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.

The agenda made reference to the provision contained in the Area Committee Procedure Rules for an Open Forum session at each ordinary meeting, 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 such matters were raised.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2010

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th July 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

a)  NE Community Safety Partnership Annual  Report 2009/10 (Min. No. 8 refers)

Further to Minute No. 8, 5^th July 2010, and the statistical query raised last time under this item, Inspector Marcus Griffiths indicated that he had subsequently circulated to Members the correct figures in respect of that particular indicator.

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

Time – 10 Minutes

The East North East Area Manager submitted a report updating Members regarding the final Wellbeing Budget figures for 2010/11, and seeking decisions in respect of several applications for funding.

RESOLVED –

a)   That the Committee’s revenue and capital Wellbeing Budgets for 2010/11, and the projects in development, be noted.

b)   That the following decisions be taken in respect of the applications for funding before the Committee this evening for decision:-

Revenue

i)   Conservation Area for Scholes - £6,000 – Approved;

ii)   Conservation Area review – Shadwell - £6,000 – Approved;

iii)   Crime reduction operations – Farmwatch and Wetherby Pre-Christmas patrols - £8,500 (£6,000 Wetherby Ward, £2,500 Harewood Ward) – Approved;

iv)   Wetherby Community Bonfire - £1,000 – Approved;

v)   Wetherby Road Plantation - £1,000 – Approved;

vi)   Reaching Out Project – Wetherby Methodist Church – Refused (alternative funding to be explored);

vii)   Wetherby – Site-based Gardener - £21,115 – Deferred;

viii)  Slaid Hill, Alwoodley - £1,208.24 – Approved.

Capital

    Alwoodley Methodist Church – toilets - £5,606 – Approved;

Collingham Scout and Guide HQ roof - £6,500 – Deferred;

 Barleyfields Community Centre, Wetherby – redecorating –        Withdrawn (alternative funding identified);

Deepdale, Boston Spa – Play Space and Boundary Fencing – Deferred;

Wetherby Town Hall roof – Withdrawn.

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

The East North East Area Manager submitted a report updating the Committee regarding progress against actions contained in the 2008-11 Area Delivery Plan, and outlining a draft Neighbourhood Improvement Plan for Moor Allerton.

Referring to the previous agenda item, Members commented on the adverse effects of the changes by the ruling administration to the funding formula upon which the Wellbeing revenue funding was allocated – from 25%/75% deprivation factor to population, to a 50%/50% allocation. This had resulted in reallocation of resources from the Outer Area Committees to Inner Area Committees, with no overall cost saving to the Council, and would affect this Committee’s abilities to meet its ADP aspirations.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Moor Allerton draft Neighbourhood Improvement Plan be approved.

(N.B. Councillor R Procter joined the meeting at 6.26pm, during the consideration of this item).

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

Time – 5 Minutes

The Committee considered the notes of the Harewood and Wetherby Town and Parish Council Forum meeting held on 22^nd July 2010.

Members requested the Area Manager to ensure that various actions arising, such as clarification on planning objections and information regarding other possible sources of financial assistance for Town and Parish Councils, were progressed as quickly as possible.

It was noted that the next Forum meeting would be on 21^st October 2010, 7.30 pm at Wetherby Town Hall.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

Time – 10 Minutes

Further to Minute No. 15, 5^th July 2010, the Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report updating the Committee on the position with regard to the Aberford Almshouses Trust and Moor Allerton Elderly Care.

RESOLVED – That the Member Management Committee be recommended to formally remove the appointments to the Aberford Almshouses Trust and Moor Allerton Elderly Care from the list of appointments to outside bodies.

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

Time – 10 Minutes

The Interim Director of Children’s Services submitted a report containing details of performance across a variety of performance indicators, such as the numbers of looked after children in the Committee’s area, the number of referrals for investigation and how quickly they were dealt with and the NEET (young people Not in Education, Employment or Training) statistics for the area. Attention was drawn to the improvement in the timeliness of social care assessment at a time of increasing demand.

Jane Maxwell and Ros Cheetham, Children’s Services, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

In brief summary, the main discussion points were:-

·  The report presented was the first time that social care data had been made available at Ward level. This would now act as a baseline for future reporting.

·  The quality improvement programme in social care and case file audits process across the City.

·  Proposals to establish integrated Children’s Services Wellbeing Teams across the City. Members’ sought further information regarding how resources would be allocated to areas that were identified with lower levels of need. Members’ were also interested in how the teams would be established and managed locally. Members’ also expressed a view about having coterminous boundaries between agencies across the City, including working alongside existing Joint Neighbourhood Tasking meetings.

Wellbeing Teams would be part of the local authority, and services would be delivered across a cluster geography. Members’ expressed concern regarding the proposed direction of travel towards cluster-governed Wellbeing Teams, as one of the local clusters was struggling with developing fit for purpose governance arrangements.

Members highlighted the fact that many pupils from other parts of Leeds attended schools in this Committee’s area, and that this should be a prominent factor when considering how funds were allocated, rather than simply allocating them on a pupil’s home postcode basis.

Members were firmly of the opinion that, regardless of what models might be adopted elsewhere in the City, this Area Committee should have a significant and pivotal role to play in the proposed new arrangements.  To this end, Members requested the Area Manager, in conjunction with Jane Maxwell, to arrange a meeting for Members with appropriate senior officers to progress this issue.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments and request for a further meeting, the report be received and noted. 

(NB:  Councillor R Procter left the meeting at 7.11 pm, during consideration of this item.)

Monday, 25 October 2010 at 4.00 p.m.

Monday, 25^th October  2010, 5.30 pm, Civic Hall, Leeds.

The meeting concluded at 7.45 pm.