Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions

Contact: Andy Booth (0113) 24 74325  Email: andy.booth@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

37.

Declarations of Interest

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.

Minutes:

Councillor Driver declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9, Recommendation Tracking, due to his position as a Governor at the Leeds College of Building.  Minute No 43 refers.

 

38.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Robinson.

 

39.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 67 KB

To receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 December 2009

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2009, be confirmed as a correct record.

 

40.

Matters Arising from the Minutes

Minutes:

Minute No.34 – Recommendation Tracking

 

In response to a question regarding investigation of further ways of commissioning with the Voluntary, Community and Faith sector, it was reported that this issue had been raised with the relevant officers and the recommendation tracking would be amended as appropriate.

 

41.

Yorkshire Forward pdf icon PDF 56 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to the Board’s consideration of partner organisations planning documents and the subsequent decision to invite the Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward to this meeting. Yorkshire Forward submitted a document detailing their work in Leeds and a report of the Director of City Development detailing Yorkshire Forward’s Investment in Leeds was appended to the agenda.

 

The Chair welcomed Tom Riordan, Chief Executive, Yorkshire Forward and Paul Stephens, Chief Economic Development Officer to the meeting.

 

Tom Riordan gave the Board a brief overview of the role of Yorkshire Forward.  It was reported that Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency (RDA) for the Yorkshire and Humber was established 10 years ago.  The Board of Yorkshire Forward was unelected and had 15 Members, 4 of these being Local Authority Elected Members, with a Chair from the business sector.  Yorkshire Forward  had a role to improve the economy of the Yorkshire and Humber Area and the following 3 key areas had been identified:

 

  • Supporting Businesses
  • Helping People into Employment
  • Helping Regeneration

 

Further reference was made to partnership working with Local Authorities and other partners including the 3rd sector.

 

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

 

  • The annual budget of Yorkshire Forward was approximately £340 million.
  • Business Link – this supported small businesses across the region and provided assistance with access to grants, business advice and planning and links with banks.
  • Providing financial help to small businesses.
  • Proportion of Yorkshire Forward spending in Leeds.  It was reported that much of the spending across the region had benefits for Leeds.  Key projects undertaken in Leeds included the improvements to Briggate and Park Square; support for the City Museum; skills training and the development of the Leeds Arena.
  • Flood prevention – reference was made to the floods in 2007 and the subsequent impact.  Members were informed of partnership working between Yorkshire Forward, Leeds City Council and the Environment Agency amongst others and also the role of central government.
  • The universities and their economic importance to Leeds.
  • Transport issues:

o  Yorkshire Forward was the only RDA that covered transport

o  Achievements included extra train services into Leeds via the Calderdale line

o  Work to improve links between Sheffield and Leeds

o  Links between Leeds and Bradford

·  The lack of democratic processes – this was recognised by Yorkshire Forward and it was hoped that there could be clearer links between Yorkshire Forward and Elected Members through the work of the City Regions Partnership.

·  Funding for innovation projects at the University of Leeds and how partnership working could be carried out across all universities in the city regions area.

·  Housing issues and the role of the Housing and Communities Agency (HCA) and how to ensure links with Yorkshire Forward and Leeds City Council.

 

The Chair thanked Tom Riordan and Paul Stephens for their attendance

 

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

 

42.

Joint Services Centre at Kirkstall pdf icon PDF 63 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided the Board with an update on the proposed Joint Services Centre at Kirkstall.  Attached to the report was a copy of a media statement released by NHS Leeds and an NHS Leeds report regarding the proposals.

 

The Chair welcomed David Outram, Chief Officer, Planning – Policy and Improvement and Andy Taylor, job title?, to the meeting.

 

It was reported that following the last meeting of the NHS Leeds Board, that the proposal to have a Joint Services Centre at Kirkstall would not now be progressed and that other options for provision in Kirkstall would be considered.  These included making use of the current Kirkstall Health Centre.

 

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

 

In brief summary, the following issues were discussed:

 

  • Concern regarding the amount of money spent on what was to be an abortive project.
  • Changes to the Primary Care Trusts arrangements in Leeds and subsequent re-evaluation of provision of services in the City.
  • Alternative provision in Kirkstall as to what was proposed at the Joint Services Centre.
  • Relations between the Council and health partners as well as other non council bodies with respect to scrutiny arrangements.

 

The Chair thanked David Outram and Andy Taylor for their attendance.

 

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

 

43.

Recommendation Tracking pdf icon PDF 66 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development informed Members of progress against recommendations of the Board.  A list of the Board’s recommendations and the subsequent actions and progress was detailed at appendix 2.

 

The following issues were discussed:

 

  • The Leeds City College – concern regarding the lack of progress on new buildings and facilities following the merger of the 3 colleges to form Leeds City College.
  • The On-line qualification audit.
  • Train to gain and the use of this by Small and Medium Enterprises.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the recommendation tracking be amended as appropriate.

 

44.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 52 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report that outlined the Board’s Work Programme.  Also attached was a copy of the latest Executive Minutes and Members were also issued with a copy of the Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

 

It was reported that a report would be brought on Total ???? to the Buard’s January meeting.

 

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

 

45.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Thursday, 7 January 2010.  Pre-meeting for all Members at 9.30 a.m.

Minutes:

Thursday, 7 January at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 a.m.).

 

 

 

The meeting concluded at 11.45 a.m.