Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the March meeting of East (Outer) Area Committee held in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

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

Apologise for absence were received on behalf of Councillors J Cummins and M Lyons.

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 12^th February 2013.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th February 2013 be confirmed as a correct record.

a)  Summary of Key Work (Minute 58 a) refers

Peter Mudge, South East Area Improvement Officer informed the meeting that the general issue of ‘Champions’ would be discussed at today’s meeting under the item ‘Development of Area Lead Role’ (Minute 72 refers).

b)  Summary of Key Work (Minute 59 refers)

Peter Mudge, South East Area Improvement Officer referred to the clusters issue and read out the cluster support arrangements within each of the four wards for the information/comment of the meeting.

Members of the Area Committee welcomed this information, but also requested the following:-

-  Copies of the minutes of Cluster meetings should be available to Ward Members

-  Details of the financial aspects of the Clusters and whether they working effectively

Shaid Mahmood, South East Area Leader responded and agreed to co-ordinate this issue and to request the South East Area Improvement Officer to co-ordinate briefings with Members in conjunction with colleagues from Children’s Services.

To consider a report of the South East Area Leader providing information on priority work carried out in the area over recent weeks and providing the minutes relating to partnership and sub-group meetings.

An update on the Thorpe Business Park will be provided at the meeting.

The draft Local Employment Document (Appendix 2 refers) is still ‘work in progress’ and will continue to evolve and be populated by additional figures over the next couple of months.

The South East Area Leader submitted a report providing information on priority work carried out in the area over recent weeks and on the minutes relating to partnership and sub-group meetings.

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

• Kippax Traders Association - Minutes of a Meeting held on 6^th February 2013 (Appendix 1 refers)
• ARUP – Thorpe Park – Draft Local Employment Agreement (Appendix 2 refers)
• Area Chairs Forum - Minutes of a Meeting held on 9^th January 2013 (Appendix 3 refers)
• Outer East Environmental sub-group – Minutes of a Meeting held on 28^th February 2013 (Appendix 4 refers)
• East North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership – Minutes of a Meeting held on 31^st January 2013 (Appendix 5 refers)
• South East Leeds Health and Wellbeing Partnership – Minutes of a Meeting held on 24^th January 2013 (Appendix 6 refers)

Peter Mudge, South East Area Improvement Officer presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

Discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

Councillor K Wakefield referred to the Window of Opportunity project which had been launched earlier in the day at Cross Gates shopping centre. He welcomed this initiative and reassured Members that the future of shopping developments within the area remained important and commented that the Cross Gates Shopping Centre had a very strong community base and cultural heritage.

Councillor Wakefield raised his concerns about the lack of progress in relation to a Compulsory Purchase Order in Kippax High Street. It was noted that his office had prepared a letter requesting that the matter be resolved as a quickly as possible.

Martin Hackett, Area Improvement Manager, South East Leeds reported that this particular site was being looked into by the Director of City Development. He agreed to follow up this issue with a report back on progress at the next meeting in July 2013.

The Chair then welcomed representatives from Scarborough Developments Group and who were attending the meeting to report on progress on the planning application for a mix of uses on the underdeveloped land at Thorpe Park Business Park, junction 46 of the M1, in Leeds 15.

It was reported by the South East Area Improvement Officer that planning officers had conveyed their apologies for this item.

The Committee noted that there was a delay on the transport assessment issue since the last meeting and that Scarborough Developments Group were committed to examining the options. It was reported that this delay would have an impact on the overall timescale regarding the rail bridge and would also reduce the retail/non-food content.

Specific reference was made to the document entitled ‘Thorpe Park – Draft Local Employment Agreement’ (Appendix 2 refers) which was work in progress.

Detailed information was also provided by Scarborough Developments Group on the latest planning issues. Members noted the following specific information:-

-  Pending agreement to be signed regarding a third of the railway line

-  The focus  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services updating the meeting on Children’s Services developments.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report updating the meeting on Children’s Services developments.

The report provided a summary of performance at Area Committee level with a broader summary of city level performance and built on previous reports with additional local context and tracking of local indicators.

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

-  Steve Walker, Deputy Director, Safeguarding, Specialist and Targeted Services, Children’s Services

-  Mary Armitage, Integrated Processes, Head of Service, Children’s Services

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

·  Performance Data for Outer East Area Committee (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Individual School Foundation Stage and Key Stage results 2012 (Appendix 2 refers)

·  Individual School Key Stage 4 Results 2012 (Appendix 3 refers)

·  Clusters – Member Leads; Cluster Chairs; Cluster Managers; LAPs

  (Appendix 4 refers)

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That this Committee welcomes the continued progress in relation to Children’s Services issues and encourages a sustainable direction with links into other agencies.

c)  That this Committee welcomes the proposal, in principle, to provide financial support to young people wanting to access the National Citizen Service programme who were unable to self-fund and that the South East Area Leader be requested to investigate this issue further with a report back on progress.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive Customer Access and Performance developing initial proposals to Area Committees for their input, shaping and feedback with a view to introducing the revised Area Lead roles in the new municipal year.

The Assistant Chief Executive Customer Access and Performance submitted a report developing initial proposals to Area Committees for their input, shaping and feedback with a view to introducing the revised Area Lead roles in the new municipal year.

Heather Pinches, Executive Officer, Performance Management, Customer Access and Performance was in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

Members were asked to comment on the following specific issues:-

·  was the area lead role as described right? – what changes / additions / amendments might be needed?  What might need to go into the more detailed job description?

·  was the list of core functional areas that each Area Committee should appoint to right?

·  do the broad elements of training/support make sense or were there gaps? – what role was there for peer support?

·  any other comments / suggestions particular around the key issues highlighted?

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

·  Clarification of the initial proposals contained within the report

·  The need for ‘Champions’ and the Area Lead Role to be supported as the role develops

·  The Area Lead role provided a development opportunity for new Members to have a role and work with services and partners

·  The need for the work of the Area Lead to give profile and publicity i.e. promoting key issues arising from the Environmental Sub Group etc

The Executive Officer, Customer Access and Performance responded and agreed to feed back the above comments into the consultation process.

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That the Area Committee supports the development of Area Lead roles as outlined in the report now submitted.

(Councillor M Dobson left the meeting at 5.00pm at the conclusion of this item)

To consider a report of the South Leeds Area Leader presenting the 2012/13 Area Committee Business Plan which includes priorities and actions for the year.

The South Leeds Area Leader submitted a report presenting the 2012/13 Area Committee Business Plan which included priorities and actions for the year.

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

Martin Hackett, Area Improvement Manager, South East Leeds presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

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

·  The plan for next year needs to incorporate those key issues which were coming forward such as the youth service delegation, area working review, employment and skills, neighbourhood planning, highways maintenance etc and to have a mechanism in place to support these important changes

·  The need for the plan to take serious note of the changes in the budget and to include details of what was in the pot

Shaid Mahmood, South East Area Leader responded and confirmed that officers were addressing what Members wanted in the plan and were mindful of the delegations. Issues regarding Service Planning and Employment and Skills would be included in the document and the process of engaging Members would also be addressed to assist them in focusing in this area.

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That this Committee notes the plan for 2012/13 in accordance with the report now submitted.

c)  That a report on the new priorities for 2013/14 be submitted to the next Area Committee meeting in July 2013.

To consider a report of the South East Area Leader updating Members on the Well Being Budget for Outer East in 2012/13; including how the Area Committee decided to allocate the funds against specific work streams and seeking approval for new project work.

The South East Area Leader submitted a report updating Members on the Well Being Budget for Outer East in 2012/13; including how the Area Committee decided to allocate the funds against specific work streams and seeking approval for new project work.

Appended to the report was a copy of the following document for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Outer East small grant position as at 6^th March  2013 (Appendix 1 refers)

Martin Hackett, Area Improvement Manager, South East Leeds presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That the position of the Well Being Budget be noted.

c)  That the Small Grants approved to date be noted.

d)  That this Committee notes the position regarding ‘community payback’.

e)  That approval be given to fund £5,000 for Temple Newsam target hardening in accordance with the report now submitted.

f)  That approval be given to funding £5,000 for Garforth Arts Festival in accordance with the report now submitted.

To consider a report of the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central

Services) seeking the Area Committee’s formal approval of a meeting

schedule for the 2013/2014 municipal year.

In addition, Members are requested to give consideration as to whether they

wish to continue with the Committee’s current meeting venue arrangements

or whether they would like to request any amendments to such

arrangements.

The Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) submitted a report

seeking the Area Committee’s formal approval of a meeting schedule for the

2013/2014 municipal year.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That approval be given to the following dates as outlined in Section 3.1 of the report:-

·  2^nd July 2013

·  10^th September 2013

·  15^th October 2013

·  10^th December 2013

·  11^th February 2014

·  18^th March 2014

N.B. All meetings to commence at 4.00pm

c)  That the meeting venues continue to alternate between the four wards

and the Civic Hall.

Wednesday 15^th May 2013 at 4.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds (t/c)

(N.B. was originally Monday 13^th May 2013 at 4.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds)

Wednesday 15^th May 2013 at 4.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(The meeting concluded at 5.20pm)