Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the September meeting of the South (Inner) Area Committee and invited all those present to introduce themselves.

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

CouncillorOgilvie declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 9 entitled, ‘Conservation Areas - Proposal for Area Wellbeing Funding’, due to his position as Chair of St. Matthew’s Community Centre Management Committee(Minute No. 21 refers).

Councillor Driver declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 12 entitled, ‘Political Nominations to ALMO Area Panels’, due to being a Director of Aire Valley Homes Leeds Board of Management (Minute No. 24 refers).

Further declarations of personal interest were made at later points in the meeting (Minute Nos. 21 and 23 refer).

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting

An apology for absence from the meeting was received on behalf of Councillor M Iqbal.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 25^th June 2007

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 25^th June 2007 be approved as a correct record.

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.

Middleton Arms

Enquires were made into whether there were any plans to develop a piece of land which was adjacent to the Middleton Arms public house. In response, the local residents who had raised the issue were invited to forward their contact details on to local Ward Councillors at the conclusion of the meeting, so that any information received by Members could be circulated to them in due course.

Hunslet Hall Road

A local resident raised concerns and sought further information regarding a piece of land which was located on Hunslet Hall Road. In response, a local Ward Councillor updated the Committee on the progress being made in relation to the land in question, and assured the local resident that if he forwarded his contact details to the local Ward Member, then he would be invited to attend the next meeting of the Hunslet Hall Road Residents’ Association, where he could discuss this issue further.

Lindale Close

Concerns were raised by a local resident which related to the persistent problem of motorcycles being ridden along a passage way to the rear of Lindale Close. In addition, the local resident enquired why objections had been received from Highways Services to a proposal to install a barrier which would prevent motorcycles from accessing the passageway. Concerns were also raised in relation to the maintenance of the grassed area and foliage which lined the route.

In response, Members acknowledged the concerns which had been raised by the local resident, and received assurances that these matters would be addressed by the relevant departments.

To consider a report from the Director of City Services which is presented in response to a request from this Area Committee for further information relating to the frequency of gully cleansing and the condition of the highways throughout Leeds

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation/10 mins discussion)

Further to Minute No. 6, 25^th June 2007, the Director of City Services submitted a report which presented the Area Committee with information relating to the frequency of gully cleansing and the condition of the highways throughout Leeds.

Steve Smith, Head of Environmental Services, and Steve Monks, Contracts Manager, City Services, were in attendance to present the report and answer Members’ questions.

Having received a summary of the key points within the report, a question and answer session ensued. The main areas of debate were as follows:-

·  The Committee proposed that appropriate officers accompanied local Councillors on a tour of each Ward within Inner South Leeds, in order to ensure that such officers were aware of those highways which were in greatest need of repair;

·  With regard to gully cleansing, Members identified several additional locations within Inner South Leeds which they felt were particularly at risk from flooding and needed to be placed upon the ‘wet spot‘ list, which would ensure that such gullies were serviced on a more frequent basis;

·  Concerns were raised in relation to the regularity that some gullies in the area were cleaned, and how less regular cleansing could lead to some gullies becoming a health hazard;

·  Members made reference to the levels of funding invested in gully cleansing throughout Leeds, and highlighted the need to ensure that the correct balance was struck between funding the maintenance of private roads in Leeds and providing an adequate gully cleansing service;

·  The Committee emphasised the need for those areas where there was a danger of properties being damaged by flooding to be prioritised;

·  Members made enquiries into the measures which were being taken to prevent flooding at new property developments. In response, the Committee was advised that such developments now benefited from greater levels of awareness and the long term planning procedures which were now in place.

In conclusion, the Chair advised members of the public present that specific concerns relating to highway maintenance and gully cleansing could be raised at local Community Forum meetings.

RESOLVED - That the report and information appended to the report be noted.

(Councillor Congreve left the meeting at 7.08 p.m., at the conclusion of this item)

To consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods which provides the Committee with information relating to Conservation Areas and recommends an approach towards Conservation Area Reviews

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation/10 mins discussion)

A report was submitted by the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods which provided the Committee with detailed information relating to Conservation Areas, and which recommended to Members an approach towards Conservation Area Reviews.

Members received an overview of the key issues detailed within the report from Richard Taylor, Conservation Team Leader, and noted that Executive Board had identified Conservation Area Reviews as one of a possible two ways to spend the additional £50,000.00 from General Fund Reserves which had been allocated to each Area Committee. Members were advised that of the six Conservation Areas located within Inner South Leeds, only one, at Stanks Hall, was not already being reviewed. The Committee also learned that due to the nature of the site, a Conservation Area Review of Stanks Hall would cost approximately £7,500.00.

Following an introduction to the report, a discussion then ensued. The main areas of debate were as follows:-

·  Members made enquiries into the expected timescales for undertaking such reviews, and how long the Committee had to spend the additional funding. In response, Members learned that the additional revenue from Executive Board had been allocated to the 2007/08 budget, but could potentially be rolled over to 2008/09;

·  The Committee acknowledged that Executive Board had recommended that the funding was allocated towards either Conservation Area Reviews or Residents’ Parking schemes. However, Members went on to  emphasise that it was their understanding that if an area was not affected by either of these issues, then the funding could be spent on other areas;

·  Members confirmed that they felt it appropriate for further discussions to take place between Ward Councillors, to determine how the additional funding should be spent, in order to maximise the local community’s benefit from the funding;

·  The Committee discussed the ways in which Stanks Hall could potentially be made more accessible to the public, in order to ensure that the local community benefited from the site. Members then emphasised the importance and significance of buildings such as Stanks Hall to the local community;

·  Members highlighted the positive conservation work which was currently being undertaken in Middleton Park.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That Ward Members give further consideration to the issues detailed within the report, with the subject of how to spend the additional £50,000.00 allocation from Executive Board being revisited by the Committee at a future meeting.

(Councillor E Nash declared a personal interest in relation to this item due to being a member of English Heritage)

To receive a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods which updates Members on both the revenue and capital elements of the Committee’s Wellbeing budget, provides a projected balance of the Wellbeing budget for 2007/8 and 2008/9, advises Members of the Small Grants approved since the last meeting and invites the Committee to determine the capital and revenue proposals, as detailed within the report

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation/10 mins discussion)

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report which updated Members on the Area Committee’s remaining revenue and capital Wellbeing budgets for 2007/08, provided a forecasted Wellbeing revenue budget for 2007/08 to 2008/09, an update on the Small Grant applications received since the last meeting, and invited Members to determine the capital and revenue proposals, in addition to a Small Grants proposal from the Normandy Veterans Association, which had been submitted to the meeting for consideration.

The Committee was also invited to approve a revision to the procedures for handling Small Grants, so that in future, Members had 7 days, rather than the current 14 days, to agree or disagree with the recommendations of Area Management on Small Grant applications.

Members highlighted the reduced participation rates of youth provision which had been experienced within South Leeds over the summer holidays, and stated that a report on this issue was to be drawn up by Youth Services which would investigate the reasons why there had been reduced levels of participation over the holiday period. Members then requested that once finalised, the report was submitted to the Committee for information, and proposed that the views of all relevant agencies working within Inner South Leeds were sought when compiling the report.

With regard to the Area Committee’s annual Wellbeing revenue budget, Members enquired whether in future this sum could be divided equally between the three Wards. In response, it was proposed that a report outlining all the potential options for splitting the Committee’s revenue budget between the three Wards was submitted to the next meeting for consideration.

RESOLVED –

(a). That the report and information appended to the report, which includes the Area Committee’s remaining revenue and capital Wellbeing budgets for 2007/08, a forecasted Wellbeing revenue budget for 2007/08 to 2008/09, and an update on the Small Grant applications received since the last meeting, be noted;

(b). That £6,000.00 revenue from the Wellbeing budget be added to the current ringfenced allocation towards the provision of Community Skips in the area;

(c). That having considered the additional information previously sought by the Committee, the Small Grants proposal for £947.82 from the Normandy Veterans Association entitled, ‘Memorial Plaque’, be approved;

(d). That the procedure for handling Small Grant proposals be revised so that in future, Members have 7 days, rather than the current 14 days, to agree or disagree with the recommendations of Area Management on Small Grant applications;

(e). That the Wellbeing proposal entitled, ‘William Gascoigne Centre – Outdoor Improvements for Mums and Tots Group’ for £10,000.00 capital, which was initially considered at the previous Area Committee meeting be approved, subject to the long term future of the building being clarified;

(f). That the following decisions be made in relation to the Wellbeing funding proposals which have been submitted for determination to this meeting:-

(i). ‘Personal Safety’ – West Yorkshire Police – 2007/08 revenue budget - £1,000.00 - Declined;

(ii). ‘Smartwater (Security  Making)’ – West Yorkshire Police – 2007/08  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods 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/15 mins discussion)

The Committee received a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods which detailed the range of activities currently taking place within the Inner South area of Leeds.

Members received brief updates on various matters detailed within the report including the evaluation of the ‘I Love South Leeds Festival!’, the draft pricing and lettings policy for Community Centres which had been delegated to the Area Comittee, summer school holidays activity publicity, Beeston and Holbeck PFI Scheme, the Local Enterprise and Growth Initiative (LEGI), the Regional Competitiveness and Economy Programme, and the appointment of an acting Senior Neighbourhood Warden.

The Committee received an update on the intensive clean up operations which had been undertaken over the summer within Inner South Leeds, and were invited to inform Area Management of any further locations which they deemed appropriate for future operations.

Members received an update on the progress which had been made by the Priority Neighbourhood Development Worker (PNDW), and were invited to approve a forward plan compiled by the PNDW for the work proposed to be undertaken throughout the period August 2007 to August 2008.

In response to Members’ enquiries into the extent to which Ward Members were consulted on the locations of Operation Champions, the Committee was advised that the locations were chosen in line with Police data, and that such initiatives, which were managed by Safer Leeds, involved a variety of agencies. The Area Manager then undertook to relay Members’ concerns to Safer Leeds, and it was proposed that in future, locations of all previous operations were listed within the Area Manager’s update report.

Having received proposals from St Luke’s Cares which related to the use of the Youth Bus during its downtime, a wide ranging discussion ensued. In conclusion, the Committee proposed to defer a decision on this matter, pending the issue being considered further by Members.

The Committee emphasised the importance of schemes such as LEGI and the Regional Competitiveness and Economy Programme, as they were key to ensuring sustained regeneration in the area, in addition to encouraging local people to return to work.

Having considered the report of the Chief Community Safety Officer concerning West Yorkshire Police Community Contact Points, which was appended to the report, Members were invited to forward any further suitable locations for community contact points to the South Leeds Area Manager, who would in turn relay all such proposals to the relevant Neighbourhood Policing Team. Members also discussed the provision of a local base for Police within the LS10 area, and requested that Area Management liaised with West Yorkshire Police on this issue. 

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That the actions contained within the forward plan of the Priority Neighbourhood Development Worker be approved;

(c). That a decision relating to the proposals submitted by St Luke’s Cares on the downtime use of the Youth Bus be deferred, subject to the issue being considered further by Members;

(d).  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To receive a report from the Strategic Landlord which requests the Area Committee to appoint two Ward Members, who are not part of the main ALMO Board, to the ALMO Inner South Area Panel

(Council Function)

(2.5 mins presentation/2.5 mins discussion)

Further to Minute No. 8, 25^th June 2007, Members received a report from the Strategic Landlord which requested the Committee to nominate two elected Members, who were not already Directors of the Aire Valley Homes Leeds Board of Management, to sit on the Inner South Leeds ALMO Area Panel.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That in respect of the Inner South Leeds ALMO Area Panel, the appointment of Councillors A Ogilvie and E Nash for the 2007/2008 municipal year, be approved.

Thursday, 1^st November 2007 at 6.30 p.m. – The Building Blocks Centre, Maud Avenue, Leeds, LS11 7DD

Thursday, 13^th December 2007 at 6.30 p.m. – St Matthew’s Community Centre, St Matthew’s Street, Leeds, LS11 9NR

Tuesday, 19^th February 2008 at 6.30 p.m. – Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR

Tuesday, 8^th April 2008 at 6.30 p.m. – Belle Isle Family Centre, Belle Isle Road, Leeds, LS10 3PG

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

(Venue – Building Blocks Centre, Maud Avenue, Leeds, LS11 7DD)

Thursday, 13^th December 2007 at 6.30 p.m.

(Venue – To be confirmed)

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

(Venue – Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR)

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

(Venue – Belle Isle Family Centre, Belle Isle Road, Leeds, LS10 3PG)

(The meeting concluded at 8.34 p.m.)