Agenda and minutes

There were no late items as such, and the Board was issued with draft terms of reference for the proposed Inquiry into Skills that were agreed at a meeting of the Skills Working Group held on 22 September 2008.  Minutes of the Working Group meeting were also distributed.  This meeting took place after the agenda despatch and these documents were therefore not available at the time of agenda publication.

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.

Councillor Murray declared personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Items 8 and 9, Inquiry into Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector and Progress Report of the Board’s Working Groups due to his position as Chief Executive of the Learning Partnership.  He also declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9 due to his role as a governor of Thomas Danby College.  (minutes no ?? and ?? refer).

Councillor Driver declared personal interests in Agenda Items 8 and 9, Inquiry into Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector and Progress Report of the Board’s Working Groups due to his respective roles as Board Member of Belle Isle Foundation and a governor of Thomas Danby College. (minutes no ?? and ?? refer).

Councillor Fox declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9, Progress Report of the Board’s Working Groups due to his position as a governor at the Leeds College of Technology. (Minute no, ?? refers).

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Kendall, Pryke and Shelbrooke.

To receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2008, be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive’s Support Unit on Regional Governance Arrangements

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report following a request of the Board to be provided with information on current regional governance arrangements.  The report provided an overview of current regional bodies, proposals for future arrangements leading to a Single Integrated Regional Strategy

The Chair welcomed Catherine Hall, Senior Project Officer, Chief Executive’s Department to the meeting.

The Board was informed of the Government’s Subnational Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR) and that a  government response to this review was expected shortly.  The intention of the SNR was to introduce a higher level of devolution and delegation to ensure decision making was carried out at the right level.  It was not anticipated that the Government would be prescriptive in how governance arrangements would be implemented. 

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

• Scrutiny arrangements – these took place at 3 different levels from parliamentary select committees, regional arrangements and local authority arrangements.  In respect of the Leeds City Regions Leader’s Board, there had been 5  options for scrutiny and it had currently been left to each individual local authority to decide their own scrutiny arrangements.
• It was envisaged that regional changes would be cost neutral.
• Democratic accountability.
• Leeds City Council currently contributed £110k p.a. to the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber and £33k p.a. to the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly.
• How regional strategy could have a significant effect on individual wards.
• Transport issues and future arrangements to replace the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority.

The Chair thanked Catherine Hall for her attendance.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the Board be supplied with Minutes and Agendas of the Leeds City Regions Leaders Board

(3)  That the Board be informed of any scrutiny arrangements related to regional governance carried out by other local authorities in the Leeds City Regions.

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

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report regarding the Board’s Inquiry into the Voluntary Community and Faith Sector (VCFS).  Attached was the terms of reference for the inquiry along with a report of the Chief Regeneration Officer which focussed on how the VCFS supported Council engagement activity.

The Chair welcomed the following to the meeting:

• Sue Wynne, Head of Regeneration, Policy and Planning, Environment and Neighbourhoods
• Keith Lander, Deputy Area Manager, Environment and Neighbourhoods
• Matthew Lund, Corporate Consultation Manager, Chief Executive’s Unit

It was reported that there were over 3,000 VCFS organisations across Leeds who all made a valuable contribution to services across the city.  There was however, concern that some organisations could be competing against each other and instances of services being duplicated.

Sue Wynne addressed the meeting.  She brought Members attention to potential opportunities and challenges of working with the VCFS organisations to enhance community engagement.  A community engagement sub group had been established which included representatives of Leeds Voice, Leeds City Council and VCFS organisations.  It was reported that there was a diverse range of VCFS organisations which required a varying range of resources and that the VCFS was encouraged to work collaboratively.

More work was planned with the VCFS to look at resourcing issues.  There had been significant changes to funding with the end of SRB and NRF funding and there was a need to ensure that the VCFS was business ready for commissioning activities.

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

• Advice was available through the Council’s and Leeds Initiative’s websites on funding and commissioning issues.
• £109 million was available in Leeds for VCFS organisations.  A list of grant payments was currently being produced.
• Concern was expressed that some smaller organisations would not have the capacity to compete under the commissioning process.  It was reported that the level of information required from organisations would be appropriate for the level of funding and risk involved.
• Area Management teams supported VCFS organisations of all sizes.  Support was available to assist with capacity building and also for new organisations.
• Monitoring of spending where grants have been made or services commissioned.
• How VCFS organisations could work together.  An example of a federation of voluntary organisations that operated in Hull was given and the economic and empowerment advantages this brought.
• Getting organisations to operate as social enterprises and the funding available for this.
• Matthew Lund explained his role and how the co-ordination of engagement activity was being considered across Leeds.  It was suggested that he gave the ‘Talking Point’ presentation to the Board.

The Chair thanked those present for their attendance.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the Director of Leeds Voice and a representative of a VCFS organisation be invited to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Board (City and Regional Partnerships).

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

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which gave Members  a progress report on the Board’s Working Groups.  Appended to the report was a copy of the notes of the meeting of the Skills Working Group geld on 3 July 2008 and draft terms of reference for the Inquiry into Skills were also distributed.

The Chair welcomed Rob Norreys, Head of Regional Policy to the meeting for this item.

In brief summary the following issues were discussed:

• Concern regarding the scrutiny future of further education in Leeds as part of the Skills Inquiry as major changes had yet to be implemented.
• Reference to the Local Area Agreement (LAA) and Multi Area Agreement (MAA) in line with the Inquiry into skills.  It was suggested that the Board take a more detailed look at these early in 2009.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the progress with Working Groups be noted.

(2)  That the terms of referemce approved by the Board’s Working Group for the proposed Inquiry into Skills be approved.

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

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which outlined the Board’s current Work Programme.  Appended to the report were the current Forward Plan of Key Decisions and the latest Executive Board minutes.

It was reported that the Work Programme would be updated to take account of the Inquiry into Skills and the Inquiry into the VCF Sector.  Further suggestions included the Transport Bill and potential re-organisation of the Passenger Transport Authority arrangements.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Work Programme be amended as appropriate.

Thursday, 23 October 2008 at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Members at 9.30 a.m.)

Thursday, 23 October at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Members at 09.30 a.m.)