Agenda, decisions and minutes

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.)

RESOLVED – That the Acting Area Manager convey the Committee’s best wishes for a speedy recovery to Ex-Councillors Frank Robinson and Amanda Carter, following their recent illnesses.

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

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

Reference was made to a late report circulated after the main agenda had been despatched.  This was a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods relating to the proposed delegation of elements of the Streetscene Service to Area Committees.  It had not been available at the time of agenda despatch due to the need for prior discussion at the Area Chairs’ Forum meeting held on 8^th October 2010.  In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to accept the report as a late item of urgent business (Agenda Item 12, Minute No. 49 refers).

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 personal interests were made:-

-  Councillor A Carter – Agenda Item 10 (Minute No. 46 refers) -  Wellbeing Budget 2010/11 – Application for funding from Calverley Horticultural Society – In his capacity as President of the Society.

-  Councillor J Marjoram – Agenda Item 10 (Minute No. 46 refers) -  Wellbeing Budget 2010/11 – Application for funding from Calverley Horticultural Society – In his capacity as a local allotment holder.

(See also later Minute Nos. 46 and 52.)

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence from the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillors J Hardy and R Lewis and Claire Warren, Chief Executive of West North West Homes ALMO.

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 attached minutes of the meeting held on 10^th September 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th September 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

a)  Community Safety  Report (Minute No. 30 refers)

The Area Management Officer reported that, following the discussion at the last meeting, Tim Taylor, the Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager, was arranging for one of his colleagues to explore with residents of the Cottingley Springs site the possibility of establishing a food co-operative.

b)  Children’s Services – Performance Report (Minute No. 31 refers)

Further to the discussion at the last meeting regarding teenage pregnancy ‘hotspots’, Amanda Jackson, Children’s Services, was arranging meetings for Councillor A Blackburn (and Councillor N Taggart, West Inner), with the newly appointed Young Person’s Sexual Development Officer.

c)  Community Centres – Update Report – (Minute No. 34 refers)

This would now be submitted to the December meeting.

d)  West Leeds Visitor Centre (Minute No. 35 refers)

Councillor Coulson reported that the access problems for wheelchair users at the West Leeds Visitor Centre had still not been resolved.  Discussions were ongoing regarding altering the entrance doors, and it was still unclear whether or not disabled toilet facilities would be available.  In the meantime, it was probable that a new, fully equipped disabled toilet would be provided at Pudsey Leisure Centre, in the area previously occupied by the crèche.  If this was regarded as an acceptable alternative for users of the West Leeds Visitor Centre, then it would need clear and careful signposting.

e)  Mobile Youth Bus (Minute 35 refers)

The Area Management Officer reported that she understood that the vehicle had now been repaired and was due to shortly be back in service following driver training and a new risk assessment, which was a requirement of the insurance policy.

A Member raised concerns regarding the Youth Service allegedly withdrawing a weekly indoor football session at Pudsey Leisure Centre, organised jointly with the St Andrew’s Youth Club, apparently due to financial cut-backs.  Local Members had not been consulted or even informed of this decision, and the Member had written to the head of the Youth Service for an explanation.

The Acting Area Manager undertook to pursue this particular issue on behalf of Members.  On a wider front, the Area Committee Chairs’ Forum had last week agreed to request that a Youth Service update report be submitted to all Area Committees in the December cycle of meetings.

(NB:  Councillor A Blackburn joined the meeting at 14:13, during the consideration of this item.)

To receive for information purposes the minutes of the following Community Forum meetings :-

Pudsey and Swinnow Forum, 14^th September 2010

Tyersal Forum, 29^th September 2010

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings of the Pudsey and Swinnow Forum held on 14^th September 2010 and the Tyersal Forum held on 29^th September 2010 be received and noted.

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

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee regarding its revenue and capital balances for 2010/11, together with details of Small Grants made since the last meeting and three applications for funding before the Committee today for decision.

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  The need to utilise or to commit the remaining capital balance during the current financial year.

·  The reallocation of surplus CCTV expenditure following a reconciliation covering the past four years.

·  The use of Members’ local initiatives funds (MICE, etc), what this was used for and what the Wellbeing Fund should be utilised for.

·  Repairs/replacement to Pudsey Town Centre railings – Members regarded this as a routine highways maintenance issue which should be referred to the Highways Department and the costs met from the central budget.

·  Concerns were expressed regarding the possibility that the proposed bus lay-by provision on the west side of Lidget Hill, Pudsey, might not now go ahead following a central review of the Town and District Centre schemes budget and any projects not yet committed.  Members indicated, in the strongest possible terms, that they were not at all happy with the prospect of this essential improvement not being implemented.  Nor did they regard it as fair that the Area Committee should, at this late stage, be expected to make match funding available to allow the scheme to proceed.  The proposal was long-awaited and much anticipated by local people and must proceed.  The Acting Area Manager undertook to relay the depth of Members’ feelings back to the centre.

·  Pudsey Park Bowling Green sign – Small Grant – Members expressed some surprise at a Small Grant request recently received from Pudsey Park Bowling Club, as they had benefited from £21,600 given to them as a result of the relocation of the Pudsey Cons Cricket Club.  It was reported that the Small Grant (£150) had already been paid out. 

·  In response to a Member’s query, it was reported that no Small Grant application had yet been received on behalf of Friends of Woodhall Lake.

RESOLVED –

a)   That the revised amount of revenue and capital funding now available to the Area Committee in 2010/11 be noted.

b)   That the Small Grants made since the last meeting, and the budget balance, also be noted.

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

Capital

i)  Calverley Horticultural Society – Communal Greenhouse - £2,015 –  Approved

ii)  Highfield Green footpath - £3,152 –  Approved

Revenue

West Yorkshire Police – capture car - £6,567 – Approved

d)   That in respect of the identified surplus of £35,926.18 in respect of CCTV expenditure, £30,000 of this sum be re-allocated to the revenue budget 2010/11, and the remainder be set aside for contingencies.

(NB:  1  Councillor A Blackburn declared a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of the application from West North West Homes ALMO for the Highfield Green footpath, in her capacity as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

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

The Acting Area Manager submitted a report updating the Committee on progress in respect of implementation of the Committee’s Area Delivery Plan 2008-2011.

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  A Central Government in-year cut to the funding in respect of the Community Environment Support Officers (CESOs), which had placed pressure on the Council’s central Departmental budgets.  The Council was now being forced to request Area Committees to consider funding these posts for the remainder of the current financial year (£20,271.42 from 1^st October to 31^st March, or £16,892.85 from 1^st November to 31^st March), after which the situation would be reviewed.

The Committee felt that the one full-time and one part-time CESO employed in the Committee’s area provided an invaluable service and, in principle, the Committee was not opposed to the idea of providing some top-up funding for 2010/11.  However, the Committee regarded that, in return, there needed to be some acknowledgement and flexibility shown by the centre in terms of possible carry-over of this Committee’s revenue and capital Wellbeing Budget balances at the end of the financial year.  The Committee instructed the Acting Area Manager to enter into discussions, without commitment, on its behalf.

The Chair indicated that, subject to the outcome of the Acting Area Manager’s discussions, it might be necessary to subsequently review the deployment of the CESO posts, to ensure that all Wards were receiving a service, dependent on their relevant needs.

·   Wadlands Wetlands Project, Farsley (not Calverley) – Now progressing towards a formal planning application.

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

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Environment Services Officer.

The Chief Environmental Services Officer submitted a report updating the Committee regarding the implementation of the new Grounds Maintenance Contract with effect from 1^st January 2012.

In attendance at the meeting, and responding to Members’ queries and comments, were Giles Jeffs, Environment and Neighbourhoods, Peter McGouran, Highways Services and Richard Britten, West North West Homes ALMO.

In brief summary, the points of discussion were:-

·  The attention paid to developing the mapping database over the course of the current contract, leading to far less difficulties regarding ownership of areas of land.

·  The more robust monitoring arrangements linked to the new contract, including a commitment from the ALMOs in respect of their areas of land.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

(Report to follow).

Further to Minute No. 39, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted an information report regarding proposals for parts of the Streetscene Service (street cleaning, litter bins, graffiti removal and fly-tipping) to be delegated to Area Committees.  This would provide Area Committees with the opportunity to shape, control and steer these services in their areas.

The proposal would involve each Area Committee negotiating a local Service Level Agreement with Streetscene Services, and to assist and guide this process, it was proposed that the District Local Environmental Quality Survey (DLEQS) system, devised by the Keep Britain Tidy Group, be utilised.

Members expressed some reservations regarding the proposals, especially the suggested needs-led resource allocation element.

RESOLVED – That an Environmental Services Sub-Group be established to consider the proposals in greater detail, comprising the Chair, Councillor Jarosz and a  Calverley and Farsley Member, to be advised.

(NB:  1  Councillor A Carter left the meeting at 15:37, during the consideration of this item. 

2.  Liz Navin-Jones left the meeting at 15:41, at the conclusion of this item.)

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

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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(NB:  Councillor J Marjoram left the meeting at 15:56 at the conclusion of this item.)

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

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee on the work of the Health and Environmental Action Service for the first six months of 2010/11, with particular emphasis on enforcement action.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of West North West Homes ALMO.

Lynne Hamshaw, Neighbourhoods and Performance Manager, West North West Homes ALMO, presented a report on the extensive work carried out by the ALMO, in consultation with residents and local Members, in reviewing the sheltered housing service in the ALMO’s area.  This had resulted in the ALMO successfully bidding to operate the service in its area.

Lynne Hamshaw responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In summary, Members were very pleased with both the method and outcome of the review, which provided a positive way forward and which, most importantly of all, provided an enhanced service for residents.

(NB:  Councillor A Blackburn declared a personal interest in this item in her capacity as a Director of West North West Homes ALMO.)

Friday 17^th December 2010, Pudsey Civic Centre

Friday 28^th January 2011, Tyersal Social Club

Friday 25^th March 2011, Farnley Hall

All at 2.00pm.

Friday, 17^th December 2010, 2.00 pm, Pudsey Civic Centre.

Friday 28^th January 2011, 2.00 pm, Tyersal Social Club.

Friday 25^th March 2011, 2.00 pm, Farnley Hall

The meeting concluded at 4.30 pm.