Agenda and minutes

Venue: Leeds East Academy (in the Academy's Hall), South Parkway, Seacroft, LEEDS LS14 6TY

Contact: Helen Gray 0113 247 4355  An informal workshop will be held after the meeting - at approximately 6.30pm

Items
No. Item

Approximately 25 representatives of the local community, stakeholders and partners attended the meeting

 

20.

Chairs Opening Remarks

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed all present to the meeting and brief introductions were made. Additionally Councillor Khan introduced Neil Young to his first meeting of the Community Committee as the new Area Support Officer for the Inner East area. Finally the Chair thanked the former Area Support Officer, Andy Birkbeck for his work and support to the Community Committee in previous years.

 

 

21.

Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents

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)

Minutes:

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents

 

 

22.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

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:-

Minutes:

No exempt information was contained within the agenda

 

 

23.

Late Items

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

 

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

Minutes:

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda, however Members were in receipt of a supplementary document relating to Agenda item 13 (Wellbeing Fund) (minute 32 refers) which provided a précis of the comments of the Elected Members from each Ward on the applications received.

 

24.

Declarations of Disclosable Interests

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. 

Minutes:

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made

 

25.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor G Hyde. The Community Committee noted the report of Councillor Hyde’s recent accident and expressed their best wishes for a speedy recovery to him

 

26.

Open Forum

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

Minutes:

The following matters were raised under the Open Forum:

a)  A request was made for information on the District Heating Scheme, the local consultation proposed and how it would benefit those residents in fuel poverty.

The Community Committee (CC) noted the intention to refer this matter to the relevant Department in order to seek a response

 

b)  A request was made for consideration of the public consultation and involvement framework employed by the CC, including monitoring and review of the process and provision of updates/responses to issues raised and/or discussed at workshop sessions

In response the Area Leader provided information on an ongoing performance management review and the intention to bring a report to a future CC meeting setting out proposals for new ways of working, managing issues and Community Champion involvement

 

c)  A request for information on the impact on the Inner East area of the City’s welcome to refugees from eastern Europe was noted, specifically the impact on schools, health services and support networks.

In response the Chair referred to the discussions held at a recent Scrutiny Board (Environment & Housing) meeting, which sought to ensure that refugees were welcomed throughout the city and not just within the inner areas.

 

The CC noted that, where appropriate, all of the matters raised would be referred to the relevant Member advisory group for further discussion and/or LCC Department.

 

27.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 99 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18th June 2015

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 18th June 2015 be agreed as a correct record

 

28.

Matters Arising

To consider any matters arising from the minutes

Minutes:

Minute 8 e) Derelict and Nuisance sites. – One Member referred to the residential development of the former Kiln and Yew Tree public house sites and reiterated the need for social housing in the area. Concern over the loss of social areas within the locality was noted.

Additionally, a request for a site visit to the Bellbrooke car park was noted. In response, officers confirmed that whilst most works had been completed, the required landscaping could not be undertaken until Spring 2016.

It was agreed that information on the progress of the works to that site would be included as a key message on the CCs social media sites

 

29.

Libraries Update in Inner East Area - Compton Road, Seacroft, Crossgates pdf icon PDF 319 KB

To consider the report of the Senior Communities Librarian providing an update on the work of the Libraries and Information Service in the Inner East Area of the City, which specifically highlights the work taking place in Compton Road, Seacroft and Crossgates libraries.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The CC received the report of the Senior Communities Librarian on the work of the Libraries and Information Service in the Inner East Area of the City, highlighting the work taking place in Compton Road, Seacroft and Crossgates libraries.

 

Fiona Titterington attended the meeting to present the report and began by highlighting the move of front-line staff and library staff to the Citizens and Communities Directorate (Leeds City Council). This new way of working had delivered more joined up services for residents as well as the community library services, events; quality book stock, online resources, and free IT learning.

 

(Councillor Hussain joined the meeting at this point)

 

Key issues and events from each of the community libraries were discussed including the following:

·  the Compton Road Library and the links established between the Library service and the welfare services provided on-site (in the Compton Centre) which allowed staff to identify residents who may need additional support

·  consideration of how to link to social isolation issues with the use of advice sessions and the mobile library, noting that the mobile library had limited space to facilitate advice sessions/literature. It was reported that the Library Service did operated an “at home” service where resources were made available to residents at home

·  the use of the Compton Centre for events, such as school appeals for local schools and Community Committee meetings

·  the statistics supplied showing the trends in the use of the library services and borrowed books and the growth of use of access to on-line ‘e-books’

·  residents’ access to the Mobile Library and the need to widen the publicity of the existing routes/stops

·  the future of the Library Service, including plans for ‘pop-up’ services and the growth of the on-line service

 

In conclusion, Members requested information on the take-up and use of the Mobile Library on a ward by ward basis and also figures on the use of the three libraries.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the update from the Senior Communities Librarian for the North East Area and the discussions held on the work libraries are delivering in local communities.

b)  That the requested information on the take-up and use of the Mobile Library on a ward by ward basis and also figures on the use of the three libraries be provided to Members

 

30.

Neighbourhood Improvement Update Report pdf icon PDF 324 KB

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader providing an update on the neighbourhood improvement approach currently being developed in Inner East Leeds.

 

Minutes:

The East North East Area Leader presented a report providing an update on the neighbourhood improvement approach currently being developed in Inner East Leeds which included the establishment of “Neighbourhood Improvement Partnerships” to focus on small localities supported by a Neighbourhood Improvement Board, Councillors and stakeholders

 

Further information on the emerging Neighbourhood Improvement Partnerships (NIP) was provided, including the intention to focus in on smaller neighbourhoods where there is an identified need to accelerate progress or where progress has started to stall. Informal discussions with ward Members had been held seeking to identify neighbourhoods; to focus on how to increase community engagement in each of the priority neighbourhoods.

 

A Neighbourhood Improvement Plan would be developed using the plan on a page format to focus on key themes and identify new collaborative actions that are either additional to or replace existing service delivery.

 

Additionally each NIP would develop a Community Engagement Plan, with local residents and front line staff to decide the appropriate method of engagement based on previous experience and the success of existing structures. 

 

Members noted the contents of the report specific to localities within the Inner East CC area and further discussed the following:

·  The need to ensure that residents are better connected to the learning/employment/skills agenda and to consider how information on job opportunities are made available to residents

·  The suggestion that there should be an open invitation for employers to attend the CC meetings

·  The comment that certain conditions such as dyslexia/dyspraxia are not identified early enough in school and young people from the Inner East CC area are leaving school without the necessary grades to access additional training/apprenticeships

RESOLVED -

a)  That having considered the request for nominees from each Ward to work with the Chair of the Community Committee to support the development of the neighbourhood improvement partnerships and the Inner East Neighbourhood Improvement Board, the following Councillors be nominated:

Killingbeck & Seacroft

Councillor C Dobson

Gipton & Harehills

Councillor R Harington

(with Councillor Maqsood

Burmantofts & Richmond Hill

Councillor R Grahame

b)  To note the intention for an update report to be presented the Community Committee in December 2015.

 

c)  To note that regular briefings will take place at Ward Member meetings with a view to having all arrangements fully operational by December 2015.

(Councillor Hussain left the meeting at this point)

 

31.

Area Update Report pdf icon PDF 338 KB

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader providing an update on the work programme of the Inner East Community Committee.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The East North East Area Leader presented a report providing an update on the work programme of Inner East Community Committee, including the work of the Community Champions, community events, the Harehills Lane Town and District Centre scheme and the service level agreement for environmental services.

 

The report included an appendix presenting an update on the actions taken in response to the “social isolation” issues discussed by at the January 2015 workshop

 

Other Key issues discussed included:

·  mental health and social isolation – consideration of how Members connected with health representatives and service users to discuss support; and also where would service users find meeting space in the locality to discuss issues with health care professionals. In response, Liz Bailey (ENE Health & Wellbeing Improvement Manager) reported that a review of health and wellbeing provision in the area would be discussed at the next Burmantofts & Richmond Hill partnership meeting, in order to develop a model of service provision. A report back would be presented to the CC in due course.

·  The work of the ENE Employment & Skills Board and the intention to present an update report on local issues to the December 2015 CC meeting

RESOLVED

a)  That the contents of the report and discussions be noted

b)  That approval be given to the establishment of an informal working group to review the performance management framework (with the involvement of one Member from each ward and the Community Committee chair to ensure it is fit for purpose)

c)  That the intention to bring a further report to the December Inner East Community Committee meeting on the work of the ENE Employment & Skills Board be noted

 

32.

Wellbeing Report pdf icon PDF 325 KB

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader providing Members of the Inner East Community Committee with details of its Wellbeing budget, including details of any new projects for consideration.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report providing an update on the current position of the capital and revenue budget for the Inner East CC

 

A schedule providing an overview of the applications and the recommendations of the Wellbeing sub group was tabled at the meeting

 

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the spend to date and current balances for the 2015/16 financial year as detailed in Appendix 1 of the submitted report

b)  That, having considered the submitted project proposals and comments of the Elected Members, the following be agreed in respect of applications to the Wellbeing Fund:

Project

Decision/amount granted

East Leeds Ground Equipment

£2,000

Crossgates Festive Christmas Lights

£600

They Call Us Maids

Declined

Church Community Chair Fund

Declined

Project Hope Leeds – Tea Time Club and Job Club

Deferred

Connecting Communities

Declined

Harehills Bonfire Night Diversionary Activities

£2,345

CCTV at The Rein

£5,000

Leeds Money Buddies

£1,473

 

 

 

c)  To note the following Wellbeing Revenue fund decisions were taken under delegated authority:

RadhaRaman Folk Festival, RadhaRaman Society  £1,000

Al-Khidmat Centre, Leeds Islamic Centre  £2,500

Summer Holiday Programme, Leeds Youth Service  £2,100

 

d)  That, following the workshop and discussions on the issues around domestic violence,  approval be given to allocate £500.00 per ward from the small grants pot towards projects which contribute towards tackling domestic violence in Inner East Leeds

 

33.

Appointment of Co-optees to the Community Committee - Update pdf icon PDF 304 KB

To consider the report of the City Solicitor, which further to the report presented to the June Inner East Community Committee meeting, provides Members with the current position in respect of the appointment of co-optees to the Community Committee for the duration of the 2015/2016 municipal year.

 

Minutes:

Further to minute 13 of the meeting held 18th June 2015, the City Solicitor submitted a report providing an update on the appointment of co-optees to the CC for the duration of the 2015/2016 municipal year. The CC noted intention to present a report seeking formal appointment of co-optees after the next meetings of the Burmantofts & Richmond Hill CLT (28/9/15) and the Killingbeck & Seacroft CLT (15/10/15).

RESOLVED - To note the current position in respect of the appointment of co-optees to the Community Committee and the intention to present a further report to the next appropriate meeting to formally approve any nominations received for co-opted members for the remainder of the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

 

34.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 10th December 2015 at 6.00 pm. The venue to be confirmed

Minutes:

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as 10th December 2015 at 6.00 pm. The venue to be confirmed nearer the date.