Agenda item

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) providing Members with information on a range of Area Committee business, including key messages from forums and sub-groups, together with project and service activity.

(Executive Function)

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report, and the comments made during the discussion on this item, be noted.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) submitted a report which brought together a range of information regarding Area Committee business. As such, the report provided details of the key messages from Area Committee Sub Groups and Area Forums, whilst also presenting an update in respect of projects and service provision.

In considering the report, Members received an update from the respective Chairs of the Committee’s Sub Groups. The key points raised were as follows:-

• With respect to the further Executive environmental delegations to the Area Committee which were proposed, concerns were raised regarding the resource allocation which would accompany such proposals, the views of trade unions and the roll out of service provision currently undertaken by centralised teams. Emphasis was also placed upon the need for the roll out of any such provision to be approached in a cohesive manner. In conclusion, Members emphasised their support for the ongoing work being undertaken by the Locality Manager and his team in respect of the environmental services delegations, but emphasised the need for any increase in delegations to be accompanied by appropriate resource provision;
• Members supported the proposal for members of the Outer North West Business and Transport Sub Group and the Inner North West Area Committee Transport Group to meet periodically in order to consider cross boundary issues, but emphasised the need for the Outer North West Sub Group to retain it’s identity and operation as a sub committee of the North West Outer Area. The Committee also emphasised the important role of the Leeds City Region in pursuing citywide public transport initiatives;
• The Committee highlighted the low immunisation levels of vulnerable adults and children in Leeds which had been raised at a recent ‘Leeds – Let’s Change’ seminar and requested that this matter was included within the agenda for discussion at the next scheduled meeting of Health and Wellbeing Sub Group;
• Members highlighted the implications in the area arising from GP commissioning, such as the geographical inconsistencies between Ward boundaries and potential commissioning boundaries. In response, it was proposed that both the Area Committee Chair and the Area Leader pursue such matters respectively;
• Members reiterated concerns made earlier in the meeting regarding the current ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) regulations on lock cylinders and the need for any damaged locks to be replaced by the most secure models available;
• A request was made for hard copies of Community Safety Sub Group agenda papers to be made available in advance of future meetings;
• Members emphasised the need for any potential duplication of efforts between sub groups and the Area Committee to be minimised, however, emphasis was placed upon the need for any concerns raised during Area Committee meetings to be fully explored prior to a formal decision being taken;
• Responding to Members’ previous enquiries, the Area Leader confirmed that she was continuing to pursue information in respect of Elected Member attendance at Tasking Group meetings.

In conclusion, the Committee welcomed the newly appointed Chief Superintendent David Oldroyd of West Yorkshire Police, who was in attendance at the meeting. In introducing himself, Chief Superintendent Oldroyd highlighted several key issues which were ongoing within the area and specifically provided Members with assurances regarding proposals around the transfer of resources from Horsforth to Weetwood Police stations.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report, and the comments made during the discussion on this item, be noted.