Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair admitted to the agenda, as late items of urgent business, the minutes of the Armley Community Forum meeting held on 19^th January 2010 and the minutes of the Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum meeting held on 28^th January 2010, neither of which had been available at the time of agenda despatch.  It was regarded that these should be dealt with as late items of urgent business at this meeting, as the next meeting of the Area Committee was not until 14^th April 2010 (Minute No. 71 refers).

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 declarations of personal interest were made:-

Councillor Taggart – Agenda Item 13(Minute No. 76 refers) – West North West Homes Update Report – in his capacity as a member of the ALMO Inner West Area Panel.

Councillor J McKenna – Agenda Item 13(Minute No. 76 refers) – West North West Homes Update Report – in his capacity as a member of the ALMO Inner West Area Panel.

Mr S McBarron – Agenda Item 13(Minute No. 76 refers) – West North West Homes Update Report – in his capacity as a member of the ALMO Inner West Area Panel.

Mr M Pugh - Agenda Item 13(Minute No. 76 refers) – West North West Homes Update Report – in his capacity as a member of the ALMO Inner West Area Panel.

(NB:  See also later Minute No. 72.)

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.

The Chair gave notice that, in accordance with the Area Committee Procedure Rules, there was provision on the agenda for an Open Forum session of up to 10 minutes 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.

Two local residents spoke in favour of the traffic management proposals in respect of Aviary Road and Truro Road, Armley, as contained in the report under Agenda Item 9, Wellbeing Fund Update Report.

The Chair stated that these representations would be taken into account when the Committee came to Item 9 later in the meeting.

(NB:  Councillor A Lowe joined the meeting at 17:17  during the consideration of this item.)

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 9^th December 2009 and to consider any matters arising from those minutes.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the addition of Stephen McBarron to the list of people present at the meeting, the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th December 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

(Minutes to follow.)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings of the Armley Community Forum held on 19^th January 2010 and the Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum held on 28^th January 2010 be received and noted.

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

RESOLVED –

(a) That the report be received and noted;

(b) That the following decisions be taken in respect of the applications before the Committee today for decision:-

CAPITAL

(i)  St. James Mews – gating –  £1,668.25 – Approved;

(ii)  Fairfield Community Centre – improvements - £850 – Approved;

(iii)  CCTV – Broadleas roundabout – £23,130 – Agreed in principle, subject to clarification of the details at the next meeting on 14^th April;

(iv)  Armley traffic management scheme – Aviary Street/Truro Street –  £22,000 – Approved;

(v)  Bramley improvement scheme – £8,730.60 –  Approved, subject to confirmation in writing of the future maintenance arrangements;

(vi)  Armley – Designated Public Places Order signs – £1,200 – Approved;

(vii)  Bramley shopping centre – security radios for shopkeepers –  £3,660 –  Approved, subject to the proviso that the radios should be funded for small, local retailers only, not national chains;

(viii)  Fuelsavers – Aerial thermal survey overflight – £3,000 – Approved;

(ix)  Armley Moor – improvements – £16,730 – Local Members to seek to use Ward Based Initiative funds to fund this scheme, with the full support of the Area Committee;

REVENUE

(i)  Town Centre Manager – extension of contract until March 2011 – £20,000 salary costs + £5,000 events budget = £25,000 – Approved;

(ii)  ‘ I Love West Leeds ‘ Festival 2010 – £25,000 – Approved;

(iii)  Summer Bands in the Parks Concerts – £1,200 – Deferred to next meeting;

(iv)  CCTV Broadleas roundabout – £3,568 – Agreed in principle, subject to clarification of the details at the next meeting;

(v)  Community Centres – New post of Business Facilities Manager – £75,680.32 – Approved in principle, subject to the outcome of proposed urgent discussions with representatives of the New Wortley CC, further Member consultation and possible officer delegated decisions. The outcome to be reported back to the next meeting;

(vi)  West Yorkshire Police – Off-Road motorcycle scheme – £1,497 – Approved;

(vii)  4 Families – Development Worker – Fairfields and Wyther estates – £65,000 – Deferred to next meeting;

(viii)  Inner West Holiday Sports Scheme etc – £6,000 – Approved;

(ix)  Small Grants/Community Skips Fund – Agreed in principle, subject to report back to the next meeting.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating Members on the current balances on the Committee’s revenue and capital Wellbeing budgets, and setting out details of applications for funding before the Committee today for consideration.

Representatives of the applicants were invited to speak in support of their applications.

The Chair made reference to concerns regarding likely reductions in the Wellbeing monies available to Area Committees in 2010/11 and also to the retrospective proposed ‘claw-back’ of 10% of the 2009/10 capital allocation to each Area Committee, regardless of whether or not those monies had already been allocated.  The Council’s budget meeting would be taking place on 24^th February, and representations and alternative proposals would be made by the Labour Group.

RESOLVED –

a)   That the report be received and noted;

b)   That the following decisions be taken in respect of the applications before the Committee today for decision:-

Capital

i)  St. James Mews – gating –  £1,668.25 – Approved;

ii)  Fairfield Community Centre – improvements - £850 – Approved;

iii)  CCTV – Broadleas roundabout – £23,130 – Agreed in principle, subject to clarification of the details at the next meeting on 14^th April;

iv)  Armley traffic management scheme – Aviary Street/Truro Street –  £22,000 – Approved;

v)  Bramley improvement scheme – £8,730.60 –  Approved, subject to confirmation in writing of the future maintenance arrangements;

vi)  Armley – Designated Public Places Order signs – £1,200 – Approved;

vii)  Bramley shopping centre – security radios for shopkeepers –  £3,660 –  Approved, subject to the proviso that the radios should be funded for small, local retailers only, not national chains;

viii)  Fuelsavers – Aerial thermal survey overflight – £3,000 – Approved;

ix)  Armley Moor – improvements – £16,730 – Local Members to seek to use Ward Based Initiative funds to fund this scheme, with the full support of the Area Committee;

REVENUE

i)  Town Centre Manager – extension of contract until March 2011 – £20,000 salary costs + £5,000 events budget = £25,000 – Approved;

ii)  ‘I Love West Leeds‘ Festival 2010 – £25,000 – Approved;

iii)  Summer Bands in the Parks Concerts – £1,200 – Deferred to next meeting;

iv)  CCTV Broadleas roundabout – £3,568 – Agreed in principle, subject to clarification of the details at the next meeting;

v)  Community Centres – New post of Business Facilities Manager – £75,680.32 – Approved in principle, subject to the outcome of proposed urgent discussions with representatives of the New Wortley CC, further Member consultation and possible officer delegated decisions. The outcome to be reported back to the next meeting;

vi)  West Yorkshire Police – Off-Road motorcycle scheme – £1,497 – Approved;

vii)  4 Families – Development Worker – Fairfields and Wyther estates – £65,000 – Deferred to next meeting;

viii)  Inner West Holiday Sports Scheme etc – £6,000 – Approved;

ix)  Small Grants/Community Skips Fund – Agreed in principle, subject to report back to the next meeting.

(NB:  1)  Nigel Conder, Town Centre Manager, declared a personal and prejudicial interest  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

To consider a report by the Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods providing the Committee with Leeds Metropolitan University’s draft Community Engagement Statement.

Sue Holmes, Director of Estates, Leeds Metropolitan University, presented a report regarding a draft Community Engagement Statement produced by the University which sought to establish the broad principles of its social responsibility and community engagement/partnership commitments.

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  a perceived need to expand the draft statement into a more detailed action plan for interaction with the local community;

·  previous problems associated with rowdy behaviour on the part of students to the detriment of local residents, and how the University was attempting to tackle the issue;

·  the need to open up more of the University’s facilities to the local population;

·  the possibility of ‘open days’ to enable the students to learn more about the local community, and vice versa, and to allow local residents to view the facilities which might be available to them.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments and suggestions, the report be received and noted.

(NB:  Councillor A Lowe left the meeting at 19:00, during the consideration of this item.)

To consider a report by the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods to inform Members of the progress against the Leeds Strategic Plan and the Inner West Area Delivery Plan.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

RESOLVED – That the report of the Acting Area Manager be received and noted.

To consider a report by the West North West Area Manager providing Members with a summary of the West North West Area Management Team’s Community Engagement Programme and highlighting the implementation of the community engagement pilots: the Citizens Panel and the Online Service.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

RESOLVED – That the report of the Acting Area Manager be received and noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Tenancy Management & Customer Services (WNWhL) updating Members on the activities and performance of West North West homes Leeds.

The Head of Tenancy Management and Customer Services, West North West Homes ALMO, submitted a report updating the Committee on a wide range of issues.  Mick Parker, West North West Homes, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, the main issues discussed were:-

·  the 2008 decision of the ALMO Board not to bid for the Sheltered Housing Service contract for the area, and the fact that no other bids had been received either.  The lack of certainty regarding the future of this service was a cause for concern in the area;

In response, Mick Parker stated that another review was currently being undertaken.  In the absence of any other interested parties, it was the intention of West North West Homes to carry on providing this service itself;

·  the imminent Audit Commission inspection and the hope that two star status might be achieved;

·  the Council’s decision to utilise ALMO reserves to off-set expenditure in other spending areas, the effects of this decision on ALMOs and the lack of consultation with local Members;

·  whether or not current ALMO areas were too large.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments, the report be received and noted.

To consider a report by the Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods seeking feedback on the content and usefulness of a 6 monthly Health & Environmental Action Service (HEAS) activity report to Area Committees.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating Members on the activities of the Health and Environmental Action Service over Quarter 2 of 2009/10, broken down on a Ward by Ward basis.  It was the intention to submit similar regular reports in the future.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

To consider a report by the Chief Officers for Regeneration and Health and Environmental Action Services informing Members of the decisions concerning the restructure of the warden service, the new CEO/CESO posts and the initial deployment of the new posts.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be received and noted;

(b)  That a further report be submitted to a future meeting regarding the proposed deployment of the new Community Environment Officer.

The Chief Officers for Regeneration and Health and Environmental Action Services submitted a joint report updating Members on the latest situation regarding the restructuring of the former Neighbourhood Warden Service into a revised service utilising new posts of Community Environment Officers (CEOs) and Community Environment Support Officers (CESOs).

Graham Wilson, Head of Environmental Action and Parking, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, the main issues discussed were:-

·  the demise of the former Neighbourhood Wardens, brought about principally by the withdrawal by the Government of Neighbourhood Renewal Funding and the subsuming of many of the duties of the former Neighbourhood Wardens by Police Community Support Officers;

·  the new revised service would be a reactive one, with CEOs and CESOs responding to issues and ‘hot spots’ as and when they occurred, rather than patrolling a particular ‘patch’;

·  the proposed deployment of the one CEO currently allocated to cover the Committee’s area, and whether one post was sufficient;

·  the need for close liaison between the CEO and the Neighbourhood Policing Team, to share intelligence and to ensure the best use of the CEO’s time and efforts.

RESOLVED –

a)    That the report be received and noted;

b)    That a further report be submitted to a future meeting regarding the proposed deployment of the new Community Environment Officer.

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s Services introducing a presentation about key priorities of the Leeds Children and Young People Plan to advance at pace integrated working and the strengthening of safeguarding arrangements.

RESOLVED – That the report of the Director of Children’s Services be received and noted.

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s Services providing an outline of the proposed children’s services performance management arrangements for Area Committee and seeking Member involvement in ensuring local performance information is relevant to local priorities.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report providing an outline of the proposed Children’s Services performance management reporting arrangements for Area Committees.

Amanda Jackson, Locality Enabler, Children’s Services, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:-

·  Amanda Jackson reported that in the first instance, she was liaising with Councillor Alison Lowe, the Committee’s Children’s champion, regarding the issues highlighted in the report;

·  Members expressed dismay at the implications of some of the raw data contained in the report relating to children in the Committee’s area, and the need to drill down to get to the causes of the difficulties in order to be able to tackle them. The report should be re-submitted to the next meeting, as an early agenda item, and sufficient time allocated for a discussion;

·  In particular, Members expressed concern regarding some of the statistical information in relation to the education service and instructed that Chris Edwards, Chief Executive of Education Leeds, should be invited to attend the next meeting to explore these matters in greater depth.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report be received and noted, and re-submitted to the next   meeting for further discussion.

b)  That Chris Edwards, Chief Executive of Education Leeds, also be invited to attend the next meeting on 14^th April 2010.

(NB:  Councillors D Atkinson and T Hanley and Mrs S McBarron left the meeting at 20:00, towards the end of the discussion on this item).

To consider a report by the West North West Area Manager providing Members with an update on the Town Centre Manager’s progress, priorities and work programme and proposals for revitalising Armley Town Centre.

RESOLVED – That the report of the Town Centre Manager be received and noted.

To consider a report by the West Leeds Area Manager introducing Inspector Mark Bownass from West Yorkshire Police who will give an update on Community Safety Issues and crime trends in Inner West Leeds since the last Area Committee meeting 9^th December 2009.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

To consider a report by the Leeds Bradford Corridor Programme Manager updating the Inner West Leeds Area Committee of the progress made in setting up and delivering the Leeds Bradford Corridor programme of work.

The Leeds/Bradford Corridor Programme Manager submitted a report informing the Committee of work done to date in relation to setting up and delivering a programme of work designed to improve and enhance the prospects and appearance of the area.  This was the first of what was intended to be regular update reports.

Fergus Mitchell, the Leeds/Bradford Corridor Programme Manager, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments, as follows:-

·  West Leeds Gateway – Councillor J Harper had been informed of the Council’s intention to wind-up the West Leeds Gateway project.  If this was the case, it made it even more imperative that the West Inner Area Committee had Member-level representation on the Leeds/Bradford Corridor Programme Board, and this should not be, as had been suggested, at the expense of Councillor R Lewis stepping down.

·  The potential importance of a rail halt, perhaps at Kirkstall Brewery, in terms of enhancing the employment opportunities and prospects of residents in the area.

RESOLVED –

a)  That, subject to the above comments, the report be received and noted.

b)  That further update reports be submitted periodically.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive, Education Leeds seeking Members’ comments on the consultation document and proposals for the expansion of Ryecroft and Calverley C of E Primary Schools.

The Chief Executive, Education Leeds, submitted a report regarding proposals to expand certain primary schools in West Leeds.

Viv Buckland, Head of Service, Admissions and Transport, Education Leeds, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  concerns regarding the possible effect and longer term implications for children in the Rodley area of the proposed expansion of primary school provision in Horsforth.

·  the reasons behind the proposals – an increase in the birth rate, plus migration and immigration into Leeds;

·  the need for individual consultation with Inner West Members regarding the proposals relating to the proposed relocation of the West Leeds SILC.

·  the demand and need in Leeds for an all-girls school, and potential sites for such an establishment – perhaps the former City of Leeds Girls High School site.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments and requests for further individual local Member consultation, the report be received and noted.

(NB:  Councillor J Harper left the meeting at 20:30, during the consideration of this item, thereby rendering the meeting inquorate.)

Wednesday, 14^th April 2010 (time and venue to be confirmed).

Wednesday, 14^th April 2010 at 17:00 hours, venue to be confirmed.

The meeting concluded at 20:35.