Agenda and minutes

CO-OPTEES –  Robert Field – Burmantofts & Richmond Hill CLT

  Mr P Rone – Burmantofts & Richmond Hill CLT

Councillor Khan welcomed all present to the meeting, noting that this would be the last Community Committee before the May 2018 local elections and he expressed best wishes to all Committee Members seeking re-election.

The Chair reported that Councillor G Hyde and Councillor B Selby would be retiring from the Council at the election and he expressed his thanks and appreciation on behalf of the Committee and local residents for their hard work and support for the locality during their time as Councillors. Councillor G Hyde gave a brief response, supporting the work of the Community Committee and outlining the achievements in East Leeds so far.

Councillor Khan also noted the birthdays of Councillors Arif and Ragan.

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.

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:-

The agenda contained 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)

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda however Members were in receipt of an additional schedule of proposed dates for consideration (Minute 59 refers)

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest.

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Hussain and K Maqsood and it was noted that Councillor Selby would arrive later.

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader which provides an update on the 2017/18 Wellbeing budget, including details of any new projects for consideration, and to present the new budget for 2018/19.

(Report attached)

Neil Young, Area Officer, presented a report on the current budget position for the Committee, including details of decisions taken under delegated authority for the area since the last meeting in December. The report also looked ahead to the allocated budget of £228,850.00 for 2018/19.

Members noted the projected carry forward of £45,000.00 from the 2017/18 year which would provide the Committee with a total budget of £273,850.00.

During discussions, Members considered proposed top-slicing arrangements to secure funds for the ward pots, community engagement etc. and noted receipt of the detail of the 2018/19 Budget as set out in Appendix 3 of the report:

Members noted that recommendations on the YAF applications detailed at paragraphs 24 to 35 funding from the 2018/19 YAF budget could not be progressed as the advisory Children and Young People Sub Group had not met as anticipated, these applications would be deferred.

RESOLVED -

1)  To note the Wellbeing spend to date and current balances for the 2017/18 financial year (as detailed in Appendix 1).

2)  To note the Wellbeing funding decisions made by delegated authority since the date of the last Community Committee (as detailed in paragraphs 17 to 21 of the submitted report).

3)  To note the new Wellbeing and Youth Activities Fund applications that have been received.

4)  To defer the Youth Activity Fund applications detailed at paragraphs 24 to 35 of the submitted report.

5)  That the proposed Wellbeing budget for 2018/19 be approved, as detailed in Appendices 2 and 3 of the report.

(Councillor Arif left the meeting at this point)

The Chair noted that as there were no Members present from the Gipton and Harehills ward, the meeting was inquorate (Council Procedure Rule 28.3 refers) and Members were advised that no formal decisions could be made but recommendations could be made for ratification at a future meeting or for the authorised officer to take a Delegated Decision, where appropriate.

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

Members of the public addressed the meeting under the provisions of Paragraphs 4.16 and 4.17 of the Community Committee Procedure Rules (Open Forum):

East Leeds Foodbank – Bob Field gave an update on activity at the foodbank in February, and reported on the difficulties experienced during the snow when the Lincoln Green branch ran out of supplies.

Harehills locality engagement and policing – Elaine Atkinson, a local business owner, outlined her experience of the locality including fears of anti-social behaviour, of knife and acid crime, drug use, groups of men/youths congregating and the impact these issues had on the area and businesses. She provided information on an incident at Heron Foods that day. She also reported a perceived lack of communication about the work being done in the area to address these issues and to advertise the involvement of the Community Committee and Communities Team.

In response, information was provided on the work and format of the Community Committee meetings and the Harehills network. Sgt. J McNiff provided an update on the resources available for the local policing team, highlighting that the team maintains a base in the Compton Centre for reporting or advice. Comments regarding the usefulness of the Harehills Lane CCTV system were also noted. Local residents and business owners were urged to provide information whenever possible which could be acted upon. The suggestion that further work with local Councillors would be undertaken to review communication and engagement methods in the localities was noted.

RECOMMENDED –

a)  To note the issues raised.

b)  To refer the issues, where appropriate to the Communities Team to pursue.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held 30^th November 2017

(Copy attached)

RECOMMENDED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held 30^th November 2017 be agreed as a correct record.

To note any matters arising from the minutes

Minute 39

Save Fearnville Fields Campaign - It was reported that the Executive Member for Children and Families had now requested that other sites be considered. A local ward councillor provided additional detail confirming that this site was still being pursued

Murton Close ginnel – Following a site visit undertaken by West Yorkshire Police and Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team, which included speaking to local residents, it had been determined that there was insufficient evidence to support the closure of the ginnel.

RECOMMENDED – To note the information in the verbal updates.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor on a proposed Inner East Community Committee meeting schedule for the 2018/2019 municipal year

(Report attached)

The Committee considered the report of the City Solicitor setting out a proposed schedule of meetings for the forthcoming 2018/19 Municipal Year. Members were also in receipt of an alternative schedule of dates showing Wednesday as the meeting day, rather than Thursday.

Members expressed their support to continue to organise meetings in rotation throughout the three wards; subject to availability; cost and suitability of venues.

RECOMMENDED –

a)  To agree to the following meeting schedule:

•  Wednesday 13^th June 2018 at 6.00 pm

•  Wednesday 26^th September 2018 at 6.00 pm

•  Wednesday 5^th December 2018 at 5.30 pm

•  Wednesday 20^th March 2019 at 6.00 pm

(with an informal community workshop to be scheduled prior to the business meetings)

b)  To agree to continue to alternate the meeting venues throughout the three wards within the Inner East area.

To consider the report of the East Leeds Chief Inspector, West Yorkshire Police, which provides a briefing on the amendments to the neighbourhood policing model in East Leeds from 26th March 2018.

(Report attached)

The Committee received a presentation from Sgt. John McNiff and Chief Inspector Anwar Mohammed on the new Neighbourhood Policing Team structure for Leeds, and specifically for East Leeds which was due to be launched on 26th March 2018.

The following key points were highlighted:

·  The inner East and outer East policing teams would now fall within the East Leeds Partnership Working Area (PWA) with a single strategic lead to oversee neighbourhood policing in the district – Ch. Ins. Mohammed.

·  The new structure would give greater flexibility to deploy officers to respond to any incidents within the PWA.

·  The neighbourhood policing model had been retained, with no loss of Ward Officers or PCSO’s in the east Leeds area.

·  Ward Officers and PCSO’s were allocated to defined geographical areas, with 14 PCSOs based in the Compton Centre for the Gipton & Harehills and Burmantofts & Richmond Hill wards, with the Killingbeck & Seacroft PCSO’s co-located with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service at the York Road base.

·  There would be continued recruitment and training of PCSOs and further recruitment of Ward Officers, with bespoke training to support those working in neighbourhood policing for the first time.

 Discussions considered the following issues:

·  The level of deployment in each of the three wards, and the calculations used to allocate officers, based on demand through a review of crime reports, risk and threat. There was concern at a perceived imbalance of officer deployment, noting that each ward experienced its own problems; and further information was requested to provide the details to support the allocations:

-  Burmantofts & Richmond Hill 4 PCs and 9 PCSOs

-  Gipton & Harehills 8 PCs and 14 PCSOs

-  Killingbeck & Seacroft 3 PCs and 6 PCSOs

·  Asset management and the public’s desire for the former Killingbeck Police Station to be brought back into use.

·  The effectiveness of the 101 reporting phone line.

·  The enforcement of Public Space Protection Orders to prevent drinking alcohol in the street.

·  The deployment of road traffic officers throughout the East Leeds PWA to focus on front line function; and their availability to enforce the 20 MPH speed limit within the locality when needed.

In conclusion, the Chair acknowledged the challenging nature of some of the localities within the East Leeds PWA and he thanked local Police Sergeants McNiff, Leadbeater and Saeed for their work in the area. Councillor Khan also expressed best wishes to the Chief Inspector in his new role.

RECOMMENDATIONS

a)  To note the contents of the report and the comments made during discussions.

b)  To thank Ch. Ins. Mohammed and Sgt. McNiff for their presentation to the meeting

c)  To request that officers attend future ward member briefings to further discuss the consultation undertaken and calculations used to allocate officers within the wards.

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader providing an update on the work programme of the Inner East Community Committee and the Communities Team, including recent successes, current challenges and on-going pieces of work.

(Report attached)

Neil Young, Area Officer, presented an update report on the Inner East CC work programme, including recent successes and challenges and ongoing pieces of work. The report outlined follow up work undertaken since previous workshops and the work of the Committee’s sub groups. Recent community events held during the summer were also featured.

Clean Air Zone - James Hulme, Programme Officer, LCC Resources & Housing provided information on the Leeds Clean Air Zone to be implemented by 2020 and intended to improve air quality and reduce health impacts. Some 8000 responses had been received to public consultation undertaken between January and February 2018 and the analysis of these along with business representations would help inform the future plans. Members welcomed the report that funding was available to support small and medium sized businesses to make the transition to compliant vehicles.

RECOMMENDED – That the contents of the report and the comments made during discussions be noted.

To receive any feedback or comments from members of the public on the reports presented to this Community Committee meeting.

 A time limit for this session has been set at 10 minutes.

Due to the number and nature of comments it will not be possible to provide responses immediately at the meeting; however, members of the public shall receive a formal response within 14 working days.

If the Community Committee runs out of time, comments and feedback on the reports may be submitted in writing at the meeting or by email (contact details on agenda front sheet).

No matters were raised by Members of the public in relation to the formal Committee reports.

To note the next formal meeting is proposed as Wednesday 13th June 2018 at 6.00 pm.

RECOMMENDED – To note the date and time of the next meeting is proposed as Wednesday 13^th June 2018 at 6.00 pm (with a workshop to follow the meeting).

To conclude, Councillor Khan led the meeting in thanking Councillor Selby for his work in the locality and with the Committee and wished him well for the future. Councillor Selby gave a brief response outlining his time working in East Leeds as a Councillor and wished the Committee continued success in the future.