Agenda item

In accordance with Paragraphs 4.16 and 4.17 of the Community Committee Procedure Rules, at the discretion of the Chair a period of up to 10 minutes may be allocated at each ordinary meeting for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Community Committee. This period of time may be extended at the discretion of the Chair. No member of the public shall speak for more than three minutes in the Open Forum, except by permission of the Chair.

In accordance with the Community Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a period of up to 10 minutes for members of the public to make representations or ask questions within the terms of reference of the Community Committee.

The following three topics were raised as submissions for the Open Forum.

Refuse at Aldi and Poundland on Tunstall Road

The litter surrounding the site was an increasing issue and when cleaned up, it seemed to reappear the next day. This posed concerns in regard to attracting vermin, public health and was not aesthetic for the community. Member responded that the bin store for the shops had been moved which had caused capacity issues, and new bin store planning proposals had been rejected on the grounds of Highways concerns. The Cleaner Neighbourhoods department and Environmental Enforcement were working to resolve the issues; however, enforcement was noted to be a long process. The yucca bin provided to the rear of Poundland was not fit for purpose or capacity and a message of thanks to the community effort to proactively clear the site was extended. Aldi were responsible for about 95% of the site but the litter and refuse to the rear of Poundland was thought to be the most significant. Local enforcement was to be contacted the day following the Committee meeting, but a legal process argument was ongoing.

Council Budget Constraints and Asset Transfer Plans

The responsibilities and powers of the Council to potentially transfer assets back to community ownership was queried as a possible option to address budget issues and ongoing cuts to Local Authority funding. Members responded, noting, as a public body the Council was unable to hide assets, an asset review was ongoing and although keen on community asset transfer for certain Council owned buildings, standards had to be met in regard to the state, safety and energy efficiency of the building. It was a possible option with Holbeck Community Centre being transferred to Holbeck Together, and if groups or organisations had assets for transfer in mind, they should get in contact. The practical reality was that the Government was above Local Authority power and transparency remained a challenge.

Stourton Park and Ride Bus Provision

As there had been reduced services, particularly on weekends, it had affected the publics ability to access the city centre and had increased traffic and was in opposition to the Council’s encouragement for the public to utilise public transport and reduce overall carbon output. Members responded, noting, this was an issue they were aware of and frustrated by as the bus services were run as private businesses, receiving contracts from the Government and it should not be the case that if a route is not highly profitable it is removed. A South Leeds Live report had recently covered this issue. The best process to address this was through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) consultation, with events planned at Leeds Museum on the 4^th of December at 2pm and 5pm to promote public engagement. There was cross party agreement that the best option was to re-franchise bus services and the issue affected all three Wards.