Agenda, decisions and minutes

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

Agenda item 17, Leeds City Credit Union Branch Network – Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)).

The Chair drew attention to Agenda Item 17 (Min. No. 101 refers) – Leeds City Credit Union Branch Network.  The report included an appendix which contained exempt information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Credit Union, and the Committee would have to decide whether or not to exclude the press and public when that information was considered later in the meeting.

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 a late item of urgent business, the minutes of the meeting of the Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum held on 25^th March 2010, which had not been available at the time of agenda despatch.  It was regarded that these should be dealt with as a late item of urgent business at this meeting, as the next scheduled Area Committee meeting was not until 23^rd June 2010 (Minute No.92 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:-

Agenda item 17 (Min. No. 101 refers) – Leeds City Credit Union Branch Network – Councillors D Atkinson, A Lowe and J McKenna in their capacity as Credit Union account holders.

Agenda Item 10 (Min. No. 95 refers) – Wellbeing Budget Applications – Application from Raynville Mosaic Arts Project – Councillor A Lowe, in her capacity as a Governor at Raynville Primary School – and application for the Refugee Week Exhibition – Councillor Lowe in her capacity as a member of Pafras, one of the partner organisations.

Councillors A Lowe, J McKenna and N Taggart and Morgan Pugh also made a general declaration of personal interest in respect of any matters appertaining to West North West Homes ALMO, in their capacities as either an ALMO Director or members of the ALMO Inner West Area Panel.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence from the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillors T Hanley and J Harper.

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.

Two local residents raised concerns regarding the condition of Rodley Park and The Cowie and lack of action by the Parks Department.

The Chair requested the Area Manager to arrange a meeting with the Parks Department, involving himself and the local residents, to discuss the situation and remedial action.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 17^th February 2010.

RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th February 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive for information purposes the attached minutes of the Armley Community Forum meetings held on 16^th February 2010 and 16^th March 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings of the Armley Community Forum held on 16^th February and 16^th March 2010 and the Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum held on 25^th March 2010 be received and noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Children’s Services.

(Council Function)

Further to Minute No. 80, 17^th February 2010, the Committee re-considered the report of the Director of Children’s Services providing an overview of information relating to children and young people in the Committee’s area, in a format which it was proposed should form a template for regular future update reports to the Area Committee.

In attendance at the meeting, and responding to Members’ queries and comments, were:-

-  Chris Edwards, Chief Executive, Education Leeds.

-  Paul Bollom, Priority Outcome Commissioner, Children’s Services.

-  Amanda Jackson, Locality Enabler, Children’s Services.

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

·  The presently unsatisfactory nature of the statistical information currently available to the Committee via the Office of National Statistics and other sources on such matters as teenage pregnancies, which was out of date and based on previous Ward boundaries. 

The officers outlined the steps which were being taken to improve the statistical information available to Members, and Members should notice an improvement in future reports.  More up to date information on the NEET statistics (young people Not in Education, Employment or Training) would be sent separately to Members.

·  Performance statistics and other matters in relation to the areas primary and secondary schools.  The importance of whole community involvement with schools was emphasised, e.g. mentoring and volunteering from both the local and business communities – say, helping pupils to read and write.  It was also agreed to extend an invitation for the head teachers of both local secondary schools to attend a future Area Committee meeting to discuss these matters.  It was reported that the Council’s Executive Board had recently agreed to commission a study regarding the potential demand for, and merits of, an all-girls high school in the centre of Leeds.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the officers thanked for their attendance and the manner in which they have responded to Members’ queries and comments.

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting)

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the application for funding from Friends of Bramley Carnival on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, being information relating to a particular individual, or which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual, which is categorised as exempt information under Paragraph 10.4(1) and (2) of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED – (a) That the report be received and noted, including the Committee’s revenue and capital budget allocations for 2010/11;

(b) That approval be given to establishing a Small Grants Fund (£5,000) and Skips Fund (£1,000) for 2010/11;

(c) That the following decisions be taken in respect of the applications for funding before the Committee tonight for determination :-

CAPITAL

(i)  CCTV – Broadleas Roundabout - £23,130 – Approved in principle;

REVENUE

(i)  CCTV – Broadleas Roundabout – maintenance - £3,568 – Approved in principle for 5 years, but the Area Committee is strongly of the view that these maintenance costs should be picked up by West North West Homes. Matter to be referred to the ALMO Inner West Area Panel;

(ii)  4 Families Project - £65,000 –  Refused;

(iii)Refugee Week Exhibition - £2,571.23 – Approved.

SMALL GRANTS

(i)  Friends of Bramley Carnival - £500 – Refused;

(ii) Raynville Mosaic Arts Project - £500 – Approved;

(iii) Interplay – LS12 Film trip to London - £350 – Approved.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee regarding its available budget for 2010/11 and inviting the Committee to consider several applications for funding.

RESOLVED –

a)   That the report be received and noted, including the Committee’s revenue and capital budget allocations for 2010/11;

b)   That approval be given to establishing a Small Grants Fund (£5,000) and Skips Fund (£1,000) for 2010/11.

c)   That the following decisions be taken in respect of the applications for funding before the Committee tonight for determination :-

CAPITAL

i)  CCTV – Broadleas Roundabout - £23,130 – Approved in principle;

REVENUE

i)  CCTV – Broadleas Roundabout – maintenance - £3,568 – Approved in principle for 5 years, but the Area Committee is strongly of the view that these maintenance costs should be picked up by West North West Homes. Matter to be referred to the ALMO Inner West Area Panel;

ii)  4 Families Project - £65,000 –  Refused;

iii)  Refugee Week Exhibition - £2,220.98 – Approved.

SMALL GRANTS

i)  Friends of Bramley Carnival - £500 – Refused;

ii)   Raynville Mosaic Arts Project - £500 – Approved;

iii)  Interplay – LS12 Film trip to London - £350 – Approved.

d) That the update regarding the Community Centres’ Consortium be received and noted, and the £75, 680.32, agreed in principle at the last meeting (Min. No. 72, 17^th February 2010), be approved.         

(NB:   1.  Councillor D Atkinson left the meeting at 5.57 pm at the commencement of this item.

2.  That in respect of the application on behalf of Friends of Bramley Carnival, Councillors A Lowe, J McKenna and N Taggart wished it to be recorded that they all voted in favour of refusing the application.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED – That the proposed pricing and lettings policy for directly managed community centres in the area, as set out in the report, be approved, with an implementation date of 1^st October 2010.

RESOLVED – That the proposed pricing and lettings policy for directly managed community centres in the area, as set out in the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods, be approved, with an implementation date of 1^st October 2010.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED – That the draft Area Delivery Plan 2010/11 be approved, for submission to the Executive Board.

RESOLVED – That the draft Area Delivery Plan 2010/11 be approved, for submission to the Executive Board.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Democratic Services Officer.

(Council Function)

RESOLVED – That the following dates be agreed for meetings of the West Inner Area Committee in the 2010/11 municipal year, all normally to commence at 5.00 pm, venues to be confirmed at a later date:-

23^rd June 2010

8^th September 2010

20^th October 2010

15^th December 2010*

16^th February 2011

6^th April 2011.

*NB. Possibly an a.m. meeting.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Environmental Action Team Service Manager.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED – That initially, the area’s Community Environment Officer be deployed in the priority areas identified at Paragraph 3 of the report, the situation to be kept under review at least annually.

RESOLVED – That, initially, the area’s Community Environment Officer be deployed in the priority areas identified at Paragraph 3 of the report, the situation to be kept under review at least annually.

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure of to them of exempt information, as follows:-

Agenda item 17 – Leeds City Credit Union Branch Network - Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4(3) – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding the information).

To receive and consider the attached joint report of the Director of City Development and the Chief Customer Services Officer.

(Executive Function)

The Committee considered a joint report submitted by the Director of City Development and the Chief Customer Services Officer regarding the current operation of the Leeds City Credit Union and its network of branch offices.  The report included an appendix containing exempt information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Credit Union.

Members indicated that they were supportive of the Credit Union, and would be prepared to assist financially in order to keep the branch open at the Armley One Stop Centre.

Whilst welcoming the Committee’s support, the officers clarified that, at this stage, there was no guarantee that any of the Credit Union branches would be able to be kept open.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee agrees, in principle, to make a contribution of up to £10,000 to Leeds City Credit Union, specifically in order to maintain a branch at the Armley One Stop Centre.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

(Executive Function)

This item was deferred.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Acting Area Manager.

(Executive Function)

This item was deferred.