In accordance with Paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area 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 Area 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.
Minutes:
In accordance with paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed members of the public to make representations or ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.
(a) West Park Centre – Village Green Status – Remaining Pieces of Land
Peter Owen, Spen Hill Residents Association referred to the remaining pieces of land surrounding the West Park Centre and requested the support of the Area Committee in registering the land as Village Green Status.
At the request of the Chair, Jade Corcoran, Community Planning Officer, City Development outlined the legal procedures for the information of the meeting.
Following a brief discussion, the Committee instructed the West North West Area Manager to write to the Chief Legal Officer with a request to proceed in registering the land as Village Green Status.
(b) The Future of the West Park Centre
Doug Kemp, West Park Residents Association referred to the future of the West Park Centre and requested the support of the Area Committee in having a dialogue in place between the community groups and the Council.
The West North West Area Manager informed the meeting that following the deputation at the last Area Committee meeting, no response had been received to date from the Council/Executive Board.
Following a brief discussion, the Committee fully supported the proposal of having a dialogue in place between the community groups and the Council in relation to the future of the West Park Centre.
(c) Noise Nuisance Complaints
Amanda Jackson, University of Leeds informed the meeting that the Neighbourhood Helpline was working well. However she suggested that the perpetrators of many of the complaints received might not be students and therefore she requested the assistance of the Area Committee in identifying the perpetrators.
Following a brief discussion, it was agreed to request the West North West Area Manager to investigate the current problems in this area with a report back on progress.
(d) Royal Park School
Sue Buckle, South Headingley Community Association/Friends of Woodhouse Moor enquired on the latest developments in relation to the Royal Park School.
The Chair responded and reminded the meeting that this issue would be discussed within the Area Manager’s Report (Minute 69 refers).
(e) Queenswood Drive –Highways Issues
John Christie, Queenswood Drive Residents Association referred to the increasing number of road traffic accidents on Queenswood Drive due to the road being unsafe. He requested the support of the Area Committee in taking urgent action, together with the removal of grass verges as a possible solution in this regard.
Following a brief discussion, the Committee agreed to refer this issue to the ward members and the Streetscene sub group for further investigation.
(f) Anomie in Headingley
Dr Richard Tyler, Leeds HMO Lobby referred to a recent BBC News report on a survey by Sheffield University on the strength of community throughout the UK. Following the devise of an “anomie index” measuring the lack of sense of community in every part of the country, Inner NW Leeds (Leeds Headingley) achieved the second highest score in the UK (72% after Edinburgh’s 86%).
He informed the meeting that this was significant in two ways. First, if a community was to survive at all in Inner NW Leeds, fundamental planning and housing policies must be adopted to address the issue. And secondly, as well as reacting, the community would need to be proactive in promoting an alternative to the dreadful reputation Headingley had acquired nationally.
Following a brief discussion, the Committee noted the findings of the survey and requested the West North West Area Manager to include the results in mind when revising the Area Delivery Plan.