Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the meeting of the North West (Outer) Area Committee, specifically James Rogers, Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance), who was in attendance to observe the meeting.

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.

Councillor Wadsworth declared a personal interest in the agenda item entitled, ‘West North West Homes Leeds (WNWHL) Involvement in Area Committees’, due to his position as a Board Director of WNWHL ALMO. (Minute No. 67 referred).

Councillor Latty declared a personal interest in the agenda item entitled, ‘West North West Homes Leeds (WNWHL) Involvement in Area Committees’, due to his position as a member of the WNWHL Area Panel for the North West Outer area. (Minute No. 67 referred).

Councillor Fox declared a personal interest in the agenda item entitled, ‘West North West Homes Leeds (WNWHL) Involvement in Area Committees’, due to his position as a member of the WNWHL Area Panel for the North West Outer area. (Minute No. 67 referred).

Further interests were declared during the course of the meeting ( Minute No. 68 referred).

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 allowed a period of up to 10 minutes for members of the public to make representations or ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.

On this occasion, there were no members of the public present.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th December 2011.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 12^th December 2011 be approved as a correct record. 

To consider the report of West North West homes Leeds (WNWhL) providing an update on the work of the ALMO, whilst also exploring ways of ensuring that WNWhL’s involvement with Area Committees is as meaningful and productive as possible.

(Council Function)

Further to Minute No. 10, 6^th June 2011, the Chief Executive of West North West Homes Leeds ALMO (WNWhL) submitted a report providing an update on the work of WNWhL in the area, whilst also outlining the purpose of the ALMO’s involvement in the Area Committee process and exploring the ways of making that involvement as meaningful and productive as possible.

Having received a brief introduction to the report from Juliet Duke, Neighbourhood Performance Manager, WNWhL ALMO, a question and answer session ensued. The key points raised were as follows:-

• Having noted that all ALMOs were now fitting the currently recommended lock cylinders, Members raised concerns regarding the current ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) regulations on this matter, highlighted the need for representations on such regulations to be made and emphasised the need for the situation to be monitored in order to ensure that any damaged locks were replaced by the most secure models available. In response, Members comments and concerns were acknowledged and representatives of West Yorkshire Police present at the meeting undertook to pursue such matters;
• Members were provided with an update on the actions being taken to address crime and grime activities  and also in respect of the caretaking and cleaning initiatives;
• The Committee was assured that One Stop Centres were being utilised as part of the ALMO’s community engagement programme; 
• Members raised concerns regarding the unrepresentative nature of some ‘residents’ groups’, made enquiries about the criteria used to classify such groups, considered the ways in which checks could be undertaken to assure that such group’s remained representative and highlighted the levels of publicity that such groups could potentially attract. In response, Members’ concerns were noted and the Neighbourhood Performance Manager undertook to monitor such issues;
• Responding to Members’ requests, the Neighbourhood Performance Manager confirmed that representatives from both the ALMO and Morissons would be invited to attend the next meeting of the Area Committee in order to discuss any related matters;
• Members highlighted issues which had been raised via the Committee’s Environmental Services Sub Group regarding several aspects of the recently awarded grounds maintenance contract and the criteria which would be used to undertake the service provision. In response, it was noted that clarification on such matters would be sought and provided to the Sub Group;
• Members highlighted that a report was scheduled to be considered at the February meeting of Executive Board regarding investment in affordable housing and requested that arrangements were made in order to facilitate consideration of such matters by Area Committee members;
• The Board highlighted the problem of dog fouling which continued to be experienced. Members discussed the levels and styles of signage with respect to dog fouling enforcement which existed in Leeds, in comparison with other local authorities. In responding to the comments raised, the Chair of the Committee’s Environmental Services Sub Group highlighted the planning issues associated with road signage, considered the level of enforcement staff available to tackle such problems and highlighted that any  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) providing Members with an update on the current amount of revenue and capital funding committed and available via the Area Committee Wellbeing budgets for wards in the Outer North West. In addition, the report also seeks approval for new projects and provides details of small grant applications received since the last Area Committee.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the current position of the Wellbeing budget, as set out within sections 2 and 3 of the submitted report, be noted.

(b)  That the following be agreed in respect of those expressions of interest received for Wellbeing funding, as detailed within section 4 of the submitted report:-

(c)  That the small grant and skip approvals, as detailed within section 5 of the submitted report, be noted.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report outlining the current position statement for the Area Committee’s Wellbeing budget, detailing for determination those expressions of interest received for Wellbeing funding and presenting for information those Small Grant applications which had been received to date.

In response to Members’ enquiries, the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) confirmed that Area Committees’ Wellbeing budgets were included within the proposed budget for the next financial year and that any outstanding monies from the current year would be carried forward.

Having undertaken a detailed discussion around the expressions of interest received for Wellbeing funding, as detailed within the submitted report, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the current position of the Wellbeing budget, as set out within sections 2 and 3 of the submitted report, be noted.

(b)  That the following be agreed in respect of those expressions of interest received for Wellbeing funding, as detailed within section 4 of the submitted report:-

(c)  That the small grant and skip approvals, as detailed within section 5 of the submitted report, be noted.

(During the consideration of this item Councillors Fox and Kirkland both declared personal interests in respect of the application concerning Surprise View Car Park, due to their respective memberships of the Chevin Forum)

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) providing further updates and clarifications upon a number of points discussed at the December 2011 North West (Outer) Area Committee meeting, in addition to other Area Committee meetings held during the same cycle.  Specifically the submitted report paper clarifies the recommendation that the Area Committee considers the possible support the Panel might offer to Wellbeing Fund decision-making.

(Council Function)

Further to Minute No. 55, 12^th December 2011, the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Access and Performance) submitted a report providing an update and clarification upon a number of points considered at the previous meeting. Specifically, the submitted report aimed to clarify the recommendation detailed within the previous report regarding the potential for the Area Committee to consider the support that the Citizens’ Panel may offer to the Wellbeing Fund decision making process.

In presenting the report, Matt Lund, Corporate Consultations Manager, confirmed the formal withdrawal of the recommendation within the previous report regarding the proposed utilisation of the Citizens’ Panel as part of the Area Committee’s community engagement activities in support of Wellbeing fund priority setting and also in the development of the Area Business Plans.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report be noted.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) providing Members with information on a range of Area Committee business, including key messages from forums and sub-groups, together with project and service activity.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report, and the comments made during the discussion on this item, be noted.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report which brought together a range of information regarding Area Committee business. As such, the report provided details of the key messages from Area Committee Sub Groups and Area Forums, whilst also presenting an update in respect of projects and service provision.

In considering the report, Members received an update from the respective Chairs of the Committee’s Sub Groups. The key points raised were as follows:-

• With respect to the further Executive environmental delegations to the Area Committee which were proposed, concerns were raised regarding the resource allocation which would accompany such proposals, the views of trade unions and the roll out of service provision currently undertaken by centralised teams. Emphasis was also placed upon the need for the roll out of any such provision to be approached in a cohesive manner. In conclusion, Members emphasised their support for the ongoing work being undertaken by the Locality Manager and his team in respect of the environmental services delegations, but emphasised the need for any increase in delegations to be accompanied by appropriate resource provision;
• Members supported the proposal for members of the Outer North West Business and Transport Sub Group and the Inner North West Area Committee Transport Group to meet periodically in order to consider cross boundary issues, but emphasised the need for the Outer North West Sub Group to retain it’s identity and operation as a sub committee of the North West Outer Area. The Committee also emphasised the important role of the Leeds City Region in pursuing citywide public transport initiatives;
• The Committee highlighted the low immunisation levels of vulnerable adults and children in Leeds which had been raised at a recent ‘Leeds – Let’s Change’ seminar and requested that this matter was included within the agenda for discussion at the next scheduled meeting of Health and Wellbeing Sub Group;
• Members highlighted the implications in the area arising from GP commissioning, such as the geographical inconsistencies between Ward boundaries and potential commissioning boundaries. In response, it was proposed that both the Area Committee Chair and the Area Leader pursue such matters respectively;
• Members reiterated concerns made earlier in the meeting regarding the current ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) regulations on lock cylinders and the need for any damaged locks to be replaced by the most secure models available;
• A request was made for hard copies of Community Safety Sub Group agenda papers to be made available in advance of future meetings;
• Members emphasised the need for any potential duplication of efforts between sub groups and the Area Committee to be minimised, however, emphasis was placed upon the need for any concerns raised during Area Committee meetings to be fully explored prior to a formal decision being taken;
• Responding to Members’ previous enquiries, the Area Leader confirmed that she was continuing to pursue information in respect of Elected Member attendance at Tasking Group meetings.

In conclusion, the Committee welcomed the newly appointed Chief Superintendent David Oldroyd of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) presenting for comment the minutes of the Area Chairs’ Forum meeting held on 11^th November 2011.

(Council Function)

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report presenting for comment the minutes of the Area Chairs’ Forum meeting held on 11^th November 2011.

With regard to the minute entitled, ‘Citizens’ Panel Update’, specific concerns were raised that the identity of the Panel members would not be publicly available. In response, Members’ concerns were noted.

Assurances were then sought regarding the methods which would be used to ensure that the Panel would be truly representative. In response, it was noted that Members’ concerns would be provided to Matt Lund, Corporate Consultations Manager, with a view to responses being submitted to the next meeting for consideration.  

RESOLVED – That the submitted report, together with the content of the minutes from Area Chairs’ Forum meeting held on 11^th November 2011, be noted.

Monday, 26^th March 2012 at 2.00 p.m.

(Venue to be confirmed)

Monday, 26^th March 2012 at 2.00 p.m.

(Venue – To be confirmed)