Agenda and minutes

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

There were no resolutions to exclude the public.

There were no late items added to the agenda.

Councillor Fox declared a significant other interest in Agenda Item9 – Well Being – Fund Budget Report as a Member of Bramhope & Carlton Parish Council.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C Townsley and Councillor C Campbell.

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 term of reference of the Area Committee.

On this occasion two members of WARD  (Wharfedale and Airedale Review Development) were present to talk to Members concerning the proposed housing allocations in the Leeds Development Framework (LDF). It was put to Members that the number of new houses proposed for Leeds was significantly more than was indicated as needed by the population figures from the 2011 Census

RESOLVED – That Area Support prepares a report considering the full facts and figures for debate at the next Area Committee.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th December 2013.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10^th December 2013 were approved as a correct record.

To receive a report of The Chief Officer of Parks and Countryside providing an overview of the service setting out some of the challenges faced along with key performance management initiatives.

The Chief Officer of Parks and Countryside submitted a report which provided an overview of the service and set out some of the challenges faced along with key performance management initiatives.

Guy Smithson Senior Area Manager (Parks and Countryside) was in attendance to answer Members’ questions.

Members formally objected to the information in the report being out of date and thereby difficult to draw conclusions. It was commented on that this  led to an underestimation of good work that has been done or that is on-going. Members requested that the next annual report should provide updated information.

Members discussed spending Section 106 money in parks and it was confirmed to them that this money does get invested into amenities for parks. Questions were also asked about what future planning there was in place for the development of parks and requested to be circulated with planning information held by the service.

Members considered the benefits of volunteers working in parks and how this supported the work of the Parks and Countryside Service.

The specific issue of Council owned bowling greens was raised and how they are used by many people and that they should if possible, not be closed.

Road works at the junction of Fink Hill and the bottom of Town Street in Horsforth were discussed in terms of the useage of the carpark on Fink Hill by Contractors A request was made to establish who is doing the works and what arrangements had been made for them to use the car park for their vehicles.

Discussion took place on the procurement of play equipment and what the procedure was for this, and if it represented value for money.

It was requested that consideration be given for a path to be laid to improve pedestrian access across Nunroyd Park.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That information be provided relating to the current road works at Fink Hill;

(b)  That planning information relating to parks and countryside development be provided to Members;

(c)  That the next annual report provide up to date information;

(d)  That a pedestrian access route across access Nunroyd Park be considered

(e)  That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access & Performance) providing Members with an update on the current amount of revenue and capital funding committed and available via the Area Committee well-being budgets for wards in the Outer North West. It seeks approval for new projects and provides details of small grant applications received since the last Area Committee.

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

Members discussed the latest spending position in terms of Wellbeing money and while at present any money that remains unspent at the end of the financial year is carried over this may not be the case in the future.

Members were informed that the current system of reporting the Wellbeing position to Members was to be reviewed and an improved method would be implemented for future Area Committees

The Committee’s future approach to spending well-being money was also considered.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the current position of the well-being budget as set out at sections 2 and 3 be noted;

(b)  That the following be agreed in respect of those expressions of interest received for well-being funding, as detailed within Section 4 of the submitted report;

    Name of Project: New Grit Bins

Ward affected: Adel & Wharfedale 

Name of delivery organisation: Highways 

Decison: £3,195 revenue APPROVED

Name of Project: CCTV Otley

Ward affected: Otley & Yeadon

Name of delivery organisation: LCC Leeds Watch

Decision: £11,363 revenue APPROVED

Name of Project: CCTV Yeadon

Ward affected: Otley & Yeadon   

Name of delivery organisation: LCC Leeds Watch

Decision: £6,442 revenue APPROVED

Name of Project: Puritan Chapel Refurbishment

Ward affected: Adel & Wharfedale   

Name of delivery organisation: Bramhope & Carlton Parish Council

Decision: £7,500 revenue APPROVED

Name of Project:Pool Social Club Refurbishment

Ward affected: Adel & Wharfedale   

Name of delivery organisation: Pool Social Club

Decision: £5,000 revenue APPROVED

Name of Project: Small Grants Budget

Ward affected: All Outer North West Wards

Name of delivery organisation: West North West Area Support Team

Decision: £10,000 revenue (£2,000 per ward for Horsforth, Adel & Wharfedale and Otley and Yeadon and £4,000 for Guiseley & Rawdon) APPROVED

(c)  That the small grant and skip approvals as detailed at section 4 of the report be noted; and

(d)  That the monitoring information provided at Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

To receive a report of West North West Homes Leeds outlining the purpose of West North West homes Leeds (WNWhL) involvement in Area Committees, and to explore ways of making that involvement as meaningful and productive as possible.

West North West homes submitted a report which advised the Committee of activities and services undertaken by them over the last six months

Juliet Duke (Neighbourhood Performance Manager) was in attendance to answer Members questions.

Members sought confirmation that the Outer North West graffiti team would return to Horsforth following a temporary move to Kirkstall. This was confirmed but in the meantime Members were assured that there would be no loss of service across the wards whilst the team were based elsewhere.

It was requested that the ALMOs open up better lines of communication with Members. It was highlighted that Members found it difficult to establish a contact to action problems within their wards.

Errors were highlighted in the report relating to Estate Grading and Inspection in terms of place names and streets being placed in the wrong area. Members also requested to be notified of dates and routes for the planned walkabouts on estates.

Members were critical of the grading criteria as  24 of the 27areas  were graded as excellent with the remaining  3 graded good. The criteria for grading was subsequently discussed and the training of staff undertaking the inspections. It was requested that the grading criteria be circulated amongst Members.

Concerns were raised regarding tree management by West North West homes and how requests for trees and hedges to be cut back were being dealt with, particularly when over a certain height.

RESOLVED -

(a)  That the criteria for which grades are based be circulated to Members of the Committee;

(b)  That Members be included in all correspondence relating to planned walkabouts on estates and the list of estates be updated with the correct addresses and circulated to Members.

(c)  That the report be noted.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access & Performance) which brings together a range of information relating to Area Committee business into a single report to update Members on recent sub group and forum business since the last Area Committee.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report which brought together a range of information regarding Area Committee business.

Councillor Cleasby updated Members on Area Committees’ Transport Sub Group and welcomed any suggestions or ideas for the group to consider.  Discussion also took place on the state of the three bridges between the Rodley and Horsforth roundabouts and the effects of the NGT scheme on North West Outer Leeds.

In relation to the Environmental Sub Group a debate took place on the merits of 20mph zones, their benefits and the difficulties in enforcing them.

It was reported by Councillor Cleasby that the re-naming of the Brownlee Stone Centre was a success with thanks in particular made to Rachel Marshall (Area Officer) for her work on this.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive a report of the Deputy Chief Executive / Chief Executive West North West Homes   Leeds updating the Outer West Area Committee on Welfare Reform changes that impact on Council Tenants and that are due to be implemented in April 2013.  It also summarises work that is currently being undertaken to prepare Tenants for those changes and for future changes that will impact later in the year.

The Chief Revenues and Benefits Officer and The Chief Executive of West North West Homes Leeds submitted a joint report which updated the Committee on Welfare Reform changes, the first of which will come into force in April 2013. The report also summarised work that is being undertaken to prepare tenants for those changes .

Shaun Kelly (Finance Manager – Welfare Benefits) was in attendance to answer member questions.

Members discussed the report in detail initially considering the under occupancy of Council homes. It was commented that an improved mutual exchange system should be considered to help tenants move to smaller or larger accommodation as required.

Members were taken through Appendix 2 to the report and the implications for tenants living in adapted properties, foster carers and disputed family size or property size catagories.

The Committee were informed of the likelihood of rent not being paid when tenants receive benefit direct, which led to calls for better education in relation to financial management at an early age. Furthermore that work needed to be done to identify people at risk financially and that help should be offered to people who find it difficult to budget.

In principal Members were supportive of the reforms taking place in April.

RESOLVED – That the Committee note the work done to date by ALMOs and the Council to prepare for the introduction of Welfare Reform changes.

(Councillor Carter left during the discussion of this item at 4:05pm)

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access & Performance) formally notifying Members that the minutes of Area Chairs Forum meetings will be brought to Area Committee meetings as a regular agenda item, and to give a brief overview of the Area Chairs Forum meetings.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report which formally notified Members that the minutes of Area Chairs Forum meetings will continue to be brought to Area Committee meetings as a regular agenda item, and to give a brief overview of the Area Chairs Forum meetings.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and the minutes form the Area Chairs Forum meetings be noted.

2pm, 25^th March 2013.

2pm, Monday 25^th March 2013.