Agenda and draft 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 Hea of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals.

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 was no exempt information.

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 late items.  Supplementary information was submitted for Agenda Item 11, 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’.

There were no declarations.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors D Chapman and J Senior.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2024

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2024 be confirmed 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 representation was made with regards to a long running anti-social behaviour case in Drighlington.  LASBAT, West Yorkshire Police and Housing had all been involved with this case.  There were concerns that issues had not been resolved and that there was a lack of support for the victims.  There were also concerns that the perpetrator had been re-housed within the area.  Work was being undertaken to see what civil action could be taken and the possible use of injunctions.  It was requested that anyone who witnessed any incidents to report them to ensure that appropriate action could be taken.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided the Committee with an update on current Healthwatch Leeds projects.

Gemma O’Connell, Communications Manager, Healthwatch Leeds gave the Committee a presentation.

The Committee was given an overview of the role of HealthWatch Leeds which included their work as a community watchdog to provide feedback on health and care provision and to help improve services.

Gemma highlighted some of the current projects that Healthwatch Leeds were involved in which included the following:

·  Community Mental Health Transformation

·  GP Website Review

·  Youthwatch

In response to comments and questions, discussion included the following:

·  The Community Mental Health project was currently focussing on Inner South Leeds but would be moving to Outer South.  There were concerns for how people would be able to access services.

·  How Members could get involved with Healthwatch.  It was proposed that Healthwatch be invited to attend a meeting of the Community Committee’s sub-group .

·  Youth involvement – the possibility of including Health as part of the next Youth Summit.

·  The role of Healthwatch in Health Scrutiny.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer Highways and Transportation.

The report of he Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation gave the Committee a briefing on the Leeds Streets for All campaign which was intended to go live in September.

Jo Leppelley and Rupert Oldfield of the Transport Strategy team gave the Committee a presentation.

Issues highlighted included the following:

·  Consultation would last 6 weeks and aimed to gather knowledge of local issues relating to transport infrastructure and the needs of the community and other stakeholders.

·  There were 5 main themes to the campaign:

o  Vehicles and parking

o  Walking and wheeling

o  Cycling

o  Accessing bus stops and rail stations

o  Street environment

·  How the campaign could have an impact on what people would like to see on issues such as greenspace, cycling and the street environment.

·  Communications with local residents on-street engagement; leaflets and posters; social media, Councillors and Stakeholders to share information with key contacts and residents.

In response to comments and questions, the following was discussed:

·  There would be opportunity and support to assist people who were not on-line with the consultation.

·  Concern that although Outer South Leeds bordered three other authority areas and had two motorways there did not seem to be the level of funding received as in the city centre and proposed schemes were frequently refused funding.  It was reported that the consultation would help to priorities spending although there were no guarantees of any major capital funding.

·  The need to improve cycle infrastructure across the city and also in the city centre.  There were problems in the city centre with delivery cyclists using pedestrianised areas.

·  The need to consider visually impaired pedestrians and mobility scooters with locations of bus stops, dropped kerbs and street furniture.

·  Evaluation of the consultation needed to influence the local area transport plan.

RESOLVED – That the report and presentation be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer, Housing Leeds.

The report of the Chief Officer Housing updated the Community Committee on the Tenant Engagement function of Housing Leeds.

Ian Montgomery, Service Manager, Tenant Engagement Team presented the report.

The report outlined the changes to the Tenant Engagement service following the cessation of the Housing Advisory Panels.  There would still be dedicated contacts for tenant engagement and these were as follows for the Outer South wards:

Morley North and Morley South:  Andrew Kyrover – Andrew.kyrover@leeds.gov.uk and;

Ardsley & Robin Hood and Rothwell: Louise Yeadon – louise.yeadon@leeds.gov.uk

Local residents would still have opportunity for engagement and a consultation was due to start on how engagement could be carried out in future.  All residents, former HAP members and tenants groups would be able to participate in the consultation.

The report provided details of what new engagement arrangements could involve and how it could make tenants more aware of council activity.

In response to questions it was reported that there would still be environmental budgets available for projects and these would be administered through each area office.  Spending of these budgets would be subject to tenant and Member consultation.  Details of the funds available were requested.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships.

  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 Kimberly FrangosLocalities Officer.

Members were asked to consider an application for funding from Rothwell & District Carnival Committee.  The total cost of the project was £4,346.01 and £3,000 had been requested.  Members were supportive of this application.

RESOLVED –

1. That 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) be agreed.
2. That details of the Wellbeing Budget position be noted (Table 1)
3. That the funding request for Rothwell Summer Carnival be approved for £3,000.00
4. That details of the projects approved via Delegated Decision (paragraph 23) be noted.
5. That monitoring information of its funded projects (paragraph 26) be noted.
6. That details of the Youth Activities Fund (YAF) position (Table 2) be noted.
7. That details of the Small Grants Budget (Table 3) be noted.
8. That details of the Community Skips Budget (Table 4) be noted.
9. That details of the Capital Budget (Table 5) be noted.
10. That details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget (Table 6) be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the City Solicitor

The report of the City Solicitor requested the Community Committee to note the appointment of Cllr Stephen Holroyd-Case as Chair of the Outer South Community Committee for 2024/25 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.

With regard to appointments to the Archbishop Margetson Trust Fund, it was reported that there was ongoing dialogue with Drighlington Parish Council and Legal Services regarding the appointments of representatives from Drighlington Parish Council and Drighlington Primary School.

The Committee was informed that the Ardsley and Tingley Cluster was no longer operational although there were Cluster Lead Contacts.  It was decided to no longer make appointments to this cluster and that Children’s Services be informed of Members concerns regarding the lack of cluster provision in the area.

RESOLVED – To note the appointment of Cllr Stephen Holroyd-Case as Chair of the Outer South Community Committee for 2024/25 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

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships brought Members attention to an update of the work which the Communities Team was engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee.  It also provided opportunity for further questioning, or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

Members were also asked to make sub-group nominations.

Inspector Mark Lund of the South Leeds NPT addressed the Committee.  He reported that crime figures across the area had reduced over the previous year although there had been an increase in shoplifting.  There had been issues with a group of youths in Tingley and the offenders were now being taken through the court system and this had seen a reduction in offending.  With regards to staffing, there would be full complement of staff including PCSOs by October.

Members thanked Inspector Lund and his team for their work in the area but there were still concerns regarding problems with off-road motorcycles.  It was reported that new measures were being taken to combat this including the use of pursuit vehicles, drones and stingers.

Further issues discussed included problems with electric scooters and dangerous dogs.  It was requested that any incidents with dangerous dogs should be reported via 999.  Members requested that PCs or PCSOs be in attendance at Community Group meetings where possible.

Georgia Lee of the Anti-Social Behaviour Team gave the Committee a service update.  Members attention was drawn to the figures in the report and reference was made to the Anti-Social Behaviour surgeries that had been operating.

Housing – Members were given an update on the review of the Lettings Policy.  City wide customer engagement had now been completed and the information was being analysed.  There would be a presentation to Elected Members prior to the development of the new policy.  Further discussion focussed on tenancy contracts, anti-social behaviour, tenancy visits and void properties.  Void properties accounted for less than one percent of stock which was the usual level.

Members would be contacted regarding the possibility of including Co-opted Members to the Committee.  It was suggested that Co-opted Members could be sought from tenants & residents groups or community groups.

RESOLVED –

1.  That the report be noted.

2.  That the following sub-group appointments be made.

Monday, 30 September at 4.00 p.m.  Meeting to be held at Blackburn Hall, Rothwell

Monday, 30 September 2024 at 4.00 p.m.