Agenda, decisions and minutes

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 Smith declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 10, Well Being Budget, due to his position as a Director of Leeds Groundwork Trust (Minute No. 25 refers).

Councillors Finnigan, Gettings, Grayshon and Leadley declared a personal interest in Agenda Item, 11. Acting Area Managers Report due to their respective positions on Morley Town Council (Minute No.26 refers).

Councillors Finnigan, and Grayshon declared a personal interest in Agenda Item, 11. Acting Area Managers Report due to their respective positions on the Morley Town Centre Management Board (Minute No.26 refers).

Councillor Finnigan declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 10, Well Being Budget, due to his position on the Morley Community Safety Project (Minute No. 25 refers).

Councillor Ledley declared personal interests in Agenda Item 10, Well Being Budget, due to his positions on Morley Town Council, Oakwell & Fairfax NIP Committee and Morley Elderly Action Management Committee (Minute No.25 refers) and Agenda Item 11, Acting Area Manager’s Report, due to his positions on the Oakwell and Fairfax NIP Committee and the Morley Elderly Action Management Committee (Minute No. 26 refers).

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Elliott and Mulherin.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd June 2009.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 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)

The agenda made reference to the provision contained in the Area Committee Procedure rules for an Open Forum Session at each ordinary meeting of an Area Committee, for members of the public to ask questions or to make representations on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.  On this occasion, no matters were raised under this item by those members of the public who were in attendance.

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

(Council Function)

(15 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

The report of the Head of Waste Management gave the Committee an update on the Residual Waste Treatment PFI Project.  It was reported that the process to procure a facility to treat waste that could not be economically recycled and would otherwise be sent to landfill was progressing well.  A programme of communications with residents and other interested parties had been embarked upon to discuss the proposals and describe the next stages of the process.  The Committee was given a DVD presentation which supported the report.

Susan Upton, Head of Waste Management was present to answer Members’ questions.

In response to questions and comments, the following issues were discussed.

• Introduction of further recycling initiatives – these proposals had been developed to treat waste that could not be recycled and it was felt targets would be met without further recycling incentives.
• Transport – this would primarily involve the use  of the current refuse vehicle fleet and some waste would be taken to a transfer station.  It was not proposed to take waste from outside the City.  Transport issues were still open to further consultation.
• Different methods of treatment and different outcomes from the treatments such as energy from waste, the disposal of hazardous waste and use of ash and gases.
• It was reported that operating times had still to be decided and it was not yet known if any proposed residual waste treatment site would be in operation 24 hours a day.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Chief Recreation Officer which provides a review of the work undertaken by the site based gardeners scheme.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That continuation of the service from October 2009 - March 2010, at a cost of £21,000.00 from the Well-being Fund, be approved.

The report of the Chief Recreation Officer provided the Committee with a review of the work undertaken by the site based gardeners based in the Outer South Area which had been funded from the Well Being Fund during the past 18 months.  The report also looked at options available to continue the service over the next 6 months.

In brief summary, Members discussed the following issues:

• Location of Site Based Gardeners
• Improvement in public opinion
• Increased public use and reduction of complaints – figures of park usage were requested
• Improved safety due to the presence of Site Based Gardeners

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That continuation of the service from October 2009 - March 2010, at a cost of £21,000.00 from the Well-being Fund, be approved.

To receive a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods which updates Members on both the capital and revenue elements of the Committee’s Well-being budget, advises Members of the Small Grants approved since the last meeting and invites 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 well-being budgets and the small grant proposals approved since the last meeting, be noted;

(b)  That the Morley and Rothwell NPT Community Safety Projects be approved;

(c)  That the Area Management Team work with Rothwell NPT to develop the ‘Pro-active prevention’ ASB proposal;

(d)  That the Area Committee receives further details on commissioning of the 2010/11 revenue Well-being Budget in line with ADP themes and priorities, as outlined in 3.2.4 of the report;

(e)  That the following decisions be made in relation to the Well-being funding proposals, which had been submitted for determination at the meeting:

• Groundwork – Manor Road Shops – £19,453.75 – (2009/10 Capital Budget) – Approved;
• Morley Neighbourhood Policing Team – Morley Community Safety Project – £4,995 – (2009/10 Revenue Budget) – Approved;
• Rothwell Neighbourhood Policing Team – Rothwell Community Safety Project – £5,000 – (2009/10 Revenue Budget) – Approved.

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods provided the Area Committee with the following:

• An update on both the revenue  and capital elements of the Area Committee’s budget.
• Details of projects that require approval.
• A summary of all revenue and capital projects agreed to date.
• Small grant applications which had been approved.

Members attention was brought to the appendices which detailed the projects that had been granted Well Being funds.  It was reported that there was some pressure on revenue budgets, but it was possible that not all revenue previously allocated would be used.  Further information on the projects that required funding was also highlighted.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report, which includes the available balance of the Area Committee’s revenue and capital well-being budgets and the small grant proposals approved since the last meeting, be noted;

(b)  That the Morley and Rothwell NPT Community Safety Projects be approved;

(c)  That the Area Management Team work with Rothwell NPT to develop the ‘Pro-active prevention’ ASB proposal;

(d)  That the Area Committee receives further details on commissioning of the 2010/11 revenue Well-being Budget in line with ADP themes and priorities, as outlined in 3.2.4 of the report;

(e)  That the following decisions be made in relation to the Well-being funding proposals, which had been submitted for determination at the meeting:

• Groundwork – Manor Road Shops – £19,453.75 – (2009/10 Capital Budget) – Approved;
• Morley Neighbourhood Policing Team – Morley Community Safety Project – £4,995 – (2009/10 Revenue Budget) – Approved;
• Rothwell Neighbourhood Policing Team – Rothwell Community Safety Project – £5,000 – (2009/10 Revenue Budget) – Approved.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods which provides Members with an overview of the range of activities currently taking place within the outer south area of Leeds.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That additional funding of £5,461 from Morley Town Council be allocated to the Morley Town Centre Management Board; and

(c) That the Area Committee receive further detailed reports on the delivery of the Garden Maintenance Schemes, including an option for a single scheme to operate from April 1st 2010.

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods provided Members with details of a range of activities that had taken place within the Outer South Leeds area.

Issues highlighted included the following:

• Town Centre Management – additional funding from Morley Town Council for Morley TCM
• Priority Neighbourhood Worker – Work on the Neighbourhood Improvement Plans and with Tenants and Residents Associations
• Morley Literary Festival – Now in its 4^th year the Festival had gone from strength to strength
• Oulton and Woodlesford Design Statement
• Community Centres – Discussions had been held with user groups
• Town & District Centre Regeneration Scheme
• Conservation Audits
• Gardening Maintenance Schemes
• Lofthouse Participatory Budget
• Partnership working
• Area Delivery Plan

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That additional funding of £5,461 from Morley Town Council be allocated to the Morley Town Centre Management Board; and

(c) That the Area Committee receive further detailed reports on the delivery of the Garden Maintenance Schemes, including an option for a single scheme to operate from April 1st 2010.

Monday 19^th October, 2009

(Lofthouse Methodist Church Hall, Leeds Road, Lofthouse, WF3 3NE)

Monday 30^th November, 2009

(Drighlington Meeting Hall, Drighlington Library, Drighlington, Moorland Road, BD11 1JZ)

Monday 1^st February, 2010

(Morley Town Hall, Morley, LS27 9DY)

Monday 15^th March, 2010

(Rothwell One Stop Centre, Civic Chamber, Main Street, Rothwell, LS26 0AD)

(All meetings to commence at 4.00 pm).

Monday 19^th October, 2009

(Lofthouse Methodist Church Hall, Leeds Road, Lofthouse, WF3 3NE)

Monday 30^th November, 2009

(Drighlington Meeting Hall, Drighlington Library, Drighlington, Moorland Road, BD11 1JZ)

Monday 1^st February, 2010

(Morley Town Hall, Morley, LS27 9DY)

Monday 15^th March, 2010

(Rothwell One Stop Centre, Civic Chamber, Main Street, Rothwell, LS26 0AD)

(All meetings to commence at 4.00 pm).