Agenda, decisions and minutes

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 Lancaster declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8, North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership – Progress and Performance Report due to her position on the West Yorkshire Police Authority.  Minute No 38 Refers.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Dowson and Harris.

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.

The agenda made reference to the provision contained in the Area Committee Procedure rules for an Open Forum Session at each ordinary meeting of an Area Committee, for members of the public to ask questions or to make representations on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.  On this occasion, no matters were raised under this item by those members of the public who were in attendance.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2008

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2008 be confirmed as a correct record subject to the inclusion of Councillor J Dowson under those in attendance.

To receive and consider the attached report of the East North East Area Manager.

Executive Function

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the progress and relevant local actions contained in the highlight report for quarter 2 be noted.

(2)  That the performance information for the end of quarter 2 and corrective actions being put in place where appropriate be noted.

(3)  That the information provided at the meeting by the Police and Community Safety Co-ordinators on key issues being addressed in the current quarter for each ward be noted.

(4)  That the Area Committee receives twice yearly Progress and Performance Reports from the North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership and Members be issued with quarterly reports.

(5)  That up to £3,500 Well-Being funds be made available to carry out a property marking scheme in Inner North East Leeds.

The report of the East North East Area Manager summarised a number of local actions and activities delivered across the North East Police Division during the quarter covering 1^st July 2008 to 30^th September 2008.  Also included in the report was a performance matrix for the end of quarter 2 (2008/09) which gave information on what key indicators the partnership is committed to help improve and progress being made in doing so.  It was noted that the information in the report was relevant to the whole North East Divisional Area and there was therefore some relation to events outside the North East Inner Area Committee wards.

The Chair welcomed the following to the meeting:

• Beverly Yearwood, Community Safety Co-ordinator
• Chief Inspector Chris Rowley, West Yorkshire Police
• Inspector Jim Croft, West Yorkshire Police

It was reported that the North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership (DCSP) provided reports to the Safer Leeds Executive and worked to the Every Child Matters Agenda.  There were close links with Area Management and recent developments would allow the Area Committee to have an input into the distribution of monies recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

In relation to figures detailed in the report it was reported that serious acquisitive crimes, domestic burglaries and theft of and from motor vehicles had risen across the division and these areas would be given immediate priority.  Reductions had been seen in the amount of violent crime, assault and robbery across the division.  The North East Police Division had also achieved the highest satisfaction levels across the West Yorkshire force.

In response to Members questions and comments, the following issues were discussed:

• High levels of Police on the street had been a reason for the high public satisfaction levels.
• 23% of the active criminals across West Yorkshire resided in the North East area.
• Anti-social behaviour.
• Response times to reported crimes.
• Offender management and strategies to prevent re-offending.
• A planned property marking scheme to discourage the sale of stolen goods.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the progress and relevant local actions contained in the highlight report for quarter 2 be noted.

(2)  That the performance information for the end of quarter 2 and corrective actions being put in place where appropriate be noted.

(3)  That the information provided at the meeting by the Police and Community Safety Co-ordinators on key issues being addressed in the current quarter for each ward be noted.

(4)  That the Area Committee receives twice yearly Progress and Performance Reports from the North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership and Members be issued with quarterly reports.

(5)  That up to £3,500 Well-Being funds be made available to carry out a property marking scheme in Inner North East Leeds.

To receive and consider the attached report of the East North East Area Manager.

Executive Function

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The report of the East North East Area Manager provided Members with an update on actions and achievements of the Area Management Team since the last Area Committee meeting in September 2008.  It also provided a quarter 3 summary of progress against the Area Delivery Plan 2007/08.

The following issues were highlighted in the report:

• Oakwood Town and District Centre Scheme
• Community Centres
• Mandela Centre
• The Palace
• Open Door Project
• Probation Servioces
• Volunteer Thank You Event
• Beckhill Implementation Group
• IMPaCT
• Moor Allerton Partnership

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Children’s Services.

Council Function

The reports of the Directors of Children’s Services outlined the development of local priorities for action under the Children and Young People’s Plan 2009-14 and revised Children’s Services arrangements for more effective locality working with families.

The Chair welcomed Shaid Mahmood, Locality Enabler to the meeting.

It was reported that the Children and Young People’s Plan would give opportunity to shape local priorities.  Draft priorities had already been identified on a citywide basis but local engagement would inform local priorities.

New partnership arrangements would be used to identify actions that traditional services had not covered and Member’s attention was brought to arrangements for the Leeds Children’s Trust and ways of improving outcomes.

In brief summary, the following issues were discussed.

• The use of case studies to demonstrate how new arrangements could improve outcomes for children.
• The Leadership Challenge and examples of integrated working across services.
• The impact of issues such as high teenage conception rates and those not in education, employment or training.
• Further to the request for an Elected Member to work with the locality Enabler and represent the Area Committee, it was reported that Councillor Lancaster had previously been nominated as the Children’s Champion for the North East Inner Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the reports be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the East North East Area Manager.

Executive Function

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the following amounts of Wellbeing budget be approved:

(a)  North Leeds Bowling Club - £7,000 – capital

(b)  Air Cadets 208 Squadron - £3,000 – capital

(3)  That the approval of £5,690 from the Roundhay Ward Pot for the establishment of festive lights in that ward be noted, with the intention for the Member Working Group to consider an Area Committee wide programme of festive light installations at a future date and if agreed, the £5,690 to be reimbursed to the Roundhay Ward pot.

The East North East Area Manager submitted a report which detailed proposed projects/activities to deliver local actions relating to agreed themes and outcomes of the Area Delivery Plan. The report also detailed recommendations of the Area Committee’s Well-Being Working Group and their recommendations for noting and/or approving.  The latest financial position of the Wellbeing (revenue and capital) budget was also provided.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the following amounts of Wellbeing budget be approved:

(a)  North Leeds Bowling Club - £7,000 – capital

(b)  Air Cadets 208 Squadron - £3,000 – capital

(3)  That the approval of £5,690 from the Roundhay Ward Pot for the establishment of festive lights in that ward be noted, with the intention for the Member Working Group to consider an Area Committee wide programme of festive light installations at a future date and if agreed, the £5,690 to be reimbursed to the Roundhay Ward pot.

Monday, 2 February 2008 at 4.00 p.m.

Monday, 2 February 2009 at 4.00 p.m.