Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence from the meeting was submitted on behalf of Roland Cross, Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum.

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

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

In accordance with her powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local  Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to accept a late application for funding from the Wellbeing Budget in respect of some proposed fencing at Lincroft Crescent, Bramley (Agenda Item 9, Minute No. 42 refers) as the matter could not wait until the Committee’s next scheduled meeting on 15^th December 2010.

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.

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 attached minutes of the meeting held on 8^th September 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th September 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

a)  Wellbeing Fund 2010/11 – Broadleas Roundabout CCTV (Minute No. 25(d) refers)

Further to Minute No. 25(d), 8^th September 2010, the Area Management Officer reported that the proposed installation of a CCTV camera at Broadleas Roundabout was the subject of a  separate application on tonight’s agenda and, subject to approval of the application, planning permission would then be sought to site the camera.

Under this item, Councillor Atkinson informed the Committee of her concerns regarding proposals by Education Leeds to introduce a charge of £2,000 per visit in respect of children using Lineham Farm, and the effect she feared this could have on usage of the facility.  Not only  was she unhappy with the proposal, but also the lack of consultation with Members.  The proposal was currently suspended pending discussions with Education Leeds.

b)  Children’s Services – Invitations to Headteachers to attend Area Committee (Minute No. 25(b) refers)

Further to Minute Numbers 7(b), 22^nd June 2010 and 25(b), 8^th September 2010, the Area Management Officer reported that she had yet to receive a response from the Heads of two local high schools to the Committee’s invitation, at the suggestion of the Chief Executive of Education Leeds, to attend the December meeting of the Committee, but she would pursue the matter.  A further report on Children’s Services performance matters was due to be submitted to the December meeting.

c)  ALMO Overpayments (Minute No. 25(e) refers)

Further to Minute No. 25(e), 8^th September 2010, and the discussion regarding the apparent £2.1m overpayment by the ALMO for work carried out on its behalf, Councillor Hanley updated the Committee regarding some difficulties in the aftermath of the demise of Connaught, in particular relating to the transfer of former Connaught employees to the new contractor.  Members had intervened and the matter had now been resolved.

d)  Community Safety Issues – Drinking in Armley Town Street (Minute No. 28 refers)

The Area Community Safety Co-ordinator reported that, since the last meeting, attempts had been made to try to address the issue of people of Eastern European origin congregating and drinking in Armley Town Street.  The offer of a meeting room where people could socialise had not been taken up, but an action plan was now in place involving the police, local schools and residents, and the police were being proactive in addressing the matter.

e)  Armley Moor (Minute No. 29 refers)

The Area Management Officer reported that, following the last meeting, she had pursued, via the City Projects Office and Green Leeds, the issue of the maintenance of Armley Moor.  She understood that the existing contract specified that the grassed areas would be mown five times a year, the shrub beds were maintained twice a year and the Japanese knotweed was also due to be treated twice a year for the next five years.

(NB:  Councillor A Lowe joined the meeting at 5.08 pm, during the consideration of Matters Arising.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee regarding its revenue and capital balances for 2010/11, together which details of Small Grants approved since April 2010 and two applications for funding before the Committee today for decision.

·  Reference was made to Appendix 3 to the report, and the current discrepancy between the amounts of Wellbeing spending in each Ward.  It was accepted that there might be specific reasons for the current situation, and that, over the longer-term, expenditure levels may well even out.  However, in principle, an even division should be the aim and Members and officers needed to monitor the situation to ensure this outcome.

·  Members requested that a breakdown of the costs associated with the establishment of the Community Centres Consortium be circulated separately to the Committee and Bill Graham, the Business Facilities and Social Enterprise Manager, was requested to arrange a separate briefing for Councillor Atkinson.

·  A question was also raised regarding the exact siting of the proposed CCTV Camera at the Broadleas Roundabout, and  Gill Hunter undertook to organise a site visit involving Local Members.

RESOLVED –

a)   That the Committee’s revised Wellbeing budget 2010/11, and the Small Grants made since the last meeting, be noted.

b)   That the funding applications in respect of the Broadleas Roundabout CCTV camera - £1,964 (revenue) and the Lincroft Crescent fencing - £1,150 (capital) – be approved.

To receive and consider the attached update report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

The Acting Area Manager submitted a report updating the Committee on progress in respect of implementation of the Committee’s Area Delivery Plan 2008-2011.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Business Facilities and Social Enterprise Manager.

Bill Graham, Business Facilities and Social Enterprise Manager to the Consortium, submitted a report outlining the current operational aspects and difficulties associated with the Community Centres in the Committee’s area, and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

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

·  Under-utilisation of the Centres’ facilities and efforts being made to improve this situation.

·  The financial position of the Centres and efforts being made to improve that situation also.

·  The current management arrangements appertaining to the Centres, and whether these could be improved.  Members requested that details relating to the composition of the management committees be circulated to them separately.

·  The role of Members in terms of assisting to manage the Centres and the need for Members (a) to be kept aware of the dates/times, etc, of management committee meetings, and (b) to be kept briefed on current issues by Bill Graham.

·  The financial systems currently operating in the Centres.

·  The options to make Centres more widely known, and more welcoming in appearance.

·  The possibility of establishing the community shop, currently operating at the New Wortley Community Centre, in a high street shop location, and the pros and cons.

·  Members congratulated Bill Graham regarding both the content of the report and the manner in which he had assumed his responsibilities since his appointment.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

(NB:  Councillor N Taggart joined the meeting at 6.00 pm, during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

Mark Dolman, Environment and Neighbourhoods, presented a report updating the Committee on the work of the Health and Environmental Action Service across the City for the period April-September 2010, with particular emphasis on the Committee’s area.

·  Members regarded that the format of the report, with statistical information on a Ward by Ward basis, was an improvement on the previous format.

·  The service was, to a large degree, a reactive service, so the statistics differed between Wards and were also subject to seasonal variations.

·  With reference to Table 10, the numbers of fixed penalty notices served, some surprise was expressed that the figures were so low compared to the numbers of service requests and incidents dealt with, as reflected in the previous tables.  Mark Dolman undertook to circulate separately further details.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments and request for further information, the report be received and noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Environment Services Officer.

The Chief Environmental Services Officer submitted a report updating the Committee regarding the implementation of the new Grounds Maintenance Contract with effect from 1^st January 2012.

In attendance at the meeting, and responding to Members’ queries and comments, were Giles Jeffs, Environment and Neighbourhoods, and Mick Parker, West North West homes ALMO.  In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  A lack of consultation and communication with local residents.  The matter had not been referred to the ALMO Inner West Area Panel, the Bramley Housing Forum and either the Bramley and Stanningley or the Armley Community Forums.  The officers apologised for this oversight and undertook to rectify it.

·  Given the length of the current contract, and the fact that its end date was definite, some surprise and disappointment was expressed at the fact that it had been necessary to extend the current contractor’s services by a further 10 months.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments, the report be received and noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

Following consideration of the matter at the Area Committee Chairs’ Forum on 8^th October 2010, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted an information report regarding proposals for elements of the Streetscene Service (street cleaning, litter bins, graffiti removal and fly-tipping) to be delegated to Area Committees.  This would provide Area Committees with the opportunity to shape, control and steer these services in their areas.

The proposals would involve each Area Committee negotiating a local Service Level Agreement with Streetscene Services and, to assist and guide this process, it was proposed that the District Local Environmental Quality Survey (DLEQS) system, devised by the Keep Britain Tidy Group, be utilised.

In receiving the report, the Committee expressed some reservations regarding the proposals being wedge-based, with the West Inner and West Outer areas being linked to the NW Inner area, which covered Headingley, Hyde Park and Woodhouse, Kirkstall and Weetwood Wards.  Allocating resources, and deciding priorities on a needs-led basis across the wedge, was likely to prove problematic.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report be received and noted.

b)  That an Environmental Working Group, comprising Councillors J Harper, Lowe and Taggart, be established to consider the proposals in greater detail and report back, in due course, to the Area Committee.

Wednesday 15^th December 2010, Strawberry Lane Community Centre, 4.00pm

Wednesday 16^th February 2011, Stanningley Rugby Club, 5.00pm

Wednesday 6^th April 2011, Strawberry Lane Community Centre, 5.30pm

Wednesday, 15^th December 2010, Strawberry Lane Community Centre, 4.00 pm.

Wednesday, 16^th February 2011, Stanningley Rugby Club, 5.00 pm.

Wednesday, 6^th April 2011, Strawberry Lane Community Centre, 5.30 pm.

The meeting concluded at 6.40 pm.