Agenda item

To consider a report by the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods

giving an update on the Area Functions Schedule for 2007/2008, based on the functions delegated to the Area Committee at the present time.

(Executive Function)

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on the Area Functions Schedule 2007/08.  The report gave details on the updated Area Function Schedules and detailed the budgets available for delegated services for 2007/08.

The delegated functions to the Area Committee as at Appendix 1 attached to the report, included the following:

·  Youth Service

·  Community Centres

·  CCTV Cameras

·  Neighbourhood Wardens

·  Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)

·  Waste Management – Recycling Banks

·  Public Conveniences

·  Well-Being Budgets

Steve Crocker, West Leeds Area Manager pointed out at the meeting that in addition to the Well-Being Fund figures, the Executive Board have agreed a £500,000 one off release of General Fund Reserves at its meeting in April 2007 to accommodate a further £50,000 allocation for each of the ten Area Committees on a non recurring basis and reiterated that this element of the Well-Being budget must be spent in the current financial year. 

It was also pointed out that this extra allocation which has been added to the revenue Well-Being budget and is to be earmarked by the Executive Board for two areas of strategic importance for the Council as a whole.  These are:

·  To carry out a conservation area review of conservation areas in their geographical area (this is a Best Value indicator for the Council and it is felt that it is best addressed at a local level) and, 

·  Introducing residents’ only parking/extra parking provision in particular areas of concern.

Members felt that they needed to know more about the General Fund Reserves and why there had been this surplus.  It was also felt that the extra 2% revenue well-being allocation was actually a cut in the well-being budget as it is below inflation.  Members also objected to being told how the money must be spent.

Members queried how much the ALMO had contributed towards the funding of a Neighbourhood Warden as this was not in their original budget.  Members also reported that they were being inundated with telephone calls from residents complaining that the renovations to their properties varied dramatically,  as some properties had been supplied with entirely new kitchens, bathrooms, new windows etc and other residents who may live on the opposite side of the street, have now been informed that there is a shortage of money to complete these renovations to the same standard, yet they are expected to pay the same amount of rent as those tenants who have had full renovation work completed.

In response, Steve Crocker informed the meeting that one of the Wardens for the West Inner area has been funded from money that comes from Central Government.  The cost per year for each Warden is £28,000.  A second Warden had been funded for Fairfield through the Safer and Stronger Communities funding.  Two more Wardens had been funded for New Wortley, one through the West Inner Area Committee budget and the other funded by West/North West Homes Leeds.  The crime figures are now down in this area and it is mainly due to the Wardens doing a good job for the area.

RESOLVED - 

(i)  That approval be given to the updated Area Function Schedules for   2007/08.

(ii)  That the West Leeds Area Manager be requested to supply all   Members of   the Area Committee with:-

  (a)  Details of the source of additional funding of £50,000 for each   Area Committee and,

  (b)  Details of the source of funding contributed by West North West   Homes.