Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development reminded the Board of their previous request for a further report on City Region Governance arrangements with particular reference to the democratic deficit and proportionality.  A report  of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement), ‘Leeds City Region Forerunner Agreement’,  that had been considered by the Executive Board on 6 January 2010 was also attached to the agenda.

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

The Board was given an update regarding recent developments surrounding City Region Governance arrangements.  The following issues were highlighted:

• The City Regions Forerunner Agreement.  This had been signed off in November 2009 and gave devolved arrangements to the Leeds City Region Leader’s Board in the following areas:
  • Transport
  • Innovation
  • Housing
  • Skills

New bodies under the Leeds City Region were being established to deal with these.

• Meetings had been planned with the Chief Executive and Chief Planning and Housing Officers to discuss how the Council’s housing agenda was aligned to be fed into the City Region’s Housing & Communities Agency (HCA) Leader’s Board.  Leeds City Council would be represented on this Board.
• Council legal officers were due to meet to look at wider issues for the Council under the Forerunner Agreement.
• The Forerunner Agreement was considered by Executive Board at its meeting on 6 January 2010.  Following this, it was agreed that arrangements and information would be disseminated to all Leeds City Council Members.
• Members were advised that  an electronic City Region Newsletter would be introduced  to inform  Elected Members across the Leeds City Region of the work being undertaken in this regard .
• Arrangements for the HCA Leaders Board and the Employment and Skills Board.

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

• How Leeds City Council Members could be involved and have an influence at City Region Level.
• How to inform the public of the role of the Leeds City Region Leaders Board.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and discussion be noted.

(b)  That a further report be brought to the Board.

(Councillor Dunn left the meeting at 11.30 a.m. during the discussion on this item).