Agenda, decisions and minutes

  The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting

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.

  The following Members declared personal/prejudicial interests for the purposes of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct

  Well being budget – Councillor Armitage declared a personal interest as the Chair of Swarcliffe Good Neighbours Scheme as the report made reference to the gardening service provided by this organisation (minute 38 refers)

  Further declarations of interest were made later in the meeting (minutes 34 and 37 refer)

To receive any apologies for absence.

  Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gruen and Murray

To approve the minutes of the East Outer Area Committee meeting held on 13^th September 2011

(minutes attached)

  RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the East Outer Area Committee meeting held on 13^th September 2011 be approved

  With reference to minute 23 of the meeting held on 13^th September – Consultation on expansion of primary school provision for September 2013 – Councillor Lyons reiterated his concerns about the expansion of Whitkirk Primary School without the need for planning permission but with no mitigation measures being provided to address the traffic and parking problems which residents had suffered even prior to the expansion and that this matter needed to be considered at a senior level

  Councillor Hyde declared a personal interest through being a Governor at Colton Primary School and through his involvement in the issues at Whitkirk Primary School as a Ward Member

  Councillor Hyde reiterated his concerns about the situation at Whitkirk Primary School and stated that assurances had previously been given by Education Leeds that a turning circle and stop-off point would be provided before pupil numbers at the school were increased but this had not been done

  The lack of places at Colton Primary School for children living in the village was raised again with the request for action to be taken to address this

  The Area Management Officer stated that in respect of the recommendations made at the meeting on 13^th September, a report would be submitted to the December East Outer Area Committee providing information including demographic details of the schools in the Outer East area; that a suggested date of 8^th November had been put to Ward Members to discuss with Children’s Services Officers the issues raised relating to Whitkirk Primary School and Colton Primary School and that in respect of Section 106 contributions the Head of Performance, Peter Storrie, was preparing a briefing paper on this for Ward Members and would arrange to meet with Members if requested

  The Chair welcomed the Chief Executive, Mr Riordan, who was in attendance at the meeting.  Mr Riordan agreed to take up the issues which had been raised and seek responses from the relevant Chief Officers and agreed to respond to Ward Members before the proposed meeting on 8^th November

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

  Mr Riordan thanked Members for the time they had spent with him since his appointment in 2010.  Mr Riordan stated that he realised the diversity of the city as a whole and areas within it and that it was his intention to attend Area Committee meetings to listen to the key issues

  Members were informed that it was Mr Riordan’s intention to ensure that Senior Officers of the Council were aware of the issues which were happening on the ground across all areas and offered to come out again to visit Members if requested

  From attending several Area Committees, Mr Riordan said that a few issues were common, these being education and the effects of population changes; housing and the environmental agenda ie ‘crime and grime’ although it was hoped that the recent delegation of certain environmental services to Area Committees would provide the opportunity for improvements to this service

To consider a report of the Head of Parks and Countryside providing details on key assets, park usage and customer based information on the quality of assets, ie community parks, playing pitches and fixed play facilities in the East Outer area and the services provided

(report attached)

(Council Function)

  Members considered a report of the Head of Parks and Countryside providing information on the assets, park usage and public perception of this provision in the East Outer area

  Mr Flesher, Head of Parks and Countryside presented the report and highlighted the main issues, these being:

·  that from the 2009 data there were 2.2 million annual visits to East Outer community parks

·  whilst Temple Newsam accounted for 1.9m visitors, the figures showed that daily and weekly visits to community parks were high, - 40% and 76% respectively

·  that in addition to sports teams with long term leases, 58 teams utilised the area’s playing pitches

·  that volunteering was strong, with over 3000 days of voluntary work being carried out in the East Outer area, with the aim being for these groups to be able to work unsupervised but with support where needed

·  that by March 2012 all site based gardeners would be trained to work with volunteer groups

·  the range of voluntary groups operating in the area and the importance of Friends groups

·  the work of the In Bloom groups; that these were highly self motivated and self administered and that these groups had transformed areas and created a sense of place in their communities

·  that Garforth in Bloom obtained a Silver Gilt at the 2011 Yorkshire in Bloom awards with Kippax maintaining its Gold status for a second year

·  the Leeds Quality Park status and the Green Flag award scheme with two of the parks in the area, Manston Park and Barley Hill Park already meeting the national standard for parks and green spaces

·  on-going work and planned improvements and the need to work with the Area Committee and Ward Members to identify and target funding particularly from S106 Agreements to improve the area

Members thanked Mr Flesher for his excellent report and

commented on the following matters:

·  that Redhall playing fields did not seem to have been included.  Members were informed that this was included in the sports pitch provision

·  the need to make links with local schools to encourage volunteering by pupils

·  whether the Village in Bloom groups were formally thanked by the Council for their work.  Mr Flesher stated that an event for the In Bloom groups was held each year and hosted by the Lord Mayor

·  the need to link the Outer East Environmental Sub-Committee with the Village in Bloom groups

·  the need for information on future proposals

·  concerns about anti-social behaviour at Barley Hill playground and the need to secure the car park at night.  Mr Flesher agreed to follow this up

·  that gating  Barley Hill Park at night would be of benefit and the need to ensure the timescale was accomplished for the funding secured by an agreement with Garforth Cemetery

·  whether any proposals existed for Swillington and Great Preston.  Members were informed that the Parks and Countryside Service would be happy to work with the Parish Council to see if they could help in respect of opportunities for greenspace in the area

·  the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) providing details of the Well Being budget, including a summary of the revenue spend approved for the current municipal year; details of new projects to be agreed; information on projects funded recently by the Area Committee and the benefits they have provided together with an update on the current position of the Small Grants Budget

(report attached)

(Executive Function)

  East Outer Area Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement), providing details of the Well Being budget, including a summary of the revenue spend approved for the current municipal year; details of new projects to be agreed; information on projects funded recently by the Area Committee and the benefits they have provided together with an update on the current position of the Small Grants Budget

  RESOLVED - 

i)  To note the report and the comments now made

ii)  To note the position of the Well being budget

iii)  To note the Small Grants approved to date

iv)  To approve the following projects:

·  Cross Gates Christmas lights - £2,890

·  Garforth Christmas lights - £3,910

·  Garforth Christmas lights switch on event - £5,230

·  Kippax Christmas lights and switch on event - £3,000

  East Outer Area Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement), providing details of the Well Being budget, including a summary of the revenue spend approved for the current municipal year; details of new projects to be agreed; information on projects funded recently by the Area Committee and the benefits they have provided together with an update on the current position of the Small Grants Budget

  The Area Management Officer presented the report and informed Members that the Area Committee-funded CESO had now obtained a core funded post.   As several departments were currently undergoing restructures it was being recommended not to recruit to this post at this time with the £20,000 allocated being split evenly between the four Wards for priority work

  Members were informed that the gardening service organised by Swarcliffe Good Neighbours had been very successful with all the feedback which had been received being positive

  Regarding the requests for funding for Christmas lights, Members were informed that despite efforts being made to engage with local traders in the Halton area with a view to securing contributions towards Christmas lights there, this had not proved successful for this year.   However, the former Morley Town Centre manager was now working in the East Outer area and it was hoped he could use his expertise to generate some interest with local traders

  RESOLVED - 

i)  To note the report and the comments now made

ii)  To note the position of the Well being budget

iii)  To note the Small Grants approved to date

iv)  To approve the following projects:

·  Cross Gates Christmas lights - £2,890

·  Garforth Christmas lights - £3,910*

·  Garforth Christmas lights switch on event - £5,230*

·  Kippax Christmas lights and switch on event - £3,000

*Subsequent to the meeting, it was noted that incorrect figures appeared in part of the report which set the figures for the Garforth Christmas lights as £3,900 and the Garforth Christmas lights switch on event as £9,140; this being the combined total of the cost of the lights and switch on event, ie £3,910 and £5,230

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) providing information on priority work carried out in the East Outer area in recent months; an update on Swarcliffe PFI credits and the minutes relating to community engagement activities and partnership meetings

(report attached)

(Executive Function)

  The East Outer Area Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement), providing information on priority work carried out in the East Outer area in recent months; an update on Swarcliffe PFI credits and the minutes relating to community engagement activities and partnership meetings

  RESOLVED -  To note the report; the comments now made and that Members’ thanks be passed on to those involved in the Older Person’s Week event which was very successful

  The East Outer Area Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement), providing information on priority work carried out in the East Outer area in recent months; an update on Swarcliffe PFI credits and the minutes relating to community engagement activities and partnership meetings

  The Area Management Officer presented the report and provided information on the following matters:

·  Swarcliffe PFI credits, with Members being informed that £107,241 was the balance for the Crossgates and Whinmoor Ward, with further clarification being provided at Members’ request

·  the CESO post, referred to in minute 39 above and that as the responsibility for dealing with domestic noise nuisance no longer rested with the Locality Team, some capacity had been found in order to provide cover for sickness absence and to ensure that all areas of South East Leeds received officer coverage and support

·  that a report on the Health and Well Being Partnership would be submitted to the December Area Committee meeting

·  the success of the Older Persons Week event which enabled participants to network and see the range of help and support which was available to enable people to live independently for longer

·  tasking teams and the work being undertaken

·  the Community Payback scheme, with Members being informed that two cases which had proved problematic were being looked into

·  that work had commenced towards establishing a Trade Association in Garforth with a recent meeting having been held with approximately 20 traders attending

RESOLVED -  To note the report; the comments now made and that Members’ thanks be passed on to those involved in the Older Person’s Week event which was very successful

Tuesday 13^th December 2011 at 3.00pm in the Civic Hall Leeds

  Tuesday 13^th December 2011 at 3.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds