Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the February meeting of the North West (Outer) Area Committee held in Yeadon Town Hall, High Street, Yeadon, Leeds 19.

He also welcomed Jane Maxwell to the meeting and on behalf of the Area Committee, he congratulated her on her recent appointment as Area Leader.

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.

The following personal interests were declared at the meeting:-

·  Councillor B Cleasby in view of the fact that his granddaughter attends Rawdon St Peter’s Primary School (Agenda Item 8) (Minute 68 refers) and also in his capacity as a Member of the Horsforth Live at Home Scheme (Agenda Item 11) (Minute 71 refers)

·  Councillor C Fox in his capacity as a Member of West North West Leeds Area Panel (Agenda Item 8) (Minute 68 refers)

·  Councillor R Downes in his capacity as Chair of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority (Agenda Item 9) (Minute 69 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors A Barker and G Latty.

In accordance with Paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area 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 Area 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.

In accordance with Paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a period of up to 10 minutes for members of the public to make representations or ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.

a)  Otley and District Road Safety Committee – Road Safety Quiz

Hazel Lee referred to the above issue and informed the meeting that the quiz would take part on 16^th June 2011 with 15 schools taking part. She informed the meeting that it cost approx £1,000 to run the quiz and that the organisers were struggling to find the funds for this year’s event.

In concluding, she requested the support of the Area Committee and following discussions, Jane Pattison, West North West Area Management  agreed to forward a Well-being application to Hazel Lee for her completion.

b)  Proposed Relocation of One Stop Centres within the Guiseley and

  Rawdon and Otley and Yeadon wards

  At the request of the Chair, Councillor C Townsley raised his concerns 

  over a proposal to relocate two One Stop Centres located within the

  Guiseley and Rawdon and Otley and Yeadon wards from the

  beginning of the financial year without any prior consultation with Ward 

  Members.

  Detailed discussions ensued and arising from the discussions, Jane

  Maxwell, Area Leader agreed to commence a dialogue with both the

  Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) and the

  Chief Customer Services Officer to ascertain the options available and

  to report back the outcome discussions to Ward Members as a matter

  of urgency.

  In addition to this course of action, the Chair also agreed to write, on

  behalf of the Area Committee, to the above officers conveying the 

  Committee’s concerns with regards to these proposals and seeking the

  reassurance to work in a constructive way.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th December 2010.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13^th December 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing the Area Committee with a current position statement on the well-being budget, details of proposed projects and small grant applications.

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That this Committee notes the current position of the Well-being budget as detailed in Sections 2.0 and 3.0 of the report.

c)  That the following projects outlined in Section 4.0 of the report be dealt with as follows:-

Referring to Minute 56 of the meeting held on 13^th  December 2010, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing Members with a current position statement on the well-being budget, details of proposed projects and small grant applications received to date.

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

RESOLVED -

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That this Committee notes the current position of the Well-being budget as detailed in Sections 2.0 and 3.0 of the report.

c)  That the following projects outlined in Section 4.0 of the report be dealt with as follows:-

To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing a summary of ward forums and sub groups that have taken place since the last Area Committee.

RESOLVED - That the contents of the report be noted.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing Members with an update and summary on progress made at the Area Committee sub-groups and Ward Forums that have taken place since the last Area Committee meeting.

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

At the request of the Chair, Councillor B Anderson in his capacity as Chair of the Environment and Streetscene Sub Group reported on the Environment and Streetscene Sub Group meeting immediately prior to the Area Committee. In summary the issues raised were:-

• concerns about the allocation of resource and the basis upon which this would be made
• concerns that Members do not know what level of environmental service the area currently gets
• the need to see ginnel cleansing and grounds maintenance included in the delegated services
• a requirement not to include the dog warden service or graffiti in the delegation
• concerns that a new manual street cleansing regime had been implemented with no Elected Member consultation
• concerns that the consultation regarding the delegation of Environmental Services was being rushed through

Specific reference was made to the following issues:-

·  the need for the Environment and Streetscene Sub Group to meet on a monthly basis to keep up to speed on the proposals

·  the need for the Area Committee to be supplied with regular information around graffiti prosecutions

(The Area Leader responded and agreed to have further discussions with the Contact Centre with a view to improving the reporting of management information to Elected Members)

·  clarification of the current Health Visitor arrangements for Guiseley Health Centre

(The Area Leader responded and agreed to follow up this issue)

RESOLVED - That the contents of the report be noted.

  To consider a report of the Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager outlining the significant changes taking place locally following the publishing of recent government white paper and guidance which highlights implications for the work of the local Health and Wellbeing area partnerships.

The Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager submitted a report

outlining the significant changes taking place locally following the

publishing of the recent government white paper and guidance

which highlighted implications for the work of the local Health and Wellbeing

area partnerships.

Tim Taylor, Heath and Wellbeing Improvement Manager, West North West

presented the report and responded to Member’s queries and comments.

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

·  the need for more actions and initiatives around smoking

·  clarification of the role and appointment of Ian Cameron, Joint Director of Public Health, NHS Leeds/Leeds city Council

·  the need for more joint working to relieve the tensions within the health service

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That this Committee notes the changes taking place as a result of recent national policy drivers and implications for local authorities.

To consider a report of the Deputy Director – Strategic Commissioning Adult Social Care presenting the Area Committee with information relating to the future options for long term residential and day care services for older people. The report also outlines the consultation process to progress and implement the recommendations of the Executive Board agreed on 15^th December 2010 which is appended and forms the basis of this report.

The Deputy Director – Strategic Commissioning, Adult Social Care submitted a report presenting the Area Committee with information relating to the future options for long term residential and day care services for older people. The report also outlined the consultation process to progress and implement the recommendations of the Executive Board agreed on 15^th December 2010 which was appended and formed the basis of the report.

Dennis Holmes, Deputy Director - Strategic Commissioning, Adult Social Care presented the report and responded to Member’s queries and comments.

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

·  the need to involve the Health and Well-being sub group as part of the consultation exercise

·  clarification of the proposals for those people who are affected by the future options for long term residential and day care services for older people

(The Deputy Director – Strategic Commissioning responded and circulated a map showing the proposed options for the information of the meeting)

·  clarification of the role of the Neighbourhood Networks

·  the need to address capital investment and consider the maintenance backlog when addressing the options

·  the need to focus on best care provision when addressing the Adult Social Care budget

·  the need to consult Horsforth Live at Home and Billing View Community Group with the proposals

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That the criteria for determining the most appropriate option for each  facility outlined in the Executive Board report be noted, particularly in terms of any specific local factors.

c)  That this Committee endorses the suggestion for any local voluntary organisations working with older people in the outer north west area as outlined in paragraph 15 of the report.

d)  That approval be given to refer the report to the Area Committee’s Health and Well-being sub-group on 22^nd March 2011 for a response to be considered as part of the consultation.

e)  That this Committee notes that a further report on this issue would be submitted to the next Area Committee meeting in March 2011 for consideration.

(Councillor J L Carter left the meeting at 3.30pm at the conclusion of the above item)

  To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing the Area Committee with an update on progress towards achieving delegation of certain environmental services from the next municipal year (June 2011). The report also presents proposals for the involvement of Members throughout this preparatory stage.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report

providing the Area Committee with an update on progress towards

achieving delegation of certain environmental services from the next

municipal year (June 2011).The report also presented proposals for the

involvement of Members throughout this preparatory stage.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the

information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Delegation of Environmental Services showing how the proposed delegation will work through working to Service Level Agreements (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Programme of Member Involvement (Appendix 2 refers)

Dayle Lynch, Project Manager, Environment and Neighbourhoods presented the report and responded to Member’s queries and comments.

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

·  the infrequent cleaning of ginnels within the North West Outer area

·  clarification of the procedure for checking the standard of work undertaken and whether or not this could be incorporated within the Service Level Agreement

·  clarification of the sanctions available when enforcing a Service Level Agreement against a department

(The Area Leader responded and made reference to the forthcoming Localism Bill which would introduce new measures in holding people to account)

·  the need to involve and consult Parish Councils and for this to be written into the Service Level Agreement

·  the need for ‘spot ‘checks to be undertaken to ensure that routine street cleansing activities were being carried out, and that they were to acceptable standards

·  the need for the Council to take ownership/action in relation to minimising the need for the public to make repeat calls in referring environmental issues

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That this Committee specifically notes the programme of Member involvement as outlined in the report.

c)  That approval be given to develop the delegation and Service Level Agreement through the Area Committee Environment sub-group, and for a further progress report being submitted to the next meeting in March 2011. 

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services on the support of local elected member engagement with the work of children’s services by providing Area Committees with an update of key data relating to education for the academic year 2009-10 and November 2010 NEET and Not Known data.  The report also provides details of recent key inspections that have taken place across Children’s Services and provides an update on the development of the new Children and Young People’s Plan 2011-2015.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report on the support of local elected member engagement with the work of children’s services by providing Area Committees with an update of key data relating to education for the academic year 2009-10 and November 2010 NEET and Not Known data.  The report also provides details of recent key inspections that have taken place across Children’s Services and provides an update on the development of the new Children and Young People’s Plan 2011-2015.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Ofsted inspection judgments; attainment; absence/ attendance

  and exclusions data (Appendix 1 refers)

·  NI 108 – Key Stage 4 attainment for Black and minority ethnic groups (Appendix 1a refers)

·  NEET and Not Known data (Appendix 2 refers)

Jane Maxwell, Area Leader presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

RESOLVED –That the contents of the report and appendices be noted and welcomed in order to improve the Area Committee’s role in improving outcomes locally.

To consider a report of the West North West Area Manager to bring to the attention of the Area Committee as to what West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) can do to assist our partners in helping to reduce the risk in our communities. The report also highlighted ways that the Area Committee and its partners can help WYFRS achieve its ambition to make West Yorkshire safer.

(At the request of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, this item was deferred until the next meeting on 28^th March 2011)

Monday 28^th March 2011 at 2.00pm (venue to be confirmed)

MAP OF TODAY’S MEETING

Yeadon Town Hall, High Street, Yeadon LS19 7PP

Monday 28^th March 2011 at 2.00pm (venue to be confirmed).

(The meeting concluded at 4.05pm)