Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, 1st Floor West,LS1 1UR

Contact: Becky Atherton (0113 37 88642)  Email: Becky.atherton@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

63.

APPEALS AGAINST REFUSAL OF INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS

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

Minutes:

There were no appeals.

 

 

64.

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:-

 

 

Minutes:

There was no exempt information.

 

 

65.

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.

 

 

66.

Declarations 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.

 

 

67.

Minutes - 8 January 2020 pdf icon PDF 153 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2020.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2020 be confirmed as a correct record.

 

 

68.

Housing Mix Inquiry - Recommendation Tracking and Update pdf icon PDF 493 KB

To receive a update from the Director of City Development about the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry into Housing Mix.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Director of City Development updated the Board on progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Board’s inquiry into Housing Mix.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

-  Councillor Debra Coupar – Executive Member

-  Martin Elliot – Head of Strategic Planning, City Development

-  Sarah Hellewell -  Principal Planner, City Development

 

The following was highlighted:

 

·  Recommendation 3 – More training on viability was planned within the next 12 months.

·  Recommendation 4 – There would be training and workshops for officers with regards to the housing needs assessment.

·  Recommendation 5 – There had been 4 new Neighbourhood Plans developed in the last year and a referendum had been passed to develop one for Wetherby.

·  Recommendation 8 – Housing mix remains a key area of decision.  There was difficulty in achieving the correct amount of 2 bedroom units.  Housing mix is raised at an early stage of planning applications.  There had been an increase in the provision of affordable housing.

·  Recommendation 9 – A report had been considered at Development Plans Panel regarding the effectiveness of the policy.

·  Recommendation 10 – There had been amendments to policy with regards to accessible housing.

 

In response to Members comments and questions, the following was discussed:

 

Recommendation 3

·  Developers were challenged with regards to viability on a regular basis and details of the viability of schemes should be made available unless there are exceptional circumstances.

 

It was agreed that Recommendation 3 remains at Position Status 4 – Acceptable progress made.  Continue monitoring.

 

Recommendation 4

·  There was a requirement for policies to reflect what needed to be built and what the requirements of developers were.  Requirements for future development were established with advice from estate agents and there was a negotiation process with developers.

·  Planning permission could be refused if the housing mix was not appropriate.

·  Council housing waiting lists are considered with regard to the housing needs.

·  There was a need to provide affordable housing in all parts of the city.

·  The council house programme was focussed on the inner areas of the city. 

·  It was preferred for affordable housing to be provided on site.

 

It was agreed that Recommendation 4 remains at Position Status 4 – Acceptable progress made.  Continue monitoring.

 

Recommendation 5

·  Concern that residents did not know about forthcoming Neighbourhood Plans and how more could be done to consult.  It was reported that there was a dedicated Neighbourhood Planning team to provide support.

·  Support for producing Neighbourhood Plans – it was reported that Neighbourhood Plans could differ for a variety of reasons and different solutions were needed for different parts of the city.

 

It was agreed that Recommendation 5 remains at Position Status 4 – Acceptable progress made.  Continue monitoring.

 

Recommendation 8

·  Keeping Climate Emergency at the forefront of development.

·  Encouraging families to live in the City Centre and how to develop places in the centre that would be desirable for families.

·  Policy stated that appropriate housing mix was needed ahead of long  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

69.

Smart Cities Update pdf icon PDF 928 KB

To provide an overview of the smart cities agenda and an update on the Council’s Smart Leeds programme

Minutes:

The report of the Director of Resources and Housing provided the Board with an overview of the smart cities agenda and an update on the Council’s Smart Leeds programme.

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Councillor James Lewis, Executive Member

-  Stephen Blackburn, Assistant Solutions Architect

-  Dylan Roberts, Chief Digital and Information Officer

-  Jason Tutin, Digital Learning and Development Manager

 

The following was highlighted:

 

·  The Executive Board was updated on the smart cities agenda periodically.

·  The need to use new technology to provide better outcomes for the people of Leeds.

·  The need for services to consider digital aspects when considering any work.

·  Main areas of focus included the following:

o  Health and Wellbeing

o  Travel and Transport

o  Housing

o  Climate emergency

·  Work with colleagues across the city.

 

In response to comments and questions, the following was discussed:

 

·  Cyber security and the need to have the necessary protection.

·  How digital systems could be used in housing.  Tenants and tenants groups had been engaged in how systems could be implemented.

·  Data that was available from Data Mill North was available to third parties.  This did not include any personal data and no personal data was available to third parties.

·  Use of technology in the home  - this included management of the house -  measuring damp, CO2; could help people who are living in fuel poverty and assist people with live in their own homes for longer.

·  Provision of free wi-fi to tenants.  This had been successful and led to community support and engagement.  There was a programme to provide more free wi-fi in community buildings and housing.

·  Use of technology for waste collection – this included reduced travel, use of in-cab technology for refuse vehicles and prevention of unnecessary collections all of which would have a positive impact on climate concerns.

·  The need to communicate and increase awareness to partners.  Some services were more proactive.  There were digital aspects in all service areas.

·  Resources – where there was a case for a return on investment this could attract resources.  Recruitment and retention of staff was also important.

 

It was agreed that the Chair writes to the relevant Director to reaffirm the co-ordination of the Smart Cities programme and ensure awareness across the Council.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(1)    Support the work to improve data usage and collection through   investigating how a next-generation city data platform will enable the   Council to derive more value from data and through working   collaboratively with cities such as London on shared data models which   will review standards and information governance.

(2)  Endorse the approach of working increasingly with partners from all sectors (e.g. universities, other councils, tech companies) to continue to promote Leeds as one of the UK’s leading smart cities by testing and trialling new technologies that can lead to improved outcomes for citizens.

(3)  Support the work to review how IoT devices can assist with understanding the city environment to improve decision making, and work on use cases that enable the testing of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

70.

Digital Inclusion - Recommendation Tracking pdf icon PDF 1024 KB

To receive a report that sets out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the scrutiny inquiry Powering up the Leeds Economy through Digital Inclusion.

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Corporate Governance and Scrutiny Support & Chief Digital and Information Officer set out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the scrutiny inquiry Powering up the Leeds Economy Through Digital Inclusion.

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Councillor James Lewis, Executive Member

-  Stephen Blackburn, Assistant Solutions Architect

-  Dylan Roberts, Chief Digital and Information Officer

-  Jason Tutin, Digital Learning and Development Manager

 

The following was highlighted:

 

·  Work highlighted that was over and above what was tasked with at the beginning of the Inquiry to achieve city priorities.

·  Digital Inclusion was now being written into city strategies including the Inclusive Growth Strategy and was now seen as fundamental.

 

In response to comments and questions, the following ws discussed:

 

·  Since the last update there had been the recruitment of an additional Digital Inclusion Officer funded by the Better Care programme working on the pathfinder programme.

·  The approach to providing services in community hubs and libraries and investment in this provided by the Council.  There had been over 1,000 Digital Champions trained across the city.

·  There had been some work with schools but there could be a stronger connection.

·  Community centres – there had been a focus on priority communities where there was little or no provision.

·  Funding arrangements and sustainability of the service.

·  Savings made through digital inclusion work.

·  The tablet lending scheme and use of voice activated technology.

·  Resourcing community groups – provision of funding from Wellbeing Funds, Housing Advisory Panels and mice money.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(1)  That the report and discussion be noted.

(2)  That the recommendation tracking remain at position status 4, acceptable progress made, continue monitoring.

(3)  That the Chair writes to the Director of Housing and Resources with regards to sustainable funding for the Digital Inclusion programme.

 

 

71.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 153 KB

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

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Democratic Services presented the Board’s work schedule for the remainder of the current municipal year.

 

A copy of the work schedule and January Executive Board minutes were appended to the report.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

 

72.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

8 April 2020 at 10.30am (pre-meeting for all board members at 10.15am).

Minutes:

Wednesday, 8 April 2020 at 10.30 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.15 a.m.)