Agenda and minutes

Jonathan Butler, Joanne Fiddes, Stephen Garvani, Stephen McBarron

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 Chief Democratic Services Officer 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 within the meaning of Section 100I of the Local Government Act 1972, 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 the recommendation is accepted, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That, in accordance with Regulation 4 of The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 or Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as appropriate, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of those 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 late items of business. However, there was supplementary information in relation to Agenda Item 10 Finance Report. This had been circulated to all Members.

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 Jim McKenna, Steve Harris (Co-opted Member – Kirkstall) and Hazel Boutle (co-opted Member – Armley).

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.

In line with current guidance for the Open Forum, two submissions had been received by the Community Committee which were read out at the meeting by the clerk.

The submissions were as follows:

Sent by Fran Graham on behalf of A Place Sit

The new owners of Bramley Shopping Centre (LCP Group) have removed all public seating at the centre. They are hoping to increase footfall to the centre and considered the benches an obstruction to this. Local residents welcome the new owners, but are deeply concerned by this situation as it impacts on health and wellbeing.

Removing the benches means that people who walk to the centre have no-where to stop and rest.

·  Local older people who need to rest between shops cannot do so.

·  People who can’t carry shopping while waiting for a taxi have nowhere to rest.

·  People with health conditions and mobility problems have been excluded from shopping independently.

·  People with pushchairs and children have nowhere to rest, breastfeed, or let children sit to eat unless they pay to use the Costa Coffee shop.

·  Staff working in the shops have nowhere to take breaks outside.

·  People who used the benches for social contact can no longer access this.

LCP’s decision will affect vulnerable people in our community.

We believe it has reduced footfall to the centre, and is an obstruction to local people’s health, wellbeing and happiness.

700 residents have joined a facebook group called A Place to Sit in response to this situation. The group is attending the centre every Saturday 10-11 to show our support for the Bramley ward Councillors’ proposal to reinstate 16 benches as soon as possible, and to show our support to the owners to review their decision.

Will the community committee support our call for LCP Group to review their decision to remove benches, to respond to the Ward Councillors proposal, and reinstate at least 16 benches as soon as possible?

What further action can the community committee take to address this issue on behalf of residents?

Sent by Philip McConnell BEM.Chairperson of the Bramley Care Bears

Dear all,

Please could the concern below be raised at the highest level.

We as the Bramley Care Bears were recently made aware of the removal of the bench seats at the Bramley Shopping Centre.

The general feedback that we have received is that the residents are shocked, amazed and dumbfounded at the lack of logical reason for this.

The reason that we were given as a community was that the benches were causing an obstruction.

I am still at a loss as to understand in any way how these benches could be considered an obstruction.

There has been a local Facebook Group created so that local residents have a place to voice their frustrations and keep each other updated on feedback (if any) they might have received from the Bramley Shopping Centre owners.

We as residents will continue to raise our frustrations and our weekly sit in will continue in the friendly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th March 2021, be approved as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor which invites Members to give consideration to appointing co-optees to the Community Committee for the duration of the 2021/2022 municipal year.

(Report attached)

The Inner West Community Committee was in agreement with the Chairs suggestion that the report for the consideration of co-opted members be moved up the agenda, so that co-opted members were able to take part in discussions if they so wished.

The report invited the Community Committee to consider appointing co-opted members to the Community Committee for the duration of the 2021/22 municipal year.

The Members of Inner West Community Committee considered the following nominations as set out at Paragraph 9 of the submitted report:

Armley

Hazel Boutle

James Gray

Donna Bell

Bramley & Stanningley

Jonathan Butler

Joanne Fiddes

Stephen McBarron

Kirkstall

Stephen Garvani

Steve Harris

Jessica Haigh

Members were advised that prior to the meeting Donna Bell and Jessica Haigh who had both been nominated as co-opted members had indicated that they would not be able to take up the position due to a change in circumstances.

Further to the meeting taking place James Gray who had been nominated has also indicated that he is no longer able to take up the position.

RESOLVED – That the following be appointed as co-opted members to the Inner West Community Committee for the duration of 2021/22 municipal year.

Armley

·  Hazel Boutle

Bramley & Stanningley

·  Jonathan Butler

·  Joanne Fiddes

·  Stephen McBarron

Kirkstall

·  Stephen Garvani

·  Steve Harris

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships presents to the Committee an overview of the results of the recent Online Youth Consultation, including top three activity choices, locations and times most selected by Young People in Inner West area.

(Report attached)

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided the Community Committee with the background and context on the decision not to have a youth summit in 2020/21.

The report provided the Community Committee with an update on the Youth Activity Fund consultation with children and young people. The consultation had been held with the aim to inform the Community Committee’s Youth Activity Fund spend for the 2021/22 financial year.

It had been the plan to deliver Youth Summits virtually this year, to ensure that events could still go ahead even with Covid restrictions. However, with the lockdown in December 2020, and with schools closed until 8th March 2021, even virtual Youth Summits were not possible. Therefore, it was proposed that an online consultation survey would be produced to capture feedback on how children and young people wished to see the Youth Activity Fund spent in their area.

Members were informed that the consultation survey was promoted from Monday 15th February 2021 until Friday 30th April. Promotion of the survey was published across the Inner West area with information posted on the Community Committee Facebook pages, publicity sent out to local primary and high schools, clusters, youth groups and any other organisations that are funded or work with young people.

Members were informed that 48 young people from across the Inner West area took part in the consultation.

The young people who had taken part suggested the following activities as the most popular:

·  Outdoor activities

·  Cooking

·  Sport

·  Arts & Crafts

·  Music

Other activities suggested included fun days, youth clubs, dance, drama, DJ/music production, coding/Minecraft.

32% preferred activities to take place after school, 25% wanted activities during the school holidays, 22% would like weekend activities, and 21% preferred evening activities after 6pm.

Members discussions included:

·  The Youth Summit with Members requesting that the planning for the event needed to start now. Members suggested that the event should be held in the Banquet Hall with lunches provided at the Rose Bowl. It was noted that these venues had been used previously and had been a success.

·  The members also made an appeal for those involved in providing activities for young people to submit applications for funding.

RESOLVED – To note the content of the report.

To consider the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships that provides 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 Budget for 2021/22.

(Report attached)

The report of the Head of Localities 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 Budget for 2021/22.

The Committee were invited to review the minimum conditions as set out at paragraph 14 of the submitted report. Members agreed the minimum conditions as set out in the report.

The Community Committee were informed of the following points:

·  The total revenue budget approved by Executive Board for 2021/22 was £142,540.00. Table 1 showed a carry forward figure of £157,917.78 which included underspends from projects completed in 2020/21. £75,215.06 was allocated to projects in 2020/21 which had not yet completed. Therefore, £225,242.72 was the total funding revenue available to the Committee. Table 1 provided a breakdown of projects and showed a remaining balance of £168,043.68.

·  Members were invited to consider wellbeing budget ring-fences with the following being approved

o  Small and Grants and Skips £6,000 with £2,000 per ward

o  Community Engagement £1,500, £500 per ward

o  Grit Bins – allocation was £1,934.88 -  Armley ward £564.34 for 7 blue grit bins, Bramley and Stanningley ward £886.82 for 11 blue grit bins and Kirkstall ward £483.72 for 6 blue grit bins.

o  Inner West Youth Summit – £1,500 had been allocated based on previous years allocation to be split £500 per ward. However, after discussions the Committee agreed to increase the amount by £250 per ward to £750 per ward.

o  CCTV cameras – allocated £6,000 towards ongoing cost of the cameras. Each ward has 2 cameras at a cost of £2,000 per ward.

·  Members were invited to consider the following wellbeing and capital projects:

·  Members were invited to note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

·  Monitoring information was provided on The Memory Bank Mural.

·  The Youth Activities Fund available for 2021/22 is £74,681.34. Members were advised that a total of £18,868.50 had been allocated to projects which was set out in Table 2, which left a remaining balance of £54,238.14.

·  Table 3 summarised the capital budget which showed that there had been an injection of money in May 2021, to this budget. The Committee was advised that the current budget is £25,108.84.

·  Table 4 showed the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). It was advised that there is £82,153.84 currently available to spend. £5,570 had been allocated to Outdoor Classroom and activity equipment, at West Leeds Activity Centre.

Members discussions included:

·  The timescales for the Youth Summit. Members were of the view that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To consider the report of the city Solicitor which invites Members to not the appointment of Cllr Bithell as Chair of the Community Committee for 2021/22 as agreed at the recent Annual Council Meeting, and also to invite the Committee to make appointments to those positions detailed in section 6 and the appendices.

(Report attached)

The report of the City Solicitor invited the Community Committee to note the appointment of Councillor Bithell as the Chair of the Inner West Community Committee 2021/22 as agreed at the recent Annual Meeting of Council. Members were also invited to note the appointment of Councillor Heselwood as the Deputy Chair for 2021/22. The report also invited the Committee to review and make appointments to those positions detailed in section 6 /and the appendices.

RESOLVED – That the Committee note the appointment of Councillor Bithell as the Chair of Inner West Community Committee for 2021/22 a, and the appointment of Councillor Heselwood as the Deputy Chair for 2021/22.

The Committee made the following appointments:

To consider the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships that provides an update of the work which the Communities Team is engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. It also provides opportunities for further questioning, or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

(Report attached)

The report of the Head of Localities Partnerships provided an update of the work which the Communities Team is engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. The report also invited the Members to make nominations to Children and Young Peoples Sub Group, and the Environment Sub Group.

It was noted that all Members of the Inner West Community Committee were welcome to attend the sub groups.

The Committee were also invited to nominate Chairs for the Armley Forum and the Bramley & Stanningley Forum for 2021/22.

Members discussions included:

·  Deferring the nomination of Armley Forum Chair until the next meeting in September, so that discussions could take place with all Armley ward members.

·  An update was provided by Cllr Ritchie on the good work that had taken place in relation to community safety in the Inner West area. This included the work on speed enforcement, and water safety on the canal which included a suggestion that lifesaving equipment be provided on the canal.

·  Cllr Heselwood informed the Committee that the jobs fair which had to be postponed due to the pandemic would take place and work was underway to set a date.

The Community Committee were requested to note the link for Healthy Holidays.

RESOLVED – To note the report and make the following appointments:

The Chair requested that an item be brought to a future meeting to discuss ring-fencing funding for Grassroots, to support new projects and how they are supported through the Wellbeing Funding process.

To note that the next meeting of the Inner West Community Committee will be on Wednesday 15^th September at 6pm, venue to be confirmed.

The meeting concluded at 19:05