Agenda and draft 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor 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.

The agenda made reference to the provision contained in the Area Committee Procedure rules for an Open Forum Session at each ordinary meeting of an Area Committee, for members of the public to ask questions or to make representations on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.  On this occasion, no matters were raised under this item as there were no members of the public in attendance.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2012

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

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

The report of the Head of Parks and Countryside provided the Area Committee with a review of the site based gardener scheme that was funded from wellbeing funds between 1 August 2012 and 31 July 2013.

The Chair welcomed Phil Staniforth, Senior Area Manager, Parks and Countryside to the meeting to present the report.

The following issues were highlighted from the report:

• The Area Committee had supported the Site Based Gardener Scheme since 2007.
• The site based gardener was deployed between Tyersal and New Farnley Parks.
• Other duties carried out over and above the regular maintenance included the emptying of litter bins and clearance of dog foul.
• There had been a drop in the number of complaints and queries since the deployment of site based gardeners and a rise in the number of park visits.
• New Farnley Park had now reached Leeds Quality Parks accreditation and it was expected that Tyersal Park would do soon.
• There would be a further request for funding in February 2013.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Park visits to be arranged for Ward Members.
• Difficulties in getting detailed information regarding the nature of enquiries/complaints.
• The role of the mobile gardening teams and how regular park maintenance was carried out.
• The role of apprentice gardeners/
• Work in conjunction with the locality team.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Acting Chief Asset Management Officer.

The report of the Acting Chief Asset Management Officer updated the Area Committee on developments with the Community Right to Bid and also advised of the implementation.

Neil Charlesworth, Community Asset Officer was in attendance to present the report.

Members were informed that Community Right to Bid had come about as part of the Localism Act 2011 and gave the community rights to nominate assets that could be of community value.  The Council then had a responsibility to keep a register of these assets.  The report listed the organisations that were eligible to nominate assets and those that could trigger the 6 month process that would give them opportunity to prepare a bid should one of these assets be made available for sale.  The legislation would come into effect from 12 October 2012.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Land purchases and whether these would be at greenfield or brownfield value.
• Responsibility for the future upkeep and maintenance of community assets.  This would be the responsibility of the organisation that bought the asset and should the organisation cease to exist then the asset would likely become available for freehold sale and possibly an issue should their be any creditors of the organisation.
• Churches did not fall within the legislation of Community Right to Bid.
• The act didn’t prevent any land or buildings that had been nominated as community assets from being marketed for sale.
• The government had made £17 million available for organisations who were looking to use Community Right to Bid.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance)

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) provided the Area Committee with information on crime trends, partnership initiatives and future joint projects between the Council and West Yorkshire Police.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Inspector Marc Adams
• Sharon Wade, NPT Co-ordinator
• Gill Hunter, Community Safety Co-ordinator

Inspector Adams and Gill Hunter addressed the meeting. It was reported that there was a continuation in the reduction in crime across Outer West Leeds.  There had been 78 crimes in the area over the last week compared to 107 in the same week last year and the number of burglaries was still in decline.  Further issues highlighted included the following:

• The continuing action plan to have more accessible and contactable staff and be visible on patrol.  This also included asking staff to interact with more people.
• Tackling anti-social behaviour – focus on repeat calls and partnership working.
• Pro-active work in the area – this included the execution of 34 search warrants.
• Youth Service activities – these were held every day and provided a diversion for young people.
• Provision of outcome based locality workshops for tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour.
• Expansion of offender management.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Alerting Members to crime that had occurred in their wards.
• Seasonal crime peaks – crime usually peaked during the summer months but there had been a constant overall decline since November 2011.
• Potential impact of welfare reforms on crime.
• Officers were congratulated on getting the CCTV scheme at Fairfield operational.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The report of the Director of Children’s Services provided the Area Committee with a performance update against priorities within the Leeds Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP).  It also provided a summary of performance at Area Committee Level with a broader summary at City level.  Local children’s cluster information was included in appendices to the report.

A further report of the Children’s Services Director presented the Area Committee with an update on the work being undertaken across the City to ensure the authority met its statutory duty to ensure sufficiency of school places in the context of an increasing birth rate.  This included formal consultation on proposals for four schools for which members comments were sought and a more general update on issues directly affecting the outer west area.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Paul Brennan – Deputy Director, Learning, Skills and Universal Services
• Simon Fowles
• Jancis Andrew – Head of Targeted Services, West North West Leeds

Issues highlighted from the report included the following:

• Launch of the Child Friendly City
• Development of Integrated Services
• The new Common Assessment Framework – this had been simplified and had already had a positive impact.
• Family First Initiative – focus on 100 families
• Reconfiguration of Children’s Social Work teams into areas.
• The new inspection framework – this had come into effect from May 2012 and inspections could be called without notice.
• The numbers of looked after children across the city had dropped but there had been a slight rise in the Outer West area.
• There had been a drop in the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs), but not a significant drop.
• There had been significant improvements in school attendance levels.
• Exam results had shown an overall improvement across the City – reference was made to the changes that had affected the GCSE English results and this would be contested.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Problems regarding the provision of school places – factors affecting this included higher birth rates across the City and the amount of house building in the area.  Concern was also expressed regarding children being allocated school places that were too far away.  Reference was made to future developments including the old Clarion site and the impact this would have on local schools with approximately 1,000 new houses to be built.  It was felt that the movement of families due to welfare reform may also have an impact.
• Concern regarding potential inspections and issues relating to safeguarding that had previously occurred at inspections.
• It was requested that statistical information be provided at a more local level and to individual schools where possible.

Members were also given an overview of Targeted Services.  The following was highlighted:

• Key obsessions – reducing NEETs, reducing the number of looked after children, improving attendance, tackling child obesity and reducing teenage conception.
• Tackling problems with early intervention and using a shared assessment framework.
• Cluster arrangements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Area Leader – West North West

The report of the Area Leader – West North West informed the Area Committee of progress against the Area Support Team work programme for Outer West Leeds and local contributions to Council priorities.

Harpreet Singh, Area Project Officer presented this item.

Issues highlighted from the report included the following:

• Minutes of the West North West Homes Outer Area Panel Meeting.
• An update on the CCTV scheme at Farfield Avenue.
• Farsley Town Centre scheme and work on the ginnel by Farsely Football Club.
• Environment Sub Group – Parks and Countryside and the ALMO would be invited to the next meeting to discuss joint working.
• Footpath adjacent to Musgrave Court – issues relating to the ownership of the footpath, partly owned by the ALMO with other parts unregistered.  Members were informed of plans to refurbish and repair the footpath.
• Pudsey Public Conveniences – An update was awaited from the Property Management team.
• Healthy Living Network – The new Community Development Worker was now in post.
• Pudsey Wellbeing Centre – this had now opened and would be the venue for the next Area Committee meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Area Leader – West North West

The report of the Area Leader – West North West updated Members on the current amount of revenue funding committed and available via the Area Committee well-being budget for wards in the Outer West Area.  It also asked the Area Committee to consider the large grant application received and to consider the approval for a small grant received since the last Area Committee.

Members discussed the applications that had been received and it was suggested that all small grant applications should be decided by the Area Committee.

The Chair welcomed Nigel Conder to the meeting to give the Area Committee an update on the Outwer West Leeds Project (OWL).

The following issues were highlighted:

• The project had ambitious targets and the following positions had been achieved:
  • Support for 500 businesses – this was currently at 300
  • Engaging 25 business in delivery of education based activity – there were currently 20 engaged
  • To secure 40 pledges from businesses – currently 12
  • To bring in 30 volunteer days from business – currently 12 days.
  • To support 5 initiatives and leverage of £10,000 support – 7 businesses had so far offered in kind support of £2,000.
• It was clear that business in Outer West Leeds wanted to employ local people.
• A lot of local students did not meet basic criteria and work need to be on preparation of CVs and interviews.
• Plans for 2013 – Priesthorpe and Pudsey Grangefield Schools would become involved.
• Issues surrounding eligibility for business to apply for funding.

Apprenticeship working – work with WNW Homes ALMO.

Members thank Nigel for his presentation and expressed thanks for what had been achieved to date.  Further updates were requested.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the Well-being revenue position for the current financial year be noted.

(2)  That the small grant application  for Art for Work for Charity be refused.

(3)  That the large grant application for Turbary Avenue and Broad Street railings be approved - £1,640.

To receive and consider the attached joint report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) and the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services)

The joint report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) and the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) asked the Area Committee to appoint one representative/champion to each of the Leeds Initiative Area Based Partnership Groups and also to appoint a representative to the Council’s Corporate Carer Group.

RESOLVED – That the following appointments be made:

• Area Committee representative to the Council’s Corporate Carers’ Group – Councillor M Coulson
• Area Committee representative to the Area Health and Wellbeing Partnership – Councillor A Blackburn
• Area Committee Champion to the Divisional Community Safety Partnership – Councillor J Jarosz

Friday, 12 October at 1.00 p.m.

Friday, 12 October 2012 at 1.00 p.m.  Meeting to be held at Pudsey Wellbeing Centre.