Agenda and minutes

OFFICERS:

Steve Carey – Chief Officer, Welfare and Benefits

Dave Longthorpe – East North East Homes

Steve Walker, Deputy Director - Children’s Services

Gillian Mayfield, Targeted Services Area Leader - Children’s Services

Sharon Hughes - East North East Area Support Team

Carole Clark – East North East Area Support Team

John Grieve – Governance Services

Although there were no formal late items, the Area Committee was in receipt of additional information in respect of Children’s Services update - Autumn 2013 (Minute No.24 refers)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A Castle and Councillor R Procter

There were no declarations of interest

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 previous meeting held on 8^th July 2013

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8^th July 2013 be accepted as a true and correct record

To consider a report by the Chief Officer, Welfare and Benefits which provides an update of the impact of the welfare reforms at both city-wide and ward-level basis and also provides information on arrangements that have been put in place to support tenants.

The report also details some of the preparations that are underway for Universal Credit with a focus on locality-based support that can be provided.  A key element of the preparations for Universal Credit and a response to the welfare reforms is a programme of work aimed at tackling the issue of payday and high cost lending in the city. The report provides information about this programme and seeks input from the Area Committee on how the programme of activity can work at a locality level. 

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer, Welfare and Benefits submitted a report which provided an update of the impact of the welfare reforms at both city-wide and ward-level basis. The report set out in detail the arrangements that had been put in place to support tenants.

Some of the preparations that were underway for Universal Credit were highlighted with a focus on locally based support that could be provided. It was reported that a key element of the preparations for Universal Credit and a response to the welfare reforms was a programme of work aimed at tackling the issue of payday and high cost lending in the city.

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

·  Under Occupancy Statistics – Appendix 1 referred

·  Local Welfare Scheme – Advice Updates – Appendix 2 referred

·  Ward Breakdown of Benefit Cap Cases – Appendix 3 referred

·  Local Public PC’s – Appendix 4 referred

·  Direct Payment Propositions – Appendix 5 referred

·  High Cost Lending update – Appendix 6 referred

·  ENEHL Visit Outcomes – Appendix 7 referred

·  Arrears on Under Occupiers by Ward – Appendix 8 referred

Steve Carey, Chief Officer, Welfare and Benefits presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

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

·  Social sector tenants having spare bedrooms would be subject to a reduction in housing benefit

·  Many households would see their Council Tax Support reduced by 19%

·  Preparations around Universal Credit

·  Issues around large families

·  Family expenditure and checks around disposable income

·  An influence on planning applications to create more affordable housing in particular one & two bedroom properties

·  Housing Association Tenants in arrears 

Councillor Procter asked if he could be supplied with a model for Child Tax Credits

The Chief Officer, Welfare and Benefits gave an undertaking to provide Councillor Procter with the requested information

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the information about the impact of the welfare reforms

(ii)  To note the information about the campaign against high cost lenders

(iii)  To note the work on-going in the East North East Area to mitigate the impact of the changes

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s Services which provides an update about local outcomes for children and young people. The report summarises performance at Area Committee level, with a broader acknowledgement of city level performance. Key issues for Children’s Services are highlighted, including Ofsted inspection, basic need, and child friendly city.

(Report attached)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which provided an update about local outcomes for children and young people.

The report summarised the performance at Area Committee level, with a broader acknowledgement of City level performance. Key issues for Children’s Services were highlighted including; Ofsted inspections, basic need and child friendly city.

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

·  Performance Data for Outer North East Area Committee

(Appendix 1 referred)

·  Children and young People’s Plan (CYPP) Obsessions – Graphs and Charts (Appendix 2 referred)

Steve Walker, Deputy Director Children’s Services together Gillian Mayfield, Targeted Service, Area Leader, Children’s Services presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

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

·  The Department were making positive progress in achieving a reduction in Looked After Children

·  Ofsted Inspections for Looked After Children

·  More children and young people were subject of a child protection plan

·  Noted the increase in the number of Common Assessment Framework (CAFs) submitted

·  Attendance levels in the Outer North East Area

·  Primary school pupils persistently absent

·  Funding for Clusters – No funding received for children who live outside the cluster  - Pupil Premium should follow the child

·  After school activities for children living a considerable distance from the school (Travel by school bus)

·  Inspections for Academies

·  Safeguarding for new Childrens Homes

Commenting on the Inspections for Academies, Councillor Robinson requested further details about the inspection mechanism.

Officers gave an undertaking to provide Councillor Robinson with the requested information

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the contents of the report be noted

(ii)  That the Director of Children’s Services be requested to investigate further the issue of funding to clusters, in particular, how funding for children living outside the cluster is allocated.

To consider a report by the Area Leader – East North East Leeds which  provides information on the relationship with Town and Parish Councils in the outer north east area in response to the safer and stronger communities scrutiny report.

(Report attached)

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report which described the relationship with Town and Parish Council’s in the Outer North East Area in response to the Scrutiny Board Review undertaking by the Safer and Stronger Communities Board at its meeting on 16^th May 2013.

Appended to the report was a copy of the Outer North East Parish and Town Council Forum – Terms of Reference 2013

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

It was reported that the East North East Area Support Team maintained regular contact with the 16 Town and Parish Councils within the Outer North East Area, all who were knowledgeable about the communities they serve. 

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the contents of the report be noted

(ii)  To endorse the revised terms of reference for the Outer North East Parish and Town Council Forum, as set out in Appendix A of the submitted report

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s Services which provides  proposals for spending the budget delegated to the Area Committee for universal youth services.

(Report attached) 

With reference to Minute No. 12 of the meeting held on 8^th July 2013 when the future direction of the youth Services and delegated functions to this Area Committee was first discussed.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a further report which provided an update on activity following the previous meeting and put forward proposals for spending the delegated budget for Universal Youth Services.

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

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

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

·  The mechanism for involving children and young people in the decision making process

RESOLVED –

(i)  To approve the establishment of a Children and Young People’s Area Committee Sub-Group to develop proposals for the spending of this budget. Membership to consist of Councillor A Lamb, Councillor D Cohen and Councillor M Robinson

(ii)  To approve the proposed arrangements and procedures for spending this budget as set out in section 3 of the submitted report

To consider a report by the East North East Area Leader which provides an update on the current position of the revenue Well-being Funding for the Area Committee and sets out applications made for consideration.

(Report attached)

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report which provided an update on the current position of the revenue wellbeing funding and set out details of applications seeking wellbeing funding.

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

·  Outer North East Area Committee Wellbeing Budget 2013-14 (Appendix A referred)

·  Wellbeing Budget 2013-14 ward breakdown (Appendix B referred)

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

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

Commenting on the Capital Receipts Incentive Scheme (Paragraph 3.4 referred) Councillor Cohen asked if he could be supplied with a working example of how the elements were broken down based on a sale value of £1M

Officer’s confirmed the requested information would be obtained and circulated to Members in due course

Councillor Cohen raised a query about Moor Allerton Sports and Social Club. He suggested the Area Committee had previously provided funding for a specific event, but it was questionable if the event had ever taken place.

Officers gave assurances that all necessary inquiries would be undertaken and if it was confirmed the event had not taken place, arrangements would be made to seek the return any Wellbeing monies.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the spend to date and current balances for the 2013/14

Financial year.

(ii)  That the following projects be dealt with as follows:

(iii)  To agree that the 2012/13 allocation of Capital Receipts Incentive Scheme funding allocation be split equally between the three wards

To consider a report by the East North East Area Leader which provides an update on the business plan priorities for 2013/14.

(Report attached)

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report which provided a summary of the key activities and projects in the Outer North East Area which support the Area Committee’s Business Plan priorities for 2013/14.

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

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted

To consider a report by the East North East Area Leader which provides the Area Committee with the minutes from the meeting of the Wetherby & Harewood Town and Parish Council Forum held on 11th July 2013.

(Minutes attached)

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report which provided an introduction to the minutes from the meeting of the Wetherby & Harewood Town and Parish Council Forum held on 11^th July 2013.

RESOLVED

(i)  That the minutes be noted

(ii)  That, where appropriate, to support the Parish Council Forum in resolving any issues raised.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Monday 28^th October 2013 at 5.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Monday, 28^th October 2013 at 5.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.