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 Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting.)

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

1 To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information within the meaning of Section 100I of the Local Government Act 1972, 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 the recommendation is accepted, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That, in accordance with Regulation 4 of The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 or Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as appropriate, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of those 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 supplementary information relating to Item 12 Appendix 2 was circulated to all Members prior to the meeting.  

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 of Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. Alice Smart, Co-optees Hazel Boutle, Erica Mitchell and Marvina Newton.

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.

On this occasion there were no speakers at the open forum.

To receive and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9th September 2015.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th September 2015 be approved as a correct record.

Minute 22 Wellbeing Fund Update

Some Ward Members were disappointed that no agreement had been reached in relation to using the Wellbeing funding as one pot of money for the area rather than splitting the allocation equally between wards.

They requested that this matter be revisited.

To receive the report of the Director of Children’s Services to provide Members with a brief overview of the statutory assessment outcomes at the end of the foundation stage at a national, city wide and local level.

The report presents information on the composition of early years providers and local outcomes within the Inner West area and makes recommendations for further improvements.

The Early Years Outcomes Update 2015 was presented by the Early Years Foundation Stage Improvement Manager.

The report provided a brief overview of the statutory assessment outcomes at the end of the foundation stage at a national, city wide and local level.

The Officer informed the Committee that the Good Level of Development (GLD) was improving in Leeds with a rise from 51% to 62% from 2013-2015. However, Leeds is still below the national GLD which was 66% in 2015.

The Members were told that in 2013 Leeds was ranked 152 out of 152 local authorities for the ‘inequality gap’ measure at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Leeds has managed to narrow the attainment gap over the last two years and is now ranked 116.

The Officer listed the areas that the Early Years Foundation Stage had supported schools to raise attainment in the early years this year.

·  Moderation Cluster meetings

·  Early years locality network meetings

·  Leadership Forums

·  Bespoke work with learning improvements consultants

·  Universal training offer

·  Targeted training and support

·  Supporting Private Voluntary and Independent settings and childminders to improve quality

Members discussed at length the differences of the GLD between similar schools in each of the wards and questioned why there were such significant differences between schools in comparable areas.

Members were assured that figures would be challenged, meetings held and plans drawn up to address the issues. Armley Ward Members requested that officers come back to the Committee with information on Plans for Castleton and St Bartholemews primary schools.

Members discussed the following issues:

·  Size of cohorts

·  Focussed work within the underperforming schools in Inner West

·  How primary schools in the Inner West matched up to primary schools nationally

·  Nursery training

·  Pre-school provision

Members raised their concerns that the tables highlighted differentials between areas as Hawksworth Wood Primary located in one of the most deprived areas of the city was performing well where as other schools in similar locations were not performing as well. Members requested that information be brought to the next Community Committee’s General Purposes meeting.

RESOLVED – That Members noted and supported the recommendations as set out in the submitted report

Cllr. Illingworth arrived during this item.

To receive the report of the Head of Capacity Planning and Sufficiency to update the Inner West Community Committee on the current sufficiency of school places in the Inner West area and an update on progress of the developments currently forming part of the Learning Places Programme to meet demand for school places.

An Officer from Capacity Planning and Sufficiency presented the report on School Place Planning.

The Community Committee were informed that in the Inner West area it is projected that there would be a need for an additional 1.5 forms of entry for September 2016 in the Armley and Wortley Primary Planning Area, of which 1 form of entry would be required permanently; 0.5 form of entry in the Bramley area for 2016 and beyond; and 2 forms of entry required for Kirkstall, Burley and Hawksworth Wood area of which 1.5 forms of entry would be required permanently.

Members were informed that discussions were taking place with local schools to accommodate the expansions that are required to address the additional need.

Although there is no immediate need for additional secondary places in the area discussions would be taking place with secondary schools to meet the projected increased demand from 2018 onwards.

The Members discussed the following issues:

·  The consultation that was on going with the primary schools in the area and the success of the consultation that had taken place with Bramley Primary

·  The growing population within the City

·  Planning for longer term provision

RESOLVED – That the Community Committee:

·  Noted the content of the report and the progress to date

·  Supported the expansions of the schemes in schools to provide bulge and permanent additional school places

To receive the report of the Locality Manager, Environmental Action Service to present for approval a new Service Agreement between the Committee and the Environmental Action Service to help maintain clean and tidy neighbourhoods across the Inner West area.

The Locality Manager, Environmental Action Service was in attendance at the meeting. He presented for approval a new Service Agreement between the Committee and the Environmental Action Service to help maintain clean and tidy neighbourhoods across the Inner West area.

The Locality Manager explained to the Committee that the Environmental Action Service had taken on new functions including:

·  Graffiti removal, needle picking, public toilet cleaning, ginnel clearance, LCC bin-yard clearance

·  Household bulky item collection service, and

·  Work previously done by ‘Estate Caretakers’ in council housing areas

Members were informed that the service had been working with the Keep Britain Tidy Group on Armley Town Street. It was hoped that the service would be able to do more work with communities.

Members were updated about the restructure within the service and the new ways of working within dedicated teams. The Priorities for the service including spending, service structures, and roles were set out in the submitted report.

Members raised their concerns about leaves which had accumulated in certain areas. Members were informed that this work was on going however the wet weather had been a factor in not been able to collect the leaves. A co-optee from the Kirkstall Ward also had concerns in relation to leaf fall at St Ann’s Lane and the fact that it could potentially be dangerous. The Locality Manager asked Members to contact him with areas of concern so that he could address.

Members discussed the following issues:

·  Tenant Scrutiny Report

·  Scheduling of work for ginnels

·  Litter picking in Armley and Bramley working well

·  Improvement in bulky waste collection

·  Work with volunteer groups

RESOLVED - The Community Committee;

·  approved the Service Agreement for the 2015/16 municipal year;

·  delegated the responsibility to oversee the development and delivery of the Agreement and associated ‘Plans on a page’ to the Environmental Sub Group, with input through ward member and sub-group meetings.

Cllr. J McKenna left the meeting during this item.

To receive the report of the North West Locality Safety Partnership to provide Members of the Inner West Community Committee with an overview of the performance of the West North West Locality Community Safety Partnership. The report focuses upon the period 1st November 2014 - 31st October 2015.

Reports on the performance of the West North West Locality Safety Partnership includes; crime statistics, information on Anti-Social Behaviour, CCTV and examples of some of the partnership initiatives.

Inspector Simon Jessup and the Area Community Safety Co-ordinator presented the annual report of the North West Locality Safety Partnership.

The crime figures for the Inner West area were tabled at the meeting. Inspector Jessup explained to the Committee that there had been changes in how crime is reported and logged and this had affected the figures as presented.

The Inspector spoke about the crimes for the Inner West area as listed at page 44 of the submitted report highlighting the increase in vehicle crime and burglary.

Members discussed the figures and the changes in recording crime and crime issues in their wards.

The Inspector told the Committee that the best way to report crimes was through ‘Crimestoppers’ as this helped build up intelligence.

The Committee noted that partnerships within the Inner West were working well.

The inspector informed the Committee that in February 2016 there would be a transition to a new operating model, which was necessary to ensure that demand can be met across all work areas with reduced staffing.

The main areas of change to be:

·  Majority of police officers will work on a 24/7 shift pattern

·  Inspector Jessup would retain overall responsibility for Inner West and remain the contact for the Committee

·  Core Neighbourhood Problem Solvers would be:

o  A Partnership Ward Area Sergeant

o  11 Ward Managers

o  21 PCSOs

The Inspector also informed Members of a pilot in Armley which would see more Special Constables in the area to undertake work around safeguarding.

He explained that this would take time to train up the Specials and that this route was the only way into the police force.

Members were informed that in January a review would take place to look at lessons learnt in Domestic Homicide, invites would be sent out shortly.

The Chair said that the Committee realised that the Police do a difficult job and appreciated the work that they do in the area.

RESOLVED – That Members continue supporting the locality Community Safety Partnership in relation to continuing to delivering towards the Safer Leeds priorities through effective partnership working set out by Safer Leeds for 2015/16

The report of the Area Leader, West North West provides Members with an update on the projects funded through the Inner West Wellbeing Fund and Youth Activities Fund budgets.

The report of the Area Leader updated the Members on the projects funded through the Inner West Wellbeing Fund and Youth Activities Fund budgets. It also asked Members to approve the applications process for the bids to the 2016/17 Wellbeing budget.

Members attention was drawn to paragraph 6 of the submitted report which provided the Members with the remaining balances for each ward.

Members were reminded that now in quarter 3 of the financial year and to contact the Communities team if they had a project which they would like to fund.

Members were informed that the project ‘Football and your future’ had been withdrawn as there had not been sufficient take up. The funding had been returned to the pot.

Members were also informed the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programme which the Committee had agreed to support with £3,100 had now had the bid submitted. The Committee to be kept informed.

Members were provided with an update on the Woodbridges Youth Project which the Committee had approved funding for an eight week period to pilot at youth club. The pilot had exceeded expectation with an average of 18 young people attending each week. In order to continue the project without a break the Ward Members and the Committee Chair agreed that £6,109 Youth Activities funding be approved by delegated decision to maintain provision during term time until the end of July 2016.

Members were reminded that the Wellbeing Commission round was on going and would remain open until 15^th January 2016. To date 4 applications had been received. The Members workshop to review all the projects will be held Wednesday 10^th February 2016, 10:00-12:30.

RESOLVED – That Members:

·  Noted the balance of the 2015/16 Wellbeing budget and Youth Activities Fund

·  Noted the monitoring report for the Wellbeing (Appendix 3) and Youth Activities Fund (Appendix 4) projects to date as per the submitted report

·  Noted the Wellbeing project that had been withdrawn

·  Considered the new application listed at paragraph 6 of the submitted report

·  Noted the 2016/17 Wellbeing commissioning round key dates.

To receive the report of the West North West Area Leader (Citizens and Communities) to update the Community Committee on the work of the three sub groups of the Committee: General Purposes, Children and Young People and Environment.

This report also updates the Committee on community events, local projects and partnership working that has taken place in the area since the last meeting.

The report of the West North West Area Leader (Citizens and Communities) updated the Community Committee on the work of the three groups of the Committee: General Purposes, Children and Young People and the Environment.

The Committee was informed about the Chair and Champions meeting that had been held on 2^nd November. The Committee was told what the meeting was and how it worked. This was the first meeting of its kind in the Inner West the meeting covered three of the themed lead areas: Environment, Housing and Community Safety.

The Committee was informed that the Christmas lights switch on at both Armley and Bramley had gone well.

The Dog chipping event at Hawksworth Wood had been a success.

Members were informed of a bid to set up a ‘Pocket Park’ behind St Ann’s Mills. Cllr. Illingworth provided the Committee with details of the process involved and that the outcome of the bid would not be known until end of January 2016.

In response to a question Communities Team said that they would find out when the redevelopment of the Town and District Centre would be underway.

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

The Chair thanked everyone for attending and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.