Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the September meeting of the West (Inner) Area Committee.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other interests.

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted by Councillor Taggart.

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 members of the public in attendance at the meeting to make representations or ask questions.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27^th June 2012.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 27^th June 2012 be approved as a correct record.

Minute No. 8 – Matters arising from the Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum

Members were advised that grass cutting had now been undertaken at the corner of Rodley Lane / Leeds Bradford Road.

To receive for information the minutes of the following Community Forum meetings:

• Armley Community Forum and PACT meeting – 19^th June and 17^th July 2012
• Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum and PACT meeting – 26^th July 2012.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the following Community Forum meetings be received and noted:

• Armley Community Forum and PACT meetings – 19^th June and 17^th July 2012
• Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum and PACT meeting – 26^th July 2012.

Minute No. 3.1 – Police Update (Inspector Mark Wheeler)

Members were advised that the minutes should read theft from vehicles not theft of vehicles.

To receive for information the minutes of the ALMO Inner West Area Panel meeting held on 11^th June 2012.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the ALMO Inner West Area Panel meeting held on 11^th June 2012, be received and noted.

Minute No. 6.2.3 – AP7 2012 Armley Fun Day

One Member expressed concern that West North West Homes Leeds had not yet provided funding towards Armley Fun Day.  Mick Parker (West North West Homes Leeds) agreed to raise this matter with colleagues and report back.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Children’s Services updating Members on the current issues facing the Directorate and children’s partnership as well as the progress that is being made against local and national agendas. 

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which updated Members on current issues facing the directorate and children’s partnership as well as the progress made against local and national agendas.

Key cluster performance information in relation to the west north west area was appended to the report for Members’ information.

The Chair welcomed the following officers to the meeting to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments:

-  Jancis Andrew, Area Head of Targeted Services (West North West), Children’s Services

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership Development Business Support), Children’s Services.

The following key areas of work were highlighted by Children’s Services:

·  Ongoing work in relation to targeted services and tackling NEET.

·  Development of outcome based accountability around the directorate’s priority themes.

·  The allocation of locally managed resources and the role of attendance advisors.

·  Launch of Families First Leeds (previously Troubled Families Board) on Thursday, 6^th September 2012.

The Chair then invited questions and the key areas of discussion were:

• Concern about the poor take up of free school meals.  Members were advised that this was a priority area for the Child Poverty Working Group.  Children’s Services agreed to report back to the Area Committee with information about the types of initiatives that were currently in place.
• Concern about the higher than average numbers of looked after children, teenage conception and poor secondary school performance in the inner west area.  It was requested that Children’s Services compared this information and data against other deprived areas.
• Examples of good practice at West Leeds Academy in relation to managing attendance.  Children’s Services emphasised the importance of developing a range of initiatives as part of a longer term strategy.
• Concern about the number of drug offences in the inner west area, although it was agreed to check the accuracy of the statistics.
• A request for information about the ratio of referrals to looked after children in the inner west area.
• A further request for information about the number of children that spoke English as a second language in the inner west area.

RESOLVED –

That the following be noted:

(a) The contents of the report and appendices

(b) The requests for information that were raised at the meeting.

To receive and consider a report from the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning Policy and Improvement) providing information on crime trends, partnership initiatives and future joint projects between Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police in  the Inner West .

The Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) submitted a report which provided the Area Committee with information on crime trends, partnership initiatives and future joint projects between Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police in the inner west area of Leeds.

The following officers and representatives attended the meeting:

-  Gill Hunter, Area Community Safety Co-ordinator, Environment and Neighbourhoods

-  Inspector Mark Wheeler, West Yorkshire Police.

Members raised concerns about anti-social behaviour outside New Wortley Community Centre, particularly the intimidating presence and demeanour of individuals congregating outside the Community Centre.  West Yorkshire Police advised that measures were in place to tackle these issues.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

(Councillor Lowe withdrew from the meeting at 5.45pm during the consideration of this item.)

(Councillor Hanley joined the meeting at 5.51pm during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider a report from West North West homes Leeds outlining the purpose of West North West homes Leeds (WNWhL) involvement in Area Committees, and exploring ways of making that involvement as meaningful and productive as possible.

A report from West North West Homes Leeds was submitted which advised the Area Committee about activities undertaken by West North West Homes Leeds.

Appended to the report was a schedule of estate walkabouts and inspections planned for the inner west area in September and October 2012.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Mick Parker, Neighbourhood Performance Manager, West North West Homes Leeds, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

The key points of discussion were:

• Concerns associated with the ‘bedroom tax’, particularly the impact on individuals with disabilities.  Members also raised concerns about vulnerable families, possibly resulting in an increase in lodging and the safeguarding issues associated with this.  Members discussed potential challenges in terms of enforcement.
• Concern about the inconsistency of walkabout inspections that had taken place.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendix be noted

(b)  That a further six monthly update be provided to the Area Committee in March 2012.

To receive and consider a report from the Acting Chief Asset Management Officer updating the Area Committee on developments with Community Right to Bid.

The Acting Chief Asset Management Officer submitted a report which updated the Area Committee on developments with Community Right to Bid.

Appended to the report was a draft copy of the Community Right to Bid nomination guidance and nomination form.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Neil Charlesworth, Community Asset Officer, City Development, to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

Members expressed concerns about the practical and resource issues associated with this policy.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

To consider a report briefing the Area Committee on the proposals being brought forward in response to rising demand for reception places city wide. The report also provides an update on place pressure issues in the inner west.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which briefed the Area Committee on the proposals being brought forward in response to rising demand for reception places city wide.

Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership Development Business Support), Children’s Services, presented the report.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive and consider a joint report from the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) and the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) providing background information regarding local Member representation on Leeds Initiative Area Based Partnership Groups and also the Council’s Corporate Carers’ Group.  The report also invites the Area Committee to determine Elected Member appointments to these groups.

Kate Sibson, Area Officer, Environment and Neighbourhoods, presented the report.

Councillor Gruen reported that she had been receiving papers for the Corporate Carers’ Group, although it was not clear if she was expected to attend.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendix be noted

(b)  That the appointment to the Corporate Carers’ group be approved at the next meeting following discussions between Councillors Gruen and Taggart.

To receive and consider a report from the Deputy Chief Executive updating Members on the Area Committee’s Well-being budget.

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report which updated Members on the Area Committee’s well being budget.

Kate Sibson, Area Officer, Environment and Neighbourhoods, presented the report.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report, including the well-being revenue budget balance for 2012/13, be noted

(b)  That the capital projects identified under 3.10 of the report be decommissioned (with the exception of the Alleygating Whyther Park Hill / Aston Close project) and the new balance of the capital well-being budget be noted.

(c)  That the transfer of income from the lease of land adjacent to New Wortley Community Centre to the New Wortley Community Centre Management Committee from 2013 onwards, be approved.

To receive and consider a report from the Deputy Chief Executive informing Members on progress against the Area Support Team’s work programme and local priorities.

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report which updated Members on key priorities in the inner west area of Leeds since the Area Committee meeting in March 2012.

Draft terms of reference in relation to Armley Community Forum and Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum were appended to the report for Members’ information.

Kate Sibson, Area Officer, Environment and Neighbourhoods, presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendix be noted

(b)  That the terms of reference for the two Community Ward forums be approved.

(c)  That Councillor J Harper be appointed Chair of Armley Community Forum and Councillor C Gruen be appointed Chair of Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum for the 2012/13 municipal year.

Wednesday, 25^th October 2012 at 5.00pm.

(Venue to be confirmed)

Thursday, 25^th October 2012

(Community Room, Sri Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Tong Road, New Wortley)

(The meeting concluded at 7.00pm.)