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

No declarations of interest were made.

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.

Reference was made to the provisions contained in the Area Committee Procedure Rules for an Open Forum session to take place at each ordinary meeting of an Area Committee, for members of the public to ask questions or to make representations on any matter within the remit of the Area Committee.  On this occasion, no such matters were raised.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 31^st January 2011.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the inquorate meeting held on 31^st January 2011 be confirmed as a correct record, and the decisions taken at that meeting be confirmed.

a)  Attendance of Chief Executive, Leeds City Council (Minute No. 58 refers)

With reference to Members comments at the last meeting regarding individual accountability of officers, Councillor Lobley clarified that, in particular, he was referring to vulnerable children  Whilst the Director of Children’s Services bore ultimate responsibility, in Councillor Lobley’s view, there was also a need for greater accountability at a lower level, e.g. social workers and team leaders dealing with particular cases.

b)  Expansion of Primary School Provision (Minute No. 67 refers)

It was confirmed that the ‘dot maps’ referred to at the last meeting, which plotted pupil intake for schools in the Committee’s area, had subsequently been circulated to Members.

The Chair requested a report back in the new municipal year regarding the outcome of the review of the admission criteria by Education Leeds, the likely effects on selection of pupils and parental choice in respect of Roundhay High School, and the effect of adopting Braimwood Primary School as a feeder school for Roundhay High School on the long-term future of Kerr Mackie Primary School and the High School options of Kerr Mackie pupils.

c)  West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (Minute No. 70 refers)

It was reported that Ian Thompson had taken over from Richard Gomersall as Station Manager, Moortown and Wetherby.

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

Further to Minute No. 16, 21^st June 2010, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating Members on the introduction of Phase 2 of the City-wide Dog Control Orders. Phase 2 related to dogs being placed on leads whenever the owner was requested to do so by an authorised officer, and also excluding dogs from certain prescribed areas.

Stacey Campbell, Health and Environmental Action Service, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  It was suggested that Meanwood Park was an area where perhaps dogs should be kept on leads, and that children’s play areas, such as in Roundhay Park, were areas where dogs should be excluded.  It was suggested that Friends of Roundhay Park should be included in the public consultation exercise which would take place over the summer.

·  Cemeteries were another area where dogs should possibly be banned – this was a sensitive issue, especially for Muslims.  As a compromise, perhaps dogs should be kept on leads in cemeteries, to prevent them roaming and fouling.

·  The use of signs to deter dog owners from allowing their dogs to foul was discussed, and a particular request was made for more signs in Chandos Avenue, Roundhay.

·  Members were broadly supportive of a suggestion from the Area Leader regarding a possible publicity and education campaign.

·  The Dog Control Orders did form part of the delegation of elements of Environmental Services to Area Committees, so the Area Committees should have some influence on these matters in their areas, but always bearing in mind the need for overall consistency across the City.

·  Consultation would take place throughout the summer, with a view to reports going to the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) and the Executive Board in the autumn, for implementation of any new orders early in 2012.  It was agreed that the formal outcome of the consultation exercise should be relayed to Members at Ward Member meetings.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments and suggestions, the report be received and noted.

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

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report updating Members on performance levels in a variety of areas, including recent statutory inspections of the adoption service, the youth offending service and five children’s centres, various education performance indicators, the latest NEET (young people Not in Education, Employment or Training) figures, and the top priorities contained in the Children and Young People Plan (CYPP) 2011-15.

In attendance at the meeting, and responding to Members’ queries and comments, was Ken Morton, Locality Enabler, Children’s Services.  In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:-

·  Ken Morton reported that the Children’s Services and Education Leeds performance monitoring teams were in the process of being integrated and, following comments and requests made at other Area Committees, it was hoped that in future it would be possible to provide a more detailed statistical analysis, reflecting issues on a Ward, gender and ethnic background basis;

·  Members raised concerns regarding performance levels at a particular local primary school, and enquired why Local Members had not been kept better informed?

The point was accepted. Refining the statistical analysis, as outlined in the previous bullet point, would assist Members and officers to highlight any potential areas of concern. Members would have access to this information and officers could be invited to attend Ward Member meetings to explore further any issues. The active involvement of Local Members was welcome. The Area Management Officer undertook to liaise with Ken Morton regarding this suggestion and to arrange attendance at Ward Member meetings.

·  Members raised concerns regarding attainment levels and possible links to ethnicity or free school meal backgrounds, and requested a more detailed breakdown.  It was explained that, presently, this could only be provided on an individual school basis, not on a Ward level basis, but this would be provided;

·  NEETs- Some surprise was expressed at the number of NEETs in the Roundhay Ward, and some concern and frustration was also expressed at current services aimed at assisting young people to find employment.

The recent improvements in the collection of NEET information, particularly the reduction in the number of ‘Not Knowns’ was explained, and the services currently on offer via IGEN, Prospects, the City College initiative, and the Council’s efforts to promote apprenticeships, were outlined.  Some of the structural changes at schools level, including sponsored academies were explained, as well as City-wide initiatives to provide integrated, coherent family support services, and the priority being given to improving school attendance as the first step in improving attainment levels.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments and requests for further information, the report be received and noted.

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

RESOLVED – That the Area Leader re-draft the proposed Community Charter 2011/12, taking into account Members’ comments, and re-circulate it to Members via e-mail, with a deadline for any further comments, after which the Area Leader arrange for the final document to be produced and distributed and reported back to the next meeting for information purposes only.

Further to Minute No. 62, 31^st January 2011, the Committee considered the report of the East North East Area Leader relating to refreshing the Area Delivery Plan and Community Charter for 2011/12.

In general, Members regarded that the draft Charter was still rather too detailed for its intended purpose, and that a pared down version, perhaps with links pointing interested people to sources of further, more detailed information would be more appropriate.

RESOLVED – That the Area Leader re-draft the proposed Community Charter 2011/12, taking into account Members’ comments, and re-circulate it to Members via e-mail, with a deadline for any further comments, after which the Area Leader arrange for the final document to be produced and distributed and reported back to the next meeting for information purposes only.

(NB:  Councillor J  Dowson joined the meeting at 5.26 pm, during the consideration of this item.)

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

(To follow).

RESOLVED – That the item be deferred to the June meeting.

RESOLVED – That the item be deferred to the June meeting.

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

RESOLVED – (a) That the ‘Working Together’ community engagement strategy 2011/12 be approved;

(b) That the intention to use the Citizens’ Panel, subject to the outcome of the pending review by Corporate Communications, be noted and endorsed.

The Committee considered the report of the East North East Area Leader regarding the Committee’s proposed Community Engagement Strategy 2011/12.

The Area Management Officer undertook to supply Councillor S Hamilton with details of the proposed equality impact assessment associated with the strategy.

RESOLVED –

a)   That the ‘Working Together’ community engagement strategy 2011/12 be approved;

b)   That the intention to use the Citizens’ Panel, subject to the outcome of the pending review by Corporate Communications, be noted and endorsed.

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

Further to Minute No. 42, 18^th October 2010, Minute No. 48, 6^th December 2010 and Minute No. 65, 31^st January 2011, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee on the proposals to delegate elements of the Environmental Services to Area Committees in the new municipal year.

The next Members seminar, to discuss the draft Service Level Agreement, was on Thursday, 24^th March 2011, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm, and Members had been sent a separate invitation to attend.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report be noted, including the delegated decisions taken by the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods following the January 31^st Area Committee meeting, and the update on the Probation Community Payback scheme;

b)  That expenditure be approved in respect of the following projects, to be funded from the 2011/12 budget :-

i)  Continuation of Neighbourhood Manager Post - £35,000

ii)  Continuation of Community Payback Scheme - £15,000

iii)  Festive Lights - £14,106*

iv)  Volunteer Thank You Event - £2,000

v)  Consultation and Community Engagement - £2,000

vi)  Community Skips - £3,000

vii)  RoundhayParkrun - £1,500

c)  That in respect of the remaining applications contained in the report, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods be authorised to take the necessary delegated decisions, in consultation with the Committee’s Wellbeing Working Group, all Area Committee Members to be invited to a special meeting of the Working Group, and at least one Member from each Ward to be present in order for decisions to be taken.

*Councillors J Dowson and G Hussain abstained, and Councillor S Hamilton voted against, in respect of the decision to grant £14,106 towards Festive Lights in the area.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report updating the Committee on the current revenue and capital wellbeing budget balances, and setting out details of various applications for funding in 2011/12, principally in respect of summer holiday projects.  Further to Minute No. 61, 31^st January 2011, the report also sought approval of several ‘in principle’ decisions taken at the last meeting.

Some Members felt that applications before the Committee tonight, if approved, represented a substantial proportion of the Committee’s overall revenue budget for 2011/12, leaving relatively little funds for other applications later in the year.  A concern was also expressed regarding the likelihood of duplication of effort, and participants, in respect of the suggested summer holiday programme.  In this regard it was suggested that, in future, it would be more appropriate for all the holiday programme scheme providers to get together to discuss, rationalise and co-ordinate their efforts, and to submit their proposals earlier.  For this year, it was proposed that consideration be deferred to the June meeting, to allow the Committee’s Wellbeing Working Group to meet with and interview applicants before recommendations were made to the June Area Committee meeting.

Other Members felt that the way the Committee currently operated its wellbeing budgets, via the Wellbeing Working Group, and the composition of the Working Group itself, should be reviewed.

The consensus which emerged was that June was considered to be too late for considering summer holiday programme applications, decisions needed to be taken earlier, if not tonight.  Decisions also needed to be taken in respect of several other applications, principally those approved in principle at the last meeting (Minute No. 61 refers).

It was also regarded that the Wellbeing Working Group had served the Committee well over the years.  Notwithstanding that, the membership of the Group should be reviewed annually, along with other appointments.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report be noted, including the delegated decisions taken by the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods following the January 31st Area Committee meeting, and the update on the Probation Community Payback scheme;

b)  That expenditure be approved in respect of the following projects, to be funded from the 2011/12 budget :-

i)  Continuation of Neighbourhood Manager Post - £35,000

ii)  Continuation of Community Payback Scheme - £15,000

iii)  Festive Lights - £14,106*

iv)  Volunteer Thank You Event - £2,000

v)  Consultation and Community Engagement - £2,000

vi)  Community Skips - £3,000

vii)  Roundhay Park run - £1,500

c)  That in respect of the remaining applications contained in the report, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods be authorised to take the necessary delegated decisions, in consultation with the Committee’s Wellbeing Working Group, all Area Committee Members to be invited to a special meeting of the Working Group, and at least one Member from each Ward to be present in order for decisions to be taken.

*(NB:  1)  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillors J Dowson and G Hussain wished it to be recorded that they abstained from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer.

RESOLVED – That the following dates and times be approved for meetings of the NE Inner Area Committee for the 2011/12 municipal year, venues to be arranged by the Area Leader in consultation with Members:-

Monday, 20^th June 2011.

Monday, 5^th September 2011.

Monday, 17^th October 2011.

Monday, 12^th December 2011.

Monday, 30^th January 2012.

Monday, 12^th March 2012.

All at 4.00 pm.

This being his last meeting prior to his retirement, on behalf of the Committee the Chair paid tribute to Mike Earle, Democratic Services, thanked him for all his work for the Council and wished him a long and happy retirement.  

The meeting concluded at 6.46 pm.