Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies.

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

There were no declarations.

In order to facilitate the Open Forum, the process has been adapted so that members of the public are invited to make written submissions in advance of the meeting on any matter which falls within the Committee’s terms of reference.  These will be read out under the agenda item and considered by the Community Committee.

Due to the meeting being held remotely, members of the public had been invited to make written submissions to be read out and considered as part of the Open Forum.

There had been four submissions which focussed on the areas of Hyde Park, Woodhouse and Headingley and the problems with noise nuisance, fly tipping, anti-social behaviour and general waste issues generated by student households and the resultant impact on the health of residents and the degraded physical environment of the area.

Three of the submissions had asked of Councillors could take action against the Universities as they were responsible for bringing these problems to the area and they ignored complaints from residents.

It had been noted that there had been meetings regarding these problems without any resolution and the question was asked whether Councillors agreed that the responsibility laid at the doors of the Universities who it was felt put status and profit ahead of their responsibilities to the community.

Further questions were asked as to whether the hours of the noise nuisance team could be extended as the service ended at 3.00 a.m. but problems with noise went on until 7.00 a.m.  It was also asked what was being done to change the balance of the area so more families could live and stay there as some streets had 80% or more houses in multiple occupation.

Members highlighted the following:

·  There had been a first meeting of the Anti-Social Behaviour Forum in December.  This was held at the Cardigan Centre and was well attended.  Representatives of the Council and Universities were in attendance.

·  The Universities were increasing resources and support to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area and there would be an enhanced noise and anti-social behaviour service.

·  Work was being undertaken to try and change the balance of the area with regards to having more families living in the area.  This was moving in the right direction and local schools were now full.

·  The Universities were working with West Yorkshire Police and there had been additional funding for two Police Community Support Officers.

·  Problems had increased since the lockdowns.

·  There would be pro-active patrols in the area and Leeds Becketts University had appointed a Community Liaison Officer.

·  Councillors did take these concerns seriously and it was hoped that the significant increase in resources would ease the problems.

To note the minutes of the Inner North West Community Committee held on 29 September 2021

Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2021.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Group Operations Manager

The report of the Executive Manager provided the Community Committee with an update on the Highways Service following a recent winter service review.

Daniel Cullum, Group Operations Manager and Nick Hill, Highways Service Delivery Manager gave the Committee a presentation which highlighted the following:

·  The service was on 24/7 standby from October through to Spring.

·  Gritting of roads – and the criteria used to decide when and where to do gritting.

·  Refilling of grit bins.

·  Snow ploughing and clearing.

·  Development of the Gritting Tracker – this would display live gritting information via the Council’s website and enable people to plan journeys.  Members were shown the live tracker in action.

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

·  The need for information where footpaths and pedestrian areas had been treated.  It was suggested that different criteria be used for the prioritisation of gritting footpaths than to highways.

·  It was hoped that the tracking service would reduce the number of complaints and ease pressure on the contact centre.

·  Grit bins provided by Highways could be identified on the tracking system.

·  The tracker could display which roads had been gritted in the previous 24 hours.  The software was still relatively new and improvements and new features would be added.

·  Naming of the vehicles on the tracking site – it was proposed to work with schools and possibly have a competition to name the vehicles.

Members thanked Daniel and Nick for the work carried out on highways often in poor conditions and unsocial hours.

RECOMMENDED – That the report and presentation be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the ChiefOfficer forSustainable Energyand Air Quality

The report of the Chief Officer for Sustainable Energy and Air Quality informed Members of a presentation that provided an update on the climate energy strategy and progress.

Chad Newton, Senior Communication and Marketing, Sustainable Energy and Air Quality gave the Committee a presentation.

Key issues highlighted included the following:

·  Schemes that were being undertaken in the Inner North West Area.  These included the use of ground source heat pumps, solar panels and switching to LED lighting.

·  Electric Vehicle Trial Scheme.

·  Improving the efficiency of housing and the support available to help achieve this.

·  Carbon emissions across the City.

·  Air quality – Leeds was compliant with national and European standards and was predicted to remain so.

·  How Elected Members could support and promote the work being done on climate change.

·  The ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030 and reducing the carbon footprint and how this can be achieved.

·  Links to improving Health and Wellbeing and economic growth of the City.

·  Sustainable transport – including the use of electric vehicles, promotion of cycling and walking.

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

·  Information was requested with regard to the take up of support for solar panel installation and whether this could be provided on a ward by ward basis.

·  Concern that the benefit from solar panels was not great on a low income family when there would be more benefit from improved insulation.  It was reported that here was support available for both solar panel installation and insulation improvements.

That Chair thanked Chad for his attendance and presentation.

RECOMMENDED – 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 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.  It also provided an update on organisations funded by the Community Committee and how their project delivery will be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Marcia Cunningham Localities Officer presented the report.

The following was highlighted:

·  Balances remaining in the Wellbeing Budget and the Ward based Covid pots.

·  There was a deficit in the small grants and skips budget.  It was proposed to transfer funds from the Wellbeing and Engagement budgets to address this.  Members were supportive of this.

·  Remaining funds in the Capital Budget.

·  Application for funding – HAP Project Lighting – Raynel Garth - £3,887.04 was proposed.  There had also been £4,000 requested from the HAP.  Members were supportive of this application.

·  Applications from LASBAT for the University Anti-Social Behaviour Dedicated Resource for £21,153.67 and Inner North West Pedal Cycle Security for £5,840.  It was agreed to consider these at the March meeting.

·  Details of the Community Infrasturcture Levy Budget

RECOMMENDED –

(1)  That the following proposals be approved:

o  Hap Project Lighting – Raynel Garth - £3,887.04

(2)  That details of the Wellbeing Budget position be noted.

(3)  That details of the Youth Activities Fund be noted.

(4)  That details of the Skips budget be noted.

(5)  That details of the Small Grants budget be noted.

(6)  That details of the Capital Budget be noted.

(7)  That details of the Community Infrastructure Levy budget be noted.

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.

Marcia Cunningham,  Localities Officer presented the report.

Members’ attention was brought to an update on the Money Buddies project that had been part funded by the Committee.  Over 300 clients had been seen by the service in Inner North West with financial gains of over £211k  being secured for residents.

Councillor Walshaw informed the Committee of correspondence that had been received regarding concerns from the North West Leeds Transport Forum that public access to a meeting of the Leeds Bradford International Airport Consultative Committee had been refused.  It was agreed that Councillor Walshaw as the Committee’s representative and the Chair write to the Chair of the Consultative Committee with regard to these concerns and the lack of public access to meetings.

RECOMMENDED – That the report be noted.

The next meeting of the Inner North West Community Committee is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 30 March 2022 at 6.00 p.m.

The next meeting of the Inner North West Community Committee is scheduled to be held on 30 Mach 2022.