Agenda and minutes

Catherine Hyde, Stephen Garvani Steve Harris

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 the 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 formal late items.

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

No declarations of interests were made at the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Venner, and co-opted members Jo Fiddes, Stephen McBarron, Andy Rontree and Jonathan Butler.

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 at the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th July 2022, for approval as a correct record.

RESOLVED – To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th July 2022, as a correct record.

The Chair advised the Community Committee that she had met with the Localities Officers, and it had been agreed that no supplementary information in relation to funding applications would be sent to the Members where there was less than five working days before the meeting. Where applications were received after this time, they would either be approved via DDN or brought to the next Community Committee meeting.  

In relation to the suggestion of workshops to discuss funding applications this would be adopted going forward. Members welcomed this approach to the funding process.

The report of the City Solicitor invites Members to give consideration to appointing a co-optee for the Armley ward to the Community Committee for the duration of the 2022/2023 municipal year.

Members were advised that further to the publication of the agenda Mr Mamood had decided he did not wish to take up the role of co-opted member on the Community Committee. Therefore, this item was now withdrawn.

To receive and consider the attached report which provides the Inner West Community Committee with an update on the Highways Annual Improvement Consultation.

The report of the Executive Manager, Highways provided the Inner North East Community Committee with an update on the Highways Annual Improvement Consultation.

The presentation which was appended to the submitted report was shown at the meeting and the Community Committee were invited to make comments.

The Community Committee were informed of the following points:

• The consultation on next years’ programme closed on 2^nd September. Lists of the proposed works had been provided to Councillors and Parish Councils at the start of July requesting comments.
• Members were provided with an explanation of the Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice. 36 recommendations include: Lifecycle Plans, Inspections, Risk Management and Defect Repair.
• Explanation of how the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Strategy aligns with the corporate vision and contributes to the vision for Leeds. It was noted that key factors of the strategy in Regional Context, Sustainability and Climate Emergency and Communication and Engagement.
• Funding allocations include City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) and Leeds Capital.
• Members noted that the service is currently undertaking more preventative work which is surface dressing. It was noted that the life of a road is generally 10 years.
• The service is continually reviewing all streets, and these are added to a sheet with a colour code to show what stage of repair the road is in. All roads are inspected by an engineer and a scoring system is used and checked over a 3 year cycle. The service wish to get to the position that only 10% of roads are in poor condition.
• Each year all Members receive lists of roads requiring work and the priority given to them. Members are requested to make comments. Members were advised that all emails are noted and responded to.

Responding directly to comments and questions from Members the officer provided the following information:

·  It was noted that Members had provided comments on specific local roads, and these would be followed up.

·  Ironworks on the highways were inspected to react to individual reports and any defects found were addressed. It was noted that any current issues with ironworks should be report to the officer and Members would receive a response.

·  Members were of the view that it was important for communication to take place between different services and departments in relation to any works carried out on the highways.

·  Members also thought it was important for a short communication to them in between the consultation period, so that they were kept updated.

·  Members made comments on the potholes and the different techniques used to address them.

·  Members suggested that speed bumps should be used on entry to roads designated as 20mph. It was the view that this should be carried out during refurbishment works.

·  Members raised concerns in relation to the footpaths and pedestrianised areas on the local estates, some of which are in poor condition. Members were advised that footpaths etc were inspected separately to carriageways but used the same scoring procedure to prioritise the work required.  

·  Members were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

Th receive and the consider the report of the Director of Public Health on the Age Friendly Leeds Strategy & Action Plan 2022-2025.

The report of the Director of Public Health presented to the Inner West Community Committee the refresh of the draft Age Friendly Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2025 to gain feedback. The report also requested support and promotion of the work of Age Friendly within the city.

The Community Committee were provided with the following points:

• Around 1 in 3 people are aged 50 and over. The number of Leeds residents aged 80 and over will increase by about 50% in the next 20 years.
• Age Friendly Leeds is one of the eight priorities in the Best Council Plan 2020-2025. The vision for Leeds is that it is a place where people age well, older people are valued, respected, appreciated and seen as assets.
• The draft Age Friendly Leeds Strategy 2022-25 has been reviewed and refreshed which has been informed by The State of Ageing in Leeds report. The process has been overseen by the Age Friendly Board chaired by Cllr Jenkins. The role of the Board is to provide strategic leadership and set the strategic direction for the Age Friendly Leeds work programme and ensure that the objectives are being met.
• Leeds is a member of the World Health Organisation Age Friendly Cities programme and has used and adapted the framework to identify and address barriers to the well-being and participation of older people.
• The strategy sets out six key priority areas: housing; public and civic spaces; travel and road safety; active, included and respected; healthy and independent ageing and employment and learning. Each of the priorities is headed by a domain lead. Domain leads have been identified and are working to implement the actions set out in the plan. The domain leads will feedback on a quarterly basis.
• The Leeds Older Peoples Forum (LOPF) gives practical ways for the local community to become involved to strengthen the age friendly approach and Councillors were invited to support and encourage people and businesses to get involved in:
  • The Age Friendly Ambassador Programme
  • Becoming a Dementia Friend
  • Age and Dementia Friendly Businesses
  • The Come in and Rest Scheme
  • Leeds Older People’s Age Friendly Steering Group
• Public Health are working with partners to support older people in Leeds to be as resilient as possible this winter. It was recognised that the cost-of-living crisis together with the impact that the cold weather can have on older people will require an approach to ensure proactive and preventative support is provided to those most at risk this winter. It was noted there are a range of services to support older people during cold weather including:
  • Information and Advice Service run through Age UK Leeds who can offer information and advice on a range of issues such as:
    • Money Matters
    • State Benefits
    • Housing Rights
    • Consumer issues
  • Home Plus Leeds – whose aim is to enable and maintain independent living through improving health at home.
  • Lunch Clubs – Public Health fund the annual Lunch Club Grants offering a financial contribution to support voluntary groups to provide hot nutritious  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

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 2022/23.

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 Budget for 2022/23.

The Locality Officer presented the report highlighting the following points:

• The remaining balance of the Wellbeing Fund is currently £38,854.70. Table 1 of the submitted report provided a list of projects already funded.
• Members were requested to consider one application for Sandford Road POS boundary fence submitted by Parks and Countryside for £11,994. Members approved this application.
• Table 2 at Paragraph 30 provided a breakdown of projects funded from the Youth Activity Fund. The Community Committee were asked to note the remaining balance was £50,129.42. Members were advised that the Empower Project had started. Members were also advised that feedback was being sought in relation to the Saturday Night Project.
• Paragraph 31 noted the Small Grants and Skips Budget currently had a remaining balance of £1,418.02. Table 3 showed the Small Grants funded and Table 4 showed the community skips funded.
• Members were advised that the Community Committee currently had a budget of £18,780.08 available to spend. Table 5 listed the projects already funded.
• Members requested to note there is currently £74,915.92 available to spend in the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Budget. Table 6 showed the project funded for Woodbridge Fold – Parking Bays.

It was requested that discussion take place at the future workshops on how the Community Committee could spend the CIL and Capital budgets to benefit the Inner West area.

RESOLVED – To note and approve:

1. Details of the Wellbeing Budget position (Table 1)
2. Wellbeing proposals for the consideration and approval as set out above (Paragraph 21)
3. Details of the projects approved via Delegated Decision (Paragraph 23)
4. Monitoring information of its funded projects (Paragraph 27)
5. Details of the Youth Activities Fund (YAF) position (Table 2)
6. Details of the Small Grants and Skips Budget (Tables 3&4)
7. Details of the Capital Budget (Table 5)
8. Details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget (Table 6)

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.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships updated the Community Committee on the work which the Communities Team have been engaged in, based on the priorities identified by the Community Committee.

Under the item for Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team Paragraph 9 was highlighted by Cllr Cunningham. She requested further information in relation to the metal sheeting being fitted in at the bin yard in Armley.

RESOLVED – To note the content of the report.

The next meeting of the Inner West Community Committee will be on Tuesday 9^th November 2022 at 6pm. Venue to be confirmed.

To note the next meeting of the Inner West Community Committee will be on Tuesday 22^nd November 2022 at 6pm. The venue to be confirmed.

The Chair apologised for the change of venue at short notice. However, this was due to staff sickness at the Fairfield Community Centre.

Cat Hyde, the co-opted member for Armley, thanked the Armley Festival Team for putting on a brilliant event. It had been well attended, with the Leader of Council also attending.

The Chair informed the Community Committee that this would be the last meeting for Karen as she was to take up a new role with Adults and Health Directorate. She thanked Karen for all her work in the Inner West area.

Cllr Bithell thanked Karen for all her work with the Community Committee and for the support that she had provided whilst Cllr Bithell had been the Chair.

The Community Committee presented Karen with a bunch of flowers and showed their appreciation with a round of applause.

Cllr Bithell informed the Community Committee that she was stepping down from her appointment to the Kirkstall Cluster. It was noted that Children’s Services would be made aware of the vacancy.

The meeting concluded at 19:45