Agenda and minutes

Venue: Remote Meeting

Contact: Angela Brogden (0113) 37 88666  Email: angela.brogden@leeds.gov.uk

Link: to View Meeting Recording

Items
No. Item

Co-optee present - Dr. J Beal

41.

Nomination of Chair

Minutes:

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser informed Members that the Chair of the Board, Councillor Hayden, had sent her apologies and was therefore seeking nomination to the Chair.

 

Councillor Truswell was nominated to the Chair with the agreement of all Board Members.

 

RESOLVED – That Councillor Truswell be formally elected to the Chair.

 

42.

Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents

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).

Minutes:

There were no appeals.

 

 

43.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

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.

Minutes:

There were no exempt items.

 

 

44.

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:

There were no late items. However, some supplementary information was circulated and published in relation to Agenda Item 9 – Aireborough Leisure Centre Renovation Project (Minute 50 refers)

 

 

45.

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.

 

 

46.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors H Hayden and M Iqbal. Councillor K Renshaw was in attendance as substitute.

 

 

47.

Minutes - 20th October 2020 pdf icon PDF 223 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20th October 2020.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 20th October 2020 be approved as an accurate record.

 

 

48.

Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board - Progress Report pdf icon PDF 225 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic Services presenting a progress update from the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB), including details of the LSAB Annual Report for 2019/20 and the Strategic Plan for April 2020 – March 2023.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that presented a progress update from the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB), including details of the LSAB Annual Report for 2019/20 and the Strategic Plan for April 2020 – March 2023.

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Councillor Rebecca Charlwood, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adults

-  Cath Roff, Director of Adults and Health

-  Shona McFarlane, Deputy Director, Social Work and Social Care Services

-  Richard Jones CBE, Independent Chair of the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board

-  Emma Mortimer, Safeguarding Adults Board Manager

 

The Independent Chair of the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board introduced the report, highlighting the work ongoing to ensure that the Board’s work is driven by lived experiences by engaging with different groups and working in partnerships with other organisations, to continue to meet individual’s outcomes by mitigating and reducing risk. In relation to COVID-19, Members were advised that the Safeguarding Adults Board had undertaken a project to understand the impact of COVID-19, noting some of the key challenges, areas of concerns, and learning from across the health and care sector.

 

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

 

·  Data and trends for referrals during 2019/20. In response to a query, Members were advised that the safeguarding referrals initially reduced at the beginning of the pandemic, however, referrals have more recently begun to move on an upwards trajectory. Members also queried the depiction of overlapping forms of abuse within the data provided. Members were advised that the categories as set out in the report are identified by central government and referrals are categorised by the primary concerns. It was also confirmed that the figures relate to referrals, and therefore a number of referrals may be associated with a single individual.

·  Mapping of cases to identify need for additional services and support. Members suggested that future reports identify areas of Leeds with high figures of abuse, to evidence increased risk of some forms of abuse in more deprived wards. Members were advised that abuse is not defined by socioeconomic groups, due to the range of forms of abuse that happens in all settings, including commissioned services. However, it was noted that more detailed geographical analysis could be provided to Board Members.

·  Engaging with faith groups. Members noted the cases of child and adult sexual abuse within religious and faith settings, and sought more information on the engagement with these groups. Members were advised that teams work with communities to offer support and training, including social care with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

·  Board-level audit. Members were advised that the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board are progressing new audit processes to understand people’s experiences during the safeguarding process.

·  Instances of financial scamming increasing due to COVID-19. In response to a query, it was noted that the Board continues to work collaboratively with partners as the challenge and threat of fraudulent activity continues to develop. 

 

RESOLVED –

 

a)  That the contents of the report, along with Members comments, be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

49.

Active Leeds Update pdf icon PDF 149 KB

To receive a report from the Director of City Development and a presentation surrounding the broad work that is being carried out by the Active Leeds Service to promote healthy and active lifestyles across the city.

Minutes:

The Director of City Development submitted a report setting out the broad work that is being carried out by the Active Leeds Service to promote healthy and active lifestyles across the city.

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Active Lifestyles

-  Phil Evans, Chief Officer for Operations, City Development

-  Steve Baker, Business Manager, Active Leeds

-  Natalie Curgenven, Operations Manager, Active Leeds

-  Gill Keddie, Development Manager, Active Leeds

-  Katy Bowden, Development Manager, Active Leeds

 

Officers delivered two PowerPoint presentations. The first presentation provided an update on the progress of the Active Leeds agenda in the last 12 months, some of the challenges experienced as a result of the pandemic and subsequent closure of Council facilities, as well as opportunities to use physical activity to support the recovery from COVID-19. The second presentation provided an update on ‘Get Set Leeds’ - the physical activity ambition for Leeds – highlighting key trends for current activity levels and the need to kick-start further conversations around how to make Leeds a more active city.

 

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

 

·  Staff welfare in leisure centres. In response to a query, Members were advised that staff have welcomed coming back on site and work with their managers around their own wellbeing. Staff have had a very active role in developing services to be COVID secure.

·  Opportunities to develop technological solutions to activity.  Reference was made to the development of an App to deliver livestreaming classes from mainstream fitness classes to health programmes circuit classes.  The Board requested that details of this App, including more general information on services currently available, be shared with all Elected Members to help promote such services more widely.  Some Members had expressed concerns around digital exclusion, particularly with regard to those who are vulnerable and in most need of physical health intervention. Members were advised that there was a much higher older age audience for digital resources than expected, however, officers assured Members that staff, in partnership with other support services, have enabled some in-person support for physical activity to vulnerable groups.

·  Impact of changes in membership costs and closure of facilities on budgets. Members queried whether any additional financial support had been provided by government to help with service recovery following the inevitable loss of income. In response, it was noted that while some income compensation had been provided by government, local authorities were expected to subsume the first 5% of lost income.  It was also noted that any support funding would need to be factored into the council’s overall financial strategy.  With regard to membership numbers, it was noted that while there was an initial decline in membership numbers, the service is working hard to build that back up again and has already started to attract new customers.

·  Focus on supporting areas of high deprivation and BAME communities to engage in physical activity. In response to a query, Members were advised that teams  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

50.

Aireborough Leisure Centre Renovation Project - Scrutiny Working Group Summary pdf icon PDF 336 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic Services presenting a summary of the key issues arising from the evidence presented at a working group meeting of the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board in relation to the Aireborough Leisure Centre renovation project.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that presented a summary of the key issues arising from the evidence presented at a working group meeting of the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board in relation to the Aireborough Leisure Centre renovation project.

 

A summary note of the scrutiny working group meeting held on 3rd November 2020 was circulated as supplementary information following agenda publication.

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Active Lifestyles

-  Phil Evans, Chief Officer for Operations, City Development

-  Steve Baker, Business Manager, Active Leeds

 

Councillor Graham Latty, ward member for Guiseley and Rawdon, highlighted that Aireborough Leisure Centre remains a highly regarded asset to the communities of North-West Leeds and emphasised the importance of good communication and efficient project management throughout the process of refurbishment of local facilities.

 

The Chair summarised a number of the key issues that were raised during the working group meeting, as reflected in the summary note.  In doing so, reference was made to the key factors that had contributed to the overall project delay and additional costs as it was questioned whether a number of these should have been predicted given the specialised use and age of the building.  Linked to this, particular importance was placed upon the vital initial assessment stage of a project and understanding the condition of a building to help identify any key issues.  This may involve more intrusive survey works as well as the involvement of specialist design and construction experts where required.

 

The Board was assured by officers that the learning points arising from this particular project were already being applied to existing projects and will continue to do so moving forward.

 

The Board therefore agreed that no further scrutiny action was needed in relation to this matter.

 

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report, along with Members comments, be noted.

 

 

51.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 149 KB

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2020/21 municipal year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that invited Members to consider the Board’s Work Schedule for the remainder of the current municipal year.

 

RESOLVED – That the work schedule be noted.

 

 

52.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Tuesday, 5th January 2021 at 1.30 pm (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 1.00 pm)

Minutes:

Tuesday, 5th January 2021 at 1.30 pm (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 1.00 pm)