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 were no formal late items, however, there was supplementary information submitted in relation to item 9 – Inner South Community Committee Finance Report, which had been circulated to Members prior to 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:

Councillor E Carlisle declared a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) in relation to Agenda Item 9, Inner South Community Committee Finance Report, as his spouse was employed by St Luke’s Cares and the organisation had applied for Wellbeing funds. Details of this application can be found at page 60 of the report pack at point 31. In declaring his DPI, Councillor Carlisle took no part in the discussion or decision making of this specific funding application.

Councillor Dixon drew the Committee’s attention to the fact he and his spouse are involved with Middleton Juniors F.C. in a voluntary capacity only. Details of this application can be found in Inner South Community Committee 6^th September – Supplementary Pack for Item 9 – Finance Report (2).

Details of the decision, and associated discussion, for these applications can be found below at minute 9. 

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A Maloney.

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 4^th of July 2023 be confirmed as a correct record, subject to updating the title of Sergeant Daniel Wilson from West Yorkshire Police (WYP) at minute 8.

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.

No submissions were made as part of the Open Forum.

To receive the report of the Gypsy Traveller Service which provides the Inner South Community Committee with an update on the work of the service.

The report of the Gypsy Traveller Service provided the Inner South Community Committee with an update regarding the ongoing work of the service.

The Gypsy Traveller Service Manager presented the report, noting the following information:

• The service was responsible for city wide traveller encampments and also management of the two permeant caravan sites and Cottingley Springs and Kidacre Park.
• There was an average of 100 roadside encampments per year in Leeds.
• Historically encampments had occurred in the South and East area but more recently the North of Leeds had also been experiencing a number of encampments.
• Costs of the service in their response to encampments were for clean ups, porta loos, legal fees and associated fees with the eviction process.
• Negotiated stopping was sometimes agreed with groups of travellers for them to use a piece of land for a short period of time, which was usually 28 days.
• Eviction of encampments was conducted via a Section 61 order through WYP.
• Over the past 3 years, the percentage of encampments that had occurred in the Inner South area had fallen but had still been around a third of all encampments in the district occurring there.
• The encampment locations had changed over time, but Leeds Urban Bike Park and John Charles Sports Centre had been used fairly regularly.
• Liaison work was ongoing with groups that frequent in Leeds, which were on average comprised of around 10 caravans. Bigger groups of travellers occur during the summer months as they pass through.
• The negotiated stopping was more often used on void pieces of land due for resale or disposal. A list of what makes for a suitable negotiated stopping site was available at page 69 of the report pack which had been developed in collaboration with Asset Management.
• Leeds GATE was a charity that the service regularly works and engages with traveller groups and tries resolve disputes with other communities affected by encampments.

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

• The Kidacre Site was noted to be fairly small and had temporary planning permission for HS2. It was unclear whether the planning permission would be actioned, but if so, the site would have to be decamped.
• The use of bonds to encourage groups to leave the land in the same state they found it was not known to the service and it was noted transactions may be difficult.
• Leeds City Council was recognised as good for their response and engagement with traveller groups.
• More sites for negotiated stops were needed to be identified to provide sensible, better options for travellers and local communities. A conversation with Elected Members across all wards was needed.
• Evidence for fly tipping was needed for any convictions. It was also noted that other people may take the opportunity of an encampment to place blame on travellers for fly tipping. It was noted that the use of cameras to monitor fly tipping was expensive.
• The process for determining the use of a section 61 eviction  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

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 following point were highlighted:

• The Youth Activity Fund (YAF) consultation link was available at page 19, at point 3 of the report and was open until March 2024.
• An update on recent work by the Committee appointed Champion for Children’s and Families was provided, noting, there has been 5 YAF consultation events over summer, with over 250 8 to 17year olds from the Inner South Area submitting responses. Coding a Minecraft had been the top priority for young people identified through the consultation, with outdoor events preferred over indoor. A Sub Group meeting had been scheduled for the 12^th of September to discuss the Youth Summit for 2023. It was also noted the Children’s Mayor programme will be opening again soon.
• The Champion for Environment and Community Safety outlined a Sub Group meeting had been held on the 31^st of August 2023 which had been attended by a multitude of agencies and encouraged Committee Members to attend future meetings.
• The Champion for Health and Wellbeing outlined that there were several health and wellbeing parcels to distribute, and Members were requested to assist with identifying residents whom they would benefit as well as scheduling Health and Wellbeing days in Hunslet & Riverside and Beeston & Holbeck. The Middleton Park Welcome Centre was scheduled to launch soon, and a credited supporting mental health course had been run recently. Suicide Prevention Day was on the 10^th of September where suggestions for an outdoor space to hold an event were needed. A campaign was ongoing for inaccessibility of GP services and digital exclusion created by new models of patient engagement. 
• With the data for universal credit claimants rising by 99% since March 2020, a specific breakdown of why and who is claiming was requested. It was the Committee’s intention to invite an Officer from Employment and Skills to discuss this topic.
• The work on boosting the social media account and posts was ongoing and further information will be provided back the Members by the Localities Officer once available.

West Yorkshire Police (WYP) Officers, attended the meeting and provided the Committee with an update, outlining the following information:

• Inspector Mark Lunn had been appointed as the Neighbourhood Police Inspector for South Leeds.
• Inspector Lunn had 21 years experience working in the Police force and was passionate to solve issues within the community.
• The Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) had experienced budget constraints and staffing issues, but a recruitment push was coming into fruition.

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

• As part of the Health and Wellbeing update, it was noted by the Chair for the Adults Health & Active Lifestyle that the Board will be considering an item on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

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 2023/24.

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

• The available Wellbeing budget was detailed at page 56 of the report with the ward split as Beeston & Holbeck £35,758.37, Hunslet & Riverside £29,113.50 and Middleton Park £38,249.79.
• A ring fence of £5,000 from the CIL budget for the Trees for Streets project was proposed at point 21 on page 57 of the report.
• Approved delegated decisions since the last meeting of the Inner South Community Committee was detailed at point 32 on page 60 of the report. Declined projects were available at point 33.
• Details of the Let’s Move: South Leeds event and the awarded £750 were available at page 62 of the report.
• The YAF figures were available at table 2 on page 62 of the report.
• The Small Grants figures were available at table 3 on page 63 of the report.
• The Community Skips figures were available at table 4 on page 63 of the report.
• The Capital Budget was available at table 5 on page 64 of the report.
• The CIL budget figures were available at table 6 on page 64 of the report, with an injection of £205,349.30.

During consideration of the funding application, the following was discussed:

• Members agreed to the £5,000 ringfence for the Trees for Streets project. This was an adopt a tree scheme which allowed the public to provide maintenance of trees which was noted to be positive for the community and saved the Council money.
• The Inner South – Bumpy project was deferred in order to seek further information regarding the reduction of re-offending rates, but the premise was supported as a good environment for young people to learn to safely operate motorbikes.
• Although agreed, the details of the Flaxton Street – Bollards project were discussed. The consultation process for tenants and residents and the best location for the bollards were queried, however, the safety of local people led the Committee to resolve to approve the project due to cars regularly turning in an unsafe manner.
• The Youth Club project was deferred to gather further information on the organisations strategy to draw in the wider community, provide sustainability details and their ability to link up with wider services such as the Council’s Youth Service.
• * The Hunslet Club Community Events project was approved in principle, but Members requested that efforts should be made to reduce the cost of each meal per head as £30 each was a substantial amount.
• The Middleton Park Juniors project was deferred as Members requested clarity for the rental costs at the different facilities mentioned in the summary, with Coburn Highschool’s pitch not being opened until April 2024 and some Council facilities being free for tier 1 activities (the offer being that anyone under 15 can use them  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To receive the report of the Team Leader, Safe and Sustainable Travel, providing the Inner South Community Committee with an understanding of the recently adopted Vision Zero Strategy and its action plan and to gather input from elected members and residents.

The report of the Team Leader, Safe and Sustainable Travel, provided the Inner South Community Committee with an understanding of the recently adopted Vision Zero Strategy and its action plan and to gather input from Elected Members and residents.

The Team Leader for Safe and Sustainable Travel presented the report, noting the following:

·  The Vision Zero strategy was adopted by the Council in October 2022,

putting in place, measures to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe

injuries, whilst increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all by

2040.

·  Road traffic accident figures were decreasing until around 2013,

however since then, and even more so during and after the Covid-19

pandemic, road incident figures had risen.

The strategy and action plan were developed to stop the trend of

increasing road traffic incidents and imbedding the notion that no loss

of life is acceptable.

Figures specific to the Inner South area from 2017 to 2021 were

outlined as 7 fatalities, 319 serious injuries and 1361 slight injuries.

·  The vision will reject traditional road safety data and targets and

change the language surrounding the topic to understand difficulties in

compelling people to behave properly when using roads to reduce

harm and fatalities for vehicle passengers and pedestrians.

·  The safe systems approach aims to prevent mistakes but also mitigate

the potential for disastrous events when driver error occurs as reducing

mistakes on the road to zero was noted to be unrealistic, so measures

strive to improve overall road safety.

·  Everyone can take responsibility in delivering the vision by following

the Highway Code. The Council models for delivery were noted as,

road design, traffic management and strategy, public health, education

and leading by example through the fleet services and taxi and private

hire licensing.

·  The Council had engaged with WYP, West Yorkshire

Fire and Rescue Services, National Highways, Ambulance Services,

and road safety charities such as Safe Road Partners.

·  Council and Police operations working to deliver the strategy were

noted as, SPARC (Supporting Partnership Action to Reduce Road

Casualties), SNAP (Safer Roads Digital Submissions Portal) and

Safety Camera Partnership. Behaviour change campaigns, targeted

communications, education, funding bids and data reported were

outlined as direct, positive, public facing activity.

·  Safe system pillars of action were noted as, safe speeds, safe roads,

safe vehicles, safe behaviours, and post-collision learning

and care, which feed into overarching strategic objectives and then a

tangible delivery plan.

·  The ‘fatal five’ are the leading causes for collisions on the road which

are, speeding, distractions, the influence of drink or drugs, seatbelt

non-compliance and careless driving.

·  The changes in language surrounding collisions on highways, for

example, reference to drivers not vehicles and focusing on victims, are

to personalise the incident, not to allow it to become another statistic.

The updates to the highway code in 2022 created a hierarchy of road

users, in terms of vulnerability to injury, noting drivers are most likely to

cause harm.

·  In February 2023 WYP and West Yorkshire Safety

Camera Partnership published a revision to speed camera criteria with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Members noted that the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin was scheduled to visit Middleton Park on the 25^th of September.

The Chair outlined their intention to hold the next meeting at a later starting time of 1:30pm.

A message of thanks for their community work was extended to South Leeds Live.

RESOLVED – That the date and time of the next meeting as Wednesday, the 29^th of November 2023 at 1.30pm, be noted.