Agenda, decisions and minutes

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

There were no late items.  Additional information was circulated in relation to the Wellbeing Fund report application for Smithy Recreation Ground.

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.

Councillors Finnigan and Gettings declared personal interests in Agenda Item 10, Consultation on Expansion of 17 Primary Schools in Leeds and Additional Provision for Children with Special Educational Needs at 2 Primary Schools due to their respective positions as Governors at Victoria Primary and Drighlington Primary Schools.  Minute No.49 refers.

Councillors Finnigan and Gettings declared personal interests in Agenda Item 16, Morley Literature Festival, due to their respective positions with the Morley Literature Festival Committee.  Minute No. 55 refers.

Councillors Finnigan, Gettings and Leadley declared personal interests in Agenda Item 17, Town Centre Management Update, due to their respective positions on the Morley Town Centre Management Board.  Minute No. 56 refers.

Councillor Finnigan declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 19, Outer South Area Committee Well Being Budget due to his position on the Morley Literature Festival Committee.  Councillor Gettings declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item due to his position as Chair of the Morley Literature Festival Committee and left the meeting during the discussion and voting on this item.  Councillor Leadley also declared personal interests due to his positions with Morley Elderly Action and Morley Town Council.  Minute No. 58 refers.

Councillor Leadley declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 14, Garden Maintenance Service Report due to his position with Morley Eldery Action and withdrew from the meeting during the discussion and voting on this item.  Minute No. 53 refers.

Councillor Leadley declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 18, Priority Neighbourhood Worker due to his position as Chair of the Oakwell and Fairfax NIP.  Minute No. 57 refers.

To receive any apologies for absence.

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

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th October 2009.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th October 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

(The minutes were initially agreed in principle and ratified as a correct record following the item on Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust when the Committee had become quorate)

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 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust seeking Members’ views on Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s application to become an NHS Foundation Trust.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust submitted a report regarding consultation on the Trust becoming a Foundation Trust.  The consultation document, ‘Your Trust Your Say’ was appended to the report.

The Chair welcomed Ross Langford, Director of Communications, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust to the meeting.

The Committee was given an overview of what the implications of becoming a foundation trust entailed and the background behind the consultation.  Issues highlighted included the following:

• Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust covered St James’ Hospital, Leeds General Infirmary, Chapel Allerton, Seacroft and Wharfedale Hospitals as well as the Leeds Dental Institute.
• Foundation status would give a more locally enhanced status as a public benefit organisation.  Governance arrangements were explained including the Trust Membership.
• It was Government policy to change current hospital trusts to foundation trusts and the consultation was about how the foundation trust should be formed.

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

• A foundation trust would be more democratically accountable.
• A foundation Trust would be able to make use of surplus monies whereas hospital trusts had to return surplus to the treasury.
• How to improve standards and efficiency.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(Councillors Mulherin and Renshaw joined the meeting during the discussion on this item at 4.10 p.m. and 4.15 p.m. respectively).

To receive and consider a report from the Chief Executive, Education Leeds, presenting the consultation document on proposals to permanently expand Gildersome Primary School by one form of entry to two forms of entry with effect from September 2011.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

The report of the Chief Executive, Education Leeds, presented the Area Committee with the consultation document on the proposal to permanently expand Gildersome Primary School by one form to a two form entry with effect from September 2011.

The Chair welcomed Vivienne Buckland, Head of Service, Admissions and Transport, Education Leeds to the meeting.

In brief summary, the following issues were discussed:

• Increase in demand for places at the School
• The consultation process – a report was due back to Executive Board in February 2010.
• Forecasting of demand for places.
• The proposed expansion would not affect places at other schools.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

(Councillor Golton joined the meeting at 4:20 p.m. during the discussion on this item.

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 17 primary schools and additional provision for children with special educational needs at 2 primary schools.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

The report of the Chief Executive, Education Leeds presented the Area Committee with the consultation document on proposals for the expansion of 17 primary schools and additional provision for children with special educational needs at 2 primary schools..

Vivienne Buckland, Head of Service, Transport and Admissions, Education Leeds presented this item.

It was reported that more children had been applying for places in schools than had been anticipated.  Various reasons had been identified for this including a reduction in the number going into private sector education, migration to the City and an increase in birth rates.

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

• In relation to the knock on effect for high schools, it was reported that this would be covered by the 21^st Century Schools programme and the 14-19 agenda.
• Public consultation and the consultation process.
• The planning process – it was reported that some schools had capacity to take extra children.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

(Councillor Mulherin declared a personal interest in this item due to her position as Chair of Governors at Robin Hood Primary School as did Counillor Renshaw due to her position as a Governor at Seven Hills Primary, East Ardsley Primary and Rodillian High Schools.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Children’s Services.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

The report of the Director of Children’s Services introduced a presentation about two key priorities of the Leeds Children and Young People plan – safeguarding and integrated working.

The Chair welcomed Shaid Mahmood to the meeting.

Reference was made to the unannounced inspection of Children’s Services that took place earlier this year.  Members attention was brought to what had been done in response to the inspection across the City and on a more local level in South Leeds.

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

• Role of the Children’s Champion
• Applying the Common Assessment Frameworks and taking resulting actions.
• Support for schools.
• The role of Members as School Governors and how they could influence safeguarding issues.
• The role of the Area Committee with regards to safeguarding.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That safeguarding issues be explored with the Area Committee’s   Children’s Champion and further reports be brought back to the Area   Committee.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Children’s Services.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

The report of the Director of Children’s Services sought the Committee’s views in ensuring that local performance information was relevant to local priorities and enabled the Area Committee to support the achievement of local and city-wide priorities, as outlined in the area function information and Council’s Constitution.

Shaid Mahmood presented this item to the Committee.

In brief summary, the following issues were discussed:

·  Exam results information – difficulties had been encountered getting accurate information early due to re-marking of exam papers.

·  Members’ attention was brought to performance indicators that performance was measured against.

·  How the information could be used in conjunction with the Area Delivery Plan.

·  Performance information for looked after children.

·  Members requested future performance information as totals for the Area rather than percentages.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That the Area Committee receives quarterly updates on the performance information.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Children’s Services on provision of service activity in the outer south area which contribute to the delivery of the Leeds Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood (TPP) Strategy.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

The report of the Director of Children’s Services – Locality Enabler South which informed the Area Committee of service activity in the outer south area which contributed to the delivery of the Leeds Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood (TPP) Strategy in the area.

The Chair welcomed Kiera Swift, Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator, Education Leeds and Pat Santin, Lead Consultant Secondary PSHE Education to the meeting for this item.

It was reported that tackling teenage pregnancy was a priority issue in Leeds and the Committee was given an overview of serices provided in schools and elsewhere across the outer south area.

In response to Members’ comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Data was still based on the old ward boundaries.
• True figures were difficult to identify.  Accurate information on live births was supplied but figures regarding still births and terminations was more difficult to capture.
• Schools set their own policies on PHSE.  Information on schools within the outer south area was appended to the report.
• How to raise young people’s aspirations and inform them of lifestyle choices.
• Withdrawal of funding for the Morley Contraceptive bus.  It was reported that this was a Health Service decision.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods inviting the Area Committee to commission Morley Elderly Action to deliver a Garden Maintenance scheme across the outer south area in 2010/11.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 10 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the update report be noted.

(b)  That subject to Area Committee funding, a garden maintenance service to vulnerable residents across the four South Outer wards in 2010-13 be delivered.  Funding to be considered under the Well being budget report and subject to future approval by the Executive Board of revenue Well being Budgets.

The report of the Director of Environments and Neighbourhoods outlined a Garden Maintenance Scheme to operate across the whole of the Outer South Area in 2010/11 and requested Members to commission Morley Elderly Action to commission the scheme.

Tom O’Donovan, South Area Management team, presented the report.  It was reported that the Garden Maintenance scheme was previously delivered under two different schemes, by two different providers.  Following a review of services, it was proposed to develop a single scheme.

In brief summary, the following issues were discussed:

• Promotion of the scheme.
• It was agreed to provide Members with mapping information through ward based briefings.
• Members were issued with ‘before and after’ photographs demonstrating examples of work carried out under the scheme.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the update report be noted.

(b)  That subject to Area Committee funding, a garden maintenance service to vulnerable residents across the four South Outer wards in 2010-13 be delivered.  Funding to be considered under the Well being budget report and subject to future approval by the Executive Board of revenue Well being Budgets.

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Manager explaining the proposals to make 2010 – A Year of Volunteering in Leeds and seeking Members’ approval for participation in the programme of activities.

(Council Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods informed the Area Committee of the 2010 Leeds Year of Volunteering programme and Members were asked to approve a draft programme of activities that would define how the South Outer Area Committee would participate in this initiative.

Keith Lander, Acting South Area Manager presented the report.

Members’ attention was brought to the suggestions detailed in the draft programme of activities and further information was provided on activities with Rothwell Town Centre Management and twin town activities with Siegen.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That the proposal, missions and aims for 2010 being the Year of   Volunteering be endorsed and supported.

(c)  That the programme of activities outlined in paragraph 5.0 to form the   Area Committee’s participation in the Year of Volunteering be agreed.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods presenting an evaluation of the Morley Literature Festival 2009.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That it be noted that nominations to the Morley Literature Festival will be sought at the February meeting of the Area Committee.

(c)  That Area Committee funding for 2010 to be considered under the Well being Budget Report, subject to Executive Board approval of the 2010/11 Well being Budget.

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods introduced the 2009 evaluation report of the Morley Literature Festival as part of the Well being funding monitoring process.  It was reported that funding for the 2010 festival was to be considered under he Well being Budget Report.

Issues discussed included the following:

• Electronic ticketing.
• The widened scope of this years festival.  This had included the participation of Drighlington and Gildersome Town Councils.
• Clash of dates with the Ilkley Literature Festival.  This was not believed to affect the Morley Literature Festival.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That it be noted that nominations to the Morley Literature Festival will be sought at the February meeting of the Area Committee.

(c)  That Area Committee funding for 2010 to be considered under the Well being Budget Report, subject to Executive Board approval of the 2010/11 Well being Budget.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing a summary of work undertaken by the Town Centre Management Project since May 2009.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods provided a summary of the work of the Town Centre Management Project in Morley and Rothwell since May 2009.  It also detailed recent progress and provided Members with the opportunity to explore the work of the project and request further information.

The Chair welcomed Peter Mudge, Town Centre Manager to the meeting for this item.

The following issues were highlighted:

• Re-use and letting of units.

• A meeting had been held with Morrisons regarding use of the old site.
• Rothwell Social Enterprise.
• There were currently 22 empty units in Morley.  The Market was fully occupied.
• The Morley Craft Fair.  There was still opportunity for new traders.
• Improvements at Morley Bottoms.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing an update on work undertaken by the Priority Neighbourhood Worker since June 2009.

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation / 5 mins discussion)

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods outlined the work achieved by the Priority Neighbourhood Worker since June 2009.  The report also included an update to Members on the 2009/10 Neighbourhood Improvement Plans (NIPs), details on the ‘Supported Area’ programme and additional community engagement work.

Further issues highlighted included the following:

• Ongoing work with the Wood Lane NIP
• The South Outer Area Committee Community Award
• Rothwell Community Engagement Programme

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods updating 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 be noted.

(b)  That the position of the Well being Budget as set out at 3.0 be noted.

(c)  That the revenue amounts for 2009/10 as outlined in Appendix 1 be noted.

(d)  That the Well being capital projects already agreed as listed in Appendix 2 be noted.

(e)  That the following capital projects be agreed:

·  Morley Bottoms - £5,400 – Approved

·  Churwell Park CCTV Scheme - £14,757 – Approved

·  Smithy Lane Rec - £8,000 – Approved

  That the following revenue projects be agreed:

·  Morley Literature Festival - £10,000 – Approved

·  Garden Maintenance Service (Morley Elderly Action) - £35,500

(f)  That the Small Grants outlined in 5.1 be noted.

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

• An update and both the revenue and capital  elements of the Area Committee’s budget.
• Details of the projects that required approval.
• A summary of all revenue and capital projects agreed to date.
• A rationale for the allocation of the 2010/11 Well-Being fund linked to the priorities and outcomes identified in the approved ADP.

The following issues were discussed:

• That a reduced sum of £10,000 for Morley Literature Festival would be reasonable.  The 2009 festival had been profitable.
• Funding for the Garden Maintenance Scheme.
• The possibility of the virement of funds from the capital to the revenue budget.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That the position of the Well being Budget as set out at 3.0 be noted.

(c)  That the revenue amounts for 2009/10 as outlined in Appendix 1 be noted.

(d)  That the Well being capital projects already agreed as listed in Appendix 2 be noted.

(e)  That the following capital projects be agreed:

·  Morley Bottoms - £5,400 – Approved

·  Churwell Park CCTV Scheme - £14,757 – Approved

·  Smithy Lane Rec - £8,000 – Approved

  That the following revenue projects be agreed:

·  Morley Literature Festival - £10,000 – Approved

·  Garden Maintenance Service (Morley Elderly Action) - £33,000

(f)  That the Small Grants outlined in 5.1 be noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing 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 – That the report be noted

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods provided the Area Committee with details of a wide range of activities that had taken place in the Outer South area.

The following issues were highlighted:

• Policing issues.
• Dog Warden Service.
• Community Centres – work to resolve the discount schedule.
• Enforcement Issues and Action.
• Mobile Youth Services.
• Ginnel Mapping
• Town and District Centre Regeneration

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

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, 1 February 2010 at 4.00 p.m. – Morley Town Hall

Monday, 15 March 2010 at 4.00 p.m. – Rothwell One Stop Centre

(The meeting concluded at 6.20 p.m.)