Agenda and minutes

Venue: Leeds Civic Hall Committee Room 3

Contact: Debbie Oldham 0113 395 1712 

Items
No. Item

38.

Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents

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.)

 

Minutes:

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

39.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion Of The Press And Public

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:

 

Minutes:

There was no exempt information

40.

Late 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.)

 

Minutes:

There were no late items. However, there was supplementary information which had been sent to all Members prior to the meeting. Minute no. 46 refers

41.

Declaration Of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest

To disclose or draw attention to any Disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code Conduct.

Minutes:

No declarations of pecuniary interests were made.

42.

Apologies For Absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. T Wilford.

43.

Open Forum / Community Forum

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.

Minutes:

There were no members of the public present at the meeting. However the Co-optee to the Committee the Reverend Canon Paul Ayers had asked to address the Community Committee on the resolution passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, of which the Canon Ayers is a member.

 

The Canon Ayres informed the Committee of the motion moved by the General Synod on 17th February 2016:

 

(a) welcome the extensive work already undertaken by the Church of England in partnership with others to evaluate the impact of benefits sanctioning and to identify and promote recommendations for the reform of sanctions policy and practice;

 

(b) call on Her Majesty's Government to implement the recommendations numbered 58-63 inclusive, made in December 2014 by the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry Report into Hunger in the UK Feeding Britain in respect of the use of sanctions upon benefit claimants;

 

(c) call on Her Majesty's Government to initiate a full independent review of the impact and efficacy of the sanctions and conditionality regime; and

 

(d) encourage every part of the Church of England to offer practical and pastoral support to those experiencing benefit sanctions, building on the Church's work with food banks, credit unions and debt advice.

 

The Canon Ayers went on to inform the Committee of the debate that this had caused with people from all over the country giving both analytical evidence and stories of human hardship. Members of Synod are bishops, vicars and lay people from all walks of life, and have direct, first-hand experience on the ground in helping to deal with some of the impact of current policy.

 

The Community Committee discussed the following issues:

·  Universal Credit

·  Length of time claimants have to wait

·  Assessments of disability claims

·  Assistance for both council tenants and tenants in private rented

·  Use of Credit Union and food vouchers

·  Advice and assistance for those with mental health issues and education learning difficulties

 

Members requested a co-ordinated report from officers from Housing and Benefits to inform ward councillors how they can assist and take issues forward.

 

The Community Committee also requested that the Chief Officer (Welfare and Benefits) be invited to attend a future meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

44.

Minutes of 9th December 2015 pdf icon PDF 78 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the last Outer West Community Committee held on 9th December 2015.

Minutes:

It was noted that an amendment be made to minute 37 should read Calverley Rotary Club.

 

RESOLVED – That the minutes of 9th December 2015 be approved as a correct record.

45.

Matters arising

Minutes:

In relation to Minute 37 Cllr. Wood informed the Community Committee that he was receiving names for the 2016 Christmas lunch.

46.

Minutes of Environmental Sub Group meeting held on pdf icon PDF 120 KB

To note the minutes of the Environmental Sub Group meeting held on 4th February 2016

Minutes:

Members requested information on fly grazing to be reported back to the group before the next meeting of the Environmental Sub Group.

 

Members discussed issues in relation to gulley cleaning within the Outer West area.

 

Members were informed that the issue in relation to Dawson’s Corner had now been addressed.

 

Officers to respond directly to Cllr. Lewis to update him on the issues at Crimbles Road garages.

 

RESOLVED – That the Community Committee noted the minutes of the Environmental Sub Group held on 4th February 2016.

 

 

47.

Outer West Community Committee Finance Report pdf icon PDF 322 KB

The report of the West North West Area Leader provides the Outer West Community Committee with an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund 2015/16 and the current position of the Small Grants and skips pots and those Small Grants and skips that have been approved since the last meeting.

 

The report also provides and update on the Youth Activity Fund and outlines the applications received through the open commissioning round for funding in the 2016/17 financial year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the West North West Area Leader informed the Community Committee of the current position of the Wellbeing Fund, Small Grants and skips pot, Youth Activities Fund and the Wellbeing Capital budget.

 

The Committee was informed that for the Wellbeing Commissioning round for 2016/17, 30 applications had been received for revenue funding totalling £143,565. A full list of the applications was attached at Appendix 2 of the submitted report.

 

Members had agreed 24 projects listed in Table 4 of the submitted report to be considered by the Community Committee.

 

Members had attended a General Purposes meeting and reviewed all applications in detail.

 

Members updated the Committee on some projects that had been funded by the Committee including the Community Orchard.

 

Members also discussed 2 applications which had been submitted as Supplementary Information and circulated to Members prior to the meeting.

 

Members were informed that a report is due to go to the Executive Board to discuss the criteria of the Youth Activity Fund.

 

Members were informed that £1,000 would be available to Community Committees to commemorate World War 1 events.

 

Clarification on spend was provided to Members on a number of projects listed on Appendix 1 of the submitted report.

 

RESOLVED – The Committee:

·  Noted the current budget position for the revenue Wellbeing Fund for 2015/16 Appendix 1 of the submitted report

·  Noted the Small Grants and skips that have been approved since the last meeting at Table 1 of the submitted report

·  Noted the current budget position for the Capital Wellbeing Fund for 2015/16

·  Noted the current budget position for the Youth Activities Fund for 2015/16 and those projects approved since the last meeting at Table 2 of the submitted report.

·  Noted the available Wellbeing budget and Youth Activities Fund for allocation in 2016/17

·  Considered and approved the projects listed at Table 4 and 5 from the Wellbeing Budget allocation for 2016/17

·  Members also considered and approved the projects listed at Appendix A and B of the submitted supplementary information

48.

Community Committee Update Report pdf icon PDF 314 KB

The report of the West North West Area Leader updates the Community Committee on the work of the three sub groups of the Committee: Environment, Business, Employment, and Skills and General Purposes.

 

The report also updates the Committee on pieces of work and partnership worth that has taken place in the area since the last meeting.

Minutes:

The report of the West North West Area Leader updated the Community Committee on the work of the three sub groups of the Committee: Environment, Business, Employment and Skills and General Purposes.

 

Members were in agreement that the work of the West Neighbourhood Improvement Board needed to keep going forward.

 

Members were informed that the next themed meeting of the Community Committee would consist of a conversation dinner with local residents from across the Outer West area to discuss their aspirations for the area.

 

The Committee were informed that there had been an increase in the audience using social media particularly around vacancies and jobs. Members were encouraged to share details and promote the networks to their constituents.

 

Each of the Community Champions informed the Committee of the work that had been undertaken over the past Municipal year this included:

·  Outer West dog fouling project

·  Mobile teams to clean up the Outer West area

·  Attendance at the Employment and Skills Board

·  Engagement meeting at Robin Lane Surgery attended by all partners

 

RESOLVED – The Committee noted the report including the key outcomes from the sub groups.

 

 

49.

Dates, Times and Venues of Community Committee Meetings 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 319 KB

The report of the City Solicitor requests Members to give consideration to agreeing the proposed Community Committee meeting schedule for the 2016/17 municipal year, whilst also considering whether any revisions to the current meeting and venue arrangements should be explored.

Minutes:

The Report of the City Solicitor requested Members to give consideration to agreeing the proposed Community Committee meeting schedule for the 2016/2017 municipal year.

 

The proposed meeting schedule for 2016/17 was as follows:

·  15 June 2016 at 1pm

·  28 September 2016 at 6:30pm

·  21 December 2016 at 1pm

·  1 March 2017 at 6:30pm

 

The Committee had four meetings in the current 2015/16 Municipal year. The Committee met on Wednesday at 1pm for Business Meetings and 6:30pm for Business and Themed Meetings with the themed workshop follow the business meeting.

 

Members discussed the proposed date in December raising their concerns that due to the commitments of Ward Councillors during December the December meeting in 2015/16 Municipal year had to be rearranged to enable the meeting to be quorate. Members requested that another date be sought in January 2017.

 

Members were informed that a date for the Election of Chair had yet to be agreed.

 

RESOLVED - The Members considered the Committee’s meeting schedule for the 2016/17 Municipal year as detailed at paragraph 6 of the submitted report the Members agreed the follow dates and times:

·  15 June 2016 at 1pm

·  28 September 2016 at 6:30pm

·  1 March 2017 at 6:30pm

 

Members requested that a date in January 2017 be sought for the third meeting of the Community Committee.

50.

AOB

Minutes:

Members discussed the issue of litter within the Outer West area agreeing that the situation needs addressing.

 

Members were requested to email the Chair with specific areas that require the services of a litter picker.