Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

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

• Delegation of Environmental Services – Service Level Agreement  - Appendix B – Initial Locality Budget (Agenda Item 11)(Minute 28  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.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors A Castle and R Procter

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.

The following declarations of interest were made:-

Councillors: G Wilkinson, J Procter and A Lamb declared personal interests as Members of Wetherby Town Council, the organisers of the Wetherby Community Bonfire event (Agenda Item No. 13) (minute No. 30 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.

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 minutes of the meeting held on 4^th July 2011.

RESOLVED -That the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th July 2011 were accepted as a true and correct record.

East North East Homes Leeds, Work Programme 2011/12 (Minute No 13 refers) – Clarification of the monies committed in each of the three wards in Outer North East. It was reported that the requested information had already been circulated to Ward Members. In terms of detail of resource allocations to Area Panels, this would be the subject of a further report to the Area Committee

To consider a report of the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) on progress in relation to Local Authority Appointments to Outside Bodies.

Referring to Minute 8 of the meeting held on 4^th July 2011, the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) submitted a progress report on the Local Authority Appointments to Outside Bodies, identifying the following  outstanding vacancies:

• Area Health and Wellbeing Partnership
• Corporate Carer Group

Councillor P Harrand sought further information on the operation of the Area Health and Wellbeing Partnership and requested if the groups Terms of Reference could be circulated to Members

Councillor A Lamb volunteered  to act as the Area Committees representative on the Council’s Corporate Carer Group

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That the appointment of a representative to serve on the Area Health and Wellbeing Partnership be deferred to await the receipt of further information

  c) That Councillor A Lamb be nominated as the Area Committees representative to serve on the Council’s Corporate Carer Group for the   2011-12 Municipal Year.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services which aims to support Elected Member involvement with Children’s Services locally by helping to strengthen understanding of some key performance information at a local area level.  It builds on previous Children’s Services performance reports presented to Area Committees in 2010 and earlier this year.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which aimed to support Elected Member involvement with Children’s Services locally by helping to strengthen understanding of some key performance information at a local area level.  The report also built on previous Children’s Services performance reports presented to Area Committees in 2010 and earlier this year.

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

Appendix 1 - Proposed Schedule of Information for Area Committee Reporting for 2011/12

Appendix 2 - Note of the Leeds Children’s Services Meeting with the DfE: 20^th 

  May 2100

Appendix 3 - LAC, CPP, New Referrals, and CAF Data by Area

Appendix 4 - Primary & Secondary School Attendance data by Area and Ward

Appendix 5 - NEET and Not Known data by Area and Ward.

Appendix 6 - School Inspection Data by Area

Sarah Sinclair, Deputy Director of Children’s Services presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

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

•  Number of looked after children
• School attendance
• NEET
• Performance update
• Teenage pregnancy
• Number of pupils attending school in the North East Outer Area but who live outside the area

In passing comment Councillor Feldman suggested that the report was very general and could future reports provide more local relevance

The Chair thanked Ms Sinclair for her attendance and presentation

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That future performance reports to contain more information relevant to the area

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services presenting the Area Committee with an update on the work being undertaken across the city to ensure the authority meets its statutory duty to ensure sufficiency of school places in the context of an increasing birth rate. Although no schools in the are directly affected, the report provides the opportunity to ensure Members are fully aware of plans on adjacent areas.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which provided an update on the work being undertaken across the city to ensure the authority meets its statutory duty to ensure sufficiency of school places in the context of an increasing birth rate. Although no schools in the ward were directly affected, the report provided the opportunity to ensure Members were fully aware of plans on adjacent areas.

In the absence of an officer from Children’s Services to present the report and respond to Members questions, it was suggested that the item be deferred to the next meeting

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred and be brought back to the next meeting when appropriate officers will be in attendance

To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on presenting to the Area Committee, for approval, a final version of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) through which the work of the Environmental Locality team will be steered over the next nine months.

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That the draft SLA be amended to make clear that the responsibility for decisions and management of the locality budget is with the Locality Manager and not delegated to individual Area Committees, and for the Locality Manager to provide confirmation that the other two SLAs in the East North East area have been approved on this basis.

c)  That subject to (b) above being achieved, an additional, urgent meeting of the Area Committee be arranged to approve the Service Level Agreement (SLA).

Referring to Minute 12 of the meeting held on 4^th July 2011, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on presenting to the Area Committee, for approval, a final version of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) through which the work of the Environmental Locality team would be steered over the next nine months.

Appended to the report was a copy of the Service Level Agreement for the Delegation of Environmental Services for the information/comment of the meeting.

In addition to the above appendix, a copy of an appendix relating to the ‘Initial Locality Budget’ was circulated at the meeting as supplementary information.

John Woolmer, Environmental Locality Manager for East North East presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

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

•  Much of the of the information supplied was not easy to understand
• Clarification that the East North East Area Management Team would have less resources than it currently had
• Budget to be flexible across three Area Committees
• Flexibility of resources
• To include within the SLA that the budget is a locality wide resource that is the responsibility of the Locality Manager to use as efficiently and as effectively as possible to meet the commitments within the SLA and achieve the best possible outcomes.

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That the draft SLA be amended to make clear that the responsibility for decisions and management of the locality budget is with the Locality Manager and not delegated to individual Area Committees, and for the Locality Manager to provide confirmation that the other two SLAs in the East North East area have been approved on this basis.

c)  That subject to (b) above being achieved, an additional, urgent meeting of the Area Committee be arranged to approve the Service Level Agreement (SLA).

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader setting out the format for the Area Committee Business plan and highlighting progress made in relation to the plan. The report also provides Members with an update on progress of action taken to deliver the priorities set out in the Community Charter.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report setting out the format for the Area Committee Business Plan and highlighting progress made in relation to the plan. The report also provided Members with an update on progress of action taken to deliver the priorities set out in the Community Charter.

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

·  Outer North East Area Committee Business Plan 2011/12 (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Progress in relation to the priorities as set out in the Area Committee Community Charter (Appendix 2 refers)

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That this Committee notes the progress made to deliver the priorities set out in the Community Charter and the intention to produce the Area Committee Business Plan for the October 2011 meeting.

c)  That approval be given to the format of the Area Committee Business

  Plan in accordance with the report now submitted.

d)  To note the work undertaken so far by the Localism Officer

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader highlighting the major benefits and added value of Capital Well Being Funding in Inner North East Leeds and also providing Members with an update on the current position of the Revenue Well Being Funding for the Area Committee and setting out applications made for consideration by the Area Committee.

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That this Committee notes the benefits of the capital wellbeing spend.

c)  That this Committee notes the spend to date and current balances for the 2011/12 financial year as outlined in the report now submitted.

d)  That the following project proposals be dealt with as follows:-

  Wigton Moor Church Refurbishment - £1,677 approved

  Security of Bardsey Recreation Ground - £3,000 approved

  Wetherby Community Bonfire - Deferred to await further information

The Tree Tops and Open House Community Centre Budget - £5,000 approved.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report highlighting the major benefits and added value of Capital Well Being Funding in Outer North East Leeds and also providing Members with an update on the current position of the Revenue Well Being Funding for the Area Committee and setting out applications made for consideration by the Area Committee.

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

·  East North East Budget and Expenditure (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Outer North East Area Management Capital Budget Information (Appendix 2 refers)

·  Outer North East Area Committee Well-Being Budget 2011-12 (Appendix 3 refers)

Rory Barke, East North East Area Leader presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That this Committee notes the benefits of the capital wellbeing spend.

c)  That this Committee notes the spend to date and current balances for the 2011/12 financial year as outlined in the report now submitted.

d)  That the following project proposals be dealt with as follows:-

Project  Decision

  Wigton Moor Church Refurbishment  Approved  £1,677

  Security of Bardsey Recreation Ground  Approved  £3,000

Wetherby Community Bonfire  Deferred to await      further information 

  The Tree Tops and Open House Community  Approved  £5,000

  Centre Budget

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) on a requirement to submit copies of the Area Chairs Forum Minutes to Area Committee meetings.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) submitted a report on a requirement to submit copies of the Area Chairs Forum Minutes to Area Committee meetings.

A copy of the Area Chairs Forum minutes of a meeting held on 17^th June 2011 were appended to the report for the information/comment of the meeting.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held on 17^th June 2011 be received and noted.

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader updating 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^st July 2011.

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That this Committee notes the issues raised and, through the Area Management Team, supports the Parish Council Forum in resolving those issues.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report updating 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^st July 2011.

Appended to the report was a copy of the Harewood and Wetherby Town and Parish Council Forum minutes held on 21^st July 2011 for the information/comment of the meeting.

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That this Committee notes the issues raised and, through the Area Management Team, supports the Parish Council Forum in resolving those issues.

Monday 24^th October 2011 at 5.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

MAP OF TODAY’S MEETING

Boston Spa Children’s Centre, Deepdale Lane, Boston Spa, Leeds LS23 6EH

Monday 24^th October 2011 at 5.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(The meeting concluded at  8:25pm)