Agenda item

To consider the report of West North West homes Leeds (WNWhL) providing an update on the work of the ALMO, whilst also exploring ways of ensuring that WNWhL’s involvement with Area Committees is as meaningful and productive as possible.

(Council Function)

Further to Minute No. 10, 6^th June 2011, the Chief Executive of West North West Homes Leeds ALMO (WNWhL) submitted a report providing an update on the work of WNWhL in the area, whilst also outlining the purpose of the ALMO’s involvement in the Area Committee process and exploring the ways of making that involvement as meaningful and productive as possible.

Having received a brief introduction to the report from Juliet Duke, Neighbourhood Performance Manager, WNWhL ALMO, a question and answer session ensued. The key points raised were as follows:-

• Having noted that all ALMOs were now fitting the currently recommended lock cylinders, Members raised concerns regarding the current ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) regulations on this matter, highlighted the need for representations on such regulations to be made and emphasised the need for the situation to be monitored in order to ensure that any damaged locks were replaced by the most secure models available. In response, Members comments and concerns were acknowledged and representatives of West Yorkshire Police present at the meeting undertook to pursue such matters;
• Members were provided with an update on the actions being taken to address crime and grime activities  and also in respect of the caretaking and cleaning initiatives;
• The Committee was assured that One Stop Centres were being utilised as part of the ALMO’s community engagement programme; 
• Members raised concerns regarding the unrepresentative nature of some ‘residents’ groups’, made enquiries about the criteria used to classify such groups, considered the ways in which checks could be undertaken to assure that such group’s remained representative and highlighted the levels of publicity that such groups could potentially attract. In response, Members’ concerns were noted and the Neighbourhood Performance Manager undertook to monitor such issues;
• Responding to Members’ requests, the Neighbourhood Performance Manager confirmed that representatives from both the ALMO and Morissons would be invited to attend the next meeting of the Area Committee in order to discuss any related matters;
• Members highlighted issues which had been raised via the Committee’s Environmental Services Sub Group regarding several aspects of the recently awarded grounds maintenance contract and the criteria which would be used to undertake the service provision. In response, it was noted that clarification on such matters would be sought and provided to the Sub Group;
• Members highlighted that a report was scheduled to be considered at the February meeting of Executive Board regarding investment in affordable housing and requested that arrangements were made in order to facilitate consideration of such matters by Area Committee members;
• The Board highlighted the problem of dog fouling which continued to be experienced. Members discussed the levels and styles of signage with respect to dog fouling enforcement which existed in Leeds, in comparison with other local authorities. In responding to the comments raised, the Chair of the Committee’s Environmental Services Sub Group highlighted the planning issues associated with road signage, considered the level of enforcement staff available to tackle such problems and highlighted that any related signage needed to be correct in order to ensure that any enforcement action could not be challenged;
• Members highlighted the usefulness of the ALMO Area Panel meetings, but emphasised the need for greater public attendance at such meetings and requested that more senior ALMO officers were in regular attendance; 
• Responding to Members’ enquiries, the Neighbourhood Performance Manager undertook to provide further details at the next Committee meeting regarding the actions being taken to address those issues which had been identified as priorities for improvement via the Community Partnership Arrangements;
• Members suggested that local surgeries were also scheduled to cover the Billing View and Larkfield areas. Following Members’ enquiries regarding appropriate meeting room facilities in such areas, the Neighbourhood Performance Manager undertook to pursue such matters.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report be noted, and that WNWhL ALMO submit a further update report to the Area Committee in six months on the progress achieved in respect of areas of mutual interest.