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)

A replacement set of draft minutes of the meeting held on 18^th December 2009 were circulated and the reasons for this were explained.

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

The following declarations of interest were made:-

-  Councillor M Coulson – personal interest – Agenda Item 13(Minute No. 78 refers) – Leeds/Bradford Corridor – Update Report – in his capacity as a member of the Leeds/Bradford Corridor Working Group.

-  Councillor A Blackburn – personal and prejudicial – Agenda Item 12 (Minute No. 77 refers) – Proposed expansion of 6 primary schools – in her capacity as Governor of Ryecroft Primary School.

An apology for absence from the meeting was submitted on behalf of Councillor A Carter, absent on other Council business.

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

In accordance with the provisions of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, reference was made to the Open Forum item which allowed members of the public up to 10 minutes in total to ask questions or to make representations on any matter which fell within the remit of Area Committee.  On this occasion, no such issues were raised.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 18^th December 2009.

RESOLVED – That the revised draft minutes of the meeting held on 18^th December 2009, as circulated at today’s meeting, be confirmed as a correct record.

a)  Minutes of Community Forum Meetings (Minute No. 55 Refers)

The Area Management Officer reported that the minutes of the Farnley and Wortley Community Forum meeting held on 12^th November 2009 had now been amended in accordance with the comments made at the last Area Committee meeting.

In respect of the reference to the Metro/First Bus services 66 and 67, the Chair indicated that he was fairly optimistic now that he had received a response.

b)  Streetscene Grounds Maintenance Contract – Procurement Strategy

Further to Minute No. 43, 16^th October 2009, the Area Management Officer reported that Roger Foyle’s response to queries raised had now been received and would be circulated separately for Members’ information/ comment.  Roger Foyle was retiring from the Council -  in fact, today was his last day.

RESOLVED – That this Area Committee’s thanks and best wishes for a long and happy retirement be conveyed to Roger Foyle.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Environmental Services.

The Head of Environmental Services submitted a report updating the Committee on the outcome of the 2009 industrial action by refuse collection and street cleansing staff, what this would mean in terms of improved services, and how Area Committees could contribute to revamped services by inputting into local service priorities.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(NB:  Councillor Jarosz joined the meeting at 13:22, during the course of this item.)

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

The Committee considered a report submitted by the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods regarding the range of work undertaken by the Health and Environmental Action Service across the City during Quarter 2 of 2009/10, broken down by Area Committee areas.

Mark Dolman, Service Support Manager, Environmental Services, was in attendance at the meeting, presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

Members requested 6 monthly update reports in future, in colour.  There was also a request for Members to be supplied with an index card containing the names, job designation and telephone numbers of relevant officers who worked in the Area Committee’s area, for ease of reference.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments, the report be received and noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Acting West North West Area Manager.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

The Acting Area Manager submitted a report updating Members on progress on a range of issues included in the Committee’s Area Delivery Plan 2009-12.

The Acting Area Manager reported in detail on the implementation of the Leeds Neighbourhood Index (Appendix to the report), and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  Further Neighbourhood Index Reports would be submitted on a regular basis to the Area Committee and the information and analysis would also be used to establish priorities and allocate resources as part of the Area Delivery Plan process.

In response to a query, the Area Management Officer reported that work was progressing towards re-vamping and reopening the toilets in the Andrew Square car park, and Ward Members would be consulted on the proposals.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

To receive and consider the attached consultation report of the Chief Executive, Education Leeds regarding proposals to expand a further six primary schools in Leeds, including Calverley C of E Primary School and Ryecroft Primary School, Farnley.

The Chief Executive, Education Leeds, submitted, as part of a formal consultation process, a report regarding proposals to expand 6 primary schools in Leeds, including Calverley C of E Primary School and Ryecroft Primary School in the Committee’s area.

George Turnbull, Head of Service – School Organisation, Education Leeds, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  Assurances were given that it was not the intention to expand the schools by the use of temporary classrooms, and that the current under-capacity at Greenhill Primary School would also be taken into consideration as part of the proposals.  It was also confirmed that Ward Members would be consulted separately and would have an opportunity to submit detailed concerns or comments.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments, the report be received and noted.

(NB:-

1  Councillor A Blackburn declared a personal and prejudicial interest in

       this item in her capacity as Governor at Ryecroft Primary School and left the meeting, taking no part in the discussion or voting thereon.

2)  Councillor R Lewis joined the meeting at 14:23, at the conclusion of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Leeds – Bradford Corridor Programme Manager.

The Committee received and considered a report submitted by the Leeds/ Bradford Corridor Programme Manager, who also responded to Members’ queries and comments, including reference to improvements to the appearance of the boundary area, particularly on the Bradford side of the boundary, and Leeds Members’ desire to see the Joint Countryside Committee, serviced by Bradford Council, resurrected.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments, the report be received and noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Acting West North West Area Manager.

RESOLVED – That the report of the Acting West North West Area Manager be received and noted.

RESOLVED – That the report of the Acting West North West Area Manager be received and noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Acting West North West Area Manager.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

The Acting West North West Area Manager submitted a report updating the Committee on proposed community engagement activities linked to the development of the Area Delivery Plan, including two new initiatives utilising local members of the Leeds Citizens’ Panel and a new on-line facility aimed at raising the profile of Area Committees.

Reference was made to a recent successful young people’s PACT meeting, and the police were commended on this initiative.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

(NB:  Councillor Marjoram joined the meeting at 14:50, during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the North West Divisional Community Safety Partnership.

NPT Inspector, Richard Cawkwell, West Yorkshire Police, and Gill Hunter, Area Community Safety Co-ordinator, presented the 2008/09 Annual Report of the area’s Community Safety Partnership, and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  Particular reference was made to the high incidence of domestic burglaries in Leeds, which was now a priority for the police, and nuisance motorbike riders at Post Hill – Inspector Cawkwell undertook to supply Councillor A Blackburn with an update on statistics in regard to the latter.

The police were also commended for a recent Neighbourhood Watch meeting which had taken place in Calverley and Farsley.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments, the report be received and noted.

(NB:  Councillor Parnham left the meeting at 15:15, during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Acting West North West Area Manager.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

The Acting West North West Area Manager submitted a report outlining the work undertaken by Nigel Conder, the Pudsey Town Centre Manager, in the first 12 months of his employment.  Nigel Conder presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments, in particular regarding parking and parking signs and the possible transfer of responsibility for the operation of Pudsey Market to the Area Management Team.

Liz Navin-Jones congratulated the Town Centre Manager on his work over the past 12 months and the links he had managed to forge.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Acting West North West Area Manager.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report be received and noted.

b)  That the following decisions be taken in respect of the applications for funding before the Committee today for consideration:-

Revenue

Post of Pudsey Town Centre Manager – proposed extension for a further period of 2 years - £40,000 per annum to be divided equally between the West Inner and West Outer Area Committees, the situation to be reviewed again at the end of March 2012 – Approved.

Capital

Tyersal shopping parade – environmental improvements - £11,006 – Approved, subject to clarification regarding land ownership and future maintenance arrangements – Chair and Ward Members to be consulted once situation clarified.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating Members on the current amounts of revenue and capital funding available in the Wellbeing Budget, and inviting Members to consider two new applications for funding:-

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report be received and noted.

b)  That the following decisions be taken in respect of the applications for funding before the Committee today for consideration:-

Revenue

Post of Pudsey Town Centre Manager – proposed extension for a further period of 2 years - £40,000 per annum to be divided equally between the West Inner and West Outer Area Committees, the situation to be reviewed again at the end of March 2012 – Approved.

Capital

Tyresal shopping parade – environmental improvements - £11,006 – Approved, subject to clarification regarding land ownership and future maintenance arrangements – Chair and Ward Members to be consulted once situation clarified.

(NB:  The Pudsey Town Centre Manager left the meeting during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Development.

Further to the Area Committee’s previous considerations on this subject, the Director of Development submitted a report outlining proposals to introduce traffic calming measures along Cemetery Road and Owlcotes Road, Pudsey, at an estimated total cost of £75,000 from the Committee’s Wellbeing Budget over the financial years 2010/11 and 2011/12.  Some, or all, of this outlay could possibly be recouped via a  Section 106 agreement, should the development of the adjacent land finally go ahead at some time.

Discussion took place regarding whether or not this proposed project should be funded via the Wellbeing Budget, or Members’ Ward Based Initiative Funds, what the likely situation might be regarding the levels of future Wellbeing Budgets, and the need to seek advice from the Development Department regarding the likelihood, or otherwise, of any possible future Section 106 funding monies being utilised to off-set this proposed outlay on the scheme.

RESOLVED – That a decision be deferred for a further report back, covering the issues highlighted above.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Acting West North West Area Manager.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Area Management Officer submitted a list of provisional agenda items for the next meeting of the Committee on 26^th March 2010.

The Chair raised the prospect of a possible need for a greater number of Area Committee meetings in the next municipal year, and it was reported that a provisional list of Committee dates for 2010/11 would be included on the agenda for the 26^th March meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Friday, 26^th March 2010, 14:00 hours, Farnley Hall.

The meeting concluded at 16:20.