Agenda and minutes

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

He informed the meeting that due to the absence of the three Chapel-Allerton Ward Members, the meeting was in-quorate.

There were no formal late items of business to consider, however the Chair agreed to accept the following as supplementary information:-

·  Welfare Reform Impact on Council Tenants – Revised Report of the Chief Executive East North East Homes Leeds (Agenda Item 10)(Minute 70 refers)

The document was not available at the time of the agenda despatch, but subsequently made available to the public on the Council’s website.

There were no disclosable pecuniary and other interests declared at the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors M Rafique and E Taylor.

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 consider a report of the East North East Area Leader providing an update on the Inner East Area Committee Ambassadors project, which was initiated in an attempt to get more people involved in consultation.

The report also allows a discussion to take place with the Ambassadors already appointed who have been invited to the meeting at the request of the Area Committee at their meeting on 10^th December 2012.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report providing an update on the Inner East Area Committee Ambassadors project, which was initiated in an attempt to get more people involved in consultation.

The report also allowed a discussion to take place with the Ambassadors already appointed who had been invited to the meeting at the request of the Area Committee at their meeting on 10^th December 2012.

The following representatives were in attendance:-

-  Christine Osbourne, Gledhow Valley Conservation Area Group

-  Liz Aspland, Gledhow Valley Conservation Area Group

-  Judy Taylor, Roundhay Environmental Action (REAP)

Nicola Denson, East North East Area Officer presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

At the request of the Chair, Ms Osbourne, Ms Aspland and Ms Taylor briefly outlined their roles as a Community Ambassadors. They welcomed the aims of the project and requested that questionnaires in an attempt to get more people involved in consultation should be circulated as widely as possible

The East North East Area Officer responded and agreed to co-ordinate this issue.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

·  Clarification of the process to encourage other groups to become involved and the need for the Area Support Team to have a presence at group meetings where ever possible

·  Clarification if officers were tracking responses to see if the Roundhay ward had improved over and above the other two wards

·  Clarification of the experiences gained to date by the Community Ambassadors and whether this helped to fulfil their role

·  Clarification of how proactive other groups had been and the follow up procedures involved

·  The need to engage more Community Ambassadors and to raise the profile, especially within the Moortown ward

(The East North East Area Officer responded and agreed to forward more information to ward members)

·  Clarification of how the mechanics of a larger group would work in practice

(The East North East Area Officer responded that workshops had already taken place for Ambassadors and similar sessions would be run again as the group expands)

In concluding, Rory Barke, East North East Area Manager informed the meeting that there were hundreds of community groups in Leeds and it was refreshing to see a new process which would encourage engagement in civic life and communications. He urged the Community Ambasadors to pass on their feedback and experiences to the East North East Area Officer.

The Chair thanked Ms Osbourne, Ms Aspalnd and Ms Taylor for their attendance and contribution to the meeting.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That the update on the Inner East Area Committee Ambassadors project be noted.

(Councillor J Dowson joined the meeting at 4.15pm during discussions of the above item and it was noted that the meeting was no longer in-quorate)

To consider a report of the Director of Adult Social Services providing the meeting with an update on the roll out of integrated neighbourhood health and social care teams, together with describing the progress to date and future plans for development.

The Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report providing the meeting with an update on the roll out of integrated neighbourhood health and social care teams, together with describing the progress to date and future plans for development.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Integrated Neighbourhood Team Rollout Plan (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Risk Stratification Project – Update to Scrutiny Board (Appendix 2 refers)

·  Timebanks (Appendix 3 refers)

The following representatives were in attendance:-

-  Lucy Jackson, Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group

-  Liz Ward, Adult Social Care

-  Megan Rowlands, Leeds Community Healthcare

Ms Jackson and Ms Ward presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

In addition to the above report, Members received a power point presentation entitled ‘Transforming health and adult social care in Leeds – Next steps for Neighbourhood Teams’.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

·  The concerns expressed that there was currently no joined up thinking when a patient had been discharged

·  Clarification if more staff was needed resulting from these proposals

·  Clarification if services under the new proposals could be integrated

·  Clarification of the Integrated Neighbourhood Team model and the parameters that existed outside this remit

·  Clarification of Care 21’s role within the new model

·  Clarification of the input personalised/individual budgets within the new model

·  The importance of changing the NHS culture in order to move forward

·  Clarification of when a dementia assessment would be made under the new model and for the meeting to recognise that there was a fundamental difference in treating vascular dementia and alzheimers

·  Clarification of the term ‘case finding’

·  The need for the aims and availability of Telecare to be conveyed as widely as possible

·  The need to incorporate key plans and baseline figures in order to measure progress

·  The need to recognise the important role of carers and to provide the necessary support

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted and welcomed.

b)  That this Committee notes the progress in developing integrated health and social care services in Leeds, endorses the direction of travel in developing and delivering improvements in how health and social care services were provided to Leeds residents and offers their support to these developments.

c)  That a further report on progress be submitted to this meeting in six month’s time.

To consider a report by the Chief Executive East North East Homes Leeds updating the meeting on Welfare Reform changes that impact on Council Tenants and are due to be implemented in April 2013. The report 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 Executive East North East Homes Leeds circulated a revised report updating the meeting on Welfare Reform changes that impact on Council Tenants and were due to be implemented in April 2013. The report also summarised work that was currently being undertaken to prepare Tenants for those changes and for future changes that would impact later in the year.

Appended to the report was a document entitled ‘ Social Sector Size Criteria – Update on Contacts/Visits and Option Outcomes to Date End of December 2012’ for the information/comment of the meeting.

Steve Hunt, Chief Executive, East North East Homes Leeds presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

·  The need for Credit Union staff to be up to speed with the new process, in particular online enquiries

·  The need to look at small cash handling/credit card systems, if possible, in order to manage the process

·  The need for tenants to be supplied with the right information in relation to the Social Sector Size Criteria (SSSC)

·  Clarification of the current figures in relation to rent arrears prior to the implementation of the new process

(The Chief Executive, East North East Homes Leeds responded and agreed to supply this information to the East North East Area Leader for dissemination to Members)

·  The need to be aware of the dangers imposed by loan sharks and to gain more experience in the area relating to digital by default

·  Clarification of the process regarding those tenants to wish to downsize

·  The need for front line housing officers to be suitably trained in providing the right information to tenants i.e. Priority Extra

·  The need to recognise that foster cares would also be affected by the changes

In concluding, Rory Barke, East North East Area Leader summarised the plus and negatives of the new process. He emphasised the need to link up with front line staff and to hold further workshops in order to convey the right messages, especially around the digital by default issue. To date cross sector staff had integrated well and integrated working would hopefully assist the new process.

RESOLVED-

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted and welcomed.

b)  That this Committee notes the work done to date by East North East Homes Leeds and the Council to prepare for the introduction of Welfare Reform changes affecting Council tenants in accordance with the report now submitted.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 10th December 2012.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 10^th December 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

a)  Future Approaches to Priority Neighbourhoods (Minute 54 c) refers)

Councillor S Hamilton enquired on the latest developments in relation to the recruitment process for appointing a new Neighbourhood Manager.

Rory Barke, East North East Area Leader responded and informed the meeting that shortlisting had taken place with interviews to be held soon. In relation to Members having an informal input within the appointment process, he agreed to address this issue in due course.

b)  Wellbeing Fund Revenue Budget 2012/13 (Minute 55 refers)

Councillor S Hamilton enquired if there had been any feedback in relation to Champ Boxing.

Nicola Denson, East North East Area Officer responded and confirmed that the feedback documentation had now been received.

c)  Apprenticeships Update (Minute 60 refers)

The Chair enquired on the latest developments in relation the city-wide initiatives to support growth in apprenticeships.

Rory Barke, East North East Area Leader responded and informed the meeting that the initiative was progressing well with an implementation date of 1^st April 2013.

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader providing Members with an update on the current position of the wellbeing revenue budget for the Inner North East area, together with applications made for funding.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report providing Members with an update on the current position of the revenue Wellbeing funding for the Area Committee and highlighting the applications made for consideration by the Area Committee.

Appended to the report was a copy of the following document for the information/comment of the meeting:-

• Inner North East Area Committee Well-Being Budget 2012-13 (Appendix 1 refers)

Nicola Denson, East North East Area Officer presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

RESOLVED-

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That approval be given, in principle, to support the TCV Inkwell project, but to defer a decision on funding until the outcome of the other funding bids was known.

c)  That this Area Committee notes the current budget position as outlined in the report now submitted.

d)  That approval be given to supporting the recommendation of the Wellbeing Working Group to review the amount put aside for young people’s activities in reducing the amount to £35,000 this year.

e)  That this Committee support’s the Wellbeing Working Group’s suggestion in not producing a professionally produced and printed charter, but doing it in house by the Area Support Team and providing electronic copies only which could then be printed out if people wanted.

f)  That approval be given to reducing the festive lights budget by 20%.

g)  That approval be given to the amended 2012/13 budget as detailed in section 3.3.6 of the report.

h)  That approval be given to the proposed top slice of wellbeing spend for 2013/14 in accordance with the report now submitted.

i)  That the East North East Area Leader be requested to look into the suggestion of rolling out the programme of free WI-FI within the North East (Inner) area.

j)  That authority be given for the East North East Area Manager to look at funding the Neighbourhood Manager’s post out of this year’s pot with a report back on progress at the next meeting.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) on the Area Chairs Forum minutes held on 2nd November 2012.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) submitted a report on the Area Chairs Forum minutes held on 2^nd November 2012.

Appended to the report was a copy of the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd November 2012 for the information/comment of the meeting.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That this Committee notes the contents of the Area Chairs Forum minutes held on 2^nd November 2012.

Monday 11^th March 2013 at 4.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

Monday 11^th March 2013 at 4.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(The meeting concluded at 6.00pm)