Agenda and draft 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 10 – Inner South Community Committee Finance Report, which had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting, with agreement from the Chair.

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 10, Inner South Community Committee Finance Report, Space Pizza Project II as this CIL funding application was submitted by the Salvation Army South Leeds Initiative, whom he was employed by. Details of this application can be found in supplementary information pack 1. In declaring his DPI, Councillor Carlisle took no part in the discussion or decision making of this specific funding application.

Councillor Paul Wray declared ‘Other Registerable Interests’ in relation to Agenda Item 10, Inner South Community Committee Finance Report with the Involve Community Centre, Beeston Festival and Hunslet Festival organisations having submitted funding bids, and him being involved as a trustee for Involve and a Member of the Committee for the festivals, in a voluntary capacity only. Further details for these funding applications are available below at minute 46.

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 29^th November 2023, for approval as a correct record.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on the 29^th of November 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

Minute 35 – In response to a query posed to Members and the Localities Officer, it was noted that the organisers of the Bumpy South Leeds project, which had been deferred from the previous meeting, had directed limited contact, and not provided the additional information that had been requested so Members agreed to decline the application, noting the organisation will be able to reapply for funds.

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.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships is to provide the Inner South Community Committee with an update on the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) and the King’s Award for Enterprise (KAE) schemes.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided the Inner South Community Committee with an update on the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) and the King’s Award for Enterprise (KAE) schemes.

The Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire outlined the following information:

• The West Yorkshire Lieutenancy was an organisation promoting and supporting many civic, faith, voluntary, social and business organisations and activities across the district.
• The awards were equivalent to a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for organisations and voluntary services and, to honour excellent community work and enterprise.
• Elected Ward Members held knowledge of good community and voluntary groups; it was requested that they join up work with the schemes and nominate credible organisations to be considered for the award.
• It was outlined that the nomination and award process were free of charge and Members input will likely only consist of sending one email containing a nomination of an organisation and its contact details.
• Members were asked to bridge the gap for the Lieutenancy to identify organisations that were unknown to the service but were strong community assets.
• The service was responsible for addressing eligibility criteria, which was noted as an organisation being volunteer led and conducting exceptional work.
• Once an organisation had been nominated and assessed to fit the criteria, it was sent to the London branch of the Lieutenancy for consideration. If approved by the London Lieutenancy, two Lieutenants were to attend the organisations premises to complete a full, final assessment.
• The Honours Committee were then set to determine whether to grant the award; it was noted approximately 50% of nominees were given the award.
• The benefits of the award were noted as, permitted use of logos to put on advertisements, being presented with a certificate and glassware from the King, beneficial when applying for grant funding and good publicity through the awards ceremony and local press.
• The KAE was based on excellent enterprise which focused on four categories, innovation, sustainable development, international trade and promoting opportunity through social mobility. This award was retained for threes years, the KAVS for the lifetime of the organisation.

Members discussions included the following points:

• As many notable organisations were under staffing and resource pressures, how onerous the process was for an organisation was queried. In response it was noted nomination required one person’s submission and two letters of support, which were to be submitted online and to consist of around 500 words. Information regarding criteria for the application was then provided and the Lieutenancy were then to start the assessment process.
• The assessment process was to check the organisation was well run and held good governance, safeguarding, insurance and work practises. The physical assessment of the organisations premises was to take no longer than two hours and included conversing with volunteers and trustees.
• The volunteer led criterium was lenient and pro-active, focused on day-to-day management and having paid staff was not a barrier to nomination but volunteers had to hold a management or service direction  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

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:

• The Children’s and Families Champion provided an update on recent work, outlining that the last Sub-Group meeting was held on the 10^th of January 2024 and that the Inner South Youth Summit held at the Civic Hall had been the highlight of the year and a success. The event was held on the 26^th of February 2024 at the banqueting hall and engaged with 150 people in attendance from 15 local schools across the three Wards. A YAF consultation had been run at the Summit in order to seek views on funding direction, an interactive question session had been conducted with the Lord Mayor allowing the young people to experience engagement with democracy and stakeholders and a lunch had been held at the Rose Bowl with goody bags and certificates presented.
• A message of thanks was extended to the Localities team for their work on the Summit and good feedback had been received from young people that attended and a local school governor. Members thanked the Children’s and Families Champion for their hard work in the role and on the Summit with it being the most successful so far. 
• The Environment and Community Safety Champion provided an update noting a quarterly meeting partnered with West Yorkshire Police (WYP) and the Anti-Social Behaviour Team took place, with the most recent on the 15^th of January 2024. Members were encouraged to attend future tasking meetings.
• An update from Public Heath was provided from pages 26 to 30 of the report, including winter messaging, an Employment and Skills update was detailed from pages 30 to 37 of the report, Community Engagement update on pages 37 and 38, Neighbourhood Centres Co-ordination update on pages 38 and 39 and the social media update was appended to the report, with a post regarding a leaflet drop in Hunslet and Riverside being the most engaged with.

WYP Officer, Sergeant Daniel Ryder, attended the meeting and provided the Committee with an update, outlining the following information:

• The crime statistics for Beeston and Holbeck from December 2023 were outlined:

o  Burglary residential – 16

o  Robbery – 8

o  Theft from a motor vehicle – 8

o  Theft of a motor vehicle – 5

o  Hate crimes - 17

o  Hate incidents – 8

o  Anti-social behaviour – 0

• The crime statistics for Hunslet and Riverside from December 2023 were outlined:

o  Burglary residential – 13

o  Robbery – 8

o  Theft from a motor vehicle - 20

o  Theft of a motor vehicle – 5

o  Hate crimes – 6

o  Hate incidents - 3

o  Anti-social behaviour - 6

• The crime  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

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 2023/24.

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:

• Point 10 of the report noted the change in rules with the UK no longer being a member of the EU and outlined the potential implications of the Subsidy Control Act 2022. This act was to stop selective financial interests and the legal process was covered by the Council’s legal department, who could be contacted for further information.
• The Wellbeing Budget balance was available at point 21 of the report with the Ward split as Beeston & Holbeck (£16,394.68) Hunslet & Riverside (£4,870.78) and Middleton Park (£22,874).
• Point 46 of the report outlined the projects approved by delegated decision since the last Committee meeting.
• Point 50 noted the successful Tulip Street Signage and Seats project.
• Point 54 outlined the reaming YAF budget balance with the Ward split as Beeston & Holbeck: (£127.63), Hunslet & Riverside: (£5,861.36) and Middleton Park: (£13,803.98).
• Table 3 at page 62 detailed the Small Grants for 2023/24. Table 4 at page 63 detailed the Community Skips Budget.
• Point 56 noted the remaining Capital Budget with the Ward split as Beeston & Holbeck: (£3,209.91) Hunslet & Riverside: (£5,349.39) and Middleton Park: £14,509.19).
• Table 6 on page 64 detailed the remaining CIL balance with the Ward split as Beeston & Holbeck (£57,251.71), Hunslet & Riverside (£147,558.09) and Middleton Park (£18,477.34). An update for the corrected Middleton Park figure was provided to include a re-imbursed underspend as the starting figure was larger than the remaining. £18,477.34 of CIL was confirmed to be available to Middleton Park.

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

• As some of the projects were proposed to be funded from next year’s budgets some concern was raised for the potential inability to fund some of next year’s projects.
• A query related to the benefits the project was to have for young people was posed to the applicant for the South Leeds Allstars project. In response it was noted that provision was focused on 13 to 18 year olds, creating new opportunities for deprived young people in the area and steering them away from anti-social behaviour. There was currently 50 young people engaged with the club, and engagement had been run through schools and community sessions at Pepper Road.
• It was proposed that the South Leeds Allstars application be deferred so the site could be visited, and further information gathered. In response the applicant noted that although the football season started in September, funding was needed for preparation, engagement and training provision. The Committee sought to cast a vote on the application, which was carried, to approve the project funding.
• For the South Leeds Allstars Expansion/Growth application, Beeston & Holbeck only had £1,500 of Wellbeing funding available, Hunslet & Riverside Councillors agreed to top up the remaining £740.
• As Beeston & Holbeck held no remaining  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

The report of the City Solicitor is to request Members to give consideration to agreeing the proposed Community Committee meeting schedule for the 2024/2025 municipal year.

The Committee considered a report of the City Solicitor which presented a draft schedule of Community Committee meeting dates for the 2024/25 municipal year for Members’ consideration.

The Governance Officer presented the report outlining the proposed dates as:

·  Wednesday, 3 July 24, 1:00pm

·  Wednesday, 4 Sept 24, 1:00pm

·  Thursday, 21 Nov 24, 1:00pm

·  Wednesday, 5 Mar 25, 1:00pm

Members discussed the following:

·  In order to keep up with other work commitments, Members proposed to hold the meeting at a later starting time of 1:30pm.

RESOLVED – That the Inner South Community Committee meeting dates for 2024/25 municipal year be agreed as follows:-

·  Wednesday, 3 July 24, 1:30pm

·  Wednesday, 4 Sept 24, 1:30pm

·  Thursday, 21 Nov 24, 1:30pm

·  Wednesday, 5 Mar 25, 1:30pm

The following matters were discussed:

Funding rounds for the bid process

·  It was suggested that the Committee could run two funding rounds annually, including meeting discussions for each Ward’s Elected Members, to set deadlines and go through bids, creating a more robust process and limiting the number of last minute bids, with the exception of smaller bids. In response it was noted that flexibility for applicants was often useful, particularly for ringfences, and this issue was being looked at through the Community Committee review. A report was due for consideration at the Executive Board with differing views on the funding round idea apparent. The review may standardise or provide a toolkit for Committees to accept and determine funding bid applications and pre-finance meeting were likely to be of use but may lead to issues, particularly for politically split Wards.

Forward plan for future agenda items

·  It was proposed that the Housing department was an agency the Committee was interested in receiving agenda items and presentations from to address issues within the area. Given the large portfolio and many branches of the Housing department it was appropriate to divide specific topics and consider them over different meetings over the year. It was agreed that the forward plan schedule was to be, Adaptations and Growth, Voids and Repairs then Evictions and Anti-Social Behaviour.