Agenda and minutes

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda, however two additional submissions to the Wellbeing fund had been made and Members had received the details of the following applications as supplementary documents (minute 43d) refers)

-  Bonfire Night Activities

-  Oatlands Estate Fencing

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 interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ingham and Councillor Maqsood.

No representations were made

Social Media – Councillor Khan led discussion on proposals to introduce the use of social media to publicise the work of the Area Committee and encourage wider public participation. In response to concerns, it was agreed that a report be presented to the next meeting assessing the success of social media already employed in other areas in generating wider public interest and participation in locality working, including consideration of measures to monitor and filter abuse .

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd September 2013

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 3^rd September 2013 be agreed as a correct record

Minute 27 Area Leads – Members confirmed their positions as Area Leads, but noted comments that sought to ensure that Adult Social Care issues were addressed. Members considered whether it was necessary to establish a specific Area Lead role for Adult Social Care but agreed to monitor the remit of the Health and Wellbeing Lead role to assess whether Adult Social Care issues were included.

Min 31 Nowell Mount - In response to a query regarding the outcome of the review, it was reported that Children’s Services were expected to complete the lease of the premises by the end of November 2013.

Minute 32 Youth Services – It was noted that the first meeting of the Children and Young People’s sub group was scheduled for 31^st October 2013. A report back would be presented to the Area Committee in due course.

To consider the report of the ENE Area Leader providing details of the Wellbeing fund spend to date and including details of new projects for  consideration

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report providing an update on the current position of the capital and revenue budget for the East Inner Area Committee along with the details of several applications for funding from the Wellbeing Fund.

The Committee was also in receipt of two additional submissions received after the despatch of the agenda for the meeting. These were considered as “late submissions” due to the time constraints as the projects were intended to commence prior to the next Area Committee meeting (d refers below).

EIAC discussed the Seacroft Methodist Chapel Refurbishment project (deferred from the last meeting), noting the statistics showing community usage of the centre and the position of the East Outer Area Committee in respect of funding. The Committee considered that it could not collectively agree on further funding of the project at this point and indicated that further consideration at ward member level was required.

RESOLVED -

a)  To note the spend to date and the current balances for the 2013/14 financial year

b)  To note the 2012/13 allocation of Capital Receipts Incentive Scheme (CRIS) funding and the agreement to split this allocation equally between the three wards that make up East Inner Area Committee

c)  That in respect of the following five applications to the Wellbeing Fund:

d)  That in respect of the following two late submissions to the Wellbeing Fund

e)  That in respect of the Seacroft Methodist Chapel Refurbishment project, to note that further discussions will be held at ward Member level and with colleagues from the Outer East Area Committee, with a further report requested for presentation to the December EIAC for determination of the final funding

(Councillor Selby left the meeting at this point).

To consider the update report of the Chief Officer, Employment and Skills, providing a high level update on activities delivered through the Employment and Skills service aimed at improving skills and increasing job outcomes in the City

The Director of City Development submitted a report providing a high level update on activities delivered through the Employment and Skills Service intended at improving skills and increasing job outcomes in the City.

The report provided a comparison of the situation in the East Inner Area Committee locality with the city-wide position, outlining the role of Jobshops; Community Learning and the Employment Leeds Team. Additionally, the report highlighted the role of the third sector through those programmes provided.

Ms S Wynne, Chief Officer, Employment and Skills, attended the meeting to present the report.

Members welcomed the information contained within the report in respect of apprenticeships and the Education Business Partnership and noted the new and emerging initiatives outlined in the report.

The Area Committee discussed the following matters:

Publicity – Members noted the figures showing take-up from across the three wards and commented that further work was required to publicise the availability of events, assistance and training available. It was agreed that the location of provision would prove to be an issue for some prospective trainees and it was further noted that work was ongoing with LCC Communications to improve publicity for the schemes to encourage wider participation. The Service also made use of social media to publicise events and the Jobshop website was due to be refreshed in November.

Links to development and procurement – Members noted the success of the initiative to link large developments and contracts with the local workforce and the continuing work being done in schools and colleges to ensure the local labour market included prospective employees with the skills and qualifications to support future large developments, such as Victoria Gate and Thorpe Park. It was agreed that information on developments and opportunities would continue to be supplied to local ward members.

Resources – Comments regarding the accessibility of the Jobshop service in certain parts of the locality were noted. Members were advised that the Service had been rationalised but that this also presented an opportunity to reconfigure the service through use of the Community Hubs and provide better linkages with other providers.

Overall Strategy – Members supported comments that an overall strategy and action plan was required to formally target resources - such as those available through the Social Inclusion Fund established after the granting of the Large Casino Licence - to the inner city wards with the highest of unemployment and were keen to be involved in the development of a plan for EIAC area. It was noted that the three Area Leads were due to meet with the Councillor Mitchell, Chair of the Inter-Agency Steering Group, to discuss the development of such a plan.

In response, it was agreed that further discussions would be held between the Area Support Team and the Employment Skills Service to identify areas where EIAC Members could appropriately support the development and implementation of an action plan

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

To consider the report of the Director of Childrens Services providing an update on issues relating to school attendance within the EIAC area

Further to minute 13 of the meeting held 20^th June 2013, the Director of Children’s Services submitted a report in response to Members request for further detail on attendance performance of schools within the East Inner Area Committee locality. The report provided attendance rates by school, incidents of persistent absenteeism and provided an update on the specific activities focussing on improving attendance – including enforcement action available – and outcomes that had been delivered. Additionally, case studies were provided for reference.

Ms G Mayfield, LCC Head of Targeted Services attended the meeting to present the report and respond to Members comments.

The Committee discussed the following issues in respect of attendance/absenteeism figures:

-  The impact of the stronger guidance issued to schools in respect of holidays taken through term time and the measures available to address persistent/patterns of absenteeism

-  The number of attendance advisors across the city

-  The link between attendance, achievement and employability

-  Engagement with local school Clusters, Academies and Trusts

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted

b)  That the following specific areas of interest raised through the discussion be identified for further consideration  

  I.  Measures to ensure local school Trusts, Academies and clusters engage with Targeted Services to manage attendance

  II.  Figures showing separate attendance figures for Primary and High schools

To consider the report of the ENE Area Leader, including minutes of the EIAC sub groups

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report providing updates on the ongoing work of the Committee, the Area Support Team and partners to address the Area Committees agree priorities for the locality. The report also included the minutes of the Area Committees’ sub groups established to support the work of the Committee

RESOLVED

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

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

-  Health & wellbeing Sub Group held 9^th September 2013

-  Planning Sub Group held 3^rd September 2013

-  Community Centre Working Group held 27^th June 2013

To receive the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held 28^th June 2013 and 6th September 2013

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held 28^th June and 6^th September 2013 respectively

To note that the next meeting will be held on Thursday 5^th December 2013 at 5.30 pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds

RESOLVED – To note the next meeting will be held on Thursday 5^th December 2013 at 5.30 pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds