Agenda and minutes

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.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillor B Atha and Councillor

M Iqbal.  Notification had been received that Councillor J Jarosz was to substitute for Councillor B Atha and Councillor M Rafique for Councillor

M Iqbal.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meetings held on 24 September and 10 October 2013.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 24 September 2013 and 10 October 2013 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report of the City Region Partnership on the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership’s response to the government’s announcement of the Local Growth Fund, and the potential opportunities this presents for the devolution of funding to our City Region.

Roger Marsh the Chair of the Leeds City Region Partnership has accepted an invitation to attend today’s meeting to discuss areas of concern and respond to Members questions.

Councillor Rafique, Chair of the Sustainable Economy and Culture Scrutiny Board has also accepted an invitation to attend today’s meeting to participate in the discussion and identify any areas that might require further scrutiny from his Board’s perspective.

The City Region Partnership submitted a report which outlined the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership’s response to the government’s announcement of the Local Growth Fund, and the potential opportunities this presented for the devolution of funding to the City Region.

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  Councillor Peter Gruen, Executive Board Member, Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services

-  Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Partnership

-  Rob Norreys, Head of Regional Policy, Policy Performance and Improvement

-  Nigel Guy, Head of Research & Intelligence, Leeds City Region Secretariat

-  Tom Bridges, Chief Economic Development Officer, City Development.

Members noted that Councillor Rafique had been invited to attend the Board for this item in his role as Chair of the Scrutiny Board (Sustainable Economy and Culture).

 The key areas of discussion were:

·  Concern that the work of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was poorly understood and there had been a lack of engagement with Elected Members.  Members were advised that a communication and engagement exercise was underway, including with businesses.  Greater resources were now in place for the LEP to make a meaningful difference.  Examples were given of work around the skills agenda.

·  Issues around governance and transparency of the LEP.  Clarification was sought about the recruitment process for the appointment of Chair of Leeds City Region Partnership.  Members were advised that the role of Chair was independent. The post was publically advertised and 3 individuals were shortlisted for the role.  The Chair, Roger Marsh, was appointed on a two year term, with the option of extending this to a third year.

·  Concern about how some of the priority sites identified in the report (see section 6.4 to the report), had been selected, particularly the East Leeds Extension.  Members advised that there were other sites in need of investment and it was suggested that a further report be brought forward on Leeds priorities for the Strategic Economic Plan.

·  Acknowledgement of the need to improve communication links between Leeds City Region and Leeds City Council.

·  Concern about the limited timescale for the establishment of a Strategic Economic Plan (end of March 2014), particularly taking into account the LEP’s commitment to improving communication and engagement with organisations. 

·  Suggestion that the Scrutiny Board be provided with a further more detailed report on the role of the LEP.

RESOLVED –

(a)   That the contents of the report be noted.

(b)   That the Scrutiny Board be provided with a further report on the role of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

To consider a joint report from the Director of City Development and Director of Environment and Housing providing Members with a financial position statement of the City Development and Environment and Housing Directorate’s in relation to this Board’s responsibilities at period 5 of the financial year 2013/14.

The Directors of Environment and Housing and City Development submitted a joint report which provided Members with a financial position statement of the City Development and Environment and Housing Directorate’s in relation to this Board’s responsibilities at period 5 of the financial year 2013/14.

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  Councillor Peter Gruen, Executive Board Member, Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services

-  Stephen Boyle, Directorates Capital Finance Manager, Resources

-  David McNutt, Senior Financial Manager, Resources

-  Simon Criddle, Head of Finance (City Development), Resources

-  Maggie Gjessing, Housing Investment Manager, City Development.

The main areas of discussion were:

·  Confirmation that there had been a reduction in void levels from 2% to 0.9%, which if sustained would generate £1.1m additional income.

·  Confirmation of increased activity in relation to right to buy sales.  Members sought clarification about the length of time a tenant was required to live in a property before it could be sold on, and the amount available to the authority for reinvestment in housing.  Officers agreed to report back to Members with confirmation.

·  Clarification of the position regarding rent arrears.

·  Concern that in relation to technical arrears, some tenants had apparently been receiving letters advising them that they were behind with their payments, which may be due to the cycle for processing payments.  It was agreed to report this issue back to the Department for action. 

RESOVLED – That the contents of the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the formal response of Executive Board following the Scrutiny Board’s review of private rented sector housing.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which outlined the formal response of Executive Board and a progress update following the Scrutiny Board’s review of private rented sector housing.

Appended to the report was a copy of the recommendation tracking flowchart and recommendation tracking table.

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  John Statham, Head of Housing Partnerships, Environment and Neighbourhoods

-  Mark Ireland, Service Manager, Environment and Neighbourhoods.

The status of recommendations were agreed as follows:

·  Recommendation 1 (i), (ii) and (iii) – not achieved.  Progress made acceptable.  Continue monitoring

·  Recommendation 2 (ii) – not achieved.  Progress made acceptable.  Continue monitoring

·  Recommendation 3 (i) – not achieved.  Progress made acceptable.  Continue monitoring

·  Recommendation 4 – not achieved.  Progress made acceptable.  Continue monitoring

·  Recommendation 5 – achieved

·  Recommendation 6 – achieved

·  Recommendation 7 – stop monitoring.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted

(b)  That the Scrutiny Board approves the status of recommendations as set out above.

(Councillor D Nagle left the meeting at 11.50am during the consideration of this item.)

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the Board’s work schedule for 2013/14.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the Board’s latest work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.

Appended to the report was the current version of the Board’s work programme, together with the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 9 October 2013.

Members agreed to receive a report to a future Board meeting on the role of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

RESOLVED – That the work schedule, as amended, be approved.

(Councillor V Morgan left the meeting at 12 noon during the consideration of this item.)

Tuesday, 26 November 2013 at 10.00am (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30am)

Tuesday, 26 November 2013 at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 a.m.)

(The meeting concluded at 12.05pm.)