Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the attached report of the North East Area Manager

Time – 20 Mins (Executive Function)

The North East Area Manager submitted a report which provided information on the IMPaCT Neighbourhood Improvement Plan (NIP) for January 2007 to March 2008.

The Chair welcomed Beki Allchin to the meeting to give a presentation on the IMPaCT Neighbourhood Improvement Plan.

The first part of the presentation concentrated on regeneration issues.  The following areas were highlighted:

• Leeds would receive £15.6 Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) funding over the next 3 years and this would be used towards the creation of two new catalyst centres in Chapeltown and Harehills
• LEGI funds would be used to encourage entrepreneurial behaviour
• Several flats had been reconverted back to houses for family use.
• The Joint Services Centre will address health and deprivation issues with the services provided from there.

The following partnership issues were highlighted:

• The District Partnership had deemed Chapeltown to be a priority neighbourhood.
• Environment Get Together – Included partners from Council, PCSOs and Fire Service.
• Information Ribbon sponsored by Leeds Metropolitan University and Northern Lights.

Achievements to date included the following:

• Action to combat fly tipping and untidy gardens via the Chapeltown  Environment Pride Team and a dedicated Environmental Enforcement Officer.
• Addressing problems with empty properties.
• Chapeltown and Harehills Job Shops
• Replacement Street Signs
• Bikes for PCSOs
• Creating Green Spaces – Woodland Mount Pocket Park
• Environmental improvements at Sholebroke Mount Shops and Bankside Street

A discussion was held regarding the conversion of houses into flats and vice versa.  Whilst progress had been made in getting some properties converted back to family housing, others were still being converted to flats.  The Committee was informed of a decision of the Planning Inspectorate to overturn appeals against turning housing into flats and it was suggested that the Area Management team could make representations to the Chief Planning Officer regarding this.

The Chair thanked Beki for her attendance and presentation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(Councillor Harker joined the meeting at 4.30 p.m. during discussion of this item and the meeting became quorate).