Agenda, decisions and minutes

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 and prejudicial interests were made:-

Councillor M. Coulson – Agenda Item 10 (Min. No. 76 refers) – Wellbeing Fund Applications – application in respect of Pudsey In Bloom, in his capacity as a member of Pudsey In Bloom;

Councillor R. Wood - Agenda Item 10 (Min. No. 76 refers) – Wellbeing Fund Applications – application in respect of Calverley In Bloom, in his capacity as a member of Calverley In Bloom;

To receive any apologies for absence.

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

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th December 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th December 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

(a)  Cottingley Springs – Food Co-operative (Min. No. 59(b) refers)

With reference to Councillor Hardy’s suggestion, at the meeting held on 15^th October 2010 (Min. No. 44(a) refers), that the possibility of establishing a food co-operative for residents of the Cottingley Springs gypsy and traveller site should be investigated, it was reported that discussions were ongoing involving Councillor Hardy and GATE (Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange) to see if the interest was there.  There was a possibility of Councillor Hardy funding from his MICE money the training of some Community Health Educators, to promote healthy eating / living, but a possible stumbling block to the initiative was perceived as the non-availability of community cooking facilities on the site.  Discussions were ongoing;

(b)  West Leeds Visitor Centre – Disabled Access (Min. No. 59 (e) refers)

It was reported that Phil Staniforth, Parks and Countryside, was still trying to resolve the issues previously identified and discussed by the Committee.  Work had been done on the entrance doors, but the proposed access ramp and the re-configuration of the furniture was still outstanding.  Councillor Coulson was being kept appraised.

(c)  Young People – Teenage Pregnancy Rates (Min. No.62 refers)

Councillor A. Blackburn reported that unfortunately, due to another Council commitment, she had been unable to attend the Sexual Health Development networking event held at Stanningley Rugby Club on 13^th January, and she requested Amanda Jackson, Children’s Services, to let her have a copy of the report of the event (see also Paragraph 3.21 of Area Manager’s report, Min No.77 refers)

To receive and note for information purposes the minutes of the ALMO West Outer Area Panel meeting held on 13^th October 2010.

The minutes of the ALMO Outer West Area Panel meeting held on 13^th October 2010 were circulated.

  Reference was made to the fact that at that time, the Panel had only spent £38,745 of its budget, and still had a balance of £81,255 to spend.

  It was explained that there had been another meeting in December, so the figures quoted did not represent a true picture.  The Panel had expressed a preference to support smaller scale schemes, rather than some of the larger ones submitted to it by that date.

  Funding of a replacement bingo machine – Application No. 83 – 2010 refers – the Area Management Officer undertook to check out the latest position and respond to Councillor A. Blackburn.

  RESOLVED – that the minutes be received and noted, and Kevin Bruce, West North West Homes, be requested to make the Committee’s views regarding spending levels known to the ALMO Area Panel.

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 introduce Tom Riordan, Chief Executive Leeds City Council.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Tom Riordan, Chief Executive, Leeds City Council.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing the Area Committee with an update on the amount of capital and revenue funding available via the Area Committee Wellbeing Budget for wards in the Outer West Area.  The report also seeks approval for new projects commissioned by the Area Management Team.

RESOLVED – (a) That the report be noted, including the revenue and capital wellbeing budget balances and the Small Grants 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)  Serious Fun activity challenge - £5,000 – Deferred – invite applicants to the next meeting;

(ii)  Covert crime reduction initiative, West Yorkshire Police - £3,563 – Approved in principle (2010/11 budget), West North West Homes ALMO to be approached regarding a contribution;

(iii) School Sports Partnership - £4,000 – Approved (2010/11 budget), subject to the funds being used exclusively for the benefit of young people who live in the Committee’s area;

(iv)  Pudsey In Bloom - £4,000 – Approved in principle (2011/12 budget)

(v)  Calverley In Bloom - £3,000 – Approved in principle (2011/12 budget);

(vi)  Farsley In Bloom - £3,000 – Approved in principle (2011/12 budget);

(vii)  ‘ I Love West Leeds ‘ – various options -

Approved in principle (2011/12 budget), subject to the decision of the West Inner Area Committee at its meeting on 16^th February 2011. Final decision to be taken by the Director under delegated powers following consultation with the Chair and Councillors Jarosz and Wood;

Capital

(i)  Pudsey St. Lawrence Cricket Club - £3,000 – Approved (2010/11 budget), subject to the proposed works being approved for DDA purposes;

(ii) Pudsey Leisure Centre – signage - £2,346.40 – Approved (2010/11 budget);

(iii) Smiley SID - £2,495 – Approved (2010/11 budget);

(iv) Covert crime reduction initiative, West Yorkshire Police - £2,500 – Approved in principle (2010/11 budget), West North West Homes ALMO to be approached regarding a contribution;

(v) Pudsey Juniors, Tyersal Park - £5,000 – Approved (2010/11 budget), subject to all necessary permissions being obtained for the proposed works..

(c) That the proposed re-allocation of unspent funding within the Small Grants and Community Skips budgets back into the revenue wellbeing budget be 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 Small Grants approved since the last meeting and several applications for funding before the Committee today for a decision.

  In approving in principle the application from West Yorkshire Police in respect of the covert crime reduction initiative, the Committee made it clear that the approval related solely to 2010/11 – the Committee could not commit itself to fund this project in future years.

  RESOLVED – (a) That the report be noted, including the revenue and capital wellbeing budget balances and the Small Grants 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)  Serious Fun activity challenge - £5,000 – Deferred – invite applicants to the next meeting;

(ii)  Covert crime reduction initiative, West Yorkshire Police - £3,563 – Approved in principle (2010/11 budget), West North West Homes ALMO to be approached regarding a contribution;

(iii) School Sports Partnership - £4,000 – Approved (2010/11 budget), subject to the funds being used exclusively for the benefit of young people who live in the Committee’s area;

(iv)  Pudsey In Bloom - £4,000 – Approved in principle (2011/12 budget)

(v)  Calverley In Bloom - £3,000 – Approved in principle (2011/12 budget);

(vi)  Farsley In Bloom - £3,000 – Approved in principle (2011/12 budget);

(vii)  ‘ I Love West Leeds ‘ – various options -

Approved in principle (2011/12 budget), subject to the decision of the West Inner Area Committee at its meeting on 16^th February 2011. Final decision to be taken by the Director under delegated powers following consultation with the Chair and Councillors Jarosz and Wood;

Capital

(i)  Pudsey St. Lawrence Cricket Club - £3,000 – Approved (2010/11 budget), subject to the proposed works being approved for DDA purposes;

(ii) Pudsey Leisure Centre – signage - £2,346.40 – Approved (2010/11 budget);

(iii) Smiley SID - £2,495 – Approved (2010/11 budget);

(iv) Covert crime reduction initiative, West Yorkshire Police - £2,500 – Approved in principle (2010/11 budget), West North West Homes ALMO to be approached regarding a contribution;

(v) Pudsey Juniors, Tyersal Park - £5,000 – Approved (2010/11 budget), subject to all necessary permissions being obtained for the proposed works..

(c) That the proposed re-allocation of unspent funding within the Small Grants and Community Skips budgets back into the revenue wellbeing budget be approved.

(N.B. Councillors M.Coulson and R. Wood left the meeting during the consideration of and voting on the applications in respect of Pudsey in Bloom and Calverley In Bloom (See Min. No.69)).

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods informing Members of progress on a number of initiatives in Outer West Leeds as determined by the Area Delivery Plan 2008-11, and highlighting key achievements of the Area Management Team since the last Area Committee meeting in December 2010.

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 – 2011.

(a)  Community Development Worker, Swinnow – report to next Area Committee meeting on 25^th March.

(b)  Sexual Health Development and Teenage Pregnancy Rates – Further to Min No. 72 (c), the Area Management Officer undertook to obtain and to circulate to all West Outer Members the report of the event held on 13^th January 2011 at Stanningley Rugby Club.

To receive the Forward Plan of Area Committee Business for March 2011.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods introducing Inspector Richard Cawkwell from West Yorkshire Police to provide an update on Crime and Community Safety Issues in Outer West Leeds since the Area Committee meeting in December 2010.

      Inspector Richard Cawkwell and Gill Hunter, Divisional Community Safety Co-ordinator, presented a report updating the Committee regarding the latest crime statistics and community safety initiatives in the Committee’s area, and responded to Members’ queries.

  Also present was Superintendent Martin Deacon, who thanked the Committee for its continuing support in assisting West Yorkshire Police to tackle crime, and also indicated that maintaining front line policing was the top priority at this time of economic cutbacks.

  RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Children’s Services providing Area Committees with an update against key data relating to education for the academic year 2009-10; and November 2010 NEET and Not Known data.  The report also provides details of recent key inspections that have taken place across Children’s Services and provides an update on the development of the new Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) 2011-2015.

RESOLVED – That the item be deferred to the next meeting in March.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods updating the Area Committee on progress towards achieving delegation of certain environmental services from the 2011/12 municipal year.

      Further to Minute No. 49, 15^th October 2010, Helen Freeman, Chief Officer, Health & Environmental Action Services, presented a report updating the Committee on the proposals to delegate elements of the Streetscene Services to Area Committees, and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

·     Members expressed a degree of frustration regarding the incorrect information on current mechanical cleansing rounds circulated at the Member briefing sessions held earlier in the month, and also regarding the lack of concrete detail regarding current levels of service and expenditure levels in each area.  It was difficult for Members to comment in an informed manner on proposed service levels when they had little or no information regarding current service levels and expenditure.

Helen Freeman acknowledged that incorrect information on mechanical cleansing levels had been circulated, and apologised.  The new manual street cleansing rounds were due to go live next week, and the mechanical cleansing rounds would be re-drawn, based on the experience gained following the roll-out of the manual routes;

·    Phase 2 of the proposal implementation plan was about to commence, comprising consultation with Area Committee Chairs regarding proposed Service Level Agreements, followed by another series of workshops for all Members.  Hopefully, any outstanding concerns would be dealt with during this phase.

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

To receive and consider a report from the Health & Wellbeing Improvement Manager – West North West outlining the significant changes taking place locally following publication of the recent government white paper and highlighting implications for the work of the local area partnerships.

  The West North West Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager submitted a report outlining the significant changes taking place locally following the publication of the Government’s White Paper ‘Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’, and highlighting the implications for the work of the local area partnerships.

  RESOLVED – that the report be received and noted

To receive and consider a report from the Deputy Director of Adult Social Care (Strategic Commissioning) presenting information relating to future options for long term residential and day care services for older people.

  The Committee considered a report submitted by the Deputy Director of Adult Social Care (Strategic Commissioning) regarding a review of current provision and possible future options in respect of long term residential care and day care services for older people, with a reference to current facilities within the Committee’s area.

·   Paragraph 6 – reference was made to the fact that Westholme was missing from the list of provision in the Committee’s area;

·   The Chair suggested that a Sub-Group be established, comprising one Member from each Ward in the West Outer area, to study the proposals in greater detail and to prepare a response on behalf of the Committee.

RESOLVED – that a Sub-Group be established, comprising the Chair and Councillors A. Carter and J. Jarosz, to study the proposals in greater detail and to prepare a response on behalf of the Area Committee

Friday, 25^th March 2011 at 2.00 pm

Farnley Hall, Hall Lane, Leeds, LS12 5HA

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

  The Chair stated that he had asked for a list to be drawn up regarding local meeting venues and their relative costs, and this was circulated.  It was agreed to take this information into account when considering the dates, times and venues of meetings in 2011/12 at the next meeting.