Agenda item - Inner West Area Committee Well-Being Fund Update

Inner West Area Committee Well-Being Fund Update

Meeting of West (Inner) Area Committee, Thursday, 23rd October, 2008 5.00 pm (Item 38.)

To consider a report by the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods to update Members on the current amount of capital and revenue funding committed and available via the Area Committee Well-Being Budget for wards in the Inner West area. The report also seeks approval for new and continuing projects commissioned by the Area Management Team.

(Executive Function)

Decision:

RESOLVED –

(a) That the current amount of Revenue Well-Being fund available for 2008/09 is £21,469.94 and Capital Well-Being fund is £92,400 be noted.

(b) That the following decisions be taken in respect of new projects and requests for funding from the Well-Being Budget contained in appendices attached and listed in Paragraph 3.1 of the submitted report:

(i) Moorside Pitch adjacent to Moorside Community Centre – Approved - £20,000 (Capital).

(ii) Inner West Community Sports Programme – Approved - £6,000 (Revenue).

(iii) Community Development Worker – Approved - £10,000 (Revenue).

(iv) Town Centre Manager for Armley – Approved - £20,000

(2009/10 Revenue), subject to appropriate funds being available.

(v) Sikh Temple Refurbishment – Approved - £10,000 (Capital).

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a detailed report providing an update on the current amount of capital and revenue funding committed and available for the 2008/2009 financial year.

Alison Pickering, Area Management Officer presented the report and, together with Steve Crocker, West North West Area Manager responded to Members’ questions and comments.

Andy Scanlan, West Leeds Sport Development Officer introduced his application for funding for the West Leeds Development Programme (Inner West). Members generally felt that this activity was essential for the area but expressed their concern that the Area Committee were now expected to fund such a core activity of the Council (Resolution (b)(ii) below refers).

The Chair expressed concern that the Area Committee were now regularly being called upon to fund the Council’s core activities. Members felt that they were being put in a compromising position when being asked to consider core activity applications as they obviously want to support the young people of West Inner Leeds and get them the best facilities for the area.

Charmaine Howell, Community Development and Centre Manager introduced her application for funding. (Resolution (b)(iii) below refers).

During consideration of the above application Members expressed their delight that the New Wortley Community Centre had made a considerable impact on the West Inner area and that other partners had relied on the use of the centre as a launching pad. It was implied that the New Wortley Community Centre had played a significant part in lowering the crime statistics for the area. Councillor Lowe referred to the crime statistics

mentioned earlier at the Open Forum meeting on Community Safety when it was stated that the crime statistics for Armley were 50% more than the crime statistics for Bramley. Councillor Lowe asked Acting NPT Inspector Jon Glennon how much of the 50% crime statistics were for the New Wortley area. In response, Inspector Glennon informed the meeting that he would have to request a separate analysis on the crime statistics and would shortly supply Area Committee Members with that information.

A representative from the Sri Guru Nanak Sikh Temple Armley introduced his application for funding. (Resolution (b)(v) below refers).

Steve Crocker, West North West Area Manager informed the meeting that the Temple had already acquired a £100,000 charity loan towards the proposed refurbishment works for the Temple.

(Note – That all applicants who presented their applications left the room whilst Members of the Area Committee made their decision for each application for funding).

The Chair thanked the applicants for their attendance.