Agenda and minutes

With the agreement of the Committee, the Chair accepted one late item of business in respect of an additional submission to the Wellbeing Fund. It was reported that Ward Members were aware of the scheme and that a delay in the submission of the request would jeopardise the project (minute 60 refers)

Additionally, supplementary documents in support of the Area Update report were tabled at the meeting (minutes of recent Area Committee sub groups) as the minutes had not been cleared for inclusion at the time the agenda had been despatched (minute 61 refers)

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Khan and Councillor Maqsood

No matters were raised through the Open Forum

Minute 35 Open Forum – Councillor Grahame referred to the presentation in respect of the Beeches and Oaktree Tenants Management Organisation (BOTMO) and expressed his concern that the Committees’ support had been sought for the BOTMO which could result in the ALMO’s loss of control over local housing stock should the bid be successful. Members noted that the bid had yet to complete several stage s of the application process.

(Councillor Selby joined the meeting at this point)

The Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) submitted a report advising Members of the recent appointment of co-optees onto EIAC to support the work of the Committee. Mr Imran Khan to his first meeting as co-optee representing Harehills Community Leadership Team (CLT) and it was noted that Grace Mangwanya had been elected as Gipton CLT representative

RESOLVED - To note the contents of the report

The Locality Manager (East North East) submitted a report providing a half year update (May to October 2012) on performance against the Service Level Agreement (SLA) between EIAC and the East North East (ENE) Environmental Locality Team.

Mr J Woolmer presented the report and highlighted the principles and priorities set out in the SLA and the activities undertaken and the resources attributed to the Locality Teams through the three area wedge teams to deliver the service. Relevant case studies were discussed and areas highlighted where Members comments were sought. The Committee discussed the following key issues with the Locality Manager:

-  Staff involvement in the decision making processes and improved staff morale

-  the cross service meetings established to review working practices and experiences. Members noted that Councillor Grahame volunteered to attend a future service meeting in response to a request for Member involvement

-  the intention to present detailed information by ward rather than by activity blocks

-  case studies showing the results of cleansing projects

-  statistics showing the outcomes of consultation with residents  and showing the number of cases and actions undertaken in the previous six months

-  activities undertaken in the Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZs)

-  the reduced number of service requests generated from within the Killingbeck & Seacroft ward, noting that this could be attributed to the service provision offered by the ALMO

Finally the Locality Manager raised two resources issues for consideration in the future, namely a review of staff deployment and a review of vehicle hire contracts in order to provide continued value for money and ensure that service delivery continued to improve.

Members welcomed the contents of the report and the approach adopted and discussed the following additional matters:

-  the ongoing review of the bulky item collection service and the public perception of the service provided

-  the need to ensure the safety and security of empty properties and the links to West Yorkshire Fire Service and private landlords

-  whether there was a more effective method of measuring resident satisfaction than the six monthly survey currently employed

-  the need to ensure that residents and businesses within a designated EIZ were aware of the consequences of environmental crime

-  the resources available for gulley cleaning and the impact of weather conditions on service delivery. A comment regarding partnership working and sharing/re-using suitable vehicles was noted

-  the responsibility for clearing some areas, such as recreation grounds and subways, lay with specific Council Departments, although it was noted that service requests to the Locality Team would be dealt with. Members supported closer working with the LCC departments and suggested a partnership working protocol be developed

Members noted the request for their direct input into service requests in respect of environmental issues and that the EIAC Environmental Sub Group would consider the issues of the bulky waste service and resources review and report back to EIAC in due course

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and the discussions held be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

The Head of Partnerships, East North East Homes (ENEH), submitted a report informing EIAC of the work and progress made by the city wide Grounds Maintenance contractor, Continental Landscapes, during the April to November period 2012. Mr S Vowles attended the meeting to present the report and highlighted the following issues in discussions with Members:

·  The good working relationship established between ENEH Leeds and Continental Landscapes and between ENEH and the ENE Locality Teams

·  The benefits brought by the ENEH Leeds Estate Walkabout procedure which enabled residents to monitor the performance and appearance of their locality. EIAC noted the invitation for local ward Councillors and/or ENEH Leeds Area Panel members to participate in this process

·  The valuable role of  the ENEH Leeds Environmental Caretaking Teams in tackling environmental issues such as provision of the gardening services for those residents with no other means of assistance, garden clearing removal of fly tipping and removal of bulky refuse from communal areas

It was noted that due to a software failure, the appendix to the report which was intended to show the detail of the works undertaken by ward was not available but would be despatched to members in due course

(Councillor A Hussain joined the meeting at this point)

EIAC welcomed the report and noted comments providing differing perspectives of the service provided by the contractors, particularly in respect of areas where litter picking had not been undertaken prior to grass cutting and recreation spaces where responsibility for maintenance was not clear. Members noted a request for information to be provided directly to the service team in order that the issues could be dealt with

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and the discussions be noted

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report on the strategic initiatives undertaken in the city to establish an apprenticeships scheme. Members welcomed the report that Leeds City College would support the Apprenticeship Programme in order to provide a real learning experience for the trainees and further noted the intention to pursue the launch of the scheme in April 2013 even if a fourth business partner could not be secured.

The Area manager agreed to pursue discussions with LCC Parks & Countryside Service over a suggestion that a landscaping apprenticeship scheme should be established

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted and support be given to the growth of apprenticeships across Leeds and specifically within the Inner East and Inner North East areas

The ENE Area Leader submitted a report providing an overview of spending to date and seeking consideration of a number of new projects requesting funding. Members noted receipt of a late submission for funding for the Multi Sports Training Project and that local ward Members had been briefed on the scheme.

The report referred to monies clawed back from schemes which had not yet claimed funds or where there had been scheme slippage. A revised version of Appendix 1 was tabled at the meeting showing an amended total available to spend 2012/13 taking into account the roll up of unspent funds.

The Area Leader responded to queries in respect of the Ebor Gardens and Rookwood schemes. Members noted the funding request for the three Neighbourhood Manager posts was included within the report and the update provided on the recruitment process.

Burmantofts & Richmond Hill Tasking – A query seeking to re-allocate Tasking monies to fund PCSOs was raised. It was noted that most of the Tasking budget had been allocated but that future allocation could be discussed at the ward Member briefings. Re-allocating monies to fund PCSO’s could not be accommodated under current protocols and a subsequent request to review that rule was noted.

RESOLVED –

a) That having considered the project proposals, approval be given to the following grants:

Rookwoods Recreation Area - additional spend  £3,000

Haselwoods Bin Solution  £6,072.49

Lincoln Green IT suite- additional costs  £2,350

Burmantofts Community Gala  £3,500

Burglary alarms for South Seacroft Friends & Neighbours  £779

Monkswood Rise footpath  £2,588

Road Safety Scheme, Pigeon Cote Road  £5,000

Blossom Hill Domestic Violence  £1,768.64

Ebor Gardens Community Creche  £3,000

Harehills Child Sexual Exploitation Worker  £2,311.28

3x Neighbourhood Manager posts  £92,717

Pontefract Lane Boundary fence  £1,973.02

b) That in respect of the late submission, Area Committee approve the grant of £6,300 for the Multi Sports Training Project

c) To approve the reallocation of the unspent money detailed in Appendix F

d) To approve an additional £2,000 being added to the Gipton & Harehills Small Grant pot from the Gipton & Harehills Ward allocation.

e) To approve an additional £1,500 being added to the Killingbeck & Seacroft Small Grant pot from the Killingbeck & Seacroft ward allocation

f) To approve the reallocation of the Burmantofts & Richmond Hill Community Engagement pot, back to the Burmantofts & Richmond Hill Ward allocation and that the costs to date against that budget be set against the wedge wide Community Engagement pot.

The ENE Area Leader provided an update on community engagement activity undertaken across the EIAC area and the key messages on work being carried out which is pertinent to EIAC priorities. The sub groups established to support the EIAC priorities had met during November and the minutes of those meetings had been despatched following the agenda

Members commented on the value of the responses from the Citizens Panel, noting that membership of the Panel from residents of the Inner area was much lower that the Outer area and the impact this may have on the results. It was agreed that the issue of encouraging membership of the Citizens Panel would be discussed at Ward member briefings and with the CLTs

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and the comments made by Members be noted

b)  That the contents of the minutes of the following sub group meetings be noted

a.  Environmental Sub Group held 13^th November 2012

b.  Community Centres Sub Group 15^th November 2012

c.  Planning Sub Group held 9^th November 2012

d.  Health & Wellbeing Sub Group held 3^rd December 2012

c)  That the issue of encouraging membership of the Citizens Panel would be discussed at Ward member briefings and with the CLT’s

Minute 3 – Youth Service Review - A request that information on the budget of all East Leeds schools, prior to the submission of the Annual Report from Children’s Services to EIAC, was noted

Minute 5 Community First Update – Members commented on the establishment of the Community First panels and received assurance that the ENE Team had begun to establish a working relationship with the Community Organiser

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held 11^th September 2012

Councillor R Grahame tabled two newspaper reports for Members information to highlight his concerns in respect of local policing:

·  Armed robbery in Cross Green reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post 6^th December 2012

·  Police resource and procurement practices reported in The Mail on Sunday 25^th November 2012.

RESOLVED – Members noted a request from Councillor Grahame that West Yorkshire Police be invited to submit a response to the issues raised in the articles in respect of Police resources and local policing

RESOLVED - To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 7^th February 2013 at 5:30 pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds