Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting.)

There were no appeals against the refusal of the inspection of Documents.

1 To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as   containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the   public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public   interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the   report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in   respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

 No exempt items or information have been identified on the agenda

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be considered.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

There were no late items of business identified.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2000 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

There were no declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests.

In order to facilitate the Open Forum item whilst Community Committee meetings are being held remotely, the process has been adapted slightly, so that members of the public are invited to make written submissions in advance of the meeting on any matter which falls within the Committee’s terms of reference. These will be read out under this agenda item and considered by the Community Committee.

The Governance Services Officer reported the receipt of one submission which was to be considered as part of the “Open Forum”

Members were informed the submission was from Thorner Parish Council, the title of the submission was “Police Reports”

The submission read as follows:

The Police have changed the way they report crime figures.

Instead of receiving a monthly report, of crimes in the immediately preceding month, we are now referred to the crime mapping function of the Police UK web site.

Statistics do not show the detail that is helpful when assessing the extent of local crime. For example a search of the Crime Database for Thorner, on 17^th November 2020, shows 3 crimes reported in September 2020.

Two were "Violence and sexual offences" and the third was "other theft". These are quite meaningless statistics.

More significantly the Minutes of the PC meeting, on 6th October, confirm there were no crimes reported for September 2020.

There was no more recent data on the Database.

If a crime report is to have any relevance it needs to be up to date, and we need details of the offences. If there was a serial rapist on the loose in September we really need to know whether these offences are continuing, and whether anyone has been caught.

I am also aware that residents reported several incidents of anti-social behaviour in the relevant period - yet these do not appear.

We would also like to be provided with details of road traffic accidents within the Parish, so that the cause can be considered, and any road maintenance or improvement issues identified.

End of submission

In offering comment the Chair suggested the requested information was available to the public, the issue was how the information could be accessed.

It was agreed the Chair would circulate the necessary (PACTs) web links to Committee Members, who would then circulate to the appropriate Parish/ Town Councils.

The Chair also reported the receipt of a second submission from Harehills Park Bowling Club, entitled: “Consultation to close 50% of bowling greens in Leeds”. It was understood the submission was been circulated city wide to all Community Committees.

In acknowledging receipt of the submission, the Chair said there were no City Council controlled bowling greens within the Outer North East area, it was therefore inappropriate for the Committee to consider this issue.

The Chair requested that these comments be included in the city wide consultation.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th January 2020 and to note the minutes of the Outer North East Community Forum held on 14^th September 2020

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 20^th January 2020 were confirmed as a true and correct record.

(ii)  To note the minutes of the Outer North East Consultative Forum held on 14^th September 2020.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes (If any)

There were no issues raised under matters arising.

To receive an update from the Chair on the Local Care Partnership.

The Chair spoke about the Local Care Partnership and its aim to provide joined-up working to deliver local care for local people; working in and with local communities.

The Chair explained that currently the wards of Wetherby and Harewood were represented at the Partnership, a volunteer was now being sought to represent the Alwoodley ward.

Councillor N Buckley said he had served on the Partnership in the past and would be willing to serve on the group once again.

The Chair thanked Councillor Buckley for his offer and said the necessary details would be forwarded onto him.

To receive a report by the Commercial Manager (Parks & Countryside) which provides an update on the services operating in the Outer North East area.

(Report attached)

The Commercial Manager, Communities & Environment submitted a report

which provided an update on the Parks and Countryside Service.

The report provided a brief commentary on the following issues:

·  The Service lost up to 35% of staff (due to Covid) limiting operations to essential maintenance and reactive work.

·  The LCC Arium was one of the first facilities to re-open and received hugely positive feedback from members of the public for its approach to social distancing.

·  There was a significant increase in Allotment usage during the lockdown period and work was ongoing to potentially increase allotment numbers throughout the Outer North East area

·  Bookings were now being taken for events in 2021

·  Work was ongoing to deliver a play area in Shadwell, off Holy Well Lane. The existing playground there is around 30 years old.

·  Work would begin in December to improve King Lane Recreation Ground (informal play area).

·  Current staffing position update.

·  Future budget actions around operations are proposed which may affect service delivery.

·  The renaming of Deepdale Park

Referring to the loss of staff, 35% due to Covid-19, Members suggested this figure appeared to be very high given the outdoor nature of the work.

Members were informed that the Parks and Countryside Service had an aging workforce, many of whom were in the vulnerable category and required to shield.

Members queried if there had been a significant loss of income in respect of the Arium.

It was reported that income was down, plant and bulb sales had gone well but the closure of the café had resulted in a loss of around £300k.

The Chair sought Members support in renaming Deepdale Park to the Gerald Wilkinson Park

Speaking in support, Councillor A Lamb said this was a fitting tribute to Gerald and would leave a lasting legacy. Family and colleagues were also supportive of the proposal.

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the contents of the report be noted

(ii)  That Deepdale Park be renamed the Gerald Wilkinson Park

To consider a report by the Head of Stronger Communities which provides an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital Budget, as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2020/21.

The report also sets out details of organisations funded by the Community Committee and how their project delivery will be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

(Report attached)

The Head of Stronger Communities submitted a report which provided an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital Budget, as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2020/21. The report also included an update on organisations funded by the Community Committee and how their project delivery would be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Members were provided with an update on projects that had been funded through the £10,000 set aside by this Committee from their available Wellbeing Budget 2020/21 (across all wards) to tackle the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Members were also informed of the work that had been taking place through their local Volunteer Hubs, together with an update on the work of the wider Communities Team and what they had been doing to support some of the newer communities and communities of interest in the area.

The Localities Officer, presented the report and responded to Members comments and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report together with the appendices which included:

·  Available funding for the current financial year.

·  Clarification around some of the projects seeking financial assistance.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the details Wellbeing Budget Position (Table No.1 referred)

(ii)  That the following Wellbeing Projects be determined as follows:

(Prior to consideration of the following projects Councillor D Cohen declared a personal interest in respect of the Santa’s visit application, as an organiser of the project, he did not take part in the discussion or voting thereon)

(iii)  To note that since the last Consultative Forum on 14^th September 2020, the following project had been considered and approved by DDN:

a) Boston Spa Christmas Lights

b) Bramham Christmas Lights

c) Clifford Interpretation Board

d) The Tride Youth Group

e) Walton Christmas Lights

f) Wetherby Bridge Lights

g) Stone Court CCTV 

It was reported that the following projects had been declined:

  Christmas Activity Boxes

(iv)  To note details of COVID 19 position (Table 2)

(v)  To note the details of the Youth Activities Fund (YAF) position (Table 3)

(vi)  To note there were no Youth Activity Projects requiring  determination

(vii)  To note the activity within the Community Skips Budget (Table No.4 referred)

(viii)  To note the details of the Capital Budget (Table No.5 referred)

(ix)  To note the details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget (Paragraph 32 referred)

Receipt of Additional Funding

Members were informed of the receipt of an email from Councillor Debra Coupar, Deputy Leader and Executive Board Member for Communities. The communication explained that an additional £330k of funding from the COVID-19 Tier 3 fund had been secured for wellbeing purposes.

It was reported that the funding would be allocated at £10k per ward and could be used by committees in a flexible way at their discretion to best address local needs and vulnerabilities related to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To consider a report by the Head of Stronger Communities which provides and update on the work of the Communities Team and the work it is

engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. It also provides opportunities for further questioning, or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

(Report attached)

The Head of Stronger Communities submitted a report which provided an update of the work the Communities Team were engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee.

The report invited Members to seek clarification on a variety of issues, or to request a more detailed report on other particular matters.

The report provided updates on some of the key activities between

Community Committee meetings and functions delegated to Community Committees, Community Champions roles, community engagement, partnership and locality working.

Reference was made to Youth Summits, Members were informed that following discussions with Community Committee Chairs it had been agreed that summits would move to a remote format for the remainder of 2020/21.

In offering comment one Member suggested that Youth Summits in the past had been a significant cost to the Youth Activity Fund, presumably moving to an online format would reduce the costs to the fund.

The Localities Officer confirmed that the costs for virtual Youth Summits would be considerably be lower, there were no costs associated with staging the event, but the provision of school vouchers would continue.

Members made reference to the Community Committee’s presence on social media (Facebook page) noting that out of the 10 Community Committees, this committee was the tenth most popular with 429 followers.

The Head of Stronger Communities said any suggestions from Members to increase this Committee’s social media presence would be welcomed, sharing links to local groups and clubs would extend the reach of the Committee.

A general observation was made about viewing Leeds City Council meetings on the City Council’s YouTube Channel, suggesting that navigating the playlist was not always straight forward.

Members were informed that in the past few weeks a second LCC YouTube Channel had been established and that any initial problems would be rectified as officers became more familiar with the system.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted

To note that the next meeting will take place on Monday, 22nd March 2021at 5.30pm (Remote Meeting – Zoom)

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Monday, 22^nd March 2021.