Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all the Members of the Community Committee and the members of the public and officers to the first meeting of the Outer South Community Committee for 2023/24.

He welcomed Cllr Holroyd-Case as a new Member of Council for the Ardsley and Robin Hood Ward.

The Chair paid tribute to Cllr Finnigan the previous Chair of Outer South Community Committee.

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 Hea 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 were no formal late items. However there was supplementary information in relation to Agenda Item 10 – Outer South Community Committee Finance Report.

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 Cllr Jane Senior.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2023

RESOLVED – The minutes of the previous meeting held on 13^th March 2023, as a correct record.

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.

A resident from Kingsway in Drighlington spoke at the Open Forum in relation to anti-social behaviour as the area was being used as a dumping ground. He said that he had spoken with Cllr Finnigan, the police, and the anti-social behaviour team, but was of the view that the Council were treating him with disrespect on this issue.

He explained that he had required an ambulance and when they had arrived, they had been unable to get to him due to rubbish dumped behind the front gate.

Cllr Finnigan informed the Committee that he was aware of this issue and that it was due to unacceptable behaviour of a resident of the village who he was of the view should be evicted. He explained that legal action was being taken but was unsure how quickly the Council would be able to evict the individual. He said that the Council required a better letting policy as some properties were not appropriate for some people. He said that he would pursue the matter until it was resolved.

A lady spoke on behalf of her daughter who was a resident and was ill and had recently suffered a breakdown due to her living conditions. Her daughter was living in a one-bedroom flat with her son and had been promised a two-bedroom property by the Council. They had understood that the promised property was being refurbished, which it had been, but now stood empty.

Cllr Finnigan said that he was aware of the case and would keep speaking to the Housing Manager. An officer in attendance at the meeting offered to speak with the lady and her daughter outside of the meeting.

Councillors Chapman and Golton entered the meeting at 16:10 during this item.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor which invites the Committee to note the appointment of Councillor O Newton as Chair of the Community Committee for 2023/24 as agreed at the recent Annual Council Meeting, and which also asks the Committee to review and make appointments to those positions detailed in the report.

The report of the City Solicitor requested the Community Committee to note the appointment of Cllr Oliver Newton as Chair of the Outer South Community Committee for 2023/24 as agreed at the recent Annual Council Meeting and also invited the Committee to make appointments to those positions detailed in section 6 of the submitted report.

RESOLVED – To note the appointment of Cllr Oliver Newton as Chair of the Outer South Community Committee for 2023-24 and to appoint to the positions set out in the submitted report as follows:

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships providing an update on the work being undertaken by the Communities Team, based upon the priorities identified by the Community Committee, and details other key activities taking place including those regarding the Community ‘Champions’ roles, community engagement activities and partnership and locality working. Finally, the report also seeks appointments to the Community Committee’s advisory Sub Groups for 2023/24.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided an update on the work which the Communities Team is engaged in, based on the priorities identified by the Community Committee. Members were also requested to make nominations to each of the Outer South Community Committee sub groups for 2023/24.

The Localities Officer presented the report and informed the Committee of the following points:

·  There was a new Inspector called Mark Gambling who would be making contact with the Councillors. He was unable to attend this Community Committee, so had sent Sergeant Martin.

·  A leaflet was shown to the Community Committee in relation to a new Morley and District Community Health and Wellbeing service being provided in Morley Town Hall.

Appointments were made in relation to the Community Committee sub groups.

Members discussions included:

·  Increase in burglaries in Morley

·  Incidents of anti-social behaviour

·  Ongoing issues of quads, motorcycles and electric scooters.

Sergeant Martin provided an update on the following issues of concern:

·  It was the view that there had been an increase in number of burglaries in Morley due to the hot weather with sneak thieves. The police were aware of individuals who were operating in the Ardsley area and were looking into this.

·  It was noted that the police were unable to give chase to individuals on quads, motorcycles or scooters unless they have specific training and specialist vehicles with which to give chase. However, if an individual could be identified they were going to see them and speak to them.

·  An officer in attendance at the meeting suggested that if Members had specific anti-social behaviour cases which they wanted to check on, they should email the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team, who would be able to provide an update. It was the view of the Committee that it would be useful for Councillors to receive a report on incidents in their wards and what action taken.

RESOLVED -  To note the content of the report and to appoint the following Members to the Community Committee Sub Groups:

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships providing an update on the budget position for the Community Committee’s Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital Budget, as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget, and invites the Committee to consider and determine any funding applications, as detailed.

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.

The report was presented by the Localities Officer.

Members were asked to consider applications at Paragraphs 23 to 27 of the submitted report and an application sent as supplementary information. During the consideration of applications for the Rothwell Ward Councillors Golton and Chapman declared non-pecuniary interests as members of CROWN and Rothwell and District Carnival Committee.

Members discussions included:

·  Checking to see if defibrillators were insured, as it was noted that some had been stolen.

·  Equipment to be used by Rothwell Methodist Film Club could be hired by other clubs for use in the community.

·  Members welcomed the improvements made to Gildersome Park and the Gildersome Meeting Hall and Library and looked forward to further improvements in the park.

It was noted that point 27 Gildersome Park – New Bins had an error in the proposed amount it should have read £1,100 from Capital Budget. However, the information in Table 5 Capital 2023/24 was correct.

Members were asked to consider and agree the ‘minimum conditions’ set out at paragraphs 14-17.

RESOLVED – To:

a)  Review and agree the ‘minimum conditions’ regarding the taking of urgent delegated decisions in between formal Community Committee meetings regarding the administration of Wellbeing and Youth Activity budgets, and also regarding the use of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Neighbourhood Fund which has been allocated to the Committee (Paragraph 17)

b)  Note the details of the Wellbeing Budget position (Table 1)

c)  Consider and approve the following Wellbeing and Capital projects (Paragraphs 23-27 and supplementary information):

·  Provision of Defibrillator Tingley Methodist – Communities Team – Capital Budget £1,576.00

·  Rothwell Bonfire Night Fireworks Display – CROWN & Rothwell & District Carnival Committee – Wellbeing Budget (Ringfenced) £7,700.00

·  Rothwell Christmas Carnival & Lights Switch On – Rothwell & District Carnival Committee – Wellbeing Budget (Ringfenced) £1,800.00

·  Rothwell Methodist Film Club – Rothwell Methodist Film Church – Wellbeing Budget £2,947.00

·  Gildersome Park – New Bins – Parks & Counctryside, LCC – Capital Budget £1,100.00

·  Rothwell Summer Carnival - Rothwell & District Carnival Committee – Wellbeing Budget £3,000.00

d)  Note details of the projects approved via Delegated Decision (Paragraph 28)

e)  Note monitoring information of its funded projects (Paragraph 41)

f)  Note details of the Youth Activity Fund (YAF) position (Table 2)

g)  Note details of the Small Grants Budget (Table 3)

h)  Note details of the Community Skips Budget (Table 4)

i)  Note details of the Capital Budget (Table 5)

j)  Note details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget (Table 6)

Monday, 25 September 2023 at 4.00 p.m.  Meeting to be heald at Blackburn Hall, Rothwell.

RESOLVED – To note the next meeting of Outer South Community Committee is scheduled for 25^th September 2023, at 4.00pm.

Meeting concluded at 16:40