Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2011

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2011 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 the attached report of the Director of Children’s Services.

Presentation – 5 Minutes / Discussion – 5 Minutes

Council Function

The report of the Director of Children’s Services presented the Area Committee with an update on the work being undertaken across the city to ensure the authority meets its statutory duty to ensure sufficiency of school places in the context of an increasing birth rate. In particular, it drew members’ attention to the proposal directly affecting the outer south area. Leeds City Council’s Executive Board had approved a consultation on a proposal to expand Morley Newlands Primary School from September 2013.

Vivienne Buckland, Children’s Services was in attendance for this item

It was reported that the only school affected in the outer south area was Newlands Primary and the proposals would change the entry level from 60 children to 90 children.  The other proposal close to outer south was to build a new school in Holbeck.

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

• It was felt feasible for the proposals to be completed by September 2013.
• Concern was expressed regarding new developments in Ardsley and Robin Hood and the subsequent impact on school admissions.
• Discussion round prescribed safe walking distances to school.
• Issues affecting admissions such as parental preference and changes in birth rates.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That he report be noted.

(b)  That the proposals be fully supported by the South (Outer) Area Committee

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

Presentation 5 Minutes / Discussion 5 Minutes

Council Function

The report of the Director of Children’s Services supported Elected Member involvement with Children’s Services locally by helping to strengthen understanding of some key performance information at a local area level.  It built on previous Children’s Services performance reports presented to Area Committees in 2010 and earlier this year

The Chair welcomed Pat Toner, Director for Organisational Improvement, Children’s Services to the meeting for this item.

The Committee was informed of the development of cluster arrangements across the City and how this would assist with the intervention for vulnerable children via work with child protection teams.  There was a need to engage with Elected Members in this approach and the Committee was also informed how these arrangements would be co-ordinated across the City.

Members attention was also brought to the following issues:

• Improvement and Inspection Activity – An inspection was due.
• The Changing Education Context – The Leeds Education Challenge – Reference was made to Member Seminars and discussion with Area Committees.
• Performance Summaries – these were appended to the report and referred to a variety of data.

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

• Figures relating to those Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) and the various methods and difficulties encountered in collating these figures.
• Reduction in the number of Common Assessment Frameworks – this was partly due to early intervention.
• Concern regarding numbers of children unable to read or write.
• The overall trend of improvement as outlined in the DfE review meeting with Leeds City Council was welcomed.
• Improving discipline in schools.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhhods

Presentation 5 Minutes / Discussion 5 Minutes

Council Function

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods provided details on crime trends and a range of community Safety that had taken place during 2010/11.  It also updated Members on the key priorities for 2011/12 and summarised wellbeing spend on community safety issues.

Gerry Shevlin, Area Community Safety Co-ordinator, and Inspector Hammill and Sergeant Pickard of West Yorkshire Police attended the meeting for this item.

Members attention was brought to the tables in the report and particular attention was brought to the following:

• There had been a reduction in burglary across all four of the south outer wards.
• There was a new Anti-Social Behaviour team in operation.
• A summary of tasking work across the area.
• Community Safety Activity – including the prevention of violent extremism.
• Key priorities for 2011/12

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

• The rise in drugs offences
• Role of Police Community Support Officers
• Enforcement issues and joint working between the Police, Council and other partners.
• Members expressed their thanks to Neighbourhood Policing Teams for their work across the outer south area.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods

Presentation – 5 Minutes / Discussion – 5 Minutes

Executive Function

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods referred to the Service Level Agreement that had been drawn up for the delivery of environmental services in outer south Leeds.  It provided final details of the agreement and sought the approval of the document which would steer the work of the South and Outer East Environmental Locality Team over the next 6 months.

Tom Smith, Locality Manager was in attendance for this item.

Members attention was brought to the services that had been delegated to area level and reference was made to the work that had been carried out with Elected Members to develop the Service Level Agreement (SLA).  Attention was also brought to areas of priority that had been identified and it was reported that alterations could be made to the SLA where necessary.

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

• Emptying of litter bins was top priority.
• Concern regarding the lack of litter picking in Ardsley and Robin Hood.
• Perfornce monitoring of the SLA.
• Issues surrounding fly tipping.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the Service Level Agreement be agreed

To receive and consider the attached report of the South East Area Leader and Chief Executive of Aire Valley Homes.

Presentation 5 Minutes / Discussion 5 Minutes

Council Function

The joint report of the South East Area Leader and Chief Executive of Aire Valley Homes Leeds (AVHL) outlined the current involvement AVHL had with the Area Committee and explored ways of making that involvement as meaningful and productive as possible to meet the design principle for locality working.

Key issues highlighted included the following:

• Aire Valley Homes had good working relationships with Leeds City Council with Elected Members represented on the AVHL Board and Area Panels and also worked closely with Environmental Services, Community Safety and other Council departments.
• The AVHL Business Plan was aligned with Council Services.
• There was an emphasis on strengthening front line staff with more Tenancy Management Officers.
• Reference was made to involvement with grass cutting and litter clearing.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the South East Area Leader.

Presentation 5 Minutes / Discussion 5 Minutes

Executive Function

The report of the Area Leader, South East Leeds presented Members with the major benefits and added value of capital wellbing funding in South East Leeds.  It described how the capital wellbeing budget had been spent, for what purpose and the benefits gained from its expenditure,

Shaid Mahmood, South East Area Leader presented the report and Members welcomed the content.  It was felt that more publicity should be given to the projects funded by wellbeing capital funds and it was further reported that an additional £0.5million had been leveraged in on the back of these funds.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the South East Area Leader

Presentation – 5 Minutes / Discussion – 5 Minutes

Council Function

The report of the South East Area Leader presented an update on the work to develop an Area Committee Business Plan.

Sarah Gill, South East Area Management presented the report.

Members attention was brought to the following issues:

• The Business Plan would replace the Area Delivery Plan
• The plan would be developed between September 2011 to March 2012 with a public facing version of the plan.
• Workshops would be held for Elected Member involvement.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted

(b)  That the Area Management Team continue to develop a Business Plan and a public facing version of the plan.

(c)  That the Area Management Team organise an Outcome Based Accountability workshop for Members to receive a briefing on the principles of OBA and an opportunity to contribute to populating the priorities and actions table.

(d)  That it be agreed to receive updates at future meetings and the Area Committee adopt a three year plan at the March 2012 meeting that will be subject to a refresh annually.

To receive and consider the attached report of the South East Area Leader.

Presentation – 5 Minutes / Discussion 5 Minutes

Council Function

The report of the South East Area Leader presented a six monthly update on the Priority Neighbourhood Worker project and the 2008-11 Neighbourhood Improvement Programme (NIP) as part of the Well being funding monitoring progress.

Sarah Gill, South East Area Management presented the report.

Members were informed of a proposal that the Priority Neighbourhood Worker became a shared resource with South (Inner) Area Committee.  This would provide revenue savings that would allow Members to support other projects in outer south.  It was confirmed that a structured work programme would be in place for the Priority Neighbourhood Worker and that support provided would be appropriate in relations to costs.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That the proposal for the Priority Neighbourhood Worker project to become a shared resource within the South (Inner) Area Committee be agreed.

(c)  That Area Management develop a proposal, based on this report, to the South (Inner) Area Committee to consider sharing the benefits of the Priority Neighbourhood Worker and the Revenue Well being resource implications.

To receive and consider the attached report of the South East Area Leader

Presentation – 5 Minutes / Discussion 5 Minutes

Executive Function

The report of the South East Area Leader provided Members with the following:

·  confirmation of the 2010/11 carry forward figure and 2011/12 revenue allocation

·  An update on both the revenue and capital elements of the Well being budget.

·  a summary of revenue spend approved for 2011/12

·  details of capital funding for consideration and approval

·  details of revenue projects agreed to date (Appendix 1)

·  details of capital projects agreed to date (Appendix 2)

·  update on the current position of the Small Grants Budget

Tom O’Donovan, Area Management presented the report and gave Members further details on applications that had been received for funding.

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 2011/12 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 project proposals be approved:

·  Alexandra Hall Improvements - £4,000 capital

·  Woodlesford Park Environmental Improvements - £5,000 capital

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

To receive and consider the attached report of the South East Area Leader.

Presentation – 5 Minutes / Discussion – 5 Minutes

Executive Function

The report of the South East Area Leader presented a summary of key work that had taken place in Outer South Leeds since the last meeting of the Area Committee.  Members attention was brought to the Area Chair’s Forum and the requirement for a nomination to the Middleton Park Strategic Advisory Group.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That Councillor Dunn be appointed to the Middleton Park Strategic Advisory Group

(c)  That the name of the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Sub Group is changed to the Outer South Environmental Sub Group

(d)  That the revised terms of reference for the Outer South Environmental Sub Group be approved.

Monday, 17 October at 4.00 p.m.

Monday, 17 October 2011 at 4.00 p.m.  Meeting to be held at Thorpe Primary School.