Agenda and minutes

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer.

Time – 5 Mins (Council Function)

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report explaining the arrangements for the annual selection of the Chair of the Area Committee.

In accordance with the agreed procedure, the Chief Democratic Services Officer reported that nominations for the Chair had been received on behalf of Councillors Dowson and Lobley and Members were asked to take a formal vote.

RESOLVED –

That following an overall majority of votes cast by those Elected Members present at the meeting eligible to vote, Councillor Matthew Lobley be elected Chair of the North East (Inner) Area Committee for the 2007/08 Municipal Year.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 13 of the Members Code of Conduct

Councillor Lancaster declared a personal interest in item 16, 2007/08 Well-Being Fund due to her membership of Moor Allerton Sports and Social Club.

Councillor Wadsworth declared a personal interest in item11, Political Nominations to ALMO Area Panels due to his position as Board Member of the East North East ALMO.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Dowson and 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 the powers outlined in the Area Committee Procedure rules for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions within the terms of reference of Area Committees, Irene Wyatt addressed the meeting.  She referred to the old CIT meetings which had provision for public involvement on the Committee and asked whether there was a way forward for regular representation for voluntary groups or members of the public.

It was reported that the Open Forum was always available for anyone to come along to the Area Committee meetings to ask questions or make representations and that Area Committees had the powers to appoint co-opted members.  The Area Manager agreed to submit a report to the September of the Area Committee regarding the C-opted Members.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2007.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th March 2007 be confirmed as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

Minute no 83, IMPaCT Neighbourhood Improvement Plan, final paragraph – the wording ‘a decision of the Planning Inspectorate’ be changed to read ‘refusal by Plans Panels’.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer

Time – 5 Mins (Council Function)

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report and appendices outlining the Committee’s role in relation to its Elected Member appointments to community and local engagement category appointments to outside bodies which had been delegated to the Area Committee to decide.

RESOLVED –

That the following appointments to Outside Bodies to be made by the Area Committee for the 2007/08 Municipal Year:

Community Action for Roundhay Elderly  Councillor V Kendall

Chapeltown Citizens Advice Bureaux  Council S Hamilton

(Councillor Lobley declared a personal and prejudicial interest during the discussion and voting for the position on Community Action for Roundhay Elderly as he is Chair of that organisation.  Councillor Lancaster was elected as Chair during this period).

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Recreation Officer

Time – 20 Mins (Council Function)

The Chief Recreation Officer submitted a report which informed the Committee of a presentation which would give an update on the following issues concerning Parks and Countrysides:

• The work of the service generally, including updates on quality assessments, satisfaction survey etc
• The work of the service within the area, including area specific updates on projects, quality assessments, satisfaction survey etc, and
• Plans and aspirations for the area.

The Chair welcomed Kris Nenadic and Simon Frosdick to the meeting to give the Area Committee an update on Parks and Countryside across Leeds and particularly in the Inner East Area.

The presentation initially focussed on changes to parks since 1988.  The Committee was informed that there had been a shift from the tradition of parks being maintained by a set of keepers to having reduced services provided by roving teams. Along with a reduction in staff, a less skilled workforce and a dumbing down of horticultural standards this had led to parks falling into disrepair.  Big issues identified on a national and local basis included an ageing workforce, loss of skills, low profiles, lack of capital investment and revenue spend and other resources pressures.

In response to problems that had grown over a number of years, Leeds had begun to develop staff, run volunteer schemes and work in partnership to improve parks across Leeds.  Leeds was one of the first authorities to sign up to the Parkforce Initiative which aimed to get gardeners back into parks and had recently appointed its first apprentice gardeners for twenty years.  The Parks and Green Spaces Strategy had been developed which set out the vision and key priorities up to 2020.

Members were informed of household surveys that had been conducted which assessed the number of visitors to parks, the reasons for visiting, methods of transport to and from parks and satisfaction levels.  This information was used for Green Flag assessments, performance indicators, service planning and to support funding bids.  Leeds currently had 5 Green Flag parks and 10 Leeds Quality Parks, with a target of all 73 parks in Leeds to meet the Quality Parks standard by 2020.

The presentation also gave more detailed information on the household survey for information gathered in the North East Inner Area.  Members were also informed of the following work, planned work and aspirations for the North East Inner Area:

• Current work in the North East Inner Area
• Potternewton Park – Completion of Phase 2 of the ‘Garden in the Park’ project.
• Gledhow Valley Woods – Footpath improvements with Friends of Gledhow Valley Woods
• Parkside Meanwood Allotments – Proposed extension and evaluated planning application to be submitted 2007/08
• Roundhay Allotments – Extension approved
• Stonegate Road Allotments – New gates installed
• Roundhay Park – Interim catering facilities established to cover temporary loss of the Lakeside Café

• Planned work in the North East Inner Area
• Gledhow Lake – Water safety improvements
• Chapel Allerton park – Tennis court refurbishment
• Stonegate Road Playing Fields – Drainage to sports pitches
• Wykebeck Woods –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Strategic Landlord

Time – 10 Mins (Council Function)

The Strategic Landlord submitted a report which requested the nomination of Elected Members to the Area Panels of the East North East ALMO Board.  Members were reminded of the ALMO review which reduced the number of ALMOs and of the Area Panels that had been created and would cover the Inner North East area.

Simeon Perry, Strategic Landlord Officer attended the meeting.  He advised Members on the terms of reference for the Area Panels and anticipated that the Panels would probably meet on a bi-monthly basis.  Two Elected Members who were not part of the main East North East ALMO Board were required to be nominated to the Area Panel.

As four Members were proposed for nomination for the Area Panel it was agreed to have a ballot to elect two Members.

RESOLVED – That Councillors V Kendall and B Lancaster be appointed to the ALMO Area Panel for Inner North East Leeds.

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

Time – 15 Mins (Executive Function)

The North East Area Manager submitted a report which outlined proposals for community engagement and described how the Area Committee would engage and involve the community and local residents.

The report detailed existing and proposed arrangements and Members discussed different methods of community engagement.  A timetable of engagement activities was detailed in the report along with an appendix which described the various methods for community engagement.

RESOLVED – That the community engagement framework for 2007/08 be approved.

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

Time – 15 Mins (Executive Function)

The North East Area manager submitted a report which provided the Area Committee with an evaluation of the Grant & Funding Advice Worker Post, which had been funded through the Well-Being fund.  The report provided a summary of the groups assisted, funding raised and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the post against the original objectives of the project.

It was reported that the Grant & Funding Advice worker had left their post in April and as part of the evaluation, Members were asked to consider whether the post should be continued.

Issues discussed regarding the Grant & Fundraising Advice Worker post included the following:

• The provision of business planning advice
• The encouragement of organisations to move away from reliance on grants and to form social enterprises
• How support could be continued without the post – it was reported that there were some alternative local resources available.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted

(b)  That following evaluation of the Grant and Funding Advice worker post, the recommendation to not continue funding for the 3 day a week post be supported.

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

Time – 10 Mins (Executive Function)

The report of the North East Area Manager provided the Area Committee with an updated list of alleys and ginnels which, in consultation with Members, had been identified as areas of concern.  It also provided an update on expenditure set aside from the Well-Being Fund for work on Alleys and Ginnels.  

The report suggested that work could be progressed by beginning work on the top priority ginnel or alley in each ward as detailed in the priority lists.  An appendix to the report detailed the alleys and ginnels along with their associated concerns.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the recommendation outlined in paragraph 4 of the report be agreed.

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

Time – 10 Mins (Executive Function)

The North East Area Manager submitted a report which provided Members with a copy of the Area Function Schedules that were presented to the Executive Board on 16 May 2007.  It also contained city wide budget information for each delegated function and budget information at area level.

Members attention was brought to appendix 2 of the report which detailed the Area Function Schedules.

RESOLVED – That the report and schedules be noted.

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

Time – 15 Mins (Executive Function)

The North East Area Manager submitted a report which detailed projects commissioned since the last meeting of the Area Committee along with recommendations of the Well-Being Fund Working Group on new project applications that had been received.

RESOLVED –

1)  That the following decisions be made in respect of 2007/08 Well-Being allocations – revenue:

  Commissioned Projects:

(i)  Youth Service Activities – Approved - £17,400

(ii)  REEMAP Making the Difference Programme – Approved - £15,000

(iii)  Tree Management Plan for Roundhay – Approved - £7,800

(iv)  Summer Sports Activities – Approved - £8,735

Non Commissioned Projects

(i)  Environmental Summer Play Scheme – Approved - £7,800

(ii)  Community Fair & Capacity Building Project – Approved - £2,500

2)  That the process for approving ward based projects be approved

3)  That the following decisions be made in respect of 2007/08 Well-Being allocations – ward based projects:

  Chapel Allerton

  (i)  Yorkshire Gold – Approved - £2,500

4)  That the following decisions be made in respect of 2007/08 Well-Being allocations – capital:

(i)  Moor Allerton Sports & Social Club car park improvement works – Approved - £12,000

(ii)  Room for All – Lidgett Park Methodist Church – Approved - £7,000

(iii)  Roundhenigans Sports Association kitchen upgrade – Approved - £2,544

(iv)  Deen Youth Project – approved - £8,000

(Councillor Hamilton abstained from the voting on the application for car park improvements at Moor Allerton Sports & Social Club)

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

Time – 10 Mins (Executive Function)

The North East Area Manager submitted a report which provided Members with a summary of recent actions and achievements of the North East District partnership.

Members attention was brought to the Executive Board meeting of the District Partnership held on 27 April and the Committee was given an update on the possible re-use of the Miles Hill school site.  Further issues raised included the District Partnership conference and the ongoing changes following the restructure of the Police, PCT’s, ALMO’s and Adult and Children’s Services.

RESOLVED – That the recent actions and achievements be noted.

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

Time – 10 Mins (Executive Function)

The North East Area Manager submitted a report which provided Members with an update on actions in the Area Delivery Plan during Quarter 1 (April-June 2007).  Issues highlighted in the report included gating orders for Carrholm and Wensley Green, improvements to Meanwood shopping areas, the Oakwood regeneration scheme, community engagement in the IMPaCT area and the opening of Woodland Mount pocket park.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Monday 10 September 2007, 4.00 p.m., Moor Allerton Sports & Social Club

Monday, 15 October 2007, 4.00 p.m., NE City Learning Centre

Monday, 3 December 2007, 4.00 p.m., venue to be confirmed

Monday, 4 February 2008, 4.00 p.m., venue to be confirmed

Monday, 17 March 2008, 4.00 p.m., venue to be confirmed