Agenda and minutes

Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment & Inclusive Growth) - Thursday, 25th June, 2020 10.30 am

Venue: Remote Meeting

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

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

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)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no appeals.

 

 

2.

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:-

 

 

Additional documents:

3.

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.)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no late items.

 

 

4.

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.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

 

 

5.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors R Grahame, C Hall and K Maqsood.

 

 

6.

Minutes - 19 February 2020 pdf icon PDF 271 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2020.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes o fthe meeting held on 19 February 2020 be confirmed as a correct record.

 

 

7.

Update from Director of City Development

To receive a verbal update from the Director of City Development regarding decision making during the emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the initial stages of the subsequent city recovery plan, as such information relates to the remit of the Board.

 

To include a transport update from the Chief Officer (Highways and Transportation).

 

The Executive Board report Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic - Response and Recovery Plan will be circulated for information once published ahead of the Executive Board meeting on 24 June – it is not available at the time of publication of this Board’s agenda.  

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board received a verbal update from the Director of City Development regarding the decision making during the emergency response to the Covid 19 pandemic and the initial stages of the subsequent City Recovery Plan, as such information related to the remit of the Board.

 

The Board also received a transport update from the Chief Officer (highways and Transportation.

 

The Executive Board report Update on Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic – Response and Recovery Plan had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

-  Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Executive Member

-  Councillor Jonathon Pryor, Executive Member

-  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

-  Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer (Highways and Transportation)

-  Sue Wynne, Chief Officer (Employment and Skills)

-  Eve Roodhouse, Chief Officer (Economic Development

 

The following was highlighted:

 

·  Establishment of the cross agency Silver Group to consider infrastructure and supplies across the City.

·  Transport/Traffic – flow of traffic was down on average by 48% although there was now a consistent increase following the re-opening of parts of the economy.  Road traffic accidents had decreased by 40% and those Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) had seen a reduction of 48%. Public transport was now back to around 80% of the normal timetable during the week but capacity was down to 20% of normal levels.  The park and ride sites had been closed with Temple Green Park and Ride site used as an NHS testing facility.  Active travel – work was ongoing with cycle network provision and school street trials.

·  Economy – Over 11,000 business grants had been administered to a total of £142.2 million.  Some businesses that did not meet the grants criteria were entitled for grants from a discretionary fund and it was anticipated there would be capacity for up to a thousand applications.

·  City Centre – Footfall had fallen to 5% of normal during the initial lockdown.  Following the opening up of non-essential retail and markets there had been a rise of up to 50% of normal footfall. There had been information displays and measures placed to encourage social distancing along with the provision of hand sanitisation facilities. There was now a focus on the re-opening of the hospitality sector which would see an increased demand for outdoor seating.

·  Employment & Skills – There had been an increase in Universal Credit claimants from 34,000 in March to 63,000 in May.  88,200 people had been furloughed which was 21.3% of the economically active. 

·  Planning – Decisions had been taken under the Officers Delegation Scheme and remote meetings of Plans Panels had been held.  There had been a decrease in the number of applications normally received.

·  Further transport issues including enhancement of footways to enable social distancing; active travel measures with cycle route improvements; schools street trial scheme; continuation of work on major roadwork schemes.

 

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

 

·  There had been contact with Leeds Bradford International Airport regarding the impact on their business.  The airport had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Sustainable Development - Recommendation Tracking pdf icon PDF 286 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support which sets out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Inquiry into Sustainable Development.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support set out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Inquiry into Sustainable Development.

 

The Chair informed Members that the CCG had been invited to attend the meeting for this item.  He informed the Board of the response received from the CCG and it was agreed that the Chair writes on behalf of the Board regarding concerns over the response to the invite and non-attendance at the meeting.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

-  Cllr Mulherin, Executive Member

-  Nasreen Yunis, Principal Planner

-  Kathryn Moran , Principal Business & Systems Support Officer

-  Martin Dean, Area Leader

-  Tom Knowland, Head of Sustainable Energy and Climate Change

-  Martin Elliott, Head of Strategic Planning

-  Steve Hume, Chief Officer, Resources and Strategy

-  Dayle Lynch, Estates Programme Manager

-  Eve Roodhouse, Chief Officer, Economic Development

 

The following was discussed:

 

·  Recommendation 1 – Work had been carried out to add climate emergency information on reports to Executive Board.  Reference was made to the Council’s commitment to meet net zero carbon emissions by 2030.  With regard to procurement work was ongoing to embed climate change in every part of the procurement process.

 

In response to comments and questions further discussion included reductions in carbon emissions from the different use of Council assets and impact of the current economic situation. Progress was still being made towards current targets.

 

It was proposed that the tracking status for Recommendation 1 remains at Position Status 4 – Acceptable progress made.  Continue monitoring.

 

·  Recommendation 2 – Further reference was made to the guidance prepared for Officers and Members in the decision making process though there had been some delays. It was proposed that the tracking status for Recommendation 2 remains at Position Status 4 – Acceptable progress made.  Continue monitoring.

 

·  Recommendation 3 – There was now a fuller reflection in the Best Council Plan. It was proposed that the tracking status for Recommendation 3 be changed to Position Status 2 – Achieved.

 

·  Recommendation 4 – Due to the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and the unknown future impacts this would need to be reviewed in the Inclusive Growth Strategy when more was known.  It was proposed that the tracking status for Recommendation 4 remains at Position Status 4 – Acceptable progress made.  Continue monitoring.

 

·  Recommendation 5 - It was proposed that the tracking status for Recommendation 5 remains at Position Status 4 – Acceptable progress made.  Continue monitoring.

 

·  Recommendation 6 - It was proposed that the tracking status for Recommendation 6 remains at Position Status 4 – Acceptable progress made.  Continue monitoring.

 

·  Recommendation 7 - There had been a Health and Planning Workshop which gave an opportunity for each to gain a better understanding of each other’s roles.  There was a need to capture the views of Health colleagues in the planning process and changes to planning documents and reports would reflect this.  Work had included embedding health needs at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 156 KB

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s initial work programme for the remote meetings due to take place June – August 2020.

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.

 

Minutes of the Board’s recent working group meeting and Executive Board meeting of 19 May 2020 were appended to the report.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

 

10.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next remote meeting of the Board will be on Thursday 16 July at 10.30am. There will be a pre-meet for Board Members at 10.15am.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Thursday, 16 July at 10.30 a.m. (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.15 a.m.)