Agenda and minutes

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were made by any Member.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence from the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillors B Chastney and A Hussain.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd November 2009.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd November 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development, plus accompanying reports.

The Board received and considered the report of the Director of Resources, submitted to the Executive Board on 4^th November 2009, on Financial Health Monitoring 2009/10 – Half Year Report, together with the 2009/10 Quarter 2 Performance Report, submitted by the Head of Policy and Performance.

In attendance at the meeting and responding to Members’ queries and comments were:-

§  Councillor Richard Brett, Joint Leader of the Council and Executive Member (Central and Corporate).

§  Alan Gay, Director of Resources.

§  Doug Meeson, Chief Officer (Financial Management).

§  Helena Phillips, Chief Officer (Resources and Strategy).

§  Steve Carey, Acting Chief Officer (Revenues and Benefits).

§  Kathy Kudelnitzky, Chief Officer (Leeds Initiatives and Partnerships).

§  Lee Hemsworth, Chief Officer (Business Transformation).

§  David Almond, Head of Human Resources.

In brief summary, the main issues discussed were:-

§  What strategies were in place to deal with the estimated year-end budget deficit of £5m?

Councillor Brett made reference to the effects of the national and international economic recession on the economy, and the fact that local authority budgets were likely to remain under pressure for the foreseeable future due to predicted government actions on public spending levels.  Directors were re-doubling their existing efforts to identify efficiencies and savings, and action plans were being drawn up in all service areas.  An effective freeze had been imposed on external recruitment.

Councillor Brett repeated the assurance given at the Board’s September meeting that everything possible would be done to protect front-line services, especially those relating to children and vulnerable adults.

§  Asked to comment on a recent statement by Councillor Andrew Carter, Joint Leader of the Council, regarding the possibility of developing joint service provision involving partner local authorities in the Leeds City Region, Councillor Brett stated that it made economic sense to explore whether there were efficiencies of scale which might be achieved by local authorities, or other partner organisations, sharing common services, e.g. HR and payroll.  This type of suggestion was in line with the Government’s ‘Total Place’ initiative, integrating and the co-ordination at local level of all public sector services.

§  In response to questions regarding the costs of and other issues relating to the recent industrial action in Leeds involving refuse collection and street cleansing staff, Councillor Brett stated that the latest figures indicated that, overall, the Council had made a saving of approximately £50,000.  This was calculated on the basis of a total saving in wages/ costs amounting to £2.744m, less costs of £2.44m for providing an alternative, emergency service, and approximately £254,000 communication costs.  These figures did not take account of any additional landfill charges which the Council might face as a consequence of the industrial action, which were currently unknown.  He acknowledged that there had been some areas of the City which had suffered greater disruption to services than others but, overall, he regarded that the emergency alternative provisions which had been put in place by the Council had worked very well and had prevented a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Further to Minute No. 27, 7^th September 2009, to receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

Further to Minute No. 27, 7^th September 2009, the Board considered a report submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development relating to best practice in relation to the engagement of consultants by local authorities, and the work currently being undertaken on this subject by the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP).

In attendance at the meeting and responding to Members’ queries and comments was Malcolm Foster, Corporate Procurement Unit.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report be noted.

b)  That the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development, in consultation with the Chair, select 4 contracts (2 high value and 2 low value) for more detailed investigation and reporting back to the Board, to ascertain whether the Council’s current arrangements do coincide with the best practice guidelines developed by RIEP.

(NB  1)  The meeting was adjourned for 10 minutes during the course of the consideration of this item.

  2)  Councillor J Lewis left the meeting at 12:07 pm, at the conclusion of this item.)

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

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted the Board’s work programme, updated to reflect decisions taken at previous meetings, together with a relevant extract from the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st December 2009 to 31^st March 2010 and the minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board held on 4^th and 24^th November 2009.

RESOLVED – That, subject to any changes necessary as a result of today’s meeting, the Board’s work programme be approved.

Monday 11^th January 2010, 14.00, (Pre-Meeting 13.30)

Monday 1^st February 2010

Monday 1^st March 2010

Monday 29^th March 2010

All (except 11^th January) at 10.00am (Pre-Meetings 9.30am)

Monday, 11^th January 2010*

Monday, 1^st Feburary 2010

Monday, 1^st March 2010

Monday, 29^th March 2010

All at 10.00 am (pre-meeting at 9.30 am), except *11^th January 2010 which will be at 2.00 pm, pre-meeting 1.30 pm.