Agenda and minutes

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

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

Councillors Elliott, Finnigan and McArdle all declared personal interests in relation to agenda item 8, due to their respective positions on the Management Committee of the Morley Literature Festival. (Minute No 36 refers).

Councillor Smith declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 9, due to being Executive Board Member with responsibility for City Services. (Minute No 37 refers).

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting

An apology for absence from the meeting was received on behalf of Councillor Grayshon.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the South (Outer) Area Committee meeting held on 25^th September 2006

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 25^th September 2006 be approved as a correct record.

Area Manager’s Report (Minute No 21 refers)

In response to Members’ queries relating to whether terms of reference were required for the Sub Committee established to address the issues arising from the transfer of delegated Community Centres to the Area Committee, Members noted that clarification on this issue would be sought. 

Following further discussion on the arrangements for the Sub Committee, Members stressed the need for the body to meet without delay and stated that a wide ranging remit was required in order to address any issues which arose.

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 discussion)

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.

Morley Elmfield Infant and Nursery School

A representative of Elmfield and Bridge Street Residents’ Association requested an update on the current position of the former Morley Elmfield Infant and Nursery School site.

Relocation of a Bus Stop on Bridge Street, Morley

A representative of Elmfield and Bridge Street Residents’ Association enquired whether any assistance could be given to the attempts being made to relocate a bus stop on Bridge Street, Morley.

In response to the matters raised, it was confirmed that both issues would be pursued.

To consider a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which evaluates the success of the first Morley Literature Festival

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation/15 mins discussion)

A report was submitted on behalf of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing evaluating the success of the first Morley Literature Festival which took place between 29^th-30^th September 2006. The report also summarised several key points and recommendations intended to be considered when organising such events in the future.

Members congratulated the achievements of the inaugural Morley Literature Festival and raised the following issues for future consideration:-

·  The need to achieve greater public participation and attendance;

·  The possibility of broadening future events in order to include music and song;

·  Consideration being given to revising the dates of the festival in order to maximise the involvement of school children and the wider community;

·  The possibility of expanding the provision of refreshments at future events;

·  The extended use of Morley library as a venue;

·  The importance of maximising sponsorship at future events in order to generate greater levels of revenue;

·  The need to pursue alternative sources of funding via organisations such as the Arts Council;

·  The possibility of liaising with the organisers of other more established festivals.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That the Morley Literature Festival Organising Committee be congratulated on the success of the event;

(c). That the Area Committee support in principle the continuation of the Morley Literature Festival;

(d). That a report detailing options for the future organisation of the Morley Literature Festival be submitted to the next meeting of the Area Committee.

(Councillor Leadley joined the meeting at 4.25 p.m. during the consideration of this item)

To receive a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which updates Members on the Council’s bid in relation to the 2007 Clean Britain Awards

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation/5 mins discussion)

A report was submitted on behalf of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which updated Members on the work undertaken as part of the Council’s entry into the 2007 Clean Britain Awards, for which the Council had been shortlisted.

Following a brief overview of the issues highlighted within the report, a wide ranging discussion ensued. The main areas of debate were:-

·  The reasons why the Inner South area had been predominantly involved in the bid;

·  The need to restructure resources and increase levels of inter-agency co-operation when delivering environmental services;

·  The emphasis which needed to be placed upon changing the community’s attitudes in relation to environmental issues in Leeds and the extent to which educational programmes had been established to help achieve this;

·  The actions being taken to address problems associated with ginnels;

·  The geographical areas and the types of people who would benefit from the Gardening Scheme detailed within the report;

·  The number of public conveniences currently in Outer South Leeds and the availability of resources to invest in such facilities in the future;

·  The reasons why the services and initiatives intended to be delivered as part of the bid were not already being delivered in the area;

·  Following Members’ enquiries into the frequency of some services such as street cleansing and refuse collection, the Head of Environmental Services undertook to provide Members with maps illustrating the frequency of such services in their respective Wards;

·  The need to adopt a logical approach and ensure ‘best value’ when delivering environmental services in Leeds;

·  Having emphasised the importance of effective enforcement against offences such as littering and fly-tipping, it was proposed that representatives from the Enforcement Team within City Services could be invited to the next meeting of the Area Committee in order to provide Members with further information on the work undertaken in this field;

·  The extent to which City Services could assist the Area Committee in re-organising environmental services in Outer South Leeds in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of such services.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That the focus previously placed upon cleaner neighbourhoods be retained as a key feature of the Area Committee’s 2007/08 Area Delivery Plan;

(c). That representatives from the Enforcement Team within City Services be invited to the next meeting of the Area Committee in order to provide Members with further information on the work undertaken by the team.

(Councillor Golton joined the meeting at 4.30 p.m. during the consideration of this item)

To consider a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which provides Members with details of the range of activities currently taking place within the Outer South area of Leeds

(Executive Function)

(5 mins presentation/5 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 throughout the Outer South area of Leeds.

Members raised concerns about the progress which had been made in relation to the issues surrounding Stanhope Community Centre. In response, the Committee requested that further information was sought from South Leeds Homes ALMO, so that the matter could be progressed without delay.

Further to Minute No 20 (25^th September 2006) the Committee proposed that representatives from the Youth Service could be invited to a future meeting of the Area Committee in order to provide further clarification on the financial and performance based statistics which had been previously submitted.

Having sought Members’ views on the priority themes to be incorporated into the Area Committee’s 2007/08 Area Delivery Plan, the Committee proposed that a report inviting Members’ comments on the issue could be submitted to the next meeting of the Area Committee.

Further to a letter received from Councillor Harris which sought Members’ opinion on whether the Committee wished to place a standard item on future agendas addressing the issue of ‘Narrowing the Gap’, it was proposed that the Committee could be advised of any Narrowing the Gap issues arising in the Outer South area via the Neighbourhood Improvement Plan updates, which it was suggested, could be produced on a regular basis.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That the Committee be advised of any Narrowing The Gap issues arising in the Outer South area via the Neighbourhood Improvement Plan updates which could be produced on a regular basis;

(c). That a report inviting Members to discuss the priority themes for the 2007/08 Area Delivery Plan be submitted to the next meeting of the Area Committee;

(d). That representatives from the Youth Service be invited to a future meeting of the Area Committee in order to clarify statistics which have been previously submitted to Members.

To receive a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing which updates Members on the current position of both the Wellbeing and Small Grants budgets, details the capital and revenue projects approved to date and invites Members to determine those proposals detailed within the report

(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 Committee’s Wellbeing budget and the Small Grants budget, gave a progress report on both the revenue and capital projects agreed to date and invited Members to determine the proposals which had been submitted.

With regard to the proposal received from Westerton Road Allotments, Members requested that approval was given, subject to investigations being undertaken into whether more cost effective types of fencing could be used.

RESOLVED –

(a). That the report and information appended to the report, which includes the current position statement of the Area Committee’s Wellbeing budget, a progress report on the  Small Grants budget and the details of both the revenue and capital projects agreed to date, be noted;

(b). That the following decisions be made in respect of the proposals for revenue and capital funding from the 2006/2007 Wellbeing budget, which have been submitted to this meeting for determination:-

(i). New Fence, Westerton Road Allotments, East Ardsley – Parks and Countryside - £10,071.75 Capital –Approved, subject to the maximum amount of funding allocated to the proposal being £10,071.75;

(ii). Internal Redecoration Winthorpe Residents – Winthorpe Residents Association – £1,510.00 Revenue – Approved.

Monday, 18^th December 2006 at 4.00 p.m.

(Venue – Morley Town Hall, Morley, LS27 9DY)

Monday, 18^th December 2006 at 4.00 p.m. at Morley Town Hall, Morley. LS27 9DY.

(The meeting concluded at 5.45 p.m.)