Agenda and minutes

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection documents.

There were no items excluded from the public domain.

There are no late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies were received from Cllr Alison Lowe (Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime) and Cllr Jonathan Pryor (Executive Member).

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on  19 July 2023.

The minutes of the 19 July 2023 were approved.

To receive an update from the Director of City Development on the progress that has been made in delivering against Future Talent Plan actions over the last 12 months.

The Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment & Inclusive Growth) received an initial update on the development of the Future Talent Plan in September 2022. The 2023/24 Scrutiny Board requested an update on progress made over the last 12 months against actions set out in the plan.

The Chair noted that members of the 2022/23 Scrutiny Board discussed a proposed refresh of the Inclusive Growth Strategy in March 2023, which was subsequently agreed on 20 September 2023. Members were asked to note the links between the Future Talent Plan and the refreshed Inclusive Growth Strategy.

Those in attendance for this item were:

-  Eve Roodhouse (Chief Officer, Culture and Economy)

-  Martyn Long (Head of Service, Employment and Skills)

Eve Roodhouse and Martyn Long delivered a presentation that covered the following matters:

-  The context of the Future Talent Plan

-  An overview of the work of the Employment and Skills service

-  Service performance for 2022/23

-  Four careers events at the First Direct Arena

-  Support to young people

-  Support for employers

-  Sector specific activities with a focus on digital, health and care, financial and professional services sectors

-  Activities linked to the journey to net zero.

-  Measuring success and next steps

-  Data and reporting

The Scrutiny Board considered the acceleration of the adoption of digital technology and the need for digital skills across all sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Concern was raised about the increased disadvantage within the labour market for those without digital skills.

Members sought reassurance about the support provided to those who are digitally excluded from the labour market including those experiencing language barriers or without access to IT equipment. In response, officers outlined work with partners across the city that seeks to remove such barriers and to target support towards those farthest from the labour market.

Having considered the anticipated employment and skills demands that may arise from the transition to net zero, members sought clarity about the potential impact on that work of recent government announcements on net zero.

Officers highlighted the importance of providing certainty about the pipeline of net zero projects in the city so that partners including the College of Building can demonstrate future demand for employees with particular skills. The Council is working with the Leeds Anchor Network to provide more certainly about net zero projects that will be delivered in the city.

Further information was requested about the number of people who accessed jobs and support through careers events at the First Direct Arena. It was noted that around 200 people directly secured employment as a result of attending one of the careers events. However, members were asked to note that not all attendees were seeking immediate employment and were instead looking for information that would inform future decisions about their employment opportunities. Officers agreed to share the evaluation of the four events at the First Direct Arena with scrutiny board members.

An update was provided on the approach to supporting new team members, particularly young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

To receive a progress update from the Chief Officer (Transportation and Highways) on Leeds Safe Roads Vision Zero Strategy and the actions highlighted by the Scrutiny Board in April 2022.

The Chair introduced this item, noting the Scrutiny Board has had a long-standing interest in the numbers of those killed and seriously injured on Leeds roads.

As a minimum the Scrutiny Board receives updates twice a year on KSI figures as part of its performance monitoring. However, following the 2021/22 Scrutiny Board inquiry into the prevention of deaths andserious injuries on Leeds’ roads, members also committed to receive an annual update on progress towards Vision Zero.

For the benefit of any members of public viewing the webcast, the Chair noted the Vision Zero Strategy sets out the ambition that by 2040 no one is killed or seriously injured on the roads in Leeds. Members were asked to note that the report presented at the meeting also included specific updates on the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Board in April 2022.

The Chair reminded members that the previous Scrutiny Inquiry highlighted the importance of language when discussing deaths and injuries on Leeds roads – for example, avoiding the term “accident” to describe road traffic collisions.

Those in attendance for this item were:

·  Cllr Hayden – Executive Member

·  Gary Bartlett – Chief Officer, Transportation & Highways

·  Gillian Macleod – Transport Services Manager and Chair of the Leeds Safer Roads Partnership

·  Nick Hunt – Traffic Engineering Manager and Vice Chair of the Safer Roads Partnership

·  Rosie Revell – Team Leader – Safe and Sustainable Travel

·  Paul Jeffrey – Head of Department, Prosecutions & Casualty Prevention unit, WY Police

·  Supt Sareth Humpadge – Roads Policing Unit, West Yorkshire Police

·  CI James Farrah – Roads Policing Unit, West Yorkshire Police

·  Ian Greenwood – Parent Campaigner & member of the Vision Zero Board

·  Neil Hudson – Policy Manager Vision Zero, West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Cllr Hayden introduced the item, welcoming the comprehensive update report a year after the launch of Vision Zero. She noted that the current number of collisions in the city is high and reflects broader national trends post-pandemic. She reiterated the consequences for families of each collision and the Council’s commitment to reduce the number of collisions on Leeds roads.

Members welcomed the work of Nick Hunt and colleagues in West Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership in securing a change in regulations that has allowed average speed safety cameras to be installed at locations in Leeds for the first time. Members were advised that these will be the first average speed schemes on the urban road network in West Yorkshire following the successful use of this technology on the motorway network.

Clarity was sought about the way in which average speed cameras operate.

Gary Bartlett informed the Scrutiny Board that on average 46 people a month are killed or seriously injured on roads in Leeds, rising to an average of 117 people a month across West Yorkshire. It was noted that the majority of young people kicked or seriously injured on the roads are male.  He outlined the way in which Vision Zero aims to deliver a partnership approach to improving road safety and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2023/24 municipal year.

Members were asked to consider the following information:

·  The draft 2023/24 work programme.

·  The Executive Board minutes from the 26 July 2023.

The Principal Scrutiny Advisor confirmed that that Scrutiny Board had selected three members to represent the Board on a member working group linked to the Community Committee Review – Cllrs Buckley, Hamilton and Wilson.

On behalf of the Scrutiny Board the Chair thanked Carl Barber for his work over many years and wished him a very happy retirement.

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth) will take place on Wednesday 1 November at 10.30am. There will be a pre-meeting for all board members at 10.15am.

The next ordinary meeting of the Scrutiny Board will take place on 1 November 2023 at 10.30am. There will be a pre-meeting for all Board members at 10.15am.

Members were reminded that a call-in meeting would also be taking place at 1.30pm on 27 September 2023.