Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED – That Councillor S Arif be elected as Chair for the meeting.

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 late items.

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

There were no declarations.

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor A Hussein.

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 remit of the Community Committee.

On this occasion no members of the public wished to speak.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 September 2023.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

To note any matters arising from the minutes

Minute 24 – Matter Arising

It was reported that there had ben further discussions regarding the issue of planters for road blockades and the prevention of parking on pavements, particularly nearby to schools.  A further meeting was due.

Children and vaping – there is a national consultation on vaping and this had also been discussed at the Health and Wellbeing Board and Children’s Scrutiny Board. An update on the Council’s position was requested for the next meeting and it was suggested that Public Health be invited.

Minute 22 – Open Forum

With regard to the visit from East Street Arts at the previous meeting, it was asked whether there had been an approach to Members of the Little London and Woodhouse Ward and an update was requested.

Further to a residents query following issues raised at the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee’s Open Forum, it was reported that a further meeting with residents had taken place and discussions were ongoing.

Minute 27 – Update Report

Following contact with the Cleaner Neighbourhoods team, the zonal working method of operation in Killingbeck and Seacroft was no longer being used.

An update was requested on the problems relating to shisha bars in Lincoln Green and Mabgate and whether the Police or Entertainment Licensing could take any enforcement action.

It was reported that there had been further cannabis farms discovered in the area.  Sargent Goringe informed the Committee of successful raids that had taken place.  Members discussed the possibility of funding to provide heat guns to assist with detection work.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships updated the Community Committee on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital Budget as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2023/24.

Members attention was brought to the applications for funding detailed in the report.  These were agreed as follows:

Members were given an update on spending decisions made by Delegated Decision and from the Small Grants budget since the last meeting.  Further information was requested on the funding for PHAB Weekly Social Club.

RESOLVED – That the following be noted:

a. Details of the Minimum Conditions (paragraph 14)

b. Details of the change regarding the administration of small grants (paragraph 16)

c. Details of the Wellbeing Budget (Table 1) (paragraph 17 - 20)

d. Funding proposals (Paragraph 21 - 28)

e. Details of Delegated Decision Notice (Paragraph 29)

f. Details of Declined Projects (Paragraph 30)

g. Details of the Youth Activities Fund (Table 2) (Paragraph 31 - 33)

h. Details of the Small Grants & Skips Budget (Table 3) (Paragraph 34)

i. Details of the Capital Budget (Table 4) (Paragraph 35)

j. Details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget (Table 5) (Paragraph 36)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships introduced a discussion around the current issues in the Inner East area with Elected Members and Partners.

The following were in attendance –

·  Sergeant Tom Goringe – West Yorkshire Police

·  Neil Bowden – LASBAT

·  Pete Wadjner – Housing

·  Craig Blair – Youth Services

Sergeant Goringe addressed the meeting.  He reported that there had been a slight increase on crime across the three wards.  Burmantofts and Richmond Hill had seen the largest increase with theft from motor vehicles being a problem.  There had been a small increase in Gipton and Harehills although a concern rise in the number of robberies.  There had been a slight decrease in Killingbeck and Seacroft.

Sergeant Goringe highlighted key issues and areas of work across the three Inner East Wards:

·  Killingbeck and Seacroft – work on Brooklands Close, New Leedswatch Camera, quadbikes – there had been 3 seizures and 1 arrest. Tackling drug dealing in Seacroft, work at Seacroft Shopping Centre.

·  Burmantofts & Richmond Hill – Tackling Urban Street Gangs, issue of closure orders with LASBAT, parcel theft at Echo House, problems with parking at Railway Street and Saxton Lane.

·  Gipton and Harehills – There had ben over 200 arrests in the past 9 months with 30 people remanded and £57 in cash assets seized.  There had been seizures of illegal cigarettes and tobacco.  Focus on untaxed vehicles.  Off Licence Reviews – a new system of issuing warnings was being trialled.

In response to questions, discussion included the following:

·  Referrals were made to the relevant organisations for cases which involved problem drinkers.

·  There had been a change in the policy for the use of stingers and risk assessments had to be undertaken before deployment.

·  Sentencing for young offenders – it was suggested that concerns be raised with the Deputy Mayor for West Yorkshire for Police and Crime.

·  Members requested further details on the locations of theft from motor vehicles in Burmantofts and Richmond Hill so that residents could be contacted.

·  Concern regarding the rise of applications for off licences in Burmantofts and Richmond Hill in areas that suffered from anti-social behaviour and crime and there was a need for the relevant partners to object to these applications.  There was further concern that problem drinkers had migrated to the area due to the introduction and success of the Cumulative Impact Area in Gipton and Harehills.  It was suggested that the problem areas in Burmantofts and Richmond Hill may be suitable for a Cumulative Impact Area.

·  The crime figures in the report related to serious acquisitive crime.  Further detail on other crimes including violent crimes could be supplied.

·  Success of Operation Dieselcrest.

·  Problems with electric scooters.

·  Future of Killingbeck Police Station.

Neil Bowden of the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team addressed the meeting and referred to statistics detailed in the Update Report.  Highlights of the teams work included the following:

Gipton & Harehills – applications had been made to get premises closed where there had been the sale of illegal cigarettes and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships updated Members with the work on the Communities Team had been engaged in based on the priorities of the Community Committee.

The report included a copy of the Social Media Report as an appendix.

Attention was brought to the update on Selective Licensing which detailed a positive picture on the position in Harehills.  It was asked that further updates could be included in future reports.

Priority Ward updates – there had been successful diversionary work during the bonfire period and there was evidence that early interventions were working.

RESOLVED – That the report 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).

There were no comments.

Concern was raised regarding the Bangladesh Centre on Roundhay Road.  There had been several broken windows.  It was reported that there had been discussions with a third party regarding use of the centre but this had fallen through.  Asset management were trying to identify someone else to occupy the building and there was the possibility of providing youth activity there.

It was reported that the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee had recommended that carbon literacy training be rolled out across the city.  LS14 Trust were looking at doing some work in Seacroft and it was requested that this be publicised through the Community Committee.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as the 14^th March 2024 at 6pm.

Thursday, 14 March 2024 at 6.00 p.m.