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.)

Further to Minute No.10, 9^th July 2010, information was distributed at the meeting relating to bus ticketing issues (see later Minute No. 27).

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting.)

No declarations of interest were made.

(NB: Councillor A Blackburn joined the meeting at 2.08 pm, during this item.)

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence from the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillors A Carter and J Jarosz and Liz Navin-Jones, Co-Optee.

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.

Reference was made to the provision contained in the Area Committee Procedure Rules for an Open Forum session to take place at every ordinary meeting of an Area Committee, whereby members of the public could ask questions or make representations on any matter which fell within the remit of the Area Committee.  On this occasion, no such matters were raised.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th July 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th July 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

  No exempt items or information have been identified on this agenda.

a)  Children’s Services – Performance Monitoring at Area Committee Level (Minute No. 6 refers)

Amanda Jackson reported that she had today circulated the requested information on teenage pregnancy rates, via email.

b)  Appointment of Co-Optees and Thematic Champions 2010/11 (Minute No. 8 refers)

The Acting Area Manager indicated that a report on Area Committee delegated powers was due to be submitted to the next meeting.  In view of this, it was agreed to defer further consideration regarding the appointment of Thematic Champions 2010/11,

c)  Bus Services – Numbers 9 and 90 (Minute No.10 refers)

Further to Minute No.10, 9^th July 2010, information was circulated regarding ticketing issues in West Yorkshire.

The Chair indicated that his original complaint had related to the fact that, previously, the operating times of these two services had only been 4 minutes apart.  However, since Centrebus had taken over the routes, he was pleased to report that a more sensible schedule had been introduced.

To receive for information purposes the minutes of the Pudsey and Swinnow Community Forum meeting held on 18^th May 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Pudsey and Swinnow Community Forum meeting held on 18^th May 2010 be received and noted.

To receive for information purposes the minutes of the Outer West ALMO Area Panel minutes held on 19^th June 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the ALMO Outer West Area Panel meeting held on 19^th June 2010 be received and noted.

To receive a report from the Acting West / North West Area Manager providing an update on community safety issues and crime trends in Outer West Leeds since the Area Committee meeting in July 2010.

Inspector Richard Cawkwell and Gill Hunter, Divisional Community Safety Co-ordinator, presented a report updating Members regarding community safety issues within the Committee’s area.

Reference was made to the Cottingley Springs engagement day which took place on 24^th August, the difficulties of easily accessing fresh fruit, vegetables, milk, etc, for site residents, and the possibility of encouraging the residents to establish a food co-operative. Tim Taylor, the Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager, undertook to forward this suggestion to an appropriate colleague.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Interim Director of Children’s Services providing the Area Committee with various Children’s Services performance data disaggregated at Area Committee or Ward level.

The Interim Director of Children’s Services submitted a report updating Members on the performance monitoring arrangements for Area Committees in respect of Children’s Services, and containing detailed information on a Ward by Ward basis relating to the numbers of looked after children, the number of referrals for investigation and how quickly these were dealt with.

Amanda Jackson and Mike Brown, Children’s Services, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, the main issues raised were:-

·  Members requested to be supplied with contact details/telephone numbers in respect of both the Daytime Screening Team and the Out of Hours Duty Officer.

·  Variances in figures across the City could be explained by various factors – in many ways it mirrored the indices of deprivation, and was related to income levels, transient populations, family breakdowns, challenging behaviour at home, truancy and exclusion levels, anti-social behaviour, substance abuse, domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse and mental health issues.

·  Farnley and Wortley and Bramley were teenage pregnancy hotspots, and a Young Person’s Sexual Development Officer had been appointed.  Councillor A Blackburn was nominated as Member liaison to meet with this officer, all local Members to be kept informed of developments.

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

To receive and consider a report from the Health and Improvement Manager providing background information about health and wellbeing partnerships and how initial priorities have been developed.

Tim Taylor, Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager, attended the meeting and presented a report updating the Committee on the establishment of multi-agency Health and Wellbeing Partnerships across the City, and how initial priorities had been developed.

The cost and content of school meals was raised as an issue and whether parents had to pay a full £2 per day, per child, which could be prohibitive, or whether the system was flexible enough to allow a ‘mix and match’ approach, at a lower cost, dependent on pupils’ needs/preferences? The Area Manager undertook to put the Member concerned in contact with an officer from Education Leeds. 

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

RESOLVED – That the report on the WNW Area Management Team’s community engagement programme, including the use of the Citizens’ Panel, be received and noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing information in relation to the management of Community Centres in the outer west area.

Item withdrawn – report back to next meeting.

To receive and consider a report from the West North West Acting Area Manager providing Members with an update of wellbeing projects funded in 2009-10.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee on progress in respect of projects approved in 2009/10.

·  West Leeds Visitor Centre – Members raised concerns regarding alleged access problems relating to the Centre and requested a report back to the next meeting.

·  Mobile Youth Bus – Members asked for a report back regarding why the mobile youth bus was still off the road, despite the Committee giving them a grant earlier this year.

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

To note the Forward Plan for October 2010.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Friday, 15^th October 2010

(Farnley Hall, Hall Lane, Farnley)

Friday, 17^th December 2010

(Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawson's Corner, Pudsey)

Friday, 28^th January 2011

(Pudsey Leisure Centre, Market Place, Pudsey)

Friday, 25^th March 2011

(Farnley Hall, Hall Lane, Farnley)

All meetings to commence at 2.00pm.

Friday, 15^th October 2010, Farnley Hall

Friday, 17^th December 2010, Pudsey Civic Centre

Friday, 28^th January 2011, Tyresal Social Club*

Friday, 25^th March 2011, Farnley Hall

All at 2.00 pm. 

*Please note new venue.

The meeting concluded at 4.14 pm.