Agenda and draft minutes

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 Hea of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals.

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 was no exempt information.

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

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

There were no late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors D Chapman, J Elliott and A Hutchison.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2021

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

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.

In accordance with the Community Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a period of up to 10 minutes for members of the public to make representations or ask questions within terms of reference of the Community Committee.  The following was discussed:

Steve Holt, Morley Amatuer Operatic Society addressed the meeting.  The society had been performing two shows a year at Morley Town Hall for over 50 years but were unsure whether they could continue to do so due to rising costs.  Mr Holt had tried to contact the Council regarding this but had not received a response.  There was also concern as how this would affect other community groups and voluntary organisations.

Members shared the concerns regarding the spiralling costs to hire community facilities.  Further examples of hire increases with unnecessary additional charges were reported and the cleanliness of facilities was not always up to standard.

Further issues raised included the setting of hire rates and the role of the Community Committee in doing this and concerns regarding the central management of lettings as opposed to a more local approach.

It was proposed to invite a representative from the Lettings Team to a future meeting of the Community Centres Sub Group and a meeting of the Community Committee.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Group Operations Manager.

The report of the Executive Manager provided the Community Committee with an update on the Highways Service following a recent winter service review.

Jeremy Lunn, Group Operations Manager gave the Committee a presentation which highlighted the following:

·  Gritting of roads – and the criteria used to decide when and where to do gritting.

·  Refilling of salt bins.

·  Snow ploughing and clearing.

·  Development of the Gritting Tracker – this would display live gritting information via the Council’s website and enable people to plan journeys.

·   

In response to comments and questions from the Committee, the following was discussed:

·  It was hoped that the tracking service would reduce the number of complaints and ease pressure on the contact centre.

·  There were sufficient supplies of salt and no problems with driver shortages.

·  The tracker could display which roads had been gritted in the previous 24 hours.  The software was still relatively new and improvements and new features would be added.

Members thanked Jeremy and his team for the work carried out on highways often in poor conditions and unsocial hours.

RESOLVED – That the report and presentation be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships informed the Committee of the development of a City Plan for Leeds and referred to the opportunity for Members and residents to feed into the plan.

Mike Eakins, Intelligence & Policy Manager was in attendance for this item and gave the Committee a presentation on Leeds 2030: Our Best City Ambition.

Key issues highlighted included the following:

·  Developing the City Ambition

·  The three pillars – Inclusive Growth; Health and Wellbeing and Zero Carbon.

·  Demographic information.

·  Members were asked for their priorities for Leeds and Outer South and how communities could contribute.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following was discussed:

·  Tackling climate change and how this is connected to improving health and wellbeing.

·  The need to improve public transport links and increase opportunities for walking and cycling – also linked to health and wellbeing/climate change.

·  The need for local decision making and influence to address the ambition to be inclusive.

·  Enabling the community to have the capacity to contribute to building local communities and the need for local investment in communities.

·  Concerns regarding planning and lack of community involvement in the decision making process.

·  Use of community buildings and the success of those that had been transferred as community assets.

·  The need to identify smaller areas of deprivation that may be surrounded by more affluent areas.

RESOLVED – That the report and presentation be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided the Community Committee with an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital Budget as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy

Bali Birdi, Senior Localities Officer presented the report.

Members’ attention was brought to the following:

·  Remaining balance in the 2021/22 Wellbeing Revenue fund – Members were giving a ward by ward breakdown.

·  Projects for consideration:

o  Rothwell Christmas Day Lunch - £500 proposed.  Members were supportive of this application.

o  Outer South Pedal Cycle Security - £1,460 proposed.  Members were supportive of this application.

o  Outer South Rethink Food Educational Programme - £10,400 proposed.  Members discussed the  application in detail and expressed concern regarding the high cost and that only four schools would benefit.  It was agreed to request further information on the proposals and investigate whether it could be available to more schools.

·  Remaining funds in the Outer South Youth Activity Funds, Small Grants, Community Skips, Capital and Community Infrastructure Levy budgets.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That details of the Wellbeing Budget position be noted.

(2)  That the following projects be approved:

o  Rothwell Christmas Day Lunch  -£500

o  Outer South Pedal Cycle Security - £1,460.00

(3)  That the following application be deferred:

o  Outer South Rethink Food Educational Programme

(4)  That details of the projects approved by Delegated Decision be noted.

(5)  That information of funded projects be noted.

(6)  That details of the Youth Activities Fund be noted.

(7)  That details of the Small Grants Budget be noted.

(8)  That details of the Community Skips Budget be noted.

(9)  That details of the Capital Budget be noted.

(10)  That details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships brought Members’ attention to an update of the work which the Communities Team was engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee.  It also provided opportunities for further questioning, or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

Bali Birdi, Senior Localities Officer presented the report.

The following was highlighted:

·  Due to reduced resources in the Voice and Influence Team and concern regarding rising covid infection rates, it had been proposed to delay the Youth Summit until the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

·  There had been a meeting regarding the closure of the Windmill Youth Centre.  There was disappointment as young people had not been able to use the centre and further concern that the council was still paying for the lease of the building.  Concern was also raised about other groups who had been displaced by the closure.

·  The establishment of the LGBT youth group was welcomed.  The group would be able to provide support across the Outer South area.

·  Re-opening of Lewisham Park Youth Club.  There was concern with regard to keeping young people involved until the centre re-opened.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

Monday, 14 March 2022 at 4.00 p.m.

Monday, 14 March 2022 at 4.00 p.m.