Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the West (Inner) Area Committee’s first meeting at the Moorside Community Centre.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

The Chair reported one late item of urgent business, a report by the West Leeds Area Manager outlining the changes to the Community Safety Partnership structure for West Leeds with the development of tasking meetings based on the Inner and Outer West areas.

The Chair indicated that in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, she had agreed to accept this report as a late item of urgent business in order to inform Members that the tasking teams will commence in February 2007.

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

Councillor J Harper declared a personal interest as Chair of Sure Start and  School Governor of West Leeds High School (Agenda Item 10 and Minute 73 refers).

Councillor A Lowe declared a personal interest as a Board Member of West/North West Homes ALMO, School Governor Raynville Primary School  and Intake High School of Arts College (Agenda Item 10 and Minute 73 refers)

No other declarations were made at this point in the meeting.

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.

Members are also asked to note the minutes of the Armley Community Forum

meeting held on 11th November 2006.

The agenda made reference to the provision contained in the Area Committee Procedure Rules for an Open Forum Session at each ordinary meeting of an Area Committee, for members of the public to ask questions or to make representations on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.  On this occasion, no matters were raised under this item by those members of the public who were in attendance.

The minutes of the Armley Community Forum meeting held on 21^st November 2006 were submitted for information and noted.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on

7^th December 2006.

RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th December 2006 be confirmed as a correct record.

Wyther Community Centre (Minute No. 51 refers)

Steve Crocker, West Leeds Area Manager updated the Area Committee on the proposed closure of the Wyther Community Centre on 12^th January 2007.  It was reported that the Twilight Twirler Group had illegally occupied the building, Councillor J L Carter, Executive Board Member for Neighbourhoods and Housing and whose portfolio included responsibility for Community Centres, had intervened and, following a proposed contribution made by Sellarbrook Construction to provide funding for the group for a year, the City Council was in negotiations with the group and were now in the process of drawing up a one year lease for them to sign by the beginning of March 2007. 

To note a report by the West Leeds Area Manager introducing Richard Ashworth from the Learning and Leisure Department, West Leeds Holiday Sports Team who will give an update on the West Leeds Holiday Sports Programme which is supported by the Area Committee’s Well-Being Fund to provide a range of activities for young people during the school holidays.

(Executive Function)  -   10 Mins

The West Leeds Area Manager submitted a report introducing Richard Ashworth, Learning and Leisure Department, Community Sports Officer for West Leeds who gave a brief report on the West Leeds Holiday Sports Programme for last year, which was supported from the Well-Being Fund and provided a range of activities for young people in the school holidays.

The Community Sports Officer for West Leeds informed the meeting of the great success of the West Leeds Holiday Sports Programme last year and how well received the programme had been by both the young people and their parents.  Parents were keen to put their children’s names down and to get lists sorted out should there be another programme for 2007.  The officer went on to inform the meeting that nothing like this had been arranged in previous years and it would be easier this year to do more, such as target the  12+ year age group and it was felt that there was room to develop that further.  It was the intention of the Community Sports Team to work with Leisure Centres as well to bring more partnership into the programme. 

The West Leeds Area Manager welcomed the update report and informed the meeting that the sports programme was a tremendous success last year as it had provided diversionary activities for those children in areas where anti-social behaviour during holiday periods in West Leeds had been at its greatest. 

The Chair thanked Richard Ashworth for his presentation.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted and that the West Leeds Area Manager be instructed to submit a report on the West Leeds Holiday Sports Programme for 2007 to the next meeting.

In accordance with Minute No.64 above, the West Leeds Area Manager submitted a report informing Members of the changes to the Community Safety Partnership Structure for West Leeds with the Development of Tasking meetings based on the Inner and Outer West areas focusing on crime, anti-social behaviour and grime.

Members were informed that the first of the Tasking meetings were to be held in February 2007.

Gill Hunter, Community Safety Officer, West Leeds Area Management presented the report and, together with Inspector Steve Thomas, West Yorkshire police, responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In brief, the following issues were raised:-

• Youths breaking windows and security lights in the Ashlea Court Sheltered Housing Complex in the Cross Grassmere area.
• Concern was expressed at the lack of communication with the Neighbourhoods and Housing and Social Services departments who were unaware of the incident that occurred at Ashlea Court.
• Members expressed concern at the response time for the Wardens and the Police to arrive when the incident occurred at Ashlea Court.
• The need to install security cameras at the Ashlea Court Sheltered Housing complex
• The vulnerability of the elderly in the Bramley and Stanningley Ward where an elderly lady was struck down and her bag stolen just before Christmas.
• The proposals to promote Neighbourhood Watch in the West Leeds area and the need to report regularly to Community Forums.
• The numerous requests for ginnel closures and the lengthy process to get them closed.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That the West Yorkshire Police and Community Safety Officer submit a report to the next meeting with regard to the recent incident in the Cross Grassmere area.

(c)  That a report on Neighbourhood Watch be submitted to future Community Forum meetings..

(d)  That the West Area Manager report back to the next Area Committee on proposals for prioritising future work on ginnel closures.

(Councillor Taggart arrived at the meeting at 9.20 am and Councillor McKenna arrived at the meeting at 9.30 am during consideration of the above item).

To note a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing

introducing Steve Thomas from West Yorkshire Police Authority who

will give an update on Community Safety issues in West Leeds.

(Executive Function)  -  5 mins

The West Leeds Area Manager submitted a report and Inspector Stephen Thomas gave a brief update on community safety Issues in the West Leeds area.

Inspector Thomas informed the meeting of the recent appointment of a new constable who would be part of the Neighbourhood Police Team, which would mean positive changes for the West Inner area.

RESOLVED – That the update report  be noted.

To consider a report of the West Leeds Area Manager seeking

approval for new projects in the Inner West area.

(Executive Function)  -  10 mins

The West Leeds Area Manager submitted a report to update Members on the current amount of capital and revenue funding remaining for Wards in the Inner West area for the financial year 2006/07 and the commitments already approved.  The report and appendices also sought approval for new projects commissioned by the Area Committee.

Carole Clark, Area Management Officer, presented the report and, together with the West Leeds Area Manager, responded to Members’ questions and comments.

RESOLVED - 

(a)  That the amount of Well-Being Budget remaining for the Inner West  

  Area Committee be noted.

(b)  That the following decisions be taken in respect of new projects and  

  requests for funding from the Well-Being Budget contained in appendices attached to   the submitted report:

(i)  People Matters -  Approved £2,500 (Revenue) subject to funding being sought from all Area Committees as this is a city-wide project.

(ii)  St Margaret’s Church Security Gates – Approved £1,000 (Capital)

(iii)  Sikh Sports & Cultural Centre – Approved £10,000 (Capital), subject to success of the lottery bid and further research on service users at the Centre

(iv)  I Love West Leeds Federation Director – Approved, £25,000 (Revenue)

(v)  Christ Church Building Project – Approved £10,000 (Capital), subject to contributions being made from other sources.

(vi)  Neighbourhood Warden for New Wortley – Approved £29,000 (Revenue) for 2007/08

(c)  That the applications for Small Grants and Skips as outlined in paragraph 3.2 of the report be approved.

(d)  To confirm the small grant decision for two summer band concerts in Armley Park at a cost of £600 and, that the Chief Recreation Officer be requested to organise a further two summer band concerts in the Bramley area at a further cost of £600.

(e)  That the application for Consultation and Engagement expenditure as outlined in paragraph 4.0 of the report be approved.

(f)  That the variation report from British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) to deliver additional work with money remaining from the 2005/2006 funding be approved.

(g)  That further information be incorporated in reports on any future new projects to include the Wards affected, page numbers instead of Appendix numbers and what percentage of the budget the cost of the project relates to.

(h)  That the Chair write a letter of protest to the Lead Member for Neighbourhoods and Housing on behalf of all Members of the Inner West Area Committee expressing concern about the proposed reduction in Area Management Teams and the lack of any consultation with the Area Committee on the process that is being used to restructure Area Management.

To consider a report by the West Leeds Area Manager providing

updates and progress in implementing the Area Delivery Plan.

(Executive Function)  -  5 Mins

The West Leeds Area Manager submitted a report on the content and format of the Area Delivery Plan for 2007/08 which provided details of how the plan supported the Leeds Local Area Agreement and the Council’s strategic objectives, how the Area Committee functioned, details of the Well-Being Budget, an update on what had been achieved in the priority areas during 2006/07 and an action plan for 2007/08. 

Carole Clarke, Area Management Officer and Steve Crocker, West Leeds Area Manager presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

Referring to the map Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 for the Armley Ward, Members felt that the park area should be emphasised in green.

RESOLVED -

(a)  That the proposed final Area Delivery Plan (ADP) including its key  

  themes and in particular the Action Plan, attached to the submitted report, with its actions and outcomes be approved.

(b)  That the use of the ADP for the Area Committee;  the links to the Leeds Local    Area Agreement and the ways the ADP will be implemented, including the Area Management Team developing a work programme based on the ADP and the need for Area Committee decisions and requests of the Area Management Team where possible to be in line with

  its agreed ADP, be noted.

(c)  That the next steps in approving the ADP regarding Executive Board decisions, be noted.

(d)  That a foreword by the Chair of West Inner Area Committee be included in the final Area Delivery Plan for 2007/08.

To consider a report and appendices by the Chief Housing Services Officer who will be giving a presentation to the Area Committee on the Council’s plan for delivering Affordable Housing in Leeds.

(Council Function)  -  10 Mins

RESOLVED – That, in view of the absence of an officer from the Neighbourhoods and Housing Department to present this report, consideration  be deferred to the next West (Inner) Area Committee meeting.

To note a report by the West Leeds Area Manager on progress to

date with the Town and District Centre improvements and the

success of the Stage 1 Heritage Lottery application.

(Executive Function)  -  5 Mins

The West Leeds Area Manager tabled a revised report regarding  how the Leeds Townscape Heritage Project would be developed and managed over the next 10 months to meet the deadline for the Stage 2 submission in October 2007.  The report also detailed key milestones, together with the risk management plan associated with the project development.

Carole Clark, West Area Management Officer presented the report and, together with Steve Crocker, West Area Manager responded to Members’ questions and comments.

RESOLVED – That the report and the management and milestone details outlined in paragraph 3.1 and 3.2 of the report be noted.

Thursday, 29^th March 2007 at 9.00 a.m. (venue to be arranged).

MAP OF TODAY’S VENUE

Attached is the location map to Moorside Community Centre,

St Catherine’s Drive, Bramley, Leeds LS13 2JY.

Thursday, 29^th March 2007 at 9.00 am at the Stanningley Amateur Rugby Football Club.