Agenda item

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:

• A Children and Families sub-group meeting had been arranged for the 9^th of September 2024 and an update was to be provided at the next Committee meeting.
• An Environment and Community Safety sub-group meeting was yet to be arranged but a full update was to be provided at the next Committee meeting.
• Page 30 of the report pack provided an update from employment and skills, containing updated figures and a more granular breakdown of universal credit take up, which had previously been requested by Members.
• A community engagement update was available from page 36 of the report pack, including details for Holbeck Moor Market.
• A neighbourhood centres co-ordinator update was available from page 39 of the report pack.
• Appendix 1 detailed the social media update, with boosted posts now being used on the Community Committee Facebook page, with an update on its success to be provided once more data had been gathered.

WYP Inspector Mark Lund, attending the Committee and provided and update on recent crime statistics:

• Crime figures for Hunslet and Riverside had decreased when compared with July 2024 statistics, with hate crime and incidents the only category that had risen, but this was considered a national issue with recent riots occurring.
• Crime figures for Beeston and Holbeck displayed and overall reduction in average crime but robbery had increased. The increase in robbery was associated with organised crime and particularly related to E-bikes and E-scooters. One individual had been arrested which related to four of the robberies.
• Crime figures for Middleton Park showed an increase in theft of motor vehicles with a recent theft incident leading to four vans being stolen. Three of the vans had since been recovered.
• Overall hate crimes and incidents had increased for all three wards, but this was related to national issues.
• There had been some difficulties for neighbourhood policing recently with other issues such as protests and riots requiring attention, however, Officers were back to usual operations in the area, all departments were fully recruited, with the exception of PSCOs being just below capacity.

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

• The legality of riding E-scooters in parks was dependant on the motor capacity, it was outlined that WYP would not seek to prosecute an individual reporting theft of their E-scooter when riding in a park but may advice against use in public spaces. WYP were more concerned with E-bikes which were generally capable of much higher speeds.
• As crime in Cross Flatts Park was noted to be prolific and local people reported feeling unsafe and wariness when in the park, actions to address this were queried. In response the park was noted to be a community asset and a partnership approach, including community groups, was best practise to improve safety measures and consult with residents. This was an ongoing issue and greater Police presence was encouraged.
• A property that backed onto the park had been associated with organised crime, with the fencing repeatedly removed to access the park. The approach to reduce trap houses and properties associated with organised crime was through mapping and managing identified houses in liaison with other Police departments and working with other authorities. Attempts had been made for a Police bike team to patrol the area, as well as the use of drones. A partial closure order had been served on the particular address and a briefing note on operations related to identified houses was agreed to be shared with Members.
• With the CCTV cameras in Cross Flatts Park being blocked by foliage, work was ongoing to resolve this issue. CCTV footage was valuable evidence and alongside Leeds Watch, cameras were monitored until 4:00am.
• Members had recently attended a site visit to the local Leeds Watch monitoring station, and it had been noted that WYP had requested a low amount of footage from the station. Members queried the usefulness of funding these CCTV cameras if serious crime was going unmonitored. In response it was outlined that to request footage a crime needed to be reported and a limited number of Officers were permitted to engage with Leeds Watch; there were also issues with the length of time each camera was permitted to be monitored alongside staffing limitations.
• Drug statistics were not included within the Police update as the figures would be skewed by Elland Road Police Station being within the Middleton Park boundary lines and anyone brought to the station found to be in possession of drugs upon arrest would be included in these statistics.
• It was agreed that the number of nuisance or illegal quad bike reports for Middleton Park were to be double checked to ensure all reports were picked up and logged.
• The process for suggesting locations for speed cameras was explained as a shared partnership decision, involving WYP, highways and other local authorities and required evidence of severe danger for fixed cameras; portable measures such as speed guns were more easily accessible.
• As there were reports of anti-social behaviour outside a nail salon in Middleton Park, including reports of robbery, this issue was agreed to be followed up with superior WYP Officers to check ongoing work and outcomes.

• As part of the employment and skills update it was suggested that the service could connect with local employers and third sector organisations for work and voluntary options, which was agreed to be shared back with the service.
• Further detail regarding the locations for Jobshops and a further breakdown for community learning courses to a ward level, as well as a list of organisations engaged with were requested. 
• The list of schools and colleges that the employment and skills service had engaged with, as well an Inner South specific list for Connecting Schools to Hospitality was requested by Members.
• As the community engagement update had referenced Holbeck Moor Market, information on engagement and support for Middleton Market was requested. It was noted that both these markets had the same organiser who delegated operations to others.

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