct record.

 

53.

Quarter 2, 2017/18 Best Council Plan Performance Report pdf icon PDF 447 KB

To receive a report from the Director of City Development; Director of Children and Families; and Chief Executive presenting the Best Council Plan Quarter 2, 2017/18 performance information relevant to the Board’s remit.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The joint report of the Director of City Development; Director of Children and Families; and the Chief Executive provided a summary of the Best Council Plan Quarter 2 (2017/18) performance in relation to those areas that fall within the Scrutiny Board’s remit.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

·  Councillor James Lewis, Executive Member for Resources and Strategy

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

·  Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Employment, Skills and Opportunity

·  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

·  Sue Wynne, Chief Officer Employment and Skills

 

The key areas of discussion were:

 

·  Actions aimed at improving productivity, with particular reference made to the positive role of the Council’s Adult Learning Programme and existing relationships with a range of training providers aimed at supporting more people to improve their skills.

·  Delivery of the Apprenticeship Hub programme, which is now the responsibility of Interserve through their Absolute Apprenticeships programme.  However, in acknowledging that Interserve had issued a profit warning last September, the Board also sought further clarity surrounding the Council’s wider involvement with the company.

·  Continued efforts in promoting the Real Living Wage of £8.45 per hour amongst employers in recognition that in 2017, 19.8% of all working residents in Leeds earned less than the Real Living Wage.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and further clarity provided to the Board in relation to the Council’s wider involvement with Interserve.

 

54.

Financial health monitoring pdf icon PDF 57 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting the latest Financial Health Monitoring information for the Board’s consideration.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presented the latest financial health monitoring report (month 7) as presented to the Executive Board on 13th December 2017.

 

However, the Chair proposed that the Board’s consideration of this report be undertaken in conjunction with Agenda Item 9 ‘Initial Budget Proposals for 2018/19’.

 

RESOLVED – That the Board’s consideration of the Financial Health Monitoring report be undertaken in conjunction with Agenda Item 9 ‘Initial Budget Proposals for 2018/19’.

 

55.

Initial budget proposals for 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 90 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting the initial budget proposals for 2018/19.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presented details of the Initial Budget Proposals for 2018-19, which included a copy of the Executive Board report dated 13th December 2017.  The Board was asked to consider matters and proposals relating to service areas that fall within its remit and identify any comments and/or recommendations to be submitted for consideration by the Executive Board at its meeting on 7th February 2018.

 

As agreed, the examination of the initial budget proposals was undertaken in conjunction with a review of the in-year financial health of the authority (as at month 7).

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

·  Councillor James Lewis, Executive Member for Resources and Strategy

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

·  Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Employment, Skills and Opportunity

·  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

·  Ed Mylan, Chief Officer Resources and Strategy

·  Jill Stuart, Principal Financial Manager

 

The key issues raised were as follows:

 

·  The Board welcomed the successful application of the pilot 100% business rates retention in 2018/19, acknowledging that 50% of additional growth income is to be retained with the Pool to continue to support and enable regional economic growth.

·  The Board acknowledged the existing budget pressures within the City Development directorate and the actions identified to mitigate these in order to reach a balanced budget.

·  The Board discussed existing pressures within Sport and Active Lifestyles, equating to £374k in month 7.  In particular, Members acknowledged the notable downturn in income at John Smeaton Leisure Centre (a pressure of £228k) due to two new budget gyms opening in close proximity.

·  Linked to this, reference was made to the European Court of Justice ruling in July 2017 stating that local authority in-house leisure services should be in an identical VAT position to Trusts and ‘not for profit’ companies. Acknowledging the ruling had resulted in a £1.2m in-year income windfall the Board noted the subsequent actions taken to help retain and attract customers, such as a reduction in the price of the Bodyline Membership. However, the Board noted that not all of the VAT saving had been passed directly onto customers and so further clarity was sought in this regard.

 

In conclusion, the Chair confirmed that whilst the Scrutiny Board did not wish to make any formal recommendations to the Executive Board in relation to the initial budget proposals for 2018/19, a summary of the Board’s key observations would be reported back to the Executive Board as part of a composite report produced by Scrutiny.

 

RESOLVED – That a summary of the Board’s key observations in relation to the Initial Budget Proposals for 2018/19 be reported back to the Executive Board as part of a composite report produced by Scrutiny.

 

56.

Best Council Plan Refresh for 2018/19 - 2020/21 - Initial proposals pdf icon PDF 141 KB

To consider a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support introducing the initial proposals around the Best Council Plan Refresh for 2018/19 – 2020/21, presented to and considered by Executive Board at its meeting on 13 December 2017.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support invited the Scrutiny Board to consider and provide any comment on initial proposals linked to a refresh of the Best Council Plan for 2018/19 – 2020/21.  A copy of the Executive Board report dated 13th December 2017 was appended to provide further details of the initial proposals.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

·  Councillor James Lewis, Executive Member for Strategy and Resources

·  Coral Main, Head of Business Planning and Risk

 

The key issues raised were as follows:

 

·  Particular reference was made to the recent piece of work undertaken by the Scrutiny Board in supporting the development of a whole systems approach towards physical activity. The Board acknowledged that ‘supporting healthy, active lifestyles’ is to be reflected within the refreshed Health and Wellbeing priority. However, the Board felt that this area still warranted more prominence in terms of becoming a Best Council Plan priority or city-wide obsession if a sustainable whole systems approach is to be achieved.

·  Whilst acknowledging the complexities in capturing data surrounding loneliness and social isolation, the Board emphasised the importance of undertaking further work aimed at developing a Best Council Plan KPI that focuses on reducing loneliness and social isolation.

·  There was also support from the Board for the retention of the ‘Child Friendly City’ priority.

 

In conclusion, the Chair explained that the comments made by the Board would be reflected in a composite report by Scrutiny and reported back to the Executive Board at its meeting on 7th February 2018.

 

RESOLVED – That the above comments made by the Board are reflected in a composite report by Scrutiny and reported back to the Executive Board at its meeting on 7th February 2018.

 

57.

Scrutiny Inquiry into Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) provision in Leeds - draft terms of reference pdf icon PDF 98 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting draft terms of reference for the Board’s forthcoming inquiry into Information, Advice and Guidance provision in Leeds.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presented the

draft terms of reference for the Board’s forthcoming inquiry into Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) provision in Leeds.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

·  Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Employment, Skills and Opportunity

·  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

·  Sue Wynne, Chief Officer Employment and Skills

 

RESOLVED – That the draft terms of reference in relation to the Board’s

forthcoming inquiry into IAG provision in Leeds be approved.

 

58.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 108 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 invited Members to consider the Board’s work schedule for the 2017/18 municipal year.

 

The Chair made a suggestion to shorten the next pre-meeting to 15 minutes and therefore proposed that the Board’s formal meeting on Wednesday 14th February 2018 commences at the earlier time of 10.15 am

 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Board’s next meeting on Wednesday 14th February 2018 commences at the earlier time of 10.15 am.

(b)  That subject to any on-going discussions and scheduling decisions, the Board’s outline work schedule be approved.

 

59.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Wednesday, 14th February 2018 at 10.30 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.00 am)

Minutes:

Wednesday, 14th February 2018 at 10.15 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.00 am)

 

The meeting concluded at 12.15 pm.