Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the December meeting of the West (Inner) Area Committee held at the Stanningley Amateur Rugby League Football Club, Coal Hill Drive, Leeds 13

The Chair informed the meeting that Steve Crocker, former West North West Area Manager had now taken up his new post working on the Year of the Volunteer.  The Chair thanked Steve Crocker for all the tremendous work he had carried out as West North West Area Manager for the West Inner Leeds

which was echoed around the table.  The Chair announced that he would be writing to Steve Crocker on behalf of the Area Committee to thank him for his services and to wish him well in his new endeavours.

The Chair welcomed Jason Singh, Acting West North West Area Manager for an interim period and congratulated him on his new post. 

Alison Pickering, Area Management Officer for West (Inner) introduced Shazad Kibria, to the meeting who had recently been appointed as a

Project Officer, West North West Area Management.  The Chair welcomed the officer to the meeting.

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair admitted to the agenda the following late items of business:-

·  Armley Community Forum – minutes of a meeting held on 17^th November 2009 (Minute 48 refers)

·  Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum – minutes of a meeting held on 26^th November 2009 (Minute 48 refers)

The items were late due to the fact that they were not received in time to allow the documents to be produced for the normal agenda release deadline.

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor D Atkinson.

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 personal interests were declared:

·  Councillor T Hanley in his capacity as a Board Member of Bramley Elderly Action (Agenda Items 9 & 12  – Minutes 51 & 54  refers) and, in his capacity as a member of the Governing Body of Leeds West Academy (Agenda Item 12 (Appendix 1) – Minute 54  refers)).

·  Councillor J Harper in her capacity as a Member of the West Leeds Gateway Board and Chair of Townscape Heritage Initiative (Agenda Items 12 & 18 – Minutes 54 & 61 refer).

·  Councillor J McKenna in his capacity as an employee of Armley Helping Hands (Agenda Items 8 & 12 – Minutes 50 & 54 refer).

·  Hazel Boutle, Co–optee in her capacity as a member of Townscape Heritage Initiative (Agenda Item 12 – Minute 54 refers).

·  Stephen McBarron, Co-optee in his capacity as Chair of Inner West Area Panel for West North West Homes (Agenda Item 21 – Minute 63 refers).

Note:  Declarations of interest declared below - Minute 50 refers.

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.

It is also intended to submit under this item for information/discussion purposes the minutes of the local community forum meetings.  The following sets of minutes are enclosed:

(a)  Armley Community Forum held on

(b)  Bramley & Stanningley Community Forum held on

The Chair gave notice that in accordance with the Area Committee Procedure Rules, there was provision for an Open Forum session of up to 10 minutes at each ordinary meeting of an Area Committee in order to allow members of the public an opportunity to ask questions or to make representations on any matter which fell within the remit of the Area Committee.  On this occasion, no issues were raised.

A copy of the minutes of the following Community Forum meetings were tabled for Members’ information:

·  Armley Community Forum meeting held on 17^th November 2009.

·  Bramley & Stanningley Community Forum meeting held on 26^th November 2009.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Armley Community Forum and the Bramley & Stanningley Community Forum be received and noted.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 21^st October 2009 and to consider any matters arising from those minutes.

Minute 37 (c) – CCTV (2009/2010) Annual Report

Alison Pickering, Area Management Officer informed the meeting that the Area Management Team are looking at other projects in relation to the reference to CCTV at the Bramley Shopping Centre.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21^st October  2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report by the Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods to update Members on the current amount of capital and revenue funding available via the Area Committee Well-being Budget for Wards in the Inner West area.  The report also seeks approval for new projects commissioned by the Area Management Team.

 RESOLVED -

(a)  That the financial status of the Well-Being Budget, both capital   and revenue, as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2 of the submitted   report be noted.

(b)   That the following decision be taken in respect of the application for   funding from the:

Revenue

  New Wortley Community Centre – Approved up to £8,000 to be paid in phases monthly until March 2010, subject to the following conditions, submission of:

·  monthly financial updates and progress reports to be  submitted to all West Inner Area Committee Members and the Acting West North West Area Manager. Content and format to be agreed by West North West Area Management Team.

·  the Community Centres’ latest bank statement and a breakdown of its current budget and future income/ expenditure forecast.

·  assurances that this funding would not be spent on staff redundancies, it should be spent on eligible business costs, as agreed by West North West Area Management Team.

(c )  That approval be given for the reallocation of funds from the small   grants and skips budget into the revenue budget as outlined in   paragraph 3.3 of the submitted report, subject to an amount of funds   remaining available for the allocation of skips. 

(d)  That the update for small grants and skips as outlined in paragraph 4.1 to 4.4 of the submitted report be noted.

(e)  That the update on previous Well-Being funded applications in   relation to Festive Lights in Bramley as outlined in paragraph 5.1 be   noted.

   The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating   Members on the current amount of capital and revenue funding available via   the Area Committee Well-being budget for wards in the Inner West area.  The   report also sought approval for new projects commissioned by the Area   Management Team.

  Alison Pickering, West Inner Area Management Officer presented the   report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

  Brian Bloom, New Wortley Community Centre gave a brief presentation   regarding his application and introduced Stephen Charlesworth of

  St Anne’s Charitable Trust who had been helping the Community Centre sort   out their finances.  Mr Bloom informed the meeting that due to the expertise of   Mr Charlesworth, the Community Centre had now been able to obtain some   finance from other sources but that £8,000 was now needed in order for it to operate until March 2010. 

  Members raised various question with Mr Bloom regarding his application and   the Chair then asked the applicants to leave the room while Members made   their decision.

RESOLVED -

(a)  That the financial status of the Well-Being Budget, both capital   and revenue, as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2 of the submitted   report be noted.

(b)   That the following decision be taken in respect of the application for   funding from the:

Revenue

  New Wortley Community Centre – Approved up to £8,000 to be paid in phases monthly until March 2010, subject to the following conditions, submission of:

·  monthly financial updates and progress reports to be  submitted to all West Inner Area Committee Members and the Acting West North West Area Manager. Content and format to be agreed by West North West Area Management Team.

·  the Community Centres’ latest bank statement and a breakdown of its current budget and future income/ expenditure forecast.

·  assurances that this funding would not be spent on staff redundancies, it should be spent on eligible business costs, as agreed by West North West Area Management Team.

(c )  That approval be given for the reallocation of funds from the small   grants and skips budget into the revenue budget as outlined in   paragraph 3.3 of the submitted report, subject to an amount of funds   remaining available for the allocation of skips. 

(d)  That the update for small grants and skips as outlined in paragraph 4.1 to 4.4 of the submitted report be noted.

(e)  That the update on previous Well-Being funded applications in   relation to Festive Lights in Bramley as outlined in paragraph 5.1 be   noted.

Note:  Councillor A Lowe joined the meeting at 5.20 p.m. and declared the following personal interests:

·  In her capacity as a Director of West North West Homes Leeds (Agenda Items 9, 17 & 20) – (Minutes 51, 59 & 62 refer);  as a representative of Leeds VOICE and as Chief Officer – Touchstone and as a member of Leeds Mental Health Foundation Trust (Agenda Item 10 – Minute 52 refers).

To consider a report by the North West Divisional Community Safety Partnership and the attached Performance Framework/Strategic Plan 2008/2011.

The North West Divisional Community Safety Partnership submitted a detailed report and updated Members on the following issues:

·  Progress and outputs of the Multi-agency partnership Tasking arrangements

·  Thematic Sub Groups and activities

·  Performance of the North West Police Division and partnership

·  Summary of ward crime statistics, public confidence and user satisfaction

·  Multi-agency ‘Operation Champions’

Police Inspector Bownass and Gill Hunter, Area Community Safety Co-ordinator gave an extensive overview of some of the work the Community Safety Partnership had undertaken over the last twelve months and highlighted some of the key activities, particularly the ones where there had been support through the Well-Being fund and partner agencies.

Detailed discussion ensued on the content of the report, presentation and supporting information particularly in relation to the information previously circulated to Members regarding hate crime, particularly on the Broadlea estate.  Members also raised the issue in relation to the rise in domestic violence. 

Inspector Bownass informed the meeting that all the necessary agencies were now in place, including West North West Homes/Anti Social Behaviour Unit etc to address the issues in relation to race hate crime. 

The Inspector also informed the meeting that people were now more confident in reporting domestic violence.  Gill Hunter informed the meeting that a Divisional Partnership meeting had been arranged for February 2010 to discuss domestic violence and that a detailed report would be submitted to this Area Committee on this subject in a few months time.

Amanda Jackson, Locality Enabler – Children’s Services informed the meeting that Children’s Services were also looking at both these issues through family intervention and social housing.

The Chair thanked Inspector Bownass and Gill Hunter for the excellent work being carried out in the Inner West area and reported that many constituents in his own Ward had been full of praise for the work carried out by their local Police Officers/PCSOs.  Members of the Area Committee echoed the Chairs sentiments and there was a round of applause.

RESOLVED – 

(a)  That the contents of the report and the attached Performance   Framework/Strategic Plan 2008/2011 be received and noted.

(b)  To note that a report on domestic violence containing statistics for the   West Inner area would be submitted to a future meeting of this Area   Committee.

To consider a report by the Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods

Seeking Members’ views on the consultation being undertaken by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) regarding its application to become an NHS Foundation Trust.

Patient and Public Support Services NHS Leeds submitted a report seeking Members’ views on the consultation being undertaken between October until the end of December 2009 by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) in relation to its application to become an NHS Foundation Trust in October 2010.

Alan Sheard, NHS Trust gave a brief overview and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

Appended to the report was a copy of ‘Your hospitals your say’ – Foundation Trust consultation document for the information/comment of the meeting.

In brief, the main areas of concern were:

·  that the proposed boundaries for the public constituencies did not fairly represent areas of Leeds as illustrated in Section 5 of the consultation document.  Members suggested that the boundaries should reflect the wards for each Area Committee wedge as it seemed odd to group

Armley with Pudsey and Beeston & Holbeck;  Bramley & Stanningley with   Weetwood and   Crossgates and Seacroft with Roundhay and Moortown.

  (In response, the officer informed the meeting that it was a valid point   which had already been raised at other consultation meetings with Area Committees whose comments would also be taken on board).

·  what difference would these changes make to patients.

(In response, the officer informed the meeting that it would make as much difference as people wanted it to make.  They would be part of the organisation and become more vocal which could make a powerful difference.  More importantly the general public, governors and the Foundation Trust would be able to make the NHS accountable on how they spend their money).

The Chair thanked Alan Sheard for his attendance.

RESOLVED -  That the contents of the report, the mechanisms for providing feedback through Officers and the comments now made, be noted.

To consider a report by the West North West Area Manager explaining the proposals to make 2010 – A Year of Volunteering in Leeds and to outline progress in relation to developing a programme of activities and arrangements for running and resourcing this programme.  The report includes a programme of activities for West Inner Leeds and seeks Member approval.

The Committee received and considered a report submitted by the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods which encouraged all Area Committees to join in with and support the Council-wide initiative of 2010 being designated locally as the Year of the Volunteer – publicising the benefits of, and opportunities for, citizens getting involved in a wide variety of activities which would be of general benefit to themselves and the local population.

Steve Crocker, former West North West Area Manager who was now Co-ordinating the Year of Volunteering, presented the report and informed the meeting that this initiative was mainly about community cohesion by getting people involved in their neighbourhood on a voluntary basis.  The plan was to open a Voluntary Action Centre on St Paul’s Street to enable people to come along and get involved in all the monthly themes outlined in Appendix 1 attached to the submitted report.

The Chair once again thanked Steve Crocker for the tremendous amount of hard work and for everything he had accomplished for West Leeds over the years and that he would be sincerely missed. 

In response, Steve Crocker thanked Members for their co-operation and for the time and dedication as Ward Members in making things happen in West Leeds.  The former Area Manager went on to say that the West Area Committee Members were a good example of how an Area Committee should work compared to the rest of the city and that he had enjoyed working with all those Members as part of his long career. 

The Chair wished Steve all the very best for the future.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That Members endorse and support the proposal, mission and aims for   2010 being the Year of Volunteering in Leeds.

(b)  That Members support the development of 2010 Year of  Volunteering   through the programme of Area Committee events identified in Section 4 of the submitted report.

(c)  That approval be given to the small grant application for £1,000 currently   being circulated to Members to Support the Year of Volunteering.

(d)  That Councillor J McKenna be appointed as Member Champion on the   Year of Volunteering for the West Inner Area Committee.

To consider a report by the West North West Leeds Area Manager informing Members on progress to date for the first two quarters of the Area Delivery Plan for 2009/2010.

RESOLVED –  That the progress for the first two quarters of the Area Delivery Plan as outlined in Appendix 1 of the submitted report be received and noted.

The West North West Leeds Area Manager submitted a report to update Members regarding progress on issues contained in the Committee’s Area Delivery Plan (ADP) for first two quarters for 2009/2010 municipal year.

Appended to the report was a detailed copy of the Area Delivery Plan for 2008/2011 for this Area Committee (Appendix 1 refers).

Alison Pickering, Area Management Officer presented the report and highlighted certain issues in relation to worklessness in both the Armley and Bramley & Stanningley Wards and the need for better transport links to enable the unemployed to access jobs in other parts of the city.

RESOLVED –  That the progress for the first two quarters of the Area Delivery Plan as outlined in Appendix 1 of the submitted report be received and noted.

To consider a report of the New Generation Transport Team (City Development) outlining progress on the development of the New Generation Transport scheme and providing the Area Committee with feedback from the summer consultation process and recent Major Business Scheme.

A report of the New Generation Transport Team (City Development) was submitted outlining progress in relation to the development of the New Generation Transport scheme and providing the Area Committee with feedback from the summer consultation process and recent Major Business Scheme.

Mark Philpott, NGT Highways Manager and Tom Gifford, Metro presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

Discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.  Members also noted that in the short term the New Generation Transport Scheme does not include any proposals for the West Leeds area at this stage, although there was scope for future extensions and alignments in the West Leeds area

but these were not included in the current funding allocation and design work.

In summary, the main issues raised were:

·  the need for better transport links to Leeds Bradford Airport.

·  the need to improve transport links in the West Leeds area which was renowned for being one of the worst areas served by public transport in the Leeds area. 

·  that improved transport links in the West Leeds area would help to reduce worklessness on one of the most deprived areas of the city.

·  whether consideration had been given to using dual powered vehicles along the NGT route.

·  whether a promotional video presentation was available for the proposed NGT route.

(In response, officer informed the meeting that there was a video available on the www.ngtmetro.com website). 

The Chair thanked officers for their attendance.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be received and noted.

(b)  That the New Generation Transport Co-ordinator be requested to feed   back the above comments into the consultation process.

To consider a report by informing the Members on the outcomes following the evaluation of the ‘I Love West Leeds’ festival for 2009.

The West North West Area Manager submitted a report on the outcomes following the evaluation of the ‘I Love West Leeds’ festival for 2009.

Jane Earnshaw, Festival Director for ‘I Love West Leeds’ gave a brief presentation on the report and circulated photographs taken at the 2009 events for Members information.  The Officer emphasised that the festival had created a strong brand over the last four years that had become

respected city-wide.  There had also been large scale involvement of participants and audiences across five city Wards and that the festival had a major influence on the creative economy in West Leeds area.

A copy of the ‘I Love West Leeds’ 2010 calendar was also tabled at the meeting.

Members congratulated Jane Earnshaw on the success of the ‘I Love West Leeds’ festival. 

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

Note:  Councillor Harper left the meeting at 7.00 p.m. during consideration of   the above item. 

To consider a report of Chief Executive, Education presenting the Area Committee with the consultation document on proposals for the expansion of 17 primary schools and additional provision for children with special educational needs at 2 primary schools.

The report of the Chief Executive, Education Leeds presented the Area Committee with the consultation document on proposals for the expansion of 17 primary schools and additional provision for children with special educational needs at 2 primary schools.

It was reported that more children had been applying for places in schools than had been anticipated.  Various reasons had been identified for this including a reduction in the number going into private sector education, movement into the City and an increase in birth rates.

Roy Sayers, Education Leeds presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In response to criticism that officers had been short sighted in closing

many of the city’s Primary Schools, it was reported that local authorities were under an obligation to reduce the over-capacity of places which existed at that time and still existed in the higher age categories at primary education level.

The Officer informed the meeting that the current influx was not due solely to birth trends, which might have been reasonably anticipated, but was also a consequence of recent movement to Leeds.

It was also reported that many of the primary schools which had previously been closed were the less popular ones which were often in the wrong areas to attract new pupils and they could not reasonably have been maintained at that time due to unsustainable space capacity.

The Officer informed the meeting that birth rates were still increasing every year and Education Leeds would be re-assessing school provision every year for the foreseeable future.  It was anticipated that a further report would be submitted in the new year with proposals for 2011. 

Members also raised concerns that serious consideration should be given to the access and egress arrangements before the expansion of the 17 primary schools in Leeds.

RESOLVED - That the report and the comments now made be noted.

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s Services in order to enable the Area Committee to receive appropriate performance management information which takes account of recent changes to the OFSTED and Comprehensive Area Assessment.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next West Inner Area Committee meeting.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report to give Area Committee Members the opportunity to comment on multi-agency service development and to advise on how the department should take this work forward with the Area Committee and the Children’s Champion.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next West Inner Area Committee meeting.

To consider a report by the Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods providing a summary of the West North West Area Management Team’s Community Engagement Programme.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next West Inner Area Committee meeting.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next West Inner Area Committee meeting.

To consider a report by the Leeds Bradford Corridor Programme Manager to update the Area Committee on the progress made in setting up and delivering

the Leeds Bradford Corridor programme of work.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next West Inner Area Committee meeting.

To note a report by the Head of Tenancy Management & Customer Services to update Members on the activities and performance of West North West Homes Leeds.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next West Inner Area Committee meeting.

To note a report submitted by the West North West Area Manager to update Members on progress to date, next steps and proposals for revitalising Armley Town Centre.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next West Inner Area Committee meeting.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on the Leeds Metropolitan University’s draft Community Engagement Statement  and to seek comments on the draft statement from key stakeholders such as Leeds City Council.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next West Inner Area Committee meeting.

To consider a report by the Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods seeking feedback from Members on the content and usefulness of a six monthly Health & Environmental Action Services (HEAS) activity report to Area Committees.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next West Inner Area Committee meeting.

Wednesday, 17^th February 2010 (Time and Venue to be confirmed).

MAP OF VENUE FOR TODAY’S MEETING

Stanningley Amateur Rugby League Football Club, Coal Hill Drive, Leeds, LS13 1PA

(Map attached)

Wednesday, 17^th February 2010 venue to be confirmed.