Agenda and minutes

Venue: Wellington House, 40-50 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 2DE

Contact: Ruth Chaplin 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Baker, A Cooper, K Groves,

G Isherwood and M Isherwood.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillor Ellis declared an other interest as he is a member of the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and Airedale Drainage Commission.

3.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

Minutes:

There were no items on the agenda requiring exclusion of the press and public.

4.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 28 April 2017 pdf icon PDF 336 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 April 2017 be approved and signed by the Chair.

5.

Inclusive Growth pdf icon PDF 256 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report on the progress made by the Inclusive Growth Project.

 

Ruth Redfern the Project Director for Inclusive Growth, Councillor Erin Hill,

Kirklees Council and Kate McNicholas, Bradford Council attended the meeting and

provided members with an overview and update on the project.

 

It was noted that a Virtual Team, Core Group, Steering Inclusive Growth Group and

an Inclusive Growth Champions Group had been established.  Members discussed

the details of the work programme and, in welcoming the themes of work and

vision of the project, made the following comments:

 

·         Don’t keep to local authority focus - encourage private sector to be more

involved.

·         People have different aspirations and expectations – need to inspire them

in different ways.

·         Focus on areas of deprivation.

·         Look at issues of workforce and management eg. filling vacancies as staff

are promoted.

·         Heard about what has been done in the work programme – but what has

been learnt from it?

·         Would like more information on the metrics - how Inclusive Growth is

being measured.

·         Need to make people feel valued and break the stigma of unemployment.

·         Can the apprenticeship levy be used to help?

 

It was noted that the District Council Leaders were provided with regular feedback

and members were asked to contact Ruth Redfern if they, or any colleagues, wished

to be involved in the project. 

 

The Committee thanked Councillor Hill, Kate McNicholas and Ruth Redfern for the comprehensive overview and discussion and asked that an update on the impact and outcomes of the project be provided at a future meeting.

 

Resolved:  That an update on the impact and outcomes of the Inclusive Growth project be provided at a future meeting.

6.

Loan to Oxford GB2 (Leeds Hilton) pdf icon PDF 245 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the calling in of the Loan to Oxford GB2 (Leeds Hilton) project for scrutiny.

 

It was proposed that a task and finish group, led by the Chair, undertakes a review of the project and members agreed the proposed lines of questioning which were attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.   Membership of the group would comprise Councillors Baker, Cuthbertson, Davey, Harrand and Light.

 

Resolved:  That a task and finish group be established to consider the questions as set out in Appendix 1 of the submitted report in respect of the Oxford GB2 loan.

7.

WYCA Office Accommodation pdf icon PDF 291 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report which provided an update in respect of the WYCA Head Office Accommodation Project

 

The report outlined the preferred option to refurbish Wellington House which had been endorsed by WYCA and approval given to progress to a detailed design, costs and plan.  The scope and parameters of the feasibility work and the next steps for the project were discussed and the need for a clear programme of maintenance for the building once refurbished was highlighted.  The need to establish success criteria for the project with respect to productivity was also discussed. Members were invited to tour the building at the conclusion of the meeting. 

 

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

8.

Forward Programme of Work pdf icon PDF 262 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered a work programme for the coming year.

 

Members discussed a proposed forward plan of work for 2017/18 and agreed that budgets/funding would considered at the meeting to be held on 15 November 2017.  Other possible items for future meetings include:

 

·         Flood alleviation (follow up actions from the report)

·         Branding

·         Transport for the North

·         Performance/achievement against corporate plan.

 

The Committee was advised that the programme could be supplemented by further items as they were identified during the year and additional meetings could also be arranged on an ad hoc basis. 

 

It was proposed that the forward plan of work be considered and updated at each meeting and WYCA’s forward plan would be provided for information.  Other standard items on each agenda would include Devolution, items for information and items for reporting back to WYCA.  Members had previously requested a single item agenda meeting on devolution when full details of an offer are available and this will be scheduled as required. 

 

It was agreed that the SEP Delivery and Transport Plan Delivery Task & Finish Groups should continue during 2017/18 with the following members: 

 

Transport Strategy                                          Strategic and Economic

 

Councillor Ian Cuthbertson                             Councillor Stephen Baines

Councillor Mike Ellis                                       Councillor Kim Groves

Councillor Dot Foster                                      Councillor Paul Kane              

Councillor Peter Harrand                               Vacancy

 

A nomination for the vacancy on the SEP Delivery Task & Finish Group would be sought.

 

Resolved:  

 

(i)         That the Forward Programme of work be amended.

 

(ii)        That the membership of the Task & Finish Groups be noted.

9.

Items for Feedback to WYCA

Minutes:

There were no items to feedback to WYCA.

10.

Items for Information

10a

Draft Minutes of the WYCA meeting held on 3 August 2017 pdf icon PDF 349 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the draft minutes of the WYCA meeting held on 3 August 2017 be noted.

11.

Devolution

A verbal update will be given.

Minutes:

The Committee was provided with an update on the latest position in respect of devolution discussions.

 

It was reported that meetings had been held over the summer between Yorkshire Leaders, of which 17 had confirmed their commitment to the progression of a  “One Yorkshire” devolution deal with Government and that a meeting with the Secretary of State was being sought.

 

The Committee agreed that there should be consultation with the District Councils and the public should a deal be forthcoming.  Members had previously requested a single item agenda meeting on devolution when full details of a deal are available and this will be scheduled as required. 

 

Resolved:  That the update on devolution discussions be noted.