Agenda and minutes

Items
No. Item

47.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence from the meeting was submitted on behalf of Councillor R Procter.

 

48.

Declarations of Interest

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 13 of the Members Code of Conduct

 

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made.

 

49.

Open Forum

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.

 

Minutes:

The Chair made reference to the provision contained in the Area Committee Procedure Rules for an Open Forum session of up to 10 minutes at each ordinary meeting of an Area Committee, to allow members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the remit of the Area Committee.

 

(a)  Moor Allerton Priority Neighbourhood (Minute No 42 refers)

  Further to Minute No 42, 23rd October 2006, Mr Alan Patrick, an Alwoodley resident, raised two matters arising from this particular minute.

 

  The first related to the reference to the area of open space adjacent to The Lingfield public house, and the decision not to proceed with its proposed development for public use for the reasons articulated by the local Councillors under that minute.  If this proposal was not now to proceed, Mr Patrick expressed the sincere hope that an alternative would be found in the form of public use of the facilities at the Fir Tree Primary School site (Minute No 39 refers).

 

  The Chair indicated that this decision would be taken at Council in January.

 

  Under the same minute (Minute No 42), Mr Patrick also commented on the reference to the actions of the Learning and Leisure Department in removing several humps in Adel Woods from an unofficial off-road cycle track, which had developed over several years, allegedly following a complaint from only one local resident.

 

  Councillor R D Feldman stated that there was general dissatisfaction in the area at the actions of the Learning and Leisure Department, and he understood that the Department were looking at possibly re-instating the humps.

 

50.

Minutes - 23rd October 2006 - and Matters Arising pdf icon PDF 37 KB

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 23rd October 2006.

Minutes:

(a)  Community Safety Report (Minute Nos 24 and 38 refer)

  The Chair indicated that he would seek to arrange for Chief Superintendent Marc Callaghan to attend a future meeting.

 

(b)  Well-Being Fund 2006/07 (Minute No 43 refers)

  In response to a Member’s query, the North East Area Manager stated that he would pursue with the Youth Service the issue raised on 18th September 2006 (Minute No 25 refers) regarding the distribution of Youth Service funding across the City.

 

  In response to another query regarding mobile youth provision in the Committee’s area, Neil Bowden, Youth Service, stated that the existing vehicle was at the end of its useful, cost-effective life, and a similar replacement vehicle would cost in the region of £30,000 - £35,000, although a vehicle could be leased.  To date, the existing vehicle had been primarily used in the Harewood Ward e.g. Scholes, Barwick, Aberford, Thorner, East Keswick, Collingham and Harewood.  The difficulties of one Ward funding the provision was acknowledged, and perhaps if the Wetherby Ward Members also supported the replacement vehicle, on a proportional basis, then the vehicle could also operate, say, in areas such as Bramham, Clifford, Thorp Arch and Walton, with perhaps some diversionary youth work in Wetherby itself to tackle recent nuisance issues.  There was also the possibility of Youth Forums obtaining matched funding from the Youth Capital Fund, previously reported to the Committee under Minute No 25, 18th September 2006.

 

  In principle, Members were supportive of the service provided by a mobile youth provision, and requested that a full report be submitted to a future meeting.

 

(c)  Dates, Times and Venues of Future Meetings (Minute No 46 refers)

  The meeting in March at Aberford Village Hall was on Tuesday 27th March 2007, not Monday as stated in the minutes.

 

RESOLVED – That subject to the above comments and amendment, the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd October 2006 be confirmed as a correct record.

 

(NB  Councillor J Procter joined the meeting at 7.20 pm during the consideration of this item).

 

51.

Childrens Trust Arrangements for Leeds pdf icon PDF 56 KB

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Childrens Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report outlining the arrangements for the establishment and development of a Children’s Trust in Leeds, and the role which Area Committees might play in the process now and in the future.

 

Keith Burton, Children’s Services Unit, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:-

 

  • A forthcoming event for all Members in late January (to be notified);
  • The role of District Partnerships, Area Committees and Locality Forums in developing and improving services at local level;
  • The ‘corporate parenting’ strand of the proposals, with each Area Committee having a recognised Member involved in Regulation 33 inspections of children’s homes in the area, but whose role also involved advocacy and championing children and families at local level (Councillor Harrand in the case of the N E Outer Area Committee);
  • The type and cost of Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks, and other possible future changes in this area.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

52.

Building Schools for the Future, Phase 1 - Allerton High School pdf icon PDF 40 KB

To receive a presentation and consider the attached report of the Acting Chief Planning and Development Services Officer.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report from the Acting Chief Planning and Development Services Officer regarding Phase 1 of the Leeds Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Programme, which involved the formation of a Local Education Partnership (LEP) to develop and manage the Council’s secondary school estate under the Government’s BSF policy.

 

In attendance at the meeting were Peter Barnett of the Development Department and Darren Dobson of Education Leeds.  The Committee also received a presentation from Michael Silvey and Simon Evans of Environments for Learning (E4L), one of the Council’s Preferred Bidders under the scheme, regarding the redevelopment of Allerton High School, which served part of the Committee’s area, and they responded to Members’ queries and questions regarding access arrangements and the design and build of the new school.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

(N.B. Councillor Harrand joined the meeting at 7.48 pm, during the consideration of this item).

 

53.

'Making Leeds Better' - Progress Report pdf icon PDF 73 KB

To receive and consider the attached report of the Making Leeds Better Programme Team.

Minutes:

Further to Minute 49, 12th December 2005, and Minute No 26, 18th September 2006, the Committee received an update report regarding the ‘Making Leeds Better’ strategic programme for improving health and social care services in the City.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

54.

Scrutiny Action Learning Project around Community Development in Health and Wellbeing pdf icon PDF 44 KB

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report regarding a Government grant of £20,000 obtained by the Scrutiny Board (Health and Adult Social Care) to carry out an action learning project around Community Development in Health and Wellbeing.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

55.

North East District Partnership - Update pdf icon PDF 30 KB

To receive and consider the attached report of the North East Area Manager.

Minutes:

The North East Area Manager submitted a report updating the Committee on key issues and recent actions of the North East District Partnership.

 

RESOLVED – That the recent actions and achievements of the NE District Partnership be noted.

 

56.

Area Delivery Plan Priorities 2007/08 pdf icon PDF 41 KB

To receive and consider the attached report of the North East Area Manager.

Minutes:

The North East Area Manager submitted a report setting out the proposed priorities that would inform the content of the Area Delivery Plan 2007/08 and its associated Action Plan.

 

In response to a query regarding the list of proposed priorities, the Area Management Officer indicated that the list was not final, nor exhaustive, and Members’ could still put forward suggestions for inclusion, such as services for the elderly under the ‘Healthier Communities and Older People’ category.

 

The Chair stated that the Wetherby Horsefair and Market Place schemes would be completed before the 2007/08 Area Delivery Plan became operational, and should therefore be deleted from the ‘Economic Development and Enterprise’ category.

 

RESOLVED – That the proposed priorities to form the basis for the 2007/08 Area Delivery Plan be approved.

 

57.

Deepdale Community Centre - Update pdf icon PDF 57 KB

To receive and consider the attached report of the North East Area Manager.

Minutes:

Further to Minute No 41, 23rd October 2006, the North East Area Manager submitted a report updating the Committee regarding the current situation in relation to the proposals for possible improvements or the re-development of the Deepdale Community Centre site at Boston Spa, including the stakeholder meeting which had taken place on 2nd November 2006.

 

Councillor J Procter stated that at the stakeholders meeting, it had been decided not to proceed at present with the initial options appraisal for the site, pending further discussions, including proposed discussions between the Deepdale Community Association and Boston Spa Parish Council.  The Area Management Officer undertook to follow-up on the outcome of those discussions. 

 

In the meantime, ‘tasking’ meetings continued to take place between Centre users, the Police and Council Departments.  City Services had agreed to fill-in the potholes on the access road, discussions were taking place with the Probation Service regarding painting the building and the security lights on the Youth Club building were being fixed.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted, and a further progress report be submitted to the next meeting.

 

58.

Wellbeing Fund 2006/07 - Update pdf icon PDF 52 KB

To receive and consider the attached report of the North East Area Manager.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The North East Area Manager submitted a report updating Members on the latest situation regarding the Committee’s capital and revenue Wellbeing Fund for 2006/07, including projects currently at the development stage and details of applications for capital or revenue funding from the Harewood and Wetherby Environmental Fund established by the Committee in July 2006.

 

RESOLVED

(a)  That the report and the projects in development be noted.

(b)  That the following decisions be taken in respect of the applications for funding before the Committee for consideration:-

 

  Revenue

  (i)  Bardsey Woodacre Oak - £10,000 – Approved.

  (ii)  Wetherby Policy Patrols - £3,500 – Approved.

 

  Capital

  (i)  Moortown Methodist Church Hall - £10,000 – Approved.

  (ii)  East Keswick Village Hall - £50,000 – Deferred.

 

59.

Area Actions and Achievements - Progress Report pdf icon PDF 30 KB

To receive and consider the attached report of the North East Area Manager.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The North East Area Manager submitted a report updating Members on the actions and achievements of both the Area Committee and the Area Management Team, with specific reference to progress against the Area Delivery Plan 2006/07.

 

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

  • Paragraph 3, Agenda Page 77 – Alwoodley Members had held a productive meeting with the Police that afternoon;
  • Paragraph 4, Page 84 – Alwoodley Members would like an initiative at Allerton High School to encourage greater numbers of young people to get involved in cricket;
  • Paragraph 39, Page 97 – Extension to Shadwell Lane Community Centre not yet completed – NE Area Manager to investigate why.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

60.

Dates, Times and Venues of Future Meetings

Monday 12th February 2007,Walton Village Hall

Monday 2nd April 2007,Aberford Village Hall

 

Both at 7.00pm.

Minutes:

Monday 12th February 2007, Walton Village Hall.

Tuesday 27th March 2007, Aberford Village Hall.

 

Both at 7.00 pm.

 

The meeting concluded at 8.45 pm.