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 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 formal late items.

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

No interests were raised.

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies were received.

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.

On this occasion, members of the public did not raise any issues.

To receive and consider the minutes of the previous meeting held Monday, 2^nd September 2024, as an accurate record.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held Monday, 2^nd September 2024, be approved as an accurate record.

Matters Arising

Minute No. 23. The Governance Officer received information from the Borough of Pudsey Charity regarding Community Committee Appointments. It was noted that as per their constitution, the charity requires 2 Committee Member Appointments from Leeds City Council, and not 3. It was therefore put to a vote, and it was

RESOLVED – To appoint Councillors A Carter and T Smith to the Borough of Pudsey Charity.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships regarding 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 presented a report 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 2024/25.

Projects as outlined in the submitted report were discussed and agreed as follows:

Members were informed of the following:

·  A breakdown of the Wellbeing Budget 2024/25. The remaining balance stands at £18,674.10.

·  A breakdown of the Youth Activities Fund Position 2024/25. The remaining balance stands at £6,750.19.

·  A breakdown of the Small Grants & Skips Budget 2024/25. The remaining balance stands at £1,734.83.

·  The Capital Budget 2024/25 Position. The overall remaining balance stands at £23,834.26. A breakdown per ward was provided as per the submitted report.

·  At the time of writing the report, the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget 2024/25 details were not made available. The following update was provided in terms of the remaining balance for each ward:

o  Pudsey – £70,283.33.

o  Calverley and Farsley - £-5,963.17

o  Farnley and Wortley - £138,989.63

There is a remaining overall balance of £203,309.79.

RESOLVED – To:

a)  Note the Minimum Conditions.

b)  Note details of the Wellbeing Budget position as per Table 1 of the submitted report.

c)  Consider and agree applications as per above.

d)  Note details of the Youth Activities Fund position as per Table 2 of the submitted report.

e)  Note details of the Small Grants & Skips Budget as per Table 3 of the submitted report.

f)  Note details of the Capital Budget as per Table 4 of the submitted report.

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

The report also provides regular updates on some of the key activities between Community Committee meetings and functions delegated to Community Committees, Community Champions roles, community engagement, partnership and locality working.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships presented a report with 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.

The report also provided regular updates on some of the key activities between Community Committee meetings and functions delegated to Community Committees, Community Champion roles, community engagement, partnership and locality working.

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report.

The report of the Leeds West Neighbourhood Policing Team introduces a verbal update to be provided at the meeting regarding the increase of burglaries in the Outer West wards.

The report of the Leeds West Neighbourhood Policing Team introduced a verbal update to be provided by Inspector Lisa Jones, regarding information on the increase of burglaries in the Outer West wards.

Inspector Jones provided the following information:

·  It was believed that there is an increase in burglaries due to earlier hours of darkness. It was noted that the increase is not at pre-pandemic stage.

·  An arrest has been made in conjunction with a series of issues associated with a blow torch being used to enter properties. It was noted that no reports have been made over the last 7 days.

·  In a 6-week period there has been 20 burglary offences reported in Calverley and Farsley, 27 in Pudsey and 19 in Farnley and Wortley.

·  People are encouraged to go for higher rated locks, install lighting and CCTV and read guidance on home security.

Committee Members discussed the following matters:

·  Clarity on forced priority regarding burglaries. It was noted that officers will attend to reports of burglaries as a priority, support will be provided to victims and follow-up work may be required.

·  A request that a burglary prevention workshop be organised in liaison with the Neighbourhood Policing Team and Leeds City Council and/or possible other partners.

·  The possibility of having extra patrols. It was confirmed that currently Neighbourhood Policing Team patrols conclude at 11pm weekdays, and midnight on weekends. There is an issue with funding.

·  Members discussed their worrying concerns with burglaries increasing, and apprehension. It was confirmed that an individual has been apprehended.

·  A request was made that clarity be provided on the types of locks that Leeds City Council install in housing association and council homes. The Chair confirmed he will write to the relevant department on behalf of the Community Committee.

·  Whether additional funding from the Community Committee in terms of extra patrols will help mitigate the increase in burglaries. The Inspector explained that there haven’t been any offences over the last 7 days, and it is a balancing act in terms of spending money, and the use of those extra patrols.

·  The use of an exhibition van to provide advice to residents.

·  In responding a question regarding the importance of reporting, the Inspector confirmed that even the most insignificant report is a piece of intelligence and important to the team.

The Committee thanked Inspector Jones for her time and update.

RESOLVED – To:

a)  Note the verbal update provided at the meeting.

b)  Request that the Chair, on behalf of the Outer West Community Committee seek clarity on the types of locks that are installed in housing association and council homes.

c)  Request that a workshop with a focus on burglary prevention be organised in liaison with the Neighbourhood Policing Team and relevant partners.

The report of the Head of Safer Stronger Leeds introduces a verbal update to be provided at the meeting regarding a brief overview of the Leeds Watch Service and information regarding the 11 cameras situated throughout the 3 Outer West wards.

The report of the Head of Safer Stronger Leeds introduced an update from the Service Support Manger regarding an update on the Leeds Watch Service and 11 cameras situated throughout the Outer West wards.

The Service Support Manager attended the meeting and acknowledged the figures Leeds Watch provided as part of the Update Report as per the agenda pack. Responding to questions from Members, the following was discussed:

·  The figures as per the Update Report are incidents the operator has logged from Leeds Watch and do not include requests made by West Yorkshire Police to obtain footage.

·  Issues with poor camera quality may be down to cleanliness or maintenance as the cameras have been upgraded to fibre.

·  Footage is recording 24/7, and the police can request footage. It was requested that figures be provided on the number of requests that the police have made to obtain footage.

·  Members acknowledged that the cameras do act as a deterrent but raised concern regarding the accuracy of the statistics provided on behalf of Leeds Watch.

·  It was confirmed that to deactivate a camera and move its location is very costly.

·  Cameras are set on a ‘pan, tilt and zoom’ to look at spots, whereas some are fixed.

Further to a request from the Committee, it was confirmed that Committee Members will be provided a list of where each of the cameras are, including which ones are fixed and which ones are ‘tilt and zoom’.

RESOLVED – To note discussions during the meeting and note the request of receiving details on location of cameras and type (fixed or tilt/zoom).

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Wednesday, 19^th February 2025 at 1pm. Venue TBC.

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Wednesday, 19^th February 2025 at 1pm. Venue TBC.

Any Other Business

Committee Members requested that an additional meeting be held prior to the next formal Community Committee meeting, to discuss the Budget for the 2024/25 municipal year. Members suggested that this can take place remotely.

The meeting concluded at 14:00.