Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the December meeting of the East (Outer) 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.)

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair admitted to the agenda a late item in relation to ‘The Spending Challenge’ exercise.  The information was not available at the time of agenda despatch.  (Minute No. 55 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 Murray declared a personal interest in agenda item 9, Wellbeing Budget (Revenue) 2010/11, in his capacity as trustee of Garforth School Partnership Trust.  (Minute No. 53 refers)

Councillor Armitage declared a personal interest in agenda item 10, Actions, Achievements and Update report, in her capacity as Chair of Swarcliffe Good Neighbours Scheme.  (Minute No. 54 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors Dobson and Wakefield.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th October 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th October 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

Minute No. 37 – Wellbeing Budget (Revenue) 2010/11

Members thanked officers in Highways, and Environment and Neighbourhoods, particularly James Nundy, for their hard work and positive contribution as part of the Christmas lights in Cross Gates scheme.

Minute No. 44 – Community Centres Report

One Member requested an update on Corporate Property Management (CPM) responsibilities in relation to Community Centres.  It was reported that a further update was being provided as part of the Actions and Achievements update (Minute No. 54 refers)

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 and consider a report from the Head of Parks and Countryside providing an overview of the service and highlighting some of the challenges faced together with key performance initiatives.

The Head of Parks and Countryside submitted a report which provided the Area Committee with an overview of the service and highlighted some of the challenges faced together with key performance initiatives.

Appended to the report was information highlighting Parks and Countryside contributions to the delivery of the Leeds Strategic Plan targets and outcomes.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Vicky Nunns, Parks and Countryside, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• Clarification about funding arrangements in relation to the Playbuilder project at Grove Road Recreation Ground.  It was reported that this project had been deferred to the Leader of the Council and Director of Resources.  One Member expressed concern about funding streams being withdrawn if the scheme was not progressed in the near future.
• Concern about budgetary implications in relation to the proposed delegated function / enhanced role.  Members emphasised the importance of the Area Committee determining local priorities / schemes to be taken forward.
• Ongoing issues in relation to sites at Thorpe Park and St Aidan’s.  It was reported that in relation to Thorpe Park, Parks and Countryside were awaiting master plan documents, which it was anticipated would be submitted in the New Year.  Members also sought clarification when the site at St Aidan’s was being transferred to Parks and Countryside.  Officers stated that it was likely to be in excess of one year and that this timescale had been provided by the Minerals section of Planning Services.  The Chair requested that the Area Committee be provided with confirmation of the timescale.

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

(Councillor A McKenna joined the meeting at 3.10 pm during the consideration of this item.)

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;

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

• Cross Gates ‘switch on’ – £2,541 – from Cross Gates and Whinmoor ward allocation to support community engagement – Approved
• Methley ‘switch on’ – £1,100 – from Kippax and Methley ward allocation to support community engagement – Approved
• Traffic management project in Silkstone Way (Cross Gates) – £3,000 from the Cross Gates and Whinmoor ward ‘tasking budget’ – Approved

(c)  That the application for wellbeing funding in relation to Garforth Arts Festival be deferred for further consideration by Ward Members and reported back to the Area Committee.

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 was a copy of the small grant position as at 8 November 2010.

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

Members were informed that Area Management had written to local businesses in Halton Village about contributing towards the costs of installing Christmas lights.  No response had been received to date. 

RESOLVED –

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

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

• Cross Gates ‘switch on’ – £2,541 – from Cross Gates and Whinmoor ward allocation to support community engagement – Approved
• Methley ‘switch on’ – £1,100 – from Kippax and Methley ward allocation to support community engagement – Approved
• Traffic management project in Silkstone Way (Cross Gates) – £3,000 from the Cross Gates and Whinmoor ward ‘tasking budget’ – Approved

(c)  That the application for wellbeing funding in relation to Garforth Arts Festival be deferred for further consideration by Ward Members and reported back to the Area Committee.

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 October 2010.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the Area Committee approves the following projects to be funded from Swarcliffe PFI credits:

• increase in cost for the parking scheme in Swarcliffe from £144,000 to £157,000
• awards £5,900 from Swarcliffe PFI credits to fund work to the kitchen at Gregory’s Youth and Adult Centre
• provisionally awards a further £2,100 for new carpeting in Room 1 of St Gregory’s Youth and Adult Centre, subject to other estimates and acquiring match funding.

(c)  That a small sub-group be established to take on issues relating to community centres in Outer East Leeds and reports back to the Area Committee on actions agreed and undertaken.

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 11^th October 2010

-  Minutes of East Children Leadership Team held on 15^th July 2010

-  Minutes of South East Leeds Health and Well Being Partnership held on 30^th September 2010

-  Minutes of Swarcliffe Forum held on 5^th October 2010

-  Minutes of North Whinmoor Forum held on 11^th October 2010

-  Minutes of Halton Forum held on 5^th August 2010.

-  Corporate Property Maintenance (CPM) responsibilities relating to maintenance

-  Service responsibilities relating to maintenance, i.e. responsibility of those that manage the centre’s

-  Works orders as categorised by CPM.

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

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• Members expressed concern about community centres not being adequately maintained.  There was also concern about additional responsibilities being imposed on volunteers of community centres.
• Members discussed establishing a small sub-group to tackle various issues in relation to community centres in Outer East Leeds.  The Chair suggested that the group consisted of one Member per Outer East Ward plus one representative of CPM.  Councillors Armitage and Murray volunteered to serve on this sub-group.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the Area Committee approves the following projects to be funded from Swarcliffe PFI credits:

• increase in cost for the parking scheme in Swarcliffe from £144,000 to £157,000
• awards £5,900 from Swarcliffe PFI credits to fund work to the kitchen at Gregory’s Youth and Adult Centre
• provisionally awards a further £2,100 for new carpeting in Room 1 of St Gregory’s Youth and Adult Centre, subject to other estimates and acquiring match funding.

(c)  That a small sub-group be established to take on issues relating to community centres in Outer East Leeds and reports back to the Area Committee on actions agreed and undertaken.

This report was admitted as a late item.  The report informs the Area Committee of ‘The Spending Challenge’ exercise and encourages Members to support local participation.

The South East Area Manager submitted a report which informed the Area Committee of ‘The Spending Challenge’ exercise and encouraged Members to support local participation.

Appended to the report was a copy of the spending challenge form that community groups and residents were being asked to complete.

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

In brief summary, the key areas of discussion were:

• Confirmation that hard copies of the consultation document were being circulated to local community groups / organisations.
• Clarification under the heading ‘Clean and Safe Neighbourhoods’ that the tax bill for burying Leeds’ rubbish was increasing by £1.6m a year.

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

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

• 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.)

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

• 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 4.10 pm.)