Agenda and minutes

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

There were no late items.

Cllr. Gruen declared an interest in item 16 Wellbeing Report as a Board Member of Bramley Baths.

There were no apologies.

In accordance with paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a period of up to 10 minutes for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.

On this occasion there were no questions or representations from members of the public present at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 20th February 2013.

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th February 2013 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the Minutes

Minute No. 80 – Update on the work of Tenant Scrutiny

Responding to an enquiry, Members received further detail on Tenant Scrutiny Panels and the nature of the work they undertook.

(Councillor Harper joined the meeting at 5.10pm, during the consideration of this item)

To receive the minutes of the Armley Community Forum and PACT meeting held on 19th February 2013 and the Bramley Community Forum and PACT meeting held on 31^st January 2013

(Copies attached)

The success of the recycling presentation given to the Bramley and Stanningley Combined Police PACT meeting and Community Forum was noted, and it was recommended that the presentation be provided to the Armley Community Combined PACT meeting and Community Forum

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the following Community Forum meetings be received and noted:

·  Armley Community Forum and PACT meeting – 19^th February 2013.

·  Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum and PACT meeting – 31^st January 2013.

To receive the minutes of the ALMO Inner West Area Panel meeting held on 11th February 2013.

(Copy attached)

The Committee received an update on the current position regarding the ALMO Area Panel’s Revenue Budget.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the ALMO Inner West Area Panel meeting held on 11^th February 2013 , be received and noted.

To receive the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held on 9^th January 2013.

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held on 9^th January 2013, be received, subject to noting that a correction in Minute No. 3.18 that Crisis Loans from the Social Fund would no longer be available from 1st April 2013, rather than 2014, as stated in the minute.

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s Services, which provides a summary of performance at area committee level with a broader summary of city level performance, and builds on previous reports with additional local context and tracking of local indicators.  The report also includes the majority of education results, including tables of headline results for all Leeds schools and links to additional information.

(Report attached)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which provided a summary of performance at area committee level with a broader summary of city level performance, and builds on previous reports with additional local context and tracking of local indicators.

Sue Rumbold, and Jancis Andrews from Children’s Services presented the report to the area committee which focused on the development work that has been undertaken and is ongoing within the West Inner area to address issues of poor attendance levels at schools in the area and the, targeted services work in the area. The report also asked Members to consider providing financial support to young people wanting to access the National Citizen Service programme who were unable to self - fund.

Following the introduction to the report, a question and answer session ensued, with the key points being as follows:-

·  Members raised concerns regarding the low performance levels in respect of Swallow Hill Community College, and received clarification on the status of the College, specifically with regard to its forthcoming transfer to Academy status;

·  It was noted that 3 primary schools in the area have shown improved ratings through Ofsted inspections;

·  The Committee noted that a detailed piece of work had been prepared with Member involvement and would be ready by May 2013 which will offer guidance and assistance on the journey of a child from preparing to go to school through to moving on to high school;

·  It was noted that there has been a reduction of looked after children in the West Inner area but the number is still high in comparison with the rest of the city;

·  The Committee noted that the targeted services have been restructured and a targeted services leader (TSL) is now attached to the clusters. The top 100 methodology for identifying and working with children and families is now established and well embedded in most clusters;

·  With regard to Common Assessment Framework (CAF) systems and the proportion of requests which met the threshold for being treated as a referral to the Children’s Services Social Work service, Members received details of the range of actions being taken to ensure that the CAF process worked more effectively for those residing in the Inner West area. Officers also made an offer to pick up any further issues that Members had in respect of this matter outside of the meeting;

·  It was noted that the West Inner area has the lowest figures in the city for attendance at both primary and secondary schools and specifically in respect of primary provision, Members highlighted the negative impact that low attendance had on numeracy and literacy attainment levels. Responding to comments, officers provided an overview of the actions being taken to address such issues;

·  Specifically looking at improving attendance, Members highlighted that key factors in addressing this issue included unemployment levels, housing provision, teacher-pupil ratios and the leadership of schools’ Chair of Governors and Head Teacher;

·  Members discussed the role of clusters in the agenda to improve schools’ performance.

Discussion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101.

To consider a report by the Assistant Chief Executive Customer Access and Performance which sets out initial proposals for the implementation of an area lead role following the review of area working in 2012.

(Report attached)

A report was submitted by the Assistant Chief Executive Customer Access and Performance which provided initial proposals for the implementation of an area lead role following the review of area working in 2012.

A review of area working was completed in December 2012 with a number of recommendations agreed by Executive Board. One of the recommendations was to develop and strengthen the existing local ‘Champion Role’ and re-launch this as an Area Lead role.

The report brought to the Area Committee defined the role of the Area Lead and outlined a list of core area leads needs to be developed and agreed by the start of the new municipal year. The West Inner Area Committee were also asked to consider whether co-optees to the Area Committee who are not elected members could fulfil an area lead role.

Discussion took place around the content of the report and the expected improvements that the Area Lead role would hope to achieve. Members considered the core lead areas detailed within the report, and specifically regarding Environmental enforcement, a Member offered to go on a walkabout with the Enforcement Officers and PCSO’s for the area.

Members welcomed the proposed two year tenure for the position of Lead Roles. In addition, Members highlighted the potential capacity issues which could be experienced by an Area Committee of only 2 Wards and as a result, welcomed proposals that the Committee’s co-optees became more involved in this process, with any associated training and support being offered to them. 

The Committee highlighted the need for Members to be fully informed of what was expected of them in undertaking such roles and noted that it may be beneficial for the appointed Leads to have an opportunity to periodically update Area Committees on the work which has been undertaken in their area.

RESOLVED – That subject to the comments made during the discussion, the proposals outlined in the report, including the Area Lead Role descriptions, the list of core functions, the training and support to be provided to the area leads, together with the Committee’s co-optees being provided with related training opportunities with a view to them becoming more involved in the work of the area lead role, be noted and supported.

To consider a report by the Director of City Development which aims to raise awareness of neighbourhood planning and to agree how the  Area Committee can support neighbourhood planning in Inner West.

(Report attached)

A report was submitted by the Director of City Development to raise awareness of neighbourhood planning and to agree how the Area Committee could support neighbourhood planning in Inner West.

The Localism Act 2011 introduced neighbourhood planning which is a new power that gives local communities the option to prepare a statutory development plan for their neighbourhood. It is a statutory plan that could determine where new development takes place, what it looks like and the opportunity to address and include other issues of community interest and concern. The Council has a duty to support local communities to prepare a neighbourhood plan and help deliver both local and city-wide objectives. In the Inner West Area there are no neighbourhood plans currently being prepared, but some interest has been expressed in New Wortley.

Following the introduction to the report, a discussion ensued. The key points raised were as follows:-

•  Concerns were raised in respect of the approach and ethos of the Council’s planning department, with any improvements to such matters being welcomed. The importance of family housing provision was emphasised;

•  Members highlighted the high level demand for housing provision which existed in the city, and the need to ensure that all appropriate measures were taken to maximise housing provision in order to help satisfy such demand;

•  Discussion was had around the practicalities involved with the funding and delivery of local projects as part of the Neighbourhood Planning initiative;

•  Members discussed the disparity between the number of Neighbourhood Plans which were currently being prepared in Outer areas, when compared with Inner areas, and discussed how communities within the Inner area could be encouraged to participate further in this initiative;

•  It was emphasised that Neighbourhood Plans needed to be in line with the Council’s Development Plan and considered that where appropriate, it would be necessary for such Plans to cross Ward boundaries;

•  With regard to the expression of interest which had been made for a Neighbourhood Plan in the New Wortley area, Members requested that further work was undertaken in respect of the actions and support that the Area Committee could potentially provide to this project.

RESOLVED -

(a)  That the contents of the submitted report, together with the comments made in respect of the opportunities and challenges for Neighbourhood Planning in the Inner West area, be noted;

(b)  That the interest expressed for a Neighbourhood Plan in New Wortley be noted, with further work being undertaken in respect of the actions and support that the Area Committee could potentially provide to this project.

To receive presentation by the Area Performance Manager, West North West Homes. An introductory report by the Deputy Chief Executive is attached.

(Report attached)

The Deputy Chief Executive of West North West Homes submitted a report requesting that a presentation be put before the Area Committee instead of its usual six month update.

The presentation gave a brief history from the creation of the ALMO in 2007,  to its present state of West North West Homes and its achievements on the way.

The Chair of West Inner Area Committee had requested an update on the Lettings Policy Review this was included within the presentation.

The Housing Team Leaders from Bramley and Armley Housing Offices explained how local issues were being addressed and the achievements that have been made by West North West Homes these included:

·  Landseer Road Fencing

·  Grit bins delivered to Coal Hill and the Broadleas

·  Burnsall Croft Improvements

·  Poplar Way turfing verges

They also outlined plans for the coming year these included:

·  New kitchen at Stanningley Court

·  Clearing of land on the Ganners

·  Planters at Burnsall Grange

·  Improvements to T blocks on Clydes estate

The presentation showcased the partnership and community work being undertaken, how the ALMO is working to support those affected by the Welfare Reform, the success of the Out of Hours Team, and what was hoped for the future of the ALMO.

RESOLVED – That the content of the presentation be noted and a presentation of performance be brought to the Area Committee on an annual basis.

To consider a report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) which sets out details of the Wellbeing Revenue Budget available for allocation in 2013/14. The report also identifies the projects to be considered and approved from the Wellbeing Revenue Budget allocation for 2013/14

(Report attached)

A report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) was submitted to the Area Committee which provided details of the Wellbeing Revenue Budget available for allocation in 2013/14. The report identified the projects to be considered and approved from the Wellbeing Revenue Budget allocation for 2013/14.

Area Committees have received the same allocation to their Wellbeing Revenue Budget for 2013/14 as given in 2012/13. This gives the Inner West Area Committee an allocation of £136,710, there was also an estimated under spend from 2012/13 as reported at the Inner West Area Committee on 20^th February 2013, the total fund available for new projects in 2013/14 is estimated at £141,570.

The Wellbeing commissioning round for 2013/14 received 36 applications for revenue funding totalling £245,018. A full list of these projects is available at appendix 1 of the submitted report.

Members considered the 20 projects listed in Table 2 of the submitted report and 11 projects listed at Table 3 of the submitted report.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the available Wellbeing Revenue Budget for allocation in 2013/2014 be noted;

(b)  That the following be agreed from the Wellbeing Revenue Budget allocation for 2013/2014, as detailed within Table 2 of the submitted report:

(c)  That the following be agreed from the Wellbeing Revenue Budget allocation for 2013/2014, as detailed within Table 3 of the submitted report:

To consider a report by the Deputy Chief Executive which provides an update  on progress against the Area Support Team’s work programme and local priorities. The report also sets out the progress against actions in the Inner West Area Committee’s Business Plan.

(Report attached)

A report was submitted by the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance which provided an update on progress against the Area Support Team’s work programme and local priorities, including the transfer of Bramley Baths to the community and Healthy Living Network’s new hub on Armley Town Street.

The report also set out the progress against actions in the Inner West Area Committee’s Business Plan, Members were asked for their views on priorities and actions for the 2013/14 Business Plan which is due to be ratified at Executive Board in June.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the submitted report be noted;

(b) That the progress made against the Area Committee’s Business Plan be noted, with Members being invited to submit any comments on the priorities and actions for the 2013/14 refresh, which is scheduled to be further considered by the Committee in May. 

To consider a report by the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) which seeks Members approval for the dates and times of their Area Committee meetings for the 2013/2014 Municipal year which commences in May 2013, whilst also considering whether any revisions to the  current meeting venue arrangements should be explored.

(Report attached)

A report was submitted by the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services) which sought Members approval for the dates and times of their Area Committee meetings for the 2013/2014 Municipal Year which will commence in May 2013.

Having considered the options available, Members agreed for the General Purposes Sub Group to continue to meet on a Monday.

RESOLVED –

(a)That the following schedule be agreed for West Inner Area Committee meetings in the 2013/2014 Municipal Year:

• 5.00pm, 26^th June 2013
• 5.00pm, 4^th September 2013
• 5.00pm, 23^rd October 2013
• 5.00pm, 18^th December 2013
• 5.00pm, 12^th February 2014
• 5.00pm, 19^th March 2014.

(b)  That once the date of the Annual Council Meeting for 2014 has been finalised, it be agreed that the Chair, in consultation with Area Support Officers, approve arrangements for the seventh Area Committee meeting in May 2014 (the main purpose for which is to elect a Chair for the forthcoming Municipal Year), with all Committee Members and co-optees being informed of the arrangements at the earliest opportunity.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Friday 17^th May 2013 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds (Please Note the meeting was originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday 14^th May 2013)

Map of today’s meeting

RESOLVED – That it be noted that the next meeting of the West Inner Area Committee is scheduled for Friday 17th May 2013 at 11:00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

 (The meeting concluded at 7.22pm)