Agenda and minutes

CO-OPTED MEMBERS (VOTING)

Mr E A Britten – Church Representative (Catholic)

Mrs K Blacker – Parent Governor Representative (Primary)

Ms J Ward – Parent Governor Representative (Secondary)

CO-OPTED MEMBERS (NON-VOTING)

Ms C Foote – Teacher Representative

Ms D Reilly – Looked After Children/Care Leavers Representative

Ms E Holmes - Young Lives Leeds

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25* of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(* In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

There were no appeals.

1.  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2.  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3.  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

No exempt items have been identified.

There were no exempt 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.)

There were no formal late items. However, there was some supplementary information distributed prior to the meeting in relation to Item 7 - Scrutiny Inquiry ‘Is Leeds a Child Friendly City?’ Draft Report (Minute 21 refers)

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.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies were received from Councillors Forsaith, Gruen, Kidger and Renshaw. Councillors Goddard and Jenkins were in attendance as substitutes.

Apologies were also received from co-opted members A Graham and A Kearsley.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th June 2019.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th June 2019 be approved as a correct record of the meeting.

Matters Arising

In relation to Minute No 7 – Co-opted Members – the Chair formally welcomed Emma Holmes as the new Young Lives Leeds representative of the Scrutiny Board.

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting the draft report of the Scrutiny Board following its recent inquiry ‘Is Leeds a Child Friendly City?’.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report presenting the draft report of the Scrutiny Board following its recent inquiry ‘Is Leeds a Child Friendly City?’.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Venner, Executive Member for Children and Families

-  Councillor Pryor, Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment

-  Steve Walker, Director of Children and Families

-  Phil Mellen, Deputy Director for Learning

-  Tim Pouncey, Chief Officer for Resources and Strategy

The Principal Scrutiny Advisor introduced the report and informed Members of feedback and suggested amendments to recommendations received during the initial consultation process. The Executive Members and the Director welcomed the report, and noted their support for the recommendations. 

In consideration of the draft Inquiry report, a number of matters were raised, including:

·  Knife crime. There was some discussion around the prevalence of knife crime in Leeds, as stated in the draft inquiry report. The Executive Member for Children and Families noted that some clarity was needed within the inquiry report between young people’s fear of knife crime, and the actual rate of knife crime across the city.

·  Communication with young people following consultations. Members noted the importance of feedback to young people for consultations that they contribute to. The Chair informed Members that a child friendly version of the report would be circulated to children and young people who contributed to the inquiry, and the Director welcomed a revised version of recommendation 3 to reflect formalising a process for consultation feedback to young people.

·  Planning applications. There was some discussion around the importance of children and young people being engaged in the formation and examination of broader planning documents as well as acknowledging the need for more targeted engagement associated with relevant planning proposals within specific areas.

·  Healthy relationships and friendships. Members felt that the importance of developing healthy relationships required more prominence in the report, along with a further recommendation specific to providing support and guidance to children and young people around healthy relationships.

·  Opportunities for physical activity across the city. It was agreed that more narrative would be added to the report in recognition of the importance of mapping and communicating the opportunities and activities available to young people across the city in terms of promoting physical activity.

·  Young people having fun growing up. Whilst Members noted that the evidence provided during the inquiry predominantly focused around play opportunities for young children, it was agreed that more narrative would be added to acknowledge the importance of providing fun and creative activities that will appeal to a broad age range, as well as being widely accessible.  Linked to this, particular reference was made to making high quality arts and cultural opportunities accessible to children and young people across the city, in accordance with the city’s Cultural Strategy.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser noted the specific amendments requested during discussions, and informed the Board that a revised version of the inquiry report would be circulated ahead of publication on the Council’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting financial performance information relevant to the remit of the Scrutiny Board.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report that presented financial performance information relevant to the remit of the Scrutiny Board.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Pryor, Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment

-  Steve Walker, Director of Children and Families

-  Phil Mellen, Deputy Director for Learning

-  Tim Pouncey, Chief Officer for Resources and Strategy

The Chief Officer for Resources and Strategy introduced the report, noting an overspend of £2.4m in relation to demand led pressures such as the cost of looked after children, within the context of maintaining low rates of looked after children despite a growing child population in Leeds. The Director added that current refurbishments of children’s homes have resulted in a cost for temporary residential placements, however, this should result in more accommodation and a reduction in external residential placements.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  Traded services. Members sought clarity around the shortfall for traded services, and were informed that the income target set was intended to be challenging, however a lower buy-in from academies had resulted in the shortfall.

·  Cluster Partnerships. At the request of the Board, the Chief Officer for Resources and Strategy agreed to provide a breakdown of Cluster balances managed by maintained schools.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted and the information requested be circulated to Board Members

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support reflecting the Board’s recent discussion surrounding the role of Scrutiny as part of the school organisation proposals and objections procedure and seeking ratification on the proposed way forward.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report that reflected the Board’s recent discussion surrounding the role of Scrutiny as part of the school organisation proposals and objections procedure and seeking ratification on the proposed way forward.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Pryor, Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment

-  Steve Walker, Director of Children and Families

-  Phil Mellen, Deputy Director for Learning

-  Tim Pouncey, Chief Officer for Resources and Strategy

RESOLVED – That the proposed procedure as set out within the report be agreed.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2019/20 municipal year.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny submitted a report which invited Members to consider the Board’s Work Schedule for the remainder of the current municipal year.

The Chair highlighted the Board’s intention during the autumn months to proactively track progress made in implementing any outstanding recommendations stemming from previous pieces of work undertaken by the Scrutiny Board.

Reflecting on the findings of its recent Child Friendly Leeds inquiry and also the Board’s discussions last month, it was agreed that the Board would undertake an inquiry this year around social, emotional and mental health issues of children and young people.  The terms of reference for this inquiry will be considered during the Board’s September 2019 meeting, with the intention of commencing the inquiry in November 2019.

It was also noted that a specific report relating to school exclusion rates in Leeds would be brought to the Board’s October 2019 meeting.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the draft work schedule be noted.

b)  That the Board undertakes an inquiry this year around social, emotional and mental health issues of children and young people and considers the terms of reference for this inquiry at its September 2019 meeting.

c)  That a report relating to school exclusion rates in Leeds be brought to the Board’s October 2019 meeting.

Wednesday, 25^th September 2019 at 10.00 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.45 am)

Wednesday, 25th September 2019 at 10.00 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.45 am)

The meeting ended at 12.05 pm