Agenda and minutes

  The Chair welcomed everyone to this extraordinary meeting of the East Outer Area Committee

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 were made

To receive any apologies for absence.

  Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Armitage and Councillor Mitchell

To consider the report of the Director of City Development outlining the public consultation period for the Core Strategy and seeking comments from the Area Committee on the document.

(Report attached)

Council Function

  Further to minute 78 of the East Outer Area Committee held on 20^th March 2012, where Members were concerned that Senior Officers from City Development were not in attendance to address some of the issues raised by the Area Committee, Members further considered a report by the Director of City Development on the public consultation period for the Core Strategy and seeking comments from the Area Committee on the document

  Attending for this item were:

  Mr P Crabtree – Chief Planning Officer

  Mr N Richardson – Director of Children’s Services

  Mr D Feeney – Head of Planning and Economic Policy

Ms V Buckland – Head of Service – Strategy and Commissioning – Children’s Services

Having previously considered the report, Members commented on the

following matters:

(During consideration of this matter, Councillor P Grahame joined the meeting)

School provision -

• that in the past, Education Leeds had closed schools but now there were insufficient places in some areas, particularly in the East Outer area for children to attend their local school; that many children were travelling some distance each day to school, with the associated costs of this and that the Core Strategy document was indicating new areas of housing with little information on how education needs would be met
• that the aim to create more employment in the city and in the Outer East area at Thorpe Park, was welcomed, but without local education provision families might not choose to move to the area
• that education provision was an important element when considering the sustainability of developments, with concerns being raised that this had not been addressed
• the impact on schools in Garforth if the identified provision in the Core Strategy for 2500 – 3000 new homes were built
• the difficulties in Colton of securing a place in a local school
• whether the figures being used this time were accurate in view of decisions which had been taken in the past based upon a different set of figures
• an understanding of why some schools might wish to expand, the new guidance around this and the need to ensure planning policies were robust and that school playing fields were protected

Green space and allotments –

• the need for Area Committees to be involved in identifying green space and allotments and the importance of providing public open space and playing fields for communities
• an acknowledgement of the work the Chair had undertaken in this area and the importance of this work and the involvement of the Area Committee continuing once Councillor Parker stepped down in May

Employment land/highways and transport -

• Cross Green and the difficulties of attracting industry into that area due to inadequate transport links
• the difficulties with public transport in the outer villages and that the relatively short distance between Garforth and Swillington took 2 hours by bus
• The existing road infrastructure in many areas of the Outer East which already experienced delays and queuing and the impact on this of further development without corresponding improvements
• The need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.