Agenda item

To provide an update from the Director of Communities and Environment with regards to the implementation of the locality working approach in our most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

The report of the Director of Communities and Environment provided an update on the progress of key developments in 2019 on the implementation of the locality working approach in our most disadvantaged wards and neighbourhoods.

Appended to the report included the Locality Working Strategic Framework; Community Engagement Approaches; Community Committee Activity; and the Draft Priority Area Annual Report 2019.

The following were in attendance for this item:

o  Councillor Coupar, Executive Member for Communities

o  Shaid Mahmood, Chief Officer Communities

o  Elizabeth Jarmin, Head of Stronger Communities

o  Martin Dean, Area Leader

o  Alison Szustakowski, Localities Programme Manager

o  Andrew Birkbeck, Localities Programme Manager

o  Jane Pattison, Localities Programme Manager

o  Stuart Byrne, Localities Programme Manager

The Chief Officer Communities provided Members with a presentation highlighting:

·  The progress of work in priority neighbourhoods and target wards and the themes that have emerged;

·  The application of the principles of locality working using examples from work programmes to articulate good practice;

·  Ongoing challenges and the ‘Big Asks’ that have been made to the council’s directorates through the Neighbourhood Improvement Board (NIB);

·  The emerging performance management framework for locality working;

·  Key achievements 2018/19.

In addition, officers in attendance briefly provided the Board with an update of the work undertaken in 2019, highlighting:

·  Partnership work with Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust (LTHT)

·  New Community Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)Leeds Neighbourhood Approach (LNA)

·  The plans for demolishing the former Gate pub and establishing an ambitious plan for the site

Members expressed their appreciation for the work undertaken by the Communities Team, in making a difference to those areas of deprivation in Leeds.

Key issues raised in discussions, were as follows:

·  The Board discussed CCTV service charges, and the on-going work being undertaken in order to transform the service digitally.

·  A Member sought clarity on the long term comprehensive solution to the challenge of Kingsdale Court. The Board were informed work is undergoing to look at different approaches for the site, and proposals would be brought back to the Scrutiny Board at a later date.

·  The Board discussed the Councils engagement with local and national businesses, and the work on-going cross directorate and with the Leeds Business Innovation District (BID).

·  Members were informed that detailed guidance could be provided in regard to the Rethink Formulation – Leeds Model. Members were keen to understand how the formulation provided a consistent and clear model for developing a shared understanding of a family and their presenting issues.

• Particular reference was made to the lack of involvement GP’s had at the Neighbourhood Improvement Boards (NIBs). Members heard that discussions had taken place, for GP’s to attend the Holbeck NIB, and an update would be provided at the 6 NIBs. Furthermore, the Executive Board Member for Communities suggested that the report be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board to consider involvement, in tackling health inequalities in the most deprived areas of Leeds.
• Members discussed the changes in the Indices of Deprivation for Leeds, and queried the timeliness of expanding the remit of work into other priority neighbourhoods. The Executive Member for Communities explained that with the resources available, 6 out of the 16 priority neighbourhoods had been focused on; the team will be working efficiently in order to effectively move on to the others.

The Chair proposed that the Scrutiny Advisor in conjunction with the Chair, write to the Health and Wellbeing Board, to suggest providing an input into this area of work as part of their agenda.

RESOLVED – The Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing and Communities):

a)  Noted the contents of the report, along with Members comments raised during the meeting;

b)  Requested that the Board recommends to the Health and Well-Being Board that the report is considered by its members with a view to determining whether the Board can take action to support the work of the Neighbourhood Improvement Board.

c)  All Scrutiny Boards to be made aware of the report by the Chair of the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board in order to identify opportunities to support the activity and best practice set out in the report.