Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the March meeting of the South (Inner) 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 13 of the Members Code of Conduct

No declarations of interest were made at this point in the meeting, however a declaration of interest was made at a later point in the meeting (Minute No. 78 refers).

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting

Apologies for absence from the meeting were received on behalf of Councillors P Davey, A Ogilvie and the Lord Mayor, Councillor M Iqbal.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th February 2007

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 20^th February 2007 be approved as a correct record.

Progress on Regeneration and Development Issues Within South Leeds (Minute No. 65 refers)

Having sought further information on this issue, Members were advised that the matter would be considered further at a later point in the meeting, as part of the Area Manager’s report.

Learning Disability Day Centres Modernisation (Minute No. 67 refers)

The Committee was advised that some Members had been invited to attend a further briefing on this issue, and that any findings from such a briefing would be reported back to the Area Committee in due course.

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.

(10 mins discussion)

In accordance with paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a period of up to ten minutes for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.

Raising of Curbs at Bus Stops

A representative of the local Tenants and Residents Association referred to the lack of progress which had been made throughout Inner South Leeds in relation to a city wide initiative to raise curbs adjacent to bus stops. Having asked which department would be the most appropriate to direct concerns, both on this issue and on the provision of road markings to, the South Leeds Area Manager undertook to pursue such matters further.

The Condition of Highways throughout Leeds

A local resident raised concerns over the general condition of highways throughout the area. Having made reference to problems which related to drainage and pot holes, the resident enquired what action could be taken to address such issues.

Following a suggestion to receive an update on the condition of highways in the area at the next meeting of the Committee as part of the Area Manager’s Report, it was proposed that a representative from Highways Services was invited to a future meeting of the Area Committee in order to discuss such issues in more detail.

To receive a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which provides a review of two projects (Mobile Youth Provision and Priority Neighbourhood Worker) which have been commissioned by the Area Committee and invites Members to determine the next steps for them

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation/10 mins discussion)

A report was submitted on behalf of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which provided Members with a review of two initiatives, namely Mobile Youth Provision and the Priority Neighbourhood Development Worker, which had previously been commissioned by the Area Committee. As the contracts for the two projects were due to an end in August 2007 and July 2007 respectively, the Committee was asked to determine the next steps for both initiatives.

Having received a brief overview of the performance and achievements of the Mobile Youth Provision to date, a question and answer session ensued. The main points raised were as follows:-

·  Having discussed the ways in which the provision intended to develop relationships with other agencies throughout the area, Members emphasised the need to further develop the provision’s collaboration with the Youth Service;

·  Members highlighted the need for the initiative to focus its provision in areas where there was no static youth provision available, as originally intended;

·  The need to ensure that a consistent schedule of provision was established over a period of time, so that a solid relationship with young people in the area could be developed;

·  The Committee emphasised the need for Members to be aware of the vehicle’s location at all times, so that potential users could be signposted to the provision, and highlighted the need to ensure that a more effective dialogue was established between Ward Members and those managing the initiative;

·  Members discussed the staffing issues relating to the initiative and acknowledged the difficulties of recruiting staff to certain working patterns;

·  Members proposed that further discussions relating to the title of the Mobile Youth Provision would be undertaken in due course;

·  The length of time spent in each venue and the need to ensure that the sessions were long enough in duration to enable the service to be maximised;

·  The need to ensure that the provision’s schedule was monitored in a more stringent way by the Area Management Team;

·  Members discussed the proposals which had been set out for future provision, sought clarification on the number of sessions which were being provided by the service per week, and requested further information on the provision’s schedule of activities and the attendance levels being achieved for each session;

·  The need to ensure that appropriate publicity was being circulated about the provision’s activities, prior to each session taking place.

A brief presentation was then made by the Priority Neighbourhood Development Worker on the progress he had made to date. Having received several comments from members of the local community which related to the positive work undertaken, Members emphasised the need to ensure that the work programme of the Priority Neighbourhood Development Worker did not become too wide ranging.

RESOLVED –

(a). That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b). That Members’ comments relating to the Priority Neighbourhood Development Worker post and the Mobile Youth Provision be noted;

(c). That the Area Committee’s Priority Neighbourhood Development Worker post be extended for a further 12  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

To consider a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which updates Members on both the capital and revenue elements of the Area Committee’s Wellbeing Budget and advises Members on the current position of the Small Grants budget

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation/10 mins discussion)

The Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing submitted a report which updated Members on the current position of both the capital and revenue elements of the Area Committee’s Wellbeing budget, detailed a projected revenue balance for 2007/08 and summarised the Small Grant applications which had been received since the last meeting.

With regard to the Small Grants application entitled, ‘Future Roots’, which had been submitted by the Youth Service and Leeds Racial Harassment Project, Members stated that at the February 2007 meeting the Area Committee had agreed to determine this proposal via the Small Grants process, and confirmed that £1,000.00 had been agreed to be allocated to this project rather than the sum of £500.00, as Members had been inadvertently advised as part of the internal Small Grants approval process.

Members raised concerns over the accessibility of Small Grants funding for certain community groups, with particular reference being made to sports clubs. In response, Members discussed the potentially high volume of applications which a publicity campaign for such funding could create, and made reference to the ways in which a more prioritised and equitable system could be established.

The Committee then emphasised the need to ensure that the Area Committee received greater recognition for the financial support it provided.

RESOLVED –

(a). That the report and information appended to the report, including the current position of the Area Committee’s revenue and capital Wellbeing budgets, particularly in relation to the projected remaining revenue balance for 2007/08 of £28,237.00, be noted;

(b). That the Small Grant proposals which have been approved since the last meeting of the Area Committee, be noted.

(c) That £1,000.00 (not £500.00 as previously advised) be allocated from the Area Committee’s Small Grants budget to the Youth Service and Leeds Racial Harassment Project for the proposal entitled, ‘Future Roots’.

To consider a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which provides Members with details of the range of activities currently taking place within the Inner South area of Leeds

(Executive Function)

(10 mins presentation - including 5 mins presentation for ‘I Love South Leeds’/10 mins discussion)

The Committee received a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which provided Members with details of the range of activities currently taking place within the Inner South area of Leeds.

In relation to the work being undertaken by the District Partnership’s Health and Wellbeing Sub Group, Members views were sought on the possibility of the Area Committee requiring organisations in receipt of Wellbeing funding to use an approved logo to promote a smoking cessation message.

Further to Minute No. 58, 14^th December 2006, when the Area Committee agreed to allocate the remaining £27,967.00 from the initial binyard improvement scheme to a further phase of binyard improvements, Members discussed several potential locations for the next phase of the scheme.

With regard to the Community and City Pride Awards, Members noted the lack of representatives from Inner South Leeds at last year’s awards and discussed the ways in which the number of nominations submitted from Inner South Leeds for the 2007 awards could be increased.

Having received a brief overview of the issues surrounding subsidised swimming at South Leeds Sports Centre, Members discussed the usage rates for the centre, the methods which could be used to increase such rates, in addition to the ways in which the centre’s viability would be monitored and judged. It was then proposed that Members could be consulted further on the ways in which community use of the centre could be encouraged.

The Committee then underlined the need to ensure that other sports facilities in the area were safeguarded and discussed the accessibility of such facilities for the local community. Having emphasised the importance of adequate transportation links to and from sports facilities in the area, especially when considering the focus being placed upon the Extended Schools agenda, Members requested that further information on the provision of public transportation links to and from such facilities in Inner South Leeds were submitted to Members for information.

Having received a brief update on the preparations being made for the ‘I Love South Leeds Festival’, the Festival Co-ordinator circulated a revised draft programme outline and festival logo. Members’ views were then sought on the venue for the final event and having discussed several alternatives, which included South Leeds Stadium and South Leeds Sports Centre, it was proposed that further consultation with Members would be undertaken on this issue.

Further to Minute No. 70, 20^th February 2007, when the Committee had sought further information on the work of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) in the area, Members were advised that as the LEGI team was currently seeking to focus upon the establishment of the initiative and promoting the initial phase of delivery, it was proposed that representatives of LEGI could be invited to the first meeting of the new Municipal Year, in order to update Members on the progress which had been made by the initiative.

Having sought nominations for Ward based representatives on the Committee’s Community Centres Sub Group, Members proposed that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

To receive a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which invites Members to approve the proposed final Area Delivery Plan and Action Plan, as appended to the report

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation/10 mins discussion)

Further to Minute No. 68, 20^th February 2007, Members received a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which sought the Area Committee’s approval of the draft Area Delivery Plan (ADP) and Action Plan for 2007/08, as appended to the report.

Members noted that the previously agreed main headings and key thematic priorities of the ADP, the closer alignment with Leeds’ Local Area Agreement (LAA), in addition to comments previously made by Members had all been incorporated into the final draft version of the 2007/08 ADP for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED –

(a). That the report and information appended to the report, be noted;

(b). That the proposed final Area Delivery Plan for 2007/08, which includes the proposed Action Plan, be approved.

To consider a report from the Director of Children’s Services

The Committee received a report from the Director of Children’s Services which sought Members’ support and input into the ongoing review of the Leeds Children and Young People’s  Plan (CYPP).

Having received a brief overview of the report from the EiC (Excellence in Cities) Director, Members discussed the wide range of issues and challenges currently faced by children and young people residing in the area, and emphasised the need for such issues to be prioritised and challenged in a ‘wrap around’ and co-ordinated way. Members then discussed the timescales and process which had been established for the recruitment of the five Locality Enablers.

The Committee emphasised the need to ensure that duplication in this field was avoided wherever possible, so that an effective mechanism could be established to fully address the variety of issues currently faced by young people in Inner South Leeds today.

RESOLVED –

(a). That the report and information appended to the report, be noted;

(b). That Members’ comments relating to the Children and Young People’s Plan Review 2007, be noted.

To receive a report from the Chief Democratic Services Officer which invites Members to give consideration to agreeing the dates and times of their Area Committee meetings for the 2007/08 Municipal Year

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation/5 mins discussion)

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report which invited Members to give consideration to agreeing the dates, times and venues of the South (Inner) Area Committee meetings for the 2007/2008 Municipal Year.

The Committee emphasised that the Civic Hall was the local venue for a significant number of people residing in and around the city centre, and it was therefore proposed that the Civic Hall was used as a venue for one meeting of the South (Inner) Area Committee during the 2007/08 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED –

That the following meeting dates and times be approved for the 2007/2008 Municipal Year (venues to be confirmed):

Monday, 25^th June 2007 at 6.30 p.m.

Tuesday, 18^th September 2007 at 6.30 p.m.

Thursday, 1^st November 2007 at 6.30 p.m.

Thursday, 13^th December 207 at 6.30 p.m.

Tuesday, 19^th February 2008 at 6.30 p.m.

Tuesday, 8^th April 2008 at 6.30 p.m.

(The meeting concluded at 8.55 p.m.)