Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

On behalf of the Area Committee, the Chair paid tribute to Lynne White, who it was reported was retiring from the Council on Friday 25^th March 2011.  Members thanked Lynne for her hard work and positive contribution during her time at Leeds City Council.

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 8, Wellbeing Budget (Revenue) 2010/11 and proposals for expenditure in 2011/12, in her capacity as Chair of Swarcliffe Good Neighbours. (Minute No. 76 refers)

A further declaration of interest was made at a later point in the meeting. (Minute No. 77 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted by Councillor James Lewis.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th February 2011.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th February 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

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 by members of the public.

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Leader updating the Area Committee on project work funded through the Well Being Budget for 2010/11.  The report also provides details of the budget available in 2011/12 and how this can be used to improve local services.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the Area Committee approves a gardening scheme for 2011 at a cost of £20,000.  This is a reduction in cost on last year of almost £17,000, with this money being carried over into the budget for 2011/12.  This scheme does not provide for subsidised decorating.

(c)  That the following commitment for 2011/12 be noted

·  Monitoring and maintenance of 11 Leedswatch CCTV cameras -  £33,000

(d)  That the Area Committee approves option 2, as identified in Appendix 3 to the Well Being Budget report, to provide a gardening service whilst at the same time providing funding of £29,000 per ward to be targeted at ward based priority work.  This option includes the following:

·  Small grants budget - £10,000

·  Community Payback scheme - £15,000

·  Gardening scheme in 2012 - £20,000

·  Cost of Community Environment Support Officer (CESO) - £27,700

·  Neighbourhood Management ‘tasking teams’ - £40,000

·  Community Engagement and Involvement - £40,000

·  Additional Services to young people - £36,000

(e)  That the Area Committee allocates £20,500 from its well being budget to increase the opening hours at Garforth Leisure Centre for a maximum 10 week period until an alternative provider is found.  This allocation will be met from funding allocated specifically to that Ward.

The South East Area Leader submitted a report which updated the Area Committee on project work funded through the Well Being Budget for 2010/11.  The report also provided details of the budget available in 2011/12 and how this could be used to improve local services.

The following information was appended to the report for Members’ information:

-  Outer East small grant position as at 4 March 2011

-  Well Being Revenue Budget Spending Plan for 2011/12 – Options 1 and 2.

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

In brief summary, the key areas of discussion were:

• Concern about the lack of alternative gardening provision.
• The need for greater monitoring of the scheme and encouraging feedback from customers.
• Clarification about the criteria for undertaking gardening work – the Area Management Officer reported that only a handful of cases had been rejected on the basis that gardening work had already been undertaken on previous occasions and needed to be more evenly distributed across the area.  The Chair advised that he was arranging monthly meetings to discuss with the provider the number of gardens completed, etc.
• Concern about funding implications relating to the future of Good Neighbours and other similar schemes.
• Clarification under appendix 3 to the report that the decorating aspect of the scheme would continue, but would no longer be subsidised by the Council.  The Area Management Officer reported that a maximum rate of £100 per room had been agreed with the provider.
• There was a need for further work in relation to publicising the gardening scheme.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the Area Committee approves a gardening scheme for 2011 at a cost of £20,000.  This is a reduction in cost on last year of almost £17,000, with this money being carried over into the budget for 2011/12.  This scheme does not provide for subsidised decorating.

(c)  That the following commitment for 2011/12 be noted

·  Monitoring and maintenance of 11 Leedswatch CCTV cameras –  £33,000

(d)  That the Area Committee approves option 2, as identified in Appendix 3 to the Well Being Budget report, to provide a gardening service whilst at the same time providing funding of £29,000 per ward to be targeted at ward based priority work. 

This option includes the following:

·  Small grants budget - £10,000

·  Community Payback scheme - £15,000

·  Gardening scheme in 2012 - £20,000

·  Cost of Community Environment Support Officer (CESO) - £27,700

·  Neighbourhood Management ‘tasking teams’ - £40,000

·  Community Engagement and Involvement - £40,000

·  Additional Services to young people - £36,000

(e)  That the Area Committee allocates £20,500 from its well being budget to increase the opening hours at Garforth Leisure Centre for a maximum 10 week period until an alternative provider is found.  This allocation will be met from funding allocated specifically to that Ward.

To receive and consider a report from the South East Area Leader updating Members on actions and achievements around the Area Delivery Plan since the Area Committee meeting in February 2011.

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

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:

-  The Job Stop, Leeds Kirkgate Market – Cumulative Outline of Activity

-  Minutes of the South East Health and Wellbeing Partnership meeting held on 27^th January 2011

-  Minutes of Swarcliffe Forum and PACT meeting held on 2^nd February 2011

-  Minutes of North Whinmoor Forum and PACT meeting held on 10^th January 2011

-  Minutes of Cross Gates Forum held on 12^th January 2011

-  Minutes of Halton Moor Forum held on 18^th January 2011

-  Minutes of Halton Forum held on 20^th January 2011

-  Minutes of Garforth and Swillington Forum held on 7^th March 2011

-  Briefing paper for Elected Members on 2011 Census.

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

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• Confirmation that revenue raised from fixed penalty notices in relation to dog fouling was redistributed back to LCC.
• Update on the environmental services delegation and the role of Elected Members, particularly in terms of their involvement at Member workshops to inform the development of a service level agreement.

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

(Councillor Murray declared a personal interest in this item due to his involvement with a charitable organisation which was involved in the establishment of the Job Shop at Kirkgate Market.)

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on proposals to introduce further Dog Control Orders in the City.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on proposals to introduce further Dog Control Orders in the City.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Graham Wilson, Head of Environmental Action and Parking, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief summary, the key points of discussion were:

• The need for more strategic location of dog waste bins.
• Concern about the lack of dog waste bins. Members were advised that dog waste could be disposed in plastic bags in general waste bins.  Members felt that this needed to be publicised as generally dog owners were not aware of this.
• Concerns about proposals to restrict the number of dogs on leads, particularly the impact on professional dog walkers.  It was advised that a licence scheme was being established – currently a maximum of 4 dogs on lead permitted, but under new licence arrangements this was being extended to 6.
• The need to extend the consultation exercise to private clubs and businesses that may be affected by the proposals.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive and consider a report from the Chief Democratic Services Officer requesting Members to give consideration to agreeing the dates, times and venues of their meetings for the 2011/12 municipal year.

The Chief Democratic Services Officer submitted a report which requested Members to give consideration to agreeing the dates, times and venues of their meetings for the 2011/12 municipal year.

RESOLVED – That the following meeting dates be approved for 2011/12 to take place at the Leeds Civic Hall at 3.00 pm.

Tuesday 5^th July 2011, Tuesday 13^th September 2011, Tuesday 18^th October 2011, Tuesday 13^th December 2011, Tuesday 14^th February 2012 and Tuesday 20^th March 2012

(The meeting concluded at 4.15 pm.)