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.

The following Members declared personal 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:

West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan - Councillors Hyde, Lyons and Morgan declared personal interests as local authority appointed members of WYITA as METRO had submitted contributions to the Plan (minute 14 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Atkinson and Lobley. The Chair welcomed Councillor Wilkinson to the meeting as substitute for Councillor Lobley

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16^th June 2011 as a correct record

(copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 16^th June 2011 be agreed as a correct record

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development setting out the Chairs’ draft terms of reference for an Inquiry into the engagement of young people in culture; and sporting and recreational activities

(report attached)

Further to minutes 6 and 7 of the meeting held 16^th June 2011 when Members discussed the future work schedule for the Board, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report setting out a proposed terms of reference for an Inquiry into the engagement of young people in culture, sporting and recreational activities. It was noted that the draft terms of reference had been discussed and received the support of Councillor Ogilvie, Executive Member for Leisure and relevant officers.

Catherine Blanshard, Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer attended for this item.

Members agreed a unified approach to the Inquiry was required to encompass all aspects of the delivery of schemes and events to young people and discussed the following:

• The impact of the Opera/Party in the Park events on and for young people
• How the Breeze scheme and culture in general engaged young people
• An assessment of how LCC communicates events to young people
• The funding available for schemes
• The success of schemes aimed at young people supported from LCC Area Committee well-being funds and the need to have an overview of provision
• The need to invite witnesses to the Inquiry from successful schemes supported by well-being funds (such as Headingley Carnegie and Leeds UFC mentoring schemes)
• Request for statistics on the uptake of cultural/porting/recreational events held in Leeds for 2010 and 2011 for comparison to enable a review of the successes/failures
• Request for information on the partners involved in delivering schemes for young people

Members sought to ensure that young people were actively involved in the Inquiry and that representatives from relevant groups should be called as witnesses, to include Youth Council, Schools, faith groups, BMX and parcours groups, disabled groups and groups catering for young people outside the 11-19 age limit targeted by the Youth Service. Representatives from the service providers and scheme organisers should also be called as witnesses, to include the Youth Service, faith groups and voluntary sector groups.

Members noted the intention to take a phased approach to the Inquiry; and to include individual witnesses to provide information on their personal involvement in schemes. Additionally it was noted that some areas of the Inquiry may overlap into other areas of Scrutiny – such as health matters – and service areas – such as Children’s Services

RESOLVED – To note the comments made and authorise officers to incorporate them into the draft terms of reference for the Inquiry into the engagement of young people in culture, sporting and recreational activities.

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented to facilitate discussions on the future transport strategy for the city having regard to the recently published West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan

(report attached)

Further to minutes 6 and 7 of the meeting held 16^th June 2011 when the Board discussed the future work programme and identified “transport” as a priority, the Head of Scrutiny & Member Development submitted a report to support discussions on the future transport strategy for Leeds. A copy of “My Journey West Yorkshire” was included within the report which outlined the four themes within the overarching West Yorkshire Transport Plan (WYTP) as being transport assets, travel choices, connectivity and enhancements.

The WYTP had been adopted on 1^st April 2011 and was intended to address all aspects of transport provision until 2026. The aspirations for Leeds were contained within the Leeds Implementation Plan (LIP) due to be considered at the September Executive Board meeting.

Mr Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer Highways & Transportation and Mr Andrew Hall, Acting Head of Transport Policy, attended the meeting for this item and made the following points:

• Recognised Members’ desire to address particular transport routes but suggested the Board take a strategic view of all forms of transport first which would inform detailed discussions later
• Tabled an indicative plan of the proposed transport network for the city showing rail, tram, NGT, motorway and A road routes
• Emphasised the need to consider how to enhance the existing network for the next 15 years
• Introduced the LIP and the agreed transport schemes to be implemented

Members discussed the following matters with officers:

• The expected rise in the population of Leeds in the context of the existing transport infrastructure
• The Inquiry would require the number of commuters travelling into and out of Leeds via all forms of transport

Road

• The need to have regard to the impact of new developments along the key routes identified – Woodside Quarry on A660/A65 and Grimes Dyke on A64

Impact of the NGT-

A660

• LCC working with METRO to ensure implementation of the NGT scheme and mindful of the need to have a fall back position to provide a quality bus offer for Leeds should the NGT bid be unsuccessful, to include the best elements of the NGT scheme (priority lanes, better vehicle stock).

Park and ride –

• Members generally supported provision of P&R schemes and queried whether there were any schemes being drawn up for implementation in the near future
• It was reported that LCC had prioritised provision of the NGT, and P&R was an important element of that scheme. If the NGT bid was unsuccessful, P&R provision on key transport routes would be considered
• LCC was in the process of identifying 2 new sites which could be introduced prior to and independent of the NGT
• Most P&R schemes which served Leeds were provided elsewhere across West Yorkshire as Leeds stations did not have the capacity
• Noted discussions on the P&R scheme at King Lane introduced in 1999 which was not regarded as beneficial to the strategic road network and which highlighted the different views of whether local residents supported or opposed the scheme and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development setting out the work schedule for the Board for the forthcoming year

(report attached)

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a copy of the Work Programme for the 2011/12 Municipal Year which had been populated with the six priority areas for scrutiny identified at the previous meeting.

Arising from the discussion on the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan (minute 14 above), a suggestion was made that Mr Bartlett and Mr Hall, along with relevant representatives of WYITA, should be invited to present a seminar to all members of Council on the Plan

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the Work Schedule and the comments made

b)  To note the contents of the Executive Board minutes dated 22^nd June 2011 and the forward plan covering the period 1 July to 31 October 2011

c)  To request officers discuss proposals for a seminar for Members on the West Yorkshire Transport with Councillor R Lewis, Executive Member Development & the Economy, and the Member Development Officer

To note the date and time of the next meeting as 22^nd September 2011 at 10.00 am

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 22^nd September at 10.00 am

Councillor Rafique noted this would be the last meeting of the Scrutiny Board to be attended by Mr P Marrington, Head of Scrutiny & Member Development as Ms S Newbould would be returning from maternity leave shortly in time for the next meeting. The Chair and Members thanked Mr Marrington for his work with the Board since its establishment in May 2011.