Agenda and minutes

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

The Chair welcomed Members and Officers to the meeting, and in particular Councillor Gettings, who was attending his first OSC meeting.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 13 of the Members Code of Conduct

No declarations of interest were made.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th June 2007 (enclosed).

A Member queried Minute No 5(a), which had referred to the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) the decision of the Executive Board taken on 16^th May 2007 to extend the management agreements with the ALMOs for a further five years, to 31^st January 2013, with a view to that Board considering whether to formally review that decision. 

Following a further discussion, it was –

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th June 2007 be confirmed as a correct record;

(b)  That the decision recorded under Minute No 5(a) be rescinded, and a review of the relevant Executive Board decision be added to the OSC work programme.

(NB Councillor Golton joined the meeting at 10.09 am during the consideration of this item).

To receive, for information purposes only, the attached minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 13^th June 2007.

Councillor Hanley made reference to Minute No 8, Proposed Development of a Dance Headquarters on Quarry Hill for the Northern Ballet Theatre Company and Phoenix Dance Company, and indicated that he would be seeking clarification regarding the exact extent of the Council’s proposed financial commitment to this scheme, in his capacity as Chair of the Scrutiny Board (Culture and Leisure).

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 13^th June 2007 be received and noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer (Human Resources).

Further to Minute No 139, 3^rd April 2006, the Committee received a report from the Chief Officer (HR) regarding the operation of the Personnel Appeal Panel arrangements during 2006, the first full year of operation of the revised arrangements, which no longer involved Elected Members in the process.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted;

(b)  That in view of the continuing involvement of the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee, this issue be removed from the OSC work programme.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

Further to Minute No 10, 4^th June 2007, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report regarding the Committee’s work programme, updated to reflect decisions taken at the last meeting.

The following additional items were identified for inclusion in the work programme:-

• Immigration, and the effect on Council and partner services;
• ALMOs – Review of the Executive Board decision, 16^th May 2007, to extend the management agreements with the ALMOs for a further five years, to 31^st January 2013 (see earlier Minute No 15);
• Group Office support to Members
• OSC’s current role in the budget setting and monitoring process.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted;

(b)  That a Working Group be established comprising the Chair and Councillors Hanley, W Hyde and Pryke to scope the proposed Terms of Reference of the above proposed Inquiries.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

Further to Minute No 46, 6^th November 2006, the Committee received and considered the Performance Outturn Report 2006/07 of the Director of Resources submitted to the Executive Board at its meeting on 13^th June 2007.

Doug Meeson and Helen Mylan, Resources Department, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, the main issues raised were:-

• The Sport and Active Recreation Service overspend of £400,000 (Paragraph 3.4.2 of report refers) and a breakdown of how much of this figure related to the re-opening of the South Leeds  Sports Centre;
• The reasons behind the £100,000 deficit in budgeted income in respect of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Services (Paragraph 3.4.4 refers);
• Re-assurances regarding the ring fencing of the Swarcliffe PFI funding (Paragraph 7.7 refers);
• Debt re-scheduling (Paragraph 3.9.6 refers) – Members requested full details of the original loan arrangements and the revised arrangements which had enabled savings of £21.8 m;
• ALMO finances and Right To Buy monies (Paragraph 7.8 refers) – Members requested a breakdown of the ‘Right to Buy’ receipts and details of what the money had been used for.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted;

(b)  That Members be supplied with the requested further details.