Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the February 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 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

Councillor Driver declared a personal and prejudicial interest in relation to agenda item 11, Consultation on Expansion of Clapgate and Windmill Primary Schools, in his capacity as a Governor at Windmill Primary School and Chair of Windmill Children’s Centre Management Committee.  (Minute No. 56 refers)

Councillor Iqbal declared a personal and prejudicial interest in relation to agenda item 11, Consultation on Expansion of Clapgate and Windmill Primary Schools, in his capacity as Governor at Low Road Primary School and Windmill Primary School.  (Minute No. 56 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors Davey and Nash.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th November 2009.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th November 2009 be confirmed 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 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.

A local resident raised concern about vehicles parking on Princes Street and Holbeck Moor Road.  It was reported that the Highways Department had agreed to look into the issue during the 2009/10 financial year.

Another local resident expressed concern about noise disturbance at Holbeck Towers, due to demolition work, especially at weekends when restrictions were supposed to be in place.  In addition, internal alarms in the Towers were constantly going off.  One local resident requested that police bollards be installed on one side of Brown Lane East on match days, once the demolition work was complete.  Area Management agreed to look into these issues.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Children’s Services providing an overview of Children Services performance data.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which provided the Area Committee with an overview of Children’s Services performance data.

Appended to the report was the following information:

-  Area Performance Reporting – Area Committee Cycle January / February 2009-10;

-  Annex 1 – NEET and Not Known Breakdown – December 2009 Figures;

-  Annex 2 – Teenage Pregnancy;

-  Annex 3 – Children Young People Social Care (CYPSC) Referrals

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Ken Morton, Locality Enabler, Children’s Services, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• The effect of changes to the Ofsted framework.
• The high proportion of young people from the inner south area of Leeds attending schools in the outer south area and the need for this to be reflected in the statistics.
• Concern about the level of social care referrals in Beeston and Holbeck.
• The need to know more about average caseloads and the outcome of social care referrals.
• Concern about the high proportion of ‘not knowns’ in City and Hunslet.
• Integrating actions into the Area Delivery Plan.

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

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Children’s Services  providing an overview of youth service activity across the inner south area.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which provided an overview of youth service activity across the inner south area of Leeds.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Inner South Youth Service Budget and Team Structure

-  Inner South Youth Service Performance (Covering the period April 2009 – January 2010)

-  Ward Programmes (January 2010).

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Satbinder Soor, Senior Youth Officer, Children’s Services, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:

• The positive effect of youth workers in Middleton.
• The need to establish a process for monitoring projects.
• The need for further information about the number of young people attending youth services activities.  (It was agreed to provide this information at Ward Member briefings.)

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the proposed approach to delivering future services for young people, including potential joint commissioning with the Area Committee, be approved.

To receive and consider a report from the New Generation Transport (NGT) Team outlining progress on the development of the New Generation Transport scheme and providing Members with feedback from the summer consultation process and recent Major Scheme Business Case submission. 

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

The New Generation Transport Team submitted a report which outlined progress on the development of the New Generation Transport Scheme and provided Members with feedback on the summer consultation process and recent Major Scheme Business Case submission.

Appended to the report were the proposed routes being developed which incorporated a central loop around the city centre and three radial routes as follows:

-  North Leeds through Headingley along the A660 to a park and ride site at Bodington

-  South Leeds through Hunslet to a Park and Ride site at Stourton

-  East Leeds to St James’s Hospital.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Francis Linley, NGT Co-ordinator, and Louise Porter, NGT Team, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• Confirmation that 200 people had attended the consultation event at South Leeds Exhibition Centre.  3,000 information packs had been distributed and 60 people had completed a questionnaire.
• Concern about the effect of the scheme on bus services.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That a further information briefing be provided to the Area Committee in Autumn 2010.

To receive and consider a report from the Chief Executive, Education Leeds, presenting the Area Committee with the consultation document on proposals for the expansion of Clapgate and Windmill Primary Schools.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

The Chief Executive, Education Leeds, submitted a report which presented the Area Committee with the consultation document on proposals for the expansion of Clapgate and Windmill Primary Schools.

Lesley Savage, Senior Planning and Bids Manager, presented the report.

The Area Committee was advised that the need for expansion was driven by an increase in birth rates and housing development in the area.

RESOLVED – That the report and consultation document noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods proposing a set of priority neighbourhoods, incorporating the current Neighbourhood Improvement Plan (NIP) areas already identified by the area committee, to achieve greater improvements in local service delivery by maximising the scope for further involvement and greater effectiveness of partnership working.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the priority neighbourhoods proposed for Inner South Leeds be approved; and

(c)  That the Area Committee receives further information at the March meeting to consider the role of a dedicated Neighbourhood Manager to focus on the priority neighbourhoods.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report which proposed a set of priority neighbourhoods , incorporating the current Neighbourhood Improvement Plan (NIP) areas already identified by the area committee to achieve greater improvements in local service delivery by maximising the scope for further involvement and greater effectiveness of partnership working.

Maps and a statistical analysis of each priority neighbourhood were appended to the report for Members’ information.

Keith Lander, Acting Area Manager, presented the report.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the priority neighbourhoods proposed for Inner South Leeds be approved; and

(c)  That the Area Committee receives further information at the March meeting to consider the role of a dedicated Neighbourhood Manager to focus on the priority neighbourhoods.

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Manager presenting details of proposed projects and activities to deliver local actions relating to the agreed themes and outcomes of the Area Delivery Plan (ADP).

(Executive Function)

(2.5 mins presentation / 2.5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the following decisions be made in relation to grant applications for well-being funds: 

• Belle Isle Gala – £4,000 (2009/10 Revenue Budget) – Approved
• Litterbins – Cardinals – £800 (2009/10 Capital Budget) – Approved.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report which

contained details of proposed projects and activities to deliver local actions relating to the agreed themes and outcomes of the Area Delivery Plan (ADP).

The Area Committee noted the following applications* which had been approved under delegated powers as follows:

• Central Leeds Cricket Club – Development of a youth cricket club –  £1,930 (2009/10 Revenue Budget)
• HunsletParkside Amateur Rugby League Club – Community Mini-Bus – £8,000 (2009/10 Capital Budget)
• Clarkesfield Allotments – Disabled toilet – £1,793 (2009/10 Capital Budget)

* The meeting to approve these applications was cancelled due to severe weather.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the following decisions be made in relation to grant applications for well-being funds: 

• Belle Isle Gala – £4,000 (2009/10 Revenue Budget) – Approved
• Litterbins – Cardinals – £800 (2009/10 Capital Budget) – Approved.

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Manager updating Members on actions and achievements around the Area Delivery Plan since the last Area Committee meeting.

(Executive Function)

(2.5 mins presentation / 2.5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the revised pricing and lettings discount schedule, outlined in Appendix 1 to the report, be endorsed;

(c)  That the proposed changes to Operation Champion, outlined in paragraph 1 to the report, be approved; and

(d)  That the allocation of Safer Stronger Community Funds, outlined in paragraph 46 to the report, be approved.

The Area Committee considered a report from the South East Area Manager which updated Members on the actions and achievements of the Area Management Team since the last meeting.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Community Centres revised pricing and lettings discount schedule

-  Minutes of the Area Employment Enterprise and Training Partnership meeting held on 9^th December 2009

-  Minutes of the Children Leeds South Leadership Team meeting held on 24^th September 2009

-  Minutes of South East Leeds Health and Well-being Partnership meeting held on 14^th January 2010

-  Operation Champion Schedule 2010

-  Minutes of South Leeds Community Safety Partnership – Core Group held on 18^th September 2009

-  Update from the Middleton Regeneration Partnership Manager.

Keith Lander, Acting Area Manager, presented the report.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the revised pricing and lettings discount schedule, outlined in Appendix 1 to the report, be endorsed;

(c)  That the proposed changes to Operation Champion, outlined in paragraph 1 to the report, be approved; and

(d)  That the allocation of Safer Stronger Community Funds, outlined in paragraph 46 to the report, be approved.

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Manager presenting the findings of the Planning for Real events held in each ward last year to enable the Area Committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the events in helping to identify issues and priorities for the 2010/11 Area Delivery Plan which in turn will shape service delivery arrangements and influence decision making.

(Executive Function)

(2.5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the theme and focus for the Spring Community Engagement Event, be approved.

The South East Area Manager submitted a report which presented the findings of the Planning for Real events undertaken in October and November 2009 and outlined how these would assist with identifying key issues and priorities for the 2010-11 Area Delivery Plan (ADP).

Appended to the report was an evaluation of residents’ responses to the Planning for Real events.

It was reported that the inner south community engagement event was taking place on 20^th April, 2010 at Leeds Civic Hall.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the theme and focus for the Spring Community Engagement Event, be approved.

Thursday 25^th March, 2010 at 6.30 pm

(Tenant’s Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX)

Thursday 25^th March, 2010 at 6.30 pm

(Tenant’s Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX)

(The meeting concluded at 7.55 pm.)