Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeal against the refusal of inspection of documents.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2   To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3   If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no resolutions to exclude the public.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

There were no late items added to the agenda.

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 either under this item or at any stage during the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Proctor and L Carter.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on18th May 2010.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 18^th May 2010 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) informing Members of the proposal to merge the related licensing functions of the Licensing Committee and the Licensing and Regulatory Panel to create one committee with responsibility for related licensing functions on behalf of the Council.

The Section Head Regulatory and Enforcement presented a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance). The report informed Members of proposed amendments to the constitution relating to the Council’s licensing arrangements and asked the Committee to consider and recommend the proposed amendments to full Council.

Members discussed the proposed rationalisation of licensing arrangements and highlighted the potential efficiency savings created by the merger of the Licensing Committee and Licensing and Regulatory Panel specifically in relation to the reduction to only one Chair and one Chair’s allowance.

RESOLVED – Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to recommend to full Council that:

(a)  the functions listed in paragraph 3.4 of the report namely sex establishment licensing (lap dancing, sex cinemas and sex shops), hackney carriage and private hire licensing, the licensing of hypnotism and charitable collections should be agreed as functions which relate to the licensing functions of the Licensing Committee;

(b)  full Council should arrange for those matters to be referred to the Licensing Committee and for the Licensing Committee to discharge those functions on behalf of the authority with effect from 20 July 2010;

(c)  full Council approve the revised Terms of Reference at Appendix 3 to the report for the Licensing Committee to implement the decisions in 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 of the report;

(d)  references to the Licensing and Regulatory Panel be removed from the constitution;

(e)  a revised Article 8 and 8A should be drafted to reflect the new arrangements;

(f)  amendments be made to Council Procedure Rules to reflect the fact that there will be no substitution permitted between the Plans Panels and the Licensing Committee; and

(g)  Members note that the Licensing Committee may then delegate these powers to sub committees or to officers as permitted by the 2003 Act and may regulate its own procedure through the Licensing Procedure Rules.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) proposing amendments to Article 9 of the Constitution to reflect the recommendation that Members of the Standards Committee receive compulsory training in relation to chairing meetings, local assessment of complaints and hearings, prior to undertaking certain functions of the Standards Committee or its Sub-Committees.

 The Senior Corporate Governance Officer presented a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance). The report proposed amendments to Article 9 of the Constitution to reflect the recommendation that Members of the Standards Committee receive compulsory training in relation to chairing meetings, local assessment of complaints and hearings, prior to undertaking certain functions of the Standards Committee or its Sub-Committees.

Members sought clarity from the Monitoring Officer on the proposed abolition of the Standards Board regime, and the impact this may have on the Leeds City Council Standards Committee.  However, Members welcomed the proposal to have compulsory training of  Members of the Standards Committee on certain of its functions.

RESOLVED – The General Purposes Committee resolved to recommend to full Council to amend Article 9 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) notifying and inviting comment from the Committee upon the work programme for 2010/11.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) submitted a report notifying Members of the draft work programme for the 2010/11 municipal year.

RESOLVED  - Members resolved to agree that the draft work programme for 2010/11 be noted.