Agenda and minutes

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 late items.

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 disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors A Blackburn and A Khan. Notification had been received that Councillor J Jarosz was to substitute for Councillor A Khan.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 10^th April and 23^rd May 2017 by the former Citizens and Communities and Environment and Housing Scrutiny Boards.

In relation to the Environment and Housing Scrutiny Board meeting on 23^rd May 2017, it was agreed that clarification would be sought regarding the attendance of a particular Board Member so that this could be accurately reflected within the minute.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above clarification being sought and reflected accordingly, the minutes of the meetings held on 10^th April and 23^rd May 2017 be approved as a correct record.

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

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

terms of reference for the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board for Members’ information.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support on the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny role.

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

Board of its role as the Council’s Crime and Disorder Committee and included

the Protocol between Scrutiny and the Community Safety Partnership in

Leeds.

The report also made reference to the ‘Principles for Engagement’ document

developed by the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel in liaison with the

five local Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committees. This was also attached

for Members’ information.

In acknowledging the Board’s Crime and Disorder role, Members agreed to

send an invitation to the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner to

attend a future meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED –

(a) That the report be noted

(b) That an invitation be sent to the Police and Crime Commissioner to attend

a future meeting of the Scrutiny Board.

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

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support 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 – The Board agreed to consider the appointment of co-opted

members on an ad-hoc basis for any inquiries where it was deemed

appropriate.

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support on potential sources of work for the Scrutiny Board.

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support provided

information and guidance on potential sources of work and areas of priority

within the Board’s terms of reference.

The following were in attendance for this item and invited to share their views

around potential areas of work for the Scrutiny Board this year:

·  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability

·  Councillor Debra Coupar, Executive Member for communities

·  James Rogers, Director of Communities and Environment

·  Simon Costigan, Chief Officer Property and Contracts

·  Jill Wildman, Chief Officer Housing Management

·  Polly Cook, Executive Programme Manager, Strategy and Resources

Members of the Scrutiny Board also shared their views on potential areas of

work.

In summary, the following key areas were raised:

·  Improving Air Quality in Leeds

·  Roll out of the Community Hubs programme

·  Future provision of CCTV

·  Migration in Leeds

·  Review of Housing Advisory Panels

·  Refuse collection rerouting

·  Peckfield Landfill Site and the broader regulatory issues

·  Private Rented Sector Housing

·  Safer Leeds Strategic Planning

·  Locality Working review;

·  Achieving Leeds Quality Park Standards for all community parks

·  Increasing recycling

·  Multi-storey improvement review

·  Horticultural maintenance of cemeteries

During the meeting, there was a particular discussion surrounding Leeds’ response to the Grenfell tragedy, with an update provided by the Chief Officer Property and Contracts on the specific fire safety testing work and other associated measures linked to the Council’s own high rise blocks.  The Board also discussed the engagement work with tenants in terms of providing them with reassurance.  The Board emphasised the importance of keeping Elected Members informed of progress in this regard too.

In terms of undertaking further scrutiny of this matter, the Board learned that the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board and the Infrastructure and Investment Scrutiny Board had also expressed an interest in undertaking further scrutiny on this matter in line with their own specific remits.  During the meeting, the Chair of the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board, Councillor Pauleen Grahame, explained that a meeting was being planned to consider the scope of the work being undertaken by the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board.  In view of this, the Board agreed that should the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board take the lead role on this matter, then the other respective Chairs or their nominated Scrutiny Board representatives should also be invited to contribute to that piece of work.  It was also suggested that the findings of that work be reported back to the three respective Scrutiny Boards for information.

RESOVLED – That the report and discussion be noted and used to help

inform the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.

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

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

draft work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year. This included the

traditional items of Scrutiny work which involves performance monitoring,

recommendation tracking and Budget and Policy Framework Plans.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser was requested to work with the Chair to

incorporate the areas of work agreed by the Scrutiny Board into its work

schedule for the forthcoming year.

The Chair informed the Board that he would also be attending a meeting of the Tenant Scrutiny Board on 9^th August 2017 to discuss their respective work programme for the year.

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.

Monday, 24 July 2017 at 10.30 am (pre meeting for all Board Members at 10.00 am)

Monday, 24^th July 2017 at 10.30 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.00 am)