Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the November meeting of the South

(Inner) Area Committee and invited everyone 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors Groves, Iqbal and Ogilvie.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st September 2011.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st September 2011 be approved as a correct record.

Minute No. 19 – Matters Arising from the Minutes

Kris Nenadic, Parks and Countryside, confirmed that progress was being made in relation to steps in need of repair at Cross Flatts Park.

Area Management advised that work was ongoing in relation to concerns raised about an empty property on Stratford Terrace, Beeston, and issues in relation to empty housing in Hillside.

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.

On this occasion there were no members of the public in attendance at the meeting to make representations or ask questions.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Parks and Countryside providing an overview of the service and setting out some of the challenges faced along with key performance management initiatives.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

The Head of Parks and Countryside submitted a report which provided an overview of the service and set out some of the challenges faced together with key performance management initiatives.

Detailed residents survey information was appended to the report for Members information.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Kris Nenadic, Parks and Countryside, to present the report and respond to Members questions and comments.

In brief summary, the key areas of discussion were:

• Utilising section 106 monies to improve local parks.
• Development of the city centre park adjacent to Tetley brewery site – it was agreed to provide a further update on this at the January Area Committee.
• Concern that travellers had occupied a site on Pepper Road and the need to install barriers.
• Members thanked officers involved in organising the bonfire in Middleton, which despite the bad weather was a great success.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

(Councillor Blake joined the meeting at 6.37pm during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing an update on service delivery and highlighting areas for future development of the service within the inner south area of Leeds.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report which provided an update on service delivery and highlighted areas for future development of the service within the inner south area of Leeds.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Derek Whitehouse, CCTV Co-ordinator, to present the report and respond to Members questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• Clarification of funding arrangements for CCTV in the inner south area – Derek Whitehouse, CCTV Co-ordinator, agreed to report back to the Area Committee with confirmation of this.
• Concern that not all Members had been made aware of the weekly reports which provided information about recent activity and arrests across Leeds.
• Acknowledgement of the need to ensure that appropriate measures were in place to follow up local priorities at PACT meetings.
• Development of new tasking arrangements.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Leader providing an update on the work of the Middleton Park Jobs and Skills sub-group that was established in summer 2011.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

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

The South East Area Leader submitted a report which provided an update on the work of the Middleton Park Jobs and Skills sub-group that was established in summer 2011.

Martin Hackett, Area Improvement Manager, presented the report and responded to Members questions and comments.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Summary of Working Age Client Group claimants in Middleton Park Ward

-  Summary of Job Seekers Allowance Claimants (JSA) in Middleton Park Ward

-  Action Plan for Jobs and Skills – Middleton Park Ward.

Members welcomed the report although it was felt that greater strategic direction was needed in pursuing some the issues that had been highlighted, particularly in terms of links with the Area Committee’s employment and training representative.  It was anticipated that similar work would be undertaken in relation to Beeston and Holbeck and City and Hunslet Wards.

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

To receive and consider a report from the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) updating Members on both the capital and revenue elements of the Committee’s Wellbeing budget, advising Members of the Small Grants approved since the last meeting and inviting Members to determine the capital and revenue proposals detailed within the report.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report, which includes the available balance of the Area Committee’s revenue and capital wellbeing budgets, be noted

(b)  That the changes outlined in 3.2 to the report, be approved

(c)  That the following decisions be made in relation to the wellbeing funding proposals which had been submitted for determination at the meeting:

• Aire Valley Homes / Corporate Asset Management – Cottingley Sphinx Improvements – £5,000 (£2,000 revenue & £3,000 capital) from Beeston & Holbeck Ward – Approved, subject to design proposals being agreed by Ward Members
• Youth Theatres Leeds – South Leeds Youth Theatre – £6,800 (£2,092.31 from Beeston & Holbeck, £3,923.07 from City and Hunslet, and £784.62 from Middleton Park Wards) – Approved
• Friday Night Project – £1,500 from Middleton Park Ward – Approved
• West Yorkshire Police – Safer Middleton – £5,000 revenue from Middleton Park Ward – Approved.

The South East Area Leader submitted a report which updated Members on both the capital and revenue elements of the Committee’s Wellbeing budget, advised the Area Committee of the Small Grants approved since the last meeting and invited Members to determine the capital and revenue proposals, as detailed within the report.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Committed funding 2011/12

-  Inner South Area Wellbeing Budget position – September 2011.

Gavin Forster, Area Officer, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

Members were informed that there had been an error in the report to the September meeting.  It was advised that in relation to the Belle Isle Christmas lights project, the correct figure for the project was £1,860 not £1,830.

There was a request from Members of the Middleton Park Ward to transfer some of their ward based initiative funding allocation to capital funding.  The Area Committee agreed to this request, subject to legal officer approval, which Area Management agreed to follow up.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report, which includes the available balance of the Area Committee’s revenue and capital wellbeing budgets, be noted

(b)  That the changes outlined in 3.2 to the report, be approved

(c)  That the following decisions be made in relation to the wellbeing funding proposals which had been submitted for determination at the meeting:

• Aire Valley Homes / Corporate Asset Management – Cottingley Sphinx Improvements – £5,000 (£2,000 revenue & £3,000 capital) from Beeston & Holbeck Ward – Approved, subject to design proposals being agreed by Ward Members
• Youth Theatres Leeds – South Leeds Youth Theatre – £6,800 (£2,092.31 from Beeston & Holbeck, £3,923.07 from City and Hunslet, and £784.62 from Middleton Park Wards) – Approved
• Friday Night Project – £1,500 from Middleton Park Ward – Approved
• West Yorkshire Police – Safer Middleton – £5,000 revenue from the Inner South Community Safety ringfence – Approved.

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Leader detailing work by the Area Management Team on key priorities in the inner south area of Leeds since the last Area Committee meeting.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted

(b)  That Councillor Driver (Middleton Park) and Councillor Davey (City & Hunslet) (via e-mail) be appointed to serve on Middleton Park Strategic Advisory Group.

The South East Area Leader submitted a report which detailed work by the Area Management Team on key priorities in the inner south area of Leeds since the last Area Committee meeting.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Minutes of Environmental Sub Group held on 7^th October 2011

-  Minutes of South East Health and Wellbeing Partnership held on 13^th October 2011

-  Minutes of Middleton Park Strategic Advisory Group held on 21^st September 2011

-  Update on the merger of Joseph Priestley College with Leeds City College.

Gavin Forster, Area Officer, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the key highlighted points were:

• One Member advised that in relation to 4.1 of the report, the South Leeds Employment, Enterprise and Training Partnership (SLEET), no longer existed.
• Nominations were invited for Members to serve on the Middleton Park Strategic Advisory Group.  It was reported that Councillor Ogilvie had already agreed to serve on the group as Beeston and Holbeck representative.
• One Member emphasised the importance of developing links with Leeds City College, particularly in terms of receiving regular reports back and attendance at Area Committee meetings.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted

(b)  That Councillor Driver (Middleton Park) and Councillor Davey (City & Hunslet) (via e-mail) be appointed to serve on Middleton Park Strategic Advisory Group.

Wednesday, 11th January 2012

(Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR)

Tuesday, 7th February 2012

(To be confirmed)

Wednesday, 21st March 2012

(To be confirmed)

(All meetings to commence at 6.30 pm.)

One Member requested changing the date of the February Area Committee meeting from Tuesday, 7^th February 2012 to Wednesday, 8^th February 2012. 

Meeting dates as follows:

Wednesday, 11^th January 2012

(Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR)

Wednesday, 8^th February 2012

(Venue to be confirmed)

Wednesday, 21^st March 2012

(Venue to be confirmed)

(All meetings to commence at 6.30pm.)

(The meeting concluded at 8.05pm.)