Agenda and minutes

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

There were no exempt items.

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.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor P Carlill. Councillor D Ragan attended as substitute.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2019.

RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting held 9^th January 2019 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and Chief Digital and Information Officer which sets out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the scrutiny inquiry ‘Powering up the Leeds Economy through Digital Inclusion.’

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and Chief Digital and Information Officer, set out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the scrutiny inquiry Powering up the Leeds Economy through Digital Inclusion.

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  Jason Tutin - Digital & Learning Development Manager

-  Andrew Byrom – Head of Operational Services

-  Adam Micklethwaite from the Good Things Foundation

The Digital & Learning Development Manager introduced the report, summarising the services progress in terms of the agreed recommendations and asked that Members agree an additional recommendation as set out in the report at 6.1.

The report set out for Members the status of the recommendations that Members had previously considered at the Board meeting in January 2018.

The status of recommendations were agreed as follows:

·  Recommendation 1 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 2 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 4 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 6 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 7 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 8 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 9 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 10 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 11 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 12 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 13 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

The Board discussed the following points:

·  That Leeds is a leading authority on digital inclusion and is considered a model of good practice with peers.

·  The support for carers and their involvement with the programme. Officers provided assurance that although the carer will need to commit time initially, there will be benefits to carer in their work.

·  Problems and support options for claimants accessing universal credit and housing applications digitally.

·  The support being offered to third sector organisations, to progress digital inclusion across the City and broaden skills, particularly with those who are harder to reach.

·  Confirmation that Wards not listed in the priority neighbourhoods would still receive reactive support and would not miss out on digital benefits; Members noted that if support was required then digital inclusion team would assist.

·  The funding options and training opportunities available to enable the provision of technology and connectivity in community centres, libraries, schools and council buildings.

·  Clarity was sought regarding the grants programme available to communities and advise was provided that:

o  the partnership with Smarter Leeds  identifies priority locations to expand free WI-FI into 20 community buildings;

o  The 100k budget is a separate provision which sets aside money for communities to equip community buildings, i.e. enabling them to bid for computers.

·  The opportunities available for people with disabilities; Officers informed the Board that work is underway with partners and stakeholders including investment of voice activation technology as part of the programme.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

To consider the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and the Director of City Development. This provides an update and also sets out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny inquiry into Housing Mix.

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support set out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny inquiry into Housing Mix.

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  Martin Elliot – Group Manager, Policy and Plans

-  Sarah Hellewell – Principal Planner

-  Councillor Richard Lewis – Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning

The status of recommendations were agreed as follows:

·  Recommendation 3 – Achieved

·  Recommendation 4 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 5 - Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 8 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 9 Achieved

·  Recommendation 10 - Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

Key issues identified in discussions with the Board included:

• Sheltered accommodation to be provided in priority areas of deprivation. The Board were advised that upon implementation of the Site Allocation Plan (SAP), sites in need of provision can be identified and the deliverability of sites will continue to be monitored.
• The Board sought clarity about the effectiveness of Neighbourhood plans and the perceived difficulties in creating and implementing a plan. The Board resolved to consider this matter further when considering their work programme in the next municipal year.
• The reduction in viability assessments requests.
• Position on the 5 year supply, SAP, Core Strategy Selective Review and the value they pose in the determination of the decision making process.
• Concerns were raised that Policy H 4 statistics set out in the report, were still not close enough to target.
• The Board sought clarity about the methodology utilised in analysing housing needs in the HMCAs, and agreed that this should be considered as a possible future agenda item. The Board also requested further details relating to the HMCA reports be shared with Ward Members, and provided at Community Committees for their respective areas.

Cllr. Maqsood withdrew from the meeting for a short while during discussion of this item.

RESOLVED- The Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth):

a)  Noted the contents of the report and information provided at the meeting

b)  Approved the status of the recommendations above.

c)  Requested a further update in the next municipal year

d)  Requested that the information outlined in the minute be provided.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2018/19 municipal year.

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presented the Board with a copy of the work schedule for the remainder of the current Municipal Year.

RESOLVED-

a)  To note the matters outlined in this report.

b)  To agree overall work schedule (as presented at Appendix 1) as the basis for the Board’s work for the remainder of 2018/19.

Wednesday 10 April 2019 at 10:30am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10:00am)

The next meeting of the Board will be Wednesday 10 April at 10:30am (pre-meeting at 10:00am).