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.

1 To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, 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 so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following 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 was no exempt information.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration (The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

There was a formal late item which was titled Climate, Energy & Green Spaces – Forestry, minute 25 below refers.

There were also two supplementary information packs for Item 9 – Inner South Community Committee Finance Report which were circulated to Members in advance of the meeting.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

The following declarations of interest were made at the meeting:

In relation to agenda Item 9 (Finance Report) Councillor Iqbal drew the Committee’s attention to one of his Other Registerable interests, with his role as Chair of the ‘Hamara Healthy Living Centre’, because the organisation had submitted a grant application.

In relation to agenda Item 9 (Finance Report) Councillors Carlisle and Wray noted that they were voluntarily involved with Project Space Leeds because the organisation had submitted a grant application.

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 1^st of July  2024, for approval as a correct record

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on the 1^st of July 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

The following matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting were noted:

Minute 14 - Employment and Skills Champion Role

The appointment for this role was still vacant however, it was outlined to be under review as part of the wider Community Committee review, with the changes to the role needing to be agreed. The role was anticipated to hold greater input into city wide strategies and Members requested sight of the new proposals as early as possible for a breakdown of what it was to entail before the role was appointed. A Council wide Community Committee review steering group meeting had been scheduled where further discussions were to take place.

Minute 14 – Health, Wellbeing & Adult Social Champion Role

As this role was vacant, further details regarding the requirements of the role were agreed to be provided back to Members.

In accordance with Paragraphs 4.16 and 4.17 of the Community 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 Community 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.

In accordance with the Community Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a period of up to 10 minutes for members of the public to make representations or ask questions within the terms of reference of the Community Committee.

The following submissions were made as part of the Open Forum:

Barbeques in Cross Flatts Park

A local resident noted issues with the use of barbeques in public spaces, particularly in Cross Flatts Park, were becoming more prevalent, with associated anti-social behaviour, litter and health and safety implications.

In response Members noted that there were bylaws in place across many public green spaces which had become difficult to enforce with Park Rangers no longer in place across the district. The Climate Energy and Green Spaces (CEGS) Department were running social media campaigns to outline the dangers of barbeques and open fires in public spaces and parks and also a Firewatch initiative was being developed for Hunslet Moor. Firewatch was a pilot scheme and hoped to reduce pressure on the number of calls made to the service, with a local ranger potentially being employed as a dedicated point of contact. It was also noted that CEGS were able to permit some barbeques for events, but the main issue was disposable barbeques being dangerous and often improperly used and littered. Standardised signage to outline the dos and don’ts within Council owned green spaces were being trailed.

A pragmatic approach to this issue was discussed as many local residents had a small amount or no garden space whilst also recognising the extent of the issue and associated danger. Litter and poorly managed fires posed an overall risk to children, natures and pets.

Storm Damaged Trees

A local resident reported that there were damaged trees within the Hunslet and Riverside Ward which required attention. In response, the Late Item to be considered by the Committee was to discuss these matters. Minute 25 refers below.

Bonfire Night

It was queried whether the Community Committee could support a local managed bonfire on the 5^th of November 2024, including potential funding options. In response it was noted that the Community Committee, West Yorkshire Police (WYP) and the Anti-Social Behaviour Team held discussions to work out safety measures for events occurring on bonfire night to encourage safety and any potential forthcoming funding applications were only able to be determined against what was provided to Members. The Committee did not hold powers to permit organised bonfires but some benefits for midscale events that were well managed, and community led were noted, and could reduce the number of illicit bonfires and fireworks.

To receive the report of the Parks Operation Manager, which provides the Inner South Community Committee with a service update for the Forestry service.

The report of the Parks Operation Manager provided the Inner South Community Committee with a service update from the Forestry service.

The Parks Operation Manager introduced the report, and the following points were highlighted:

• The regular storm season was from August to September; however, the number and severity of storms had increased over recent years, creating a more dynamic situation.
• 73mph winds had been recorded during the recent Storm Lilian which had caused damage to a significant number of trees across Leeds. Over 1000 calls and 570 emails had been received by the Forestry Department in the week following Storm Lilian with over 400 jobs logged onto the work list.
• A wide survey across all parks was required, including surveying trees nearby other damaged trees and an additional 1 month’s extra work had resulted from the storm.
• The amount of woodchippers across the Leeds district had increased, with an additional one in the Inner South recently in place. Chipping was done on site, where appropriate, and was used to efficiently clear fallen branches and trees which blocked roads and paths.
• The Forestry team had conducted site safety visits to manage the recent storm damage and implemented clearance and security measures. Some of the safety and clearance work was done by in house Council specialist but private contractors were also used to cover all work.
• The survey of storm damage mainly covered branch failures and fallen trees within Council owned land, with recent work conducted in Cross Flatts Park. The service used a categorised risk based approach, with imminent health and safety work prioritised. General maintenance work was to be followed up once work to secure the greatest risks were completed.
• The damaged trees posing the most serious risk to public safety were secured by internal staff and then contractors conducted lower risk work.
• The service was involved with the Highways and Housing departments as work often interlinked.
• Major delays in general clean up work were not expected once the higher risk jobs had been completed, but there was a potential delay in responses to new submissions of tree works that were reported.

In response to questions from Members, the following points were discussed:

• Given the additional work caused by the recent storm, the implications on workload in light of a further severe storm were queried. In response it was noted that the service had been as proactive as possible and a risk based approach would again be implemented to secure the highest risk damaged trees and also further contracted work could be sought.
• The perception of risk posed by a damaged tree was variable and the service’s processes always favoured safety. Trees were subjective in regard to danger against amenity and reports of blocking light, signal or leaf fall were not usually considered for tree works.
• Large trees near Council houses were monitored, but height itself was not considered a relevant danger issue. Basic level 1 tree safety training was available to Officers within Housing and Highways allowing them to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To consider the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships providing an overall update on the work that the Communities Team is engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. It also provides opportunities to request further information on a particular issue.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships brought Member’s attention to an update of the work in which the Communities Team was engaged in based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. It also provided opportunities for further questioning or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

The Localities Officer introduced the report, and the following points were highlighted:

• A Children and Families sub-group meeting had been arranged for the 9^th of September 2024 and an update was to be provided at the next Committee meeting.
• An Environment and Community Safety sub-group meeting was yet to be arranged but a full update was to be provided at the next Committee meeting.
• Page 30 of the report pack provided an update from employment and skills, containing updated figures and a more granular breakdown of universal credit take up, which had previously been requested by Members.
• A community engagement update was available from page 36 of the report pack, including details for Holbeck Moor Market.
• A neighbourhood centres co-ordinator update was available from page 39 of the report pack.
• Appendix 1 detailed the social media update, with boosted posts now being used on the Community Committee Facebook page, with an update on its success to be provided once more data had been gathered.

WYP Inspector Mark Lund, attending the Committee and provided and update on recent crime statistics:

• Crime figures for Hunslet and Riverside had decreased when compared with July 2024 statistics, with hate crime and incidents the only category that had risen, but this was considered a national issue with recent riots occurring.
• Crime figures for Beeston and Holbeck displayed and overall reduction in average crime but robbery had increased. The increase in robbery was associated with organised crime and particularly related to E-bikes and E-scooters. One individual had been arrested which related to four of the robberies.
• Crime figures for Middleton Park showed an increase in theft of motor vehicles with a recent theft incident leading to four vans being stolen. Three of the vans had since been recovered.
• Overall hate crimes and incidents had increased for all three wards, but this was related to national issues.
• There had been some difficulties for neighbourhood policing recently with other issues such as protests and riots requiring attention, however, Officers were back to usual operations in the area, all departments were fully recruited, with the exception of PSCOs being just below capacity.

In response to questions from Members, the following points were discussed:

• The legality of riding E-scooters in parks was dependant on the motor capacity, it was outlined that WYP would not seek to prosecute an individual reporting theft of their E-scooter when riding in a park but may advice against use in public spaces. WYP were more concerned with E-bikes which were generally capable of much higher speeds.
• As crime in Cross Flatts Park was noted to be prolific and local people reported feeling unsafe and wariness when in the park, actions to address this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

To consider the report of the Head of Locality Partnerships which provides an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund Capital Budget, as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy budget for 2024/25.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided the Community Committee with an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund (YAF), Capital Budget as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2024/25.

The Localities Officer presented the report, outlining the following information:

• The remaining Wellbeing balance available to the Committee was £106,439.71, with the Ward breakdown as, Beeston and Holbeck £30,733.14, Hunslet and Riverside £29,720.06 and Middleton Park £45,986.51.
• The funding applications approved by delegated decision since the last Committee meeting were detailed on page 52 of the report, with three delivered and one declined.
• Monitoring information was available on page 53 of the report with an update provided for a previously approved funding application project, Beeston Community Youth Theatre.
• The remaining YAF balance available to the Committee was £28,139.94, with the Ward breakdown as Beeston and Holbeck £4,509.48, Hunslet and Riverside £9,900.78 and Middleton Park £13,729.68.
• Tables 3, 4 and 5 detailed the Small Grants, Community Skips and Capital budget position.
• The remaining CIL balance available to the Committee was £313,621.41 with the Ward breakdown as Beeston and Holbeck £50,293.47, Hunslet and Riverside £186,735.76 and Middleton Park £76,592.18.
• Injections had been received to the CIL balance which were noted as Beeston and Holbeck £1270.27, Hunslet and Riverside £154,910.75 and Middleton Park £75,690.92.

During consideration of the Finance Report, the following was discussed:

• The funding for the Monday Club application was agreed for Hunslet and Riverside’s contribution (£2,241) only. Middleton Park Elected Members requested information relating to access and provision take up before making a contribution.
• Members discussed the plans and operations for the South Leeds FC funding application with the applicant, which outlined that the previously applied for funding had been used to set up a women’s and girls’ team and associated pitch provision costs, sponsorship’s had been secured which assisted with some operation costs, Community Committee funding was to be used for venue access, many local clubs had merged into South Leeds FC, with Members raising some concerns regarding negative impacts on future grassroots and academy teams, although the applicant noted there was significant local support and the club was to feed into Leeds United’s scouting programme.
• Community focused events held by South Leeds FC were confirmed to be open to the public and worked with local schools and youth clubs with education events aiming to increase opportunities for young people and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
• Future sustainability plans for South Leeds FC were discussed with the Committee outlining that there was no guarantee for future funding through the Committee.
• Following discussions the whole Committee voted on the matter, which resulted in a majority approval to provide the entirety of funding for the South Leeds FC application.
• Support for the Refurbishment of the Golden Lion – Nawroz School funding application was outlined, with the building being repurposed by a Kurdish community group.
• Some concern regarding the cost and operation for the Mini Bus Replacement Project funding application for the Hamara  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as the 21^st of November 2024 at 1:30pm.

RESOLVED – That the date and time of the next meeting as the 21^st of November 2024 at 1:30pm, be noted.