Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the October meeting of 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:-

• Well-being fund – Additional Project – Grit bins – refilling existing and purchase of new bins (Agenda Item 10) (Minute 41 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.

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor M Robinson.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2000 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

The following other significant interest was declared at the meeting:-

• Councillor R Procter in her capacity as managing a team of Under 7 players at Grange Park Sports Club (Agenda Item 10) (Minute 41 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 10^th September 2012.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th September 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

a) Delegation of Environmental Services – 2012/13 Service Level Agreement 

  (Minute 23 d) refers)

  Rory Barke, East North East Area Leader informed the meeting that he had

  met with Mr J Woolmer, East North East Locality Manager to discuss the

  current position regarding fleet hire costs. It was noted that the issue was

  currently under a city-wide review with a procurement exercise pending.

  The Chair agreed to raise this issue at the next Area Chairs Forum.

 b) Children’s Services Update Report to Area Committees – Outer North East

  (Minute 25 refers)

  The Chair informed the meeting that a report on this issue was included on

  today’s agenda.

 c) Open House 979/81 Lingfield Drive)

  Carole Clark, East North East Area Officer informed the meeting that the

  Open House Community Centre had now closed and that the issue had

  been referred to Commercial Asset Management. All services who had

  previously operated from the building had now been relocated.

  Councillor D Cohen raised his concerns that there had been no clear lines

  established regarding the provision of youth service sessions in the

   Lingfield area.

  In concluding, the East North East Area Leader informed the meeting that

  the building would be let to a Funeral Director. 

To consider a report of the Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager (East North East) on progress made in relation to East North East Health and Wellbeing issues.

The Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager (East North East) submitted a report on progress made in relation to East North East Health and Wellbeing issues.

Lucy Jackson, Consultant in Public Health, NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds Cluster presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report.

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

• To welcome the fact that smoking levels were starting to come down, but to raise concerns regarding the increase in obesity in the area

(The Consultant in Public Health responded and shared her concerns about obesity which was becoming a real issue with supportive measures in place)

• Clarification if the twenty eight day October campaign to stop smoking had been a success

(The Consultant in Public Health responded and confirmed that results had yet to be analysed)

• Concerns expressed about the high number of alcohol specific admissions in the MSOA which included Wetherby East, Thorp Arch and Walton
• Clarification if the figures contained in the report included people living in the Wetherby ward who used Harrogate Hospital services

(The Consultant in Public Health responded and confirmed that the figures did include those people living in the Wetherby ward who used Harrogate Hospital services)

• Clarification of the budget arrangements in relation to the Health and Wellbeing Board and the need for the authority to have one central budget
• Clarification as to why the uptake was lower in Wetherby and Harewood in relation to Wrap Up Leeds

(It was noted that the campaign ended in November 2012)

• Clarification as to why cavity wall insulation was not suitable in certain properties

(The East North East Area Leader responded and agreed to investigate this issue further)

• The need for the Area Committee to acknowledge that more people were drinking within their own homes
• The need for the Area Committee to be provided with more detail on the figures in relation to alcohol related illness or A&E admissions as a result of alcohol related accidents

(The Consultant in Public Health responded and agreed to provide this information to the East North East Area Leader for distribution to Elected Members)

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That the work undertaken to date in relation to building on and further developing health improvement work in the Outer North East area by the Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager be noted and welcomed.

(Councillor J Procter joined the meeting at 5.45pm during discussions of the above item)

(Councillor A Lamb joined the meeting at 5.55pm during discussions of the above item)

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader on progress made by the East North East Welfare Reform Project Team in responding to the changes within the Welfare Reform Act and to mitigate the impact for residents within east north east Leeds.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report on progress made by the East North East Welfare Reform Project Team in responding to the changes within the Welfare Reform Act and to mitigate the impact for residents within east north east Leeds.

The East North East Area Leader presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report.

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

• Clarification of Debt Management and bank accounts and whether or not the authority were promoting any Debt Management products

(The East North East Area Leader responded and confirmed that that the authority was not undertaking this practice and were treating data with extreme caution)

• Clarification of Data Sharing and whether or not teachers had a route to convey their concerns within the process

(The East North East Area Leader responded and confirmed that teachers did have a route to convey concerns within the process)

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That this Committee notes the work ongoing to mitigate the impact for residents within east north east Leeds in accordance with the report now submitted.

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader providing Members with an update on the current position of the wellbeing capital and revenue budget for the Outer North East area and setting out applications made for consideration by the Area Committee.

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

Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Outer North East Area Committee Well-Being Budget 2012-13’ (Appendix 1 refers) for the information/comment of the meeting.

In addition to the above documents, the East North East Area Officer circulated a copy of an e mail received from Inspector P Dwyer, West Yorkshire Police dated 22^nd October 2012 on current funding issues within the Wetherby and Harewood Policing Team

Carole Clark, 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.

Specific reference was made to the wellbeing projects submitted by West Yorkshire Police, together with the issues referred to in their e mail dated 22^nd October 2012.

While Members were supportive of the proposals outlined in both projects, they were concerned that no real dialogue had taken place between the Police and the Wetherby Ward Members and that further information was now required, especially regarding the Wetherby and Harewood NPT Winter Crime Reduction Plan.

The East North East Area Leader outlined the wellbeing budget process recently agreed with the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) for the remainder of the financial year and to assist the Area Committee he also agreed to prepare an estimated profile of existing schemes and projects within the new financial year for future consideration by the Area Committee.

In concluding this item and at the request of the Chair, Mr S Robinson and Mr A Everard from Wetherby Community Radio Ltd (tempo fm) provided the meeting with a brief overview of the work of the Barleyfields Radio Project and on the recent studio move of tempo fm from the Engine Shed to the Wetherby One Stop Centre. The Barleyfields Radio Project had received £1,000 well-being funding from the Area Committee in 2012/13.

At the end of the presentation, the Committee acknowledged the excellent work carried out by Wetherby Community Radio Ltd (tempo fm) within the community on the limited funds available and requested the East North East Area Leader to look at projects which could be shared with other areas of the city in conjunction with other Area Leaders in order to share expertise, knowledge and best practice.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That this Committee notes the spend to date and current balances for the 2012/13 financial year in accordance with the report now submitted.

c)  That the following projects be dealt with as follows:-

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader providing a summary of key activities and projects in the Outer North East area which supports the Area Committee business plan priorities. The report also provided an outline of how the priorities for 2012/13 would be prepared.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report providing a summary of key activities and projects in the Outer North East area which supported the Area Committee business plan priorities. The report also provided an outline of how the priorities for 2012/13 would be prepared.

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

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That approval be given to the arrangements for the preparation of the business plan priorities for 2013/14 in accordance with the report now submitted.

(Councillor A Castle and R Procter left the meeting at 6.55pm at the conclusion of this item and in accordance with paragraph 6.12 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, the meeting was no longer quorate)

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader on an update on Children’s Services issues raised at the last meeting.

Referring to Minute 25 of the meeting held on 10^th September 2012, the East North East Area Leader submitted a report on an update on Children’s Services issues.

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

• Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) – 23^rd August 2012 - Scrutiny Inquiry Private Care Homes (Children and Young People) – Report of the Director of Children’s Services (Appendix A refers)
• Briefing Note from the Chief Officer, Partnership Development Business Support, Children’s Services on the funding arrangements for clusters (Appendix B refers)

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

Arising from discussions of the report, Councillor A Lamb requested further details on how much funding was topsliced from the dedicated schools grant for EPOSS Schools and how much they gave back to the EPOSS clusters, in pounds rather than percentages.

In concluding discussions, it was agreed to invite the Director of Children’s Services to attend the next meeting in December 2012 to report this  information.

RECOMMENDED –

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

b)  That the East North East Area Leader be requested to invite the

    Director of Children’s Services to attend the next meeting in December

2012 to report on how much funding was topsliced from the dedicated schools grant for EPOSS Schools and how much they gave back to the EPOSS clusters, in pounds rather than percentages.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) on the Area Chairs Forum minutes held on 13^th July 2012.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) submitted a report on the Area Chairs Forum minutes held on 13^th July 2012.

Appended to the report was a copy of the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th July 2012 for the information/comment of the meeting.

Councillor A Lamb made reference to the Youth Service Review and raised his concerns that Elected Members had not been involved with the review process and of the fact that specific areas within North East Outer had been missed from the consultants review.

The East North East Area Leader provided the meeting with an update of the work undertaken to date by the Youth Service Review officer working group led by the Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Learning, Skills and Universal Services).

Following a brief discussion, the following courses of action were agreed:-

• to request the Chair to write to the Director of Children’s Services expressing this Committee’s concerns about the review process undertaken to date
• to invite the Director of Children’s Services, together with the Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Learning, Skills and Universal Services) and the Head of Service, Young People and Skills to attend the next meeting in December 2012 to discuss this issue in more detail

RECOMMENDED –

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 13^th July 2012.

c)  That the Chair, in consultation with the East North East Area Leader, be requested to write to the Director of Children’s Services expressing this Committee’s concerns about the review process undertaken to date.

d)  That the Director of Children’s Services, together with the Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Learning, Skills and Universal Services) and the Head of Service, Young People and Skills be invited to attend the next meeting in December 2012 to discuss this issue in more detail.

Monday 3^rd December 2012 at 5.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

Monday 3^rd December 2012 at 5.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(The meeting concluded at 7.05pm)