Agenda, decisions and minutes

A report had been submitted to the agenda, Item 9, Leeds City Credit Union – Branch Network.  An appendix to the report had been considered as exempt under Paragraph 10.4(3) of Access to Information Procedure Rules and Members were advised that should the information in the appendix be discussed, they would need to pass a resolution to exclude any members of the press and public from the meeting.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

An additional application to be considered under Agenda Item 11, Wellbeing Fund – Update Report, for Boston Spa in Bloom was submitted.

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 Harrand declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9, Leeds City Credit Union Branch Network, due to his membership of the Credit Union.  Minute No. 80 refers.

Councillor Lamb declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item  11, Wellbeing Fund Update Report due to the funding request from the North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership of which he was a Member.  He took no part in the discussion or voting on this application.  Minute No. 79 refers.

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. 

The Chair welcomed Mr Patrick, a local resident to the meeting.  He referred to a recent community engagement event and the lack of opportunity for the public to have an input into the Area Delivery Plan.  He was informed that there had been an opportunity to request for issues to be included.  He also expressed concern regarding the publicising of Area Committee meetings and whether Parish and Town Councils were informed.  It was reported that the meetings were advertised in the About Leeds newspaper which was delivered to every household across the City and that giving notice to Parish and Town Councils would be investigated.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 8^th February 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2010 be approved as a correct record.

Minute No 67. – Neighbourhood Wardens Restructure – Update

Concern had been raised following the loss of the Neighbourhood Warden in Scholes and what would be done to cover this.  It was reported that the village was still covered by Police Community Safety Officers and there were no additional resources following the loss of the Neighbourhood Warden post.

Minute No. 70 – Area Delivery Plan 2008-11 – Update Report

Councillor Shelbrooke had been nominated as the Area Committee’s Champion for the Year of the Volunteer.  As he was standing down as a Councillor following the forthcoming elections it was agreed to nominate a successor in the new Municipal Year.

Minute No. 50 – Grounds Maintenance Procurement Strategy

It was reported that updates would be given at Ward Member meetings.

Minute No. 53 – Breeze/Mini Breeze Event 2010.

It was reported that the cost of a potential event would be between £3,000 to £5,000.

Minute No. 68 – Health and Environmental Action Services

Members had been e-mailed a link to the Scores on the Doors website for food safety ratings of premises in Leeds.  The issue of use of Council land for Garden Extensions was still to be pursued.

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

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the awarding of small grants and Environment Fund grants for each ward be noted.

(2)  That the projects in development be noted.

(3)  That the following decisions be made in relation to Wellbeing funding proposals which had been submitted for determination at the meeting:

·  Adel Mill Conservation Area (Alwoodley Ward) - £6,000 – deferred

·  ZEST Health for Life Summer Health and Wellbeing Project (Alwoodley Ward) - £1,630 – withdrawn

·  Maecare (Alwoodley and Harewood Wards) - £7,728 – Approved – 75% from Alwoodley Ward (£5,796) and 25 % from Harewood Ward (£1,932)

·  Northcall (Alwoodley Ward) - £33,161 applied for - £15,000 approved

·  Open House (Alwoodley Ward) - £31,500 applied for - £15,000 approved

·  North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership (Alwoodley Ward) - £1,355 – Trembler Alarms (£975), Operation Buzzer (£380) – approved

·  Yorkshire Dales River Trust.  Returning Salmon to the River Wharfe (Wetherby Ward) - £2,750 – Refused

·  Leeds City Council, Parks and Countryside, Site Based Gardener (Wetherby Ward) - £21,115 applied for - £19,900 approved

·  Deepdale user groups rental support (Wetherby Ward) – up to £2,000 – Area Management to investigate the possibility of discounted rates.

·  Leeds City Council Youth Service, Outer North East Holiday Programme for Children and Young People aged 13-19 (All Wards) - £17,415 – Refused

·  Leeds City Council Community Sport, Summer 2010 activities for children aged 8-12 (All Wards) - £8,000 applied for - £1,700 approved from Alwoodley Ward

·  Boston Spa in Bloom (Wetherby Ward) - £2,750 – Approved

·  Shadwell Cricket Club, Construction of Cricket Club (Harewood Ward) - £20,000 – deferred

The report of the East North East Area Manager provided an overview of spending to date along with a number of new project proposals that had requested funding.

The Area Committee was asked to:

• Note the spend to date for the 2009/10 financial year.
• Consider the project proposals in Paragraphs 15-49 and approve where appropriate the amount of grant to be awarded.
• Note the awarding of small grants for each ward,
• Note the projects in development.

In brief summary, the following issues were discussed:

• The projected positions of the Wellbeing Budget and those of the individual Ward pots.
• Grit bins – it was reported that these would no longer be provided.
• Boston Spa in Bloom – it was reported that 5 potential suppliers had been evaluated for the provision of planters.
• Shadwell Cricket Club – it was reported that Section 106 monies had not yet been received.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the awarding of small grants and Environment Fund grants for each ward be noted.

(2)  That the projects in development be noted.

(3)  That the following decisions be made in relation to Wellbeing funding proposals which had been submitted for determination at the meeting:

·  Adel Mill Conservation Area (Alwoodley Ward) - £6,000 – deferred

·  ZEST Health for Life Summer Health and Wellbeing Project (Alwoodley Ward) - £1,630 – withdrawn

·  Maecare (Alwoodley and Harewood Wards) - £7,728 – Approved – 75% from Alwoodley Ward (£5,796) and 25 % from Harewood Ward (£1,932)

·  Northcall (Alwoodley Ward) - £33,161 applied for - £15,000 approved

·  Open House (Alwoodley Ward) - £31,500 applied for - £15,000 approved

·  North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership (Alwoodley Ward) - £1,355 – Trembler Alarms (£975), Operation Buzzer (£380) – approved

·  Yorkshire Dales River Trust.  Returning Salmon to the River Wharfe (Wetherby Ward) - £2,750 – Refused

·  Leeds City Council, Parks and Countryside, Site Based Gardener (Wetherby Ward) - £21,115 applied for - £19,900 approved

·  Deepdale user groups rental support (Wetherby Ward) – up to £2,000 – Area Management to investigate the possibility of discounted rates.

·  Leeds City Council Youth Service, Outer North East Holiday Programme for Children and Young People aged 13-19 (All Wards) - £17,415 – Refused

·  Leeds City Council Community Sport, Summer 2010 activities for children aged 8-12 (All Wards) - £8,000 applied for - £1,700 approved from Alwoodley Ward and £1,950 from Wetherby Ward (re-allocation from previous grant to Wetherby Sport Association)

·  Boston Spa in Bloom (Wetherby Ward) - £2,750 – Approved

·  Shadwell Cricket Club, Construction of Cricket Club (Harewood Ward) - £20,000 – deferred

(Councillor Shelbrooke left the meeting at 6.30 p.m. during the discussion on this item and Councillor R Procter left at 6.55 p.m. at the conclusion of this item)

The Chair took opportunity to thank Councillor Shelbrooke for his contribution to the Area Committee

To receive and consider the attached joint report of the Director of City Development and the Chief Customer Services Officer.

The report includes an Appendix which contains exempt information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Leeds City Credit Union. It is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, and the reasons for this view are outlined in the report.

It will therefore be necessary for the Committee to consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above referred to exempt information.

If the Committee accept the officers recommendation regarding this matter, then it is necessary for it to pass the following formal resolution excluding the press and public from the meeting during the discussion and consideration of the exempt information :-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of those parts of the agenda designated as exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.   

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That East North East Homes be contacted regarding future support for the Credit Union.

The joint report of the Chief Customer Services Officer and Director of City Development provided details on the services provided by Leeds City Credit Union (LCCU) to enable the Area Committee to engage in an informed debate about the future of Credit Union Branches within their area.  The report described the branches and locations relative to the various Area Committees and Ward boundaries.

The Chair welcomed Paul Broughton, Chief Customer Services Officer and Chris Smythe, Chief Executive of LCCU to the meeting.

Paul Broughton presented the report to the Area Committee and gave an overview of the role of the Credit Union and the branch network.  Members were asked to consider providing financial support to the Credit Union to maintain the current branch network.

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

• The Leeds Credit Union was the largest in England with the biggest branch network.

• The NEL Branch did not provide a cash service.
• Costs of cash handling.
• Potential provision of services in Joint Service Centres.
• Alternative service delivery.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That East North East Homes be contacted regarding future support for the Credit Union.

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

The report of the Director of Children’s Services presented performance data which had been disaggregated at an Area Committee or Ward level.  The performance data included primary and secondary education performance, those not in education, employment and training and teenage pregnancy information.

Shahid Mahmood, Locality Enabler, Children’s Services presented the report and answered Members questions.

The following issues were discussed:

• It was hoped that future teenage pregnancy information would be based on current ward data.
• How issues impacted on funding.
• The need to share resources – five different organisations were funding posts related to teenage pregnancy.
• It was estimated that each teenage pregnancy cost approximately £100,000 per year in service provision, benefit payments and other costs.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

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

RESOLVED – That the issues raised be noted and the Area Management team support the Parish Council Forum in resolving those issues.

The report of the East North East Area Manager updated the Area Committee on the feedback from the Wetherby and Harewood Town and Parish Council Forum held in the outer north east area on 21 January 2010.

The Area Committee was asked to note the issues raised and through the Area Management Team support the Parish Council Forum in resolving those issues.

RESOLVED – That the issues raised be noted and the Area Management team support the Parish Council Forum in resolving those issues.

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

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the refreshed ADP be endorsed and the information provided from the residents survey 2009 and Neighbourhood Index be noted.

(2)  That the refreshed ADP be distributed to local Parish and Town Councils and Libraries for display.

The report of the East North East Area Manager presented the refreshed Outer North East Area Deliver Plan (ADP) for 2010-11.  It also provided feedback on the consultation which had taken place and had helped to inform priorities for the ADP for 2010-11.  Also included in the report was a summary of findings of the Residents Survey 2009 and a summary of the Leeds Neighbourhood Index.

Members were asked to endorse the refreshed ADP and note the information provided from the Residents Survey and Neighbourhood Index.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the refreshed ADP be endorsed and the information provided from the residents survey 2009 and Neighbourhood Index be noted.

(2)  That the refreshed ADP be distributed to local Parish and Town Councils and Libraries for display.

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

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the dates and times of the North East Outer Area Committee as outlined in the report be approved.  Venues to be confirmed.

(2)  That the Area Committee Forward Plan be approved.

The report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer requested Members to give consideration to agreeing dates, times and venues for meetings of the Area Committee during the 2010/11 Municipal Year.  Also attached to the report was the Forward Plan of Business for 2010/11 which the Committee was asked to approve.

It was reported that provisional dates detailed in the report had been  provisionally agreed with the Chair and Area Manager and were roughly based on the Committee’s meeting schedule for 2009/10.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the dates and times of the North East Outer Area Committee as outlined in the report be approved.  Venues to be confirmed.

(2)  That the Area Committee Forward Plan be approved.