Agenda and minutes

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

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

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda, however the Committee had received a supplementary pack prior to the meeting containing Agenda item 9 Appendix A - minutes of the EIAC Environmental Sub Group meeting held 14^th August 2012. The minutes had not been cleared at the time the agenda for this meeting had been despatched (minute 27 refers)

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13 -18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19 -20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests however in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members Code of Conduct, the following declarations were made by Members who felt it was in the public interest to do so:

Councillor R Grahame and B Selby  – West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Annual report (minute 28 refers) declared that they were members of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr P Rone, Mr R Manners, Councillor Morgan, Councillor Khan and Councillor A Hussain

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.

In accordance with Paragraphs 6:24 and 6:25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules the Chair admitted one item of business to be brought to the attention of the  Committee through the Open Forum

The Organisation for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (OCRR)

Mr Walter Omar addressed the meeting setting out the background to the establishment of the OCRR group and the aims of the project, intended to address the causes of minor crime within the EIAC area in partnership with other community groups, the police and support groups. Mr Omar tabled a mission statement for members reference.

(Councillor Harington joined the meeting at this point)

The ENE Area Leader noted that the themes of restorative practices and community cohesion highlighted were applicable outside the Justice system and EIAC discussed links with other community organisations for OCRR to consider

RESOLVED – The Committee thanked Mr Omar for his presentation and noted that Area Management contact details had been provided to Mr Omar for his reference

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st June 2012 as a correct record

(copy attached)(Time – 5 minutes)

RESOLVED – That, subject to an amendment to minute 15c) to remove Councillor Selby from the membership of the Community Centre sub group, the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st June 2012 be agreed as a correct record

Minute 8 – Service Level Agreement – bulky waste collections – Discussions were being held with the ALMO Chief Executive about resource sharing and the Environmental Sub Group had also discussed the matter however EIAC directed that the minutes of this meeting reflect their request to formalise arrangements for LCC use of ALMO vehicles for bulky waste collections

Minute 10 - Appointment to Outside Bodies –

Chapeltown Citizens Advice Bureau – EIAC noted that Councillor Maqsood had been informally nominated to this outside body subject to further discussions amongst ward members, and these discussions still needed to take place

Health & Wellbeing and the Planning Sub Group – It was agreed that the first meeting of both sub groups should take place prior to the next EIAC meeting

Minute 12 – Community Safety Partnership – EIAC noted the request from a ward member seeking to ensure that discussions on funding allocations in relation to target hardening were held at Area Panel level

(Councillor Ingham joined the meeting at this point)

To consider the report of the Acting Chief Asset Management Officer on the Community Right to Bid, including likely implementation date, and seeking the Committee’s consideration of ways to encourage and support local community organisations to nominate assets of community value

(Report attached) (Time – 10 minutes)

EIAC considered the report of the Acting Chief Asset Management Officer on the Community Right to Bid (CRtB) which will come into force on 12^th October 2012. In brief, CRtB will afford communities the right to delay the sale of assets which have been deemed to be assets of community value in order to give the group an opportunity to put a bid together to purchase the asset. Mr N Charlesworth attended to the meeting to present the report and highlighted the following:

-  The type of venue which could be regarded as a community asset and the type of organisation eligible to make a nomination.

-  The administrative process involved and resources available to the authority

-  That Area Committees’ and area support teams would have an important role in terms of supporting local community organisations through the nomination process and commenting on nominations submitted.

EIAC discussed the impact CRtB would have in terms of

-  Impact on the workload and resources of the authority through support to community applicant, processing of applications and administration

-  Impact of likely costs of compensation payouts to asset owners which could exceed the amount granted to the authority to run the scheme

-  Whether the CRtB would provide actual benefits for the community having regard to the fact that asset owners would still be able to dispose of land and/or property as they saw fit once the consultation period closed

Members commented that the scheme could raise expectations amongst community groups and requested that their concerns be reported to the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services.

EIAC noted the report sought the committees’ consideration of measures to encourage/support local community organisations to nominate assets of community value; however on balance following their discussions, Members

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report and the discussions

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader providing an overview of spending to date and setting out a number of new project proposals for consideration

(Report attached) (Time – 10 minutes)

The ENE Area Leader submitted a report providing an overview of spending to date and seeking consideration of a number of new project proposals requesting funding.

With regards to the “Safe & Secure” new windows for St Philips PCC project, EIAC noted the comments of a ward Member and agreed to defer consideration of this item. With regards to the “Off the Streets” project, EIAC noted the discussions held with the applicant and the  suggestion that area management establish a support package for the project leader

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report and the current budget position

b)  To defer consideration of the “Safe & Secure” new windows project for St Philips PCC

c)  To agree to the following grant awards:

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader providing an overview of the work being carried out to address the Area Committee priorities

(Report attached) (Time – 10 minutes)

The ENE Area Leader submitted a report providing an overview of the work being carried out to address the Area Committee priorities and the community engagement activity across the Inner East area. The report also outlined the request to nominate a representative to sit on the city wide Corporate Carers Group and the recommendations contained within the minutes of the EIAC Environmental Sub Group and the Community Centre sub groups which were attached as appendices to the report

Councillor V Morgan was nominated as Corporate Carer for EIAC

RESOLVED - To note the contents of the report and the comments of the Area Committee and to

a)  To note the contents of the environment sub group meeting held on 14^th August 2012

b)  to note the contents of the community centres sub group meeting held 26^th July 2012

c)  to elect Councillor V Morgan as the EIAC representative on the Corporate Carers Group

To receive the Annual Report of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service providing an update on current performance, the new Local Area Risk Reduction Teams (LARRT’s) and providing an update on the proposed merger of the Stanks and Gipton fire stations into a new build fire station for the Killingbeck area.

(Report attached) (Time – 10 minutes)

Station Commander Nigel Kirk attended the meeting to present the Annual Report of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS). The report provided an update on current performance and St Cmdr Kirk addressed the following issues:

• The successful reduction in the number of fire related incidents which he attributed to the work of the new Local Area Risk Reduction Teams (LARRT’s)
• The liaison undertaken by WYFRS with other organisations in order to identify vulnerable persons and families where fire prevention measures could be put in place
• The progress of the proposed merger of the Stanks and Gipton fire stations into one new build fire station at Killingbeck.

In response to a question, St Cmdr Kirk provided details of The Firefly scheme, which alerted the Service to those properties belonging to vulnerable persons who are unable to leave their properties without assistance through the use of reflective stickers placed on the main entrance and internal bedroom doors. EIAC was very supportive of this initiative and suggested St Cmdr Kirk liaise with Area Management to discuss extending the scheme with the support of EIAC

Ms S Covell, member of the public, reported that WYFR Authority would meet on 7 September 2012 to consider the fire station merger proposals prior to public consultation on the matter. She was permitted to ask questions on issues relating to the 2011/12 figures for Gipton units responding outside of the area, the stated service targets, the impact of the proposed fire station merger on unit response times and the availability of the WYFRA Community Consultation document. Members noted the volume of questions to be posed by Ms Covell to St Cmdr Kirk. EIAC requested that the questions and responses be submitted via Area officers so that they could be despatched to Members

RESOLVED – To thank Station Commander Kirk for his attendance and to note the contents of the report and the discussions

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services on the work being undertaken city wide to respond to the rising demand for reception places, providing Members with an opportunity to comment on the formal consultation. The report also provides a general update on issues directly affecting the inner east area. Mr S Gosney – Capacity Planning and Sufficiency Lead will attend the meeting to present the report.

 (Report attached) (Time – 10 minutes)

Further to minute 17 of the meeting held 21st June 2012 when EIAC deferred consideration of a late Item on school admission arrangements in East Leeds, the Director of Childrens Services submitted a further report on the work being undertaken city wide to respond to the rising demand for reception places which provided Members with an opportunity to comment on a formal consultation on proposals to expand four primary schools. The report also provided an update on issues directly affecting the EIAC area.

Mr S Gosney, Capacity Planning and Sufficiency Lead, Childrens Services, attended the meeting to present the report and discussed the following with members:

• Consultation on proposals to expand Little London primary school and the impact this could have on admissions to primary schools in the EIAC area
• The number of primary schools within the EIAC area and the likely impact this had on the number of children obtaining their first preference of school. It was noted that 46% of families did not preference their nearest school, and this could be due to the large number of primaries in the area
• Brownhills Primary school – EIAC noted the comments of the local ward member regarding Brownhills primary school buildings, expansion and environment and queries relating to the selection process for funding of school improvements. Officers were requested to provide the details to the ward member directly.
• Future primary school expansion - Officers indicated the intention to present projections of pupil numbers to a future meeting and it was agreed that initial discussions would be held at ward member meetings as appropriate. Those discussions to include an overview on issues such as the pressures on the ward & its population; the impact on school leadership & performance and secondary school preferences

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and the discussions be noted

b)  To note the intention to

  i.  Provide the requested additional information regarding Brownhills primary school direct to the ward member and

  ii.  Arrange individual ward member briefings as required to discuss the issues affecting specific wards as detailed above

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services on key issues and developments concerning Children’s Services in Leeds and setting out local children’s cluster information relevant to the Inner East area. Sarah Sinclair – Chief Officer Strategy Commissioning and Performance and Gillian Mayfield – Area Targeted Services Lead will attend the meeting to present the report.

(Report attached) (Time – 10 minutes)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report on key issues and developments concerning Children’s Services in Leeds and setting out local children’s cluster information relevant to the Inner East area.

Sarah Sinclair – Chief Officer Strategy Commissioning and Performance and Gillian Mayfield – Area Targeted Services Lead, attended the meeting to present the report.

Members were provided with information on the partnership approach of Targeted Services. A handout of case studies from within the ENE area was provided at the meeting. Members discussed the following:

• Amendments made by central Government to the indicators used to calculate funding for schools
• The remit of School Attendance Officers and their links with other service providers to identify attendance issues
• The numbers of looked after children and work ongoing to reduce the number of children entering into the social care system
• The impact of Ofsted inspections on schools and the support offered by the local authority to schools following an inspection

Members were keen to receive the following information on a ward by ward basis directly:

-  The number of dedicated attendance officers for the ENE area and the schools under their area of responsibility

-  The number of teenage pregnancies and information on the number amongst younger and older teenagers

-  The number of foster carers and the likely impact of the welfare reform changes on foster carers

RESOLVED –

a)  to note the content of the report

b)  to note the comments made EIAC

To consider and note the contents of the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held 12^th March 2012

(Report attached)(time – 5 minutes)

Members commented that the minutes were out of date and noted that the Forum had met more recently on 13^th July 2012. Officers clarified the necessary clearance process, however offered to provide a brief update on more recent Forum meetings in the future

RESOLVED - To note the contents of the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held 12^th March 2012

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 18^th October 2012 at 5.30 pm in Seacroft Methodist Hall

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 18^th October 2012 at 5.30pm in Seacroft Methodist Hall