Agenda and minutes

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

It was noted that the quorum of an Area Committee was satisfied when at least one third of the Elected Members, and at least one Elected Member from each ward within the areas was present. It was further noted that this meeting was inquorate (due to the non-attendance of the Harewood Ward Councillors) and therefore the Committee was unable to make any formal decisions.

For the record, notes of the meeting were detailed below and it was noted that a copy would be submitted to the next meeting on 18^th March 2013 for approval as a correct record and also to formally ratify the recommendations which had been made.

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

·  A copy of remaining balances for the small grants and skips pots, plus the other pots which were set aside i.e. Treetops Community Centre and Community Engagement/Localism (Appendix 2 refers)(Agenda Item 13)(Minute 72 refers)

·  A copy of a late Wellbeing application regarding a request for a new tennis court for Alwoodley Tennis Club (Agenda Item 13)(Minute 72 refers)

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors A Castle, P Harrand, M Robinson and R Procter.

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

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 3^rd December 2012.

RECOMMENDED – That consideration of the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd December 2013 be deferred until 18^th March 2013 meeting.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services updating the meeting on various issues previously discussed at the Area Committee.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report updating the meeting on various Children’s Services issues previously discussed at the Area Committee.

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

•  Briefing Note on Cluster Funding 2011/12 and 2012/13 (Appendix A refers)

•  Youth Service Review Update – Excerpt from Area Chair’s minutes 13^th July 2012 (Appendix B refers)

•  Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) – Youth Services – Working Group meeting held on 18^th October 2012 (Appendix C refers)

•  Children’s Services Finance team – Top sliced funding from the dedicated schools grant for EPOS schools and how much was then given to EPOS clusters (Appendix D refers)

•  Cluster funding options 2013/14 to 2015/16 (Appendix E refers)

Mr Ken Morton, Head of Service, Young People and Skills, Children’s Services was in attendance and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

Prior to discussing the issue, Members raised their concerns that the Director of Children’s Services was not in attendance to discuss the EPOS Cluster funding issue raised at the previous meeting, and the Youth Service Review arising from a discussion prompted by the Area Chair’s minutes at the October Area Committee.

Councillor J Procter put forward a proposal to convene a Special Meeting of the Area Committee prior to the next meeting in March to discuss this issue in detail with the Director of Children’s Services in attendance.  The Committee were of the opinion that this was a very important issue for Ward Members and that an explanation of the decision making process was now required.

The proposal was agreed and Mr S Robinson agreed to make the necessary arrangements.

At the request of the Chair, Mr K Morton reported on the latest developments in relation to cluster funding which had been discussed at a recent meeting of the Schools Forum. Members noted that the Schools Forum had looked at options which included a best fit with the existing formula and less targeted options which were put forward in light of changes to the overall balance of targeted funding going to schools via the pupil premium. The School Forum had voted 21 to 1 in favour of the option which was the best fit to the existing formula. At a previous meeting the School Forum had made the decision to retain the devolved funding for clusters, a decision which was within its remit.

Mr K Morton then updated the meeting on the Youth Service Review and the budgetary proposals. The meeting noted that a report on this issue would be submitted to the Executive Board in March 2013 detailing various options around re–designing the service, the need for a more local direction through Area Committees and services not necessarily delivered by the Council with a commissioning team to be established to support Elected Members with the re-design. Proposals to date envisaged an allocation to Area Committees to stimulate and leverage with partners a local Breeze activities programme starting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

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)

·  Power point presentation slides – Transforming health and adult social care in Leeds – Next Steps for Neighbouring Teams (Appendix 4 refers)

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ comments and queries:-

-  Ms Megan Rowlands, Leeds Community Healthcare

-  Ms Lucy Jackson, Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group

-  Ms Liz Ward Adult Social Care

Discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

Members related to their own personal circumstances involving family members and neighbours and raised their concerns that the service was failing and that their experience had been that there was a zero procedure for delivering care and support for those people who had been discharged from hospital. It was also noted that there had been a phased approach across the city to starting to work in a new way with the integrated health and social care team starting to be implemented for the Harewood and Wetherby wards in December 2012, whereas Alwoodley ward was covered by the Meanwood based team who have been co located since March 2012.

Clarification was also sought on the impact of Leeds being a “dementia friendly” city and the need for an acceptable protocol for a single point of contact i.e. Social Workers etc when visiting people’s homes, especially the elderly and vulnerable people.

RECOMMENDED –

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

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.

(Councillor D Cohen left the meeting at 6.05pm during discussions of the above item)

To consider a report of the Chief Officer of Parks and Countryside providing the meeting with an area profile of key assets, information on park usage and a customer based perspective of the quality of the assets and services provided.

The Chief Officer of Parks and Countryside submitted a report providing the meeting with an area profile of key assets, information on park usage and a customer based perspective of the quality of the assets and services provided.

Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Detailed residents survey information’ (Appendix 1 refers) for the information/comment of the meeting.

Ms Joanne Clough, Trading and Operational Manager, Parks and Countryside was in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

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

·  Clarification of the action proposed action in relation to Cranmer Bank which had not met the required standard

·  Clarification of the location of Scotland Wood

·  Clarification as to the ownership of Adel Woods and why Adel Woods was not included in the list of assets within the report

(The Trading and Operational Manager responded and agree to look into the ownership issue with a report on progress to the East North East Area Leader)

RECOMMENDED-

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

b)  That the Chief Officer of Parks and Countryside be requested to re-address Scotland Wood and Cranmer Bank as a priority.

c)  That Members of the Area Committee be requested to e mail their priorities to the Chief Officer of Parks and Countryside for consideration.

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 submitted a 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:-

·  Clarification of the Social Sector Size criteria and cover shortfall from income/benefits as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report

·  Clarification if there were any other income streams available in relation to those families who had more bedrooms than they needed but wanted to stay at the property

·  Clarification of the protocol and follow action undertaken in relation to tenants who were abusing the system or had no ability to pay

·  Clarification of the Council’s flexibility in relation to the benefits around changes to welfare

·  Clarification of the Council tax benefit in relation to withdrawal favours

(The Chief Executive responded and agreed to follow up this issue with a report back on the outline to the East North East Area Leader)

·  To note the suggestion from Councillor M Robinson to refer this report to the Town and Parish Forums within the North East Outer ward

RECOMMENDED-

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

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 consider a report of the East North East Area Leader setting out the draft priorities for the Area Committee business plan for 2013/14 with details of how the priorities and associated actions are prepared.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report setting out the draft priorities for the Area Committee business plan for 2013/14 with details of how the priorities and associated actions were prepared.

Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Outer North East Area Committee – Draft Priorities 2013’ (Appendix A refers) for the information/comment of the meeting.

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

Discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

RECOMMENDED-

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

b)  That approval be given to the Area Committee priorities for 2013/14 in accordance with the report now submitted.

c)  That the East North East Area Leader be requested to add Bramham Sports pavilion to the list of priorities.

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 the following document for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Outer North East Area Committee Well-Being Budget 2012-13 (Appendix 1 refers)

Also circulated, as supplementary information, were copies of the following documents:-

·  Remaining balances for the small grants and skips pots, plus the other pots which were set aside i.e. Treetops Community Centre and Community Engagement/Localism (Appendix 2 refers)

·  Copy of a late Wellbeing application regarding a new tennis court at Alwoodley Tennis Club.

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

Discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

RECOMMENDED –

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

b)  That consideration of the report be deferred until the 18^th March 2013 meeting.

c)  That, subject the approval of the Alwoodley Ward Councillors, approval be given to funding £6,000 to Alwoodley Tennis Club for a new tennis court.

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.

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 2^nd November 2012.

Monday 18^th March 2013 at 6.00pm at Treetops Community Centre, Shadwell Lane, Leeds 17.

Monday 18^th March 2013 at 6.00pm at Treetops Community Centre, Shadwell Lane, Leeds 17.

(The meeting concluded at 7.20pm)