Agenda and minutes

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 declarations.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors K Brookes, S Field and P Wadsworth.

Councillor B Anderson was in attendance as substitute for Councillor P Wadsworth.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the the meeting held on 25 July 2018.  .

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2018 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support which provides the draft terms of reference for the Scrutiny Boards inquiry into the implementation of Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy.

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support provided the Board with draft terms of reference for the Inquiry into the Implementation of the Inclusive Growth Strategy.  The draft terms of reference were appended to the report.

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  Sue Wynne, Chief Officer, Employment and Skills

-  Councillor Jonathon Pryor

Members attention was brought to the Scope of the Inquiry as outlined in the report with a particular focus on other areas of the Board’s work which would dovetail into the Inquiry.  These included the Housing Mix, Digital Inclusion, Transport and Sustainable Development.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the information contained in the report and the appended terms of reference be noted.

(2)  That the terms of reference for the Inquiry be agreed.

(3)   To note that the terms of reference may incorporate additional information during the inquiry should the Scrutiny Board identify any further scope for inquiry or request further witnesses or evidence.

To receive the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support which supports the presentation of information for the first session of the Scrutiny Boards inquiry into the implementation of Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy.

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support provided information to support the first session of the inquiry as follows:

·  Area 1

A presentation which provides an update relating to the mapping and framework position for the Inclusive Growth Strategy.

·  Area 2

Providing background and context:

-  The aligned calls to actions in the Leeds Talent and Skills Plan focussing on addressing low pay and in-work poverty and connecting residents of our most disadvantaged communities to opportunities.

-  The relevance of Anchor Institutions.

New Skills for the New Economy – The Leeds Talent and Skills Plan 2018-23 was appended to the report.

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  Councillor J Pryor, Executive Member

-  Sue Wynne, Chief Officer, Employment and Skills

-  Eve Roodhouse, Chief Officer, Economic Development

The Board was given a presentation which focussed on the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy and the Leeds Talent and Skills Plan.  Key issues highlighted included the following:

·  Issues of concern previously raised by the Board included low pay, low skills and zero hours contracts.  The Talents and Skills Plan aimed to address these and other issues and link them into the Inclusive Growth Strategy.

·  The Talent and Skills Plan was aligned with the Inclusive Growth Strategy with a particular focus on increasing investment in skills as a key driver for business productivity and access to employment.

·  Labour market challenges and opportunities:

o  Increase in private sector jobs across the city.  Leeds had the highest job growth of all the core cities.

o  Concerns regarding inequality and mobility and those disconnected from education and training.

o  Uncertainty surrounding Brexit and potential loss of migrant labour in low paid jobs.

o  Development of the Industrial Growth Strategy.

o  Getting the skills right for the population to meet the needs of the city – review of further education, Post 16 Skills Plan and apprenticeship reforms/

·  Local context and employment forecasts:

o  There would be a reduction in semi-skilled occupations with a growth in high skilled and also lower skilled, lower income jobs.

o  It was forecast that by 2020, a further 34,000 jobs would be created across the city with most of these at the higher end and requiring a level 4 qualification.

o  Impact of demographics – an aging population and impact of people retiring and the subsequent replacement demand.

o  Inability to fill vacancies due to the lack of candidates with the right skills, qualifications and experience – there was a need to fill the gap from education to employment.

·  In work poverty – it was estimated that 65,000 people in Leeds were earning less than Living Wage Foundation’s living wage and 155,000 people were living in poverty.

·  Zero hours contracts – how these could contribute to poverty, lack of employment rights and financial insecurity.  It was estimated that 10 to 11,000 people in Leeds were on zero hours contracts.

·  Interventions to look at how to get people out of poverty into employment.  These included the following:

o  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

To receive the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and consider the report of the Director of City Development, presented to Executive Board on the 25 July 2018 which provide information regarding the implementation of the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme, and how this supports priorities in the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy.

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and the Head of Transportation provided the Board with an update on the progress and implementation of the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP).

A copy of the progress report submitted to Executive Board in July 2018 was appended to the Agenda.

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation

-  Andrew Hall, Head of Transportation

-  Nigel Foster, Chair of the Leeds Transport Expert Advisory Panel

The following key issues were highlighted:

·  There was a connection with the Inclusive Growth Strategy particular with regards to connection people to employment and training.

·  Partnership working – input from the Transport Expert Advisory Panel (TEAP) and the cross party working group.

·  Consultation and engagement that had already taken place.

·  Work with West Yorkshire Combine Authority and bus operators.

·  Role of the Transport Expert Advisory Panel

o  To help secure funding and to deliver the programme within the challenging timescales.

·  Links to other issues such as Air Quality and the Inclusive Growth Strategy.

·  Future public transport provision.

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

·  Consultation – there was concern that this was done electronically and wasn’t available to all.  It was reported that there had been leaflets and fliers distributed and there had been drop in events.  Members of the public were also able to submit written responses.  It had been aimed to make the consultation as inclusive as possible.

·  A consultation report, which is being put together by Consultants will be shared with the Scrutiny Board once produced.

·  The need for joined up working with colleagues in Planning and Highways.

·  Representation on the Transport Expert Advisory Panel (TEAP) - it was suggested that there be more local business representation and union representation.  It was reported that the composition of the Panel was to be reviewed and there was a willingness to take advice from the Council and Scrutiny. 

·  Constraints that affected road improvements – these included physical barriers such as trees and walls as well as difficulty and high cost of re-routing underground utilities.

·  Co-ordination of schemes which impacted on highways and transport including HS2 and the city heating scheme.

·  Railway station provision – this was under the remit of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and there were currently requests for over thirty new stations across West Yorkshire.  Members were informed of the difficulties for creating new stations including pressures on the rail network and potential changes to road networks.

·  Improving planning for transport to reduce inequalities in communities and to enable employment places can be reached – there were challenges to be addressed such as public transport accessibility for those who work unsocial hours.

·  Reference was made to consultation that had been held at Community Committee meetings.  It was planned to do further consultation at this local level to try and get a deeper knowledge of local transport requirements.

·  Difficulties to achieve objectives due to lack of control  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2018/19 municipal year.

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support requested Members to consider the Board’s work schedule for the remainder of the current municipal year.  A copy of the work schedule was appended to the report along with a copy of the Executive Board minutes of 25 July 2018.

RESOLVED – That the Work Schedule (as presented at Appendix 1) be agreed as the basis for the Board’s work for the remainder of 2018/19.

Wednesday 31 October 2018 at 10:30 (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10:00am).

Wednesday, 31 October 2018 at 10.30 a.m. (pre-meeting for all Members at 10.00 a.m.)