Agenda and minutes

 To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rules 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).

It was confirmed that there were no appeals received ahead of the meeting for consideration.

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 information contained within the agenda which was designated as being exempt from publication.

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

(the special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

There were no late items, but there was a supplementary information for Agenda Item 8 Finance Report.  Minute 21 refers.

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

There were no interests declared at the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Councillor J Pryor and Councillor J Akhtar prior to the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th July 2023.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5^th July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the report of the Localities Officer which invites the Committee to discuss Climate Action and appoint Councillor I Wilson as the Committee’s Climate Champion.

The Committee received the report of the Localities Officer which invited the Committee to appoint a Climate Champion, as well as inviting the Committee to have a wide reaching discussion regarding climate action in the Inner North West area.

In attendance;

Mike Eakins – Head of Policy

Councillor K Dye – Chair of the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee

The Chair outlined the structure of the item, and invited the community members in attendance to participate, through either contributing to the discussion or by filling in a survey provided.

Leeds Bradford Airport’s recent certificate applications were acknowledged, and residents were informed of a separate meeting where they could come and discuss this in more depth.

The Committee appointed Councillor I Wilson as the Climate Champion.

The climate discussion included the following highlights;

The Head of Policy outlined the council’s Best City Ambition (BCA), a vision document to replace the previous council focused Best Council Ambition. The BCA has three pillars; inclusive growth, health & wellbeing and zero carbon.

Retrofitting – Several residents highlighted the issue of accessing high quality information regarding retrofitting their homes. Councillor K Dye informed the Committee of ongoing work to launch a retrofit hub in Leeds which will showcase technologies, connect consumers with fitters and provide a finance product which can be added to existing mortgages.

The issue of retrofitting housing in the privately rented sector was identified as key, with students suggested as a way of exerting influence on landlords as a consumer group. A landlord accreditation scheme was developed by Zero Carbon Headingley in partnership with Unipol to help students find accommodation from landlords who have invested in their properties to reduce carbon emissions.

The challenges of retrofitting the Headingley areas stock of Victorian and Edwardian housing was noted.

Parking & Car Use – There were a range of views regarding car use, with some preferring policies which reduce the number of cars over time, whilst others wished to maintain the freedom to drive, especially as this relates to disabled people.

Parking was noted as an issue especially around the Headingley and Hyde Park area, with parking permits suggested numerous times. The Committee discussed elements of the Hyde Park parking situation, as it was suggested that most of  the cars were from university staff or from students and not from long term residents. In regards to suggestions that students and those living in HMOs ought to be banned from owning cars, Councillor A Garthwaite advised the Committee that legal opinion on this had previously been sought, and it was found to be unlawful.

Walking & Cycling – The A6660 development was agreeable to residents particularly cyclists,, and the Chair noted that the area around Hyde Park corner has been especially dangerous for cyclists. Cycling and walking were both noted as having proven health benefits, as well as benefits for wider society as less people in cars will reduce congestion and pollution, so that those who remain driving will have better journeys.

The benefits of walking were repeatedly put  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To receive the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships which 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 2023/24.

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 Budget 2023/24.

Following the publication of the agenda, supplementary information was published and distributed to members. The information related to Wellbeing applications for consideration by the Committee.

The Committee were informed of the current funding positions;

·  Wellbeing: £28,144.35

·  Youth Activities Fund: £1,871.78

·  Small Grants Budget & Skips: £3,789.93

·  Community Infrastructure Levy: £73,488.77

Members were advised of one delegated decision since the last meeting; Little London Food Pantry for £9,135.

RESOLVED – To;

a)  Note details of the Wellbeing Budget position and determine new applications (as detailed in Table 1 of the submitted report)

b)  Note the monitoring information of its funded projects

c)  Note details of the Youth Activities Fund position (as detailed in Table 2 of the submitted report)

d)  Note details of the Small Grants and Skips Budget (as detailed in Table 3 of the submitted report)

e)  Note details of the Capital Budget (as detailed in Table 4 of the submitted report)

f)  Note details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget (as detailed in Table 5 of the submitted report)

To receive the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships which brings to members’ attention an update of the work which the Communities Team is engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee.

The Committee received a report which provided an update on the key activities being undertaken by the Communities Team based upon the priorities identified by the Community Committee.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report are noted.

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 accordance with the Community Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a period of up to 10 minutes for members to make representations or ask questions within the terms of reference of the Community Committee.

The Committee was informed of an event, ‘Use of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) in comparing the environmental impacts of commuting’, due to take place on 9^th October 2023 by Headingley Café Scientifique at The New Headingley Club, 56 St Michaels Road, LS6 3BG at 7.30pm, with a speaker from the Institute of Transport.

One resident requested that the format used for Minute 20 – Climate Discussion be used to discuss other topics such as anti-social behaviour.

One resident requested the Councillor’s views on the Levelling-Up Agenda. Councillor K Brooks advised the Committee on the funding position within Leeds City Council, it was noted that inflation in care packages had caused the Council to overspend on these services. Councillor E Flint noted the success of Andy Burnham in relation to the transport system in Manchester, as well as the challenges facing Local Authorities regarding bidding for funds against one another.

The Committee were informed of the Matthew Hill Sustainability Fund, which provides grants between £200 and £1,000 for sustainability related projects within Headingley & Hyde Park and Weetwood. http://matthew.hill.hdtleeds.org.uk/ .

To note that the date and time of the next meeting as 13^th December 2023 at 6pm.

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting of the committee was 6.00pm on 13^th December 2023.