Agenda and minutes

The Chair introduced the session on air quality and the Kirkstall bridge congestion.

Paul Spandler, Environmental Health Manager and Emma Slater, Project Manager attended the meeting. Members of the Community Committee were provided with information in relation to air quality in Leeds particularly focusing on the Inner West areas of Armley, Bramley, Stanningley and Kirkstall.

Discussions on air quality included:

·  E U directive on air quality standards;

·  Monitoring methods;

·  Air quality in the Inner West area in comparison to other locations across the city;

·  Effects on residents living close to major roads;

·  Effects of road users including car users with their windows open, pedestrians, and cyclists;

·  Impact on those who are exposed to poor air who suffer from illnesses such as asthma

It was suggested that Members should email Paul with specific areas where they would like to see monitoring take place.

Emma gave a presentation on the Clean Air Zone (CAZ)

Members noted the following points:

·  Leeds were not compliant with the air quality standards set by DEFRA and as a consequence Leeds were now under ministerial  direction to establish clean air zones by January 2020;

·  Consultation had taken place in many forms including;

o  Targeted events, radio advertising, written to residents, surveys, social media and Executive Board

·  Clean air boundary;

·  Vehicle charging within the clean air zone;

·  Vehicles exempt from charging;

·  How charging would be monitored.

Andrew Hall, Head of Transportation attended the meeting and provided the Community Committee with an update on congestion around Kirkstall Bridge.

Members were provided with a presentation which advised Members of the issues faced and the short, medium and long term solutions which were being considered.

Discussions took place in relation to some of the solutions which included the following:

·  Footbridges

·  River crossings for both pedestrians and vehicles

·  Siting of river crossings

·  Use of hatched boxes at junctions

·  Pedestrian crossings

Input was requested from Members via email on river crossings.

The Chair thanked all the officers for their attendance and informative presentations. The Community Committee showed their appreciation with a round of applause.

Cllr. Lowe had been present for the themed workshop. However, she left at the conclusion of the workshop prior to the start of the formal business meeting giving her apologies as she was feeling unwell.

The formal business meeting of the Inner West Community Committee started at 7:30pm

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 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 formal late items. However, supplementary information had been circulated to Members in relation to Agenda Item 9 Finance Update report.

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 of Conduct.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made.

However, Cllr. Venner asked that it be recorded that she had an other declaration of interest in Agenda Item 9 –Finance Update Report as the Chair of Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club and Music from the Attic is known to her and these had submitted applications for approval under Wellbeing Fund and Capital Fund. Cllr. Venner said that she would leave the meeting taking no part in discussions in relation to the applications mentioned above. Minute 47 refers.

Steve Harris and Stephen McBarron Co-opted members of the committee also declared other interests in Item 9- Finance Update Report. However Co-opted members do not take part in discussions or decisions in relation to the finance of the Community Committee.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Cllr. Lowe left the meeting at the conclusion of the workshop at 7:30pm, prior to the start of the formal business meeting giving her apologies to the Chair as she was feeling unwell.

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.

No Members of the public were in attendance at the meeting on this occasion.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st November 2018.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st November 2018 be approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment for minute 37 Community Committee Update Report:

‘The Members discussed tasking meetings and the fact that these had proved useful in the past. However, it was noted that Members are only permitted to attend part of the meeting’.

The report of the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team provides the Community Committee with an update on the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team Review.

(Report attached)

The Anti-Social Behaviour Team Manager was in attendance at the meeting and presented the report on Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT) review.

Members were informed of the following points:

·  LASBT is now a multi-agency team which includes Police, Fire and Rescue services, Housing Leeds, Belle Isle Tenants Management Organisation Youth Offending and Victim Support;

·  Three locally based teams covering South and City Centre, East North East and West North West deliver a specialist ASB service;

·  Service standards have been made uniform to ensure consistency of delivery across all teams;

·  60% of issues are noise related and the domestic noise and out of hours noise nuisance teams have now joined LASBT and are currently located within the Leedswatch Service;

·  The complex issues of ASB need to be undertaken by more than one agency and it was acknowledged that a partnership approach was required to address the causes of ASB;

·  A triage system is proposed to assess the severity of incoming cases to assist in the decision making and that this is best done at the first point of contact;

·  Staff training will ensure that officers are confident using all the tools available to them, empower them to provide robust advice, deliver successful early intervention;

·  Currently the West North West Team are located in accommodation that is not suitable for the needs of the team, work is on-going to find a more suitable location;

·  A report is due to go to Executive Board in June 2019 for consideration of the final scheme.

RESOLVED -  To note the contents of the report.

The report of the Area Leader provides an update for the Community Committee on the work of the committees sub groups. The report also updates the Committee on events, local projects and partnership working that has taken place in the area since the last meeting.

(Report attached)

With the Chairs permission this item was moved up the agenda to allow Inspector Towers to speak with Members.

The report of the Area Leader provided the Community Committee with an update on the work of the sub groups of the Committee. The report also updated the Members on community events, local projects and partnership working that has taken place in the area since the last meeting.

Inspector Towers was in attendance at the meeting and provided a brief update on the following:

·  Calls received including 999 and 101 calls;

·  Crime figures for West Yorkshire Police;

·  Crime figures for the Inner West area;

·  Partnership working with Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team;

·  Resources;

·  Initiative to engage with schools in the area with PCSO’s to link in with schools;

·  Community engagement events;

·  Increased security for mosques in light of recent events in Christchurch;

·  Increased security for MP’s in light of protests in relation to Brexit;

·  Focus on knife crimes in light of increase in knife crime.

Members discussed the following points:

·  PCSO links with schools;

·  Hate crime reporting;

Members requested information in relation to crimes that have been dealt with and progressed to being solved.

Councillors were appreciative of the work that the Police do especially with restricted resources. It was noted that this country was one of the safest.

RESOLVED – To note the content of the report.

The report of the Area Leader provides the 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 updates 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 Members 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 advised Members of the following points:

·  The minimum standards for delegated decisions;

·  Wellbeing projects which had been approved since last meeting set out at Table 1 of the report;

·  The remaining balances for Wellbeing Fund and Youth Activity Fund set out at Table 2 of the report;

·  The amounts still available for allocation per ward for the small grants and skips Table 3 of the report;

·  Those small grants and skips which had been approved since the last meeting presented at Table 4 of the report;

·  Capital projects which had been approved via delegated decision since the last meeting at Table 5 of the report;

·  Current budget available for Capital spend, £20,132 at point 13 of the report;

·  Table 6 provided the details of the current CIL balances available for allocation per ward;

·  Point 16 of the report provided the indicative budget for Wellbeing Fund 2019/20 which the Community Committee had opted to be split between the wards, giving each ward a budget of  £56,333;

·  Point 17 of the report provided an indicative amount for Youth Activity Fund 2019/20, which the Community Committee had opted to split between the wards, giving each ward a budget of £12,666;

·  Members of the Community Committee had attended a workshop to review applications for the forthcoming municipal year;

·  Points 19, 20, 21 of the report set out those projects for approval in 2019/20;

·  Points 22,23, of the report listed the projects deferred for further consideration;

·  Points 24 and 25 listed those projects which would not be proceeding in 2019/20.

Cllr. Venner vacated the room during discussions in relation to Wellbeing Fund application Music from the Attic and Capital Fund application from Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club – Ball Stop Netting System. Minute 42 refers.

RESOLVED – To:

a)  Approve the minimum conditions set out for delegated decisions set out at point 5 of the submitted report;

b)  Note the delegated decisions taken at Table 1 of the submitted report;

c)  Note the revised Wellbeing and Youth Activity balances for 2018/19 at Table 2 of the submitted report;

d)  Note the balance of the small grants and skips budget for 2018/19 at Table 3 of the submitted report;

e)  Note the small grant applications at Table 4 of the submitted report;

f)  Note the Capital Funding delegated decisions taken at Table 5 of the submitted report;

g)  Note the  balance of the Capital Fund at point 13 of the submitted report;

h)  Note the balance of the CIL Fund at Table 6 of the submitted report; and

i)  Approved the following projects for 2019/20 set out at points 19,20 and 21 of the submitted report:

Wellbeing Fund

The report of the City Solicitor is to request Members to give consideration to agreeing the proposed Community Committee meeting schedule for the 2019/2020 municipal year, whilst also considering whether any revisions to the current meeting and venue arrangements should be explored.

(Report attached)

The report of the City Solicitor requested Members consideration to agreeing the proposed Community Committee meeting schedule for the 2019/20 municipal year. Members were also asked if any revisions were necessary to the current meeting and venue arrangements.

Members were advised of the proposed dates as follows:

·  Wednesday 19^th June 2019 at 6pm

·  Wednesday 25^th September 2019 at 6pm

·  Wednesday 27^th November 2019 at 6pm

·  Wednesday 18^th March 2020 at 6pm

RESOLVED – To agree the Committee’s meeting schedule for the 2019/20 municipal year as detailed at point 6 of the submitted report and to be included within the Council’s Diary for the same period.

Cllr. McKenna drew the Committee’s attention to the fact that this would be the last Community Committee that Cllr. Lowe would attend. Cllr. Lowe is due to step down at the forthcoming local elections in May after 29 years of being a councillor.

Although Cllr. Lowe had left the meeting earlier due to illness, Cllr. McKenna speaking on behalf of the Inner West Community Committee thanked Cllr. Lowe for all her hard work in Armley over the past 29 years as an Armley ward member. The Inner west Community Committee wished her well for the future.