Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the meeting of the North West (Outer) Area Committee.

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 as such, however, it was noted that supplementary information had been circulated to Committee Members following the despatch of the agenda as follows:-

(a)  A further expression of interest for Wellbeing funding from West North West Area Management, to be considered as part of the report entitled, ‘Wellbeing Report’ (Minute No. 57 referred).

(b)  The minutes from the Children and Young People’s Sub Group meeting held on 2^nd November 2011, to be considered as part of the report entitled, ‘Area Update Report’ (Minute No. 61 referred).

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.

There were no declarations of interest made during the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence from the meeting had been received on behalf of Councillors Wadsworth, Cleasby and Kirkland.

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.

On this occasion, there were no members of the public present.

The Committee received a demonstration by Neil Goldip of CASAC, an organisation which provided security improvements, advice and crime prevention initiatives to communities across Leeds. The demonstration highlighted the issues which existed with a number of lock cylinders currently found on UPVC doors and the range of actions being taken by CASAC to address the issue as part of an overarching campaign to reduce burglary levels in Leeds.

Following the demonstration, a question and answer session ensued. The key points raised were as follows:-

• Details were provided on how the affected locks could be changed and the levels of cost involved;
• Members noted the extent to which the improved security measures undertaken by CASAC would act as a deterrent to potential burglars;
• The Committee highlighted the criteria used by the Home Office to compile burglary statistics in the UK;
• Members were provided with advice as to how affected locks could be identified;
• Information was provided regarding the services offered by CASAC to residents in West Yorkshire;
• Having discussed the ongoing negotiations taking place with the ALMOs regarding Council housing stock being fitted with the recommended lock cylinders, the Area Leader undertook to pursue this matter and report the latest position to the next meeting of the Area Committee.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th November 2011.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 7^th November 2011 be approved as a correct record.  

To consider the report of the Locality Manager for West North West Leeds providing an update on the performance achieved against the Service Level Agreement between Outer North West Area Committee and the West North West Environmental Locality Team. In addition, the report also provides feedback on discussions that have taken place at the Area Committee’s Environment Sub Group meetings.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report, together with the comments raised in respect of the progress being made by the Locality Team in delivering the Service Level Agreement, be noted.

Further to Minute No. 23, 26^th September 2011, the Locality Manager for West North West Leeds submitted a report providing an update on the performance achieved against the Service Level Agreement (SLA) between North West (Outer) Area Committee and the West North West Environmental Locality Team. In addition, the report also provided feedback on discussions that had taken place at the Area Committee’s Environment Sub Group meetings.

In presenting the report, Jason Singh, Locality Manager, West North West Leeds, provided details of the work which had been undertaken in the initial stages since the SLA had been agreed and advised that further update reports would be submitted in due course. Kris Nenadic, of Parks and Countryside was also in attendance in order to respond to relevant questions raised.

In response, Councillor Anderson, Chair of the Area Committee’s Environmental Services Sub Group advised that a good start had been made in respect of the delegated service and that good working relationships had been established. He then thanked the Locality Manager for the work that had been undertaken and the progress made to date. However, Councillor Anderson went on to highlight a number of outstanding concerns which still remained for the Sub Group, which included the need for greater resource in order to fully address issues such as leaf clearance, the working patterns and work loads of those within the locality, issues in neighbouring areas which were impacting upon the Outer North West, the perceived lack of co-ordination with Streetscene, matters relating to the issue of enforcement and the winter cessation of garden waste collection.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report, together with the comments raised in respect of the progress being made by the Locality Team in delivering the Service Level Agreement, be noted.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Access and Performance) outlining the progress being made to create and manage a new and enlarged Leeds Citizens’ Panel that will form an important tool for the Council and partners’ consultation activity.

(Council Function)

The Assistant Chief Executive (Community Access and Performance) submitted a report outlining the progress being made to create and manage a new and enlarged Leeds Citizens’ Panel that would form an important tool in respect of the Council’s and partners’ consultation exercises. In addition, the report invited the Committee to consider whether it would like to utilise the Panel as part of it’s community engagement activities.

Having received a brief introduction to the report from Matt Lund, Corporate Consultations Manager, a question and answer session ensued. The key points raised were as follows:-

·  Members were reassured that non-internet users would not be precluded from being involved with the Panel;

·  Emphasis was placed upon the need for the Panel to be truly representative of the city and responses were provided to questions raised on the checks and balances which would be established to ensure that this was always the case. Specific responses were also provided to enquiries regarding the safeguards in place to prevent any deliberate distortion of the Panel’s representative nature by individual groups;

·  Members highlighted that the wording of the proposed questions to the Panel would be crucial;

·  Responding to the Committee’s enquiries regarding the recruitment process and the finite number of Panel places available in each geographical area, Members were informed that any applications received were merely expressions of interest and that no places were guaranteed;

·  Following Members’ enquiries, details were provided regarding the financial and staffing resource which was being committed to the initiative;

·  Having discussed the recommendation within the submitted report which related to the utilisation of the Panel by the Committee as part of it’s community engagement activities in support of Wellbeing fund priority setting and in the development of the Area Business Plans, Members sought clarification on this matter, particularly in respect of what it would commit the Area Committee to. In response, it was proposed that further clarification on this matter was sought, with further details being submitted to the next meeting of the Area Committee.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the development of a new Citizen’s Panel in Leeds, as described within the submitted report, be noted.

(b)  That in respect of the second recommendation within the submitted report, (namely, to support the use of the new Leeds Citizen’s Panel and to take up it’s use as part of the Committee’s community engagement activities in support of Wellbeing fund priority setting and in the development of the Area Business Plans), further clarification be sought, particularly in respect of what it would commit the Area Committee to, with the relevant details being submitted to the next meeting of the Area Committee for consideration.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing an overview of the progress made to develop more joined up working arrangements between locality based City Council services and Neighbourhood Police Teams/PCSOs.

(Council Function)

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing an overview of the progress made to develop more joined up working arrangements between locality based City Council services and Neighbourhood Police Teams/PCSOs.

Having received a brief introduction to the report from Zahid Butt, Area Community Safety Co-ordinator, a discussion ensued. The key points raised were as follows:-

• Members highlighted the need to ensure that Neighbourhood Policing Teams and PCSOs were not viewed as distinct entities;
• The Committee highlighted the vital role which was played by PCSOs in the community and the need to ensure that such an asset was safeguarded, as new policing arrangements were introduced in West Yorkshire;
• Members considered the role of PCSOs, specifically in terms of enforcement in a number of areas such as environmental services, and discussed the appropriateness or otherwise of such responsibilities falling to PCSOs;
• The Committee considered the benefits of Elected Member attendance at Tasking Group meetings and requested that in future, they received invitations to attend such meetings. In response, officers acknowledged Members’ requests, undertook to pursue the matter and to report back on the issue at the next Committee meeting;
• The Committee noted that Chief Superintendent David Oldroyd of West Yorkshire Police had been invited to address Ward Members and discuss any issues that Members may have;
• With regard to the new policing arrangements which were to be introduced and the authority which the elected Police and Crime Commissioner would have over Council funded PCSOs, the Committee highlighted the need to ensure that the Commissioner was made aware of the Council’s priorities regarding PCSOs.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the progress made to develop more joined up working within localities between Leeds City Council services and Neighbourhood Policing Teams/ PCSOs be noted.

(b)  That the comments made by Members during the consideration of the report be noted and fed back to the local tasking arrangements in order to progress such matters.

(c)  That in response to Members’ requests, officers undertake further enquiries and report back to the next meeting of the Committee in respect of Elected Member attendance at future Tasking Group meetings.

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To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) providing an update on the current amount of revenue and capital funding committed and available via the Area Committee Wellbeing budgets for Wards in the Outer North West. In addition, the report also seeks approval for new projects and provides details of small grant applications received since the last Area Committee.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the current position of the Wellbeing budget, as set out within sections 2 and 3 of the submitted report be noted.

(b)  That the following be agreed in respect of those expressions of interest received for Wellbeing funding, as detailed within section 4 of the submitted report:-

(c)  That the small grant and skip approvals, as detailed within section 5 of the submitted report, be noted.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report outlining the current position statement for the Area Committee’s Wellbeing budget, detailing for determination those expressions of interest received for Wellbeing funding and presenting for information those Small Grant applications which had been received to date.

A further expression of interest for Wellbeing funding received West North West Area Management entitled, ‘Horsforth Festive Lights’, had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting for their consideration and determination.

The Committee received a response to enquiries raised regarding a Small Grant application which had been recently received and following a specific question, details were provided on the regulations around the allocation of Wellbeing funding to schemes associated with religious organisations.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the current position of the Wellbeing budget, as set out within sections 2 and 3 of the submitted report be noted.

(b)  That the following be agreed in respect of those expressions of interest received for Wellbeing funding, as detailed within section 4 of the submitted report:-

(c)  That the small grant and skip approvals, as detailed within section 5 of the submitted report, be noted.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) outlining the main elements of the Localism Act which will be of direct relevance to Area Committees and to provide an opportunity to debate and influence the way in which the Council implements the legislation.

(Council Function)

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report outlining the main elements of the Localism Act which would be of direct relevance to Area Committees, whilst also providing the Committee with an opportunity to debate and influence the Council’s implementation of the legislation.

Having received a brief introduction to the report from Jane Maxwell, West North West Area Leader, the Committee touched upon several issues arising from the report. These included:-

·  The relaxation of restrictions around the maximum size of Area Committees;

·  Members highlighted the aspects of the legislation which enabled the community to challenge and formally submit ideas, via an expression of interest, to run specific Council services. The Committee considered the implications arising from this part of the legislation and emphasised the need to ensure that public expectations in relation to service provision were managed effectively.

In conclusion, the Chair requested that this matter be referred to the Committee’s Policy Sub Group for further consideration.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the submitted report  and the comments raised during the discussion be noted.

(b)  That the submitted report be referred to the Area Committee’s Policy Sub Group for further consideration, with any outcomes arising from the discussion being relayed  to officers in order to inform both a further report scheduled to go to Executive Board on the implications of the Act and also the more detailed reports/sessions on Planning, Assets of Community Value and the Right to Challenge.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) presenting for comment the report on the Capital Receipt Incentive Scheme that received approval at the Executive Board meeting on 12^th October 2011.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the Executive Board report on the Capital receipts Incentive Scheme be noted.

(b)  That the Committee’s views regarding this matter be raised as part of the accompanying consultation exercise, particularly in respect of the need for any resource accrued from local capital receipts, which would be retained by Wards under the proposed scheme, to be solely used to fund additionality of service rather than the Council’s statutory provision in that area.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report presenting for comment the paper on the Capital Receipt Incentive Scheme which was considered and  received approval at the Executive Board meeting held on 12^th October 2011.

Following Members’ comments and questions, clarification was provided in that 20% of the capital receipts generated would be retained locally, up to a maximum sum of £100,000 per receipt. Of that 20%, 15% would be retained by the relevant Ward, with the remaining 5% being pooled across the Council and subsequently being distributed to Wards on the basis of need.

In considering this matter, Members highlighted that any resource accrued from local capital receipts, which would be retained by Wards under the proposed scheme, needed to be solely used to fund additionality of service rather than the Council’s statutory provision in the relevant area.  Members also highlighted the need to ensure that the Capital Receipts Incentive Scheme was consistent with the Council’s approach towards the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a matter which was to be considered by the Executive Board on 14^th December 2011.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the Executive Board report on the Capital Receipts Incentive Scheme be noted.

(b)  That the Committee’s views regarding this matter be raised as part of the accompanying consultation exercise, particularly in respect of the need for any resource accrued from local capital receipts, which would be retained by Wards under the proposed scheme, to be solely used to fund additionality of service rather than the Council’s statutory provision in that area.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) presenting for comment the minutes of the Area Chairs’ Forum meeting held on 5^th September 2011.

(Council Function)

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report presenting for comment the minutes of the Area Chairs’ Forum meeting held on 5^th September 2011.

RESOLVED – That the submitted report, together with the content of the minutes from Area Chairs’ Forum meeting held on 5^th September 2011, be noted.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) which brings together a range of information relating to Area Committee business into a single report to help limit the number of items being presented to each Area Committee meeting.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report and the comments made during the discussion on this item, be noted.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report which brought together a range of information regarding Area Committee business. As such, the report provided details of the key messages from Area Committee Sub Groups and Area Forums, whilst also presenting an update in respect of projects and service provision.

Members noted that in line with a request previously made by the Area Chair’s Forum, appended to the report was a series of documents for the Committee’s information regarding welfare reform and a response to the localisation of Council Tax Support.

The minutes from the Area Committee’s Children and Young People’s Sub Group meeting held on 2^nd November 2011 had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting for their consideration.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report and the comments made during the discussion on this item, be noted.

2.00 p.m. on Monday, 6^th February 2012

(Venue to be confirmed)

Monday, 6^th February 2012 at 2.00 p.m.

(Venue – To be confirmed)

(The meeting concluded at 3.53 p.m.)