Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the December meeting of the North East (Inner) Area Committee.

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 admitted to the agenda as additional information a small grant proposal by the 1^st Meanwood Guide Unit for a Girlguiding UK Centenary Event, which was to be considered under agenda item 13, 2009/10 Well-Being Fund (Minute No. 66 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

Councillor Harker declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 8, Consultation on Expansion of 17 Primary Schools in Leeds and Additional Provision for Children with Special Educational Needs at 2 Primary Schools, agenda item 10, Youth Services in Inner North East Leeds, agenda item 11, Developing Local Arrangements for Children’s Services Performance Management, and agenda item 12, Safeguarding and Integrated Working, all in his capacity as Executive Member (Learning) (Minute Nos. 61, 63, 64 and 65 refer).

Councillor E Taylor declared an interest in relation to agenda item 8, Consultation on Expansion of 17 Primary Schools in Leeds and Additional Provision for Children with Special Educational Needs at 2 Primary Schools, in her capacity as a Governor at Millfield Primary School.  On the basis that the interest was prejudicial, she withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of the item and did not vote (Minute No. 61 refers).

Councillor E Taylor declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 9, Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust Consultation, in her capacity as an employee of NHS (Minute No. 62 refers).

Councillor Lobley declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 13, 2009/10 Well-Being Fund, due to his participation in an interview for Radio Fever (Minute No. 66 refers).

Further declarations of interest were made at later points in the meeting (Minute Nos. 63 and 66 refer).

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor Harris. 

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

On this occasion, there were no matters raised under this item by members of the public.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2009

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th October 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Minute No. 49 – ‘PFI Round 6 Update Report’

The Area Management Officer confirmed that a further update report was being submitted to the February Area Committee meeting.

Minute No. 50 – ‘Community Centres Update Report’

The Area Committee was advised that a further update report was being submitted to the February / March Area Committee meeting.

(Councillor Kendall joined the meeting at 4.04 pm during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Executive of Education Leeds

Time 10 Mins (Council Function)

The Chief Executive, Education Leeds, submitted a report which presented the Area Committee with the consultation document on proposals for the expansion of 17 primary schools in Leeds and additional provision for children with special educational needs at 2 primary schools.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Lesley Savage, Education Leeds, Senior Planning and Bids Manager, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• The effect of birth rates and migration in and out of the city.
• Acknowledgement of the need to share data and intelligence with other authorities.
• Concerns about whether there was sufficient capacity to accommodate the proposed changes.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and consultation document be noted;

(b)  That any further proposed changes be reported to local Ward Member meetings.

(Councillor Wadsworth joined the meeting at 4.06 pm and Councillor Rafique at 4.19 pm during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director for Marketing and Communications, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

10 Mins (Council Function)

Leeds Teaching Hospitals submitted a report seeking Members’ views as part of the consultation being undertaken by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) about its application to become an NHS Foundation Trust. 

Appended to the report was a copy of ‘Your hospitals your say – Foundation Trust consultation document’.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Ross Langford, LTHT, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments. 

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• Government policy that every Trust applied for Foundation Status by April 2010.
• Concerns about the composition of Appointed Governors not reflecting the diversity of the city.  Members were advised that some of the appointments were required by law, e.g. representatives from Leeds Primary Care Trust, Leeds City Council and Leeds University.  One Member suggested appointing a representative from Leeds Initiative.
• The Area Committee supported the proposed change of having 20 public governors from 10 constituencies.
• Establishing links with the local community, e.g. through regular newsletters etc.
• Discussions being held with LINKS to establish working protocols.
• Concern about the impact of the proposed changes on local service delivery.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted; and

(b)  That the Area Committee receives further information about the impact of the proposed changes on local service delivery.

(Councillor Dowson arrived at 4.40 pm during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which provided an overview of youth services in Inner North East Leeds.

The following information was appended to the report for Members’ information:

-  Inner North East Youth Service Budget and Team Structure;

-  Inner North East Youth Service Performance (April-October 2009);

-  Inner North East Youth Service Youth Programmes (November 2009).

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Vicky Fuggles, Senior Youth Officer, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments:

In brief summary, the key areas of discussion were:

• Confirmation that there was a separate budget for connexions and youth services (See Appendix A to the report).
• Acknowledgement of the need to utilise a wider range of community venues.
• National guidelines around changes to the commissioning framework.
• The need to support local community organisations with safeguarding measures.
• Concerns about who was responsible for managing and administering safeguarding checks.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted; and

(b)  That the proposed approach to deliver services for young people across the Inner North East area, as outlined in paragraphs 22-28, be approved.

(Councillor Lobley declared a personal interest in this item in his capacity as Chairman of Renew Leeds Ltd.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Children’s Services.

Time 10 Mins (Council Function)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which sought Members’ views about ensuring that local performance information was relevant to local priorities.

An outline of the proposed framework for performance reporting was appended to the report for Members’ information.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Shaid Mahmood, Locality Enabler, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• Recommendation that Children’s Centres be added to the draft Settings and Institutions Performance (See Appendix 1 to the report).
• Acknowledgement of the need to ensure that some of the language used in the draft Performance Measures (See Appendix 2 to the report) was easier to understand.
• Recommendation that basic figures for numbers of children at risk be provided so that Members could fully assess the scale of the issues and the progress made in relation to this area of work.

RESOLVED – That the report and information appended to the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Children’s Services

Time 10 Mins (Council Function)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which presented information about two key priorities of the Leeds Children and Young People Plan – safeguarding and integrated working.

The Powerpoint presentation slides on Safeguarding and Integrated Working in Inner and Outer North East Area Committees were appended to the report for Members’ information.

Shaid Mahmood, Locality Enabler, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the key areas of discussion were:

• Recognition of the work undertaken by network of clusters.
• Issues around the increase in social care referrals and the impact on schools and families.
• Development of Children’s Services Partnership and engagement of extended services.
• Development of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) – about 1400 so far (200 in Inner North East area of Leeds).
• Work being undertaken on preventative tasking – focussing on how Neighbourhood Management was able to support youth services in relation to safeguarding.  Area Management to submit a report to the February Area Committee.
• Concern about the number of young people not engaged in youth service activities. 
• Issues around transport to and from youth service activities.  Area Management to discuss issues around use of mini-buses etc with Dave Pointon in Children’s Services.

RESOLVED – That the report and information appended to the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the East North East Area Manager

Time 10 Mins (Executive Function)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b)  That the following decisions be made in relation to the well-being funding proposals which had been submitted for determination at the meeting;

(i)  MoortownRUFC – Children’s Hall refurbishment – £2,200 revenue – Approved;

(ii)  Roundhay Allotments and Garden Association – Roundhay Allotment Extension – £3,000 revenue – Approved;

(iii)  Radio Fever – Community Voices – £12,000 revenue – Members voted in favour of option 3 (as identified in Appendix C of the report) to approve £8,950 revenue funding;

(iv)  Pest Control – Impact Pest Control Bid – £23,000 revenue – Declined.

(c)  That the following decision be made in relation to the small grant proposal which had been submitted for determination at the meeting;

(i)  1^st Meanwood Guide Unit – Girlguiding UK Centenary Event – Fusion –  £500 Revenue – Approved.

The East North East Area Manager submitted a report which presented proposed projects and activities relating to the agreed themes and outcomes of the Area Delivery Plan. 

Appended to the report was the latest financial position of the well-being (revenue and capital) budget. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b)  That the following decisions be made in relation to the well-being funding proposals which had been submitted for determination at the meeting;

(i)  MoortownRUFC – Children’s Hall refurbishment – £2,200 revenue – Approved;

(ii)  Roundhay Allotments and Garden Association – Roundhay Allotment Extension – £3,000 revenue – Approved;

(iii)  Radio Fever – Community Voices – £12,000 revenue – Members voted in favour of option 3 (as identified in Appendix C of the report) to approve £8,950 revenue funding;

(iv)  Pest Control – Impact Pest Control Bid – £23,000 revenue – Declined.

(c)  That the following decision be made in relation to the small grant proposal which had been submitted for determination at the meeting;

(i)  1^st Meanwood Guide Unit – Girlguiding UK Centenary Event – Fusion –  £500 Revenue – Approved.

(Councillor Rafique declared a personal interest in this item due to his participation in various broadcasting programmes for Radio Fever.)

(Councillor Wadsworth declared a personal interest in this item in his capacity as Deputy Executive Member (Environment).)

(Councillor Rafique left the meeting at 6.00 pm and Councillor Wadsworth at 6.05 pm during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the East North East Area Manager

Time 10 Mins (Executive Function)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted; and

(b)  That the new method and format for reporting progress on the Area Delivery Plan / Community Charter, be approved and that any further comments be forwarded to the North East Area Management Team.

The East North East Area Manager submitted a report which updated Members on the actions and achievements of the Area Management Team since the last Area Committee meeting in September 2009.

Appended to the report was the following information:

-  Progress on the Community Charter Promises;

-  Community Engagement Event Interactive Questionnaire results;

-  Moor Allerton Partnership Information Leaflet; and

-  Area Committee Report Timeline.

Sharon Hughes, Area Management Officer, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• Copies of the Community Charter were circulated at the meeting for Members’ information.  A wall chart version was being provided to local community organisations.
• One Member expressed concern that some of the promises were reliant on other Council Departments, e.g. additional street calming measures.
• It was reported that a Community Engagement Strategy would be presented to the February Area Committee.  Members briefly discussed publicising Area Committee meetings.  One Member suggested that the Area Committee re-introduced pre-meeting events to generate interest from members of the public.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted; and

(b)  That the new method and format for reporting progress on the Area Delivery Plan / Community Charter, be approved and that any further comments be forwarded to the North East Area Management Team.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods

Time 10 Mins (Council Function)

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report which presented proposals to make 2010 – A Year of Volunteering in Leeds and outlined progress in relation to developing a programme of activities and arrangements for running and resourcing the programme. 

Appended to the report for Members’ information was an outline calendar of events for 2010.

Sharon Hughes, Area Management Officer, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

One Member recommended that the Marketplace style Volunteers Event should be held in early March, prior to the start of Purdah.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b)  That the Area Committee endorses and supports the proposal, mission and aims for 2010 being the Year of Volunteering in Leeds;

(c)  That the Area Committee supports the development of 2010 Year of Volunteering through the programme of events outlined in paragraphs 16-23 of the report;

(d)  That the Area Committee approves participation in the programme; and

(e)  That the Area Committee investigates sponsoring and encouraging additional activities with other partners, the VCFS sector and others.

Monday, 1 February 2010 at 4.00 p.m.

Monday, 1^st February 2010 at 4.00 pm

(The meeting concluded at 6.26 pm.)