Agenda and minutes

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

1 To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information within the meaning of Section 100I of the Local Government Act 1972, 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 the recommendation is accepted, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That, in accordance with Regulation 4 of The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 or Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as appropriate, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of those 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:-‘

There were no resolutions to exclude the public.

There were no late items added to the agenda. However, supplementary information had been sent to Members of the Committee in relation to item 11 Children’s Services Report, Appendix 1. (Minute no. 32 referred)

Item 13 – Summary of Statistics was tabled after permission from the Chair was sought. (Minute no. 33 Welfare Reform referred)

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

No declarations were made.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. N Taggart, Eric Bowes (Co-optee, Armley Community Forum) and Karen Smales (Co-optee, Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum).

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th June 2013.

In relation to minute No 9 Wellbeing Fund

It was noted that the surname of the officer attending the 26^th June 2013 Area Committee meeting was Brent Brady.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 26^th June 2013 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes.

Minute No. 9 Wellbeing Fund

It was proposed to draft a second letter from Ward Members to local residents regarding the deferred Ganners alleygating scheme.

Minute No.10 Appointment of Area Lead Members, Cluster Representatives and Corporate Carers

Councillor Janet Harper agreed to the role of Area Lead Member for Environment and Community Safety for the municipal year 2013/14.

Minute No. 11 Children’s Services Report

Councillor J McKenna updated the Area Committee on the status of Swallow Hill telling the Committee that a new Head had been appointed and that a meeting had taken place with the Head and the Governors.

Cllr Lowe joined the meeting during this item.

To receive the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held on 3^rd May 2013.

(copy attached)

The minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held on 3^rd May 2013 were considered by the Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted.

To receive the minutes of the Inner West Area Panel meeting held on 10^th June 2013.

(Copy attached)

The minutes of the Inner West Area Panel meeting held on 10^th June 2013 were considered by the Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted.

To receive the minutes of the Armley Community and PACT meeting held on 16th July 2013 and the Bramley and Stanningley Community Forum and PACT meetings held on 13^th June and 8^th August 2013.

(Copies attached)

The Minutes of the Armley Community Forum meeting held on 16^th July 2013, and the minutes of the Bramley and Stanningley Combined Police PACT meeting and Community Forum meetings held on 13^th June 2013 and 8^th August 2013 were considered by the Area Committee.

RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted.

To receive a report of the Chief Officer, Strategy and Improvement to provide the West Inner Area Committee with a summary of the results from the 2011 Census and highlight some of the issues emerging from the 2011 Census.

(copy attached)

The report of the Chief Officer, Strategy and Improvement on the 2011 Census Results was presented by Jacky Pruckner (Information Officer, Planning, Policy and Improvement).The report provided the West Inner Area Committee with a summary of the results from the 2011 Census and highlighted some of the issues emerging from the 2011 Census.

Members’ attention was brought to local data that was included in the report and were informed of how the data was used at a local level. 

Members’ discussed how the information might be used in relation to specific neighbourhoods and locations to secure a more diverse community in the hard to reach areas within the West Inner Area Committee area.

Members’ were told that census packs are available that give information at an Area Committee and ward level and full information could be found online on the Leeds Observatory.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive a report of the Director of Children’s Services to inform members about local outcomes for children and young people, and support the involvement of area committees in improving these outcomes by providing an update on the work of the directorate and of the Leeds Children’s Trust, including local children’s cluster arrangements.

(copy attached)

The report of the Director of Children’s Services was presented by Sue Rumbold Chief Officer, Partnership for Development and Business.  The report provided a six monthly update. The report informed the Area Committee about local outcomes for children and young people and aimed to support the involvement of the Area Committee in improving outcomes by providing an update on the work of the directorate and the Leeds Children’s Trust, including local children’s cluster arrangements. The progress made against local and national agendas was also highlighted.

The report summarised performance at Area Committee level with a broader acknowledgement of City wide performance. Key issues for Children’s Services were highlighted and included Ofsted inspections, basic need and child friendly city.

Members’ attention was drawn to:

·  Ofsted have introducing a new Framework, the inspection of services for children in need of help and protection, children looked after and care leavers in November 2013;

·  The rising child population in Leeds leading to pressure over the next three years with the need for 50 additional forms of entry required to manage the increase in pupil numbers, with 22 of these additional forms of entry required for 2014;

·  Bramley Primary School and Bramley Cof E Primary School have seen their Ofsted rating rise from requires improvement to good. Summerfield Primary School has also been inspected and has been judged to require improvement;

·  There are no change in the Ofsted ratings of the two secondary schools in the area: Leeds West Academy is good and Swallow Hill judged satisfactory (grade now replaced by requires improvement) Swallow Hill Community College had closed and re-opened as a sponsored academy; and

·  All three children’s homes in the West Inner Area Committee area have now been rated as good by Ofsted.

Committee Members and Officers discussed issues in relation to:

·  The rise in NEETs for the West Inner area and issue of how to match skills for the many apprenticeships that have not been taken up;

·  The support given to young people leaving care; and

·  Attendance at both Primary and Secondary schools, including the issue of authorised absence. Members were told of a drafted letter from Children’s Services which is to being sent by Head Teachers outlining new legislation from Government to set fixed penalties for those parents wishing to take holidays during term time. This prompted debate about lobbying travel providers about pricing of holidays in term time compared to statutory school holiday periods.

RESOLVED – That Members’ noted the content of the report and asked to be kept informed on localised issues.

Cllr. Lowe left the room at 16:55 returning to the meeting at 17:00 during the consideration of this item.

To receive the report of the Chief Officer, Welfare and Benefits which provides an update of the impact of the welfare reforms at both a city-wide and ward level basis and also provides information on arrangements that have been put in place to support tenants.

(copy attached)

The report of the Chief Officer Welfare Rights was presented by Shaun Kelly (Finance Officer). The report provided an update of the impact of welfare reforms at both a city-wide and ward-level basis and also provided information on arrangements that have been put into place to support the tenants. This included the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme which provides support to tenants affected by the welfare changes, the scheme is on track to spend the full £1.9m budget with the bulk of this spend going on those deemed to be priority cases within the Council’s policy.

The Benefit Cap came into effect in Leeds on 12th August 2013 around 424 families will lose some or all of their Housing Benefit. All those identified have been contacted to ensure that they are aware of the changes.

Universal Credit not expected to begin in Leeds until December 2014. Preparations now underway for Universal Credit with a focus being on preparing tenants for a digital claims process, developing a Local Support Services Network, tackling high cost lenders and putting in place arrangements for dealing with direct payments of the housing element of Universal Credit to tenants. The report provided information about this programme and sought input from the Area Committee on how the programme of activity could work at a local level.

From this week Payday Loans websites have been banned from public computers in council venues. Members’ discussed the issues faced in the West Inner Area Committee area with the increase in high interest lenders and money shops, the need to raise awareness of debt counselling services and the take up of Credit Union.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the information about welfare reforms be noted;

b)  That the information about the campaign against high cost lenders and the locality based events and initiatives to support the campaign be noted; and

c)  That the spending of the Wellbeing monies set for Welfare awareness events be considered at the next General Purposes meeting.

Cllr Hanley left the meeting during the consideration of this item.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) highlighting new initiatives and partnership working that contributes to the Inner West Business Plan.

(copy attached)

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) updated the Area Committee on new initiatives and partnership working within the area that contribute to the priority themes outlined in the Area Committee’s Business Plan. The report includes information on a range of projects including the Youth Activities Fund consultation, Community Safety action days and the start of a corporate asset review.

At the last Area Committee, Members requested an update on alcohol services in the Inner West area. Tim Taylor (Health and Wellbeing) attended the meeting and updated the Committee on a number of issues including:

·  There are three locally based services for residents from the West Inner Area Committee area, Healthy Lifestyle Service, Health Trainer Service and Alcohol brief interventions (ADS) GP surgery. These services are based at a number of locations across the West Inner area;

·  The Leeds West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in partnership with LCC Public Health have provided additional investment in alcohol services in the West Inner including the funding of two alcohol workers and one student alcohol worker to work with pre–dependent drinkers and those in recovery;

·  LCC Public Health are providing funding for the Healthy Living Network, Armley Town Street Hub;

·  Public Health would like to extend a pilot currently running in South Inner area called ‘Operating Schedule’. Operating Schedule is optional and has been widely used and provides members of the licensing committee and the wider public with additional information on the applicant’s approach to the responsible sale of alcohol from the premises; and

·  Older people in the West Inner area have been highlighted as a group that require additional support.

Members discussed the cultural changes of the West Inner area specifically Armley Town Street and the need to engage with the community to address alcohol related issues.

Gill Hunter (Area Community Safety Co-ordinator) was also in attendance for this item and updated the Committee in relation to the crime statistics for the West Inner Area Committee area and a number of new initiatives including:

·  Multi-agency action plan to address issues of hate crime on the Wythers estate;

·  Child Sexual Exploitation awareness sessions have taken place, the sessions were open to all schools, cluster staff and partner agencies in West North West Leeds including health, youth services, housing staff, and social care; and

·  Funding from West North West Homes Leeds is being targeted to replace Euro profile locks on properties in the Broadleas.

Members discussed a recent programme on Channel 4 which had highlighted Bramley as the worst area in the City for burglary and of the programmes use of out dated statistics.

Richard Hardicre (Advice Services Manager) informed the Committee that there is provision for extra advice sessions and information in relation to employability and welfare reform and requested guidance from Members as where there is the most need.

RESOLVED

·  That Members noted the content of the report;

·  Considered how alcohol affects local communities and identified those groups that might need targeted support;

·  Considered whether the pilot scheme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) to update the Area Committee on the current position of the Inner West Wellbeing revenue budget, and presents three new applications consideration.

(copy attached)

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) advised the Area Committee of:

·  The balance of the West Inner Wellbeing revenue budget 2013/14

·  A scheme deferred from the last Area Committee meeting

·  A project requesting a change to their approved scheme

·  Three new Wellbeing Fund applications

·  Wellbeing Projects in development

·  Update on the Youth Activities Fund budget

The report also asked the Area Committee to approve the grant application and commissioning process for the 2014/15 Wellbeing budget.

RESOLVED – That members’

·  Noted the balance of the Wellbeing revenue budget for 2013/14

·  Considered the three new Wellbeing applications:

·  Noted the progress on the Ganners Alleygating scheme but have deferred until further consultation has been undertaken with residents.

·  Noted the projects funded via the Youth Activities Fund, and

·  Requested the Grant Application and Commissioning Process for the 2014/15 Wellbeing budget be brought to the next General Purposes meeting.

Cllr. Lowe left the meeting during consideration of this item.

To receive a report of the Deputy Chief Executive to provide Elected Members with an update on the current position with the Neighbourhood Improvement Programme for Inner West Leeds. It offers Members the opportunity to review progress and to consider the development of programme activity going forward.

(copy attached)

The report of the Deputy Chief Executive was presented by Jane Maxwell (Area Leader West North West). The report set out the progress that had been made to date, particularly in relation to the development of key partnerships and the formation of a Neighbourhood Improvement Plan aligned to local improvement themes.

In June 2012 the Area Committee approved the establishment of the West Inner Neighbourhoods Improvement Board to lead the development of Neighbourhood Improvement activity targeted at the area’s four most deprived localities. The Neighbourhood Improvement Board has now met four times and has set itself the following objectives:

·  To raise the profile of issues affecting priority neighbourhoods in Armley and Bramley and Stanningley Wards

·  To set priorities for neighbourhood improvement and provide strategic leadership to a broad range of locality partners

·  To oversee a programme of locality working which is responsive to the needs and aspirations of the local communities.

Gail Webb, Learning Outcomes for Children and Young People has undertaken work which looked at improving outcomes for young people in primary and secondary schools in the following areas

·  The transition experience between key stages

·  The engagement of families in supporting their children’s learning, and

·  The child’s journey through learning

Community engagement events have taken place over the summer with voluntary groups, there have been difficulties getting enough people to the meetings. Members were asked for feedback on how to develop community engagement.

RESOLVED – That Members noted the content of the report.

Next meeting will be held Wednesday 6^th November 2013, 5pm at Moorside Community Centre.

Next meeting will be held Wednesday 6^th November 2013, 5:00pm at Moorside Community Centre, St Catherine’s Drive, Bramley, Leeds LS13 2JY.