Agenda and minutes

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

No declarations of Members’ interests were made.

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

The agenda referred to the provision contained in the Area Committee Procedure Rules for an Open Forum session of up to 10 minutes at each ordinary meeting of   an Area Committee, to allow members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the remit of the Area Committee. On this occasion, no members of the public were present.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd October 2007

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd October 2007 be confirmed as a correct record, subject to the duplication of Councillor Castle’s name within the list of attendees being removed.

Wellbeing Fund 2007/08 - Update (Minute No 40 refers)

Members were advised that in relation to a discrepancy highlighted at the previous meeting regarding the Committee’s capital balances, Members noted that ‘Carr Lane footpath’ should indeed read £5,000 as had been detailed within the report, and not £7,500, as verbally indicated at the meeting.

Community Safety - Update (Minute No 36 refers)

With regard to the problem of smokers using the areas immediately outside the front of pubs in the centre of Wetherby and leaving a mess, Inspector Marcus Griffiths assured the Committee that a police notice addressing this and several other issues had been circulated to all pubs in the area.

Community Engagement (Minute No 38 refers)

The Committee received a brief update on the progress which was being made in relation to the organisation of another joint community engagement event in Wetherby.

Area Delivery Plan 2007/08 - Quarter 2 Progress Report (Minute No 39 refers)

WetherbyHorsefair Town and District Centre Scheme - Members noted that this issue had been considered by Executive Board on 14^th November 2007, and that work was due to begin on the scheme in February 2008.

Wetherby Market Square Town and District Centre Scheme - The Committee was advised that the Leader of the Council, Councillor Andrew Carter had performed an official opening ceremony on 15^th November 2007.

Area Committee Forums - Feedback (Minute No 41 refers)

The Committee noted that Members’ concerns regarding the problems caused by standing traffic on the A58 Leeds/Wetherby road as a consequence of the Leeds Carling Festival had been submitted to the Licensing Committee, and assurances had been received that such problems would not occur in future. The Committee learned that in order to alleviate the levels of traffic congestion on the A58 at the time of the festival, a section of the A1 motorway was to be opened to festival traffic.

It was then proposed that an appropriate representative attended the relevant Town and Parish Council meetings in the spring of 2008, in order to advise such organisations of the actions to be taken.

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

The North East Area Manager submitted a report prepared jointly with West Yorkshire Police which updated Members on how the new North East Leeds Police Division was operating, sought the Committee’s views on plans to invest further into Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs), and outlined the new amalgamation of two   Divisional Community Safety Partnerships (DCSPs) and their sub structures.

Chief Superintendent Gerry Broadbent, Inspector Marcus Griffiths, and Rob Wark, Neighbourhood Policing Chief Inspector, all of West Yorkshire Police, in addition to Sandra Fowler, North East Community Safety Co-ordinator, were all present at the meeting to respond to Members’ queries and comments.

Having received a brief overview of the key issues detailed within the report, a discussion then ensued. The main issues raised were as follows:-

·  Further information was provided on the predominant areas of the city which were affected by hate crime;

·  Members discussed the position of Co-Chair of the Joint Tasking Team for the Harewood and Wetherby Wards which was currently vacant, a position in which Councillor Shelbrooke had expressed an interest, and sought further information on the general appointment process which had been established for the Co-Chairs of Joint Tasking Teams throughout the North East Leeds Police Division. In response, the North East Area Manager undertook to pursue the matter and relay any information received to Members;

·  The Committee discussed the new Contact Management Unit which had been introduced in October 2007, and highlighted that under the new system, callers could not directly contact their local Police Station. In response, Members were advised that the new system was a requirement which aimed to ensure that the Police’s call bureau was a one stop shop which dealt with the majority of enquiries in the first instance. Members noted that in addition to the revised system, a mechanism had been established to enable local stations to continue to deal directly with issues of a very local nature;

·  Members discussed the proposed allocation of Police Community Safety Officers (PCSOs) across the Neighbouhood Policing Teams in the Division, and discussed possible ways in which Wellbeing funding could be used to increase the provision of PCSOs in the Harewood Ward. In response, the North East Area Manager undertook to pursue this matter;

·  Members discussed the proposed allocation of Police Constables and PCSOs as part of the new Neighbourhood Policing Teams’ structure, and considered the ways in which such allocations would differ from current staffing levels;

·  The Committee considered the implications of the revised shift pattern structure which was proposed to be introduced in the new year. Members then went on to discuss the current working arrangements for PCSOs in the area;

·  Members expressed a desire for PCSOs to have a greater level of interaction with local businesses in the area. In response, Inspector Marcus Griffiths assured Members that PCSOs would be encouraged to do so in future;

·  The Committee then received a brief overview of the procedures in place for the introduction of Interim Banning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

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

The Committee received a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods outlining the changes to Area Committee responsibilities and working arrangements which had been agreed at the Council’s Executive Board meeting in November 2007.

Having received a brief overview of the key issues detailed within the report from the North East Area Manager, Members discussed potential ways in which greater levels of public attendance and participation in North East (Outer) Area Committee meetings could be achieved. In response, it was proposed that in order to ensure that the local community’s access to such meetings was maximised, all Members of North East (Outer) Area Committee were consulted upon potential start times and venues for future meetings, with a view to introducing such revised arrangements in the new municipal year.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That all Members of North East (Outer) Area Committee be consulted upon appropriate start times and venues for future Area Committee meetings, in order to ensure that the local community’s access to such meetings was maximised.

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

The North East Area Manager submitted a report which provided Members with a summary of recent developments and actions which had been undertaken by the Moor Allerton Partnership (MAP).

Following a brief overview of the main points detailed within the report, Members requested that appropriate arrangements were made to ensure that Alwoodley and Moortown Ward Councillors were kept fully informed about the work which was undertaken by MAP. In response, the North East Area Manager undertook to establish such arrangements.

Members enquired whether there were any potential sources of external funding which could be invested into the Moor Allerton area. In response, the North East Area Manager undertook to pursue this matter, but highlighted that despite the District Partnership Action Plan identifying Moor Allerton as a Priority Neighbourhood, the area may not always meet external criteria for funding to deprived neighbourhoods, such as the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF). 

The Committee received an update on the progress being made in relation to the ‘sloppy slippers’ exchange scheme, and discussed the ways in which the scheme could be further promoted.

RESOLVED -

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

(b). That appropriate arrangements be made by the Area Management Team to ensure that Alwoodley and Moortown Ward Members are kept fully informed about the work which is undertaken by the Moor Allerton Partnership.

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

The North East Area Manager submitted a report which updated Members on the current revenue and capital balances in each Ward’s Wellbeing allocation, highlighted the Small Grants made since the last meeting and summarised the projects in development. The report also listed details of applications before the Committee for a decision at this evening’s meeting.

With regard to the additional allocation of £50,000.00 received from Executive Board for the undertaking of local Conservation Area Reviews or the establishment of residents’ parking schemes/additional parking provision, Alwoodley Ward Members confirmed that their allocation was to be spent on additional parking provision. 

RESOLVED -

(a). That the contents of the report be noted, which includes the Small Grants considered since the last meeting, the current position of the Environment Fund, and the projects which are currently in development;

(b). That £29,500.00 from the additional allocation received from Executive Board be allocated to the Sustainable Development Unit for the undertaking of four Conservation Area Reviews, as detailed within the report;

(c). That the following decisions be made in respect of the applications for funding before the Committee tonight for determination:-

Revenue

(i). Wetherby Police Patrols, Wetherby - £3,500.00 - Approved;

(ii). WISE Gardening Scheme, Harewood and Wetherby - £4,000.00 (£2,000.00 from Harewood Ward and £2,000.00 from Wetherby Ward) – Approved. 

Capital

(i). Barwick Miners Institute, Harewood - £6,925.00 – That £3,462.50 be allocated towards the proposal.

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

The Committee considered a report submitted by the North East Area Manager regarding the proceedings of the Harewood and Wetherby Town and Parish Council Forum meeting held on 15^th November 2007.

The North East Area Manager provided the Committee with a summary of the matters discussed at the meeting.

With regard to the issues raised at the Forum meeting concerning local gullies and drains, the Committee noted that further information relating to this matter was still to be received.

The Committee then requested that appropriate arrangements were made to ensure that the organiser of the Leeds Carling Festival was invited to attend a Town and Parish Council Forum meeting in the spring of 2008, and that the clerks of the relevant Town and Parish Councils were informed, in order to enable them to relay any comments or concerns on behalf of their respective organisations for consideration at the meeting.

Members discussed the level of representation from Wetherby Town Council at recent meetings of Harewood and Wetherby Town and Parish Council Forum.

RESOLVED - That the contents of the report be noted.

(The meeting concluded at 8.48 p.m.)