Agenda and minutes

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

In particular he also welcomed Kathy Kudelnitzky, Chief Officer (Leeds Initiative and Partnerships) to the meeting who was attending as part of an ongoing review of area working.

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 disclosable pecuniary and other interests declared at the meeting.

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor B Urry.

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 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 3^rd September 2012.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd September 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

a)  Local Authority Appointments to Outside Bodies (Minute 25 c) refers)

The Chair enquired if contact had been made with the Chief Executive of East North East Homes regarding Councillors Urry and Sobel being included on the distribution list to receive agenda papers for the East North East ALMO Area Panel.

Mr S Robinson, Governance Services responded and confirmed that the matter had now been resolved.

b)  Children’s Services Update Report to Area Committees – Inner North

  East (Minute 26 refers)

The Chair enquired if the Director of Children’s Services would be providing a breakdown of the location of all children’s homes to a future meeting.

Liz Lowes, Senior Planning and Bids Manager, Children’s Services responded and agreed to consult with Nigel Richardson on this issue.

A general debate ensued that arising from new regulations, smaller children’s homes did not have to obtain planning permission and as a result Members did not know the location of these new homes within their wards. It was also noted that this issue had been debated at the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) where Members had raised their continuing concerns.

The East North East Leader responded and agreed to have discussions with the Director of Children’s Services and the Chief Planning Officer on this issue with a report back on progress at the next meeting.

The Chair referred to the important relationship the Area Committee had with the clusters and enquired if a review would be undertaken of how the relationship works with Members.

The East North East Area Leader responded and commented on progress made to date by the all party working group who were addressing these specific issues. He stated that this piece of work would take some time to be completed and in the interim period it was agreed that the Area Committee’s Cluster representative should keep a watching brief on this issue.

c)  Wellbeing Fund Revenue Budget (Minute 28 refers)

Councillor S Hamiliton enquired if there had been any progress made in relation to the East North East Area Leader liaising directly with the Polish Advice Bureau Yorkshire with a view to linking them into other education providers.

The East North East Area Leader responded and agreed to look into this issue.

Councillor S Hamilton enquired on the latest position with regards to the Youth Forward Development Arts Project and the application to set aside £1,500 towards a litter education project to be administered by the Area Support Team.

Nicola Denson, East North East Area Officer responded and informed the meeting that the Youth Forward Development Arts Project was included in the wellbeing report for consideration at today’s meeting. It was noted that the litter education project would now be considered at the next meeting in December 2012.

d)  Priority Neighbourhood Update Report (Minute 31 refers)

The Chair enquired on the progress in relation for Members to be supplied with a copy of the duties and responsibilities for front line staff working in East North East Area Management.

The East  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader providing Members with an update on the current position of the wellbeing revenue budget for the Inner North East area, together with applications made for funding.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report providing Members with an update on the current position of the revenue Well being funding for the Area Committee and highlighting the applications made for consideration by the Area Committee.

Appended to the report was a copy of the following document:-

• Inner North East Area Committee Well-Being Budget 2012-13 (Appendix 1 refers)

The report also included an update on the Area Committee Apprenticeship post for the information/comment of the meeting.

Nicola Denson, East North East Area Officer presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• Clarification of the aims of the Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA) initiative and whether or not it would targeted at a local level within the NE Inner area

(The East North East Area Officer responded and confirmed it would be a local initiative.

The East North East Area Leader informed the meeting that there was now a need to pull agencies together in this area. It was his intention to submit a report to either the December/or January meeting on this issue and the actual timescales would be discussed with the Chair.

The report would focus on management issues; a review of Post 16 recommendations and on worthlessness and deprivation within the Inner North East area)

• Clarification of the progress made in relation to the review of area working and on the Youth Service

(The Chief Officer (Leeds Initiative and Partnerships) responded and it was noted that a report on these issues would be submitted to the Executive Board on 12^th December 2012)

• The need for Members to view the Pathways website which contained some very useful information on learning, training and employment for young people in Leeds
• Clarification if the Area Committee’s staffing structure was on target and the protocol for setting staffing levels to meet those areas where there was high deprivation

(The East North East Area Leader responded and informed the meeting that all Area Committees had the same protocol for setting staffing levels to meet those areas where there was high deprivation.

He confirmed that Wellbeing was directly linked to deprivation and that staffing would be addressed within the area working review)

RESOLVED -

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That the application to fund £1,190 towards the Youth Forward project be refused.

c)  That the application to fund £3,500 towards the Education Achievement Academy be refused.

d)  That this Committee notes that a report would be submitted to either the December/or January meeting on the Apprenticeship/management issues, together with details of the review of Post 16 recommendations and on worthlessness and deprivation within the Inner North East area.

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader on the progress made in relation to the priority neighbourhoods in the Inner North East since the implementation of the new approaches in 2010.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report on the progress made in relation to the priority neighbourhoods in the Inner North East since the implementation of the new approach in 2010.

Rory Barke, East North East Area Leader presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

The East North East Area Leader informed the meeting that Mr S Lake, Neighbourhood Manager for N E Inner, had been recently appointed to a post of Targeted Services Lead in Children’s Services. He confirmed that Mr Lake would still be working in the NE Inner area when he takes up his new duties in November.

The East North East Area Leader reported verbally on the latest Neighbourhood Index performance indicator data for the NE area and acknowledged that the progress made in relation to the priority neighbourhoods in inner north east Leeds was making a real difference since the new approaches in 2010.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• The concerns expressed that people were worried about losing their identity through the current structures and processes that were in place in the Meanwood and Stonegates estates
• The need for Members of the Area Committee to be supplied with a list of those organisations who have received funding by the Chapel Allerton Community first panel

(The East North East Area Office responded and agreed to comply with this request)

• The need for the Area Committee to place on record it’s thanks to Mr S Lake for the excellent work undertaken within the inner north east area since 2010
• Clarification of the protocol and timescales of appointing a new Neighbourhood Manager
• The need for more work to be undertaken in the Queenshills/Leafields area and for regular monitoring to be carried out, especially within the Roundahy area
• Clarification of the community infrastructure arrangements in place  at the time the new approach in 2010 was implemented
• To welcome the continuing success of the Neighbourhood Improvement Boards
• The concerns expressed that many people felt deprived who lived in the Beckhill Estate

The East North East Area Leader thanked the Area Committee for their kind comments about the work undertaken by Mr S Lake since 2010. He agreed to convey these comments to Mr Lake.

The East North East Area Leader made reference to the recruitment process and he stated that Members would have an advisory role in appointing the new Neighbourhood Manager for Inner North East. In concluding discussions, the East North East Area Leader confirmed that during the recruitment exercise partnership working would not suffer and that appropriate temporary staffing arrangements would be put in place during this period.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That this Committee notes and welcomes the achievements made in the priority neighbourhoods in inner north east.

c)  That approval be given to the extension of the Neighbourhood Managers contract further two years from 1^st April  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider a report of the Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager (East North East) on progress made in relation to East North East Health and Wellbeing issues.

The Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager (East North East) submitted a report on progress made in relation to East North East Health and Wellbeing issues.

Liz Bailey, Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager, Adult Social Care presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• The need, as a starting point, to have an effective monitoring system in place, in particular around obesity in Harehills and the issues facing BME communities on Roundhay Road
• The need for the Area Committee to be supplied with more information i.e. graph/or table showing mortality rates from different types of cancer on a ward by ward basis

(The Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager responded and agreed to investigate this issue further)

• Clarification of the relationship between the Council and the Clinical Commissioning Groups with effect from April 2013 and whether or not any structures had been produced

(The Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager responded and agreed to investigate this issue further)

• The need for improved links around mental health and the changes to benefits

(The East North East Area Leader responded and informed the meeting that a Public Health team would be soon moving into the Reginald Centre to support this transition process. He stated that the main issue was on how commissioning groups manage their business and spending and if it was not working on the front line, then the system was failing)

• The need to consider appointing a person from the Clinical Commissioning Group as a Co-optee on the Area Committee

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That the work outlined for building on and further developing health improvement work in Inner East area be undertaken by the Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager in accordance with the report now submitted.

c)  That the East North East Area Leader and the Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager be requested to brief Councillor B Urry on the above issues in his capacity as the Area Committee’s representative on the Health and Wellbeing Partnership with a report back on progress at the next meeting in December 2012.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services on an update on the work being undertaken across the city regarding the consultation on the expansion of primary school provision for September 2014.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report on an update on the work being undertaken across the city regarding the consultation on the expansion of primary school provision for September 2014.

Liz Lowes, Senior Planning and Bids Manager, Children’s Services presented the report and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• The concerns expressed that local ward Members were not consulted sufficiently on the proposals in relation to Roundhay/Carr Manor and that local knowledge should be seen as a very important issue when considering the expansion of primary provision
• Clarification of the reasons why 41% of all primary applications from people in the Inner North East area failed to include their local school
• The need for Elected Members to be fully involved in the development of future proposals

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That the proposals outlined in the report be received and noted.

c)  That this Committee notes that individual ward briefings would be arranged as required to discuss issues directly affecting Members specific wards in more detail.

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader on progress made by the East North East Welfare Reform Project Team in responding to the changes within the Welfare Reform Act and to mitigate the impact for residents within east north east Leeds.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report on progress made by the East North East Welfare Reform Project Team in responding to the changes within the Welfare Reform Act and to mitigate the impact for residents within east north east Leeds.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That this Committee notes the work going on to mitigate the impact for residents within east north east Leeds.

c)  That the East North East Area Leader be requested to e mail Members of the Committee on the latest position regarding the open for tender exercise in relation to the wellbeing application approved at the last Area Committee.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) on the Area Chairs Forum minutes held on  13^th July 2012.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) submitted a report on the Area Chairs Forum minutes held on 13^th July 2012.

Appended to the report was a copy of the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th July 2012 for the information/comment of the meeting.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That this Committee notes the contents of the Area Chairs Forum minutes held on 13^th July 2012.

Monday 10^th December 2012 at 4.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

Monday 10^th December 2012 at 4.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(The meeting concluded at 5.45pm)