Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all present to the meeting and short introductions were made

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:

Councillors A Khan, Morgan and Maqsood – all declared personal interests as Area Committee appointed members of the East North East ALMO Area Panel in relation to the Environmental Services SLA (minute 94 refers)

Councillor G Hyde and R Grahame – Welfare Reform Project Team – declared personal interests as members of the East North East ALMO Area Panel (minute 99 refers)

Councillor Morgan – Children’s Services update – declared a personal interest as a Corporate Carer (minute 97 refers) 

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Hussain and A Taylor and from L Johnson, Richmond Hill Forum

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 Time – 10 minutes

In accordance with paragraphs 6:24 and 6:25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a member of the public to make a representation to the Committee:

Mr Paul Ratcliffe addressed the Committee on his desire to establish creative workshops within the EIAC area to encourage community links through residents’ participation in area wide activities. Mr Ratcliffe highlighted his teaching/dramatic arts experience and the benefits he had gained from a similar programme run by West Yorkshire Playhouse when he was a teenager. He envisaged lessons (dance/theatre) being held on a rotation throughout the wards culminating in a festival/street theatre event and sought support for the project.

EIAC thanked Mr Ratcliffe for his submissions and encouraged him to forge close links with community activists to test support for the proposals; and in due course EIAC could consider an application for funding

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd February 2012 as a correct record

(Copy attached) Time – 5 minutes

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held 2^nd February 2012 be agreed as a correct record

Minute 73 Open Forum (Richmond Court) – An update was provided on proposals to convert Richmond Court to Housing Association residential units. Although any proposals for community use would not progress, Councillor Gruen, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Housing & Regeneration, had expressed his support for the group who had sought to use Richmond Court and had agreed to find a suitable base for them. Members commented on the security and misuse of the building and the Chair requested the Area Leader pursue the relevant organisation to secure the building

To note the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held 13^th January 2012

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report and the minutes relating to the Area Chairs Forum meeting held on 13^th January 2012

To consider the report of the ENE Area Leader providing an overview of spending to date, the spending plan for 2012/13 and presenting project proposals

(Report attached)  Time – 15 minutes

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the spend to date and current balances for the 2011/12 financial year, and to agree the spending plan for 2012/13 as set out in paragraphs 3:10 to 3:20 of the submitted report, including support for the proposal to fund an apprentice post

b)  To request a report on the details of the proposed apprenticeship scheme be presented to the next meeting

c)  That the following grants be awarded:

  From the 2011/12 budget: 

  RHEA activities for elderly people  £987

  Chapel FM (East Leeds FM)  £5,500

  Gipton South Community Centre furniture  £2,500

  Kitchen at Henry Barran Community Centre  £4,000

  Fearnville Football Project  £1,049

  From the 2012/13 Budget 

  Harehills Mini Olympics  £1,886

  Youth Service Tradex Sports Project  £3,000

  Harehills DPPO  £4,000

  Lark in the Park  £1,000

  Killingbeck & Seacroft Gala  £1,500

  Gipton Gala  £1,000

  Oz Box  £2,356

  Summer Holiday Activities  £30,000

  (with all 3 wards awarding £10k each)

  Harehills Bin-yard project  £2,000

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16:5 Councillor Pryke required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the matter relating to the equal split of the Community Pot Fund between the three EIAC wards)

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report providing an overview of spending to date from the EIAC Wellbeing Budget. The report also detailed five new proposals seeking funding from the 2011/12 revenue budget and set out a spending plan for 2012/13 together with a number of new project proposals seeking funding.

Members noted the report that ENE Homes had agreed to fund a Community Payback Team to cover all ENEH managed greenspace and highways – in both Inner East and Outer East localities. The report set out a proposal that, as the ENEH team would duplicate some work outlined for the EIAC Probation Team, the savings made could be earmarked to fund an apprentice – subject to a detailed proposals being proposed at the next meeting by EIAC. The SLA would need amendment to reflect the new working arrangements. It was agreed that a schedule showing where Community Payback project works had been undertaken would be sent to all Members.

Members also considered the proposals to:

-  top slice £3,000 from the new budget for a Community Engagement pot, as in previous years

-  split the remaining £189k equally between the three wards (£63,072.75 each) to fund schemes which support the priorities within the Neighbourhood Improvement Plans and Community Charter

-  reserve a small amount to create a Small Grants Fund and a budget for Crime & Grime Tasking in each ward

Members noted that EIAC informally shared its’ Business Plan and spending decisions with ENEH Area Panel in order to encourage matchfunding and maximise scheme benefits and that a report formalising the joint funding arrangements would be considered by the Area Panel shortly.  Officers confirmed that £50k per area committee (not £50k per ward) was set aside for joint funding initiatives.

Councillor Pryke expressed concern over the proposed three way equal split of the Community Engagement pot and requested EIAC reconsider the allocation. He believed wellbeing spending was the principle way in which LCC could target deprivation, and the declining super output area statistics within the Neighbourhood Index Profiles showed that the Burmantofts & Richmond Hill ward deserved additional resources. EIAC noted the request however, noting the similar statistics for Gipton & Harehills, was not minded to reduce the allocation for other wards.

Members then considered the applications for funding from the 2012/13 budget having regard to the locality priorities. Officers reported an amendment to paragraph 3:21 (funding of Summer Holiday Activities) to reflect the total request was £30,000 with £10,000 to be allocated equally to the three EIAC wards.

EIAC supported the proposal to ring fence an amount of £7.5 k to employ an apprentice and requested a further report on the appointment process and length of tenure

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the spend to date and current balances for the 2011/12 financial year, and to agree the spending plan for 2012/13 as set out in paragraphs 3:10 to 3:20 of the submitted report, including support for the proposal to fund an apprentice post

b)  To request a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods on proposals to establish a number of Environmental Improvement Zones with the priority neighbourhoods and include additional services within the SLA for 2012/13. The report also consults on updated priorities to be addressed in the 2012/13 SLA

(Report attached)  Time – 15 minutes

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the addition of further services to the delegation to the Locality Team as approved by Executive Board on 10 February 2012

b)  To agree to the development of the new SLA for 2012/13 to be brought to the June meeting for approval based on the newly delegated elements, additional delivery capacity, responses to Olympic and Queen’s Jubilee events and refreshed Member and Area Committee local priorities

c)  To approve the establishment of new Environmental Improvement Zones within the EIAC priority neighbourhoods as indicated in Appendix B of the submitted report

The Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods submitted a report on the services to be added to the Locality Team’s portfolio and included in the Service Level Agreement (SLA). Approval was also sought for the establishment of Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZ) within the priority neighbourhoods which would allow a more targeted approach to be developed and included within the SLA. The report also highlighted the likely impact of the Queen’s Jubilee and Olympic events on service delivery. Members’ views on local priorities were sought.

John Woolmer, Manager of Street Cleansing & Enforcement; and Hayley Thackwray, Service Manager (Environmental Services) attended the meeting to present the report. Last years achievements included the improved relationship between the Service, EIAC and local residents; the introduction of service “capacity days” and the installation of 30 litter bins. New services would include responsibility for gulleys, ginnels, graffiti, needles and dog wardens. EIAC noted that provision of these additional services had been accounted for within existing budget resources. Support was sought for the creation of small teams to tackle the environmental issues within the EIZs.

EIAC discussed:

-  Bin and ginnel mapping. It was noted that bin mapping could be undertaken in the EIZ areas as a starting point to roll out environmental improvements. An area wide map  would be included within the SLA. A ginnel map had previously been provided.

-  Comments reporting the success of the local approach to tackling dog fouling in East End Park

-  Lack of communal recycling bins in some areas. It was noted that the Service was not responsible for these but that the comment would be reported to the relevant officer

-  Whether any of the 40 identified sites for the national £0.5m “Blight Fund” were in the EIAC area – this to be reported back

-  Whether resources/service team staffing were equable in every wedge

(Councillor Khan withdrew from the meeting for a short while at this point)

-  The comments regarding the impact of annual leave on service provision amongst the manual litter picking team were noted.

EIAC commended the officers on the achievements so far and it was noted that discussions would continue with local ward Councillors on the impact of and preparations for the Jubilee and Olympic celebrations due to the time constraints.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the addition of further services to the delegation to the Locality Team as approved by Executive Board on 10 February 2012

b)  To agree the development of the new SLA for 2012/13, to be brought to the June meeting for approval based on the newly delegated elements, additional delivery capacity, responses to Olympic and Queen’s Jubilee events and refreshed Member and Area Committee local priorities

c)  To approve the establishment of new Environmental Improvement Zones within the EIAC priority neighbourhoods as indicated in Appendix B of the submitted report

To consider the report of the ENE Area Leader presenting an overview of the work undertaken in the Inner East Area during 2011/12 and providing an update on the latest Neighbourhood Index profiles   

(Report attached) Time – 15 minutes

The ENE Area Leader provided an overview of work undertaken in the Inner East during 2011/12 by the Area Support Team and updating EIAC on the latest Neighbourhood Index Profiles and the emerging priorities to be tackled through the NIPs for 2012/13. The Neighbourhood Managers attended the meeting and highlighted the key achievements in each neighbourhood for 2011/12, including the work done to reduce crime, to tackle environmental issues, to support job seekers and vulnerable people.

• Burmantofts & Richmond Hill - Sarah May, (Neighbourhood Manager) additionally highlighted the partnership working established to roll out the “steps to work” course and the results of a survey undertaken in the community revealing residents’ concerns as being worklessness; improving the environment; reduction in crime, health & wellbeing and increase in community confidence
• Killingbeck & Seacroft - Joanne Buck (Neighbourhood Manager) also reported on the success of the “don’t sit on the fence” relating to stolen goods and the priorities for next year as being reducing crime and worklessness and supporting the vulnerable
• Gipton – Joanne Buck (Neighbourhood Manager) highlighted the work done with the community to identify the perpetrators of crime and/or anti social behaviour and reassurance visits undertaken with victims of crime within 6 months. The residents survey results showed the priorities for next year remained reducing crime and anti social behaviour, worklessness, supporting vulnerable families, reducing the number of low income families and increasing community cohesion
• Harehills – Carly Grimshaw (ENE Area Assistant) reported on the work undertaken to support the creation of a Designated public Places Order in Harehills to restrict consumption of alcohol in public places and the planned Opportunities Fair to be held on 29 March 2012
• Additionally, Station Commander T Head reported WYFRS had completed 2500 fire safety checks in 2011 and anticipated 2800 this coming year

EIAC further discussed

-  The opening of Richmond Hill Job Shop and whether a facility was proposed for Lincoln Green, noting the difficulties Lincoln Green residents would have using public transport to access this Job Shop. EIAC noted that provision of a Job Shop in Lincoln Green was part of the Action Plan. Partners were committed to the scheme however an ICT suite need to be secured

-  Chapeltown & Harehills Forum – one member commented that several community groups had not been aware of the Forum. EIAC noted the response that C&H Forum had not yet been established, but was an ambition of local ward Councillors.

-  The establishment of Harehills CLT proposed for June 2012

-  One Member reported that some Burmantofts residents had not been aware of the events mentioned in the report. It was agreed that the suggestion that advertisements for events should be more widespread would be reported to the relevant Area Panel

Members commended officers on the work undertaken so far and

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and the comments made by EIAC be noted

b)  That the Neighbourhood Improvement Plans for 2012/13 be endorsed for implementation

(Councillor Pryke withdrew from the meeting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

To consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Services on proposals to develop integrated health and social care teams

(Report attached)  Time – 15 minutes

The Director of Adult Services submitted a report on the development of integrated health and social care teams and the creation of three “demonstrator sites” to test this approach to health and social care services.  John Lennon, Chief Officer Access & Inclusion, attended the meeting to present the report. EIAC welcomed the multi-service approach which would avoid duplication of service provision and benefit both the patients and service providers

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report and to request that further updates on the progress of the demonstrator sites be provided in due course

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services providing an update on the key developments taking place within Children’s Services

(Report attached)  Time – 15 minutes

The Director of Children’s Services provided an update on the key developments taking place within Children’s Services and a performance update against the priorities of the Leeds Children and Young Peoples Plan (CYPP).

Steve Walker, Deputy Director, Safeguarding, attended the meeting to present the report and he highlighted the key challenges ahead as promoting a child friendly city and the pledges at the heart of the Leeds Education Challenge. It was noted that the Children’s Social Work teams had commenced locality based working on 5 March 2012.

Members noted the resources required to support looked after children and the comment made by Councillor Morgan in her capacity as a corporate carer regarding the length of time for basic repairs to be undertaken in residential Homes. EIAC discussed the following:

• the number of looked after children in the EIAC area and the subsequent impact on the community
• cluster level services will support children before the point a child needs to be looked after, as evidenced in the recent reduction in the number of referrals. Early intervention and access to the right services and contact with the child’s wider family were essential to providing a successful support network.
• the role of Child Protection Plans and the multi agency approach that  requires
• the need for all schools, including Academy status schools, to provide attendance data. Members highlighted the fact that all Roman Catholic Secondary Schools in the area were due to become Academies

Members also suggested that play spaces mapping should be undertaken as some children living in the more densely populated areas often were not aware of the nearest usable play space. It was noted that Children’s and Leisure Services would have to liaise on this matter and ward Councillors agreed to assist.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report

b)  To note the comments made on the type and extent of performance information provided, including the reporting schedule included at Appendix 1

To consider the report of the Director of City Development on the broad scope of the LDF (Publication Draft) and the consultation now being undertaken and seeking comments from the Area Committee in response to the consultation

(Report attached) Time – 10 minutes

EIAC considered the report of the Director of Development on the Local Development Framework (Publication Draft) which was approved by Executive Board on 10 February 2012 for public consultation. The document was presented to EIAC as part of the consultation process. The Core Strategy took a district wide approach to planning for the homes and jobs Leeds’ communities required, in a sustainable manner.

(Councillor Morgan withdrew from the meeting for a short while at this point)

Members commented that regeneration could be hindered by a concentration of a certain type of housing in particular neighbourhoods/streets. EIAC identified the pressures added to community support networks/services and infrastructure through the conversion of houses to flats. It was felt that conversion of some house types in certain neighbourhoods was unsuitable and the Core Strategy should aim to address this.

Officers responded that the Policy H6 dealt with Houses in Multiple Occupation generally to ensure there was no over concentration of HMO’s. A further Policy Document concentrated on preserving the character of an area - but that supplementary Guidance Documents would provide the detail on how to approach specific issues

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted and the comments made by Members regarding flat conversions and the impact on the character and sustainability of an area be noted

b)  That the request for formal comments on the soundness of the Core Strategy document to be submitted on a Core Strategy Comments Form (included at Appendix 1) be noted

(Councillor Selby left the meeting at this point)

To consider the report of the ENE Area Leader summarising the work undertaken within the east north east area in preparation for the welfare reform changes due to come into effect in April 2013

(Report attached)  Time – 10 minutes

The ENE Area Leader submitted a report summarising the main issues arising from the Welfare Reform programme and an update on the work undertaken within  the ENE area in preparation for the changes due to come into effect in April 2013.

EIAC noted a comment made by Councillor Grahame that elected Members should be provided with a dedicated contact number for advice on the changes to the welfare system and it was agreed that this would be forwarded to the Strategic Group to progress. Councillor Grahame also tabled copies of an article published in the Municipal Journal on 2^nd June 2011 entitled “£500m black hole looms over 2013 benefit change”

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the progress made in the locality to develop an action plan to mitigate the impact of the welfare reform changes to cone into force in April 2013

b)  To note the comments made on the work undertaken so far

c)  To support the development of a communication strategy to underpin the work of the city wide strategy and focussing on the need of the residents within the ENE area

d)  To note the action taken to support customers affected by the welfare reform

e)  changes which came into effect in January 2012

To consider the report of the ENE Area Leader providing an update on the progress of the Leeds Citizens Panel

(Report attached) Time – 5 minutes

The ENE Area Leader presented a report providing an update on the Leeds Citizens Panel. The Chair expressed the Committees’ disappointment over the level of uptake but noted that proposals were being drawn up to increase public interest in the Panel

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report

To consider the report of the ENE Area Leader providing an update on the reports expected to be presented to the Area Committee during the 2012/13 Municipal Year

(Report attached) Time – 10 minutes

EIAC considered the report of the ENE Area leader setting out a schedule of reports expected to be presented to the Committee during the 2012/13 Municipal Year

RESOLVED – To approve the contents of the forward plan for the 2012/13 Municipal Year

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) setting out proposed meeting dates for the Area Committee for 2012/13 and seeking consideration of the current meeting venue arrangements

(Report attached) Time – 5 minutes

The Chief Officer, Democratic and Central Services, submitted a report seeking approval for the proposed meeting dates for the 2012/13 Municipal Year and requesting comments on the venue and timings of the meetings

RESOLVED –

a) To agree the dates of EIAC meetings  for the 2012/13 Municipal Year as follows (All meetings to be held on Thursdays and commence at 5.30 pm):

21^st June 2012; 6^th September 2012; 18^th October 2012; 6 December 2012; 7^th February 2013;  21^st March 2013 and 9^th May 2013

b) To hold the October; December and February meetings in the Civic Hall

c) To agree to hold the June; September and March meetings in a location to be determined within each of the wards

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Wednesday 16^th May 2012 at 5:00 pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds

RESOLVED – To note the date of the next meeting as Wednesday 16^th May 2012 with an amended start time of 5.30 pm