Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the special January meeting of the North West (Inner) Area Committee held in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

The Chair stated that at the conclusion of the meeting, there would be a budget workshop for Members of the North West (Inner) Area Committee.

He also welcomed to the meeting representatives from the Woodsley Road Management Committee and the Leeds Muslim Council.

To agree that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Appendix 1 in respect of Item 7 ‘Woodsley Road Multi-Cultural Community Centre’ (copy to be circulated at the meeting)

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following part of the agenda designated exempt 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 public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information so designated as follows:-

Appendix 1 to the report referred to in Minute 74 under the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3) and on the grounds that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information by reason of the fact that by disclosing these details, the reputation of the organisation could be detrimentally affected before they had attempted to satisfactorily resolve the matter.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct

Councillor J Chapman declared a personal interest in her capacity as Lead Member (Neighbourhoods and Housing) and report author of ‘Making a Bigger Difference in Localities’ regarding Area Management in Leeds

(Agenda Item 6) (Minute 73 refers).

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor S Bentley, Councillor P Ewens and Councillor K Hussain.

A number of other apologies received from members of the public were also read out at the meeting.

To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods outlining changes to Area Committee responsibilities and working arrangements previously agreed at the Council’s Executive Board on 14^th November 2007.

Referring to Minute 64 of the meeting held on 13^th December 2007, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report outlining the changes to Area Committee responsibilities and working arrangements previously agreed at the Council’s Executive Board on 14^th November 2007.

Martyn Stenton, Partnerships Manager, Environment and Neighbourhoods Department and Jason Singh, North West Area Management presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

·  clarification as to whether other Area Committees would adopt different criteria under the new arrangements in relation to well-being applications and community centre lettings

(The Partnerships Manager responded and informed the meeting that if other Area Committees agreed to the ‘free’ usage of some community centres within their particular area, this would clearly have an impact on their resources)

·  concerns expressed over the huge agenda facing Area Committees in relation to the Children and Young People ‘theme’

(The Partnerships Manager responded and informed the meeting that Children’s Plans were currently being drafted for Members’ consideration)

·  the need for assurances to be given by officers that matters would be dealt with quickly with the right level of support from service departments

·  the need for all Area Committees to adopt a professional and consistent approach, on a city-wide basis, which would also provide new learning opportunities for Elected Members

·  clarification of how street cleansing would work under the new proposals,

given competing area priorities, with the need for more regular and up to date information in this area

(The Partnerships Manager responded and informed the meeting that under the new arrangements, there would be an obligation on services to work more directly with the Area Committee when addressing priorities and for them to be more accountable)

·  the need for Area Committees to focus on regeneration and development and for Elected Members to be provided with the necessary support in relation to Local Design Reviews

·  reference to the Adult Social Care and Healthier Communities ‘theme’, with clarification sought as to whether Area Committees would be directly

responsible for legal issues in view of the proposed new delegated function

(The Partnerships Manager responded and informed the meeting that under the new arrangements this would be a ‘key’ area for Member involvement, but obviously legal issues and statutory duties needed to be dealt with in a proper and consistent way on a city-wide basis)

·  the need for Area Committees to deliver services locally within the locality of the Area Committee

·  the need for the Area Management Review to focus on those areas that were working well, with power and responsibility to go hand in hand

·  the need for North West (Inner) Area Committee to meet at least ten times a year in view of the increased responsibilities and proposed new themes and to publicise venues well in advance

·  the need for the review to address the role/membership of the Area Committee’s sub groups and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing the meeting with an update on progress made at Woodsley Road Multi–Cultural Community Centre over the past 18 months as requested at the last Area Committee meeting.

Appendix 1 of this report is designated exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3).

Referring to Minute 68 of the meeting held on 13^th December 2007, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing the meeting with an update on progress made at Woodsley Road Multi-Cultural Community Centre over the past 18 months as requested at a previous Area Committee meeting.

Jason Singh, North West Area Management presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

At the request of the Chair, comments were also taken from representatives of the Woodsley Road Management Committee and the Leeds Muslim Council.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report.

In summary specific reference was made to the following issues:-

·  clarification as to whether the £5,000 of Well-being funding was a one off request or a year on year requirement

·  clarification of the daily usage of the multicultural centre and whether or not the centre encouraged users from a mix of faiths and cultures

·  the need for a working group to be established to develop and produce an options appraisal as outlined in section 7.0 of the report

(North West Area Management agreed to convene an early meeting in this regard)

·  clarification of the future visions of the centre

Following consideration of the appendix to the report designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3) which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting it was:-

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That approval be given to the undertaking of an options appraisal regarding alternative management arrangements of  Woodsley Road Multicultural Community Centre in accordance with the report now submitted.

c)   That the request received from the Woodsley Road Management  Committee for the £5,000 of well-being funding, originally allocated to Voluntary  Action Leeds, to be paid directly to them, as outlined in Section 5.2 of the report,  be deferred, pending the outcome of the options appraisal as referred to in resolution b) above.

d)  That the request received from the Woodsley Road Management Committee for a contribution towards the implementation of their business plan, through payment of a percentage of the lettings income from the centre, as outlined in Section 5.3 of the report, be deferred, pending the outcome of the options appraisal as referred to in resolution b) above.

Thursday 7^th February 2008 at 7.00pm (venue to be confirmed)

Thursday 7^th February 2008 at 7.00 pm at Milford Sports Club, Beecroft Street, Leeds 5

(The meeting concluded at 9.10 pm)