Agenda item

To consider a joint report of the City Solicitor, Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory and Chief Planning Officer which presents the Annual Decision Making Assurance report which is one of the sources of assurance which the committee is able to take into account when considering the approval of the Annual Governance Statement.

(Report attached)

The City Solicitor submitted a report which presented the Annual Decision Making Assurance Report.

The report provided assurances to the Committee that the systems and processes that form part of the council’s decision making framework were fit for purpose, up to date, were routinely complied with and had been effectively communicated and monitored.

Officers representing the Head of Governance Services & Scrutiny Support, the Chief Planning Officer, The Head of Service (Legal) and the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory were in attendance to answer Members questions and queries.

Referring to Decision Monitoring, Members queried how a significant impact on one or more wards was identified

Members were informed that the significant impact would be on a significant proportion of people in the area and would be more likely if there was a disproportionate impact on a specific group or the community in the area.

Reference was made to the List of Forthcoming Key Decisions, noting that officers had reviewed and amended the form by which officers request the addition of an issue to the list of forthcoming key decisions. Members requested if a copy of the revised form could be made available to Members.

Members were informed the requested document would be made available to Committee Members

Members noted that in terms of significant operational decisions and key decisions, City Development had seen an increase in both these areas in the last 12 months and queried if there was any particular reasons for the increase.

In responding, officers suggested further analysis was required and Members would be notified separately.

In relation to RIPA, the Head of Service (Legal) confirmed that no use of the RIPA powers had taken place over the past 12 months

There were no issues raised under Licensing Matters

Referring to Planning matters, Members noted there had been a slight reduction in the service’s performance in relation to applications being determined in time or within agreed timescales. Members queried if there were any underlying issues to account for the dip in performance.

Members were informed that currently Planning Services were having resourcing difficulties, including being involved with a number of Public Inquiries which were resource intensive.

Members undertook to seek further assurances from the Chief Planning Officer in respect of the arrangements in place for Members to refer planning applications to Plans Panels for determination and the Governance arrangements for enforcement proceedings

The Chair thanked officers for their attendance and contributions.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the assurance provided in the submitted report by the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support, the Chief Planning Officer, the Head of Service (Legal) and the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration that the decision making framework in place within Leeds City Council was fit for purpose, up to date, were routinely complied with and had been effectively communicated and monitored.

(ii)  That the recently revised form by which officers request the addition of an issue to the list of forthcoming key decisions be circulated to Committee Members for information

(iii)  To circulate to Members an analysis as to why City Development had seen an increase in the number of; significant operational decisions and key decisions, in the last 12 months

(iv)  That the Chief Planning Officer be requested to provide further assurance around the arrangements in place for Members to refer planning applications to Plans Panels for determination and the Governance arrangements for enforcement proceedings