Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Stronger Communities which provides an update on the work of the Communities Team and the work it 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.

(Report attached)

The Head of Stronger Communities submitted a report which provided an update of the work which the Communities Team are engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. The report also provides opportunities for further questioning, or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

The report includes 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.

Included within the report were details of: the meetings of the Committee’s Environmental Sub Group held on 21^st October 2019 and 14^th January 2020, an update on the Leeds Anti-social Behaviour Team Review, Benefits Claimant Data, Outer North East Housing Advisory Panel (HAP) and the Community Committee’s presence on social media.

Commenting on the Anti - Social Behaviour Review, Alwoodley Ward Members spoke of the ongoing vandalism to the local library. The youths involved in the vandalism were known to the authorities and the premises were also equipped with CCTV, the support in taking actions against the youths involved was seriously lacking.

Members were informed that the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) could often be a complication when evidence was captured via CCTV footage.

Reference was also made to the King Lane Park and Ride facility, noting that the Crime Reduction Officer had recommended changes to street lighting and the installation of night time barriers. It was understood that the late night closing and early morning re-opening of the barriers was a challenging issue.

Ward Members were of the view that this was a woeful situation and required addressing as soon as possible.

Members also raised concerns about an area of land near the former Middlethorne Middle School Site, suggesting the area was now been used for anti-social behaviour.

Members asked if a nearby street light could be switched off thereby making the area darker and less attractive for youths to congregate.

Members were of the view that there were a number of Anti-Social issues to be addressed and requested if the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team Manager could be invited to the next meeting

Reference was made to the Outer North East Housing Advisory Panel (HAP). Members were concerned that the HAP had not met for some considerable time and there was now an urgent need to have a meeting to consider the funding of environment and community projects and services that would benefit the housing tenants of Alwoodley, Harewood and Wetherby.

Members were of the view that failure to allocate funding to projects/ service may result in loss of budget.

Members were informed that recent staff changes within Housing Services may have led to some delays in HAP support

It was suggested that the Chair on behalf of the Community Committee, write to the Executive Member responsible seeking assurance that adequate resources would be allocated to provide HAP support or alternatively that the HAP budget be made available directly to the Community Committee

Referring to Community Events, the Committee heard from the Community Voice & Influence Officer, (Communities & Environment) who spoke about the outcome of last summer’s youth summit and sought Members suggestions for the future funding of projects in the Harewood and Wetherby Wards.

In the discussion that followed Harewood and Wetherby Ward Members agreed to meet outside of the Committee to discuss a way forward.  

The Community Voice & Influence Officer also raised the issue for a potential

Youth Summit for all 3 Wards in the Outer North East area based on the model adopted by the other Community Committees

Alwoodley Ward Members were of the view that their existing arrangements for a Youth Summit in the area were working well and they would not like to change those arrangements.

Harewood and Wetherby Ward Members expressed a preference for a Joint Youth Summit for the two Wards.

The Chair made reference to the commemorations for VE and VJ day and asked that Members promote these events with local groups and residents. It was confirmed that funding would be available, if applied for from the Ward pots.  

The Chair thanked Members for their contributions

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the contents of the report be noted

(ii)  That the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team Manager be invited to the next meeting

(iii)  That the Chair on behalf of the Community Committee, write to the Executive Member responsible seeking assurance that adequate resources would be allocated to provide HAP support or alternatively that the HAP budget be made available directly to the Community Committee