Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and after introductions had been made she introduced the theme for the workshop as Parks and Greenspace.

In introducing the first report the Chair spoke of her disappointment that the report was not fuller.

1^St Presentation – Parks and Countryside Interim Report

Joanne Clough, Trading and Operational Support Officer presented the report explaining that this was an interim report and that Parks and Countryside would have a better understanding of their budget position, the outcome of resident’s consultation exercise carried out in partnership with Leeds University and the latest Leeds Quality Parks assessment after February 2018. Members were informed that a scheduled annual report would be available then.

The Officer updated the Committee on the work that had been undertaken in each ward and the work which was needed to bring the parks in the area up to standard.

Members heard about the events that had taken place over the summer and were informed of future events.

Members were advised the current Ranger located at Gotts Park was to be replaced by Clare Rodgers in the next few weeks.

At the conclusion of this report Members discussed the following issues:

·  Generation of income;

·  The Leeds Quality Parks Standard, what work was required and the timescales for all parks to be assessed as having met the standard;

·  Funding for parks in the Inner West area and how the funding would be prioritised.

Members noted that the timescale for all parks to reach the Leeds Quality Parks Standard was set at 2020.

2^nd Presentation – Play in West Leeds

Helen Foreman from City Development gave a presentation on Children’s Play.

The presentation looked at the following:

·  The benefits of play for children

·  How children view structures man-made or natural as objects for play

·  Safe spaces to play without boundaries looking at everywhere as a playground

·  Importance of safe routes to access play areas

The Officer focused on street play explaining how streets become recognised as play streets. The Officer set out the benefits of play streets saying that it provided a safe place for children to play out doors, created a community with adults and children socialising

Members discussed the following points:

·  Street closes and play in Inner West area

·  The need for cross service working

·  The need for services to be aware of types of play and equipment that children enjoy

·  How areas of shrubs and trees could be used for play in Inner West area.

·  Why some areas of the City had much more innovative play equipment in LCC Parks eg, Roundhay, Temple Newsam.

Members were advised that work across services was ongoing to look at types of play and equipment.

3^rd Presentation – Kirkstall Valley Park

 Amy McAbendroth, Senior Landscape Architect at ARUP and a resident of Kirkstall gave a presentation to the Committee setting out the strategy for delivery.

Amy provided a brief development history to the project and the area covered by the Kirkstall Valley Park she also highlighted spots of interest along the route.

Amy explained the 9 objectives set out in the strategy for delivery of the park:

1. Unification

2. Activity

3. Movement

4. Heritage

5. Ecology and Biodiversity

6. Links to Communities

7. Profile

8. Flood Risk and Resilience

9. Economy

Members were informed of the existing challenges in meeting each of the objectives.

Members heard that eight Key Framework Moves had been formulated to directly address the objectives associated with the creation of Kirkstall Valley Park.

The Committee were informed that the Key Framework Moves recommended priority projects and initiatives to help unlock the park, making it more accessible, usable and enjoyable to the public.

The Members discussed the following points:

·  The boundaries of the park 

·  Consultation with all Members across all three wards

·  Access to the park

·  Funding for the park and projects

·  The Kirkstall Valley Park Board and the need for wider representation on the Board

Cllr. Ritchie spoke of the hard work by Cllr. Illingworth on the Kirkstall Valley Park Board.

The Chair thanked Joanne, Helen and Amy for attending the Community Committee and for their presentations.

At the end of the workshop at 19:30 the Community Committee went on to the Formal Business of the Community Committee.

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 was no exempt information.

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 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

To receive any apologies for absence.

It was noted that apologies had been received from Cllr. A Lowe and Co-optee Sam Meadley.

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 members of the public who wished to address the Committee at the Open Forum.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st June 2017.

RESOLVED - The minutes of the meeting held on 21^st June 2017 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the report of the West North West Area Leader to update Members on the projects funded through the Inner West Wellbeing Fund and Youth Activities Fund budgets. It also presents new projects for approval.

(Report attached)

The report of the West North West Area Leader updated the Members on the projects funded through the Inner West Wellbeing Fund and Youth Activities Fund budgets. It also presented new projects for approval.

The report also asked the Community Committee to approve the Wellbeing funding round process and timescales for the 2018/19 Wellbeing budget.

Members were advised of the remaining wellbeing balances for each ward. Members had been provided with a detailed breakdown of spend and also monitoring details of wellbeing projects complete to year end 2016/17. Both of these documents were appendices to the submitted report.

Members noted the continuation of Broadlea Tea Time Club which had been approved by delegated decision.

Members were asked to consider three wellbeing applications set out at points 9-11 of the submitted report for:

·  Leeds Country Park and Green Gateways Trail publicity

·  Bumps and Babes

·  Rainbow House

Members were asked to provide £200 per ward to top up the Priority Neigbourhood Pot to enable and support projects across all wards.

Members were advised that the small grants and skips budget available to spend was £3,133. Members were also informed of the three small grants projects which had been approved since the last meeting.

Members heard that following a recent injection of funds, the current Inner West Capital Wellbeing balance was £34,100.

Members were informed of the remaining balances of the Youth Activities Fund available for each ward to spend. 

Members were informed that the application round was to follow the process as previous years, with applications invited between 27^th October 2017 and 12 January 2018, for approval at the March Community Committee meeting.

RESOLVED – To:

a)  Note the balance of the Wellbeing budget and Wellbeing spend report at Appendix 1 of the submitted report.

b)  Note the Wellbeing monitoring report at Appendix 2 of the submitted report

c)  Approve the new Wellbeing projects for 2017/18 at points 9-11 of the submitted report

d)  Approved a top up of £200 per ward to the priority neighbourhood pot at point 12 of the submitted report

e)  Note the balance of the small grants and skips at point 17 of the submitted report

f)  Note the balance of the Capital Fund at point 18 of the submitted report

g)  Note the balance of the Youth Activities Fund at point 20 of the submitted report

h)  Approve the application process for the 2018/19 financial year at points 21-24 of the submitted report

Projects approved at the meeting were as follows:

-  9 Leeds Country Park and Green Gateways Trail publicity £1,168 - APPROVED

-  11 Rainbow House £816– APPROVED from Capital funding

-  Woodbridges Youth Group £2,415 – APPROVED from Kirkstall Youth Activities Fund

Projects Deferred

-  10 Bumps and Babes £1,200 – DEFERRED for further information

To receive the report of the West North West Area Leader to update the Community Committee on the work of the sub groups of the Committee: Children and Young People and Environment.

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

(Report attached)

The report of the West North West Area Leader provided the Committee with an update on the work of the sub groups of the Committee: Children and Young People and Environment. The report also updated the Committee on community events, local projects and partnership working that had taken place in the area since the last meeting.

Members were informed that the Inner West Youth Summit would take place on Friday 10^th November 2017 in the Leeds Civic Hall Banqueting Suite and would include a Q&A session with the Lord Mayor and Councillors in the Ante-Chamber. Members of the Committee who sit as Governors in the Inner West area were asked to promote the event to get as many schools as possible involved.

It was noted that the sub-group were arranging a visit to the new nursery facility Arium.

Members were informed that CAREVIEW the social isolation app was scheduled to be tested in New Wortley as one of the 6 priority neighbourhoods in October 2017. CAREVIEW looks to reconnect socially isolated residents back into their communities and services which may improve and maintain their overall health and wellbeing. It was noted that this would be a 12 month exploratory trial to transform the prototype to a fully working model with enhanced features.

Each of the Community Champions provided a brief update on the sub groups of the Community Committee.

Steve McBarron the Co-optee for Bramley and Stanningley was thanked for all his work on the Bramley Fun Day which had been a great success. The Committee showed their appreciation with a round of applause.

RESOLVED – To note the report including the key outcomes from the sub groups.

To note that the next meeting of the Inner West Community Committee with be on Wednesday 29^th November 2017, with the workshop starting at 6:00pm with the business meeting at 7:30pm. The venue to be confirmed nearer to the date.

The next meeting of the Inner West Community Committee will be Wednesday 29^th November 2017, at 6:00pm. Venue to be confirmed nearer to the date.