Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologised for the change of date, time and venue due to the recent funeral of Jane Tomlinson MBE, Honorary Freeman of the City.  The Chair thanked Members for their co-operation. 

The Chair also welcomed Howard Bradley, Co-optee to his first meeting of this Area Committee.

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Mrs A Carter.

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

The following personal interests were declared at the meeting:

·  Councillor A Blackburn in her capacity as a Board Member of West/North West Homes (Agenda Item 10)(Minute 27 refers)

·  Councillor A Carter in his capacity as a Member of the Executive Board, a Member of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and a Panel Member of West North West Homes (Agenda Items 9 and 10)

  (Minutes 26 and 27 refers)

·  Councillor R Lewis in his capacity as a Panel Member of West/North West Homes (Agenda Item 10)(Minute 27  refers)

·  Councillor J Jarosz in her capacity as a Member of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, as an employee of the West Yorkshire Probation Service and as a Director of Theatre & Education  (Agenda Items 10 and 11)(Minutes 27 and 28 refers)

The following personal and prejudicial interests were declared at the meeting:

·  Councillor A Blackburn in her capacity as a Director of Groundwork Leeds (Agenda Item 10)(Minute 27 refers)

·  Councillor R Lewis in his capacity as a representative on the West Yorkshire Police Authority (Agenda Item 12)(Minute 29 refers)

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 agenda made reference to the provision contained in the Area Committee Procedure Rules for an Open Forum Session at each ordinary meeting of an Area Committee, for members of the public to ask questions or to make representations on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee. 

On this occasion residents of Cemetery Road, Pudsey, Leeds 28 raised

community safety issues under this item which related to problems with traffic speeding along Cemetery Road.  Residents explained to the meeting that people in cars are now using this road as a cut through towards Pudsey Centre and expressed their concern that the speed of the traffic is excessive, especially when children are walking to and from school on a morning and evening.  Traffic calming measures have been promised quite some time ago but the situation was getting worse and they feared that there could be a fatal accident.

In response Members explained that there is a planning application in for a large residential development and that planning officers have recommended that traffic calming measures be put in place.

Members felt that traffic calming measures should be put in place before any development work commences, especially along Cemetery Road, the junction of Galloway Lane/Owlcotes Road where it become Cemetery Road end of Victoria Road as traffic avoids going on to Waterloo Road.  It should also include the junction of Mount Pleasant and Richardshaw Lane as there is to be a new school at Grangefield and traffic will try to take a short cut along Mount Pleasant Road. 

RESOLVED - 

(a)  That the West Leeds Area Manager write a letter on behalf of this Area   Committee to the West Yorkshire Crime Reduction Partnership asking   them to look at the speed of traffic and accidents along Cemetery

  Road.

(b)  That the Director of City Development be requested to recommend to

   the proposed developers that traffic calming measures be put in place   before any development work commences. 

Note:  Councillor M Coulson indicated that in his capacity as a Member of Plans Panel (West) and in order to avoid any perception of predetermination until such time as this matter may be considered by Plans Panel (West), he intended to remain in the room, he took part in the discussion but did not vote

thereon. 

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on

13^th July 2007.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th July 2007 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report by the Chief Community Safety Officer providing information on West Yorkshire Police’s current community contact points and summarises good practice.  The Area Committee are asked to suggest further poetential contact points and to support the use of Council premises identified in the report.

The Chief Community Safety Officer submitted a report providing information on West Yorkshire Police’s current community contact points and a summary of good practice.  The report also requested Members to suggest further potential contact points and to support the use of Council premises if these were so identified.  Attached at Appendix 3 was information for Members on the Neighbourhood Policing Teams by Ward.

Inspector John O’Neil presented the report, along with the Area Manager who responded to Members’ queries and comments.

Members shared their views with the Inspector on joint surgeries with the police and other partnership groups.  It was also suggested that set dates and times should be displayed in One Stop Shops, Libraries and even the local Post Offices.

Inspector John O’Neil, together with Gill Hunter, Community Safety Officer also  gave a brief update on community safety Issues in the Outer West Leeds area and reported on the following areas:

·  Smart Water campaign in the Calverley area.

·  The success of the Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) – Pudsey Town Centre.

·  Continue to see a drop in the level of reported crime in the area.

·  Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) going from strength to strength and the impact of the PCSOs.

·  The need to have more partnership work in order that the NPT can deliver a quality of service the public can expect.

·  The need to have CCTV coverage better co-ordinated as there are hot spot areas where coverage is not as effective as it should be.

Pudsey Ward Members expressed their concern about  two public houses, The Park and The Masons where patrons are starting to drink on the steps outside.  In response, the Police Officer informed the meeting that they were aware of the problems and that the response team are now working together with the Licensing authority to resolve this problem. 

The Chair thanked Inspector O’Neil for his attendance.

RESOLVED -

(a)  That the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That Members inform Inspector Horner of any suitable community contact points within their Wards for their relevant Neighbourhood Policing Team.

(c)   

To consider a report submitted by the Director of City Development and the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing information on Conservation Areas and recommends an approach to Conservation Area review.

The Director of City Development and the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a joint report providing information on Conservation Areas.

Richard Taylor, City Development Department presented the report and, together with Steve Crocker, West Leeds Area Manager, responded to Members’ questions and comments.

Members noted the list of Area Committees and the Conservation Areas within each area and that Leeds now has 64 Conservation Areas but  so far

only five of these have up-to-date appraisals.

A discussion ensued and Pudsey Ward Members felt that more detail of the Pudsey Conservation area was needed, as this covered a vast area.  It was agreed that West Leeds Area Management would supply Members with a street by street map.

Farnley and Wortley Ward Members felt that New Farnley should be on the list of conservation areas.  In response, Officers explained that Farnley was not actually designated a conservation area but it could be following the completion of the village design statement.

The Chair thanked Richard Taylor for his presentation. 

RESOLVED -

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(b)  That the West Leeds Area Manager supply Pudsey Ward Members  

  with a map of the Conservation Areas in Pudsey.

(c)  That both the Calverley and Pudsey Conservation Areas be the priority  

  conservation area reviews in Outer West Leeds.

To consider a report by the West Leeds Area Manager which examines four

Projects, Pudsey Town Centre Improvement Scheme, Farsley District Centre Improvement Scheme, Groundwork Environmental Improvements and Youth Development Work.

The West Leeds Area Manager submitted a detailed report which examined four projects, Pudsey Town Centre Improvement Scheme, Farsley District Centre Improvement Scheme, Groundwork Improvements and Youth Development Work.

Steve Crocker, West Leeds Area Manager presented his report together with

John Cummins and Paul Monaghan, Leeds Groundwork and Tony Edwards, Youth Service and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

The main points raised in the update were:

·  Market refurbishment

·  Pudsey Town Hall floodlighting

·  Leisure Centre artwork

·  Public toilet provision

·  Lidget Hill improvements

·  Shop front improvement scheme

·  Street Lighting replacement/upgrade to be completed by the end of the year.

·  Plans for the new Pudsey Bus Station

·  Groundwork Schemes in Outer West Leeds

·  Youth Development work in Outer West Leeds

Members were concerned that the youth facilities at Tyersal Working Men’s Club were not being run as promised by the Youth Services, as the room is closed every evening.  In response, the Youth Officer informed the meeting that due to a shortage of Youth Work staff this facility could not be staffed and it was intended that the focus would be to get young people and local volunteers to run it themselves.

The Chair thanked the officers for their attendance. 

RESOLVED -

(a)  To note the progress made on the Pudsey Town Centre, Farsley  

  District Centre, Groundwork environmental improvements and Youth  

  Development work schemes.

(b)  That this Area Committee continues to support the work of Groundwork in Outer West Leeds. 

(c )  That the Senior Parks Area Manager supply Members with details of the funding for Southroyd Park Pudsey scheme as outlined in paragraph 3.49 of the report.

(d)  That the funding of the Youth Development Worker post should cease  

  after the 12 month contract and that future funding be directed to under 13s voluntary   and community youth groups, either directly or through   the West Leeds Youth   Work Partnership on a case by case basis in  

  accordance with the Area Delivery   Plan and only to those organisation   that are not already in receipt of Leeds City Council funding.

Note:  (a)  Councillor M Coulson indicated that in his capacity as a Member of Plans Panel (West) and in order to avoid any perception of predetermination until such time as the planning applications for Pudsey Town Hall external lighting and the Leisure Centre artwork may be considered by Plans Panel (West), he intended to remain in the room, he took part in the discussion but did not vote thereon. 

(b)  Councillor A Blackburn declared a personal and prejudicial interest as a

Director of Groundwork Leeds and took no part in the discussion or vote thereon.

To consider a report by the Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods providing an update on progress of the delivery of the Area Delivery Plan for quarters 1 and 2 of 2007/2008 from April to September.

 The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing an update on progress of the delivery of the Area Delivery Plan for quarters 1 and 2 of 2007/2008 from April to September 2007.

Sam Woodhead, Area Management Officer presented the report and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

RESOLVED -  That the progress made to date on actions contained within the Area Action Plan as outlined in the report be noted.

To consider a report by the West Leeds Area Manager to update 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 and to seek approval for new projects commissioned by the Area Management Team.

The West Leeds Area Manager submitted a detailed report providing details of the amount of Well-Being capital and revenue funding available for the 2007/08 financial year and the commitments already approved.

Sam Woodhead, West Leeds Area Management presented the report and, together with Steve Crocker, West Leeds Area Manager responded to Members’ questions and comments.

Detailed discussions on the report and appendices followed.

RESOLVED -

(a)   That the report and information appended to the report,  which includes

  the available balance, £107,609 Capital and £141,296.64 Revenue, the

  Area Committee’s revenue and capital Well-being Budgets, be noted.

(b)  That the following decisions be made in relation to  revenue and capital

  Projects as detailed in the appendices attached to the submitted report:

  Revenue

(i)  Two Head cam sets  -  £3,600  -  Approved.

(ii)  Pudsey Market and Farmers Market Promotion - £1,556 – Approved, subject to City Development Department  match funding .

(iii)  BT estimate for Lidget Hill diversions - £900 – Approved.

  Capital

(i)  Ebenezer Street, Farsley Parking Scheme - £6,000 – Approved.

(c )  To ratify the Small Grant application outlined in Appendix 5 attached to  

  the submitted report but that the applicants be informed that this is a  

  one off payment.

(d)  That the allocation of money for skips be monitored on a case by case  

  basis for   use only to assist after a community clean up.

Note:  Councillor R Lewis declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the application for funding (Appendix 1 and resolution (b)(i) above refers) as a representative on the West Yorkshire Police Authority and took no part in the discussion or decision thereon.

To consider a report by the Chief Recreation Officer on progress made with the West Leeds Country Park and Green Gateways since the last WLCP Forum on the 11^th June, 2007 with emphasis on activities in the Pudsey, Calverley and Farsley and Farnley and Wortley Wards.

The Chief Recreation Officer submitted a report on progress made with the West Leeds Country Park and Green Gateways since the last WLCP Forum on the 11^th June 2007.

Phil Staniforth, Senior Parks Area Manager presented the report and also gave Members an update on the last WLCP Forum meeting held on 17^th September 2007 and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

In summary, the main points in the update were:

·  Management Plan

·  Pudsey Park Visitor Centre

·  Pudsey Loop

·  Update on working with groups

Members expressed concern that one of the groups may be approaching

a developer directly for Section 106 contributions.  Phil Staniforth informed the meeting that he would chase this matter up with the Forum.

The Chair thanked Phil Staniforth for his attendance.

RESOLVED -  To note that developments are currently being made with the West Leeds Country Park and Green Gateways project, in terms of progress of the management plan and its broad objectives;  ongoing provision of interpretive material; development of Community Green Gateways and the general liaison with and support of community and user groups. 

To consider a report by the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods  

providing an update on the current position of Greenhill Community Centre. 

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing an update on the current position of Greenhill Community Centre.

Sam Woodhead, West Leeds Area Management presented the report and, together with  Steve Crocker, West Leeds Area Manager, responded to Members’ questions and comments.

RESOLVED –  That the proposal to declare Greenhill Community Centre surplus to requirements and the fact that this request has been formally forwarded to Asset Management for them to carry out a sale or re-lease for other uses be noted.

Friday, 2^nd November 2007 at 2.00 p.m. (Venue to be considered)

Friday,  2^nd November 2007 at 2.00 p.m. at Farnley Hall, Farnley Park, Hall Lane, Leeds LS12 5HA.