Agenda and minutes

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 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:

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 was a formal late item added to the agenda with the Chairs permission. It was noted that the item Youth Work Review had been added at the request of the Executive Member for Communities as it was deemed that the information provided within the report could not wait until the next round of Community Committees. The Chair specified that this item would be taken as agenda item 11. Minute 37 refers.

There was also supplementary information in relation to the Finance Update Report which was moved down the agenda to item 12. The supplementary information related to Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Late and supplementary information had been circulated to the Community Committee prior to the meeting.

To disclose or draw attention to any Disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology had been received from Cllr. Andrew Carter.

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 no members of the public wished to speak.

To approve the minutes of the Outer West Community Committee held on 17^th September 2018.

RESOLVED – The minutes of the meeting held on 17^th September 2018, were approved as a correct record.

To receive the report of the Chief Officer Housing Management to update and advise the Community Committee of activities undertaken by the Housing Service, especially those which impact on local communities and where there are opportunities to work collaboratively to improve conditions for local people.

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Officer Housing Management updated and advised the Community Committee on the activities undertaken by the Housing Service, especially those which impacted on the local community and where there were opportunities to work collaboratively.

The Community Committee were informed of the following points:

·  Estate walkabouts were being undertaken as a minimum of once every 3 months on each estate/ housing officer patch area. A schedule is prepared on an annual basis. Members were invited to attend the estate walkabouts;

·  An action day had been completed on the Swinnow Estate in July to address concerns over anti-social behaviour. Housing staff, Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT), local police and Cllr. R Lewis attended the event. Residents were provided with guidance on how to report anti-social behaviour and were given the opportunity to report any intelligence that they had in regard to anti-social behaviour;

·  A Community Day on the Bawns had been a success with services such as Police, Housing, Waste Management, LASBT, Neighbourhood Services and staff from Pure Gym attending the event;

·  The ‘Great Get Together’ event at Whingate Court had been a success with residents and local school children attending;

·  Action days in relation to rent arrears had taken place at Pudsey and Wortley;

·  A project for fencing and A gate had been completed on the Bawns. The Officer thanked local ward members for their support with this project and also for assistance with funding the project.

·  Another project to install fencing to an area used by residents of the Bawns and includes a Multi-Use Games Area had now been approved.

·  Information on welfare reform was included within the submitted report including follow points;

o  The benefits cap is reducing, however, it was not known why;

o  Universal Credit was rolled out on 10^th October, it was noted that cases have spiked more than predicted. A dedicated person is dealing with cases;

o  There was an update on rent collection including a year on year comparison. The service was hopeful that by the end of the financial year they would be on target;

o  Update on voids within the area noted that the area was within its 30 day target and was in the top 5 in the City;

·  Members received information in relation the Housing Advisory Panel (HAP) including; 2 new members had been recruited to the HAP who were residents from the community; there was £15,000 left in the HAP fund; a number of projects had already been completed working in partnership with local groups.

The Committee discussed the impact of Universal Credit on tenants in the outer west area and were encouraged at the support being provided to tenants in the area going through the process.

The Chair thanked the officers for a detailed report.

RESOLVED – To note the content of the report and provide comments on the report.

To receive the report of the Parks Technical Manger which provides the Outer West Community Committee with an update on the Parks and Countryside service activities in the Community Committee Area.

(Report attached)

The report of the Parks Technical Officer provided an update on the parks and countryside activities in the Community Committee area.

Members were informed of the following points:

·  Two parks in the outer west area required improvements to bring them up to the Leeds Quality Parks (LQP) status these were New Wortley Recreation Ground and Western Flatts Cliff Park;

·  Improvements works were also being carried out at an area known as Cabbage Hill. Although this was not a park it was used by the community.

·  The figures in the report were from 2017, figures for 2018 would not be available until January 2019, when Parks and Countryside service would update the Members;

·  The service continued to focus on increasing the number of volunteers and groups working in the area. It was estimated that volunteers had contributed 1175 days of voluntary work in the outer west area over a 12 month period.

Cllr. Amanda Carter thanked the service for the brilliant job that they were doing in the outer west area parks. 

The Community Committee discussed the following points:

·  Would like to support more play equipment in parks;

·  S106 money for parks

·  Tyersal and New Farnley site based gardener

Members requested that they be kept informed of events taking place in the parks within the outer west area.

It was noted that the grass at Andrew Square needs to be cut on a regular basis.

The Chair thanked the service for its report.

RESOLVED – To note the content of the report.

Cllr. Carlill joined the meeting at 13:30 at the end of this item.

To receive a presentation from Age UK to provide the Outer West Community Committee with an update on Home Plus (Leeds).

(Report attached)

The Outer West Community Committee received a presentation from Ian Anderson, Operations Director, Age UK Leeds which provided the Committee with an update on Home Plus (Leeds).

Members were informed that Home Plus (Leeds) was a partnership of Age UK, Groundworks and the Care and Repair Service. 

Members were informed of the following points:

·  During the last week the service had received 200 referrals;

·  The service provided was tailored to individuals needs regardless of income and means;

·  The aims of the service included:

o  Reducing Fuel Poverty

o  Reducing social isolation

o  Improving health and wellbeing amongst vulnerable groups

o  Improving the energy efficiency of homes

·  Everyone who is referred to the service is provided with information and advice including signposting to other relevant services and agencies;

·  The service was available for anyone over the age of 18 years who was deemed vulnerable;

·  Work was carried out within 48 hours;

·  There is a training programme for staff to make sure that they are aware of the full range of services available;

·  Home Plus (Leeds) supported the wellbeing service in assisting to reduce social isolation providing support up to 12 weeks, offering a befriending service and links to neighbourhood networks.

The Chair thanked Mr Anderson for attending and was of the view that other Councillors and Housing officers would find the information and services of use.

RESOLVED – To note the content of the presentation.

To receive the report of the Head of Commissioning, Children and Families which provides the Committee with findings of the Youth Work review and the recommended option for future commissioning arrangements.

The report of the Head of Commissioning, Children and Families was added to the agenda of the meeting with the agreement of the Chair. The Executive Member for Communities had requested that the report be presented to all the Community Committees. Minute 29 refers.

The report set out the findings of the Youth Work Review and the recommended option for future commissioning arrangements.

The report provided information on the current services delivery set out as:

·  Geographically Targeted Youth Service

·  Youth Inclusion Commission

·  Pathways grants

A description had been provided for Members information within the report including the budget for each service.

Members were advised that having limited third sector contracts in just one area had created inconsistency in how youth work is delivered across the city. It was noted that the service was bound by procurement law.

The service had agreed that a process should be undertaken to review the population, the needs of young people, identify assets and gaps in current service delivery and agree a new commissioning model in line with Contract Procedure Rules.

Consultation was carried out for the review with a number of services and partner agencies, including online and face to face consultation with over 500 hundred young people.

A wide range of data was collected and analysed for the review including demographics, school attainment and absenteeism, crime/anti-social behaviour and from current youth work provision. A selection of the data was appended to the submitted report.

The review presented nine conclusions based on the data and feedback from the consultation. These conclusions set out at point 10 of the submitted report formed the basis of the proposed commissioning model.

The recommended commissioning model was set out at point 12 of the submitted report and incorporated the following features:

·  Geographically Targeted Youth Service;

·  Transitional Youth Inclusion Service;

·  NEET Prevention Project;

The table also provided the Members with a description of the future service area and the proposed budget for the service.

Members’ attention was drawn to the diagram at point 13 of the report. Members heard that the new model would have a clear distinction between provision for different ages.  The diagram showed provision for 9-12 year olds would be provided by the third sector with internal Leeds City Council focusing on 12 -17 year olds.

Members noted the information appended to the submitted report in relation to budgets and data collection.

Members discussed the following points:

·  Importance of working with young people at an early stage;

·  Work with local schools to engage with young people in years 11,12 and 13;

·  The use of programmes such as NCS and the importance of getting more young people involved.

Members were informed that there was an opportunity for ward members to make comments on a ward basis and officers would be contacting them.

RESOLVED – To comment on the contents of the report and the recommended future commissioning arrangements.

To receive the report of the Area Leader which provides the Outer West Community Committee with an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund and Youth Activities Fund for 2018/19 and the current position of the Small Grants and skips pots. 

The report also provides an update on the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Small Grants and Skips that have been approved since the last meeting. 

(Report attached)

The report of the Area Leader provided the Outer West Community Committee with an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund and Youth Activities Fund for 2018/19 and the current position of the small Grants and skips pots.

Members were advised of the following points:

·  There is still £943 still available for allocation for Wellbeing Revenue in the 2018/19 budget;

·  An application set out at Table 1 of the report had been received from Leeds International Concert Season for Summer Bands in Leeds Parks 2019 for the sum of £3,200. Members were asked for their approval to spend;

·  Table 2 of the report set out an application which had been received since the last meeting for a Community Band for West Leeds from Tutti! Leeds Community Concert Band for £419.38 which had been approved;

·  There is still £4,043 still available for allocation for Small Grants and for Skip Hire in the 2018/19 budget;

·  Two capital applications had been received and approved since the last meeting for:

o  Bawn Avenue Fencing, gate and A frame project

o  Cottingley Springs Hangout Shelter

·  Capital budget currently available is £20,707;

·  No recent applications had been received in respect of the Youth Activities Fund (YAF). The balance for the YAF was £10,849.92;

·  Supplementary information had been circulated to Members in relation to CIL. Members were provided with guidance and current monies available to spend.

Members were also asked to note and agree the application round process which started on 26^th October 2018. Members were informed that the application deadline will be 11^th January 2019.

Members noted that a funding workshop to look at the applications for the coming year is due to take place on 20^th February 2019 prior to the next Community Committee.

RESOLVED – To:

1.  Note the current budget position for the revenue Wellbeing Fund for 2018/19 and consider and approve the application that had been received since the last meeting Table 1 of the submitted report - Leeds International Concert Season for Summer Bands in Leeds Parks 2019 for the sum of £3,200. – APPROVED

2.  Note the current budget position for the small grants and skips and those applications that had been approved since the last meeting at Table 2 of the submitted report;

3.  Note the current budget position for the Capital Wellbeing Fund for 2018/19 and note the applications that have been approved since the last meeting at Table 3 of the submitted report;

4.  Note the current budget position for the Youth Activities Fund 2018/19;

5.  Agree the recommended application round process for 2019/20.

To receive the report of the Area Leader the report updates the Community Committee when there is additional committee business to report or a general update on other activity in the outer west area. Partner organisations and Council services will also contribute information to the Update Report.

The report also updates the Committee on pieces of work and partnership working that have taken place in the area.

(Report attached)

The report of the Area Leader updated the Community Committee on pieces of work and partnership working that had taken place in the area.

Members were informed that a meeting of the Pudsey/Swinnow Forum had taken place on Tuesday 13^th November with 19 members of the public attending. Partners from West Yorkshire Police, Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team and Parks and Countryside attended.

It was noted that Tyersal Forum was due to take place on Tuesday 27^th November at 7pm at Tyersal Club.

The Environment sub group had met in September, Members were advised that the notes of the meeting were attached at Appendix 1 of the submitted report. Members noted that the next meeting of the Environmental sub group was arranged for 14^th December 2018.

Members were advised that information in relation to Christmas bin collections had been appended to the submitted report.

The Community Committee heard that the Outer West Youth Summit had taken place on 22^nd October at Leeds Civic Hall. 55 children from 9 schools had attended. It was noted that a full report would be brought to a future meeting.

Members were advised that no update report had been received from the Police.

RESOLVED – To:

1.  Note the discussions of the Outer West Community Committee and any key issues; and

2.  Share and promote the social networking platforms for the Outer West Community Committee.