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.

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence from the meeting was submitted on behalf of Councillor F. Robinson.

To receive and approve the attached minutes of the previous meeting held on 8^th October 2009.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th October 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

(a)  City Region Governance Arrangements (Min. No. 22 refers)

Further to Minute No. 22, 8^th October 2009, it was agreed, following prior discussions between the Chair, the Chair of the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) and the relevant Executive Board Member, that this Board should undertake a Scrutiny Inquiry in relation to the Homes and Community Agency (HCA)/ Housing and Regeneration Joint Board.

It was noted that there would also be a report to the next meeting on 7^th January 2009 regarding the other governance and proportionality issues discussed on 8^th October 2009.

(b)  City Region Employment and Skills Board (Min. No. 23 refers)

Further to Minute No. 23, 8^th October 2009, it was noted that a further report on the development of a City Region Employment and Skills Board would be submitted to the 4^th February 2010 meeting.

Reference was made to the need for up to date information on employment and skills issues to be monitored on a more frequent basis for Scrutiny input to be effective.

A request was also made for any future reports to include details of the training curricula of the new City College.

(c)  Scrutiny Inquiry – Integrated Transport Strategies for Leeds  (Min. No. 24 refers)

It was agreed to call the following as witnesses at the 7^th January 2010 meeting :-

Mr Ian Williams, Director of Business Representation and Policy, Leeds Chamber of Commerce;

Councillor G.E. Hall, Scholes Parish Council;

The Chair, or failing that the Deputy Chair, of METRO.

(d)  Vision for Leeds 2011 to 2030 (Min. No. 25 refers)

It was noted that all Scrutiny Boards would be receiving a report on this matter, which will next be considered by this Board on 4^th February 2010.

(e)  Planning Documents from Partner Organisations (Min. No. 26 refers)

Further to Minute No.26, 8^th October 2009, it was agreed in principle to change the date of the December Board meeting, from 10^th to 9^th December at 10.00am, to accommodate the Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward, subject to the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Advisor contacting all Board Members to check their availability.

(N.B. Councillor C. Fox joined the meeting at 10.12 am, during the consideration of this item).

Further to Minute No. 17, 10^th September 2009, to receive and consider the attached statement from NHS Leeds.

Further to Minute No. 17, 10^th September 2009, the Board received and considered a report from the Deputy Chief Executive to the Executive Board on 14^th October 2009, and an update report from the Acting Director of Finance, NHS Leeds, regarding why it was highly unlikely that the Primary Care Trust (PCT) would be proceeding with the development, in conjunction with the City Council, of a previously proposed Joint Service Centre at Kirkstall.

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

David Outram, Chief Officer, Public Private Partnerships Unit, Leeds City Council

Ms Visseh Pejhan-Sykes, Acting Director of Finance, NHS Leeds

• David Outram outlined the history of the project, as contained in the accompanying report of the Deputy Chief Executive to the Executive Board on 14^th October 2009;
• Visseh Pejhan-Sykes reported in detail on the changed circumstances, both financial and operational, which made it highly unlikely that the PCT would proceed with the project. These were summarised in the updated briefing paper circulated to the Board. A final decision was expected at the PCT Board Meeting on 19^th November 2009;
• Members expressed grave concern regarding the 11^th hour change of heart on the part of the PCT. The City Council had been working on this joint project in good faith with the PCT since 2003. Even as late as October 2008, the PCT had been widely consulting local residents on the proposal. This last minute change of heart and policy represented a bitter disappointment for local residents and Members, who were hoping that this project would help to kick-start the re-generation of this part of Kirkstalll;
• Reference was made to the un-elected nature of the PCT Board and a corresponding lack of public accountability when issues such as this occurred;
• Reference was also made to the amount of resources the Council had now effectively wasted in pursuing this joint proposal, and whether there were any lessons to be learned from this episode, particularly regarding the credibility of the Strategic Service Delivery Planning process and the role of the Plan Review Board.

RESOLVED – (a) That the reports be noted, and the officers be thanked for the manner in which they have responded to Members’ queries and comments;

(b) That the Board receives further reports regarding the decision of NHS Leeds on this matter, a ‘ lessons learnt ‘ report, including details of the amount of resources expended by the Council on this scheme, and a review of the Strategic Service Delivery Planning process and the role of the Plan Review Board, to include specific reference to this particular project.

(N.B. Councillor A. Shelbrooke left the meeting at 10.56am, during the consideration 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 a report updating the Board on progress in implementing the recommendations arising from the Board’s Inquiry into the role of the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector in Council-led community engagement, published in March 2009.

In considering the report, reference was made to the importance of progressing Recommendation 3(b), which related to developing sustainable commissioning strategies which would help to safeguard and aid continuity in respect of, in particular, smaller organisations in the VCF Sector, which were providing invaluable services and support to local communities. More detailed information on this particular issue was requested for inclusion in the next update report.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted, including the classifications in respect of progress on each of the Board’s original recommendations, and a further update report be submitted in due course.

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 November 2009 to 28^th February 2010 and a copy of the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 14^th October 2009.

Reference was made to the recent revelation, in connection with the proposed Leeds Arena development, that any proposed decisions of Yorkshire Forward which involved investment on their part of £10m or more were subject to approval by a Government assessment body in London. It was regarded that any further investigation on this issue should more appropriately be undertaken by the Scrutiny Board (City Development).

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

Thursday 10^th December 2009 at 10.00 a.m. (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 09.30 a.m.)

Wednesday 9^th December 2009, at 10.00am (Pre-Meeting 9.30am), subject to further consultation by the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Advisor (see Min. No. 32(e) ).