Agenda and minutes

Catherine Hyde, Joanne Fiddes, Jonathan Butler and Steve McBarron.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Bithell and Smart and also  Steve Harris and Stephen Garvani both co-opted members for Kirkstall.

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 Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting.)

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

1 To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information within the meaning of Section 100I of the Local Government Act 1972, 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 the recommendation is accepted, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That, in accordance with Regulation 4 of The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 or Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as appropriate, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of those 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 were no exempt 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.)

There were no late items.

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

No declaration of interests were made at the meeting.

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.

On this occasion there were no members of the public present.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th September 2021, for approval as a correct record.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th September 202, be approved as a correct record.

Minute 28 – Any other Business

At the previous meeting Members had expressed the desire to have the Community Committee at a venue in the Inner West area. Members had been advised that if they had the meeting outside the Civic Hall the meeting could not be webcast.

Members were informed that since that meeting discussions had taken place at the Chairs Forum and the Communities Team were to look at how webcasting from local venues could be part of future meetings. It was noted some Community Committees are already having meetings in their community areas but were not webcast. The Chair asked Members of the Inner West Community Committee if they wished to have the March meeting in the Inner West area.  

Members were agreeable to this suggestion. It was proposed that the next meeting should take place at the West Leeds Activity Centre.

The report of the Chief Officer for Sustainable Energy and Air Quality provides the Inner West Community Committee with a presentation on the council’s updated climate emergency strategy and progress.

The report of the Chief Officer for Sustainable Energy and Air Quality provided an update to the Inner West Community Committee with a presentation on the Council’s updated climate emergency strategy and progress, with a focus on the Inner West area.

The Committee were informed of the following points:

·  £25m has been secured for corporate estate and schools for de-carbonisation this included putting in LED lighting and solar panels. It was noted that air source heat pumps will be installed at Valley View Primary School, air source heat pumps, solar panels and LED lighting will be installed at Hollybush Primary School, air source heats pumps and LED lighting will be installed at Hawksworth Wood Children’s Centre, and air source heat pumps and solar panels will be installed at Kirkstall Leisure Centre.

·  Homeowners on low incomes are still eligible to receive free solar panels and or insulation if they live in an inefficient home and have a household income of £30,000 or less.

·  Landlords with inefficient homes can receive subsidies of two thirds of the cost of installing solar panels and or insulation up to £5,000 if the property’s tenants earn less than £30,000.

·  Three businesses or charities in the area have completed a trial of an electric van, this was 2 from Armley and 1 from Bramley/Stanningley.

·  Three rapid EVCP’s have or soon will be installed at Armley Leisure Centre, Kirkstall Leisure Centre and ASDA Kirkstall thanks to a joint LCC/WYCA scheme in partnership with ENGIE.

·  Promotion of free electric bike trials scheme. This is for Leeds residents who can borrow an electric bike for up to a month if they make 3 regular journeys under 10 miles each week. It was noted the scheme ends after March.

·  Landowners and farmers in Leeds can receive support and expert advice from the White Rose Forest partnership for tree planting schemes. This is part of a national scheme.

·  The team produce the Leeds Climate Newsletter each month and Members were asked if they would like to receive the newsletter and to promote it.

·  Leeds DEC is piloting place-based Community Climate Action Training in Seacroft. It is the aim of the pilot is to bring together representatives from the Council, third sector, residents and local climate groups to identify opportunities for positive action across the ward. It was also noted that Leeds Development Education Centre has a range of resources to help schools teach about climate change.

Members’ discussions included:

·  The impact that work is making in relation to the scale and proportion of the task. It was noted that for the 40 buildings the council is undertaking to de-carbonise it would be 3,000 tonnes of carbon saved. The Council is now looking at how to get more funding for schemes, getting the right skills and how to deliver at a greater pace.

·  Local schools had been identified for de-carbonisation schemes through Children’s Services, as and when schools requested works for boilers etc.

·  How the housing stock can be upgraded to make them  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

The report of the Executive Manager is to provide the Inner West Community Committee with an update on the Highways Service, and to gather input from elected members and residents. The report focusses specifically on the winter service fulfilled by Highways, including snow clearance and road gritting.

The Executive Manager submitted a report to provide the Inner West Community Committee with an update on Highways Winter Service. The report and presentation provided the Inner West Community Committee with an update of the Highways Service, following a recent winter service review. The report focussed specifically on the winter service fulfilled by Highways, including snow clearance and road gritting.

The presentation included a web link which showed the location of yellow grit bins and will show routes on which gritting is taking place in real time on days when the city is hit by severe weather conditions. It was hoped that this would provide valuable information for residents and ward councillors. The website uses postcodes to locate specific routes.

In response to questions from Members the Community Committee were provided with the following information:

·  It was recognised that wet leaves on pavements were a hazard to pedestrians. It was noted that there is a mechanism in place for clearing the leaves.

·  The tracking system currently only lists yellow grit bins. However, work was on-going on the system and it was the aim to also show the location of blue grit bins which were sponsored by Community Committees.

·  Members were advised that grit bins were periodically checked for damage and refilling. Information would be sought on how officers dealt with solidified grit, and feedback would be provided.

·  Members suggested naming gritters for ease of tracking which gritter was in the area. It was noted that the service was due to take gritters out to schools to explain what the job entailed. It was thought to be an idea that part of this would be a competition to name the gritters. Members made some suggestions for names.

·  Members suggested that requests go out to the community requesting volunteers to assist with clearing snow and gritting of footpaths and roads. This would be similar to the blue grit bin champions who monitor the blue grit bins ensuring that they are in good repair and filled. This could be promoted through the website or social media.

·  Members were advised that primary, secondary and third routes are gritted. It was recognised that smaller roads are not listed as priority but if the gritting team have capacity, they will do local streets and estates. It was noted that smaller roads are often those where accidents occur as they are used by parents taking children to school and by the elderly or carers. It was the view that smaller estate roads should be included in decisions on gritting routes.

The Chair and the Committee thanked the officer for his attendance and his enthusiasm in delivering the report and the presentation. The Committee showed their appreciation with a round of applause.

RESOLVED – To note the content of the report.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provides 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 Budget for 2021/22.

(Report attached)

The Head of Locality Partnerships submitted a report which 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 Budget for 2021/22.

Members of the Committee were provided with the following information and requested to consider applications for funding:

·  The current remaining balance of the Wellbeing Fund is £103,638.73. A breakdown of the projects funded was listed at Table 1 of the report.

·  Members considered the following projects:

Members were advised that one project Hookers and Clickers (do it for Charity) had been withdrawn from consideration as the organisation was not constituted. The organisation had been referred for support to become a constituted organisation.

Members were also advised that the Christmas Tree for Bramley had been placed at the wrong location. This was to be addressed and relocated at Stocks Hill as requested by the Bramley and Stanningley Ward Councillors.

·  Since the last Community Committee meeting held on 15^th September 2021, the following projects had been considered and approved by delegated decision:

o  Armley Park Lantern Parade, Friends of Armley and Gotts Park, £1,450 (Armley)

o  Art Camp Half Term Project, Art Camp UK, £1,687.50 (Kirkstall)

·  The remaining balance for Youth Activity Fund is £35,078.09. Table 2 listed the activities.

·  Remaining balance for Small Grants and Skips is currently £2,439.48 with details of projects and community skips listed in Tables 3 and 4 of the submitted report.

·  Members were advised that the Capital Budget had received an injection of Capital funds in October 2021 and the remaining balance for Capital Budget was £29,708.84. Capital allocations were listed in Table 5 of the report.

·  Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) currently has available £82,153.84 to spend. Table 6 listed the project supported through CIL.

RESOLVED – To note:

a) Details of the Wellbeing Budget position be noted

b) That the Wellbeing proposals submitted to the Committee for consideration and determination be approved, or otherwise, as detailed above.

c) Details of the projects approved via Delegated Decision be noted

d) Monitoring information of its funded projects be noted

e) Details of the Youth Activities Fund (YAF) position be noted

f) Details of the Small Grants and Skips Budget be noted

g) Details of the Capital Budget be noted

h) Details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget be noted

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

(Report attached)

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships submitted a report which brought to Members’ attention an update of the work the Communities Team is engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee.

Inspector Gill attended the Community Committee at the start of the meeting as he was needed as elsewhere. His update was part of this Update Report and updated the Members on the work that the Police have been involved with in the Inner West Community Committee area.

Inspector Gill informed the Members of the following points:

·  Charge Supervisor Carl Robinson has moved from Bramley. Dan Bell is the temporary officer until recruitment can take place for this role.

·  Work has been on going in the Armley ward on Town Street on a large open space in relation to street drinking. It was noted that this has been successful, and the closure order has been extended until January 2022.

·  Work with local business and Trading Standards had seen £35,000 of illegal tobacco being seized.

·  Issues had been raised in relation to an area in Armley and 3 warrants had been issued. 2 large bags of Spice and 2 knives had been removed and arrests made. It was noted that these arrests had been made through community intelligence. The Inspector further encouraged the community to contact them in relation to any other issues.

·  BARCA had reported anti-social behaviour near their premises, and this was still being checked.

·  Bonfire period had passed without any major issues. Police and other agencies had worked together to identify any issues. Some warnings had been given and the young people were given support.

·  Traffic in Bramley is still an issue.

·  Police are continuing to patrol area round Cardigan Fields.

Members were advised of crime data for the Inner West area for the period

1^st April 2021 to September 2021 in relation to burglaries, robberies, theft from vehicles and anti-social behaviour. It was noted that in most areas there had been a significant reduction in these crimes compared to the previous year.

Members’ discussions included:

·  Speeding issues in the Inner West area. It was noted that the police had targeted an area and issued a number of tickets. Members were of the view that this had been successful and reported that residents had welcomed this action.

·  Community Safety Days. It was noted that these had been successful.

·  Reported that the work in Armley had been well received by the residents. Members requested a press release on the recent events. The Inspector said that community intelligence was important to the work of the police.

·  Graffiti is an issue and Members were advised that it was difficult to catch those who do graffiti, it was also dependent on budget and resources how much time can be given to this issue. The police acknowledged that it was an issue, however it was a low priority.

·  Digital Fraud was an issue, and Combined Authority’s Deputy Mayor was currently looking at how to tackle this.

The Chair  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

The Community Committee were advised that the West Leeds Activity Centre would like to offer the centre as a location for future Community Committees.

Members were of the view that the West Leeds Activity Centre would be a good venue for the next meeting as it was in the middle of all the wards.

Cat Hyde the co-optee for Armley asked about co-opting more members for the Armley area. It was suggested that nominations for the role should be sent to the Localities Officer.

The next meeting of the Inner West Community Committee is scheduled for Wednesday 9^th March 2022, at 6pm. Venue to be confirmed.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Inner West Community Committee will be on Wednesday 16^th March 2022, at 6pm.

The meeting concluded at 20:00