Agenda and minutes

Approximately 20 members of the public/representatives of partner organisations/stakeholders attended the meeting

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 against the refusal of inspection of documents

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:-

No exempt information was included within the agenda

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

There were no declarations of disclosable interests

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Charlwood and Rafique

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.

The following members of the public addressed the meeting under the provisions of Paragraphs 4:16 and 4:17 of the Community Committee Procedure Rules (Open Forum)

The Carriage House, Roundhay Park (Ms A Keech, Oakwood Traders Association) – seeking support for a Community Asset Transfer of the Carriage House to a group including the Friends of Roundhay Park and their outline proposals for the possible future use of the site.

In response, the Area Support Officer reported that submission of expressions of interest had been made and that a written response would be sent to Ms Keech once further information had been compiled

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held 26^th June 2015

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 26^th June 2015 be agreed as a correct record

To consider any matters arising from the minutes

There were no matters arising

To receive a report from the North East Locality Safety Partnership in support of a presentation on the subject of domestic violence and abuse

Having considered the issue of domestic violence during the informal workshop prior to the CC meeting, Members received a report from the Area Community Safety Officer in support of the workshop discussions. The report outlined the themes of the earlier discussions and additionally, the Area Improvement Manager sought support for proposals for each ward to consider £500 from their wellbeing fund ward budgets to support projects which contribute towards tackling domestic violence in the locality

RESOLVED

a)  To note the contents of the workshop presentation on the issues related to Domestic Violence and abuse

b)  That the comments made during discussions be used to inform and contribute to a communications plan on the issue of domestic violence and abuse for the East North East area

c)  That approval in principle be given to the request to allocate £500.00 per ward from each Wellbeing fund ward budget to support up to one event per ward within the Inner North East area to support the domestic violence strategy and associated communications

To consider the report of the Senior Communities Librarian, North East Area, on the work of the public libraries in the area

The Senior Communities Librarian for the East North East area presented a report on the work of the public libraries in the Area.

Julie Wood attended the meeting and gave a presentation which provided a brief update on the Library Service and highlighted the following:

·  The work done in the Chapel Allerton, Chapeltown and Oakwood libraries

·  The feedback received on the Lego and board games events, previously funded by the Youth Activity Fund and supported by Councillors and held in all three wards in the area. Following consultation, regular clubs would be held in these libraries, ensuring the continuation of the project.

·  Future work for the service was outlined including involvement in the Chapeltown Arts Festival; Chapel Allerton Festival; Oakwood & Roundhay Festival and workshops with the Northern Ballet at Chapeltown and Oakwood libraries

During discussions it was agreed that details of the Moor Allerton Library would be referenced in any future report and details of the use of and events held at both Moor Allerton and Headingley Libraries would be passed to the Moortown ward Members as residents from Moortown used both libraries. In response to a query, officers confirmed that local schools did receive information/notification of events at all relevant local libraries.

RESOLVED - To receive and note the contents of the presentation and to thank the Senior Communities Librarian for the Inner North East area for the information provided on the work libraries are delivering in local communities; with an emphasis on the children’s events held during the summer. 

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader on the local neighbourhood improvement approach currently being developed within the Inner North East area.  

Jane Maxwell, East North East (ENE) Area Leader, presented a report on the neighbourhood improvement approach currently under development in the locality.

The Area Leader highlighted the review of current arrangements involving local Ward Members and partners: and proposals to establish two neighbourhood improvement partnerships with the creation of associated neighbourhood improvement plans. The report identified the Meanwood Seven Estates and Chapeltown localities as areas chosen to pilot an NIP

(Councillor Dowson left the meeting at this point)

The following matters were raised during discussions:

·  That Chapeltown and Meanwood had been priority areas for a while, but no new statistics presented to support the need for continuing focus.

·  That although Chapeltown had a good network of successful issue driven groups, further work was required to identify how more consistent community engagement on a wider range of issues can be produced

·  The Brackenwood estate had previously been identified by the CC as an area requiring support from the CC. In response officers confirmed that once the Meanwood/Chapeltown pilots were established and evaluated, work would commence on rolling out the NIP template to other areas. The roll out to the Brackenwood Estate would use the employment and skills agenda as a starting point. Relevant statistics would be presented to the working group

·  A request to consider the housing policy relied upon to manage the Brackenwood estate was noted

·  The Queenshill estate had also been previously identified as an area requiring support, although it was noted that this area lay within both the Inner North East CC and the Outer North East CC area

RESOLVED

a)  That the proposal to continue with the existing partnership arrangements in the Meanwood Seven Estates and to develop a new neighbourhood improvement partnership for Chapeltown to build on existing local activity be approved

b)  That  the Brackenwood and Queenshill areas, previously identified as areas of priority need, be included as neighbourhood improvement partnership pilots 

c)  That Ward members consider the request for a nominee from each ward to work with the Chair of the CC to support the development of the neighbourhood improvement partnerships and inform the Area Leader in due course

d)  To note the intention to present an update report to the December 2015 Community Committee meeting

e)  To note that regular briefings will take place at Ward Member meetings with a view to having all arrangements fully operational by December 2015

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader providing an update on the current work programme and seeking support to progress new areas of work

The ENE Area Leader submitted a report providing an update on the current work programme and seeking support to progress new areas of work. The Area Officer presented key issues in the report for discussion:

·  The review undertaken to consider the establishment of non-voting co-optees on the CC, including the development of a community focus group to consider the issue with a view to reporting back prior to the start of the 2016/17 Municipal Year

·  The work and development of the Community Committee Champion role

·  The development of a new performance management framework for community committees

·  The work of the ENE Employment & Skills Board, noting its next meeting will take place in late September.  It was suggested that an Employment & Skills update report should be presented to the December 2015 CC meeting.

·  Work undertaken with the Brackenwood Community Association to consider the proposal to deliver community learning, employment & skills support services at the Brackenwood community centre

RESOLVED

a)  That the contents of the report and comments of the Community Committee be noted

b)  That the proposal to establish a resident focus group in the Inner North East area to support the development of community engagement in the area be agreed.

c)  That officers be requested to present an update report on Employment and Skills to the December Community Committee meeting

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader setting out the Inner North East Community Committee Wellbeing budget, including details of any new projects for consideration

Lee Griffiths, Area Officer, presented the report seeking consideration of the applications received to the Inner North East CC Wellbeing Fund. The report also set out the current budget position and any decisions taken under delegated authority for the area

Additionally, the CC was reminded about the decision made earlier in the meeting to allocate £500.00 from each Wellbeing ward budget towards projects which contribute towards tackling domestic violence in the locality

RESOLVED

a)  To note the current position of the revenue and capital budgets for the Inner North East Community Committee

b)  To note the spend to date against budget headings for the 2015/16 financial year;

c)  To note the delegated decisions made since the last meeting of the Inner North East Community Committee on 29^th June 2015 as outlined in paragraphs 23 to 27.

d)  That, having considered the applications as set out in paragraphs 29 to 46 of the submitted report and the recommendations of the Wellbeing Member advisory group, the following be approved:

Area Wide Wellbeing Fund

e)  To note that an allocation of £500.00 per ward from the small grants pot towards projects will be made to contribute towards tackling domestic violence in the Inner North East area

To receive any feedback or comments from members of the public on the reports presented to this Community Committee meeting.

A time limit for this session has been set at 10 minutes.

Due to the number and nature of queries it will not be possible to provide responses immediately at the meeting. However, members of the public shall receive a formal response within 14 working days

The Chair noted the opportunity for members of the public to give feedback and/or queries on the reports presented during the formal part of the CC meeting, the intention being that a written response would be provided within 14 days. The following comments were raised:

Recruitment of staff at the Reginald Centre and the view that the ethnicity of the workforce did not reflect the community it served. In response, the Chair agreed that the issue of staff recruitment and selection would be discussed at a separate meeting with the ENE Area Leader, the Chair and the community representative who raised the matter.

To note the date of the next meeting as Monday 7^th December 2015 at 6.30 pm

RESOLVED - To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 10^th December 2015. The time and venue to be confirmed

In closing the meeting, Councillor Taylor thanked all present for their attendance and urged local residents to visit the Inner North East CC social media sites for current information on local events and issues

At the conclusion of the formal Community Committee meeting, the Chair advised that an informal workshop session would now take place where local residents, ward Councillors, partners, stakeholders and relevant Council officers would have the opportunity to discuss the topic of