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 the refusal of the 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:

 No exempt items or information have been identified on the agenda

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude

the press or public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the

business to be considered.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

Although there were no late items of business, Members did agree to the

submission of supplementary information in respect of Agenda Item No. 11

(Outer North East Community Committee – Finance Report) and the inclusion

of an additional Wellbeing application (Minute No. 41 referred)

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: S Firth and L Richards

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations of any interests made at the meeting.

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 Area 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.

It was reported that two submissions had been received in respect of the Open Forum, both submissions related to the Climate Emergency Update report (Agenda Item No. 9) – Both submissions were in the form of a question.

Members were agreeable to dealing with these questions during discussion of the item.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the 13^th September 2021.

(Copy attached)

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 13^th September 2021 were considered for comment and approval.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13^th September 2021 were confirmed as a true and correct record

To consider any matters arising from the minutes (If any)

With reference to Minute No. 26 – Libraries Services Update – Members sought an update on the proposal to run a pilot programme for digital skills in the Scholes Library to raise awareness of the Library Service. Noting that if the pilot was successful the scheme could be tried in other areas, creating digital health clubs.

The Chair said the necessary inquiries to the Library Service would be made and reported back to Members.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer Sustainable Energy & Air Quality which provides an update on the council’s climateemergency strategy andprogress.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer Sustainable Energy & Air Quality submitted a report which provided an update on the Council’s climate emergency strategy and progress.

Addressing the report together with an on-screen presentation, Mr C Newton, Policy Officer, Sustainable Energy & Air Quality Team spoke about the introduction of climate change measures across the city but, in particular in the Outer North East Area, which included;

·  Air source heat pumps, solar panel and LED lighting at Bardsey Primary School, Wetherby St James Primary School and at Wetherby Leisure Centre

·  Improving the Energy Efficiency of Housing – Eligible homeowners to receive free solar panels/ insulation if they live in an inefficient home

·  Electric Vehicle Trials – Multiple businesses/ charities having trialled an electric van, two rapid charging points to be installed in Wetherby and Boston Spa car parks and a residential charging site to be installed at Crosslet Street car park (6 bays)

The presentation included a map of the city “Carbon Emissions for your Area”, the map was colour coded to show low emission areas (Blue) to high emission areas (Red) based on the estimated average annual carbon footprint per person for each Lower Layer Super Output area (LSOA)

The presentation also included further details about air quality in the Outer North East area and how Members could assist in promoting the various schemes.

Commenting on the carbon emissions map, Members were concerned that the Wetherby area was not included on the map, suggesting that adequate preparation had not been carried out in preparing for this meeting.

Members were also concerned about the data provided in the map which appeared to demonstrate that the outer rural areas were identified as high emissions areas while the inner-city areas had the lowest emission areas. Members questioned the accuracy of information provided and asked how it was calculated.

Members were informed that the carbon emissions figure for the city was divided by the population of a particular LSOA to provide a figure/ grading for that area. However, this was only one source for gathering such data.

Members made reference to public transport, suggesting, if it was to be assumed the information was accurate, it was a significant argument for seeking better public transport in the outer areas. 

Members sought further details about the scheme for free solar panels/ insulation and requested to know how many applications had been received and were there any from the Outer North East area.

Members were informed that the LAD scheme was based on energy efficiency of the home and the income of the resident. Funding was available for 150 homes, to date 500 applications had been received. In terms of the number of applications for the ONE area, that was currently not known but would be provided to Members once it became available. 

The Chair referred to the 2 questions which had been raised as part of the Open Forum

The first question had been submitted by Mr Graham Slater from Barwick in Elmete & Scholes Parish Council who asks:

What are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer Highways and Transportation which provides an update on the Highways Service and seeks input from elected members and residents.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer Highways and Transportation submitted a report which provided an update on the work of Highways Services.

Addressing the report, the Group Operations Manager (Highways and Transportation) spoke in detail about the report, specifically focussing on the winter service fulfilled by Highways which included:

·  Leeds City Council’s Duty (The Highways Act 1980)

·  Gritting of Roads

·  Refiling of Salt Bins

·  Snow Ploughing and Clearing

·  The introduction of a Gritter Tracking system (and how it would be promoted)

Members welcomed the introduction of the new technology noting that the locations of salt bins was also included within tracker, but queried if all salt bins appeared on the tracker.

In responding, the Group Operations Manager, said the yellow salt bins (the Councils owned bins) were on the tracker, the blue bins (often funded by Ward Councillors or Town and Parish Councils) were not.

On the issue of gritting in rural areas Members recalled that in the past local farmers had been supplied with gritting salt to assist in the gritting of rural road in the winter months, but that appeared to be no longer happening.

The Group Operations Manager said he had no knowledge of providing gritting salt to farmers, it was a really useful suggestion and would be discussed further within the Team

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted

To consider a report by the Head of Locality Partnerships which provides an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital Budget, as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2020/21.

(Report attached)

The Head of Locality Partnerships submitted a report which provided an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital Budget, as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2020/21.

Included within the report were:

·  Details of the Wellbeing Budget position 2021/22

·  Wellbeing proposals for consideration and approval

·  Details of projects approved via Delegated Decision

·  You Activities Fund proposals for consideration and approval

·  Details of the Capital Budget

·  Details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget (CIL)

The Localities Officer presented the report and responded to Members comments and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report together with the appendices which included:

·  Available funding for the current financial year.

·  Clarification around some of the projects seeking financial assistance.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the Wellbeing Budget Position 2021/22.

(ii)  That the following Wellbeing Projects be determined as follows:

(iii)  To note that since the last meeting on 13^th September 2021, the following project had been considered and approved by DDN:

·  Wetherby Town Council Bonfire

·  Walton Community Bonfire Event

·  Thorp Arch Christmas Lights

·  Christmas Trees and Lights – Boston Spa

·  Scholes Lodge Field Bulb and Wildflower Meadow

·  Crime Reduction Roadshows

·  Community Noticeboard

·  Santa's Visits

·  Boston Spa Village Hall Renovations

(iv)  That the following Youth Activity Projects be determined as follows:

(v)  To note the details of the Capital Budget as set out in table 3 of the submitted report

(vi)  To note the details of the Community Infrastructure Levy, as referred to in paragraph 28 of the submitted report

To consider a report by the Head of Locality Partnerships which 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.

The report also seeks to provide regular updates on some of the key activities between Community Committee meetings and functions delegated to Community Committees, Community Champions roles, community engagement, partnership and locality working.

(Report attached)

The Head of Locality Partnerships submitted a report which provided an update on the work of the Communities Team and the work it was engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. The report provided Members with an opportunity to ask questions, or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

Members noted the report provided regular updates on some of the key activities between Community Committee meetings and functions delegated to Community Committees, Community Champions roles, community engagement, partnership and locality working.

Addressing the report the Localities Officer provided an update on the following activities:

·  Wike Ridge in Bloom

·  Pollinators Project in Thorner

·  Recycling on the Go – Bins in Wetherby

·  Leeds Festival Working Group

·  Local Centre Programme

·  Town and Parish Council Forum

·  Collingham Local Centres Programme

·  Libraries Services

Referring to the Local Centre Programme, Members were informed that the matters would be considered further with a report being brought back at the Community Committee in March

Commenting on the last meeting of the Town and Parish Council Forum, Members requested if Town and Parish Council’s could be consulted on business for future meetings.

The Localities Officer confirmed that Town and Parish Council’s would be consulted.

With reference to the Library Service Members noted the Digital Drop Ins started on 8^th November and was hosted by the Community Librarian team. It was reported that Advice on all manner of digital queries could be provided by staff, Customers would also be able to bring in their own devices and get help on digital queries specific to these.

Members expressed their thanks and appreciation to Baz Ali, Team Leader for the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team for the work undertaken in the Alwoodley, Harewood and Wetherby Wards and in particular the team’s involvement with the Leeds Orbital Road (ELOR).

It was agreed that the Chair, on behalf of Members, would write to the Team Leader for the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team, to express the Committees thanks and appreciation on a job well done.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted

To consider the establishment of a Working Group to co-ordinate local celebrations for the Queens Platinum Jubilee.

Councillor R Stephenson requested Members consideration to the  establishment of a Working Group to co-ordinate local celebrations for the Queens Platinum Jubilee.

Members were supportive of the proposal, one Member highlighting that Wetherby had already had in place advanced plans.

Councillor Stephenson suggested the ideas, knowledge and experience of Wetherby would be welcomed by other villages.

It was agreed that the Working Group be made up by one Member from each ward: Councillor P Harrand (Alwoodley), Councillor R Stephenson(Harewood) the representative of the Wetherby Ward to be confirmed at a later date.

To reconsider the date/time and venue for the next meeting.

The date and time of the next meeting to be determined following further consultation with Councillors.