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.)

Reference was made to two late appendices in respect of Agenda Item 14 (Minute No. 74 refers) – Children’s Services – Performance Report – which had been inadvertently left off the agenda when it was published.  These were circulated round the meeting.

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.

Councillor D Atkinson made a declaration of personal interest in respect of Agenda Item 17 (Minute No. 73 refers) – Future Options for Long Term Residential Care and Day Care for Older People – as she was currently in receipt of home care services.

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 Committee considered representations from a local resident, Mr Jeffrey Houseman, relating to the condition of, and the amount of annual expenditure on, Rodley Park, compared to other Council parks in West Leeds.

Mr Houseman was informed by Members of current discussions taking place with the Council’s Parks and Countryside Division, relating to Bramley and Stanningley Ward, which would address his concerns.  Reference was also made to recent improvements in respect of the footpaths in Rodley Park.  Reference was also made to the free bulbs scheme operated by Groundwork Leeds each September.

It was agreed that the Area Management Officer should arrange another meeting between Councillor Hanley and the relevant Council officers and that Mr Houseman should be invited to attend.

Mr Houseman was thanked for raising the issue.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 15^th December 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th December 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

a)  NW Divisional Community Safety Partnership – Annual Report (Minute No. 61 refers)

Councillor Atkinson made reference to the new police computer programme which allowed the public to check on incidences of crime in specific streets, and raised her concerns regarding burglary rates in the Ganners and an assault in Eric Street, Bramley.

Inspector Bownass undertook to liaise separately, outside the meeting, with Councillor Atkinson regarding these matters.

Inspector Bownass also undertook to ensure that the maps referred to at the last meeting (Minute No. 55) were distributed to all the relevant residents – apparently, to date, some residents had not received the information, but others had.

b)  Friday Night Project, Armley Lazer Centre (Minute No. 57 refers)

Further to Minute No. 57, 15^th December 2010, the Chair reported that she had since visited the Friday Night Centre, and congratulated everyone involved in this brilliant initiative.

To receive and consider the attached minutes of the meetings of the Armley Community Forum held on 18^th January 2011 and the Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum held on 27^th January 2011.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Armley Community Forum meeting held on 18^th January 2011, and the Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum meeting held on 27^th January 2011, be received and noted.

(NB:  Councillor N Taggart joined the meeting at 5.25 pm, at the conclusion of this item.)

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

RESOLVED – (a) That the report be noted, including the Committee’s revenue and capital wellbeing budget balances;

(b) That the following in principle decisions be taken in respect of the applications for funding in 2011/12 listed below, subject to final confirmation of the Committee’s wellbeing budget for 2011/12 :-

(i) ‘ I Love West Leeds ‘ Festival 2011 - £25,000 – Approved.

(ii) Holiday Sports Provision - £4,000 –  Approved.

(iii) West Yorkshire Police – covert crime reduction initiative - £6,063 (2011/12 only) –  Approved.

(iv) Armley Sports Project - £1,656 – Approved.

(v) Additional litter bins - £2,800 maximum (£350 per bin) – referred to Sub Group (see (c) below);

(c) That in respect of the above applications, the final allocation of the 2010/11 capital balance of £3,199 and also the £25,000 approved in principle at the last meeting in respect of the post of Town Centre Manager, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods be authorised to implement the decisions, using his concurrent delegated powers, once the Committee’s final budget for 2011/12 is confirmed, in consultation with a Members’ Sub Group comprising the Chair and a Bramley and Stanningley Ward Member.  

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee regarding its revenue and capital wellbeing budget balances for 2010/11 and containing details of several new applications for funding in 2011/12.

The current revised capital balance of £3,199 was noted, and Members indicated that there were one or two pressing issues in Bramley and Stanningley Ward, in addition to the proposals for possible new litter bins in Armley and Bramley.  It was agreed that the final allocation of this balance should be dealt with by the Director via a delegated decision, in consultation with a Sub Group, comprising the Chair and a Member from Bramley and Stanningley Ward.

Jane Earnshaw, Director, I Love West Leeds Festival, attended the meeting, outlined various costed options for the event in 2011 and reported on other sponsorship and funding streams being pursued, including the Arts Council.

RESOLVED –

a)   That the report be noted, including the Committee’s revenue and capital wellbeing budget balances;

b)   That the following in principle decisions be taken in respect of the applications for funding in 2011/12 listed below, subject to final confirmation of the Committee’s wellbeing budget for 2011/12 :-

i)   ‘I Love West Leeds‘ Festival 2011 - £25,000 – Approved.

ii)   Holiday Sports Provision - £4,000 –  Approved.

iii)   West Yorkshire Police – Covert crime reduction initiative - £6,063 (2011/12 only) –  Approved.

iv)   Armley Sports Project - £1,656 – Approved.

v)   Additional litter bins - £2,800 maximum (£350 per bin) – referred to Sub Group (see (c) below);

c)   That in respect of the above applications, the final allocation of the 2010/11 capital balance of £3,199 and also the £25,000 approved in principle at the last meeting in respect of the post of Town Centre Manager, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods be authorised to implement the decisions, using his concurrent delegated powers, once the Committee’s final budget for 2011/12 is confirmed, in consultation with a Members’ Sub Group comprising the Chair and a Bramley and Stanningley Ward Member. 

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee on progress in respect of the implementation of the Committee’s Area Delivery Plan 2008-11.

The Chair introduced Jane Maxwell, the newly appointed Area Leader for West and North West Leeds.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Copy of proposed agenda items attached.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

Inspector Mark Bownass and Gill Hunter, Divisional Community Safety Co-ordinator, updated the Committee on community safety issues in the Committee’s area and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted, and the Police and officers be congratulated in respect of their efforts, which is evidenced in the report.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Deputy Director (Strategic Commissioning), Adult Social Care.

The Deputy Director of Adult Social Care (Strategic Commissioning) submitted a report outlining a current review and extensive public consultation exercise in respect of long term residential care and day care services for older people across the City.

Anna Clifford and Kim Maslyn, Adult Social Services, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  The extent of the problems facing the Council was acknowledged.  The elderly population was increasing, the costs of caring for them was getting more expensive, local authorities were under tremendous financial pressure, the Council’s current stock of accommodation needed extensive investment just to bring it up to a modest standard, the services available in the private sector had increased dramatically and often costs were lower and standards of accommodation higher in the private sector.  This was a big issue the Council was facing, but it was regarded that it was going about it in a reasonable and responsible way via the process outlined by the officers.

·  Council staff involved in the planning and provision of services for the elderly in Leeds were praised for their dedication.

·  The current and possible future needs of the BME population in Leeds and in the Committee’s area needed to be taken into account in the process, including consultation with local communities via contact with churches mosques, gurdwaras, etc.  If the officers contacted Touchstone, it would also be able to assist. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted, and an update report be submitted to the next meeting in April.

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

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report updating the Committee on performance levels in a variety of areas, including recent statutory inspections of the adoption service, the youth offending service and five children’s centres, various education performance indicators, the latest NEET (Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training), and the top priorities contained in the Children and Young People Plan (CYPP) 2011-15.

Amanda Jackson, Locality Enabler, Children’s Services attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  In brief summary, Members made the following points:-

·  Appendix 1a – Key Stage 4 attainment levels for BME pupils – Members requested that consideration be given in future reports to providing separate information in the ‘White Gypsy, Roma and Travellers of Irish Heritage’ category, as these were distinct groups with their own cultures and issues.  Members requested more gender-based information, as often there were distinct differences in performance levels, e.g. black Caribbean boys and girls.  Members also requested information relating to pupils in receipt of free school meals and possible links to under-attainment in this group.

The Committee agreed to defer more detailed consideration of the report to the next meeting, to enable the area’s Secondary School Improvement Adviser to be present.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the above comments, the report be received and noted, and placed on the agenda again for the next meeting.

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

Further to Minute No. 47, 20^th October 2010, and Minute No. 54(e), 15^th December 2010, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report updating the Committee regarding progress on implementing the proposed delegation of elements of Streetscene Services to Area Committees, including work being done on draft Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and plans for further Member workshops in March (31^st March in respect of the West Inner Area Committee).  Dayle Lynch, Environment and Neighbourhoods Department, attended the meeting and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

Members requested the provision of accurate, up to date maps at the next briefing, showing the extent and frequency of the mechanical and hand street sweeping rounds in the Committee’s area.  They also requested that the briefing be re-arranged from 31^st March to another date, to avoid a clash with the meeting of the Plans Panel (West).

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

(NB:  Councillor T Hanley left the meeting at 6.57 pm at the conclusion of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the West North West Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager.

Tim Taylor, Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager, presented a briefing paper informing the Committee of the proposals contained in the Government’s White Paper ‘Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’ for greater involvement of local authorities in public health matters.  He indicated that he was happy to respond separately, outside the meeting, to any queries or requests for further information from Members.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Tuesday 5^th April 2011, at 5.30pm, Strawberry Lane Community Centre.

The Committee’s final meeting in the current municipal year was on Tuesday, 5^th April 2011, at 5.30 pm, Strawberry Lane Community Centre.  At that meeting, the Committee would be asked to agree the dates, times and possible venues for its meetings in 2011/12.

The meeting concluded at 7.03 pm.