Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 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 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting.)

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

There were no resolutions to exclude the public as there were no members of the public present.

There were no late items. However, supplementary information was presented to Committee Members, relating to item 13 Wellbeing Fund Update Report (minute 62 refers).

No were no Disclosable Pecuniary Interests declared to the meeting, however in relation to item 13 Councillor Carter drew the Committee’s attention to the fact that he was Chair of Farsley Live at Home Scheme (Minute 62 refers).

Apologies were received from Councillor Marjoram and Co-optee Rev. Paul  Ayres.

The Chair invited Jill Wildman to speak as part of the open forum.

Jill Wildman introduced herself to the Area Committee as the Head of Service for Housing Management West. She gave the Members brief history of her career background. She informed Members that she had only recently been put in post and was currently arranging one to one meetings with all the Ward Members to discuss and understand the issues of the area.   

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 30^th October 2013.

RESOLVED -That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 30^th October 2013 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the minutes of the Area Chairs Forum meeting held on 4^th October 2013.

Minutes of the Area Chairs Forum for the meeting held on 4^th October 2013 were noted by the Committee.

Members asked about a report on the Community Committees which had been circulated at a more recent Area Chairs Forum. The Area Leader West North West gave a brief overview of the report and told Members that consultation was still ongoing.

Members briefly discussed issues arising from the report.

To receive the report of the Director of Environment and Housing to provide Members with details of the community safety activity undertaken during the last 12 months. The report also provides details of crime data, making comparisons with previous years.

(Report attached)

The Chair welcomed Inspector Dan Wood the new Inspector for the area based at Pudsey Police Station.

Inspector Wood and the Area Community Safety Co-ordinator presented the report of the Director of Environment and Housing, which was the annual report for community safety, providing Members with details of the community safety activity undertaken during the last 12 months. The report also provided details of crime data, making comparisons with the previous year.

Inspector Wood told Members that figures contained in the report relating to burglary were of concern to him given the increase of burglary within the Outer West area specifically in Pudsey.

The Inspector explained to the Committee the measures that were currently being taken to address the issue of burglary, including the gathering of intelligence, use of CCTV, working closely with second hand shops in relation to stolen property, looking at prison releases, and the use of Operation Optimal.

He told the committee that the figures showed confidence in the police however, there was still a wish to see more police. He would be pushing for the police to be more visible in the area.

The Area Community Safety Co-odinator drew Members attention to other issues within the report:-

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) – Satisfaction with resolving ASB was increasing. ASB was to remain a priority for 2014/15.

Child Sexual Exploitation - The service was working with partner organisations, frontline staff and Safeguarding to look at improving the way in which this was currently reported.

Families First Programme – A scheme which targeted families requiring more support is piloting a programme in Farnley to look at an initiative to address children who were excluded for more than 5 days.

Offender Management – Looking at early intervention through closer working with partnership organisations including co-location working.  The Committee were told that Superintendent Mabs Hussain was due to attend the next Area Committee to update Members on this issue.

It was noted by the Committee that quads would be seized from the Cottingley Springs site if caught causing ASB.

Members discussed the issue of ASB in the area including quads and motorcycles in Calverley Woods, ASB at Pudsey Bus Station. Inspector Wood informed the Committee that the Trojan Bus would be out in the area on Friday 31^st January 2014.

Inspector Wood also informed the Committee that the quota for PCSO’s was not complete and new arrivals would be brought into the area over next few weeks. PCSO’s may be Ward based. He also told the Members that the area would be receiving some new police officers.

The Area Lead for Community Safety updated the Area Committee on the Safer Leeds Committee including:-

·  A brief overview of three papers, Extremism, Domestic Violence and launch of A Crime document.

·  Name change for Children and Adult Safeguarding to Partnership Vulnerability Unit their new location at Elland Road.

·  Update on how Leeds was dealing with the issue of the selling of substances known as ‘legal highs’.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

To receive the report of the Director of Environment and Housing the report provides Members of the West (Outer) Area Committee with an update of the introduction of Alternate Weekly Collections (AWC) in the area.

(Report attached)

The report of the Director of Environment and Housing on alternate weekly collections was presented by the Project Manager, Waste Services with Service Manager, Refuse and Waste also in attendance.

The report provided Members with an update on the introduction of alternate weekly collections in the area.

The Area Committee was informed that the first phase was introduced to 56,000 households in the South of the city in April 2013. The second phase was introduced in November 2013 to 113,000 properties including approximately 21,000 properties in the Outer West area, most in the Calverley and Farsley and Pudsey wards with a small  number in the Farnley and Wortley Ward.

Members were told that very early indications of the impact of Phase Two of the new bin service on recycling were good. The first 4 weeks of the service going live showed a decrease in general waste and an increase in recycling when compared to tonnages collected in the same period of the previous year.

Members were informed that a highlight report would be produced every two weeks looking at general waste and recycling figures and noting ‘hot spots’. Plans were ongoing with the next phase which would include Farnley and Wortley ward, and once plans had been finalised affected ward members would be briefed, with communications being delivered to affected residents through a combination of Waste and Recycling Advisor activities, press releases, website updates, social media and direct mailing.

The Area Committee raised concerns about the persistent missing of collections and the issues that missed collections may cause with alternate weekly collections and hot weather.

The Project Manager, Waste Services told Members that the issue of missed collections was to be monitored over the coming months. The issue of alternate weekly collections and hot weather issues was to be addressed by mailing information to properties on dealing with smells and food waste issues.

Members were told that their concerns would be taken into account during evaluation of the service.

Members were also informed that ‘in cab’ technology to be introduced in the new financial year would be able to capture more information on missed bags and bin collections, to assist in development and improvement to routes and collections.

Cllr. Hardy left the meeting at 14:05 during this item, returning at 14:08.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee note the content of the report.

To receive the report of the Director of Environment and Housing the report provides an area profile of key assets and services provided in the West Outer area. The report highlights the current progress towards Leeds Quality Park (LQP) status for community parks in the area. It details capital improvements in community parks, sport pitches and fixed play in the area for the last 12 months and planned improvements to be delivered in the next 12 months.

(Report attached)

The report of the Director of Environment and Housing for the Annual report of the Parks and Countryside Service was presented by the Senior Area Manager, Parks and Countryside.

The Senior Area Manager drew Members attention to 3.1 of the submitted report which was a table showing community green space assets managed by Parks and Countryside in the West Outer Area.

Members requested clarification on what constituted a community park. Members were informed that there were 62 Community Parks in Leeds. A Community Park was based on size, proximity to housing and the facilities within the park.

Members were told that the Leeds Quality Park standard an internal assessment, will from 2014, be conducted annually, rather than every 3 years as at present. This would allow improvements that have been made to be reflected in the performance standards in a more immediate way.

Members were impressed that the estimated days for volunteer work had increased. Specific work by Farnley in Bloom was noted by the Area Committee.

Members raised their concerns in relation to the length of time taken in spending monies granted to the Parks and Countryside Services through s106 funding. The officer presenting explained the difficulties that the service was currently facing with a limited workforce. Members felt that future funding should be time limited.

Cllr Wood left the room at 14:20 whilst this item was being discussed, returning at 14:24.

Cllr Lewis entered the meeting at 14:23 during this item.

Members praised the work of the service and the collaborative approach being taken by both Parks and Countryside and Environmental services. Members told the officer present how nice the New Farnley Park was looking after the improvement work.

The presenting officer told Members that the way in which the service worked had changed due to the merging of Parks and Countryside with Environment and Housing. The Committee was also told of the apprenticeship scheme and that 2 apprentices were from the West Outer area. Members were informed of the use of prisoners on early release which were being used in the parks as part of retraining and getting ex-offenders back into the work place.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee note the contents of the report.

To receive the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities). The report presents an update on the work to date to deliver the actions outlined in the West (Outer) Area Committee Business Plan 2011-2015. The report seeks approval to undertake a review of the business plan to ensure that it continues to be fit for purpose and reflects the current city wide priority plans.

(Report attached

Members received the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens & Communities) which provided an update on the work undertaken to date to deliver the actions outlined in the Outer West Area Committee Business Plan 2011-15.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee note the progress made against the Business Plan actions at appendix 1 of the submitted report and note the recommendations within the report.

To receive the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) the report provides Members with an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund for 2013/14 and includes the Quarter 2 monitoring returns for projects funded in 2013/14. The report highlights the current position of the small skips pots and those grants and skips that have been received/ approved since the last meeting. An update on the Youth Activity Fund is also provided.

(Report attached)

The Area Committee received the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) which provided an update on the budget position for the wellbeing fund for 2013/14.

Members’ attention was drawn to table 1 of the report which outlined the small grant applications that had been approved since the last meeting. The committee were informed that £746 was still available for allocation for small grants and skips in the 2013/14 budget.

Members were informed that the audit process had been completed and the revised figure for the Capital budget was £56,974.

Supplementary information had been tabled at the meeting to provide Members with a position statement on the Millennium Way project after costs.

A member of BARCA and a member of Better Leeds Communities (BLC) attended the meeting to update the Committee on the recruitment of a Community Development Worker for the area. The Area Committee had agreed to jointly fund with the Inner North West Area Committee.

The Area Committee was told of the difficulties in recruiting to the post for the Outer West Area. BARCA and BLC explained to Members a revised proposal for their consideration.

Discussions took place in regard to the issues raised by BARCA and BLC in allocating a Community Development Worker within the conditions outlined in the application. Members raised concerns in relation to the revised proposal, and emphasised that all such procedures need to be in line with all relevant regulations.

The Area Committee heard applications for funding from the following organisations;-

·  Farsley Live at Home Scheme

·  LCC Parks and Countryside – Millennium Way

·  Armley Juniors Project 4 Young People

·  Swinnow Community Centre

·  Pudsey Congs Cricket Club

·  Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club

·  Leeds City Council – New Wortley Recreation Grounds

The Area Committee and Area Support Officers discussed closer working arrangements on putting together future applications to ensure that all relevant information was included within the application for Members consideration. Members also discussed time limits for spend to be attached to applications.

Supplementary information tabled at the meeting provided an update for Members on the Youth Activities Fund. Members raised a number of concerns in relation to the Youth Activities Fund including;-

·  Engagement activity undertaken in the previous year

·  Working arrangements within the Clusters

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee;

a)  Note the current budget position for the Wellbeing Fund for 2013/14 (Appendix 1 of the submitted report)

b)  Note the current position of the small grants and skips and those small grants and skips that have been approved / received since the last meeting (Table 1 and 2 of the submitted report)

c)  Note the revised position of the Capital grants budget (Table 3) and considered the large capital grant applications received

d)  That the following decisions be taken in respect of Wellbeing applications received

To receive the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities), the report informs Members of the progress against the Area Support Team’s work programme and local priorities.

(Report attached)

The Area Committee received the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens & Communities) which informed the Members of the progress against the Area Support Team work programme for Outer West Leeds and local contributions to Council priorities.

RESOLVED – That the Area Committee note the contents of the report.