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.)

On behalf of the Area Committee, the Chair presented local PCSO Mick Cox with a Certificate of Appreciation in acknowledgement of his hard work and dedication in serving the residents of the area.

The Chair and Inspector Richard Cawkwell paid tribute to PCSO Cox, who had recently won a prestigious national Police award for his outstanding work, which Inspector Cawkwell stated was in the best traditions of the Police force.  Local Members added their thanks and congratulations.

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.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence from the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillors R Lewis, J Marjoram and R Wood 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 an Area Committee.  On this occasion, no such matters were raised.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 15^th October 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th October 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

a)  Ex-Councillors Frank Robinson and Amanda Carter (Minute No. 38 refers)

On behalf of his wife, Councillor Carter passed on her thanks for the Committee’s best wishes, expressed at the last meeting.

Councillor Carter reported that ex-Councillor Frank Robinson was  recovering after his recent health problems, and also passed on his kind regards to the Committee.

b)  Community Safety Report – Cottingley Springs (Minute No. 44(a) refers)

Further to Minute No. 44(a), 15^th October 2010, the Area Management Officer reported that, via the Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager, the initiative of a possible food co-operative at Cottingley Springs was being pursued.

c)  Children’s Services – Performance Report (Minute No. 44(b) refers)

Further to Minute No. 44(b), 15^th October 2010, a group had been established in connection with teenage pregnancy ‘hotspots’ and Councillor A Blackburn (and N Taggart) had recently had a meeting with the newly appointed Young Person’s Sexual Development Worker.  A further event was planned for 13^th January and Amanda Jackson, Children’s Services, undertook to let Members have details.

d)  Community Centres – Update Report (Minute No. 44(c) refers)

The Acting Area Manager reported that the proposed report back on Community Centres had been overtaken by a corporate review of Area Committee delegations as a whole, therefore a report would have to be submitted to a later meeting.

Members briefly discussed charges and subsidy levels at Community Centres, both those operated directly by the Council and those leased out to other organisations.  The Acting Area Manager undertook to forward to Councillor Hardy the brief for the current review referred to above.

e)  West Leeds Visitor Centre (Minute No. 44(d) refers)

Phil Staniforth, Parks and Countryside Service, reported that, via Corporate Property Management, some revised works were proposed to the entrance doors, an access ramp and re-configuring the furniture, to make the Centre more wheelchair accessible, but he could not state when the work would be completed.

f)  Youth Service Update Report (Minute No. 44(e) refers)

The Acting Area Manager reported that Youth Services had recently been discussed at the Area Committee Chairs’ Forum, and a report would be submitted to all Area Committees shortly.

With regard to the recent issue regarding the cancellation of the football sessions at Pudsey Leisure Centre, referred to at the last meeting, the Acting Area Manager had raised Members’ concerns with Suzanne Wainwright, Youth Services, and the criticism regarding the lack of consultation and communication with local Members had been accepted.

g)  Wellbeing Budget 2010/11 – Update Report (Minute No. 46 refers)

Further to Minute No. 46, 15^th October 2010, the Acting Area Manager reported that since the last meeting, a small grant application had been approved in respect of Friends of Woodhall Lake.

h)  Posts of Community Environment Support Officers (Minute No. 47 refers)

Further to Minute No. 47, 15^th October 2010, the Acting Area Manager stated that he had raised, at the centre, the Members’ point regarding the funding of these CESO posts, but had received no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

To receive and note for information purposes the attached minutes of the ALMO West Outer Area Panel meeting held on 11^th August 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the above meeting be received and noted.

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

RESOLVED  - (a) That the report be noted, including the revenue and capital wellbeing budget balances and the Small Grants and Community Skips approved since the last meeting;

(b) That the following decisions be taken in respect of those applications before the Committee today for determination :-

REVENUE

(i)  Summer band concerts - £3,000 – Approved

(ii)  Town Centre Manager post - £25,000 – Approved

(iii)  Farnley and Wortley noticeboards - £2,054 - Approved

(iv)  New Farnley Village Design Statement - £3,432.49 – Approved

(v)  Community Environmental Support Officers - £10,135.71 – Approved

CAPITAL

(i)  CASAC Burglary Reduction - £10,000 – Approved

(ii)  Bagley Lane traffic scheme - £10,600 – Approved

(iii)  Lidget Hill layby - £20,000 – £10,000 approved in principle, subject to further representations regarding this being match funded (£10,000) from the Town and District Centre Regeneration budget;

(iv)  New Farnley Community Centre – roof repairs - £2,300 – Approved.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee on its revenue and capital Wellbeing Budget balances for 2010/11, together with details of the Small Grants and Community Skips Budgets, and several applications for funding before the Committee today for decision.

RESOLVED –

a) 

a)   That the report be noted, including the revenue and capital wellbeing budget balances and the Small Grants and Community Skips approved since the last meeting.

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

Revenue

i)   Summer band concerts - £3,000 – Approved

ii)   Town Centre Manager post - £25,000 – Approved

iii)   Farnley and Wortley noticeboards - £2,054 - Approved

iv)   New Farnley Village Design Statement - £3,432.49 – Approved

v)   Community Environmental Support Officers - £10,135.71 – Approved

Capital

i)   CASAC Burglary Reduction - £10,000 – Approved

ii)  Bagley Lane traffic scheme - £10,600 – Approved

iii)   Lidget Hill layby - £20,000 – £10,000 approved in principle, subject to further representations regarding this being match funded (£10,000) from the Town and District Centre Regeneration budget;

iv)   New Farnley Community Centre – roof repairs - £2,300 –Approved.

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee on progress against the Committee’s Area Delivery Plan 2008-11.

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

·  Transport – Paragraph 3.17 refers – The Acting Area Manager corrected the information at Paragraph 3.17 of the report – following the meeting with local traders, it was actually the Robin Lane car park which would be restricted to 2 hour parking, not Lidget Hill.  The existing short stay spaces in Lidget Hill and the Leisure Centre car parks would be retained;

·  Young People – Amanda Jackson, Children’s Services, undertook to furnish Local Members with some further information regarding the content of Paragraph 3.14.

RESOLVED – That report be noted, and the draft Community Charter and the ‘Leeds Spending Challenge’ documents be received and endorsed.

Copy attached.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

RESOLVED – That report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement).

The Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) submitted a report outlining proposals for the development of locality working in Leeds, involving the proposed introduction of three, wedge-based Area Leader posts, to replace existing senior area management arrangements, and the development of greater levels of integrated working arrangements, both in- Council, but also with the Council’s partner organisations, to achieve greater levels of service delegation and better outcomes for residents across the City.

Shaid Mahmood, Locality Working Pathfinder, SE Leeds, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, the main discussion points were:-

·  Regardless of the merits, or otherwise, of the proposals, Members were highly critical of the manner in which they were being handled.  They had already been approved by the Executive Board on Wednesday, 15^th December, so Area Committees were not being consulted on the proposals, they were being informed of a decision already taken.

In response, Shaid Mahmood indicated that the proposals had previously been discussed at the Area Committee Chairs’ Forum, and endorsed in principle.  It was very unfortunate that, due to the meeting cycle, some Area Committees had been informed of the proposals prior to the Executive Board meeting, and others afterwards.  The need to bring the proposals forward more quickly than might otherwise have been the case was entirely due to the financial situation the Council now found itself in following the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, and the drive for leaner, more co-ordinated services across the public sector.  He emphasised the benefits of the proposals, and that the 10 draft design principles appended to the report were just that – draft principles which would be consulted on.  He was happy to provide local Members with separate in-depth briefings, and some Members would also be involved in the recruitment process for the new Area Leader posts.  It was also proposed to provide Council Members with a copy of the response to Councillor Cleasby’s recent queries and criticisms.

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

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Parks and Countryside.

Phil Staniforth presented the report of the Head of Parks and Countryside, outlining current services and planned improvements to facilities in the Committee’s area.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

Inspector Richard Cawkwell and Gill Hunter, Divisional Community Safety Co-ordinator, presented the annual report of the NW Divisional Community Safety Partnership, and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

In particular, they offered to pursue in greater depth a CCTV incident, if the Member in question supplied them separately with further details.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted, and the Police and officers be congratulated in respect of their hard work, which is evidenced in the report.

(NB:  Councillor A Blackburn joined the meeting at 3.45 pm, during the consideration of this item.)

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

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

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

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

Councillor Hardy indicated that when consideration was given to setting dates and times for the 2011/12 municipal year, he would like some thought to be given to the possibility of at least some of the meetings being held in the evening.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair congratulated Councillor Jarosz on her recent marriage.

The meeting concluded at 4.00 pm.