Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement)

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) updated the Board on progress made by the City Region Partnership designated a Forerunner City Region by the Government to develop Forerunner proposals which would bring a range of freedoms and flexibilities to the City Region. Specific reference was made to the fact that for the first time local authorities would be able to determine local priorities and direct resources to improve skills which is currently determined by Government and implemented by the Regional Development Agency.

The Chair welcomed Kathy Kudelnitzky, Chief Officer Leeds Initiative and Partnerships and Rob Norreys, Head of Regional Policy to the meeting.

It was reported that negotiations regarding the Forerunner proposals were still on going and there was due to be a further meeting with Civil Servants on the 21st or 23rd October and a Ministerial meeting on 3rd November 2009 at which the agreement would be signed and then publicly launched at the City Region Summit scheduled for the 27th November 2009 in Harrogate.

Officers stressed that once the Forerunner measures were agreed its was likely that some elements of the existing City Region Governance Model may need to be amended in order that the Government can be satisfied that decisions made by the City Region are transparent and accountable.

It was considered appropriate for scrutiny to undertake a review of the City Governance Model once the Forerunner agreement was in place.

Members expressed interest in scrutiny of the Leeds City Region / Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Housing and Regeneration Joint Board to ensure robust mechanisms are in place to ensure Leeds is able to contribute and influence investment decisions taken by the Joint Board. The mechanisms need to be put in place by early 2010. The Chair agreed to speak to the relevant Executive Board Member and or the Chair of Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) on this issue.

Reference was made to the Board's first session of its Inquiry into the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority and how this ties in to the Forerunner proposals along with the creation of an Employment and Skills Board which is the subject of a report later in the meeting today.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Democratic arrangements, proportionality and concerns that Members were not accountable at a local level.  It was reported that all decisions taken on behalf of the City Region were made by the City Regions Leader’s Board which consisted of the Leaders of the authorities which made up the Leeds City Region.  The Leader's Board was supported by thematic panels, which were chaired by local authority Leaders.  The panels did not necessarily have representation from all authorities within the Leeds City Region and performed an advisory role to the Leaders Board.
• Scrutiny Arrangements of the Leeds City Region – some scrutiny had taken place at a local level and it was recognised, particularly in light of the Forerunner proposals, that scrutiny arrangements needed to be put in place at a City Region level.
• Reporting arrangements and the fact that decisions taken by the City Region Leader's Board are generally not reported to the Council's Executive Board or to the Party Groups.
• Access to information, and that all City Regions Leaders Board meeting information was publicly available on the internet.
• Representation and the fact that the majority opposition party in Leeds does not have a representative on the City Region Leaders Board
• Housing issues and Homes And Communities Agency (HCA) investments.  Under the Forerunner proposals the Board was informed of considerations towards the establishment of a Leeds City Region/HCA Housing and Regeneration Board which would oversee the distribution of investment across the region. It was reported that this Board would comprise of Member representatives from City Region local authorities, the HCA, Yorkshire Forward and Government as a minimum.  Further discussion in relation to housing included links with other plans and strategies such as the EASEL project.
• Secretariat support to the City Region which is provided by Leeds who have a responsibility to all the local authorities forming the Leeds City Region and the potential for a conflict of interest in the same officers advising this Board. It was accepted that this needed to be addressed.

RESOLVED – 

(1)  That a further report be brought to the Board on City Region Governance Arrangements with particular reference to addressing the democratic deficit and proportionality issues discussed 

(2)  That the Chair discuss with the relevant Executive Board Member and the Chair of Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) the proposal that this Board undertake scrutiny of the Leeds City Region / Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Housing and Regeneration Joint Board to ensure the robustness of the mechanisms put in place that enable Leeds to have the opportunity to contribute and influence investment decisions taken by the Joint Board.