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 Head 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 formal late items.

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

The following declarations of interest were made at the meeting:

Councillor Paul Wray declared ‘Other Registerable Interests’ in relation to Agenda Item 11, Inner South Community Committee Finance Report with his involvement, in a voluntary capacity only, with Friends of Cross Flatts Park Committee, Involve Centre and Hunslet Carr Primary School.

For more information, minute 11 refers below.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R Chesterfield.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28^th of February 2024, for approval as a correct record.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on the 28^th of February 2024 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 the terms of reference of the Community Committee.

The following submissions were made as part of the Open Forum:

Persistent Begging

A local resident raised concerns regarding persistent begging occurring in and around the area, particularly around the local social club. The issue, along with the increase in the number of homeless people congregating around the social club, had been reported to the Police and some action had been made to move them on. It was outlined that the issue was increasing within the three Inner South Wards and was affecting communities.

In response the Chair noted the issues seem to stem from the shops nearby the local fire station and that meetings with the Police and Anti Social Behaviour Team had been held to discuss resolutions, as well as the increased presence of sex workers along Tempest Road. Resolutions required a multiagency approach and a sensible use of resources as they were also linked to local trap houses. Councillors received a significant number of emails regarding serious social issues and noted the difficult approach for assisting vulnerable people. A dedicated phone line was to be provided to the local resident that dealt with issues regarding sex workers in the area.

Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation (BITMO)

The organisation had been operating in Middleton Park for 20 years and were celebrating through the Belle Isle Gala scheduled for Saturday the 6^th of July 2024. The event was self funded, without having requested funds from the Community Committee for 5 year running, but had received some funding support from Leeds Housing Federation and it was hoped a bigger event could be planned next year and promoted by Local Councillors. A summer activities day was also scheduled for local children and families, with a community run kitchen providing food. A pledge was made for Councillors to support the local events and promote local tenant management as BITMO was well thought of by the tenants it engaged with.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Highways and Transportation which briefs Ward Members on the Leeds Streets for All campaign which will now go live in September.

The report of the Chief Officer Highways and Transportation briefed Ward

Members on the Leeds Streets for All campaign which was to go live in September 2024.

The Team Leader (Transport Strategy) and Senior Project Officer from City Development, presented the report and outlined the following information:

• The marketing and consultation branch of the Highways Department was scheduled to run a consultation for the Inner South Wards, beginning in September 2024 and running for 6 weeks. The consultation was to be public facing, requesting local people to outline their traffic and highway infrastructure issues in the area to inform travel plans.
• An animation was played for Members to explain the process for the online consultation, allowing residents to drop a pin and leave an explanation where issues were noted. The aim was to increase accessibility of local areas and amenities and create a more diverse range of travel options.
• The service was attending Community Committee meetings across all Wards to better understand local travel infrastructure issues. The consultation allowed residents to have their say on local area plans and then issues were to be prioritised when funding became available. The consultation was to be primarily ran through a dedicated webpage.
• Issues had been divided into 5 categories: vehicles and parking, walking and wheeling, cycling, bus stops and rail stations and street environment. Upon dropping a pin on the website, it then required selection of one of the 5 categories, in addition to a further text box to provide an opportunity for detailed explanation.
• There had recently been significant works to highways and traffic infrastructure within the city centre and better provision was needed to spread out into outer areas and local communities. Detailed plans based on local consultation responses was to capture funding as it came available with well prepared ideas which would reduce delays.
• Funding was secured from central Government and also allocated by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).
• The consultation also covered green spaces and route plans, supported by traffic engineers and the Climate Energy and Green Spaces department.
• Council initiatives, data and strategies were also considered as part of plan development, including, Vision Zero, school travel patterns, public transport routes, key destinations, Connecting Communities and Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans.
• As an example, data from the Inner West consultation, ran in November 2023, was noted as, 2,300 website visitors, 610 dropped pins, with vehicles and parking being the highest selected category. Paid social media advertisements were the most effective way of building engagement.
• The Inner South consultation was to begin on the 23^rd of September 2024 and was to run for 6 weeks. Although the consultation was focused on the webpage, methods to be accessible were outlined as, information and help at Community Hubs, stakeholders sharing the consultation with wider groups and Leeds Involving People assisting with submissions and information sharing.
• Members were encouraged to share the material with residents and spread the word through schools and surgery sessions.
• Progress monitoring was to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To consider the report of the Head of Council Housing Growth which provides the Inner South Community Committee with a service update for Council Housing Growth.

The report of the Head of Council Housing Growth provided the Inner South

Community Committee with a service update for Council Housing Growth.

The Head of Council Housing Growth outlined the following information:

·  The service was committed to increasing the number of affordable homes across the district working with various housing associations. Housing provision aimed to be built to high standards whilst spending money wisely.

·  The housing growth programme was summarised as, a pledge from 2017 aimed to build 1,212 new affordable homes by 2026, which was on track to be fulfilled with 764 delivered and some interesting and ambitious plans ongoing. Issues had been noted with the changing economic and social climate during and after the pandemic.

·  The service worked on both on new buildings and acquisition, with the service having priority as the first referral for re-purchasing houses sold under the right to buy scheme. Buying back properties was considered necessary to increase affordable housing stock.

·  Affordable housing stock had increased over the last ten years, with 41% of the 764 delivered homes being Council housing.

·  Funding and viability were explained, with half of the service’s costs being covered by right to buy receipts and the other half via borrowing. There was no additional funding support, and an account was ringfenced from the Council’s budget for Council housing each year. The overall costs, as well as associated interest rates, for delivering schemes had increased.

·   Affordable rent was determined as being 80% of the market rate, with the average taken against bought back right to buy properties and social rent.

·  Housing standards were changing with a no gas approach favoured, which fits with the climate emergency agenda and also improved energy efficiency and reduced costs. Models for improving bio-diversity and electric charging point provision were supported but added pressure to service provision. It was also noted that the service had won awards and received good feedback from tenants.

·  Data for Beeston and Holbeck was noted as, holding 2,300 Council homes and with 1,500 people on the waiting list. The Meynell Approach scheme was a notable new development within the Ward.

·  Data for Hunslet and Riverside was outlined as, holding 1,700 Council homes and with 1,700 people on the waiting list. Gascoigne House was a notable new development in the Ward, which provided extra care facilities and linked in with Public Health.

·  Data for Middleton Park noted there was 4,000 Council homes, with 1,700 people on the waiting list. Throstle Recreation Ground was a notable development coming forward which focused on social values, including a good output for education and training as well as sustainable travel.

·  230 new builds were expected within the Inner South under a 2026-2031 programme.

Members discussions included the following points:

• In order to meet demand, proposals for medium, gentle density of around 4 to 5 floored social housing were queried against planning policy, to maximise provision. In response it was outlined that provision was led through work with Housing Leeds and there were difficulties in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive the report of the Head of Health & Housing which provides the Inner South Community Committee with an update on the work of the Health & Housing Service in the Inner South Wards and around the whole city.

The report of the Head of Health & Housing provided the Inner South Community Committee with an update on the work of the Health & Housing Service in the Inner South Wards and around the whole city.

The Head of Health & Housing outlined the following information:

• The service promoted independent living through provision of home adaptations and helping people move to more suitable properties.
• The service was comprised of 65 staff members, including surveyors and contractors. The annual budget for providing adaptations was £18 million, which covered a wide range of works, from downstairs showers to extensions.
• The national budget for Disability Fund Grants had increased in recent years and was £623 million for 2023-2024. In order to access funds, an occupational therapist conducted assessments to provide access to funds. It was noted to be a good use of money as adaptations kept families and communities together whilst reducing required A+E visits and residential care reliance.
• A list of common adaptations was provided as, showers, ramps, lifts and access improvements.
• The surveying team was comprised of 21 experienced staff members and were nationally recognised as market leaders. They were responsible for design models, schedules and planning adaptation works. They also procured specialist contractors and there was a buoyant recycling scheme for repurposing kit.
• Rehousing required an occupational therapist assessment, and the process was supported by independent living officers. Medical priorities were divided into band A+, A or B and were determined after an assessment generated a referral from Adults Social Care and then needs assessment of properties were done.
• Case workers and support staff assisted with accessibility and the bidding process and also offered incentives for property swaps or moving people out of homes better suited to people with complex needs. It was considered a sensible money saving option for the Council if a swap could be done instead of new adaptation work.
• Adaptations and rehousing were determined against a 12 step criteria and also statutory duty requirements, with additional support programmes available for different needs. Child asthma and dementia were examples of common needs that required action.
• As a case study example, photos were shown to Members to outline high level protective works of a project which assisted a child with very specific behavioural needs. Although £170,000 had been spent on the rehousing and adaptation work for this example, the money had been recouped within 7 months across the services that had previously provided intense support and was outlined as a spend to save approach.

Members discussions included the following points:

• The service’s influence of development planning policies, in regard to accessibility regulations, was queried. In response it was noted that planning laws were difficult to overcome but work was ongoing to better join up departments and some influence was held at a local planning level.
• The process for a holistic approach, allowing people to access local areas and amenities was complex as the service was considered insular and was only able to assess properties as far as the curtilage and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To consider the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships which provides an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund Capital Budget, as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy budget for 2024/25.

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 (YAF), Capital Budget as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2024/25.

The Localities Officer presented the report, outlining the following information:

• The remaining wellbeing budget balance was detailed on page 30 of the report, with table 1 displaying the Ward breakdown as, Beeston & Holbeck £49,589.73, Hunslet & Riverside £46,671.98 and Middleton Park £52,549.10.
• There had been three applications approved by delegated decision since the last Committee meeting which were for Hunslet Youth Group Rent Costs for £1,440 (wellbeing) from Hunslet & Riverside, Belle Isle Kicks for £3,056 (YAF) from Middleton Park and Sussex Green Vegetation Clearance for £1,170 (CIL) from Hunslet & Riverside.
• The YAF position budget position was available in table 2 at page 41 of the report, with the Ward breakdown as Beeston & Holbeck £10,933.39, Hunslet & Riverside £14,848.20 and Middleton Park £20,075.66.
• The Small Grants and Community Skips budget was available on page 42 of the report, contained within table 3 and 4.
• The Capital budget was detailed at page 42 of the report, contained in table 5 with the Ward breakdown as Beeston & Holbeck £4,489.57, Hunslet & Riverside £8,316.05 and Middleton Park £3,475.86. a further injection of approximately £8,000 was anticipated.
• The remaining CIL budget balance was available on page 43 of the report, and detailed at table 6, with the Ward breakdown as Beeston & Holbeck £50,582.71, Hunslet & Riverside £83,633.49 and Middleton Park £3,963.42. A further injection was expected, which the Localities Officer was to follow up and confirm the anticipated figure for Members.

During consideration of the Finance Report, the following was discussed:

• The proposed ringfence for CCTV cameras was deferred in order to gather further information related to the camera resolution and WYP statistics to measure their effectiveness and scrutinise their worth. It was agreed by Members that if the CCTV cameras met their suitability specifications, they were content to approve by delegated decision.
• The ringfence of £5,000 to the Beeston Hill Priority Neighbourhood was declined as Members requested more information regarding future project proposals.

• With the recommendation to review and agree the Community Committee’s Minimum conditions, the following amendment was proposed and agreed. – That if Members are notified of an application and given a timescale to respond, if Members do not respond in this timescale to take their decision the application was declined. However, if a majority in the ward (2 Members) support the application then this will be approved as the majority supported the proposal.

• Half of the requested £6,750 was agreed for the Hunslet Corinthians Juniors project. There was a request to review the organisation’s operations and their sustainability plans.
• The funding for the Summer Activity Days application was amended as £1,500 and a breakdown of costs was requested.
• The funding for the Summer Bands in Cross Flatts Park application was agreed, however, a sustainability plan was requested.
• The requested funding for the three Out of Schools  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To consider the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships providing an overall update on the work that the Communities Team is engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. It also provides opportunities to request further information on a particular issue.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships brought Member’s attention to an update of the work in 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.

The Localities Officer introduced the report, and the following points were highlighted:

• An update from West Yorkshire Police (WYP) was available from page 46 – 54 of the report.
• A CCTV update was detailed at pages 54 and 55 of the report, with a listing of incidents recorded.
• An update from Public Health was available from pages 55 – 62 of the report.
• A community engagement update for each Ward was detailed on pages 62 and 63 of the report.
• An update from the Neighbourhood Centres Co-ordinator was available at pages 63 and 64 of the report.
• Appendix 1 contained the social media update and noted the recent most popular or engaged with post was for Let’s Move South Leeds. Attempts were being made to boost posts and the profile. 

In response to questions from Members, the following points were discussed:

• It was raised that encouraging organisations that engage with the Community Committee may assist with promoting the social media profile. Actions for doing so were suggested as organising a mailing list for shareholders and to include a section on the funding bid application form on sharing posts from the Inner South Community Committee Facebook page.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report, along with Members comments, be noted.

To consider the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships which provides an update on the Community Committee Youth Summit and the Youth Activity Fund Consultation. The report also seeks agreement that consultation with young people, conducted via the Youth Summit and Youth Activity Fund survey, will inform the Youth Activity Fund spend for the 2024/25 financial year.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided an update on the

Community Committee Youth Summit and the Youth Activity Fund (YAF) Consultation. The report also sought agreement that consultation with young

people, conducted via the Youth Summit and Youth Activity Fund survey, will inform the Youth Activity Fund spend for the 2024/25 financial year 

The Localities Officer Presented the report, noting the following:

• The report requested Members to note the Youth Summit update and the YAF Consultation results which had closed in March 2024.
• An infographic was appended which detailed that sports, mixed activity fun days and cooking had been the top three results for preferred activities, determined by the YAF consultation.

 RESOLVED –

a. That the reflections from the last 12 months, be noted (paragraphs 14 – 21).

b. That the details of the Youth Activity Fund consultation survey, be noted (paragraphs 35 - 37).

c. That the Youth Activity Fund survey informs the Community Committee’s Youth Activity Fund for 2024/25.

d. That any projects funded by the Community Committee from the Youth Activity Fund focus on the themes and activity priorities identified in the Youth Activity Fund Consultation Survey in 2024/25.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor which notes the appointment of Councillor Iqbal as Chair of the Inner South Community Committee for 2024/25 as agreed at the recent Annual Council Meeting, and also invites the Committee to make appointments to those positions detailed in the report and its appendices.

The report of the City Solicitor asked Members to note the appointment of

Councillor M Iqbal as Chair of the Inner South Community Committee for the

2024/25 Municipal year and also invited nominations to appointments for

Outside Bodies, Local Care Partnerships and Cluster Partnerships. Nominations were also sought for the Corporate Parenting Board and for the themed Community Committee Champion roles.

The Governance Services Officer presented the report, noting, the 2024/25 schedule was available at point 6 at page 82.

The following was discussed:

• The appointment for the Health, Wellbeing & Adult Social Care Champion was left vacant whilst more information regarding the required duties was sought. It was noted this position was likely to be filled at the next meeting.
• The appointment for the Employment, Skill & Welfare Champion was vacant for the previous municipal year and was also not appointed to during this cycle. The duties and also capacity of the service to hold regular meetings were unclear and the role was also under review as part of the wider Community Committee review.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the appointment of Councillor Mohammad Iqbal as Chair of the Inner South Community Committee for the 2024/25 Municipal Year be noted.

b)  That the following appointments be made for the 2024/25 Municipal Year:

The following matters were discussed:

Housing Voids and Repairs

As Housing Voids and Repairs had been identified as a forthcoming item for consideration by the Committee, the following main issues were outlined to be of particular interest;

·  A breakdown for each area or definition of void housing.

·  Timescales for changing the status of or filling occupation for void houses.

·  The waiting list for repairs to void housing.

·  The categories for non-void housing.

·  How the Inner South compared with other Wards in the city district.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as the 4^th of September 2024 at 1:30pm.

RESOLVED – That the date and time of the next meeting as Wednesday, the 4^th of September 2024, 1:30pm, be noted.