Agenda item

To consider a report of the South East Area Leader providing information on priority work

(report attached)

Members considered a report of the South East Area Leader outlining priority work carried out in the East Outer area over recent weeks together with details of Community Forum Chairs for 2012/13 and seeking approval from Swarcliffe PFI credits for continuation funding of the Community Environment Support Officer (CESO).  Appended to the report were copies of minutes from Community Forums from March – April 2012.

The Area Officer presented the report and highlighted several issues for Members’ information, these being:

·  The Open Space event proposed by the Area Leader which would take place on 4^th July at Garforth Academy and was an event to engage with the whole community at a grass roots level to discuss issues which were important to local residents in the area, with the hope this could be taken forward into the community forums

·  Christmas lights; that funding for these for the Kippax and Methley and Garforth and Swillington Wards could be sought from local businesses and that a letter had been drawn up which would be going out seeking contributions.  In response to questions, Members were informed that the Area Officer would be seeking larger donations from larger businesses  In respect of the Crossgates and Whinmoor Ward, money for Christmas lights would be used from the budget underspend as well as donations being sought

·  Community Forums – that Area Management Officers would be contacting Forum Chairs to ascertain if these were working as Members would wish them to, with possible assistance being offered around publicity and dedicated themed meetings

·  Shop Posters – that Central Government funding had been secured to provide graphics for empty shops to brighten up areas, with these hoping to be in place in early Autumn.

Members commented on the following matters:

·  The community payback scheme, the success of this and the need for greater publicity of this and what it achieves

·  The Environmental Sub-Group; that this was successful but that the minutes from these meetings were not appearing on Area Committee agendas for several months, which was not effective.  Concerns were also raised that environmental matters were not sufficiently considered by the Area Committee with a request being made for more time to be allowed for consideration of these matters

·  In terms of Community Forums, greater publicity of these and the possibility of having themed meetings or representatives from Highways and Education was discussed.  On this matter the Chair stated it was her intention to meet with Ward Members from each ward to discuss how best to promote and advertise the work being done in all four wards making up the Outer East area

·  Grafton Villas – that work on this which had been started in 2004 had finally been completed with the gates being erected and access restricted to residents backing on to the land.  Councillor Pauleen Grahame’s role in this was acknowledged.

The South East Area Leader, Shaid Mahmood, informed Members that more work would be undertaken around publicity, particularly of the achievements of schemes and projects and that the minutes from the community forums and sub-groups would be screened to bring out the main points.

Shaid also referred to the Open Space event which was seen as providing a rich contribution towards Civic enterprise.

RESOLVED -  

a)  To note the report and the comments now made

b)  To agree the forum dates and chairs as set out in the submitted report

c)  To approve £77,002 of Swarcliffe PFI credits for funding of the CESO post