Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on the Area Delivery Plan 2008/11.

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That subject to further consideration of the extensive comments made by Members and the public at this meeting, the draft Area Delivery Plan 2008-2011 be approved in principle;

c)  That the Member Working Group meet to consider further the Area Delivery Plan, and any alterations necessary as a result of tonight’s meeting, following which a revised proposed final Area Delivery Plan be circulated to all Area Committee Members and local community groups prior to its submission to the Council’s Executive Board in September/October 2008.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report regarding the Committee’s draft Area Delivery Plan (ADP) 2008-2011. Steve Crocker, West and North West Area Manager, introduced the item and responded to questions and comments from Members and the public on the document.

This was the first year of the new enhanced and extended powers and responsibilities of Area Committees, in particular in respect of assuming the co-ordination and monitoring role previously performed by the District Partnerships. The Area Manager stressed the need for the ADP to reflect local priorities linked to the City’s Leeds Strategic Plan 2008-2011 and the City Council Business Plan 2008-2011. The Area Committee role was now to work with strategic partners at local level to identify those priorities, channel resources to meet those needs and to monitor performance against expectations. This was very much a ‘work in progress’ and should be viewed as such, which would be reviewed and amended and adapted on an annual basis. Also circulated at the meeting by way of background information, was a copy of further information on this subject prepared by the Area Manager, together with a copy of the 2007/08 ADP Action Plan.

In brief summary, the following main points were raised during the wide-ranging discussion of this item:-

·  The impact of Headingley Cricket and Rugby Stadium on residents in the area, particularly in respect of parking difficulties on match days;

·  The importance of introducing 20 mph in appropriate residential streets;

·  The lack of emphasis in the ADP on the protection of green space in the area;

·  The need for the ADP to include the protection and preservation of the cultural heritage of the area, such as the old mills in the Kirkstall Valley;

·  The Kirkstall Park and Kirkstall Forge developments needed to be in the ADP;

·  The need for the ADP to include  reference to the replacement of the current Kirkstall Valley BMX track;

·  Lack of reference to:

- a strategy for getting more homes back into family use;

-  the significant impact of the student and transient population on the area;

-  community enterprise initiatives;

-  Education – not enough emphasis

·  Lack of co-terminus boundaries between different authorities was an issue;

·  No reference to problems caused by Planning Inspectorate decisions, and how this might be addressed;

·  Lack of co-ordination/communication with the Leeds HMO Lobby;

·  Lack of reference to Neighbourhood Design Strategies and Local Planning Officer;

·  Not enough emphasis on strategies to help to achieve a ‘balanced population’;

·  Apparent lack of action on matters such as the Shared Housing Action Plan and Housing Mix Area Action Plan;

·  No ‘Vision’ or overall strategies for proactive initiatives which would enthuse and encourage the local population;

·  Lack of emphasis on significance and role which can be played by the local voluntary and community sector

·  The link between the reference to health inequalities and the need to retain the Leeds Girls High School swimming pool for public use;

·  The need to include cross-references in the ADP to other Council plans  and initiatives which were having an impact in the area;

·  The need to prioritise in terms of short, medium and long term gains which can be achieved;

·  The importance of grass-root partnerships as well as strategic ones;

·  The argument for less centralisation of services and more empowerment for local people;

·  The need to tackle worklessness in the area;

·  Lack of reference to the needs and the role which can be played by people with disabilities;

·  Working with local youth workers to tackle issues such as childhood obesity;

·  The fact that neighbourhoods were now being targeted, not just Wards, which was a step in the right direction;

·  The lack of reference to ‘Park and Ride’;

·  The Area Committee’s relationship with the ALMOs and the need for policies/strategies to tackle housing need in the area.

The Chair proposed that the draft ADP, together with the extensive comments made at tonight’s meeting, be referred to the Member Working Group for further consideration and possible alteration, following which it would be recirculated to Area Committee Members and local community groups prior to submission to the Executive Board. In the meantime, if anyone had any further thoughts or comments, these should be forwarded as soon as possible to Sheila Fletcher in the Area Management Team.

RESOLVED -

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That subject to further consideration of the extensive comments made by Members and the public at this meeting, the draft Area Delivery Plan 2008-2011 be approved in principle;

c)  That the Member Working Group meet to consider further the Area Delivery Plan, and any alterations necessary as a result of tonight’s meeting, following which a revised proposed final Area Delivery Plan be circulated to all Area Committee Members and local community groups prior to its submission to the Council’s Executive Board in September/October 2008.

(NB: Councillors Ewens and Hamilton jointed the meeting at 7.08 pm during discussion of this item)