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.

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:

There were no exempt items.

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. However, some supplementary information to Item 8 (Finance Report) was published and circulated prior to the meeting (Minute 31 refers)

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations of interests.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive and approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 1^st September, 2021.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 1^st September 2021 be approved as an accurate record.

In accordance with Paragraphs 4.16 and 4.17 of the Community Committee Procedure Rules, at the discretion of the Chair a period of up to 10 minutes may be allocated at each ordinary meeting for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Community Committee. This period of time may be extended at the discretion of the Chair. No member of the public shall speak for more than three minutes in the Open Forum, except by permission of the Chair.

A local resident raised an issue with the quality of the surface dressing on Cross Flats Avenue and surrounding areas. The Highways Officer present, Jeremy Lunn, agreed to look into the matter in more detail.

A local resident raised the issue of drug use in the Inner South wards. Members recognised that the Inner South area has one of the highest rates of drug use, and that the Neighbourhood Inspector (West Yorkshire Police) is working hard to resolve issues. However, Members urged local residents to report activity they have witnessed to the Police to provide them with sufficient evidence to establish grounds for a warrant to search premises. It was also noted that a national approach is required to tackle drug networks and supply into the area.  

To consider the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships that provides the Community Committee with an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital Budget, as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2021/22.

The Head of Locality Partnerships submitted a report that set out the delegated budget position for the Community Committee and invited Members to consider the minimum conditions and the wellbeing applications submitted.

A further wellbeing application had been submitted as supplementary information for Member’s consideration.

The projects set out in the report were discussed and agreed as follows:

In response to a query, Member’s were assured that the Localities Team would seek an update on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) injection expected in October 2021.

It was also noted that the position of a permanent Localities Officer for the Inner South had not yet been filled.

RESOLVED –

a) That the details of the Wellbeing Budget position be noted

b) That the wellbeing proposals be approved as detailed above

c) That the details of the projects approved via Delegated Decision be noted

d) That the monitoring information of funded projects be noted

e) That details of the Youth Activities Fund position be noted

f) That details of the Small Grants Budget bed noted

g) That details of the Community Skips Budget be noted

h) That details of the Capital Budget be noted

i) That details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget be noted

To consider the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships that provides an update of the work which the Communities Team 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.

The Head of Locality Partnerships submitted a report that provided a summary of the work undertaken by the Communities Team based on the priorities identified by the Inner South Community Committee. A Facebook engagement update was appended to the report.

Community Committee Champions provided updates for their respective areas and feedback from recent sub group meetings, as set out in the report.

The Chair of Health & Wellbeing Sub Group, Councillor S Burke, presented an example of promotional material for an upcoming Vitamin D campaign, and asked Members to identify any key dates of local events and food bank collections to support distribution. Members agreed to ringfence £1,000 of the wellbeing fund (£333 from each Inner South ward) to the project.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That £1,000 (£333 from each Inner South ward) be ringfenced to support the Health & Wellbeing Sub Group’s Vitamin D campaign.

To consider the report of the Executive Manager that introduces an update on the Highways Service and seeks to gather input from elected members and residents.

The Executive Manager submitted a report to provide the Inner South Community Committee with an update on Highways Winter Service. The report and presentation provided the Inner South Community Committee with an update of the Highways Service, following a recent winter service review. The report focussed specifically on the policy and methods for the winter, including snow clearance and road gritting.

The presentation included a demonstration of the Leeds City Council Gritter Tracker, which showed the location of yellow grit bins, along with gritting routes in real time on days when the city is hit by severe weather conditions. It was hoped that this would provide valuable information for residents and ward councillors.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  Members identified two school sites in the Inner South that are not currently covered by primary gritting routes - Cockburn High School and Hugh Gaitskell Primary School – and requested that the routes be updated to incorporate roads leading to the schools.

·  Members queried the process for refilling of grit bins and were advised that ordinary grit bins are refilled twice a year, whereas ‘blue’ councillor grit bins are only refilled when the team are advised that they are empty by local councillors. Members suggested that an automated system be developed for refilling of all grit bins and were advised that the service are looking at capacity and additional resource to do so.

·  Members raised concern with the current national HGV driver shortage and asked whether the situation was likely to impact on HGV gritter drivers employed by Leeds City Council. In response, the job security and employment package available, along with a competitive ‘standby rate’, has proven to be attractive and therefore issues with retention of Council employed drivers are not expected.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report, along with Member’s comments, be noted.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Sustainable Energy and Air Quality) that introduces a presentation on the council’s updated climate emergency strategy and progress.

The Chief Officer for Sustainable Energy and Air Quality submitted a report to update the Inner South Community Committee on the Climate Emergency Strategy and progress.

An update was provided to the Inner South Community Committee on the council’s climate emergency strategy and recent progress to reduce emissions. This included an overview of measures being taken to retrofit homes and buildings, installation of electric vehicle charging points and biodiversity measures such as tree planting.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  Free Solar Panel Scheme. Members were asked to encourage eligible local residents to apply for free solar panels and insulation from Leeds City Council and Better Homes Yorkshire that help cut energy bills and keep homes warm. Members noted that linking in with the Neighbourhood Networks would be valuable to communicate messaging around financial support available and assistance during the application process.

·  Electric Vehicle Charging Points. Members recognised the disadvantage of terraced homeowners without off-street parking, which makes up the majority of the housing stock in the Inner South, in relation to personal electric vehicle charging points. Members were advised that home charging points are not necessary for the average family’s car usage, and that the increase in charging points across supermarkets and car parks across the city will be sufficient moving forward to supply energy, without the need for overnight charging.

·  Remote working and reduced travel. Members highlighted the importance of being mindful of journey’s made to meetings, and suggested that council policy be explored to encourage remote meetings wherever possible. It was noted that the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee continue to work on a consultative basis and hold remote meetings for any meetings that do not require decisions to be made, to reduce unnecessary travel and support the council’s net zero ambitions.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report, along with Members comments, be noted.

The next meeting will take place Wednesday, 2^nd March, 2021 at 2.00 p.m.

The next meeting will take place 2^nd March 2022 at 2.00 p.m.