Agenda, decisions and minutes

RESOLVED – That Councillor Driver be appointed Chair of the South (Inner) Area Committee for the duration of this meeting.

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the January meeting of the South (Inner) Area Committee. 

The Area Committee wished to pass on their best wishes to Councillor Gabriel, following her recent ankle operation.

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 Davey, Gabriel and Iqbal.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th November 2011.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th November 2011 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 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 matters raised by members of the public in attendance at the meeting.

To receive and consider a report from the Locality Manager (South and Outer East Leeds) providing an update on performance against the Service Level Agreement between the South (Inner) Area Committee and South East Environmental Locality Team.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

The Locality Manager (South and Outer East Leeds) submitted a report which provided an update on performance against the Service Level Agreement between the South (Inner) Area Committee and South East Environmental Locality Team.

Appended to the report was a summary of performance information for the service.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Tom Smith, Locality Manager (South and Outer East Leeds), to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

The key areas of discussion were:

• Acknowledgement of recent improvements in relation to street cleansing.
• Identifying areas in need of leaf clearing and targeting resources more effectively.
• Clarification sought regarding street cleansing in ALMO estates – The Area Committee was informed that discussions were taking place with colleagues in housing with a view to resolving some ongoing operational issues.
• Litter in commercial areas (particularly shopping districts and parades) remained a significant concern.
• Concern about litter discarded by motorists on Dewsbury Road – it was advised that a low number of fixed penalty notices had been issued in relation to littering and there was a need to improve the visibility of staff responsible for issuing these notices.
• Positive impact of developing job satisfaction and responsibility within teams, particularly in relation to sickness levels.
• The need to develop closer working arrangements with local community groups and organisations. 

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing an overview of progress to develop greater joined up working arrangements between locality based City Council services and Neighbourhood Police Teams / PCSOs.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report which provided an overview of progress to develop greater joined up working arrangements between locality based City Council services and Neighbourhood Police Teams / PCSOs.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Safer Leeds Executive – Protocol to support local working between Leeds City Council Environmental Services and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)

-  Contact details and key work being undertaken.

Tom Smith, Locality Manager (South and Outer East Leeds), presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

The key areas of discussion were:

• Support for the proposal to utilise PCSOs as witnesses in environmental enforcement action.
• Concern that the positive relationship built by PCSOs with the community could be threatened if it was perceived that their role was changing to take a more direct role in enforcement.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That the progress made to develop greater joined up working within localities between LCC services and Neighbourhood Police Teams / PCSOs be noted.

c)  That areas of closer working on local environmental priorities be fed back to local tasking arrangements to progress.

To receive and consider a report from the Assistant Chief Executive, Community Access and Performance outlining progress on the development of a new Citizen’s Panel in Leeds.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

The Assistant Chief Executive, Customer Access and Performance submitted a report which outlined the progress being made to create and manage a new and enlarged Leeds Citizens’ Panel that would form an important tool for the Council and partners’ consultation activity.

Appended to the report was an update on recent progress in the development and management of the Leeds Citizens’ Panel.

Chris Dickinson, Area Improvement Manager, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

The main areas of discussion were:

• Challenges associated with establishing a Panel that accurately reflected the make-up of the city.
• The need to ensure that the Panel engaged with individuals that were unable to respond electronically to consultations.
• Concerns about consultation fatigue.
• The role of the Corporate Consultation Manager and the need for broader management in overseeing consultations. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That an update report highlighting the recruitment process and levels of engagement be submitted to the February Area Committee meeting.

To receive and consider a report from the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) presenting for comment the report on the Capital Receipt Incentive Scheme that received approval at the Executive Board meeting on 12^th October 2011.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED – That the contents of the Executive Board report on the Capital receipts Incentive Scheme, be noted.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report in relation to the Capital Receipt Incentive Scheme that received approval at the Executive Board meeting on 12^th October 2011.

Appended to the report was a copy of the Executive Board report on Capital Receipts Incentive Scheme, considered at the meeting held on 12^th October 2011.

Tom O’Donovan, Area Improvement Manager, presented the report.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the Executive Board report on the Capital receipts Incentive Scheme be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) outlining the main elements of the Localism Act which will be of direct relevance to Area Committees and to provide an opportunity to debate and influence the way in which the Council implements the legislation.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report which outlined the main elements of the Localism Act which will be of direct relevance to Area Committees.

Tom O’Donovan, Area Improvement Manager, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

Members expressed concern at the way that the coalition government was rolling out elements of the Localism Act.  It was felt that the delivery of schemes that set out to exclude well established processes and effective local groups involving elected members would suffer from a lack of connectivity and would have a detrimental effect on the quality of work currently in place.  It was stated that Councillors should play an integral role in this process going forward.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted

(b)  That an update report containing a breakdown of activity across the inner south area of Leeds be submitted to a future Area Committee meeting.

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 contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That the following decision be made in relation to the wellbeing funding proposal which had been submitted for determination at the meeting:

• SLATE Furniture Store – SLATE Volunteer Team – £4,186 (revenue) (£1,395 from each Ward)  – Approved.

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

Details of capital and revenue projects agreed to date were appended to the report for Members’ information.

Gavin Forster, Area Officer, presented the report.

The key areas of note were:

• The change in wellbeing revenue balance from that highlighted at the December meeting.
• The process to reduce the under spend on the Middleton capital budget to zero through the use of ward based initiative funding was agreed and actioned.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That the following decision be made in relation to the wellbeing funding proposal which had been submitted for determination at the meeting:

• SLATE Furniture Store – SLATE Volunteer Team – £4,186 (revenue) (£1,395 from each Ward)  – 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 – That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

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 Area Chairs’ Forum held on 5^th September 2011

-  Report on Welfare Reform and other supporting information considered by the Area Chair’s Forum on 3^rd November 2011

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

-  Minutes of South East Leeds Health and Wellbeing Partnership held on 24^th November 2011

-  Minutes of Beeston Hill and Holbeck Regeneration Partnership Core Group held on 30^th September 2011

-  Minutes of Beeston, Holbeck and Hunslet Neighbourhood Improvement Board held on 18^th November 2011.

Gavin Forster, Area Officer, presented the report.

One Member emphasised the need to progress works at Hunslet library.  Councillor Ogilvie agreed to provide an update on this.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

Wednesday, 8^th February 2012

(Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX)

Wednesday, 21^st March 2012

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

(Meetings to commence at 6.30pm.)

Wednesday, 8^th February 2012

(Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX)

Wednesday, 21^st March 2012

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

(Meetings to commence at 6.30pm.)

(The meeting concluded at 7.55pm)