Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the March meeting of the Scrutiny Board (City and Regional Partnerships).  In particular, the Chair welcomed students from Leeds Trinity College to the meeting.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors Davey, Fox, Robinson and Shelbrooke.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th February 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th February 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider a report from the Joint Service Centres Programme on the outcome of the “lessons learned” workshop following the decision of NHS Leeds not to proceed with the Joint Service Centre in Kirkstall.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented the “lessons learned” report on the Joint Service Centre Project.

The following officers attended the meeting to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments:

-  David Outram, Chief Officer, Public Private Partnership Unit

-  David Grooby, Executive Project Manager, Public Private Partnership Unit.

In brief summary, the key areas of discussion were:

• Confirmation that NHS Leeds had participated fully in developing the “lessons learned” report.
• Concern that NHS Leeds did not have a suitable tool for appraising service and funding priorities.  Consequently they had difficulty assessing the value for money aspect of the programme.  It was reported that Leeds City Council’s corporate project management methodology  “Delivering Successful Change” could provide the basis for the Council and NHS Leeds to develop a joint cost benefit analysis / options appraisal tool.  This shared methodology should ensure a shared and consistent understanding of service needs.  In addition, it should ensure that project benefits were developed at the outset of any future project developed in partnership.
• Concern at the Corporate Governance arrangements of NHS Leeds.  It was reported that the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee

had recently approved a Governance Framework for Significant Partnerships, which NHS Leeds might find useful.

• Clarification about whether there was a timescale for implementing improvements.  It was reported that no target timescale had been agreed, although dialogue was taking place to address a number of issues.
• Development of the “total place” agenda, particularly around enhancing existing facilities, one-stop shop provision, etc.
• The need to bring stakeholders together, particularly, practitioners, health and children’s services.
• Recognition of the need to develop local provision. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted.

(b)  That the Scrutiny Board considers the draft statement and recommendations at its meeting on 16^th April 2010.

(c) That the draft statement includes a recommendation that NHS Leeds be asked to provide details of the refurbishment work to be undertaken at the existing Kirkstall Health Centre following the decision by NHS Leeds not to proceed with the Joint Service Centre.

(Councillor Hussain arrived at 10.10 am during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider a report from the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) presenting the 2009 Area Assessment report for Leeds.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) submitted a report which presented the 2009 Area Assessment report for Leeds.  The Scrutiny Board was asked to consider the relevant parts of the Area Assessment report which were within the remit of the Board.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting the following officers to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments:

-  Steve Clough, Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement Team

-  Heather Pinches, Performance Manager, Planning, Policy and Improvement Directorate.

The Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement Team, identified the following issues for consideration by the Scrutiny Board:

-  Duplication of information by partners in surveys, etc.

-  The speed at which the Scrutiny Board was able to respond to performance issues.

-  Value for money across the partnership and the need to manage resources effectively.

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• The role of the Public Sector Resources Partnership Group.  It was advised that that the group was chaired by Alan Gay, Director of Resources and consisted of senior partner representatives.
• Recognition nationally that the Audit Commission Report needed to be more accessible.
• Concern about the need to address local concerns, particularly issues around transport infrastructure.
• Concern about the extent to which local people had been consulted on the report.  It was reported that a Place Survey had been undertaken to take account of public views.
• The need to be more explicit about areas that had been allocated a red flag, specifically relating to safeguarding and burglary in parts of Leeds.
• Concern that the information about burglary trends in east Leeds was incorrect, specifically that burglary was high in Harehills not Osmondthrope and this had not been accurately reflected at the drafting stage.  The Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement reported that it might be possible to include an addendum with the correct information.
• A view by some members that there were too many strategies and plans.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted.

(b)  That the Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement reports back to the Scrutiny Board on the possibility of including an addendum to the report, highlighting the correct levels of burglary in Harehills and Osmondthorpe.

(Councillor Dunn left the meeting at 11.24 am during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year.

A report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year.

Appended to the report for Members’ information was the current version of the Board’s work programme, an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st March to 30^th June 2010, which related to the Board’s remit, together with the minutes from the Executive Board meeting held on 12^th February 2010.

RESOLVED – That the work programme be approved.

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on Friday, 16^th April 2010 at 10.00 am with a pre meeting for Board Members at 9.30 am.

Friday 16^th April 2010 at 10.00 am with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30 am.

(The meeting concluded at 11.32 am.)