Agenda and minutes

Approximately 20 representatives of the local community, organisations and stakeholders attended the meeting.

The Chair welcomed all to the Inner North East Community Committee and thanked all those who had stayed after the workshop for the business meeting.

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 refusal of inspection 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:-

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.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made.

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. J Dowson, M Rafique, A Sobel, G Hussain and C Macniven.

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.

Under the provisions of Paragraphs 4.16 and 4.17 of the Community Committee Procedure Rules (Open Forum) a representative from the Greek Orthodox Church explained that a first aid training course was being held at the church on Sunday 2^nd July. There were 2 vacancies on the course. The representative offered the places to either councillors or members of the local community.

RESOLVED – To put the offer of the first aid course on social media pages of Inner North East Community Committee.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held 7^th March 2017.

RESOLVED – To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held 7^th March 2017 as a correct record.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor inviting the Committee to make appointments to Outside Bodies; Community Committee Champions and a representative to the Corporate Parenting Board; and to the Children’s Services Cluster partnership relevant to this CC area.

The report of the City Solicitor invited Members to note the appointment of Councillor Eileen Taylor as Chair of the Community Committee 20 2017/18 as agreed at the recent Annual Council Meeting, and also invited the Committee to make appointments to the following:

·  Outside Bodies as detailed at section 19 / Appendix 1 of the submitted report;

·  One representative to the Corporate Parenting Board;

·  Community Champion roles in respect of:

o  Environment and Community Safety (one for Environment, one for Community Safety)

o  Children’s Services

o  Employment, Skills and Welfare

o  Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care (one for Health and Wellbeing, one for Adult Social Care.

The Community Committee was informed that the Chair had sent an email to all Members seeking nominations to the appointments set out in the submitted report. It was noted that responses had been received from some Members advising that they wished to continue in the roles that they had previously held.

Members were informed that since the agenda had been dispatched it had come to light that the structure of the Clusters had been revised and that the report on appointments did not reflect the changes.

Members were advised that discussions had taken place with colleagues in Children’s Services and with the agreement of the Chair it was proposed that that appointments to the Clusters be deferred until the September meeting so that a future report can accurately reflect the changes and the recommendation reflect the number of Members appointed to the merged Cluster.

RESOLVED –

·  To note the appointment of Cllr. Eileen Taylor as the Chair of the Community Committee for the duration of 2017/18, as agreed at the recent Annual Meeting of the Council;

·  To appoint to the following outside bodies:

o  Moor Allerton Elderly Action – Cllr. S Hamilton;

o  Community Action for Roundhay Elderly – Cllr. C Macniven;

o  Chapeltown Citizens Advice Bureau – Cllr. G Hussain.

·  To appoint to the following Community Committee Champion Roles:

o  Children’s Services – Cllr. Tunnicliffe

o  Environment and Community Safety – Cllr. Rafique (Community Safety) and Cllr. Hamilton (Environment)

o  Employment, Skills and Welfare – Cllr. Hussain

o  Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care – Cllr. Taylor (Health, Wellbeing) and Cllr. Macniven (Adult Social Care)

·  To receive a report at the September meeting setting out the new arrangements for the Clusters.

·  To appoint to the following advisory sub groups:

o  Environment – Cllrs. Hussain, Hamilton, Rafique and the Chair

o  Wellbeing – Cllr. Taylor, Hamilton, and Macniven

To consider the report of the Chief Officer, Housing Management, seeking Ward Councillor nominations to the Inner North East Housing Advisory Panel (HAP)

The report of the Chief Officer Housing Management invited Ward Councillor nominations from Inner North East Community Committee to the Inner North East Housing Advisory Panel.

It was noted that Cllr. Dowson was to step down from the Housing Advisory Panel due to her election as Mayor and that Cllr. Taylor would step up to this role as the representative for Chapel Allerton.

RESOLVED – To appoint the following Ward Councillors to the Housing Advisory Panel:

·  Chapel Allerton – Cllr. E Taylor

·  Moortown – Cllr. S Hamilton

·  Roundhay – Cllr. E Tunnicliffe

 To receive a report from the Inner and Outer North East Community Hub Manager highlighting the work of the North Leeds Debt Forum and its partners; and specifically on the three main strands of work that form the focus of the group.

This report is submitted in support of the community workshop discussions.

The report of the Inner and Outer North East Community Hub Manager was linked as part of the facilitated workshop prior to the business meeting of the Community Committee.

The workshop had been attended by approximately 20 representatives from local residents, organisations and stakeholders. The workshop heard from representatives of North Leeds Debt Forum, Chapeltown Citizens Advice Bureau, and Credit Union who provided information on the work that they do to assist those who find themselves in debt or need assistance with financial issues.

The workshop had discussed a number of issues including debt and health, negative Christmas spending behaviours and prevention and early intervention through education in schools. Those attending the workshop provided ideas and solutions to addressing debt.

Nick Hart the Inner and Outer North East Community Hub Manager thanked all those who had attended the workshop and taken part in the discussions.

He said that all the information collection would be worked into a report and those who had fed into the report would be able to comment.

It was noted that an update would be provided as part of the normal Community Committee update report at the September meeting with an update on the actions going forward.

RESOLVED - To note the content of the report and the recommendations of the community committee workshop around how the North Leeds Debt Forum can take the work of the group forward. 

To consider the report of the Financial Inclusion Team on work undertaken across the city to support people who find themselves in financial difficulties. The report also provides ward specific information on support organisations and financial inclusion initiatives which apply to the Inner North East area.

The report of the Financial Inclusion Team was presented by Diane Gill, Senior Policy Development Officer.

The officer informed the Community Committee that the Financial Inclusion Team through the Citizens@Leeds programme ensured that essential services were provided in an integrated and accessible way to those who most needed it, providing support and advice and for those requiring financial assistance they had quick and easy access to financial advice and cost effective credit facilities.

The report set out the current initiatives as:

·  Local Welfare Support Scheme (LWSS)

·  Advice provision

·  Debt Forums

·  Money Buddies

·  Benefit Buddies

·  Leeds Credit Union

·  Front line staff training

·  Money Information Centre (MIC)

·  Fareshare

·  Poverty Factbook

·  Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT)

The officer provided the Community Committee with specific details of some initiatives and current progress.

The Community Committee were informed of the Money Buddies scheme which provides one to one home budgeting and assistance. The Committee heard that Money Buddies was run by volunteers who had been in debt themselves and so were able to provide practical help and solutions for clients.

Members were informed that Credit Union had moved into a local shop on Roundhay Road to have direct competition with loan sharks. It was also noted that a new Credit Union would be opening shortly in the Merrion Centre 2 doors away from Bright House

Members were advised that as part of educating children on money, saving clubs had been opened in 30 schools across the city. The schools taking part in the saving clubs were listed as part of an appendix to the submitted report.

The Committee heard that a booklet called ‘Help With Managing Your Money’ had been produced to provide information on benefit, debt and legal advice, affordable credit and banking services, home budgeting and financial literacy advice. The booklet was available at HUB’s, One Stop Centres and children’s centres.

 Members heard about Fareshare a charity for provision of food when in crisis. They heard that Fareshare provided cereals to school breakfast clubs and children’s centres and that further work was being undertaken during 2017/18 to increase the take up of this provision over the school cluster groups.

Members also heard about an initiative called fit and fed which aims to provide children with activities and a meal during the school holidays. Members were informed that once venues had been secured then these activities would be promoted.

Members suggested that Fareshare could attend the Youth Summit to discuss their ideas and put forward an application for Youth Activity Funding.

Members asked that schools were made aware of the Fit and Fed Scheme with Street Games once venues are known.

Members had noted that Millfield Primary School were not listed as part of the schools with saving clubs as each child when starting school receives £1 to open an account which is provided by the Ward Councillors.

Discussions took place in relation to Universal Credit and the impact that this would have on people particularly families. It was noted that Universal Credit had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader setting out the Inner North East Community Committee Wellbeing budget, including details of any new projects for consideration.

The report of the East North East Area Leader provided Members of the Inner North East Community Committee with details of its Wellbeing Budget.

Members noted appendix 1 of the submitted report which provided a summary of the Wellbeing budgets.

Paragraph 11 of the submitted report provided information on the Inner North East Community Committee Wellbeing allocation for 2017/18 which was agreed at full Council on 22^nd February 2017:

·  Wellbeing Fund allocation 2017/18 £102,840

·  Youth Activity Fund allocation 2017/18 £39,790

It was noted that there was a 10% reduction on the Youth Activity Fund.

Members were provided with the carry forward figures for the Youth Activity Fund, Area-wide Wellbeing and Ward Pots at paragraph 12 of the submitted report.

Members were advised of the delegated decisions that had taken place since the last meeting which were set out at paragraph 22 of the submitted report. Members noted that applications would be considered at a meeting on 3^rd July.

The Community Committee had previously approved ‘minimum conditions’ for delegated decisions. The conditions were set out at paragraph 28 of the submitted report. Members were invited to review the conditions previously agreed and to consider whether any further amendments were required prior to agreeing such conditions for operation in the forthcoming year.

Members were advised of a mistake in the report that Youth Activity Fund information was at paragraphs 11 and 12 not 9 and 10 of the report.

RESOLVED - 

·  To note the budget allocation for 2017/18 as agreed at full Council on 22^nd February 2017 detailed in paragraph 11 and the carry forward figures detailed in paragraph 12

·  To note the current balances for 2017/18 and the spend to date against these budgets as set out in the submitted report and appendix

·  To note the delegated decisions made since the last meeting of the Inner North East Community Committee (7^th March 2017) as outlined in paragraph 22-23

·  To note the minimum conditions for delegated decisions set out at paragraph 28 of the submitted report

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader which provides an update on the work programme of Inner North East Community Committee, its recent successes and current challenges.

The Community Committee Update report provided Members with an update on the work programme of Inner North East Community Committee including the Committee’s sub groups.

An update of the work undertaken by the Environment sub group was highlighted at paragraphs 4-6 of the submitted report.

The work of the Wellbeing Advisory Group was set out at paragraphs 7 and 8 of the submitted report.

The Community were informed of successful events at Beckhill fun day and the Great Get Together with both well supported by Councillors, Officers and the community.

Cllr. Charlwood gave an update on the progress of the Leeds Health Care Plan saying that it was to be taken to the next Executive Board. Cllr. Charlwood explained that the plan is a living document and would continue to evolve to get partnerships across the city for better health care.

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report.

To receive any feedback or comments from members of the public on the reports presented to this Community Committee meeting.

A time limit for this session has been set at 10 minutes.

Due to the number and nature of queries it will not be possible to provide responses immediately at the meeting. However, members of the public shall receive a formal response within 14 working days

The Chair noted the opportunity for members of the public to give feedback and/or queries on the reports presented during the formal part of the Community Committee meeting, the intention being that written response would be provided within 14 days. The following comments were raised and discussed:

·  How many free school meals are provided to children in both primary and secondary schools?

·  To provide and distribute a booklet on how to get free school meals and where to get them during school holidays

·  The Youth Summit was discussed as to what it is and what it does. It was noted that the Youth Summit was made up of children of different ages who had been consulted on the types of activities that they would like to see over the coming year. The result of the Youth Summit informed the Community Committee’s on Youth Activity Fund spend within the city.

·  It was suggested that places on the Youth Summit should be given to those aged between 17 and 21 who were isolated or excluded and needed to be included in youth activities. It was noted that youth providers who work with hard to reach children had invited the children to the summit.

·  It was suggested the use of Parks and Countryside services for future events in local parks. It was noted that there is a formal application to be completed for such events. Environmental sub group to look at events in parks.

The Chair thanked all those who had attended the workshop and the meeting and noted that the next Community Committee would be 18^th September 2017, with a community workshop at 6.00pm, followed by the formal business meeting at 7.00pm.