Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the September 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 interest in relation to agenda item 10, Well-Being Budget (well-being fund application relating to Belle Isle Health and Well-Being Project) due to being a Member of Belle Isle Elderly Winter Aid (Minute No. 26 refers).

Councillors Blake and Gabriel declared personal interests in relation to agenda item 10, Well-Being Budget (well-being fund applications relating to Holbeck Health and Well-Being Partnership; and the Cupboard Project) due to being Members of Health for All (Leeds) (Minute No. 26 refers).

Councillor Ogilvie declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 10, Well-Being Budget (well-being fund application by South Leeds Community Radio) due to being a Director of South Leeds Community Radio (Minute No. 26 refers).

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted by Councillor Nash.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd June 2009.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That minute nos. 12-16 be ratified; and

(b)  That the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd June 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Minute No. 10 – ‘Well-Being Fund – 2009/10 Proposals’

It was reported that a meeting had taken place involving Area Management and Councillor Nash (Ward Member for City and Hunslet) to discuss the capital well-being allocation for the City and Hunslet Ward, particularly in relation to earmarking funds for improvements to Hunslet Library.  It had been advised by Area Management that project proposals for the future of the library had not been progressed and it was necessary therefore to consider other potential schemes and projects utilising the capital well-being allocation. These were currently being developed by the Area Management Team.

Minute No. 16 – ‘Actions and Achievements Report’

Members emphasised the need to review arrangements relating to the sustainability and succession of community groups supported through the Neighbourhood Improvement Plan (NIP) programmes.  The Deputy Area Manager advised that a progress and evaluation report on the NIPs, together with proposals relating to the sustainability of resident groups established through the NIPs, would be submitted to the November Area Committee meeting.

Minute No. 11 – ‘CCTV Annual Report 2008/09’

It was reported that the CCTV Co-ordinator had agreed to split the budget allocation for the city centre and the rest of City and Hunslet Ward.

Minute No. 17 – ‘Dates, Times and Venues of Future Meetings’

Members agreed to re-arrange the November Area Committee meeting to take place on Wednesday, 11^th November 2009.

Minute No.8 – ‘Local Authority Appointments to Outside Bodies’

The Area Committee was informed that there was a vacancy for a Member to serve on Holbeck Elderly Aid Management Committee.  It was reported that the Area Committee had previously allocated funding to the organisation on the basis that it covered part of the City of Hunslet Ward as well as Beeston and Holbeck.  It was reported that since all Members of the Beeston and Holbeck Ward had served on Holbeck Elderly Aid Management Committee, nominations for a City and Hunslet Ward Member were particularly welcome. 

RESOLVED – That Councillor Davey be appointed to serve as the Council’s representative on Holbeck Elderly Aid Management Committee for the remainder of the 2009/10 Municipal Year.

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 parking arrangements on New Princes Street.  It was reported that the Highways Department were looking into the issue.  Area Management agreed to report back with an update at the next meeting. 

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Waste Management, updating Members on the programme of communications activity supporting the Residual Waste Treatment PFI project.

(Council Function)

(15 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

The Head of Waste Management submitted a report which updated Members on the programme of communications activity supporting the Residual Waste Treatment PFI project.

Appended to the report was a document outlining ‘Communications about the Residual Waste Treatment Facility – August to December 2009’.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Tom Smith, Head of Performance Management and Service Improvement, Environmental Services, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

A DVD presentation on ‘What Leeds is doing with its waste’ was provided. 

The main areas of discussion were:

• Confirmation that all the proposals involved some type of thermal treatment.
• The need for wider consultation with households beyond a 1 mile radius.
• Concern about transport issues, particularly waste being transported through South Leeds and the associated health risks.
• The need for clarification about proposed traffic routes to and from the waste transfer site at Kirkstall Road.
• Clarification about how many residents had registered to receive information or attend a briefing.  It was reported that to date no residents had registered as the Area Committees were the start of the communications programme, which would start in October.  Members requested that confirmation of the number of individuals involved be reported on a monthly basis.
• Concern that all the proposals were located in the Aire Valley.
• Concern about the impact of the proposals on local residents and businesses.
• Confirmation that officers had visited other sites using gasification.  It was agreed to report back to Members with confirmation of these sites.

RESOLVED –

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

(b) That the Area Committee receives a further report back on the proposals following confirmation of the final two bidders.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Adult Social Care Services, presenting the Executive Board report of 22^nd July 2009 on ‘From Day Centres to Day Services: Responding to the needs and preferences of older people’.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

The Chief Officer of Support and Enablement, Adult Social Care, submitted a report which presented proposals for consultation on day services for older people.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Lynda Bowen, Chief Officer of Support and Enablement, Adult Social Care, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• Confirmation that Holbeck Day Centre was the only day centre to be affected in the inner south area of Leeds.
• Concern that the report only contained a limited amount of area based information.
• Concern that Members had not been adequately informed about the consultation process.
• Concern that the report had not addressed the following key areas; information about alternative day centre provision; and the impact on the local community and neighbourhood networks.

Members requested that a revised report be submitted to the next Area Committee meeting in November.  There was also a request that the Director of Adult Social Services attended the meeting to present the report and address Members’ concerns.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee receives a revised report at the next meeting in November and that the Director of Adult Social Services be asked to attend the meeting to present the report and address Members’ concerns.

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)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

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

(b) That the proposed approval process for use of the commissioning pots allocated to the themes of the ADP, be approved;

(c) That the following decisions be made in relation to projects from the well-being commissioning pots:

• Belle Isle Health & Well-Being Project, Health and Well-Being Pot – £3,000 – Approved
• Holbeck Health & Well-Being Project, Health and Well-Being Pot – £3,000 – Approved
• Leeds Ahead, Enterprise and Economy Pot – £3,750 – Approved

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

• Leeds City Credit Union – £10,000 a year for two years (subject to appropriate funding allocation to the Area Committee for 2010/11) – Approved
• Health for All (Leeds) – The Cupboard Project – £10,000 – Approved
• LCC Parks and Countryside – Shafton Lane Allotments – £7,600 – Approved
• South Leeds Community Radio – Radio Broadcast (November - December 2009) – £10,600 (revenue) and £1,500 (capital) – Approved

(e) That the proposed approval process for determining Small Grants, be approved; and

(f) That the proposed reporting process of Area Well-Being Funding, be 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).  In addition, the report outlined an approval process for the use of the commissioning pots allocated to the themes of the ADP.

The Area Management Officer, Sheila Fletcher, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• Concern that priorities relating to the Belle Isle Health and Well-Being Project mainly targeted older people and the need for greater engagement with children and families.
• Confirmation that local residents had opted against funding Middleton Bright Ideas proposed CCTV project on Decision Day and funds had therefore returned to the Middleton Ward pot allocation.
• It was reported that in relation to the small grant application by Friends of Middleton Park, there had been an administrative error and funding was being allocated from the Middleton Park budget, not jointly from Middleton Park and Beeston and Holbeck.
• There was a request for a breakdown of total commitments for 2009/10.  Area Management agreed to report back with this information.

RESOLVED –

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

(b) That the proposed approval process for use of the commissioning pots allocated to the themes of the ADP, be approved;

(c) That the following decisions be made in relation to projects from the well-being commissioning pots:

• Belle Isle Health & Well-Being Project, Health and Well-Being Pot – £3,000 – Approved
• Holbeck Health & Well-Being Project, Health and Well-Being Pot – £3,000 – Approved
• Leeds Ahead, Enterprise and Economy Pot – £3,750 – Approved

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

• Leeds City Credit Union – £10,000 a year for two years (subject to appropriate funding allocation to the Area Committee for 2010/11) – Approved
• Health for All (Leeds) – The Cupboard Project – £10,000 – Approved
• LCC Parks and Countryside – Shafton Lane Allotments – £7,600 – Approved
• South Leeds Community Radio – Radio Broadcast (November - December 2009) – £10,600 (revenue) and £1,500 (capital) – Approved.

(e) That the proposed approval process for determining Small Grants, be approved; and

(f) That the proposed reporting process of Area Well-Being Funding, be approved.

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Manager, providing feedback on recent community engagement events that have taken place and outlining future community engagement activity.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

(a) That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b) That the dates and venues for Spring 2010 events, be approved.

The South East Area Manager submitted a report which provided feedback on community engagement events that had taken place and which also outlined future community engagement activity.

The dates for the Autumn 2009 Community Engagement Events were confirmed as follows:

-  Tuesday 13^th October 2009 at New Bewerley Community Primary School

-  Thursday 15^th October 2009 at Cottingley Primary School

-  Wednesday 11^th November 2009 at Windmill Primary School.

Members were informed that a report on Year of the Volunteer 2010 would be submitted to the next Area Committee meeting in November.

RESOLVED –

(a) That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b) That the dates and venues for Autumn 2009 events be 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)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

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

(b) That the allocation of SSCF carry forward funds, as outlined in paragraphs 34-35 of 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 for Members’ information:

-  Minutes of the Area Employment, Enterprise and Training Partnership meeting held on 5^th August, 2009;

-  Minutes of the South East Leeds Health and Wellbeing Partnership meeting held on 28^th July, 2009; and

-  Minutes of the South Leeds Community Safety Partnership meeting held on 19^th June 2009.

The Acting Area Manager presented the report and responded to Members’

questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:

• There was concern about the level of mobile youth bus provision in the Beeston and Holbeck Ward compared to other Wards in the inner south area.  Area Management agreed to raise this issue with the service provider and report back.
• One Member expressed concern about the new Pricing and Lettings Policy, particularly in relation to invoices that had been issued to individual Members for holding Member surgeries at Council buildings.  Members were advised to submit any invoices they received to their Group Office.  The Governance Officer agreed to report back with clarification on this issue.

RESOLVED –

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

(b) That the allocation of SSCF carry forward funds, as outlined in paragraphs 34-35 of the report, be approved.

* Tuesday 10^th November, 2009 – Subject to confirmation by the Area Committee

(Belle Isle Family Centre, St John and Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road, Leeds, LS10 3PG)

Thursday 7^th January, 2010

(Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR)

Wednesday 10^th February, 2010

(Venue to be advised)

Thursday 25^th March, 2010.

(Venue to be advised)

(All meetings to commence at 6.30 pm).

* Previously scheduled to take place on Tuesday 3^rd November, 2009.

* Wednesday 11^thNovember, 2009

(Belle Isle Family Centre, St John and Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3PG)

Thursday 7^th January, 2010

(Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR)

Wednesday 10^th February, 2010

(St Matthew’s Community Centre, St Matthew’s Street, LS11 9NR)

Thursday 25^th March, 2010.

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

(All meetings to commence at 6.30 pm).

* Please note that this meeting was originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 3^rd November 2009.

(The meeting concluded at 8.21 pm).