Agenda and minutes

Approximately 30 representatives of the local community, stakeholders and partners attended the meeting

  (Report attached)

Councillor G Hussain, Champion for Employment for the Community Committee, will introduce a report for discussion on issues concerning employment in the Queenshill and Brackenwood Estate. The intention being for local Councillors to join in discussions on the issues with residents, stakeholders and partners in a workshop session.

The findings of the workshop will inform and support the future work of the Community Committee and enable the Committee to monitor recommendations from the report and develop a local programme of work

At the conclusion of the workshop session, at approximately 7:45 pm, the meeting will take a short break.

At 8:00 pm, the meeting will then move onto the formal Council business on the agenda.

Councillor G Hussain, Champion for Employment for the Community Committee, introduced a report on employment and skills in the Queenshill and Brackenwood estates for discussion in an informal workshop with residents, stakeholders and partners. The report contained 22 recommendations for consideration by the workshop. Participants were also asked to identify any gaps in service provision

RESOLVED – That the contents of the discussions be noted and that the following matters be identified as priorities for consideration in the future work of the Community Committee to tackle the issue of employment in the Queenshill and Brackenwood estates

a)  Support for achieving entry level qualifications

b)  Provision of informal job clubs/job shops on the Brackenwood estate

c)  Focus on more community learning

d)  Improving links between local organisations and Housing Leeds; and setting provision in the right local venues

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 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 15.2, 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

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)

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda. However, Members were in receipt of a revised copy of agenda item 13 Wellbeing Report containing updated funding information (Minute 23 refers)

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

There were no declarations of disclosable interests

To receive any apologies for absence

There were no apologies for absence

In accordance with Paragraphs 4:16 and 4:17 of the Community 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 Community 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 following members of the public addressed the meeting under the provisions of Paragraphs 4:16 and 4:17 of the Community Committee Procedure Rules (Open Forum)

Community Area for Moortown Parade (Mr M Obst) – seeking general support for a proposal to create a community area at the end of Moortown Parade, and support for a future funding application. Mr Obst submitted a paper in support of his presentation.

Councillor Hamilton responded that this matter would be pursued in conjunction with local stakeholders

Friends of Allerton Grange (Mr B Dev) – seeking support to influence bus service provision in order to better link the area to the east of Leeds/Aire Valley and the south of the City /HS2 station, to provide essential transport to areas of economic growth.

Councillor Urry responded that this issue would be best directed to West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority. The Chair confirmed that this matter would be raised with the Executive Member for Transport and the Economy

Woodhouse Ridge Action Group (Mr N R Lees) – seeking support for a request to install a pedestrian crossing on Meanwood Road in order to connect the Ridge to the Valley. Mr Lees submitted a petition and map in support of his presentation.

Councillor Dowson responded, with local ward Members agreeing to include this request within their list of current highways matters for action

RESOLVED – To note the presentations and request that Area Support Officers pursue the matters raised in conjunction with the relevant LCC Departments and speakers

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held 7^th July 2014

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held 7^th July 2014 be agreed as a correct record

To consider any matters arising from the minutes

Councillor Sobel commented on the style and presentation of the minutes, seeking to reflect the more informal style of working now adopted by the Community Committee. It was noted that the Area Chairs Forum continued to discuss these matters and changes would be considered by Area Support Teams and Governance Services

To consider the report of the Chief Officer, Environmental Action Service, which provides an update on how improvements will be made to a range of environmental services delivered by the Locality Team.

Councillor B Urry, Community Champion for the Environment introduced an update on how improvements will be made to a range of environmental services delivered by the Locality Team.

Mr J Woolmer, Locality Manager (ENE Environmental Action Service) attended the meeting and highlighted key issues in the report and responded to comments made by Members in respect of:

·  The impact of service reconfiguration on residents

·  Bulky waste collections and liaison with re-use/recycle organisations

·  The resources required to support the new team working arrangements

·  Developing positive relationships with community groups such as “In Bloom” and “Friends” groups

·  Monitoring litter bin usage/emptying

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted, in particular

a)  The continuation of the existing SLA for the 2014/15 Municipal Year

b)  The new services to be added to existing ones to form a new Locality Team service

c)  The establishment of zonal teams as part of the new service

d)  The intention for the new service to be operational by early 2015

e)  The development of a new enhanced SLA (for 2015/16) to be co-ordinated through the Community Committee’s Environment Sub Group; and

f)  To note the intention to provide a report to members in the future on the development of new working relationships with community groups

To consider the report of the Head of Housing Management, Housing Leeds (East and North East Leeds) which provides an update on the restructure progress of redesigning a single Housing Management Services for Council across the City.

Mr D Longthorpe, Head of Housing Management, Housing Leeds (East and North East Leeds) presented a report on the progress made to redesign and restructure a single Housing Management Services for Leeds. Members noted the following key points:

·  Implementation of the changes was anticipated by November 2014

·  Housing management boundaries to be aligned to mirror Community Committee boundaries

·  Housing management patch size to be reduced

·  Number of front line housing staff to be increased

·  Housing services would still provide residents with access to anti-social behaviour teams and the environmental action service

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and the comments made by Members be noted

To consider the report of the North East Locality Safety Partnership which provides the Community Committee with an overview of the NE Locality Safety Partnership for the period 1^st April 2013 to 31^st March 2014

Councillor M Rafique, Community Safety Community Champion, presented the report of the North East Locality Safety Partnership which provided an overview of the NE Locality Safety Partnership for the period 1^st April 2013 to 31^st March 2014.

Councillor Rafique suggested the CC could consider support for the provision of home security improvements following the closure of Community Action and Support Against Crime (CASAC) as although demand for CASAC’s general services had fallen, some elements of the service were still needed.

Ms B Yearwood, Area Community Safety co-ordinator; and Acting Chief Inspector S McLaughlin, West Yorkshire Police, attended the meeting and discussed the following:

·  The need to remind residents to secure their homes, particularly when attending community events

·  Target hardening work had been commissioned with Housing Leeds to tackle the top ten wards affected by burglary (dwelling)

·  That security advice previously undertaken by CASAC would continue to be provided by PCSO’s. The CC noted the comment that security advice could also be offered by Housing Leeds advisors; subject to receipt of appropriate training.

·  Two vacant PCSO posts were now filled

RESOLVED – That the Community Committee continue to support the Locality Community Safety Partnership in relation to prioritising and tackling Burglary Dwelling during 2014/15 through partnership work at neighbourhood level

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader providing information on the Inner North East Community Committee budget and seeking consideration of applications made to the Wellbeing Fund

Mr L Griffiths, Area Officer, presented information on the Inner North East Community Committee budget, particularly funds still available to spend; and sought consideration of applications made to the Wellbeing Fund. The recommendations of the Wellbeing Working Group (WBWG) on the applications were contained in the report for Members consideration.

A revised version of the report had been despatched to all Members prior to the meeting which included additional information in respect of CCTV funding.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report and the current budget information

b)  To note the comments of the Wellbeing Working Group in respect of applications received

c)  That the recommendations of the WBWG in respect of applications to the Wellbeing Revenue Fund, as detailed in paragraph 19 of the revised report, be agreed

d)  That the recommendations of the WBWG in respect of applications to the Area Wide Capital Receipts fund, as detailed in paragraph 20 of the revised report, be agreed

e)  That the recommendations of the WBWG in respect of applications to the Youth Activity Fund, as detailed in paragraph 21 of the revised report, be agreed

To receive any feedback or comments from members of the public on the reports presented to this Community Committee meeting.

A time limit for this session has been set at 10 minutes.

Due to the number and nature of queries it will not be possible to provide responses immediately at the meeting. However, Members of the public shall receive a formal response within 14 working days

The Chair reported that, due to the time, there would not be an opportunity for members of the public to comment on the reports presented to this Community Committee meeting. Members of the public were invited to complete a feedback form and could expect to receive a formal response within 14 working days.

RESOLVED – To support this approach to community feedback on this occasion and agree, where appropriate, that a response should be despatched within 14 working days

To note the date and time of  the next meeting as 19^th January 2015

RESOLVED – To note the next meeting will be held on Monday 19^th January 2015. (The start time and venue will be confirmed nearer the date)