Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing the meeting with a summary of ward forums and sub groups that have taken place since the last Area Committee, together with providing information on future meeting dates for the Committee’s forums and sub groups.

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That approval be given to the revisions to the community centre pricing and lettings policy as outlined in Appendix 1.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing the meeting with a summary of ward forums and sub groups that have taken place since the last Area Committee, together with providing information on future meeting dates for the Committee’s forums and sub groups.

Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Inner North West Community Centre Pricing Review (directly managed centres)’ for the information/comment of the meeting.

Chris Dickinson, West North West Area Management presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• the need for further clarification as to why a decision had been made in delaying a meeting of the Hyde Park and Woodhouse Forum due to purdah before 18^th February 2010 by-election (Section 1.2 refers)

(Kate Sibson, West North West Area Management responded and agreed to make some further enquiries in this regard with a report back at the next meeting)

• clarification of the consultation arrangements to date in relation to the West Park Centre and the need for the Area Committee to be involved within the process (Section 6.1 refers)

(Jason Singh, Acting West North West Area Manager responded and informed the meeting that the official three month consultation period on the future of the West Park Centre was due to commence from the beginning of June 2010)

• the need for the Culture Sub Group to focus on major arts venues/facilities within the city i.e. music facilities at the West Park Centre and the Kirkstall Festival

(The Chair responded and informed the meeting that at the Culture Conference held on 28^th January, the theme of the conference was to celebrate those smaller unknown schemes within the city)

• to welcome the recent allocation of Wellbeing funds for two Enforcement Officers for Woodhouse Moor and  to seek clarification as to whether or not the barbeque pilot on Woodhouse Moor would be implemented

(Jason Singh, Acting West North West Area Manager responded and agreed to liaise with Parks and Countryside on this issue with a report back at the next meeting)

• the need to finalise a date of the Environmental Sub Group as soon as possible
• the need to re-introduce the Young People’s Sub Group following recent discussions with the Locality Enabler in Children’s Services

(Chris Dickinson, West North West Area Management responded and agreed to convene a meeting with Councillor P Ewens and the Locality Enabler with a view to progressing this matter)

• clarification as to why ‘themed’ meetings were not being held anymore prior to Area Committee meetings

(The Chair responded and informed the meeting that these meetings had not been very productive with poor attendance. However the Committee did acknowledge that the timing of the meetings had not been user friendly for working families etc. The Chair also noted that if it was the desire of Members to re-instate such meetings, he was open to Members bringing forward appropriate ‘themes’ to future meetings)

RESOLVED-

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

b)  That approval be given to the revisions to the community centre pricing and lettings policy as outlined in Appendix 1.