Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the September meeting of the East (Outer) Area Committee.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

Agenda item 10 – Appendix 3 of Community Centres Report – Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3) – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated exempt on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information so designated as follows:

Appendix 3 referred to in Minute No. 27 under the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3) – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and on the grounds that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information as the market valuation of office space within its community centres is confidential between Leeds City Council and the client user.

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 Armitage declared a personal interest in agenda item 10, Community Centres Report, in her capacity as Chair of Swarcliffe Good Neighbours Scheme, and as Chair of St Gregory’s Centre.  (Minute No. 27 refers)

Councillor Murray declared a personal interest in agenda item 9, Actions, Achievements and update report, on the basis of his wife’s employment for Social Services.  (Minute No. 26)

Councillor Gruen declared a personal interest in agenda item 10, Community Centres Report, in his capacity as Chair of Fieldhead Carr Community Centre Management Committee.  (Minute No. 27 refers)

A further declaration of interest was made at a later point in the meeting. (Minute No. 25 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th July 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th July be confirmed as a correct record.

Minute No. 6 – Matters Arising from the Minutes – ‘Thorpe Park Progress Report’

It was reported that a meeting had taken place involving Councillor Parker, Area Management, Parks and Countryside and the Chief Planning Officer, regarding the lack of progress in relation to Thorpe Park.  As a result, it was agreed that the Chief Planning Officer be asked to contact the developer with a view to a further update being provided.  It was also agreed that Councillor Richard Lewis, Executive Member (Development and Regeneration) be asked to progress this matter further.

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 receive a report from the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) providing information on the impending review of the Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy and public consultation.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) submitted a report which provided information on the impending review of the Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy and public consultation.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Susan Holden, Principal Projects Officer, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• The Area Committee was informed that minor amendments had been made to the main body of the Licensing Policy, which included the addition of the minor variation process and the provision for community halls to remove their Designated Premises Supervisor (person responsible for the authorisation of sale of alcohol) to their Committee.
• One Member queried the process for imposing restrictions on the volume of music being played at some pubs and clubs.  It was advised that Ward Members could submit representations to be considered by the Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee.
• It was reported that all Parish Councils had been consulted as part of the review of the policy.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Manager updating the Area Committee on project work funded through the Well Being Budget for 2010/11.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the following decisions be made in relation to applications for well being funding

• Christmas lights in Cross Gates – £2,610 – Approved
• Christmas lights in Methley – £2,145 – Approved.

The South East Area Manager submitted a report which updated the Area Committee on project work funded through the Well Being budget for 2010/11.

Appended to the report for Members’ information was a copy of the small grant position as at 18 August 2010.

Martin Hackett, Area Management Officer, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• Members were advised that in relation to the allocation of well-being resources, the formula of 75% per capita and 25% level of deprivation had been changed to 50% per capita and 50% level of deprivation.  As a result, the well being budget for the Outer East Area Committee for 2010/11 had been revised from £220,727 to £210,895.  Members agreed to utilising £15k carryover spend from 2009/10 with the remaining £5k committed to support Leeds City Credit Union, Halton Moor branch.
• Councillor Parker reported that the recent cricket coaching for young people in Kippax, Methley and Whitkirk, had been a great success and all the events had been extremely well attended.
• Members suggested that local shops and businesses be contacted with a view to sponsoring Christmas Lights at Cross Gates and Halton.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the following decisions be made in relation to applications for well being funding

• Christmas lights in Cross Gates – £2,610 – Approved
• Christmas lights in Methley – £2,145 – Approved.

(Councillor A McKenna left the meeting at 3.32 pm during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider a report from the Interim Director of Children’s Services providing the Area Committee with various Children’s Services performance data disaggregated at Area Committee or Ward level.

The Interim Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which provided the Area Committee with various Children’s Services performance data disaggregated at Area Committee or Ward level.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Appendix 1 – Number of children in care

-  Appendix 2 – Percentage of referrals

-  Appendix 3 – Percentage of initial assessments

-  Appendix 4 – Core assessments

-  Appendix 5 – Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

-  Appendix 6 – NEET and Not Known data

The following officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  Amanda Jackson, Locality Enabler

-  SaleemTariq, Chief Officer, Children Young People’s Social Care

-  Gail Faulkner, Interim Head of Service Delivery (South), Children’s Services.

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:

• Members welcomed the report, particularly the inclusion of local data and information.
• There was concern about the percentage of initial assessments (66.67%) not carried out within timescales in Kippax and Methley.
• One Member suggested the inclusion of colour coded performance information and data, particularly in terms of its usefulness in highlighting key areas to be addressed.
• Members expressed concern about some of the NEET figures and the associated risk factors.
• There was a request for further information about the correlation between the NEET group and looked after children.

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

(Councillor Lyons joined the meeting at 3.54 pm and Councillor Dobson at 3.58 pm during the consideration of this item.)

(Councillor Murray declared a personal interest in this item in his capacity as Director of igen.)

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Manager updating Members on actions and achievements around the Area Delivery Plan since the Area Committee meeting in July 2010.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That a report addressing Members’ concerns around the roles and responsibilities of Community Support Officers, be submitted to a future meeting of the Area Committee.

The South East Area Manager submitted a report which updated Members on the actions and achievements of the Area Management Team since the last meeting.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Minutes of Jobs, Employment and Training (JET) Partnership held on 15^th June 2010

-  Minutes of Children Leeds – East Leadership Team held on 27^th May 2010

-  Minutes of Health and Well Being Partnership held on 27^th May 2010

-  Minutes of North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership held on 13^th May 2010

-  Minutes of North Whinmoor Forum held on 19^th July 2010

-  Minutes of Swarcliffe Forum held on 21^st July 2010.

Keith Lander, Deputy Area Manager, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

Members expressed concerns around the roles and responsibilities of Community Environment Support Officers, and the need for greater Ward Member involvement.  Martin Hackett, Area Management Officer, agreed to raise these issues with Paul Spandler, Acting Service Manager, Environmental Services.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That a report addressing Members’ concerns around the roles and responsibilities of Community Environment Support Officers, be submitted to a future meeting of the Area Committee.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing information in relation to the management of Community Centres in the outer east area.

RESOLVED – That the item be deferred to the October Area Committee with a request that a representative from Corporate Property Maintenance be in attendance to respond to Members’ concerns, particularly in relation to clarifying some of the figures that had been provided in the report. 

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report which provided information in relation to the management of community centres in the outer east area.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  2009/10 budget position for outer east area

-  Breakdown of controllable budget delegated to each of the centres in the outer east area

-  Exempt information containing market rental assessment

-  Breakdown of expenditure for work undertaken in community centres in 2009/10 and first quarter of 2010/11.

Appendix 3 to the report was designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3).

Keith Lander, Deputy Area Manager, presented the report.

RESOLVED – That the item be deferred to the October Area Committee with a request that a representative from Corporate Property Maintenance be in attendance to respond to Members’ concerns, particularly in relation to clarifying some of the figures that had been provided in the report.

To note the following future meeting dates for the 2010/11 municipal year:

• 19^th October, 2010 at 2.00 pm
• 7^th December, 2010 at 3.00 pm
• 8^th February, 2011 at 2.00 pm
• 22^nd March, 2011 at 2.00 pm

(All meetings to take place at Leeds Civic Hall.)

To note the following future meeting dates for the 2010/11 municipal year:

• 19^th October, 2010 at 2.00 pm
• 7^th December, 2010 at 3.00 pm
• 8^th February, 2011 at 2.00 pm
• 22^nd March, 2011 at 2.00 pm.

(All meetings to take place on a Tuesday at Leeds Civic Hall.)

(The meeting concluded at 4.50 pm.)