Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the July meeting of the North East (Inner) Area Committee.

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 Harker declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 10, Well-being Funds Update, in his capacity as Executive Member for Learning (Minute No. 23 refers).

Councillor Lancaster declared an interest in relation to agenda item 10, Well-being Funds Update, in her capacity as a Trustee of Karate for Inner City Kids (KICK).  On the basis that the interest was personal and prejudicial, she withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of this item and did not vote (Minute No. 23 refers).

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor 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.

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 to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.  On this occasion, there were no matters raised under this item by members of the public.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2009

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd June 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Minute No. 9 – Area Committee Roles

The Chair referred to Members’ concerns about the Area Committee not being fully informed on some areas of work contained within the Area Function schedule and Area Delivery Plan.  Members were reminded about an e-mail that had been circulated which invited them to identify areas of work to focus on at future meetings.  One Member highlighted the need to focus on vocational learning provision.

Due to concerns about the increasing amount of items at Area Committee meetings, it was agreed to establish informal member only sessions which would enable invited guests / officers to join in the debate and discussion around a particular priority topic / area of responsibility.  It was agreed that the sessions could feed into the formal Area Committee meetings as appropriate (e.g. notes from the sessions / summary reports or when a formal record of discussions was required).

The Chair requested that Members’ comments be forwarded to the Deputy Area Manager.  It was agreed to circulate the revised forward plan to the Area Committee prior to the next meeting in September.

(Councillor Wadsworth arrived at 10.07 am during the consideration of this item).

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

Time – 30 Mins (Executive Function)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b)  That the following decisions be made in relation to the well-being funding proposals which had been submitted for determination at the meeting:

(i)  North East (Inner) Area Committee Community Charter – Production and Distribution of Charter – £6,000 Revenue – A maximum figure of £3,000 be allocated to produce and distribute the Charter to local community groups and organisations as widely as possible within available resources – Approved;

(ii)  Radio Jcom – Community Radio Broadcasting Station – £8,000 Capital – Approved subject to match funding from North East (Outer) Area Committee and a business plan that requires no future revenue funding contributions from Leeds City Council;

(iii)  Youth Services – Prince Phillip Motorbike Project – £15,039 Revenue – An initial figure of £7,500 be allocated to fund the project during the summer school holiday period – Approved;

(iv)  Youth Services – Wii Games Equipment – £1,680 Capital – Approved;

(v)  Youth Services – Graffiti Workshops – £1,650 Revenue – Declined;

(vi)  Youth Services – Baby Reality Project – £1,800 Revenue – Approved;

(vii)  Youth Services – Coaching Schools – £1,358 Revenue – Approved;

(viii)  Kushinkai Karate Academy – Kick Project – £10,000 Revenue – Approved; and

(ix)  Leeds Ahead – World of Work Days Project and support for Professional Services – £5,000 Revenue – Approved.

The East North East Area Manager submitted a report which presented proposed projects and activities relating to the agreed themes and outcomes of the Area Delivery Plan.  Members were invited to determine the capital and revenue proposals as detailed within the report.

Appended to the report was the latest financial position of the well-being (revenue and capital) budget.

Representatives in support of the well-being proposals and activities attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

North East (Inner) Area Committee Community Charter – Production and Distribution of Charter

• Members favoured a proposal which supported targeted distribution of the charter, e.g. to local community groups/organisations, shops, cafes, schools, libraries, community centres etc.
• Members highlighted the need to review the distribution list for local community groups and organisations.
• Area Management confirmed their intention to distribute the Charter as widely as possible within the available resources so that as many residents as possible had access to it.
• It was agreed to distribute the Charter once the final draft had been approved by Members.

Radio Jcom – Community Radio Broadcasting Station

• A schedule of programmes, including planned interviews was circulated to Members.
• It was reported that Radio Jcom was sponsored by a small number of commercially owned local organisations.
• The station’s business plan did not include any expectation that the Council / Area Committee would be approached for any further funding.
• Radio Jcom was regulated by OFCOM, which it was acknowledged provided a monitoring mechanism in terms of appropriate broadcasting.
• The station would provide free access to broadcasts for local agencies to provide information on their services.

Youth Services – Prince Phillip Motorbike Project

• Members requested further information about the aims of the young people’s committee (outlined in paragraph 20 of the report). 
• There were concerns about the funding required to support youth service activities, particularly post summer provision.
• One Member suggested highlighting some of the issues at the Youth Services Sub Group.
• There was a request for an update at the September Area Committee on this particular activity and how it could be sustained. 

Youth Services – Wii Games Equipment

• There were concerns about the provision of Wii equipment and where it was being located.  It was advised that further provision was being proposed in the Queenshill area.  There was also a proposal for mobile provision.

Youth Services – Graffiti Workshops

• There were concerns about the message being given to young people and others in the community, particularly that by supporting workshops it could appear to be encouraging graffiti.
• It was reported that the workshops aimed to work with young people to channel their efforts into accredited, artistic work and make them aware of the detrimental community impact of illegal graffiti.

Youth Services – Baby Reality Project

• Members acknowledged that teenage conception was a particular issue in Leeds. 
• One Member highlighted the need to review how schemes and projects linked together.

Youth Services – Coaching Schools

• There were concerns about  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of City Development

Time 15 Mins (Council Function)

The Director of City Development submitted a report which examined the opportunities to develop the relationship between the Parks and Countryside service and the North East (Inner) Area Committee.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Fred Duff, Senior Parks Area Manager, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

The key areas of discussion were:

• Concern that it was not clear from the report where the community parks were located and how many out of the 73 identified citywide were within the inner north east area.  It was agreed to provide the Area Committee with a further detailed breakdown of community parks and green space provision in the inner north east area (It was noted that Area Committees had an enhanced role delegated to them by the Executive Board in relation to this area of work).
• Acknowledgement of funding constraints and the need to seek funding from outside organisations to deliver improvements.
• Ongoing issues at the ex-Highbury Cricket Club site due to confusion over the ward-boundary lines.  It was reported that the site was derelict which had resulted in safety concerns. Moortown Ward Members asked to be briefed on the latest position.
• Issues in relation to the road between Green Road and Hustlers Road being un-adopted.
• The need to link sites in need of improvements to Area Delivery Plan (ADP) priorities and future spending programmes.
• The need for a strategic review of changing room facilities.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)  That the Area Committee be provided with a further detailed breakdown of community parks and green space provision in the inner north east area and current plans / aspirations for each park.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods

Time – 15 Mins (Executive Function)

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b)  That a request be made to deploy mobile CCTV to areas of concern via local tasking groups and Neighbourhood Policing Teams; and

(c)  That the Area Committee receives 6 monthly update reports.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report which highlighted the CCTV services provided by Leeds City Council Community Safety section, particularly in terms of demonstrating the effectiveness of the service in reducing the fear of crime and facilitating the apprehension and detection of offenders in areas covered by CCTV.

Appended to the report was a financial breakdown for the inner north east area and information about the legal implications relating to CCTV surveillance.

The following representatives from the Community Safety CCTV service attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  Derek Whitehouse, CCTV Co-ordinator; and

-  Derek Pearson, Deputy Operations Manager.

The main areas of discussion were:

• The cost implications of installing CCTV, particularly in terms of establishing BT transmission.
• Concern about the process for funding CCTV schemes and the need to establish closer links with the CCTV service.  It was agreed that the CCTV Co-ordinator would meet with the Area Management Team to discuss future options.
• The need for checks to ensure that CCTV schemes brought before the Area Committee complied with relevant legislation.
• Clarification about whether schemes could only go ahead if funding was sought for 2 CCTV cameras (so that one provided security for the other) and the minimum length of contract that could be entered into.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b)  That requests to deploy mobile CCTV to neighbourhoods of concern continue to be co-ordinated by Members / local agencies through local tasking teams; and

(c)  That the Area Committee receives 6 monthly update reports.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Environment

Time 30 Mins (Executive Function)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted;

(b)  That the terms of reference for the Youth Services Sub-Group be approved;

(c)  That Councillor Harker be appointed to serve as Chair of the Youth Services Sub Group.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report which updated Members on the first meeting of the Youth Services Sub Group.

The draft terms of reference for the Youth Services Sub Group were appended to the report for Members’ approval.

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• The report highlighted a number of concerns which had been referred to Youth Services.  A report back with initial responses was scheduled for discussion at the September Sub Group meeting.  The Area Committee was informed that a full report would be provided at the October Area Committee setting out how the service was responding to those concerns.
• Separate meetings involving Ward Members and representatives from  Children’s Services had taken place to address local concerns.
• Members discussed the role of the North East Youth Work Partnership and the need to establish links with the voluntary sector to deliver services.
• Members discussed focussing on the commissioning of youth work activities.  It was agreed that where possible proposals for activity programmes in 2010/11 should be presented in late 2009.  The Member Working Group was exploring the possibility of hosting a commissioning day for groups and organisations interested in accessing well-being funds for activities benefiting young people in 2010/11.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted;

(b)  That the terms of reference for the Youth Services Sub-Group be approved;

(c)  That Councillor Harker be appointed to serve as Chair of the Youth Services Sub Group.

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

Time – 15 Mins (Executive Function)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted;

(b)  That subject to the Area Management Team exploring the possibility of the Moortown ward community engagement event on Thursday, 22^nd October 2009 taking place at St Gemma’s Hospice, the dates, times and format for the community engagement events be approved.

The East North East Area Manager submitted a report which outlined the planned community engagement events for the municipal year ahead across the inner north east area of Leeds and sought Members agreement on the format of these events.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted;

(b)  That subject to the Area Management Team exploring the possibility of the Moortown ward community engagement event on Thursday, 22^nd October 2009 taking place at St Gemma’s Hospice, the dates, times and format for the community engagement events be approved.

Monday, 7 September 2009 at 4.00 p.m.

Monday 7^th September 2009 at 4.00 pm.

(The meeting concluded at 12.28 pm).