Agenda, decisions and minutes

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) formally notifying the Area Committee of the appointment of Councillor G Hyde as Chair of the Area Committee for the 2011/12 Municipal Year and advising the Committee of revisions to the Area Committee Procedure Rules

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer, Central & Democratic Services,  submitted a report formally notifying the Area Committee of the appointment of Councillor G Hyde as Chair of the Area Committee for the 2011/12 Municipal Year. The report also highlighted revisions made to the Area Committee Procedure Rules affecting arrangements for the annual election of Chairs and the items of business to be included on future agendas.

RESOLVED – To note the following

a)  That Councillor G Hyde was elected as Chair of the East (Inner) Area Committee for the duration of the 2011/2012 Municipal Year by Council at its Annual Meeting on 26th May 2011;

b)   The revised arrangements for the annual election of Area Committee Chairs, as approved by Council on the 26th May 2011 and reflected within the amended Area Committee Procedure Rules

c)  The revision to Area Committee Procedure Rule 6.7, as approved by Council on the 26th May 2011,requiring the minutes from the Area Chairs’ meetings to be formally considered by Area Committees.

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

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

The Chair agreed to accept one additional late item of business as follows:

Well Being Fund - an additional application for funding from the Well Being Fund which required consideration before the September Committee meeting (minute 17 refers)

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

The following Members declared personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct:

Councillor A Taylor – Well Being Fund (Rainbow Group application) - declared a personal interest in the application for funding as the Group had its’ base at St Aidan’s Church where Councillor Taylor is minister – although he would not directly benefit from the grant (minute 17 refers)

Councillors G Hyde & R Grahame – Well Being Fund (Garden Gang) - declared personal interests as members of ENE Homes as the Garden Gang had undertaken works for ENE Homes (minute 17 refers)

Councillor A Khan – E-ACT - declared a personal and prejudicial interest during discussions on single sex education as part of consideration of  the item as he stated his daughter attended Parklands Girls High School (minute 12 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr P Rone, Burmantofts Forum co-optee

In accordance with Paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area 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.

No matters were raised under the Open Forum Session by members of public.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 24^th March 2011 as a correct record

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held 24^th March 2011 be agreed as a correct record

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Officer (Democratic & Central Services) on appointments to Outside Bodies (time 10 minutes)

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer, Central & Democratic Services, presented a report outlining the procedures for Council appointments to Outside Bodies and requesting the Committee consider appointments for the 2011/12 Municipal Year

RESOLVED –

a)  To note that Councillor Maqsood had offered to join Chapeltown CAB, but due to other commitments would require more time to consider the role

b)  That the following appointments be made:

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) on appointments of co-optees to the East (Inner) Area Committee for the 2011/12 Municipal Year

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer, Central & Democratic Services, presented a report requesting approval for the appointment of nominees as Co-Optees on the Area Committee. The report detailed those nominees known at the time of the agenda despatch. The Committee welcomed Lizz Johnson from the Richmond Hill Forum and Rod Manners from the Killingbeck & Seacroft Community Leadership Team to the meeting.

Clarification on the status of the Harehills and Gipton CLT’s was provided. The Committee noted the intention to invite Harehills residents to the Gipton CLT meetings in order to provide them with useful experience and information prior to the establishment of a new Harehills CLT. Members noted the comment that there hadn’t been a public forum for some time in Harehills and the suggestion that the progress of the Harehills CLT should be discussed at the ward Councillors July Area Management meeting

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the following appointments as Co-Optees to the East (inner) Area Committee:

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on Area Committee roles for 2011/12 (time 10 minutes)

(Report attached)

The Area Committee considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy & Improvement) summarising the Area Functions and Priority Advisory Functions for 2011/12. It was noted that amendments had been made to the environmental delegations, dealt with under a separate report, but all other functions remained the same.

A review of the effectiveness of the functions, locality operating arrangements and delegated powers would be undertaken during the 2011/12 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED – To approve the Area Functions and designated priority functions for 2011/12 as contained in the summary attached to the submitted report

To consider the Annual Report of the North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership (time 15 minutes)

(Report attached)

Ms B Yearwood, Area Community Safety Co-ordinator and Chief Inspector M Jones of West Yorkshire Police attended the meeting to present the North East Division Community Safety Partnership Annual Report. The report provided an overview of the performance of the Partnership and ward based Neighbourhood Policing Teams and included details of the key initiatives delivered in the local communities to reduce crime and disorder during the previous year.

The following were highlighted as key achievements:

• Reduction in the number of incidents of burglary (dwelling) within the Gipton & Harehills ward
• The local community schemes funded from the Proceeds of Crime Act

The Committee discussed the incidents of burglary which resulted from windows/doors left open and the work undertaken by Neighbourhood Policing Teams to educate householders. In addition, Councillor Khan referred to the Leeds Burglary Reduction Strategy which included an allocation of £1,326,000 available through the Community Safety Fund to support the delivery of the Leeds Burglary Reduction Programme. The Strategy had been approved at Executive Board on 22^nd June 2011

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report

b)  To confirm the continuing support of the Area Committee for the Divisional Community Safety Partnership in relation to prioritising and tackling Burglary Dwelling during the 2011/12 year, through partnership work at neighbourhood level

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods

(Report attached)

The Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods submitted a report highlighting the services provided by LCC Community Safety CCTV Service (“Leedswatch”). The report demonstrated the effectiveness of the Service in reducing the fear of crime and facilitating the apprehension and detection of offenders in areas covered by both mobile and fixed CCTV cameras.

Details of the costs of the provision, and the Service Level Agreement between ENE Area Management and Leedswatch were included within the report. Bev Yearwood introduced the report and highlighted that the costs of the CCTV camera at Bellbrooke Place would need to be reconsidered in due course as the Authority was required to provide 6 months notice for line rental.

Members raised the issue of future funding for all the CCTV cameras and requested a report on the future requirements for funding be presented to the next Committee meeting to include a map plotting the locations of CCTV cameras in the area.

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report and to request a report on the future funding requirements for the CCTV cameras within the East (Inner) Area Committee area be presented to the next meeting.

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services seeking support for and comments on the proposals to build the new E-ACT Leeds East Academy on the site of Parklands Girls High School (time 5 minutes)

(Report attached)

The Director Children’s Services submitted a report on proposals to build the new E-ACT Leeds East Academy on the site of Parklands Girls High School and seeking the Committee’s comments on the plans. Stuart Gosney, Head of Building Schools for the Future and Academies, attended the meeting to discuss the proposals with the Committee. Site plans and architects drawings were included within the report

Members considered the following matters:

• Employment of local people regarded as a key concern
• Concern that there should be a robust contingency plan, noting the collective BSF arrangements in place should there be a cost over-run on this particular scheme
• Academy admissions procedures

Members noted that Executive Board had previously taken the decision to end provision of single sex education for girls in Leeds on 7 April 2010 and were concerned over the strength of local feeling that the choice of single sex education should still be offered. It was confirmed that a city wide consultation had shown little city wide support for retaining single sex education, however Members were minded to take a view that it should be retained in order to offer parents a choice and variety.

(Councillor A Khan declared a personal and prejudicial interest at this point in the point stating his daughter attended Parklands Girls High School and took no further part in the discussions)

Councillor Taylor proposed a motion which was seconded by Councillor A Hussain that the Area Committee should take the view that the City should retain an option for single sex schooling.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report and the comments made so far, and to support the proposals to build the new E-ACT Leeds East Academy on the site of Parklands Girls High School

b)  That the Area Committee take the view that the City should retain an option for single sex schooling

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16:5 Councillor Pryke required it to be recorded that he voted against the matter in (b) above)

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader setting out a work programme for the 2011/12 Municipal Year

(Report attached)

The Committee considered the report of the East North East Area Leader setting out a proposed work programme for the forthcoming year and seeking nominees to appoint Chairs of the local area Forums and to the Community Centre Working Group.

RESOLVED –

a)  To approve the proposed Work Programme for 2011/12

b)  To approve the updated forward plan of reports to Area Committee

c)  To appoint the following members to the Community Centre Working group – Councillor G Hyde (Chair) and Councillors Maqsood, A Khan and Morgan

d)  To appoint the following Members as Chairs to the following CLT’s and Forums

a.  Seacroft & Killingbeck CLT – Councillor Morgan

b.  Gipton CLT – Councillor Maqsood

c.  Harehills CLT – Councillor A Hussain

d.  Burmantofts & Lincoln Green Forum – Councillor R Grahame

e.  Richmond Hill Forum – Councillor A Khan

To consider the report of the East North East Area Manager

(Report attached)

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report

The East North East Area Manager presented a report on the progress made to secure a future for the South Gipton Community Centre and the negotiations undertaken so far on behalf of the Area Committee. Members supported the approach adopted and noted that liaison with local Councillors and tenants & residents associations had been undertaken to determine likely uptake and future uses of the centre.

The ENE Area Manager reported that meetings were due to be held with Children’s Services and provided assurance that demolition would not commence until the challenges had been addressed and a timetable for provision of a new facility had been set. The outcome of those discussions would be reported to the Chair in the first instance. Members further commented that the Area Committee should formally express the view that Youth Service provision should be provided in the South Gipton area.

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report and the approach to be adopted

(Councillor Taylor left the meeting at this point)

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods (time 15 minutes)

(Report attached)

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the progress towards the establishment of a new locality based Environmental Service and the structure for the ENE Locality Team

b)  To note the progress towards the delegation to Area Committees including initial resource, budget and performance information to support the development of the first Service Level Agreement (SLA)

c)  To approve the principles (as set out in paragraph 36 of the submitted report) on which to base the operational and service delivery proposals to be included in the Service Level Agreement (SLA) and to agree to that this will form the basis for the July workshops with the final SLA to be presented at the September meeting for approval

d)  To establish a Member Environment Sub-Group for East (Inner) Area Committee to manage the detailed oversight of the delegated services with officer support and to agree the membership of the Environment Sub-Group as:

·  Councillor G Hyde (Chair) with Councillors A Hussain and A Khan. One further Member to be appointed in due course

e)  To confirm Councillor G Hyde as the Environmental Champion for East (Inner) Area Committee for the 2011/12 Municipal Year

The Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods submitted a progress report on the establishment of a new locality based Environmental Service and its delegation to Area Committees. The report also highlighted the consultation on the Service Level Agreement (SLA) yet to be agreed between the new service and the East (Inner) Area Committee and the feedback on issues previously raised at Area Committee workshops. John Woolmer, ENE Locality Manager attended the meeting and reported the following:

-  Appointments to the new Senior Officer Supervisory Posts to be confirmed to Members on 24 June 2011 with appointments to the Principal Officer posts to follow

-  Figures on the service to be provided prior to the July workshop

-  Important to note the SO posts were regarded as essential to drive up the service standards as there had not been realistic across-the-service supervision previously. Supervisory efforts had mainly concentrated on the refuse service

-  The contents of the proposed SLA principles had been drawn from previous discussions and included themes such as:

• Responsive and flexible street cleansing service
• Importance of community organisations and schools within the SLA
• Clarity of policy regarding shopping frontages and responsibilities
• Relationship between LCC and ENE Homes

Members highlighted the following issues to be further discussed at the July workshop

-  Bin yard policy which Members felt remained unchanged

-  Seasonality and whether staff who undertook seasonal tasks such as leaf clearing (autumn) could also undertake snow clearance (winter/spring)

-  Dogs and public awareness of the evidence required to support enforcement action

-  Ownership issues on responsibility for cleansing

-  Boundaries and the need to ensure continuity of services where ward/area boundaries abut each other and to prevent duplication

-  The need to draw failings in the service to the attention of officers

(Councillor Selby joined the meeting at this point)

Members broadly welcomed the principles and further discussed the flexibility of service and staff provision between the three area management areas. It was noted that continued monitoring of service provision, resources and take up would reveal what level of resource would be required for each service delivered. Members were also keen to consider appropriate parameters by which to measure the services at the July workshop. Finally the Area Committee considered proposals to establish an Environment Sub Committee

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the progress towards the establishment of a new locality based Environmental Service and the structure for the ENE Locality Team

b)  To note the progress towards the delegation to Area Committees including initial resource, budget and performance information to support the development of the first Service Level Agreement (SLA)

c)  To approve the principles (as set out in paragraph 36 of the submitted report) on which to base the operational and service delivery proposals to be included in the Service Level Agreement (SLA) and to agree to that this will form the basis for the July workshops with the final SLA to be presented at the September meeting for approval

d)  To establish a Member Environment Sub-Group  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To consider the report of the East North East Leader providing an update on Neighbourhood Improvement Plans (NIPs) within the remit of the East (Inner) Area Committee (time 10 minutes)

(Report attached)

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the progress made since March 2011 in developing the Neighbourhood Improvement Plans

b)  To request a report on the work of the Garden Gang undertaken within the East (Inner) area be presented to the next meeting

The East North East Area Leader presented an update report on Neighbourhood Improvement Plans (NIPs) for each of the Burmantofts, Gipton, Harehills, Seacroft and Richmond Hill priority areas. The report outlined the work undertaken to put new local delivery and accountability arrangements in place as part of a new innovative “team neighbourhood” approach to locality management and on work to support the delivery of the Area Committees community engagement strategy.

Members requested that information on the location of works undertaken by the Garden Gang be presented to the next meeting.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the progress made since March 2011 in developing the Neighbourhood Improvement Plans

b)  To request a report on the work of the Garden Gang undertaken within the East (Inner) area be presented to the next meeting

To receive and consider the report of the East North East Area Leader (time 10 minutes)

(Report attached)

RESOLVED –

a)  To welcome and note the monitoring information on projects previously funded

b)  To note the spend to date and current balances for the 2010/11 financial year

c)  To note the Small Grant awards

d)  To agree a wellbeing revenue spending plan for 2011/12

e)  To approve the award of the following grants

  i.  Bicycle Reparation Project  £2,000

  ii.  Garden Gang  £10,000

  iii.  Off Road Motorcycles  £2,500

  iv.  Domestic Violence Early Intervention  £3,000

  v.  Lark in the Park  £1,000

f)  That, subject to the outcome of discussions with ward Councillors, authority to deal with the remaining three applications from the Gipton & Harehills ward (Activities for Young People; Harehills Youth Partnership and Rainbow Hearts Women’s Group) be delegated to the ENE Area Leader

The East North East Area Leader presented a report including an overview of spending to date and seeking approval for a Well Being revenue spending plan for 2011/12. The report also included monitoring information on projects previously funded, information on small grants awarded and an outline of new proposals seeking funding.

Further details of the projects were provided at the meeting on the following applications:

• Bicycle Reparation Project  £2,000
• Garden Gang  £10,000
• Off Road Motorcycles  £2,500
• Domestic Violence Early Intervention  £3,000
• Lark in the Park  £1,000
• Activities for young people (Youth Service)  £2,520
• Harehills Youth in Partnership  £8,747

The Committee considered each of the applications in turn and welcomed Mr James Barton who gave a short presentation on the development of the Bicycle Reparation scheme and work undertaken with young people from its base at Denis Healey Hub. Members noted the information particularly

-  work involves male and females referred by the Youth Offending Service, from a variety of localities and backgrounds

-  the work provided them with a positive connection to St Martins House

-  a similar scheme ran from the Laser Centre, Armley and a further satellite scheme could be established but that would require further funding. Members were minded to request a further report in September to consider that possibility

(Councillors G Hyde and R Grahame declared personal interests at this point in the following application as members of East North East Homes )

Garden Gang – noted the suggestion to invite representatives of the Garden Gang to a future meeting to present information n works undertaken

Off Road Motorcycles – noted the comments of Chief Inspector Jones on the value of support provided by LCC off-road motorcycles to WYP

Domestic Violence – welcomed Simon Featherstone to the meeting who addressed funding issues and the need for the services within the locality 

Lark in the Park – all Members noted they were Honorary Members of the event and went onto comment that the ALMO Area Panel did not appear to fund events equably throughout the area. The Chair agreed that a letter should be sent to the Area Panel seeking equal funding for all events of this type throughout the wards

The Committee was advised of an additional application for funding which the Chair had agreed should come to this meeting, as consideration by the September Committee would be too late. However the remaining 3 applications (Activities for Young People; Harehills Youth Partnership and Rainbow Hearts Women’s Group) from the Gipton & Harehills ward would total more than the funds available. It was suggested that authority to approve or reject the applications be delegated to officers following further discussions with ward Councillors 

RESOLVED –

a)  To welcome and note the monitoring information on projects previously funded

b)  To note the spend to date and current balances for the 2010/11 financial year

c)  To note the Small Grant awards

d)  To agree a wellbeing revenue spending plan for 2011/12

e)  To approve the award of the following grants

  i.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

To note the following dates, times and venues for future meetings:

23^rd June 2011 at 6.00 pm – Harehills Primary School

8^th September 2011 at 6.00 pm - Victoria Primary School

20^th October 2011 at 6.00 pm – South Seacroft Methodist Church

1^st December 2011 at 6.00 pm – Leeds Civic Hall

2^nd February 2012 at 6.00 pm – Leeds Civic Hall

2^nd March 2012 at 6.00 pm – SHINE

(All meetings to be held on Thursdays)

RESOLVED - To note the request to review venues for the meetings and to note the dates and times of future meetings as

8^th September 2011

20^th October 2011

1^st December 2011

2^nd February 2012

22^nd March 2012