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 Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting.)

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents in accordance with Procedure Rule 25 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules.

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:

There were no resolutions to exclude the public.

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

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

There were no late items, however Appendices A, B, C, D and G to Agenda item 8 (Minute 34 refers) and Appendix 1 to agenda item 12 (Minute 38 refers) had been provided after the publication of the agenda.

The Appendices to agenda item 8 had previously been provided to Members on a CD-ROM, however hard copies were circulated for ease of reference. The minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held on Friday 17^th June 2011 were not available until they had been approved at the following meeting, which was held on 5^th September 2011.

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.

There were no declarations of 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.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Hardy and J Marjoram.

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 8^th July 2011.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th July 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

Further to Minute 13, the Area Management Officer reported that work was ongoing to find a Co-optee to represent the Pudsey Ward. Councillor Coulson informed Members that he was waiting for a response from a potential Co-optee. It was agreed that the Area Management Officer would liaise with Councillor Coulson regarding this issue.

To receive a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods presenting to the Area Committee, for approval, a final version of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) through which the work of the Environmental Locality team will be steered over for the remainder of the 2011/ 12 municipal year.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED  -

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)  That the Service Level Agreement (as attached at Appendix 1 to the report) be approved.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report presenting to the Area Committee, for approval, a final version of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) through which the work of the Environment Locality team will be steered for the remainder of the 2011/12 municipal year.

Rachel McCormack, Acting Service Manager for the West North West Locality Team was in attendance to present the report and respond to Members’ questions.

In response to Members’ queries, it was reported that an 8 day cycle had been introduced for mechanical path and road sweeping, which would help to establish a fairer share of weekend sweeping. Members were also informed that the areas listed in Appendix D to the report (Mechanical Sweeping Block Schedule) could be identified from the maps contained on the CD-ROM, which had been circulated to Members.

It was noted that the Service Level Agreement was a good starting point, and that there would be an opportunity to make adjustments as required. The importance of the work of the Environmental Sub-Committee was also highlighted.

A concern was raised in relation to the appropriateness of the scripts used by the Council’s customer service helpdesk, as the assurances provided were not always delivered. The Area Leader undertook to raise these concerns with the Chief Customer Services Officer.

RESOLVED  -

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)  That the Service Level Agreement (as attached at Appendix 1 to the report) be approved.

To receive a report of the West North West Area Leader updating Members on the current amount of capital and revenue funding committed and available via the Area Committee Well-Being Budget for wards in the Outer West area.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the relatively small amount of revenue Well-Being budget available for 2011-12 be noted; and

(b)  That the small grant approvals that have been made since the last Area Committee meeting in July 2011 be noted.

The Area Management Officer presented a report of the West North West Area Leader updating Members on the current amount of capital and revenue funding committed and available via the Area Committee Well-Being budget for wards in the Outer West area.

Members were informed that the Dragons 20mph scheme had under spent by £20,000, therefore this money would be used to finance the Pudsey and Bramley Athletics Club capital scheme which was approved by the Area Committee on 8^th July 2011. The Committee’s remaining revenue balance for 2011/12 is therefore £27,867.

Given the relatively small budget remaining, the Chair requested that Members consider whether there are any applications likely to come before the Area Committee. One example provided was a need to provide a gate to close off a ginnel next to the Farsley AFC stand, where there was evidence of drug abuse and arson. Members were asked to provide the Area Management Officer with details of any other potential applications.

Members were informed that a small grant application would be received from the Rotary Club of Calverley, in order to assist the Club in providing Christmas Day lunches to vulnerable people. Members were asked to inform Councillor Wood if they were aware of anyone who could benefit from this initiative.

The need to better promote alternative sources of funding, such as MICE money, was highlighted. In order to ensure that all funding is distributed as fairly as possible, it was agreed that an additional question should be included in the application process to ascertain whether applicants had already received funding from another source.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the relatively small amount of revenue Well-Being budget available for 2011-12 be noted; and

(b)  That the small grant approvals that have been made since the last Area Committee meeting in July 2011 be noted.

To receive a report of the West North West Area Leader describing how the capital Well-Being budget in the West North West has been spent, for what purpose and the benefits gained from its expenditure.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

The West North West Area Leader submitted a report describing how the capital Well-Being budget in the West North West has been spent, for what purpose, and the benefits gained from its expenditure.

Members agreed that it was useful to look at projects historically and assess what has and hasn’t worked. The high level of funding levered in by projects, for example £80,000 for Tyersal Park, was also discussed.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive a report of the West North West Area Leader informing Members of progress against the Area Management work programme for Outer West Leeds and local contributions to Council priorities.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)  That the Area Management Officer discuss the matter of identifying a Co-optee for the Area Committee from the Pudsey ward with Councillor Coulson.

The Area Management Officer presented a report of the West North West Area Leader informing Members of progress against the Area Management work programme for Outer West Leeds, and local contributions to Council priorities.

As the Area Delivery Plan only ran to March 2011, a Business Plan for 2011-14 will be presented to the Area Committee at its meeting on 16^th December 2011.

Samuel Forbes, Business Partner at Robin Lane Medical Centre was in attendance for this item to update the Area Committee on the recent acquisition of Manor House and future plans. It was reported that Manor House would become a Health and Wellbeing Centre, and that a steering group of local partners would be set up to oversee this. One of the aims was to introduce a more proactive model for general practice, seeking to prevent illness before it occurs.

David Smith, the new Station Commander at Stanningley Fire Station was also in attendance to introduce himself to the Area Committee. Members were requested to provide details of any vulnerable people/areas they were aware of, which the service could assist by providing advice, smoke detectors and firefly (retrospective) stickers, for example. The work being undertaken by the Rotary Club of Calverley to help with this was highlighted. It was agreed that the Area Management Officer would provide the service with details of useful contacts, for example Adult Social Care and Live at Home Schemes.

The issue of finding a Co-optee to represent the Pudsey ward on the Area Committee was raised. It was agreed that the Area Management Officer would liaise with Councillor Coulson regarding this issue.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the content of the report be noted; and

(b)  That the Area Management Officer discuss the matter of identifying a Co-optee for the Area Committee from the Pudsey ward with Councillor Coulson.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) formally notifying Members that the minutes of Area Chairs Forum meetings will be brought to Area Committee meetings as a regular agenda item, and to give a brief overview of the Area Chairs Forum meetings.

(Council Function)

NB Please note that the first set of minutes will be circulated once they have been approved on 5^th September 2011.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) submitted a report formally notifying Members that the minutes of Area Chairs Forum meetings will be brought to Area Committee meetings as a regular agenda item, and to give a brief overview of the Area Chairs Forum meetings.

RESOLVED  -

(a)  That the content of the report be noted; and

(b)  That minutes from the Area Chairs Forum meetings be considered at this and future Area Committee meetings.

To receive a report of the North West Divisional Community Safety Partnership providing information on crime trends, partnership initiatives and future joint projects between Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police in Outer West Leeds.

(Council Function)

Inspector Richard Cawkwell presented a report providing information on crime trends, partnership initiatives and future joint projects between Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police in Outer West Leeds. Gill Hunter, Divisional Community Safety Co-ordinator was also in attendance to update the Area Committee and respond to Members’ queries.

Burglary levels were highlighted as the main area of concern, as they are currently higher when compared to the same time last year.

RESOLVED – That the update from West Yorkshire Police and Community Safety, Environment and Neighbourhoods, be noted.

To receive a report of the Pudsey Town Centre Manager providing an update on issues relating to Pudsey Town Centre.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

The Pudsey Town Centre Manager submitted a report providing an update on issues relating to Pudsey Town Centre.

The following issues were raised:

• Vandalism in Pudsey Park, particularly the soft surface area, and the need to move a CCTV camera to this area if possible;
• Problems with anti social behaviour from school pupils at lunchtimes;
• The Children in Need launch which would take place in Pudsey on 20^th  September;
• The lack of support provided by larger businesses to Christmas lights events; and
• The ‘Bands in the Park’ event which would be held on 24^th September.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive a report of the Director of Children’s Services providing key performance information at a local area level, in relation to Children’s Services.

(Council Function)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report providing key performance information at a local area level, in relation to Children’s Services.

Ken Morton, Locality Enabler was in attendance to present the report and respond to Members’ questions.

Members raised concerns that they had not been provided with details of cluster meetings, and one Member had to make several attempts in order to be invited to meetings.

Members were assured that a report will be presented to Member Management Committee in October in order to regularise Member appointments to clusters. A report will also be submitted to the next meeting of the Area Committee to allow for a more detailed discussion on clusters, including the new governance framework and Member involvement.

The Locality Enabler undertook to provide the Area Leader with details of the primary school in the Outer West area which had been judged as ‘inadequate’, further to a query regarding this matter.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the content of the reports be noted; and

(b)  That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Area Committee regarding clusters.

(Councillor Carter left the meeting at 3.20pm, at the conclusion of this item.)

To receive a report of West North West Homes Leeds outlining the purpose of West North West Homes Leeds involvement in Area Committees, and exploring ways of making that involvement as meaningful as possible.

(Council Function)

West North West Homes Leeds submitted a report outlining the purpose of West North West Homes Leeds’ involvement in Area Committees, and exploring ways of making that involvement as meaningful as possible.

It was requested that Ward Members be provided with details of ‘walkabouts’ undertaken by the ALMO, as their involvement would be useful.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)  That West North West Homes Leeds provide an update report to the Committee every six months.

As Children’s Champion for the West (Outer) Area Committee, Councillor Coulson provided an update on current issues, including Leeds West City Learning Centre, which is based in Wortley, and the outcome of the Ofsted inspections undertaken at St Catherine’s and East Moor Children’s homes, neither of which had received a rating below ‘good’.

Copy attached.

Members were informed that the Markets Update report may not be ready in time for the October meeting. This would be confirmed with the Leeds Markets Manager.

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan be noted.

Friday 14^th October 2011 at 1.00pm, Farnley Hall

Friday 16^th December 2011 at 1.00pm, Safety Central

Friday 20^th January 2011 at 1.00pm, Farsley Community Church

Friday 23^rd March 2011 at 1.00pm, Swinnow Community Centre

Friday 18^th May 2011 at 1.00pm, Venue tbc

Members were reminded that the meeting to be held on Friday 14^th October 2011 would start at 2.00pm, rather than 1.00pm as stated on the agenda. The dates and times of future meetings were therefore confirmed as:

Friday 14^th October 2011 at 2.00pm, Farnley Hall

Friday 16^th December 2011 at 1.00pm, Safety Central

Friday 20^th January 2012 at 1.00pm, Farsley Community Church

Friday 23^rd March 2012 at 1.00pm, Swinnow Community Centre

Friday 18^th May 2012 at 1.00pm, Venue tbc

The meeting concluded at 3.40pm.