Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair for the 2006/2007 municipal year.

(Council Function)

(2.5 Mins Presentation/2.5 Mins Discussion)

A report was submitted by the Chief Democratic Services Officer which outlined the arrangements for the annual election of Chair of the South (Outer) Area Committee. It was reported that one nomination for the position of Chair had been submitted on behalf of Councillor Finnigan.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That following an overall majority of votes cast by those Elected Members present at the meeting, Councillor Finnigan be elected as Chair of the South (Outer) Area Committee for the 2006/2007 municipal year.

(Councillor Finnigan took the Chair)

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the first meeting of the South (Outer) Area Committee of the new municipal year.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 13 of the Members Code of Conduct

The following declarations of interest were made, however a further declaration of interest was made at a later point in the meeting.

(Minute No 6 refers).

Councillor Mulherin – Personal interest in agenda item 10, due to being a governor of Joseph Priestley College. (Minute No 8 refers).

Councillor McArdle – Personal interest in agenda item 12, due to being a member of Lewisham Park Management Committee and Lewisham Park Gala Committee and a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item 12, due to being a member of Morley Entertainments Committee. (Minute No 10 refers).

Councillor Grayshon - Personal interest in agenda item 12, due to being a member of Lewisham Park Management Committee and Lewisham Park Gala Committee and a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item 12, due to being a member of Morley Entertainments Committee. (Minute No 10 refers).

Councillor Finnigan – Personal interest in agenda item 10, due to being a governor of Joseph Priestley College. (Minute No 8 refers).

Councillor Leadley – Personal interest in agenda item 12, due to being a member of Lewisham Park Gala Committee and a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item 12, due to being a governor of Westerton Primary School. (Minute No 10 refers).

Councillor Elliott – Personal interest in agenda item 12, due to being a member of Lewisham Park Gala Committee. (Minute No 10 refers).

Councillor Smith – Personal Interest in agenda item 10, due to his position as Executive Member with responsibility for City Services. (Minute No 8 refers).

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

No apologies for absence from the meeting were received.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3^rd April 2006.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd April 2006 be approved as a correct record.

(Councillor Golton joined the meeting at 4.10 p.m. during the consideration of this item)

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.

(10 Mins)

In accordance with paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a period of up to ten minutes for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.

Youth Service Provision within the Outer South area

A local resident raised concerns over the extent to which youth service provision in the Outer South area might be transferred to the voluntary sector, and questioned how it was intended to help those voluntary organisations currently providing youth services in Outer South Leeds with issues such as the administration and cost of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks.

In response, the Committee emphasised the importance of supporting those voluntary organisations which provided such a valuable service in the area and requested that the Youth Service investigated what measures could be put in place to assist such groups.

With regard to the training of voluntary youth workers in the Outer South area, Members asked the Youth Service to explain why volunteers in some Wards had received training whilst volunteers in other Wards had not. It was then proposed that the Youth Service reported back on which areas were yet to receive such training.

Policing Levels in the Morley Bottoms area

Following several late night disturbances which had been experienced in and around the vicinity of Morley Bottoms, local residents raised concerns over the policing levels in the area. In response, Members noted that a solution to this particular problem was currently being considered by the Police and Leeds City Council Licensing Officers.

Both Members and local residents were then advised of the procedures which had been established under the Licensing Act 2003 to help address such issues.

(Councillor Grayshon declared a personal interest in this item, due to being a member of the Licensing Committee)

To receive a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which informs the Area Committee (by reference to the report which went to the Executive Board) of the Area Function Schedules which have been endorsed by Executive Board for 2006/07.

(Executive Function)

(5 Mins Presentation/10 Mins Discussion)

The Committee received a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which advised the Committee of the Area Function Schedules and corresponding budgetary information which had been endorsed by Executive Board for the 2006/2007 municipal year.

A discussion then followed which related to the budgetary information within the report regarding the maintenance of public conveniences in the area.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That the updated Area Function Schedules and budgets available for delegated services for 2006/2007, as endorsed by Executive Board, be noted;

(c). That the initial Area Function Schedule for community centres, which proposes that those centres currently vested with the Neighbourhoods and Housing department will formally become the responsibility of the Area Committees from 1^st July 2006, be noted;

(d). That clarification be sent to Members on the budgetary figures detailed within the report for the maintenance of public conveniences within the Outer South area.

To consider a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which outlines the community centres function which is being delegated to Area Committees in stages.

(Executive Function)

(5 Mins Presentation/10 Mins Discussion)

A report was submitted by the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing outlining the community centres function which was being delegated to Area Committees in stages.

Following a summary of the information detailed within the report, a question and answer session then ensued. The main areas of discussion were as follows:-

·  the reasons why some community centres within Outer South Leeds were not intended to be transferred to the Area Committee;

·  the integral role that some centres played within their respective communities;

·  Members’ concerns which related to the backlog maintenance levels of some centres in the area, and the methods which could be used to help the Committee address such concerns;

·  the levels of capital receipts which the Area Committee would receive from the future disposal of any centres vested with the Committee;

·  the proposed establishment of a Sub Committee to monitor the issues raised by the transfer of the designated community centres to the Area Committee;

·  concerns regarding the departmental correspondence which had been received by some community centres in the area;

·  issues surrounding the leasing arrangements of some community centres in Outer South Leeds.

It was then formally moved by Councillor Finnigan and seconded by Councillor McArdle

That the South (Outer) Area Committee recommends that 100% of the capital receipts received from the future disposal of any community centres vested with the Area Committee be ring fenced for the sole use of the Committee.

Upon the motion being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED -

(a). That the contents of the report be noted;

(b). That the arrangements for the delegation of the community centres to the Area Committee be noted;

(c). That a further report be received by the Committee later in the year which details the remaining centres to be delegated to the Area Committee;

(d). That further information be sent to Members in respect of the management arrangements for centres such as Driglington and Gildersome;

(e). That a Sub Committee comprising of one Elected Member per Ward be established to discuss the issues arising from the transfer of designated community centres to the Area Committee;

(f). That the Committee’s concerns which relate to the way in which community centres have been transferred to the Area Committee be noted;

(g). That the South (Outer) Area Committee recommends that 100% of the capital receipts received from the future disposal of any community centres vested with the Area Committee be ring fenced for the sole use of the Committee.

(NB Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5 Councillor Smith required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the motion moved by Councillor Finnigan)

To receive a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which seeks the Committee’s approval for funding to carry out works within the Morley Bottoms Regeneration Scheme as part of Leeds City Council’s Town and District Centre (T&DC) Regeneration Scheme.

(Executive Function)

(5 Mins Presentation/10 Mins Discussion)

The Committee received a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which updated Members on the Morley Bottoms Regeneration Scheme and which requested the Committee to consider allocating both revenue and capital funding towards a lay by development and associated public realm works in the area.

Members raised several concerns about the proposed development and suggested that a decision on the allocation of funding could be deferred to enable members of the scheme’s Project Team to be invited to a future meeting of the Committee in order to answer Members’ queries and concerns.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That the progress of the Morley Bottoms Regeneration Scheme be noted;

(c). That a decision relating to the allocation of £10,000.00 revenue to fund a design brief and £30,000.00 capital to fund a lay by development in addition to associated public realm works within the Morley Bottoms area be deferred to enable members of the Project Team to be invited to a future meeting of the Area Committee in order to answer Members’ concerns.

To consider a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which provides Members with a current position statement for the Area Committee’s Wellbeing budget together with an update on both the revenue and capital projects agreed to date.

(Executive Function)

(5 Mins Presentation/10 Mins Discussion)

A report was submitted by the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which advised Members of the current position of the Area Committee’s Wellbeing budget, gave a progress report on both the revenue and capital projects agreed to date and advised Members on the current position of the Small Grants budget.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That the Wellbeing revenue and Wellbeing capital projects approved to date be noted;

(c). That the Area Committee agree to commission the proposal entitled Summer and Winter Events Programme, submitted by Morley Entertainments Committee and that the sum of £4,779.00 Wellbeing revenue funding be approved;

(d). That the current position of the Small Grants Fund budget be noted;

(e). That the proposal entitled Outdoor Play Trail by Westerton Primary School for £500.00 Small Grants Funding be approved.

(NB Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor Finnigan required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the decision concerning the proposal from Westerton Primary School, as detailed within resolution (e))

(NB Councillors McArdle and Grayshon, having declared personal and prejudicial interests in this item due to being members of the Morley Entertainments Committee and Councillor Leadley, having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item due to being a governor of Westerton Primary School, took no part in the discussion of this item and left the room during the consideration thereof)

To receive a report which provides the Committee with details of a range of activities taking place within the Outer South area of Leeds.

Executive Function

(5 Mins Presentation/10 Mins Discussion)

The Committee received a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which updated Members on the range of activities currently taking place within the Outer South area.

Members received a progress report on the John O’Gaunts Neighbourhood Improvement Plan (NIP), and were requested to consider ring fencing an additional £9,000.00 Wellbeing funding, in order to ensure that sufficient funds were available to erect a youth shelter in the vicinity of the Rose Lund Centre.

Following an update on the Area Management Team staffing arrangements, a discussion then ensued which focussed upon the connection of a gas supply to West Ardsley Community Centre. Having noted the protracted nature of the negotiations with Transco, the company responsible for connecting the gas supply, Members enquired whether it was possible to impose any penalties on the company, or whether an alternative supplier had been considered. In response, the Committee noted that the possibility of alternative suppliers had been explored without success and that further investigations into the legalities of imposing penalties would be pursued.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That the allocation of £6,564.00 Wellbeing capital funding to finance the installation of a gas supply to West Ardsley Community Centre be approved;

(c). That an additional £9,000.00 Wellbeing capital funding be ring fenced to the John O’Gaunts NIP to ensure that sufficient funds are available to acquire and install a youth shelter, subject to further information on the project being submitted to a future meeting of the Area Committee.

(NB Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor Leadley required it to be recorded that he voted against the decision concerning the installation of a gas supply to West Ardsley Community Centre, as detailed within resolution (b))

To consider the attached report by the Chief Democratic Services Officer and to agree the nominations to those organisations which fall into the remit of this Area Committee.

Council Function

(5 Mins Presentation/5 Mins Discussion)

A report was submitted by the Chief Democratic Services Officer which outlined the procedure concerned with local authority appointments to outside bodies, and which also invited Members to consider making appointments to those outside bodies detailed within the report.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That in respect of Outside Bodies listed in Appendix 2 of the report, approval be given to the following appointments being made for the 2006/2007 municipal year:

Leeds South Homes ALMO  S Golton

  J Elliott

Monday, 25^th September 2006 at 4.00 p.m.

(Venue – Rothwell One Stop Centre, Marsh Street, Rothwell, LS26 0AD)

Monday, 25^th September 2006 at 4.00 p.m. at Rothwell One Stop Centre, Marsh Street, Rothwell, LS26 0AD.

(The meeting concluded at 5.35 p.m.)