Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed James Rogers, Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) and Chief Superintendent David Oldroyd to the meeting.

Chief Superintendent Oldroyd informed the Committee that he had recently taken over as the Divisional Commander for North West Leeds.  He made reference to the work across partnerships in the area and in particular with Elected Members and the Area Committee.  Acquisitive Crime was highlighted as an ongoing issue to be targeted and there had recently been a reduction of 50 percent in burglaries across the area.

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 J Marjoram declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 12, Well Being Fund Budget Update, Appendix 7, Summer Cricket Coaching due to his position as a Governor at Bolton Royd School.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors J Hardy and J Jarosz.

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.

Reference was made to the provision contained in the Area Committee Procedure Rules for an Open Forum session to take place at every ordinary meeting of an Area Committee, whereby members of the public could ask questions or make representations on any matter which fell within the remit of the Area Committee. On this occasion, no such matters were raised.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2012

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

Further to  Minute 77 and 97, Councillor Wood reported that he had not been provided with details of the enforcement notice served to Green Flag.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Public Health

Council Function

The report of the Director of Public Health, provided the Area Committee with an update on the emerging priorities for the area flowing from the refresh of the Leeds Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

The Chair welcomed Tim Taylor, Adult Social Care to the meeting.

It was reported that the JSNA was developed by the PCT and pulled together data from across the City from Health and Wellbeing partners and provided information on demographic issues such as children, employment and GP data.  The data was divided into the three geographical wedges of the City and further broken down across the Area Committee boundaries.  Following the official launch of the JSNA, the data would be available on the Leeds Observatory.

Further issues highlighted included the following:

• High premature mortality rates in Farnley and Pudsey.
• The role of GPs and the Council and how to get Council involvement.
• Childhood obesity.
• Role of Neighbourhood Networks.
• Developing a more local focus on where services should be.

In response to Members’ comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• The need to keep Elected Members involved and informed.  Concern was expressed regarding the re-location of Social Work staff from Pudsey Town Hall.  It was reported that this was due to the creation of the Integrated Health and Social Care Teams.  There had also been discussion with the Leeds West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) regarding improving engagement with Elected Members.
• Cross boundary issues with other authorities and different boundaries between health providers and the Council.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of City Development

Council Function

The report of the Director of City Development informed the Panel that following consideration by the Executive Board, the City Council’s Local Development Framework (Publication Draft) had been approved for public consultation.  The consultation period was 28 February to 12 April 2012 (5.00 p.m.) and the purpose of the report was to make Members aware of the consultation and broad scope and content of the document.

The Chair welcomed Lois Pickering and Robin Coghlan, Strategy and Policy, City Development, to the meeting for this item.

It was reported that the Core Strategy formed part of the Local Development Framework as proposed by the Council and set the strategic context for long term growth in the city for site allocation, development planning and neighbourhood planning.  Members attention was also brought to issues detailed within the report including Spatial Policies and housing allocations.

Further issues highlighted with regard to the strategy included the following:

·  It was projected that there would be a need for a further 74,000 properties across the City and land needed to be identified for 66,000 of these.

·  The strategy would have links to other issues such as transport, flood risk, sustainable construction and renewable energy.

·  Members were informed that at this stage objections could only be made on the soundness of the plan.

·  Following the end of the current consultation period, the Strategy would be referred back to Development Plans Panel and Executive Board.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Concern regarding the amount of park space across the City.
• The base number of proposed residential properties – this included properties that would be lost through demolition.
• Concern that Ward Members could not submit meaningful comments at this stage.
• High cost of renewable energy and issues relating to climate change and fuel poverty.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report and discussion be noted.

(2)  That a Working Group consisting of one Member from each of the West Outer Wards

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

Council Function

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the addition of further services to the delegation and the required amendment to the Street Cleansing & Environmental Enforcement Services section of the Area Committee Function Schedule as approved by Executive Board on 10 February 2012 be noted.

(2)  That the development of the new SLA for 2012/13 be brought to the June meeting for approval based on:

(i)  the inclusion of the additional services

(ii)  the inclusion of the specific service commitments on issues that improved capacity achieved through more efficient working and a flexible local management of resources/budget now allows

(iii)  the inclusion of local service responses to challenges presented by the hosting of Olympic teams, visits to the city by the Olympic torch (and other local Olympic related events) and local events associated with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations (e.g. street parties)

(iv)  the WNW Locality Team’s responses to addressing the Area Committee Member’s local priorities

(v)  the WNW Locality Team’s responses to expectations for further improvements raised by Elected Members across the city as presented through Executive Board in February

(vi)  the refreshed service principles

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods provided Members with information about services that are to be added to the Locality Team’s portfolio and therefore included in the Service Level Agreement (SLA) for 2012/23.  The report also consulted Members on updated priorities the Area Committee would like to see addressed in the new SLA which would be presented for approval at the June meeting cycle.

Jason Singh, Locality Manager, WNW Leeds presented the report.

The Committee was informed of additional services that would be delegated to Locality Teams.  These included the following:

• Gully cleaning;
• Graffiti removal;
• Needle removal;
• Ginnel clearance and
• Dog Wardens.

Further matters brought to Members attention included sub group meetings, meetings with Ward Members and procurement of new litter bins.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Dog fouling – reference was made to the recent Scrutiny Inquiry and park pitches that were also used by schools.
• Enforcement issues.  Members would like to see more enforcement action.
• Ginnel cleaning.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the addition of further services to the delegation and the required amendment to the Street Cleansing & Environmental Enforcement Services section of the Area Committee Function Schedule as approved by Executive Board on 10 February 2012 be noted.

(2)  That the development of the new SLA for 2012/13 be brought to the June meeting for approval based on:

(i)  the inclusion of the additional services

(ii)  the inclusion of the specific service commitments on issues that improved capacity achieved through more efficient working and a flexible local management of resources/budget now allows

(iii)  the inclusion of local service responses to challenges presented by the hosting of Olympic teams, visits to the city by the Olympic torch (and other local Olympic related events) and local events associated with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations (e.g. street parties)

(iv)  the WNW Locality Team’s responses to addressing the Area Committee Member’s local priorities

(v)  the WNW Locality Team’s responses to expectations for further improvements raised by Elected Members across the city as presented through Executive Board in February

(vi)  the refreshed service principles

To receive and consider the attached report of West North West Homes

Executive Function

The report of West North West Homes Leeds outlined the purpose of their involvement with the Area Committee and explored ways of making that involvement as meaningful and productive as possible.

It was reported that this was the second of 6 monthly reports to the Area Committee and West North West Homes were committed to meeting the objectives of the Area Committee and develop engagement with Ward Members.

Members attention was brought to estate walkabouts that had been planned and further issues highlighted included Ward Member surgeries, responses to enquiries and locality working.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

·  Concern that some of the proposed estate walkabouts covered more than one Ward and a request to reconsider these.

·  West Yorkshire Fire Safety Checks.

·  Concern regarding dissatisfaction with repairs – this had been raised with the contractor involved.

·  Garden maintenance – it was agreed to investigate whether assistance could be made available to those unable to tidy their own gardens.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Area Committee receive a further six monthly update.

To receive and consider the attached report of the West North West Area Leader

Executive Function

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the amount of Well Being funding remaining for 2011/12 be noted.

(2)  That the approvals for small grants given since the last Area Committee be noted.

(3)  That the following large grant applications for 2012/13 be approved:

* Funding for Calverley in Bloom and Farsley in Bloom subject to additional information being recived.

The report of the West North West Area Leader updated Members on the current amount of capital and revenue funding committed and available via the Area Committee Well-Being Budget for wards in the Outer West area.  It also asked Members to consider the Large Grant applications received for 2012/13 and to note the approval for small grants given since the last Area Committee.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the amount of Well Being funding remaining for 2011/12 be noted.

(2)  That the approvals for small grants given since the last Area Committee be noted.

(3)  That the following large grant applications for 2012/12 be approved:

* Funding for Calverley in Bloom and Farsley in Bloom subject to additional information being received.

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

Council Function

The report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods provided the Area Committee with information on crime trends, partnership initiatives and future joint projects between Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police.

Inspector Richard Cawkwell, West Yorkshire Police and Gill Hunter, Area Community Safety Co-ordinator were in attendance to present the report.

It was reported that there had been an overall drop in the number of crimes in Outer West Leeds and reference was made to the drop in the number of burglaries as well as a reduction in domestic and violent crime.  Members were informed of predictive patrol work that was going on in the area and various measures taking place around offender management.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Funding for CCTV at Fairfields.
• Cross border work with Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team.
• Metal Theft – work with Scrap Metal dealers was continuing.
• Planning permission was being sought for the removal of trees that obscured CCTV at Pudsey bus station.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the West North West Area Leader

Executive Function

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the ALMO Area Panel minutes be noted.

(3)  That the content of the Outer West Business Plan 2011-15 be approved.

The report of the Area Leader, West North West, informed the Area Committee of progress against the Area Management work programme for Outer West Leeds and local contributions to Council priorities.

Issues included in the report included the following:

• Enterprise and Economy
• Environment
• Harmonious Communities
• Health and Wellbeing
• Thriving Places

Documents appended to the report included te Outer West Area Committee Business Plan 2011/15 and Minutes of the Outer West Area Panel.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the ALMO Area Panel minutes be noted.

(3)  That the content of the Outer West Business Plan 2011-15 be approved.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer (Democratic and Central Services)

The report of the Chief Officer (Central And Democratic Services) presented provisional meeting dates for the West (Outer) Area Committee for the 2012/13 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED – That the West (Outer) Area Committee be held on the following dates during the 2012/13 Municipal Year:

• Friday, 6 July 2012
• Friday, 7 September 2012
• Friday, 12 October 2012
• Friday, 14 December 2012
• Friday, 18 January 2013
• Friday, 22 March 2013
• Friday, 10 May 2013.

All meetings to commence at 1.00 p.m.  Venues to be confirmed.

Friday, 18^th May 2012 at 1.00 p.m.

Friday, 18 May 2012 at 1.00 p.m.