Public Document Pack
NORTH WEST (INNER) AREA COMMITTEE
Meeting to be held at Hawksworth Wood Primary School, Cragside Walk, Leeds 5 on Thursday, 5th February, 2009 at 7.00 pm
MEMBERSHIP
Councillors
M Hamilton - Headingley J Matthews - Headingley J Monaghan (Chair) - Headingley
P Ewens - Hyde Park and Woodhouse K Hussain - Hyde Park and Woodhouse L Rhodes-Clayton - Hyde Park and Woodhouse
B Atha - Kirkstall J Illingworth - Kirkstall L Yeadon - Kirkstall
S Bentley - Weetwood J Chapman - Weetwood B Chastney - Weetwood
Agenda compiled by: Stuart Robinson W N W Area Manager: Steve Crocker Governance Services Unit 247 4360 Tel: 395 0966 Civic Hall LEEDS LS1 1UR
Produced on Recycled Paper A
A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF COUNCIL FUNCTIONS AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS
There are certain functions that are defined by regulations which can only be carried out at a meeting of the Full Council or under a Scheme of Delegation approved by the Full Council. Everything else is an Executive Function and, therefore, is carried out by the Council’s Executive Board or under a Scheme of Delegation agreed by the Executive Board.
The Area Committee has some functions which are delegated from full Council and some Functions which are delegated from the Executive Board. Both functions are kept separately in order to make it clear where the authority has come from so that if there are decisions that the Area Committee decides not to make they know which body the decision should be referred back to.
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A G E N D A
Item Ward Item Not Page No Open No
1 APPEALS AGAINST REFUSAL OF INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS
To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)
(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting)
2 EXEMPT INFORMATION - POSSIBLE EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
1 To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.
2 To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.
3 If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-
RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-
No exempt items or information have been identified on this agenda
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Item Ward Item Not Page No Open No
3 LATE ITEMS
To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration
(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)
4 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct
5 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
6 DEPUTATION REGARDING ROYAL PARK SCHOOL
To receive a deputation regarding Royal Park School.
(Please note that in accordance with paragraph 6.19 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, the deputation must not exceed 5 minutes in duration)
7 OPEN FORUM
In accordance with Paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area 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 Area 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.
8 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING 1 - 14
To receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 th December 2008.
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Item Ward Item Not Page No Open No
9 RELATIONSHIP AND REPORTING BETWEEN 15 - HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION 38 SERVICE, INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION TEAMS, AND AREA COMMITTEES (COUNCIL FUNCTION)
To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods outlining how Health and Environmental Action Services operates, with a particular focus on the Environmental Action Teams.
10 WELL-BEING REPORT (EXECUTIVE 39 - FUNCTION) 48
To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on the Well-being Budget.
11 LITTLE LONDON AND WOODHOUSE 49 - INTENSIVE NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT 52 (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION)
To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods outlining the 2009/10 budget for Intensive Neighbourhood Management in Little London and Woodhouse.
12 AREA MANAGER'S REPORT (EXECUTIVE 53 - FUNCTION) 62
To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods informing the meeting of progress on a number of projects and issues in Inner North Leeds not addressed elsewhere on the agenda.
13 LEEDS HOUSING STRATEGY (EXECUTIVE 63 - FUNCTION) 92
To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on a draft Leeds Housing Strategy.
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Item Ward Item Not Page No Open No
14 HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION (HMOS) 93 - (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION) 128
To consider a report of the Director of City Development updating Members on the recent work carried out for Communities and Local Government in relation to Houses in Multiple Occupation.
15 FORUM AND SUB GROUP UPDATE REPORT 129 - (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION) 158
To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing Members with full minutes from ward forums and sub groups that have taken place since the last meeting.
16 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING 159 - 160 Thursday 2 nd April 2009 at 7.00pm (venue to be confirmed)
MAP OF TODAY’S MEETING
Hawksworth Wood Primary School, Cragside Walk, Leeds LS5 3QE
F Agenda Item 8
NORTH WEST (INNER) AREA COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, 18TH DECEMBER, 2008
PRESENT: Councillor J Monaghan in the Chair
Councillors B Atha, S Bentley, J Chapman, B Chastney, P Ewens, M Hamilton, J Illingworth, J Matthews and L Yeadon
OFFICERS: Steve Crocker, West North West Area Manager Jason Singh, Deputy Area Manager Sheila Fletcher, North West Area Management Zahid Butt, North West Area Management Jane Maxwell, Children’s Services Jade Corcoran, City Development Department Andrew Hall, City Development Department Nicholas Hunt, City Development Department Nicholas Borras, City Development Department Gwyn Owen, City Development Department Stuart Robinson, Chief Executive’s Department Tim Pheeby, Transport Initiatives/Leeds Cycling Action Group Philip Purkis, Leeds Cycling Action Group Inspector Ian Croft, West Yorkshire Police Inspector Fran Naughton, West Yorkshire Police
MEMBERS OF Dr Richard Tyler, Leeds HMO Lobby THE PUBLIC: Barrie Payne, Leeds HMO Lobby John Dickinson, Weetwood Residents Association Rob Damiao, University of Leeds Students Union Scott Blakeway, Unipol Students Homes Amanda Jackson, University of Leeds Lisa Brannan, University of Leeds Bobby King, University of Leeds Cyndel Thomas, University of Leeds Sophie Hughes, Leeds Metropolitan University Sue Buckle, South Headingley Community Association/ Friends of Woodhouse Moor Rachel Reeves, Labour Parliamentary Candidate in Leeds West Janet Kemp, Supporting the Elderly Doug Kemp, West Park Residents Association Ken Torode, West Park Residents Association/ St Stephen’s Church and School Steve Harris, Kirkstall Festival Tony Green, North Hyde Park Neighbourhood Association Josie Green, North Hyde Park Neighbourhood Association
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 1 Martin Staniforth, North Hyde Park Neighbourhood Association Clare Marlow, North Hyde Park Neighbourhood Association Penny Bainbridge, Cardigan Centre Peter Owen, Spen Hill Residents Association Tony Croous, South Headingley Community Association David Hollingsworth, Hyde Park Unity Day Ken Waterworth, Kirkstall Valley Community Association Sheila Waterworth, Kirkstall Valley Community Association John Christie, Queenswood Drive Residents Association Andy Beck, LGAG Chris Taylor, Leeds 6 Resident Fiona Ratcliffe, Local Resident Kathleen Mason, Local Resident Wendy Carson, Local Resident
56 Chair's Opening Remarks The Chair welcomed everyone to the November meeting of the North West (Inner) Area Committee held at the West Park Centre, Spen Lane, Leeds 16.
He informed Members that the meeting was inquorate due to no Members being present from the Hyde Park and Woodhouse ward. As a result the meeting commenced at 7.10 pm and not 7.00 pm as previously stated on the agenda front.
He reminded the meeting that Sheila Fletcher, North West Area Management would be transferring to the South Area Management office on 12th January 2009. It was noted that Chris Dickinson, from renew, had been appointed to the position. He again thanked her for her support to the Area Committee since August 2008.
In concluding, the Chair announced that it was Councillor L Yeadon’s birthday and Members conveyed their best wishes.
57 Declarations of Interest The following personal interests were declared:-
x Councillor J Illingworth in his capacity as a Director and Company Secretary of Kirkstall Valley Park – A660 Otley Road Cycling Study (Agenda Item 11) (Minute 65 refers) and A660 Corridor Transport Issues (Agenda Item 12) (Minute 66 refers)
58 Apologies for Absence Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor K Hussain and Councillor L Rhodes- Clayton.
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 2 (Councillor Ewens joined the meeting at 7.11 pm at the conclusion of the above item. The Chair informed Members that the meeting was now quorate)
59 Open Forum In accordance with paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed members of the public to make representations or ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.
(a) West Park Centre – Village Green Status – Remaining Pieces of Land Peter Owen, Spen Hill Residents Association referred to the remaining pieces of land surrounding the West Park Centre and requested the support of the Area Committee in registering the land as Village Green Status.
At the request of the Chair, Jade Corcoran, Community Planning Officer, City Development outlined the legal procedures for the information of the meeting.
Following a brief discussion, the Committee instructed the West North West Area Manager to write to the Chief Legal Officer with a request to proceed in registering the land as Village Green Status.
(b) The Future of the West Park Centre
Doug Kemp, West Park Residents Association referred to the future of the West Park Centre and requested the support of the Area Committee in having a dialogue in place between the community groups and the Council.
The West North West Area Manager informed the meeting that following the deputation at the last Area Committee meeting, no response had been received to date from the Council/Executive Board.
Following a brief discussion, the Committee fully supported the proposal of having a dialogue in place between the community groups and the Council in relation to the future of the West Park Centre.
(c) Noise Nuisance Complaints Amanda Jackson, University of Leeds informed the meeting that the Neighbourhood Helpline was working well. However she suggested that the perpetrators of many of the complaints received might not be students and therefore she requested the assistance of the Area Committee in identifying the perpetrators.
Following a brief discussion, it was agreed to request the West North West Area Manager to investigate the current problems in this area with a report back on progress.
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 3 (d) Royal Park School Sue Buckle, South Headingley Community Association/Friends of Woodhouse Moor enquired on the latest developments in relation to the Royal Park School.
The Chair responded and reminded the meeting that this issue would be discussed within the Area Manager’s Report (Minute 69 refers).
(e) Queenswood Drive –Highways Issues John Christie, Queenswood Drive Residents Association referred to the increasing number of road traffic accidents on Queenswood Drive due to the road being unsafe. He requested the support of the Area Committee in taking urgent action, together with the removal of grass verges as a possible solution in this regard.
Following a brief discussion, the Committee agreed to refer this issue to the ward members and the Streetscene sub group for further investigation.
(f) Anomie in Headingley Dr Richard Tyler, Leeds HMO Lobby referred to a recent BBC News report on a survey by Sheffield University on the strength of community throughout the UK. Following the devise of an “anomie index” measuring the lack of sense of community in every part of the country, Inner NW Leeds (Leeds Headingley) achieved the second highest score in the UK (72% after Edinburgh’s 86%).
He informed the meeting that this was significant in two ways. First, if a community was to survive at all in Inner NW Leeds, fundamental planning and housing policies must be adopted to address the issue. And secondly, as well as reacting, the community would need to be proactive in promoting an alternative to the dreadful reputation Headingley had acquired nationally.
Following a brief discussion, the Committee noted the findings of the survey and requested the West North West Area Manager to include the results in mind when revising the Area Delivery Plan.
60 Minutes of the Previous Meeting RESOLVED – (a) That the minutes of the meeting held on 13th November 2008 be approved as a correct record. (b) That the update on matters arising from the previous minutes be noted.
61 Matters Arising from the Minutes (a) West Park Centre Deputation – Area Committee Attendance List -13th November 2008
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 4 A local resident queried why a number of people from the West Park Centre Deputation party had not been recorded in the Area Committee attendance list.
At the request of the Chair, Mr S Robinson, Chief Executive’s department responded and apologised for this omission.
The Chair reminded members of the public of the importance of recording their name on the attendance list should they wish to have their details recorded within the minutes.
(b) Proposed Replacement BMX Track within North West Inner Ward (Minute 44(c) refers) Councillor L Yeadon informed the meeting that a BMX working group consisting of Members and Parks and Countryside representatives, together with relevant stakeholders was currently being set up by Sarah Charlton from North West Area Management.
The Committee supported this development and emphasised the need for the working group to proceed without delay.
(c) Waste Disposal Site, Evanston Avenue/Kirkstall Road (Minute 44(e) refers) Councillor B Atha referred to the above issue and sought clarification on the further work that was in progress on the Evanston Avenue site to assess the suitability of this site and any potential alternatives.
At the request of the Chair, Jade Corcoran, Community Planning Officer, City Development responded and agreed to follow up this issue through North West Area Management with a report back on progress at the next meeting on 5th February 2009.
(d) Forum and Sub Group Update Report (Minute 49 refers) A local resident enquired on the latest position in relation to the Leeds Girls High School planning applications.
At the request of the Chair, Jade Corcoran, Community Planning Officer, City Development responded and informed the meeting that Leeds Girls High School had not come back with any substance to date on the applications.
The Committee noted that Councillor M Hamilton would be meeting with the Chair of the Leeds Girls High School on 22nd December 2008.
(e) Well-being Report (Minute 53 refers) Councillor P Ewens referred to the Hyde Park Festive Lights issue and reminded the meeting that Woodsley Road should be also included within the lights programme.
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 5 Sheila Fletcher, North West Area Management responded and acknowledged this comment.
62 Forum and Sub Group Update Report The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing Members with full minutes from ward forums and sub groups that have taken place since the last Area Committee, together with further information of future meeting dates for the Committee’s forums and sub groups.
Discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.
The Chair referred to the following two key messages contained within the Planning Group’s minutes of the meeting held on 5th November 2008, namely:-
x for the Area Committee to consider the benefits of commissioning an Area Action Plan x for the Area Committee to review the process of decision making, priority ordering and community involvement in relation to S106s.
The Committee noted that the Area Action Plan was currently being addressed by Area Management officers and that a specific meeting of the Planning Group would be held in January 2009 to address the S106 issue.
RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.
63 Revised Children's Services arrangements for more effective locality working with families The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report on an overview of the evolution of locality children’s trust arrangements with the aim of informing Committee of developments in recent months, together with confirming the direction of travel for revised arrangements and seeking Member involvement in ensuring that priorities and actions were relevant and delivered by the Leadership Teams.
Appended to the report was a copy of the following document for the information/comment of the meeting:-
x Leeds Children’s Trust Arrangements (Appendix 1 refers)
Jane Maxwell, Locality Enabler, Children’s Services presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.
Discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.
RESOLVED – (a) That the contents of the report and appendices be noted and welcomed.
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 6 (b) That Councillor P Ewens be nominated to:- x work with the Locality Enabler and the Area Manager (on behalf of the Area Committee) to take these developments forward and x represent the Area Committee on the North West Children Leeds Partnership, subject to Member Management Committee approval
64 The Children and Young People's Plan 2009-14 and the development of local priorities for action The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report outlining the draft city- wide Children and Young People’s Plan framework and priorities and seeking the involvement of the Area Committee in identifying local priorities for children and young people to drive the work of Children’s Services in this Area Committee .
Jane Maxwell, Locality Enabler, Children’s Services presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.
Discussion ensued on the contents of the report.
RESOLVED – (a) That the contents of the report be noted and welcomed. (b) That Councillor P Ewens be nominated to work with the Locality Enabler and the Area Manager on behalf of the Area Committee to develop the local context for these priorities and develop local actions for the Area Delivery Plan 2009/10.
65 A660 Otley Road Cycling Study The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on the outcome of a Cycling Study of the A660 Otley Road commissioned by the Leeds Cycling Action Group.
Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Stage 2 – A660 Otley Road Cycling Study – Cycle Audit – Leeds Cycling Action Group – Final Report – October 2008’ for the information/comment of the meeting.
At the request of the Chair, Tim Pheeby, Transport Initiatives/Leeds Cycling Action Group presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.
The presentation briefly covered the following specific issues:-
x Background / Methodology x Stage 1 – Cycle Skills Network Audit x Examples of Bikeability levels x Stage 2 – Ride and Recommended Cycle Audit x Cycle Flows and Accidents along the A660 x Recommendations for Leeds City Council to consider:- - Traffic lane reduction - Junction improvements - Reallocating road space Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 7 - Off road cycle routes - Maintenance issues - Cycle monitoring/promotion - Conclusions
Detailed discussion ensued on the content of the report and appendices.
In summary, specific reference was made to the following key issues:-
x the fact that signage and lining had already been addressed on Lawnswood Roundabout x the dangers of walking across Lawnswood Roundabout/Shaw Lane junction and the need for effective safety measures to be introduced x clarification of the category in relation to shared lanes and bus lanes which appeared on the list and the need for Highways to be involved in this area with a progress report back in two months time x the importance of managing traffic flows x the need to train drivers of motor vehicles towards cyclists and to build this within the discussions x clarification as to why the A660 route was selected for this particular study, with specific reference to other busy cycle routes within the NW Inner area i.e. Kirkstall Road/Meanwood Road etc
In view of the public interest in this issue, the Chair invited selected comments from members of the public/community groups which were duly noted by those relevant officers who were in attendance.
RESOLVED – (a) That the contents of the report and appendices be noted. (b) That the recommendations outlined in the A660 Otley Road Cycling Study - Cycle Audit report produced by the Leeds Cycling Action Group be endorsed and that the report be referred to the Chief Highways Officer for consideration. (c) That the Transport Sub Group be requested to monitor the progress of this issue with regular reports back to this Committee.
66 A660 Corridor Transport Issues The Director of City Development submitted a report on the A660 Corridor Transport issues.
Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-
x A660 Corridor – Areas for Transport Study (Appendix 1 refers) x A660 Woodhouse Lane/Cardigan Road, Leeds Proposed Highway Improvement Scheme – General Scheme Arrangements (Appendix 2 refers)
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 8 Andrew Hall, Transport Strategy Manager and Nicholas Borras, Senior Engineer, City Development presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.
Prior to the presentation of the proposals, the Chair for the benefit of Members of the Committee and members of the public, outlined the latest developments in relation to a Scrutiny Board (Central and Corporate) Call In meeting on 22nd December 2008 regarding an officer delegated decision by the Director of Resources to release funds on the improvement scheme.
The Committee noted, with concern, that the meeting had been cancelled by Council officers.
Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.
In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-
x the unanimous opposition expressed by Members of the Committee in relation to the first phase of the design proposals of works to be undertaken along the A660 Corridor x the need for the Chief Highways Officer to cancel the above scheme and for officers to draw up a different scheme for consideration by the Area Committee x the need to refer the Design and Cost Report dated 24th November 2008 submitted by the Chief Highways Officer and Director of Resources for the detailed design and public consultation on the A660 Woodhouse Lane/Clarendon Road, Woodhouse Proposed Inbound Bus/ Cycle Lane and Junction Improvement Measures to the Scrutiny Board (City Development) for discussion, together with addressing the rationale behind a decision by officers to cancel the Scrutiny Board (Central and Corporate) Call In meeting on 22nd December 2008 regarding an officer delegated decision by the Director of Resources to release funds on the improvement scheme x the need to request the Chief Highways Officer to withdraw the former officer delegated decision in relation to the A660 Woodhouse Lane/Clarendon Road, Woodhouse Proposed Inbound Bus/Cycle Lane and Junction Improvement Measures x the need to support the principle of improvements to the A660 Corridor within the North West Inner area and to request full consultation to be undertaken on the proposals x the concerns expressed over the funding of the scheme and of the fact that the proposals were not proportionate to the area x the need to focus on pedestrian safety within the North West Inner area x the need to address climate change/reduction in carbon omissions within the Area Committee’s Forward Plan x the need to develop an Inner North West Transport Strategy, with specific reference to parking provision, cycle and bus use to reduce unnecessary car journeys along the A660 and for this issue to be debated by the Transport Sub Group
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 9 In view of the public interest in this issue, the Chair invited selected comments from members of the public/community groups which were duly noted by Highways officers who were in attendance.
RESOLVED – (a) That the contents of the report and appendices be noted. (b) That in respect of the Design and Cost Report dated 24th November 2008 submitted by the Chief Highways Officer and Director of Resources for the detailed design and public consultation on the A660 Woodhouse Lane/Clarendon Road, Woodhouse Proposed Inbound Bus/Cycle Lane and Junction Improvement Measures, this report be referred to the Scrutiny Board (City Development) for discussion, together with addressing the rationale behind a decision by officers to cancel the Scrutiny Board (Central and Corporate) Call-In meeting on 22nd December 2008 to consider the officer delegated decision on this scheme from the Director of Resources. (c) That in respect of the former officer delegated decision of the Chief Highways Officer in relation to the A660 Woodhouse Lane/Clarendon Road, Woodhouse Proposed Inbound Bus/Cycle Lane and Junction Improvement Measures, this Committee requests that this decision be withdrawn by the Chief Highways Officer. (d) That this Committee unanimously opposes the first phase of the design proposals of works to be undertaken along the A660 corridor and requests the Chief Highways Officer to cancel this scheme. (e) That this Committee supports the principle of improvements to the A660 corridor within the North West Inner area and requests full consultation to be undertaken on the proposals. (f) That this Committee supports the proposal for a Inner North West Transport Strategy being developed, with specific reference to parking provision, cycle and bus use to reduce unnecessary car journeys along the A660 and that this issue be debated at the Transport Sub Group.
(Councillor L Yeadon left the meeting at 8.45 pm during discussions of the above item)
67 Community Safety 2004-2008 Referring to Minute 48 of the meeting held on 13th November 2008, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing details of crime statistics during the period April 2004 to March 2008, together with highlighting key activities during the last twelve months.
Zahid Butt, North West Area Management, in conjunction with Inspector Ian Croft and Inspector Fran Naughton, West Yorkshire Police, presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.
Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.
In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 10 x the need to look at the redistribution of police officers in respect of the Weetwood ward as it was currently covered by two Neighbourhood Policing Teams (Inspector Croft responded and agreed to investigate this issue further) x clarification if the police were monitoring the DPPO process on Woodhouse Moor (Inspector Naughton responded and stated that police resources would continue to be deployed on Woodhouse Moor, with regular patrols enhanced when required) x the concerns expressed over rising crime in the Weetwood ward (Inspector Croft responded and stated that this was due to a seasonal problem resulting from dark nights and inadequate security measures. However, it was noted and welcomed that there had been five recent arrests related to this)
At the conclusion of the presentation, Members of the Committee placed on records their thanks and gratitude to West Yorkshire Police for a broad reduction in crime within the NW (Inner) area.
RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.
68 Community Engagement The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report outlining proposals for community engagement in Inner North West Leeds, together with describing how the Area Committee could engage and involve local residents, and thereby enabling them to help shape future Area Committee priorities.
Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Tools for engaging citizens’ for the information/comment of the meeting.
The West North West Area Manager presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.
Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.
In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-
x the need to publicise the forums more effectively i.e. reference to the Hyde Park and Woodhouse Forum which was advertised in the Yorkshire Evening Post, but not within other Council publications x clarification of the protocol between Members of the Committee and the West North West Area Manager in relation to existing monthly meetings i.e. streetscene issues/ward related issues/Members surgeries work etc. x the need to publicise venues of Area Committee meetings (The Chair requested the West North West Area Manager to be more proactive in this regard and to ensure that, with effect from the new municipal year, all venues must be confirmed in advance to coincide with the dates and times of Area Committee meetings)
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 11 x the need for the Council to be more sensitive to areas of public concern i.e. Royal Park School, Kirkstall Mills etc and to engage more quickly and effectively in the future
In view of the public interest in this issue, the Chair invited selected comments from members of the public/community groups which were duly noted by the West North West Area Manager.
RESOLVED- (a) That the contents of the report and appendices be noted. (b) That approval be given to the community engagement framework for 2009/10 in accordance with the report now submitted.
69 Area Manager's Report (Withdrawn – to be considered at the next meeting on 5th February 2009)
70 Housing Strategy for the Area of Housing Mix (Withdrawn – to be considered at the next meeting on 5th February 2009)
71 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) (Withdrawn – to be considered at the next meeting on 5th February 2009)
72 Date and Time of Next Meeting Thursday 5th February 2009 at 7.00 pm (venue to be confirmed)
(The meeting concluded at 9.45 pm)
Draft minutes to be approved at the meeting to be held on Thursday, 5th February, 2009
Page 12 Inner North West Area Committee Matters Arising from meeting on 18 th December 2008
Action Update Open Forum. • Butcher Hill playing fields. Area Committee agreed to Jade Corcoran/ AMT to look into the designation of the fields as a village green arrange meeting to status progress matter
• West Park Centre. Area Committee agreed to establish AMT are arranging a working group to begin dialogue with council and meeting between officers, relevant partners on future use of centre. NB This is ward members and local pre-empting a decision on request to Executive Board residents groups to get it removed from disposal list
• Queenswood Drive. Request remove of grass verges Matter has been referred to create hard standing or “matting.” to Street-scene sub-group for consideration Minutes and matters arising:
• Waste disposal site. Previous minutes state that See Area Managers “further work is in progress to assess the suitability of report and letter this site and any potential alternatives” What work circulated to members exactly is being undertaken from Chief environmental Services Officer
• St Ann’s Mills See Area Managers report and letter circulated to members from Chief Strategy & Policy Officer Officer
The Area Committee supported the proposal for a Transport AMT arranging a meeting Strategy being developed for this area, with specific reference of the Transport Sub- to parking provision and the reduction in cars along this route, group and that this issue be debated at the Transport Sub Group.
Items for the 2 nd April 2009 meeting:
• Community Green-space Delegated Function Report • Street-scene Services Delegated Function Report • CCTV Delegated Function Report • Royal Park update further to Executive Boards consideration in February 2009 • Headingley Primary School update further to Executive Boards consideration in February 2009 • Review of the Committee’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas • Community Centre Pricing Policy • Leeds Waste Strategy Update
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Page 14 Agenda Item 9
Originator: G Wilson
Tel: 3951501
Report of The Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods Directorate
Meeting: North West Inner Area Committee
Date: 5th February 2009
Subject: Relationship and reporting between Health & Environmental Action Service, including the Environmental Action Teams, and Area Committees
Electoral Wards affected: Specific Implications For:
All Equality and Diversity
Community Cohesion
Ward Members consulted Narrowing the Gap (referred to in report)
Council X Delegated Executive Delegated Executive Function available for Call Function not available for Function In Call In Details set out in the report
Executive Summary
This report provides an outline of how Health & Environmental Action Services operates, with a particular focus on the Environmental Action Teams. It is a common report for all Area Committees but has local information included for this committee. The report discusses options on how individual Area Committees can help influence the work carried out by the Environmental Action Teams in their areas. These suggestions include consideration of priorities, Ward member meetings; influence on promotional activities; selecting the type of information which can be reported as required by area; mechanisms by which policies can be reviewed and identify ways in which performance against outcomes can be measured.
Page 15
1.0 Introduction & Purpose of report
1.1 The Health & Environmental Action Service (HEAS) has been operational since May 2008. Part of its remit is to consider how to report information relating to the work carried out in localities to Area Committees. Part of HEAS includes the Environmental Action Teams (EATs), which are perhaps of more immediate interest to Area Committees due to the scope of their work and that they are part of the enhanced role for area Committees. This report outlines the work of HEAS, discusses options on how this work can be relayed back to the area Committees and considers options on how area committees can influence activities.
1.2 This report is seen to be the first of several which will establish an effective communication method between Area Committees and HEAS over the coming year. There are many new and significant challenges involved in achieving this, many of which arise as the work of HEAS is influenced by city wide policies and external statutory expectations and because sufficient resources are not available to provide dedicated teams with the specialist needs required to each Area Committee.
1.3 This report must be read with a “health warning”. There are many options proposed but these are presented against an increasingly difficult budget situation. It is therefore important that options agreed are cost effective and that the report discusses different ways of working, not extra ways of working, which will ultimately benefit from local input providing intelligence to target decreasing resources.
2.0 Background
2.1 Description of HEAS and proposals for Area “Champions”
2.1.1 During 2008, the HEAS was formed from the previous Enforcement division and Environmental Health Divisions. HEAS delivers the work of the EATs, together with specialist teams delivering: • environmental protection work; • environmental crime and grime mitigation; • private sector housing quality and regeneration, including private rented sector; • pest control; • health & safety inspections of workplaces; • food safety inspections; • parking services; • affordable warmth / energy efficiency work • health improvement • other miscellaneous duties.
2 Page 16 2.1.2 The HEAS services are managed by three Heads of Service, who will take a “champion” role for each “wedge” of the city.
2.1.3 The 3 EATs, which are led by one Head of Service, have been shaped so that the geographical boundaries are co-terminous with Area Management and it is intended that the teams will be co-located with Area Management. A key to the success of the EATs is to have an adequately sized workforce that is flexible, focused and responsive. The latter aspects are being developed and progressing well, however, it does need to be noted that the size of the teams is critical and numbers do not allow for dedicated teams for each Area Committee to be maintained in a written structure. In practice, staff are aligned to Area Committees but absences due to leave/sickness/maternity etc do occur and these affect the deployment and output of the team.
2.1.4 The EATs work to a “can-do” attitude and do so within a quick and decisive fashion. So far they have provided fast and functional responses to enquiries received and have built up good communications with Ward members and the local community. They have also participated in local campaigns and promotional events, such as the city wide litter work, the Kirkstall breeze event etc.
2.1.5 Partnership working has been demonstrated well through initiatives such as well-being funding for additional dog warden activities and through the police and Council jointly funding a seconded police officer to work on the crime and grime agenda. Links with the ALMOs exist when dealing with such issues as waste in gardens, graffiti etc.
2.1.6 As the work of the EATS is promoted and increasingly valued, the reactive work continues to grow due to requests by both customers and partners. Whilst the demand work is increasing, the reality is that staff funding is currently under review due to many staff being funded via NRF/SSCF funding arrangements. Whilst the level of reactive requests continues to grow, responding to this will be at the expense of our ability to deal with work proactively. It has been shown previously that local intensive proactive work can deliver more cohesive and sustainable results, albeit in a smaller part of the community. This will be discussed in more detail under priorities.
2.1.7 EATs staff work during normal working hours and so the service is not covered at weekends or in the evenings, unless by special arrangement. This normally involves the payment of overtime or reimbursement through Time Off in Lieu arrangements, which subsequently impact on the hours available daily – either has a material impact on service delivery.
2.2 Role of the HEAS Champion
2.2.1 Each Head of Service within HEAS will act as a “Champion” for the whole of HEAS to a nominated wedge of Committees.
3 Page 17 2.2.2 Each will represent HEAS as a whole whilst discussing strategic issues within the area. The Area delivery Plans and discussions on strategic issues would then influence operational action/service plans being drawn up at service level.
2.2.3 The Champions would attend area Committees when there is a need to introduce specific strategic reports.
2.3 Description of Delegated Function/Enhanced role
2.3.1 As part of the Area Management Review presented to Executive Board in November 2007, it was agreed to extend and enhance the roles of the Area Committees, with 2008/09 being a development/transition year. One aspect identified in “Other Committee Roles” for 2008/09 was the following:
Role Summary Environmental This newly created service, with around 60 staff in total across Action Teams the City in three area based teams, will be responsible for a range of neighbourhood related enforcement activities including noise nuisance, waste in gardens, overgrown vegetation, littering, placards, A-boards, graffiti, waste from domestic and commercial bins, drainage, pest control. The teams will carry out the enforcement and preventative work, rather than the litter picking, waste collection role which is done by other staff. Area Committees will receive regular reports about this new combined service and be able to influence service planning and local priorities for action based on local knowledge about issues and hotspots. Operational policies will be created for Leeds, but the priority afforded these could be influenced by local issues, such as littering and bin yards. Close working arrangements will be developed with neighbourhood wardens.
2.3.2 In addition to the role of the EATs identified above, the remainder of HEAS carries out strategic activities in other Areas which may be of interest to Area Committees. These can be summarised as follows:
• Private Rented Sector regulation applies to 41,660 properties in Leeds and as such provides accommodation for a significant number of Leeds households, some of whom are amongst the most vulnerable members of society. HEAS uses regulatory powers, effective partnerships and proactive working relationships to address poor housing in single occupation and in multiple occupation. The Leeds Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS) is recognised nationally as a leading example of proactive and partnership working scheme in the private rented sector. The team also works closely with colleagues who have responsibility for wider regeneration issues.
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• HEAS ensures that companies operating certain industrial activities (Part B installations) use the best available techniques (BAT) to minimise and render harmless their emissions to air. Certain larger (Part A2 installations) must use BAT to protect the air, land and water; use energy efficiently; minimise the production of waste; put in place measures to prevent accidents; and restore the site when the industrial activities cease. The team seeks intelligence to find processes which are operating illegally and help to improve standards at the smaller installations.
• The Scientific Services group monitor, gather, process and interpret air quality and landfill gas data which informs the Leeds Air Quality Management Team.
• The Commercial and Business Support Group (about 80 staff) includes the Health and Safety, Pest Control, Animal Health and Welfare, Food Safety, Health Surveillance, Performance / Business Support, Health Improvement, Administration, Information Technology and Fuelsavers Teams. These Teams all have a city wide remit, however they can by nature of demand or pre programming undertake work around a local focus, for example around commercial areas within the city where large numbers of business are located. Animal Health activities naturally focus around the more rural areas of Leeds and recently Fuelsavers have been focusing their energy efficiency schemes in the wards with high levels of residents living in fuel poverty.
• The commercial and business support teams, are also able to participate in targeted area projects, food specialists have undertaken food premises inspections in a defined area in conjunction with environmental enforcement and pest control. Support is also provided across the other 2 groups in HEAS either in the form of expertise or resources, the Health Improvement Team supporting sloppy slipper and community events or information collation for future targeting from the information technology Team. Previously ward based data has been provided to members in terms of demand for our services and related activities for example food inspections, accidents reported in the work place, reported infectious diseases, take up of grants etc. We are now able to provide these down to sub postcode zones.
• Environmental crime and grime issues are tackled with a small dedicated specialist team who target flytipping, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, dogs and dog fouling, trading on the highway etc.
• Parking Services which manages the Leeds car parks and on-street parking facilities, and enforces parking restrictions.
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2.4 Description of Delegated Function/Enhanced role
2.4.1 Priorities on how policies should be applied
2.4.2 The activities of the EATs are influenced by local policies agreed in the most part by Council through Constitutional arrangements.
2.4.3 The EATs and specialist teams work to tightly prescribed policies which have been agreed by the Council, either by Executive decision, or by delegated powers. In all cases the Executive Member for Environmental Services is consulted with, and in some cases, consultation has gone wider. The decisions are all subject to call in provisions and Scrutiny Boards can review how such a policy is working in practice. Feedback from Area Committees is welcomed on how a particular policy is being received within the communities and how effective it is.
2.4.4 Approved policies exist for some 26 subjects, which are listed in appendix 1. Numerous guidance notes also exist which provide guidance to staff but do not necessarily specifically define an enforcement approach for the problem.
2.4.5 It is possible for the area committees to collectively agree within their Area management area the priorities which HEAS place upon the different types of work (policies) carried out in the EATs. This would build up the local strategic response to the environmental Action issues within the area based upon consistent city wide enforcement techniques.
2.4.6 To facilitate this, each type of activity has been considered against a probability and impact framework. The probability was a measure of the volume of work experienced and potential for escalation should the response not be as a customer may expect. The impact considers the impact on the community, the influence of the strategic outcomes, the effect on LAAs and the statutory duty to act. This assessment then places the work into a grid which graphically shows which types of work take precedence over others. An outline of this grid can be seen in appendix 4.
2.4.7 If a request for service is received which is a low priority, the service will provide advice either verbally or by mail-out. Should the complaint become “escalated”, the matter can subsequently be addressed. This system provides a framework, although team managers would still need flexibility in differing circumstances.
2.4.8 It is fair to say that all of the EATS are receiving requests for service which outstrip the capacity to respond to them in the quick and decisive fashion expected of them. Without additional resources, this situation will not ease, and could get considerably worse. Much good work in an area is conducted using intensive neighbourhood management techniques, which equates to proactive activity in an area, focusing on one or more environmental activities in an area. However, with the level of reactive work currently experienced, INM techniques are not often possible.
6 Page 20 2.4.9 The EATs are conscious that proactive activity in a small but well defined geographical area can produce more sustained community outcomes and demonstrate to a community that change can be achieved. This intensive way of working is resource hungry for that neighbourhood. One way in which potential resources could be released is to agree priorities on reactive work which then releases time for one or more members of staff to focus on a particular area. There is scope therefore to influence what priority should be given to enforcing a particular policy compared to another.
2.4.10 The priority assessment of tasks, together with a review of how we process them may help reduce times spent on certain types of request for service, freeing up time for more proactive work. Without intervention and clarity of purpose, staff could lose focus on services they deliver and ultimately those service delivery standards could fail.
2.4.11 The neighbourhood wardens can offer some help in this respect and it is of note that the majority of their work is already closely associated with that of the EATs. Work is currently underway reviewing the role of the wardens and the relationship with the EATs.
2.4.12 The EATS have been established to be coterminous to the boundaries of the 3 Area management areas. The staff levels are too small to feasibly have 3 or 4 Area Committees requesting different priority approaches from the single team, however, the 3 or 4 committees within the Area Management wedge can influence the priorities applied within that wider area. This review of priorities can vary between the 3 Area management Areas as an individual team can support this and the admin support is consistent to the singular team. This is discussed further in paragraph 8.
2.5 Communication with Ward members
2.5.1 As local needs can vary quite rapidly at times, one option which could be adopted would be for each service manager, or deputy, to meet the 3 Ward Members on a periodic basis to discuss needs within that area. This could take place 6 monthly, together with Area Management staff who could feed information from this into Area Delivery plans. Members could decide to appoint a champion amongst their ward who could act on behalf of all 3 Members, could opt for more or less frequent meetings, or could combine meetings with other wards.
2.6 Education/promotional work
2.6.1 Part of the remit of the EATs is to conduct promotional campaigns to educate and improve people’s ways of life. These are limited due to resource availability, but schemes have ranged from “sloppy slipper” events where elderly people are given new well fitting slippers to prevent slips and accidents in the home; promoting fuel poverty interventions; litter campaigns in the city centre and districts; linking up with ENCAMS campaigns promoting environmental cleanliness; promotional talks in schools; stalls at community fairs etc.
7 Page 21 2.6.2 The variety is wide, but the volumes are not great due to resources, eg between May and September 2008, in addition to the activities outlined above, the following promotional work has been carried out
ENE WNW SE
No. of events in community action days 7 9 7
Other promotional events 5 4 2
No. Children educated in schools 50 320 865
2.6.3 It is suggested that each Area Committee could identify which type of promotional activity it would wish to prefer in its area, and at which location, e.g a sloppy slipper event in a local community centre as opposed to litter education talks and enforcement to schoolchildren in the local high school.
2.7 Contributing to Strategic Plan Targets and Outcomes
2.7.1 The work of the EATs is governed by the strategic outcomes set for them by the Council. All work must contribute to one or more of these outcomes. The EATs contribute to 3 primary outcomes • Cleaner, greener and more attractive city through effective environmental management and changed behaviours • Reduced crime and fear of crime through prevention, detection, offender management and changed behaviours • Reduced health inequalities through the promotion of healthy life choices and improved access to services
2.7.2 Within these outcomes, the HEAS has identified the following key improvement priorities to be ones which services contribute either entirely or in a major way. These are • Reduce premature mortality in the most deprived areas • Reduce the number of people who are not able to adequately heat their homes • Address neighbourhood problem sites; improve cleanliness and access to and quality of green spaces.
2.7.3 Area Delivery Plans will also recognise these outcomes and place lesser or greater emphasis upon them within their plans. This influence can be reflected through the application of priorities on the policies and processes as described in 2.3.1.
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3.0 The Service at Area Committee level
3.1 Area Profile of the Service
3.1.1 The EATs went live on 12 th May 2008. The integration/training and development of staff began from that date and will continue into the future. Whilst the front facing operation has been maintained, back-office systems are being developed to properly capture the data required and are more intricate in their needs. As such, some statistics presented may be an underestimate of work undertaken.
3.1.2 The 3 EATs have the following staff profile
ENE WNW SE Service Manager Phil Gamble Ruth Lees Paul Spandler Deputy Service Manager Mark Everson Rachel McCormack Dave Armitage Senior Technical 2 2 2 Enforcement Officer Environmental Health Officer 3 3 3 Technical enforcement 7 10 9(incl city) officer Admin support 4 4 4
Volume of requests for 1894 2533 1985 service received May 12 – Sept 30* Volume of proactive work 171 337 419 recorded May 12 – Sept 30* Total 2065 2870 2404 Ratio of staff to jobs 1:172 1:191 1:171
*These figures are possibly underestimated as it is believed that some data has not yet been captured.
3.1.3 The nature of each job varies, but each will involve complainant and customer dialogue, assessment of action to be taken, associated correspondence, associated advice, where enforcement is taken – communications, appeals, notices, prosecutions etc.
3.2 Area based Service Priorities and issues
3.2.1 The main issue facing all of the EATs is the level of reactive work arising from the community – ie requests for service. This is routinely outstripping the resources available to deal with these requests.
3.2.2 The table below shows comparisons between each of the areas of work by Committee area over the summer period in 2008.
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Area Committee EAT Proactive Reactive E IE ENE 84 962 E INE ENE 62 631 E ONE ENE 25 301
SE IS (incl. city ctre) SE 254 901 SE OE SE 63 522 SE OS SE 102 562
WNW INW WNW 129 1062 WNW IW WNW 69 473 WNW ONW WNW 84 474 WNW OW WNW 55 524
3.2.3 Recent issues identified by staff working within this Area Committee boundary are as follows:
3.2.4 A vast part of this area is dominated by the student population. This brings with it many very intense problems which have been tackled this year: The student changeover: Officers worked with colleagues in Street scene, area management , police and members to ensure the resultant waste from the changeover was removed as quickly as possible. Enforcement action was taken where possible.
3.2.5 Freshers week: Officers from the whole of the City were drafted in to work on the problems surrounding freshers week ie illegal flyering and littering. Over 100 FPN’s were issues in the first 3 days and very few in the remaining period. Showing the impact which was achieved by this action.
3.2.6 Officers worked with partner agencies to assist in addressing the issues of bar–b–q’s on Woodhouse Moor by patrolling and providing a presence during some of the problem weekends.
3.2.7 The Thornville's Bin Yard Improvement Scheme. Work on this scheme started in September and is expected to last 6 months, 19 bin yards will be improved as part of the scheme. This team worked with Area Management to bid for money from the Well Being Fund, including preparing the report. Funding of £16k was secured for the scheme.
3.2.8 The team was involved with Operation Champion for 3 mornings in October, 300 properties were looked at and 22 people engaged with. Issues considered included waste in gardens, bins on street, commercial waste, fly tipping and waste in bin yards. Referrals were made to street scene to remove some waste.
3.2.9 At the beginning of November, work was carried out on the Queenswood Drive and surrounding areas. This included follow up duty of care inspections on commercial premises, domestic waste in gardens and litter warning stickers being placed on bins.
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3.2.10 New and innovative working methods continue to be piloted with the Headingly area to endeavour to provide a solution to the ongoing problems.
3.2.11 Promotional work has also been on the agenda in the area and a very successful couple of days were held at the Breeze Festival at Kirkstall Abbey where officers engaged with young people providing information on noise, litter, dog fouling, rats and littering.
3.2.12 The volumes of complaints by type received in this Area Committee boundary between 12/5/08 & 24/12/08 are also attached in appendix 5.
3.2.13 Key Contact Points in EATs are provided in appendix 3 for each of the 3 EATs
3.2.14 To address the imbalance between proactive and reactive work, it is hoped that agreement on priorities across the Area Management area can be reached during 2009.
3.3 Customer and community engagement
3.3.1 The prime areas of engagement with the community are: • Request for service from an individual about another person or business affecting their lives • Request for service from an individual about issues which they see on the street or in their community • Enforcement action taken in response to the above two requests • Enforcement action taken proactively, such as litter or dog fouling. • Work in intensive areas where staff will approach individuals • Local community events and campaign work • Use of the media, including local papers and council publications to promote these events and activities. • Promotional leaflets • Use of the council’s web site to publicise policies etc.
3.3.2 Area Committees may also have suggestions about local publications which could be used to convey messages, although each one will require some degree of resource input.
3.3.3 Area Committees can help influence services through feedback from community engagement. As resources do not permit attendance at all residents events unless there are specific issues to be addressed, feedback from that event from Area committee representatives would be welcomed.
11 Page 25 4.0 Performance Management and Reporting
4.1 Service Planning
4.1.1 The HEAS aims to agree its service plan, including that of the EATs, in the first quarter of each new year, having understood the limitations that the budget may impose upon it. Future plans will strive to address existing aspects of the ADPs, and input will be offered when the ADPs are refreshed. This development has not yet been tested and it is expected that this area will become stronger over time. It must be noted however, that there could well be significant resource issues of creating 10 separate plans from a single HEAS service plan, and methods must be identified which make this a cost effective process which adds value to the community and service.
4.1.2 This plan is reviewed quarterly by HEAS management team.
4.2 Other Outcomes for the Area Committee area
4.2.1 Future developments which have been identified are ways in which we can “convert” out puts into out comes in order to measure progress against the strategic outcomes. The challenge with measuring outcomes rather than outputs is that outcomes measure the difference that residents experience. In many areas, some outcomes depend upon many services working together; e.g litter free areas are a combination of education, enforcement and physically sweeping the streets. However, as Area Committees are close to the population, suggestions on how feedback from communities could be used to interpret outputs as outcomes would be welcomed.
4.3 Reporting Arrangements
4.3.1 It is proposed that a report on the work of HEAS would be presented to Area Committee on an annual basis or on a 6 monthly basis – in October and May, although this timing may need to be discussed given the constraints of the year end for statistics and the political calendar. This can be augmented with a commentary against any ADP actions which are relevant to the service. Attendance would be by the Service Manager/Area Champion depending on the content of the report.
4.3.2 The information provided is suggested in appendix 2. These statistics are collected on an Area Committee basis and can therefore be presented to each as such and tailored to each Committee`s requirements. It should be noted, however, that this information does not report on outcomes, as is the eventual aspiration. Whilst information such as the number of notices served will be of interest, the focus will be shifted in favour of reporting on outcomes, as this methodology is developed, in conjunction with other service partners. Comments and suggestions from Area Committees as to how this can be achieved over time would be welcome. Some figures indicated can only be collected on a city wide basis due to data collection issues. It is proposed that each Area selects the information which it wishes to see from the appended list and this becomes the agreed suite of local indicators reported upon.
12 Page 26 This will mean that the collection and presentation of data can be carried out in as effective fashion as practical.
4.3.3 Also included in Appendix 2 is a suggestion of the information which Area Committees may wish to accept in its entirety or amend.
4.3.4 A range of information from the previous Environmental health division has been presented to Members previously, eg. Food inspections; regeneration; infectious diseases etc. As time progresses, information in relation to these other parts of HEAS will be added to this standing report in consultation with the Committee.
4.4 Tasking and operation Champion
4.4.1 Operationally, tasking meetings between field providers will continue to take place. These local field staff arrangements operate subtly different in each area and it would be a step forward if the best delivery model could be identified and pursued in order to provide some consistency. Time management records suggest that every month the equivalent of just over 1 FTE is spent attending taskings etc across the City.
4.5 Officer liaison
4.5.1 The brief given to the EATS is to build stronger links between them, Area Committees and Area Management. This is happening at the moment at different speeds. A quarterly meeting between Service Managers and Area management senior managers is proposed for those areas where co- location is either not yet in place, or the benefits of daily contact are not yet being seen. The input of Area Management staff would take intelligence from the Area committees and from Ward members.
5.0 Implications for Council Policy and Governance
5.1 Governance and responsibility for the management of the EATs remains within HEAS who will continue to operate within overarching Council policies.
5.2 These policies describe how Leeds will respond to specified situations. A range of techniques are used, varying from persuasive letter to zero tolerance, depending on the subject. If the law is to be enforced, it is important that the same standard of enforcement applies across the City as a whole. For example, if a zero tolerance were to be applied to litter in one area, and a verbal warning in another, the public will become confused as to which applies. A recent headline in Hull exemplifies this when 2 standards were applied – “Its one litter law for me, but another for tourists”.
13 Page 27 5.3 To date most policies have been effective and welcomed across the City. They have certainly helped deliver cleaner streets and achieve LAA targets. However, a couple have been questioned. In order to try to incorporate local needs within a policy, yet meet the wider strategic needs of the City and ensure that all Leeds residents are treated equitably, it is suggested that if all Area Committees in a wedge, or 2 Area Committees from 2 wedges express concerns with a policy, then the policy will be reviewed. However, this will be with the intention that any change be implemented city-wide and not just in that particular area(s).
5.4 Reasons why a review may be appropriate could be that circumstances have changed, such as the credit crunch; ineffective enforcement (too little or too much would be addressed by priorities). If the outcome of this review is not acceptable the matter could be referred to Scrutiny board for a thorough examination of the issues. The policies would retain city-wide relevance & application to ensure that the public & businesses are not confused about the standards expected of them. It is not uncommon that when taking action against one person, they will point to another within eyesight who appears to be breaching similar requirements. It would not only be incongruous to have one enforcement policy on one side of a street and another on the other in a different Ward. There may even be more serious consequences, such as claims of mal-administration etc.
5.5 When enforcing legislative requirements, some people are not happy that they should receive such attention, whilst others in the wider community are more than pleased to see their community being improved. In that regard, it is possible that any one committee could ask for a review based upon an individual issue within that area, or because there are vocal objections within that area, however, the circumstances may not be relevant across the whole city. Therefore, in order to achieve a measured response, the “quorate” figure above is suggested.
6.0 Legal and Resource Implications
6.1 Resource implications
6.1.1 The loss of funding streams such as NRF and SSCF will have a significant effect on staffing levels within the EATS unless other funding sources are identified. As team levels are at a critical position, it is fair to say that resources for staffing are the most important aspect which will influence how the EATs ultimately perform and succeed. It is possible that when the 09/10 budget round has been concluded, additional pressure will experienced in the EATs through increased requests for enforcement or intervention subsequent to any reduction in capacity in other allied services. For example, any reduction in bin yard clearance will result in increased complaints; reduced out of hours noise activity will result in increased demand to follow up during the day.
14 Page 28 6.1.2 Most of the costs of delivering our work comprises staff salaries. Additional staff can be funded on a temporary basis but it is preferable if this funding were identified for longer periods than 1 year as the practicalities of recruitment and investment in training need to be taken into account. Three year Area Delivery plans are an opportunity to plan funding of additional dedicated staff over longer periods. General employment issues may still occur which could reduce the value of such investment – these could range from long term sickness absence, maternity leave or non-productivity whilst training takes place. The funding of projects is more viable.
6.1.3 Such projects may include placing a physical purchase into an area, such as gating bin yards, or could be to purchase additional hours for intensive projects at weekends for example.
7.0 Equality Considerations
7.1 Leeds is a diverse city and each area within the city has its own equality, diversity and community cohesion issues. The purpose for the Environmental Action Teams of working more closely with area committees is to tap into the local knowledge of these issues that the area committees possess. This will allow the service to tailor its use of resources to support the needs of communities more effectively. This will be achieved by understanding the needs of hard to reach groups in each area who do not necessarily contact the services and by understanding the priorities for all communities in an area. This will enable the EATS to pro-actively tackle the effects of environmental crime which can blight neighbourhoods and cause disputes between individuals and communities, and in so doing build greener, healthier and more cohesive communities throughout Leeds.
8.0 Any Other Considerations
8.1 It is not clear at this point how 3 or 4 area Committees can agree on a set of priorities for their areas. Options available as to how 3 or 4 Area Committees could agree on a set of priorities for their area could be
a) Officers to suggest 2 or 3 options on where the service priorities should lie on the priority grid so that one choice can be selected. The faults with this approach are that the appendix contains the officer informed solution and other options would not be based upon further intelligence, but provided just to provide an alternative. In addition, if there is not agreement, it would require repeat reports to get to common ground. b) Request each committee to consider each aspect of work and rank them in their order of priority. Each list can then be compared and a combined consensus identified for that area.
8.2 Inner North West Leeds poses some unique challenges for the Health and Environmental Action Service with the high proportion of houses of multiple occupation and student lets in the area.
15 Page 29 One approach to dealing with this challenge may be for the Area Committee to fund the cost of employing an additional enforcement officer to work specifically in Inner North West Leeds on priorities identified by the Area Committee. Officers from Area Management and the Environmental Action Team are developing funding proposals for a dedicated enforcement resource for inner north west for consideration by the Area Committee.
9.0 Conclusions
9.1 This report is seen to be the beginning of a journey which members and Officers are to take in order to identify the best way that local needs can be served whilst delivering through reducing resources using city wide policies.
9.2 There are several options on how to progress contained within the report for consideration.
9.3 The report focuses on the EATs at this stage as it is those teams which have been identified as having specific links. However, future development will include the full range of HEAS services.
10.0 Recommendations
Members are asked to:
10.1 Consider this report and the issues it highlights,
10.2 Refer debate of the priorities as outlined to the Area Committee’s Street- scene sub group,
10.3 Consider whether Ward member meetings with officers as described are desirable and if so, how these would best be progressed having regard to effective use of resources, and,
10.4 Consider the proposed reporting timetable and whether annual or 6 monthly reports are preferable.
16 Page 30 Appendix 1
Policy area Comments 1 Fly tipping 2 Litter - Individual items of litter thrown into the street 3 Litter - Street litter Control Notices 4 Flyers Consent scheme applies to Headingley and City Centre 5 Placards on lampposts 6 Fly posting 7 Graffiti Executive board 8 Dog Fouling Dog Control Order approved by full Council 9 Stray dogs 10 Dangerous dogs 11 Commercial waste 12 Waste in gardens 13 Abandoned Vehicles Work in association with city wide seconded police officer 14 Removal of untaxed vehicles Work in association with city wide seconded police officer 15 Highways - Use of A boards Local arrangements on zero tolerance apply in City Centre and Armley Town Street. 16 Highways - overhanging vegetation 17 Shopping trollies Approved by full Council 18 Sale of vehicles on highways 19 Trading on the highway Consent scheme 20 Encroachments 21 Env Crime on LCC land 22 Env Enforcement Policy/EHS 2 policies need to be combined enforcement policy 23 Levels at which FPNs are set 24 Domestic bins on streets 25 Commercial bins on streets 26 Mud on Highway
17 Page 31 Appendix 2
Recommended work outputs which Area Committee may wish to receive
Type of Complaint received Numbers/quantity
Noise Flytipping Overhanging Vegetation Domestic waste Commercial waste Drainage Highways misc Litter Housing Nuisance Rodents
Proactive activities Community action days - no. events Other promotional events No. children educated in schools
Fixed penalties issued Fixed Penalties for Litter Fixed Penalties for Dog Fouling Notices served Noise Flytipping Overhanging Vegetation Domestic waste Commercial waste Drainage Highways misc Litter Housing Nuisance Rodents Other Number of Legal action prosecutions submitted Litter Dog fouling Flytipping Noise Other Notices
Selection of work outputs from EATS which area Committee may wish to add to above or select “a-la-carte”
18 Page 32 Type of Complaint received Does area committee wish to see this? Select Yes or No Noise Noise – Out of Hours Flytipping Overhanging Vegetation Domestic waste Commercial waste Drainage Highways misc Litter Housing Nuisance Rodents
Proactive activities Community action days - no. events Other promotional events No. children educated in schools
Fixed penalties issued Fixed Penalties for Litter (s88) Fixed Penalties for Domestic Waste (s47ZA) Fixed Penalties for Commercial Waste (s47ZA) Fixed Penalties for Dog Fouling Fixed Penalties for LItter Clearing Notices (s94A) Fixed Penalties for Flyering Without Consent (Sch3A) Fixed Penalties for Failure to Produce Waste Carriers Licence (s5) Fixed Penalties for Failure to Provide Waste Transfer Notice Notices served domestic waste commercial waste clearing land of waste Failure to produce waste documents nuisance improving premises detrimental to amenity of neighbourhood drainage noise pests Litter Clearance Notice (LCN) Street Litter Control Notice Obstruction Overhanging vegetation Other Notices Number of Legal action prosecutions submitted Litter Dog fouling Flytipping domestic waste commercial waste clearing land of waste
19 Page 33 Failure to produce waste documents statutory nuisance improving premises detrimental to amenity of neighbourhood Drainage defects Noise pests Litter Clearance Notice (LCN) Street Litter Control Notice Obstruction Overhanging vegetation A Boards Placards/flyposting Other Notices
Statistics for HEAS housing, food and H&S to follow
Appendix 3 – Key contact names for each of the EATs
West North West
Name Title Ruth lees Service Manager Rachel McCormack(acting) Dep. Service Manager Ruth Turner Environmental Health Officer Jamie Friel Environmental Health Officer Terry Robinson Environmental Health Officer Andrea Holt Environmental Health Officer Don Gay Snr. Technical Enforcement Officer Victoria Whalley Snr. Technical Enforcement Officer Martin Beaumont Technical Enforcement Officer Jennifer Dunbar Technical Enforcement Officer Jessica Hodgson Technical Enforcement Officer Elaine Saul Technical Enforcement Officer Tom Richardson Technical Enforcement Officer Mark Freer Technical Enforcement Officer Ali Zafar Technical Enforcement Officer Martin Allen Technical Enforcement Officer Patrick Bird Technical Enforcement Officer A Wright/A Cromack Admin Supervisor
20 Page 34 Appendix 4 – Priority based system
subdivide into ID Work area Prob Impact urgent/less no. urgent? Abandoned Vehicles 1 3 5 No Drainage (blocked & sewage escapes) 2 5 5 yes Commercial waste issues 3 4 3 No Domestic waste/waste in gardens 4 4 4 Yes Flyers 5 1 4 Yes Flytipping 6 5 5 No Litter 7 2 5 No Defective housing 8 1 2 Yes Dirty housing 9 1 4 Yes Housing vacant 10 2 5 Yes A Boards 11 1 2 Yes Abandoned caravans 12 1 3 No Cellar Grate/mud/damage/illegal crossing 13 1 4 Yes Illegal adv/placards/flyposting 14 1 4 Yes Graffiti 15 1 5 No Overgrown veg/obstruction 16 4 3 Yes Vehicles for sale 17 2 3 Yes Grass verge parking 18 1 2 Yes Pests – rats/mice/insects/etc 19 3 4 Yes Noise - 20 5 5 Yes Nuisance – light/odour/premises 21 2 4 yes Smoke – general 22 3 4 Yes Radon 23 1 1 No
Probability: based on Volume of complaint - Likelihood of complainants
21 Page 35
Impact: based on community - achievement of strategic objectives, likelihood that statutory obligation not met
Risk Map
10 15 2 6 (5) 7 1 20
Highly Highly significant 13 5 21 19
9 4 Key 14 22 (4)
Major Very high
3 16
17
High 12 (3)
Impact Medium Moderate
8 11
Low (2)
Minor 18
23
(1) Insignificant
Rare Unlikely Possible Probable Almost certain (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Probability
22 Page 36 Appendix 5 – Summarised service requests from each area committee 12 TH May 2008 – 24 th Dec 2008
ENE - ENE - ENE - SE - SE - WNW WNW WNW - WNW IE INE ONE SE - IS OE OS - INW - IW ONW - OW Out of Hours Noise 369 175 50 322 117 111 492 173 102 141
Noise (except commercial) 263 159 74 256 176 171 409 168 143 185
Statutory Nuisance 93 77 36 55 40 64 68 36 47 52
Overgrown Vegetation 65 138 104 58 128 108 77 66 103 85
Domestic waste 317 101 11 129 49 94 234 374 72 66
flytipping 109 69 19 120 60 69 78 54 25 57
Litter Issues 46 21 16 376 51 37 49 20 29 24
commercial waste issues 48 33 13 161 49 59 62 30 72 28
drainage issues 92 52 36 38 69 37 37 44 64 57
Housing defects 95 57 14 55 25 19 48 23 11 21
Rodents 6 12 6 7 5 5 36 7 8 18
Misc highways 25 18 46 53 34 34 37 17 22 17
Placard 3 5 1 4 2 4 2 3 11 4
A Board 1 3 3 7 2 1 2 1 7 2 nuisance vehicle related 12 6 1 14 14 11 8 2 8 8
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Page 38 Agenda Item 10
Originator: Sarah Charlton
Tel: 0113 3952831
Report of the West North West Area Manager
Inner North West Area Committee
Date: 5th February 2009
Subject: Well-being report
Electoral Wards Affected: Specific Implicati ons For:
Headingley Equality and Diversity Hyde Park & Woodhouse Kirkstall Community Cohesion Weetwood Ward members consulted Narrowing the Gap üüü (referred to in this report)
Council Delegated Executive üüü Delegated Executive Function Function available Function not available for for Call In Call In Details set out in the report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This report provides Members with a position statement on Wellbeing revenue and capital funds for 2008/09. Members are asked to consider the new Well-being applications detailed below and agree any funding.
1.0 Purpose
1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide Members with:-
• Information on new projects requesting funding for 2008/09; • An update on the remaining revenue and capital budget available in 2008/09; • An update on small grants agreed since the November Area Committee.
2.0 Well-being Revenue Budget 2008/09
2.1 Background information on how the 2008/09 Well-being revenue budget has been spent is detailed in Appendix 1.
1 Page 39
2.2 The revenue budget available for projects in 2008/09 has been calculated as follows:- £210,920 (based on allocation from 2007/08) £ 4,220 Inflationary increase for 2008/09 £ 855 remaining revenue budget from 2007/08 Total £215,995 for 2008/09.
2.3 There is £0 remaining in the revenue budget for 2008/09.
3.0 Well-being Capital Budget 2008/09
3.1 In 2007/08 Members agreed that Capital Well-being funding would be split to allow each ward a discreet allocation along with a central pot. The allocation for 2008/09, is £112,627 . On this basis, ward allocations for 2008/09 are £20,000 , with the remaining £32,627 in a central budget.
3.2 Background information on how the 2008/09 Well-being capital budget has been spent is detailed in Appendix 2.
3.3 The following table shows the capital available per ward and in the central budget for allocating in 2008/09.
Area Funding Available Hyde Park & Woodhouse £0 Headingley £0 Kirkstall £26,200 Weetwood £0 Central budget £0
3.4 The following capital applications have been received:
3.4.1 Organisation: SEC Project name: Streetlight for Sandy Lane footpath Amount requested: £2,866 Description : This project is to install a lighting column on Sandy Lane footpath in Kirkstall. The footpath is soon to become a formal public right of way following funding from the Inner North West Committee for this process.
4.0 Small grants
4.1 A total budget of £10,000 was agreed for small grants in 2008/09.
2 Page 40 4.2 At the November Area Committee it was reported that a budget of £2,781 remained for allocation for small grants during 2008/09. The following small grants have been approved since the November Area Committee:
Hawksworth Wood Community Association £500 Canal Clearance - BTCV £500 Total £1,000
4.3 There is £1,781 remaining for small grants in 2008/09
5.0 Recommendations
5.1 The Inner North West Area Committee is requested to:
a) Note the contents of the report; and b) Consider and agree funding for capital projects it wishes to support.
Background reports None
3 Page 41 This page is intentionally left blank
Page 42 Appendix 1 Breakdown of Revenue Spend
Table 1: Revenue spend by theme 2008/09 Amount Approved % spend to Delivery Project Name Project Details (£) date Organisation Community Safety West Yorkshire Targeted operation on alcohol, Trading Enforcement Project aerosol and firework sales 2,000 1% Standards
TOTAL COMMUNITY SAFETY 2,000 1% Environment 4 bin yard to garden Hyde Park Bin Yard Project transformations 6,000 3% Source Woodhouse Ridge Maintenance (£7,500 for Woodhouse 2009/10 agreed in Ridge Action principle) Maintenance Work 7,500 3% Group (WRAG) TOTAL PARKS & GREENSPACE 13,500 6% Streetscene Provision of an environmental CALM at Leeds Up Your Street project using student volunteers 5,000 2% Met Provision of skips for use by Area Community Skips community groups 6,000 3% Management
TOTAL STREETSCENE 11,000 5% Community Assets Hyde Park Hyde Park Picture House Short Film & local film project & 3% Picture House brochure printing 6,000 Wrangthorn Wrangthorn Church Upgrades to Parish Hall 5,000 2% Church Rosebank Rosebank Millennium Grasscutting and additional Millennium Green community activities 5,000 2% Green Trust
TOTAL COMMUNITY ASSETS 16,000 7% Planning & Development Planning officer to assist community groups and residents to access information and make City Community Planning comments on planning issues in Development Officer the area 43,500 20% Directorate
Development of neighbourhood Planning Sub Design Statement design statements 15,000 7% Group A660 Cycle Lane Phase 2 of the feasibility Leeds Cycling Feasibility 3,877 2% Action Group TOTAL PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT 62,377 29% Children & Young People Youth Mobile To lease a Youth Mobile for 1 year 6,000 3% Youth Service Play Area Feasibility Study Feasibility study for a play area Gilbert & on Sandford Road Sandford Residents Association and 2,500 1% Groundwork TOTAL CHILDREN & YOUNG 8,500 4%
Page 43 Appendix 1 PEOPLE Community Development Worker to support/ advise Funding Officer voluntary and community sector 21% Voluntary Action with funding advice 46,100 Leeds Older Active People Generations Together Project Cardigan 12,000 6% Centre Older Peoples Action in the 2,000 Locality (OPAL) Community Inclusion Project (2 nd year of 2 year funding) 1% OPAL Hyde Park Festive Lights To lease 15 motifs for 5 festivals 11,100 5% Leeds Lights Hyde Park Unity Day To support the annual Unity Day 5,000 event Unity Day 2% Committee Kirkstall Festival (3 years To support the annual Kirkstall Kirkstall Festival funding agreed) Festival 5,000 2% Committee Seagulls Community Repaint Distribution of unwanted paint 11,000 5% Seagulls To lease 10 lighting motifs for Kirkstall Festive Lights Kirkstall 1,480 1% KVCA Small funding for community 5% Area Small Grants Fund groups of up to £500 10,000 Management TOTAL PARTNERSHIP WORKING 103,680 48%
TOTAL APPROVED: £217,057
Table 2: Revenue spend by Ward for 2008/09
Headingley Ward Amount Approved (£)
Woodhouse Ridge Maintenance 7,500 (£7,500 for 2009/10 agreed in principle)
Hyde Park Picture House 6,000
Total 13,500 Hyde Park & Woodhouse Ward
Wrangthorn Church 5,000
Rosebank Millennium Green 5,000
Hyde Park Festive Lights 11,100
Hyde Park Unity Day 5,000
Bin Yard Project 6,000
Total 32,100 Kirkstall Ward
Play Area Feasibility Study 2,500
Kirkstall Festival 5,000
Kirkstall Festive Lights 1,480
Page 44 Appendix 1
Total 8,980 Weetwood Ward
Older Peoples Action In The 2,000 Locality (OPAL)
Total 2,000 Across More Than One Ward
Enforcement Project 2,000
Up Your Street 5,000
Community Skips 6,000
Community Planning Officer 43,500
Design Statement 15,000
A660 Cycle Lane Feasibility 3,877
Youth Mobile 6,000
Funding Officer 46,100
Older Active People 12,000
Seagulls Community Repaint 11,000
Small Grants Fund 10,000
Total 160,477
Total Approved 217,057
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Page 46 Appendix 2
Breakdown of Capital Spend
Table 1: Capital spend 2008/09 by theme:
Amount Approved % spend to Delivery Project Name Project Details (£) date Organisation Community Development
Festive Lights A project to design and construct Leeds Lights Design Project festive lights 3,100 2% TOTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 3,100
Amount Approved % spend to Delivery Project Name Project Details (£) date Organisation Environment West Park Spen Road/ Residents Railings North Parade railings 3,135 2% Association Replacement Yorkstone paving for areas designated by Streetscene Streetscene Yorkstone Paving subgroup 10,000 7% Subgroup Grass Verge and Pathway Improvements as agreed by Streetscene Improvements Streetscene Subgroup 10,000 7% Subgroup Woodsley Road Environmental Improvements Improvements to Woodsley Road 40,000 30% To be agreed TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 63,135
Community Assets Headingley Headingley Enterprise and Arts Development of proposals for the Development Centre old Headingley Primary School 25,000 18% Trust Access ramp to Hyde Park Picture Hyde Park Access Ramp House 5,000 4% Picture House TOTAL COMMUNITY ASSETS 30,000
TOTAL APPROVED:
Children & Young People Becketts Park Play Improvements to children’s play Parks & Area area at Becketts Park 40,000 30% Countryside TOTAL COMMUNITY ASSETS 40,000
TOTAL APPROVED: 136,235
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Page 48 Agenda Item 11
Originator: Kate Sibson
Tel: 395 2834
Report of The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods
Inner North West Leeds Area Committee
Date: 5th February 2009
Subject: Little London & Woodhouse Intensive Neighbourhood Management
Electoral W ards Affected: Specific Implications For:
Hyde Park & Woodhouse Equality and Diversity
Community Cohesion ü
ü Ward Members consulted Narrowing the Gap ü (referred to in report)
Council Delegated Executive ü Delegated Executive Function Function available Function not available for for Call In Call In Details set out in the report
1.0 Purpose of the Report
1.1 This report outlines the 2009/10 budget for Intensive Neighbourhood Management in Little London and Woodhouse.
2.0 Background
2.1 The Little London Intensive Neighbourhood Management (INM) project was established in 2006, funded through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) and the Safer Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF). A number of greenspace improvements were also funded in 2006 and 2007 through the Cleaner, Safer Greener capital fund.
2.2 During the last year, INM has supported eight main projects: • Neighbourhood Co-ordination: employment of a neighbourhood manager; • Streetscene Services: environmental pride team; • Police overtime: drugs operations; • Breakers Unify: break dancing classes for 7-11 year olds; • BARCA harm reduction: twice weekly drug and alcohol outreach; • Health Activities Worker: delivering a range of community activities; • Youthpoint: youth drop in and outreach work, and; • Little London Arts: Weekly children’s art class over two terms
Page 49 2.3 The 2008/09 budget included funding for each mulit-agency partnership for small projects to meet local priorities. These included ESOL classes for those ineligible for current provision, a new youth club for 9-12 year olds and improved recycling facilities across the neighbourhood.
3.0 Little London Intensive Neighbourhood Management Budget 2008/09
3.1 In 2008/09, the joint SSCF and NRF budget reduced by 34% from the previous year’s funding levels. In 2009/10, the INM budget will reduce by a further 48%, with a total budget of £86,356 (£54,210 SSCF and £34,146 NRF).
3.2 Hyde Park and Woodhouse Ward Members have been consulted on the budget proposals. One Ward Member has expressed concerns over the projects listed at 3.4 and 3.7. Further consultation is required with all three Ward Members before the budget for these projects can be approved.
3.3 Streetscene Services - £40,000 Little London has benefited from a dedicated Streetscene Pride Team for the past three years, part funded by Environmental Services’ own SSCF budget. The INM project will continue to fund an additional Pride Team service, but because of the likely reduction in funding from the Environmental Services side, it may be a part time service from April.
3.4 Drug & Alcohol Outreach - £9,000 The service is run by BARCA, working with an average client base of 20 individuals from the Little London area, during two outreach sessions per week. The service provides advice to people suffering from drug and alcohol misuse, making referrals for treatment and running health promotion courses. In 2009/10, the service will run one outreach session per week in the area.
3.5 Healthy Activities Worker: £15,000 The Health Activities Worker is employed by Community Action Little London, a local community organisation to deliver activities for local people that promote a healthy lifestyle. These include a family tea time club, a community café, exercise classes and a gardening club.
3.6 Intermediate Youth Club: £8,000 In September 2009, a youth club for 9-12 year olds was established to bridge a gap in provision, as 80% of activities run in the area are for over 13’s. The group is a success with an average attendance of 20 young people. Five youth service providers give staff to support the group free of charge, but no budget has been available for room hire and activities. This funding would enable the group to run for a further year.
3.7 Youthpoint: £11,000 Youthpoint have delivered weekly outreach and centre based sessions in Little London with a focus on gangs and sexual health work. This work will continue for a further year, and more links will be made with other provision in the area.
3.8 Partnership Support Budget: £2,356 This money will be used to support the local partnership meetings by providing room hire, publicising neighbourhood forums and producing a bi-annual newsletter.
Page 50 4.0 Projects ending in 2009
4.1 The following projects have received INM funding for the past three years. If the above budget is approved, the following projects will no longer be supported.
4.2 Neighbourhood Manager The part time neighbourhood manager oversaw the INM project, supporting the three multi-agency partnerships and developing activities and projects that met local priorities. It is proposed that an officer from the Area Management team will continue to oversee partnership working and the neighbourhood improvement plan in Little London. There will however, be less direct involvement than previous years.
4.3 Breakers Unify Breakers Unify were funded to hold after school breakdancing classes in three primary schools. Whilst the organisation is currently negotiating a contract with Breeze Leeds to continue some of its other activities, the primary school breakdancing classes are likely to end. Support has been made available to help the organisation apply for external funding.
4.4 Little London Arts Little London Arts were funded to deliver weekly children’s arts classes. The organisation’s core funding ends in March, and as yet, the group has not been successful in seeking an alternative source of income. Support has been made available to the group to apply for grants to continue some provision.
4.5 Space@ Little London In March 2008, the community rooms at Little London primary school were threatened with closure. Funding was secured from A2E and INM to keep the centre open, supported by a worker employed by BARCA Leeds. In August 2008, the Council’s Jobs and Skills service took over the running of the centre, holding a job shop four days a week along and other activities. The A2E funding continues for another year, and this keep the centre open with Jobs & Skills continued support.
5.0 Monitoring and Evaluation
5.1 Three partnerships address key priorities for the neighbourhood covering: Crime & Grime; Health & Wellbeing; and Employment & Skills. The work of these partnerships will be monitored on a quarterly basis by a co-ordination group that will ensure that the groups are not duplicating work, and gaps are being identified. The co-ordination group will produce a quarterly report, outlining the work that has been carried out by each partnership group.
5.2 All projects that have been funded through INM will be required to submit a report every three months on the previous quarter’s activities and performance against agreed outputs.
6.0 Recommendations
6.1 The Area Committee is asked to note the contents of this report and approve the proposed 2009/10 INM budget, subject to further Ward Member consultation on the projects listed at 3.4 and 3.7.
Background reports None
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Page 52 Agenda Item 12
Originator: Jason Singh 3952827
Report of the West North West Area Manager
Inner North West Area Committee
Date: 5th February 2009 2008
Subject: Area Manager’s Report
Electoral W ards Affected: Specific Implications For:
Equality and Diversity √
Community Cohesion √
Ward Members consulted Narrowing the Gap √ (referred to in report)
Council Delegated Executive √ Delegated Executive Function Function available Function not available for for Call In Call In Details set out in the report
Executive Summary
This report informs members of progress on a number of projects and issues in Inner North West Leeds not addressed elsewhere on the agenda. It also provides a summary of recent actions and achievements of the Area Management Team since the last Area Committee meeting as determined by the Area Delivery Plan (ADP) and linked to key actions for delegated services.
In addition this report advises Members of work underway to align the ADP to service plans and outlines approaches to measure performance to assess how well outcomes are being achieved.
The Area Committee is requested to note and comment on the contents of this report.
Page 53 Purpose of the report
1. This report provides the Area Committee with information on issues not addressed elsewhere on the agenda. In addition it enables Members to track progress on a number of actions as determined by the Area Delivery Plan.
2. As part of the Council’s new corporate planning framework, Area Delivery Plans are the key focus for the achievement of strategic outcomes at a locality level. The ADP identifies key actions for delegated services. Enhanced responsibilities for the Area Committee are grouped under the following six themes linked in turn to the key themes in the LSP.
• Community engagement and facilities • Community safety • Environment • Children and young people • Adult social care and healthier communities • Regeneration and development
3. Corporate discussions are underway regarding aligning Area Delivery Plans and Service Plans. This will ensure that services highlight specific local issues and implications for each area rather than a general overview from a city-wide perspective. An example of this could be proposed changes to streetscene arrangements which would affect particular localities. Service plans will also be produced to provide greater clarity about the services provided and the responsibilities of the Area Committee in relation to them.
4. In relation to progress and monitoring of the ADP, performance management information is currently being collated and it is anticipated that a progress report will be presented to the meeting in February 2009. Following this, quarterly, detailed progress reports will be submitted to the Area Committee. The Area Manager’s Report will continue to provide the Area Committee with progress on actions as determined by the ADP and issues not addressed elsewhere on the agenda.
Main Issues
5. Neighbourhood Management Coordination This covers the identification of priority neighbourhoods across the area that requires more intensive resources to drive service improvements and better local outcomes. This includes improving the co-ordination of key services across the Council, and local partners.
6. Little London The Little London Intensive Neighbourhood Management Project is delivered through three multi-agency partnerships tasked with improving services in the area and developing new projects and ways of working to address local needs.
Page 54 The key achievements of these partnerships during the last six months are as follows:
• Crime & Grime The Crime and Grime partnership created a sub group to tackle the increase in drug dealing in the area. Partners looked at all aspects of the problem, including controlling access to high rise blocks, pursuing injunctions against users, environmental works where drugs are being hidden or used, and increasing reporting by local residents. The Drugs Action Group ran from June to September, and has proved very successful. Twelve injunctions were served against persistent users coming into the area to buy drugs. The number of calls to the police relating to drugs fell from 142 (January to July) to 18 (July to October). The Crime and Grime partnership provided £3,000 funding towards additional police patrols, and this was matched by West North West Homes. A total of 16 arrests were made during the overtime patrols and one cannabis farm was detected. Residents are very satisfied with the reduction in drug related activity, and partners now have a blueprint for action should the problem return in the future.
• Health & Wellbeing The Health and Wellbeing group has developed a number of new initiatives bringing together the statutory and voluntary sectors. A directory of community services and activities will be made available to GP practices, and a local voluntary organisation is co-ordinating an innovative ‘Headspace’ project to help people isolated by mental health problems.
The group has also encouraged youth service providers to work together to start a new youth club for young people aged 9-13. The club started in September, supported by youth workers from five different organisations, and has over twenty young people regularly attending.
• Employment and Skills The priority for the group was to increase the use of the Space@ community centre and make it more sustainable. Jobs and Skills took on the day to day management of the centre, and are now running a job shop four days a week, and there are plans to increase the number of activities available to local residents.
The Intensive Neighbourhood Management Project is planning a number of initiatives for the next six months includes improving recycling facilities, holding an enterprise day for people interested in starting their own business, and supporting the newly formed Oatlands Residents’ Association.
• Budget for 2009/10 In 2008/09, the joint SSCF and NRF budget reduced by 34% from the previous year’s funding levels. In 2009/10, the INM budget will reduce by a further 48%, with a total budget of £86,356 (£54,210 SSCF and £34,146 NRF). Following consultation with services, and an assessment of current provision, a review of
Page 55 programme spend has been undertaken which is covered under a separate report on this agenda
7. Hawksworth Wood The Area Manager is currently in discussions with partners to determine the level of intervention required to drive service improvements in this area. An example of current partnership activity is a proposal to establish a police/ partners base on the estate. The Area Management Team is working with the police and partners to progress this proposal. Funding has now been secured from the ALMO’s Area Panel Fund and a number of options for locating the base on the estate are currently being investigated. Although the main aim of the facility is a police base, it is intended that it will be used by neighbourhood wardens and the ALMO. Options for targeted health initiatives are also being progressed with the PCT.
8. Harolds and Thornvilles Headingley Ward Members allocated £14,000 from their Ward Based Initiative Fund towards a bin yard improvement scheme in the Harold & Thornville Neighbourhood Improvement Area. In addition a further £2,000 was approved from the Inner Area Committee Well-being fund making a total of £16,000 available to spend on the scheme. The Environmental Action Team are leading on the project. The scheme commenced late September and is expected to take 6 months. One binyard has been completed, this has been inspected and the quality of work approved. Consent has been granted on a further 10 binyards and the contractor will be working on these over the next few months.
9. Community Centres The responsibilities for the management of the following community centres have been delegated to the Area Committee.
• Woodsley Road
• Headingley
• Meanwood
• Little London
• Woodhouse
10. Consultation on the draft pricing and lettings policy began on 1 st December a copy of the proposed pricing policy has been sent to all centre users asking for feedback - a number of responses have been received to date. The findings of the consultation and revised policy will be presented to the Area Committee in April 2009.
11. The Area Management Team support and coordinate the work of a user group at Woodhouse community centre. This group looks at ways of developing expanded programmes of activities to meet the needs of the local community. In addition they ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the centre and have been Page 56 instrumental in identifying essential maintenance work including a new roof and disabled access. Funding of £110,000 has been allocated to undertake this work.
12. The Funding Officer continues to support local community groups and organisations both in terms of capacity building and support to initiate new activities for local people.
Community Safety
13. Neighbourhood Wardens
There are 3 full-time neighbourhood wardens working in Little London, Hyde Park and Little Woodhouse area and Hawksworth Wood. Wardens provide a local patrolling function and their duties include working with partners to tackle anti- social behaviour, crime and grime work, support to local residents with environmental and community safety issues on a day-to day basis, and support with community action days and Operation Champion.
14. The wardens have recently been involved in the following:
• An off-street bin pilot in the Norwoods area of Hyde Park. This has involved working with the Environmental Action Team and Streetscene to get bins off the street and stored within the confines of properties.
• Work with Environmental Services to audit graffiti on Virgin Media Utility boxes with a view to encourage the company to clean them.
• Property marking with Police Community Support Officers.
• Working with Parking Services to ensure that parking permits are not mis-used in targeted areas.
• Supporting action days and Operation Champions, this includes pre and post- environmental audits, working with partners to deliver publicity material and engaging with local residents.
15. Operation Champion
This is a planned, intelligence led multi-agency operation. Its main aims are to • Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour • Tackle environmental issues such as litter, fly-tipping and graffiti removal • Provide public reassurance and support. The last operation Champion took place in Hyde Park ward in October 2008 an evaluation of the event has been circulated to all ward Members for information. Another Champion for inner North West has been scheduled for February 2009 – details of this event will be made available closer to the time.
Page 57 Royal Park School
16. As reported verbally at the November Area Committee meeting, Rushbond’s have withdrawn their proposal to develop the Royal park School site due to their inability to secure a development partner for the elderly care residential aspects of their scheme. Officers from Asset Management and Area Management have met with members of the Royal Park Community Consortium since the last Area Committee meeting to update them and discuss the next steps in relation to the site. Officers have advised the consortium that a report will be taken to the Councils Executive Board in February 2009 advising the board of Rushbond’s withdrawal. There is concern about the safety and security of the building which despite security patrols has been extensively vandalised internally. These risks do expose the Council to important health and safety concerns where it has liability for harm that is caused even to trespassers in the building. So far, this vandalism does not appear to have affected the main structure of the building. Members of the consortium indicated that they would like an opportunity to develop their proposals for the property, which would involve the ownership of the property being transferred to a local community organisation and submit these for consideration by the Executive Board. Members of the consortium have visited the former school and the caretaker’s house. Officers have advised the consortium that there proposals can be reported to Executive Board along with comments on their viability and sustainability from officers. There is no reserve development scheme for the site although there was some initial expression of interest, since withdrawn, in the refurbishment of the property as a girls’ school.
St Ann’s Mills
17. A letter was been sent by the Chair to Jean Dent requesting information relating to St Ann’s and Abbey Mills as agreed at the last meeting of the Area Committee on 13th November. A response has been received from the Development Directorates Chief Strategy and Policy Officer which has been circulated to all members.
Leeds Waste Strategy Udate
18. Leeds City Council has agreed a very challenging strategy for the City to ensure major reductions in the environmental impact of dealing with its waste, in particular through minimising landfill. In addition to measures to reduce the levels of waste generated and to increase recycling significantly, the Council intends to enter into a contract with a private sector partner to develop and operate treatment facilities to recover value from waste that is not recycled by householders.
In line with Government requirements, the Council has had to identify 'reference sites' within its ownership on which these new facilities can be developed, and which can be made available to bidders. The former wholesale market site on the Cross Green Industrial Estate in the East of the city has been identified as the Page 58 'reference site' for a waste treatment facility. The existing Council waste transfer station on Evanston Avenue, Kirkstall, has been identified as the ‘reference site’ for a new transfer station where waste could be ‘bulked up’ for onward transfer to the main treatment facility.
These sites do not represent preferred options, and those bidding for the contract to construct and operate the waste facilities have been invited to propose alternative suitable sites. Similarly, the Council has not indicated any preference for the type of waste treatment technology to be used. Technology and site proposals will be assessed using the detailed evaluation model developed by the Council. This approach, including the evaluation model itself, has been approved by the Executive Board.
The Council started procurement in July 2008. It is anticipated that the current field of ten bidders will be reduced to four in April 2009 following the evaluation of their outline proposals. A preferred bidder is expected to be selected in early summer 2010, with the contract awarded and planning applications submitted in autumn 2010. Subject to gaining planning permission, the construction of the main treatment facility would commence in 2011, with full operations starting in 2014.
Although we have undertaken a great deal of communications activity surrounding the general waste strategy, we are entering a new stage in which specific proposals will soon become public. We therefore intend to undertake further communications activities, over the year ahead to educate and inform residents about the process and to understand any issues affecting them prior to the selection of the preferred waste treatment solution.
The nature of the project means that interest will be attracted from all Leeds residents, but there will be a particular interest in the main areas close to identified ‘reference’ sites or any alternative sites proposed. Any communications activity therefore needs to cover the entire Leeds area, but also to provide greater opportunity for those residents in these specific areas. The involvement of Elected Members is obviously key to the delivery of this communications activity. A more detailed communications plan is in production and will be brought for consultation to the next round of Area Committees in March and April.
A letter from the Council’s Chief Environmental Services Officer to Kirkstall Ward members has been circulated to all Members for information.
ADP Review Consultation
19. As reported in December 2008 - there will be a programme of ward based consultative events to review the committees ADP for 2009/ 10 and 2010/ 11. it is planned to hold four community based drop-in sessions in Hyde Park, Headingley, Kirkstall and Weetwood during March and April with a view to presenting a revised draft ADP to the June 2009 meeting and final ADP to the July 2009 meeting. AMT officers are currently agreeing the dates for these sessions with ward members. In addition to other media the events will be advertised and promoted on the Councils internet consultation portal ‘Talking-point’ Page 59
20. Talking Point
Talking Point is Leeds City Councils consultation portal which is available through the Leeds City Council website. The aim of this is to enable the Council to coordinate and deliver community engagement activity more effectively. Consultations that are currently underway include: • Early Years Funding Reform Consultation (ends 28 th February) • Forward plan of key council decisions • Transport for Leeds • Council Signs (ends 30 th March)
Talking Point can be found on www.leeds.gov.uk follow the links on the left hand side to Council and Democracy and consultations.
Committee Partnership Groups
21. Partners and LCC officers are arranging dates for ADP thematic partnership meetings with the committees thematic members for Health and Wellbeing, Children Leeds, Worklessness and Community Safety (29th January and 30 th April) partnership meetings during March and April.
PFI Round 6
22. The City Projects Team is about to enter Round 6 of Housing PFI. The scope of the project is as follows: • Model of provision: Extra Care schemes and Lifetime Homes, c. 50:50 split. • City-wide, to ensure balanced provision, but with significant focus on regeneration areas. • 5 primary locations identified in regeneration areas (Armley, Harehills, Holt Park, Middleton & Seacroft) and 14 additional locations identified. • C. 1100 new homes (with an element of private for sale) with demolition of 600 & refurbishment of up to 200 units; • HRA scheme; • Services which could be included are design and build, repairs and maintenance, facilities management and housing management. • Scope for additional phases to be added on – some sites already identified; • Some will come about as a result of rationalisation of residential and day centre at later stages than can be firmed up now. • Scope to collaborate with other authorities in the Leeds City Region.
Implications For Council Policy and Governance
23. There are no additional implications for Council policy or governance.
Legal and Resource Implications
Page 60 24. There are no additional legal or resource implications.
Recommendations
25. The Area Committee are requested to note the report and comment on the contents of this report.
Background reports • Inner North West Leeds ADP • Divisional Community Safety Partnership Highlight Report • Report to Executive Board November 2007, Area Management Review • Executive Board report July 2008
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Page 62 Agenda Item 13
Originator: Rob McCartney
Tel: 2243480
Report of Housing Strategy and Commissioning Section
Report to Inner North West Area Committee
Date: 5th February 2009
Subject: Leeds Housing Strategy
Electoral Wards Affected: Specific Implic ations For:
Equality and Diversity
Community Cohesion
ü Ward Members consulted Narrowing the Gap (referred to in report)
Council Delegated Executive ü Delegated Executive Function Function available Function not available for for Call In Call in Details set out in the report
Executive Summary
The Leeds Housing Partnership Executive decided in 2008 to review and update the existing Leeds Housing Strategy to ensure that it better reflected current housing challenges and wider strategic priorities. The strategy will be framed around the strategic vision: ‘Creating opportunities for people to live independently in quality, affordable housing’. The strategy will have three key themes:
Increasing the supply of affordable housing
Improving housing quality
Promoting independent living
The final strategy draft will be presented to the Council’s Executive Board in July 2009.
1 Page 63
1. Purpose of Report
1.1. To give the Inner North West Area Committee members an overview of the emerging Leeds Housing Strategy and links to the draft Inner North West area housing strategy attached at Appendix 1.
2. Background
2.1. The Leeds Housing Partnership is a multi-agency/partner body, affiliated to the Leeds Initiative that drives and oversees housing development and delivery in the city. The Partnership is responsible for the monitoring and review of the Leeds Housing Strategy. The Leeds Housing Partnership Executive decided in 2008 to review and update the existing Leeds Housing Strategy, to ensure that it better reflected current housing challenges and wider strategic priorities.
2.2. The updated Leeds Housing Strategy will need to respond to the housing affordability challenge in the city. The 2007 Housing Market Assessment identified that there was a need for 1889 affordable housing units to be developed on an annual basis to meet housing need. It was also identified that a household would need an annual income of £37,000 in order to purchase a starter level property in the city. The affordability challenge, whilst significant, had emerged during a period of economic buoyancy for the city and conformed to standard economic principles: demand for housing exceeded supply, precipitating price rises that were higher than wage inflation. Households have been assisted to secure affordable housing through an increase in housing supply and innovative home purchase initiatives. The recent economic downturn has exacerbated the affordability challenge. Mortgage lending practice has become more restrictive and prospective house buyers have been deterred from purchase through uncertainty over employment and falling house prices. This in turn is deterring developers from continuing and starting house building. The Council and partners will need to flexible and innovative to respond to the evolving challenge.
2.3. The focus of the Leeds Housing Partnership is also shifting from meeting the decency standard towards the wider challenge of improving housing quality and sustainability. The Council and the Leeds ALMOs see the attainment of the decency standard on council housing as being an important milestone, rather than an end in itself. Longer-term investment options will need to be explored between the Council, ALMOs and tenants. The Council is also aware of the significance of the private sector housing challenge: 33% (over 81,000 properties) of private properties fail the decency standard with 13% (34,000) having one or more Category 1 hazards. The scale of the challenge is even more pronounced with regard to back-to-back housing, with 75% of the 19,500 units failing the decency standard and 45% having one or more Category 1 hazard. The 40% increase in energy prices has meant that the proportion of the Leeds population who are experiencing fuel poverty (more than 10% of household income spent on energy costs) has risen from 19 to 24%.
2.4. Enabling vulnerable people to achieve or maintain an independent living arrangement is a key housing, health and social care challenge. Services such as housing-related support, adaptations and assistive technology all contribute to promoting independent living. Modernising housing provision for older people and people with learning disabilities will promote independent living and enable vulnerable people to exercise greater choice and control over their lives. Providing personalised services that
2 Page 64 maximise prevention opportunities will also contribute to objectives relating to reducing homelessness, temporary accommodation placements and rough sleeping.
2.5. The Leeds Housing Strategy will also reflect the strategic themes, outcomes and improvement priorities set out within the Leeds Strategic Plan. The links between housing services and the ‘Thriving Places’ strategic theme are clear, with strategic outcomes relating to increasing the supply of affordable housing, improving housing decency and reducing homelessness. The Leeds Housing Strategy will give equal precedence to the ‘Health and Wellbeing’ strategic theme, recognising the contribution housing and housing services make towards health outcomes. For example, reducing dependency on residential and day care services, preventing hospital admissions, tackling the link between poor thermal comfort and reduced health outcomes and the impact of homelessness and rough sleeping on health and wellbeing.
2.6. The updated strategy will include a strategic vision, themes and goals. The latter will include a series of actions and accompanying success measures. This will form the basis of the strategy action plan, which will be monitored and reviewed through the Leeds Housing Partnership.
3. Main Issues
3.1. The Leeds Housing Strategy will be framed around a strategic vision: ‘Creating opportunities for people to live independently in quality, affordable housing’. Three strategic themes seem to flow from this vision:
3.1.1. Increasing the supply of affordable housing
3.1.2. Improving housing quality
3.1.3. Promoting independent living
3.2. The ‘Increasing the supply of affordable housing’ theme includes the following strategic goals:
3.2.1. Help people become and remain home-owners
3.2.2. Increase the supply of rented housing
3.2.3. Make best use of existing housing stock
3.2.4. Improve the mix of available housing options
3.2.5. Increase the supply of accessible housing including ‘Lifetime Homes’
3.3. The theme around increasing the supply of affordable housing has been affected by the economic downturn. Historically, affordable housing has been generated through wider housing development: Section 106 planning gain and mixed tenure development. The downturn in house building activity will have an impact on affordable housing secured through such routes. The Council is looking to generate affordable housing by encouraging local housing associations to purchase empty new build housing, partly through the receipt of Homes and Communities Agency funding. Such properties would be let on a social or intermediate rental charge and
3 Page 65 could be offered to key workers as a ‘rent now buy later’ option. The Council and local housing associations are also liaising with the Homes and Communities Agency around the potential to increase grant rates, which could make mono-tenure development more economically viable. Greater emphasis is being placed on helping existing homeowners to remain in their homes and the Golden Triangle ‘Home Buy Plus’ initiative is being reconfigured around a Mortgage Rescue model. The need to develop more family sized housing remains pressing, as does the need to develop more accessible housing, so people can continue to live comfortably, even when their health conditions change. All housing developed through the Affordable Housing Strategic Partnership conforms to the ‘Lifetime Homes’ standard. The Council’s plans to modernise sheltered housing provision are framed around the concept of accessible homes in accessible neighbourhoods.
3.4. The ‘Improving housing quality’ theme includes the following strategic goals:
3.4.1. Bring social housing stock up to the decency standard
3.4.2. Identify investment options for council housing
3.4.3. Increase the number of private homes meeting the decency standard
3.4.4. Improve the long-term sustainability of housing stock
3.4.5. Improve the standard of temporary accommodation
3.4.6. Contribute to improving and developing deprived neighbourhoods
3.5. The Council and the Leeds ALMOs are committed to bringing all council owned housing up to the decency standard by 2010/11. The Council very much considers attaining the decency standard as an important milestone, rather than an end in itself. The Council and the Leeds ALMOs are exploring options for maintaining and enhancing the level of investment in council housing post-2011. The Council is also exploring options for securing investment to tackle the private sector housing challenge. The government’s economic stimulus package may well result in the Council being able to bid for additional funding. The Council has also noted the precedent of Liverpool where the local NHS Trust is investing £9 million in improving private sector housing quality.
3.6. The ‘Promoting Independent Living’ theme includes the following strategic goals:
3.6.1. Enable people to find their own housing solutions through quality information and enhanced housing options
3.6.2. Use support, adaptations and technology to promote independent living
3.6.3. Maximise opportunities to prevent homelessness
3.6.4. Reduce use of temporary accommodation and incidence of rough sleeping
3.6.5. Modernise housing provision for vulnerable people
3.6.6. Contribute to promoting community cohesion, reducing worklessness and tackling anti-social behaviour
4 Page 66
3.7. Maximising opportunities for vulnerable people to live independently and to exercise choice and control over their lives is a key priority for the updated housing strategy. Services such as housing-related support, adaptations and assistive technology, such as Telecare, play an important role in reducing dependency on residential and day care services and preventing hospital admissions. The strategy will seek to highlight the ‘invest to save’ benefits of housing services on wider health and social care priorities. Housing advice and homeless assessment services are being reconfigured around a Housing Solutions model. The aim is to provide personalised services that maximise prevention opportunities and give people a wider range of housing options, so that they are able to find their own solution to a housing need. The Council is also committed to modernising housing provision for vulnerable groups such as people with learning disabilities and older people, where current accommodation provision is outmoded and does not promote independent living outcomes.
3.8. The updated housing strategy is being developed on a city-wide basis. It is believed that it would be advantageous to subsequently develop complementary local housing strategies, for specific areas of the city, which reflect the key themes of the overall housing strategy.
3.9. The first draft of the strategy will be completed by the end of February, with the strategy being implemented once it has been approved by the Council’s Executive Board. The strategy is due to be considered by the Executive Board in July 2009.
4. Implications for Council Policy and Governance
4.1. The updated Housing Strategy will set out the key challenges and actions of the housing authority and partners over the next three years. The updated housing strategy will be presented to the Council’s Executive Board in July 2009.
5. Legal and Resource Implications
5.1. The updated housing strategy will set out the investment requirements relating to the housing challenges facing the city. There is no legal obligation on the part of the Council to develop a housing strategy for the city. The updated housing strategy will have regard for all relevant legal duties relating to the authority.
6. Equality Considerations
6.1. The updated housing strategy will be subject to an Equality Impact Assessment, to ensure that it effectively covers housing challenges relating to the six equality strands.
7. Conclusions
7.1. The updated housing strategy will set out the key housing challenges for the city and the actions that will be taken to address these challenges. The Council and partners recognise that housing is a dynamic service area, and the Council and partners will need to be flexible to respond to evolving challenges. The Leeds Housing Partnership will monitor the strategy action plan on an ongoing basis.
5 Page 67 7.2. Given the approach outlined above there is a need for a city wide housing strategy to be in place before area housing strategies are developed and agreed. The attached inner north west draft housing strategy (Appendix 1) should therefore not be agreed until the city wide strategy has been completed. The housing strategy team does however acknowledge the need for a responsive housing strategy for inner north west Leeds and will seek to use the attached draft as a basis for a final inner north west strategy which it is intended will be further reviewed and presented in April 2009.
8. Recommendation
8.1. To note the contents of the report and to agree to receive a further city wide area housing strategy report in summer 2009; and
8.2. Consider and comment on the attached Inner NW area housing strategy draft at Appendix 1 and agree to receive a final draft of this document at a later meeting.
6 Page 68 Appendix 1
Originator: Sheila Fletcher
Tel: 3952835
Report of West North West Area Manager
Meeting: Inner North West Leeds Area Committee
Date: 5th February 2009
Subject: Housing Strategy for the Area of Housing Mix
Electoral W ards Affected: Specific Implications For: Headingley Hyde Park and Woodhouse Equality and Diversity Kirkstall Weetwood Community Cohesion
Ward Members consulted Narrowing the Gap (referred to in report)
Council Delegated Executive Delegated Executive Function Function available Function not available for for Call In Call In Details set out in the report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents the Area Committee with a draft Housing Strategy for the Area of Housing Mix. The draft strategy has been developed at the request of the Housing Strategy Sub-Group of the Inner North West Area Committee.
The draft strategy is appended ( appendix A) and forms the basis of this report.
Members of the Area Committee are asked to consider the issues raised and endorse the recommendations and way forward outlined in this report.
Page 69
Purpose of This Report
1. The purpose of this report is to present to the Area Committee a draft Strategy for the Area of Housing Mix.
Main Issues
2. This strategy identifies a programme of interventions proposed to work towards “normalising” housing provision in Inner North West Leeds and help alter the balance between shared private rented and residential housing for long-term residents. In addition the strategy aims to generally improve accessibility to housing.
Background
3. The purpose of this strategy is to establish a strategic approach to addressing the housing market and demographic changes that have affected the communities comprising the Area of Housing Mix in order to restore a more balanced housing market and population mix.
4. This strategy supports the Leeds Housing Strategy 2005-2010 that identifies as its key aim the creation and maintenance of balanced and sustainable communities. The Leeds Housing Partnership is responsible for developing, implementing and reviewing the Leeds Housing Strategy and for ensuring the full contribution of housing partners to the achievement of the outcomes and targets set out in the strategy.
5. At a local level, District Housing Partnerships ensure the delivery of the Leeds Housing Strategy. Currently however, a District Housing Partnership does not exist in West North West Leeds. It is proposed therefore that the mechanisms for the implementation and delivery of this strategy are considered by Leeds City Council’s Head of Housing Strategy and Commissioning and the Leeds Housing Partnership.
6. It is proposed that an update clarifying this, and the responsibilities of the Area Committee in relation to the strategy, is presented to the February 09 meeting of the Inner North West Area Committee.
Recommendations
7. Members of the Area Committee are asked to: • Comment on the draft Housing Strategy for the Area of Housing Mix • Consider the issues raised in relation to the implementation, delivery and monitoring of the strategy and endorse the recommendations and way forward as outlined in paragraphs 5 -6 above.
Background Papers
Housing Strategy for the Area of Housing Mix Leeds Housing Strategy 2005-2010
Page 70 Appendix 2
Housing Strategy for the Area of Housing Mix
November 2008
November 2008 0 Page 71 CONTENTS
Introduction 2
Strategic Context 4
Issues to Address 6
Interventions 11
Delivery 14
Outputs and Outcomes 16
Appendices
A Area of Housing Mix and Sub Areas 17
B Concentrations of Student Households 2006/07 18
C Inner North West Leeds Housing Intervention Matrix 19
November 2008 1 Page 72 INTRODUCTION
The neighbourhoods that comprise Inner North West Leeds have long been home to a substantial number of houses in multiple occupation and purpose built halls of residence for students at the city’s range of higher education institutions. The significant concentration of students and other young and mobile households is unique to these neighbourhoods requiring a dedicated housing strategy allied to dedicated planning policies..
Leeds has welcomed students to the city and has seen the attraction of students and their retention as graduates as an integral contribution to its economic transformation and growth. However, there had been, until recent times, a balance between a fluctuating or escalating student population and the longer-term residential population.
This situation was changed significantly by the introduction by Central Government of an aim to substantially increase the number of young people going into higher education. However, this policy was not accompanied by any accompanying policy relating to the housing of the increased student population heading to ‘university cities, the substantial increase in the numbers of students coming to study in Leeds over the last 10 years brought with it a challenge of how to accommodate those additional students. While the University of Leeds was able to accommodate its fairly constant population, the Leeds Metropolitan University was unable to offer its new students university accommodation.
What transpired was that the additional students followed the continuing large numbers of existing students (who preferred to live close to the two Leeds Universities) into the ‘core’ areas of shared student housing of Hyde Park, Central and South Headingley and Woodhouse, radically changing the balance of those areas as investment landlords purchased existing residential housing to establish houses in multiple occupation to house the increasing student population, while parents of students also saw investment potential in buying houses to house their children.
More recently, buy to let investors have also been buying former residential family homes for rental purposes, to both students and young professionals. Many existing residential households have moved out of the area as the composition of streets has changed.
This has all led to a significant alteration to the demographic balance of the communities in ‘Leeds 6’ with shared houses containing multiple households of students and young workers often outnumbering existing residential households, increasing levels of instability and turnover and with implications for local schools and other amenities and community cohesion.
This imbalance was recognized by the adoption of an Area of Housing Mix in 2006 which aims to encourage accommodation of students and the development of purpose built student accommodation outside the area. The Area of Housing Mix is not homogeneous and consists of a number of sub areas with differing characteristics, housing and population mixes. A Map of the Area of Housing Mix and sub-areas is attached as Appendix A.
November 2008 2 Page 73 The development over recent years of a substantial supply of purpose-built accommodation for students in and around the city centre has led to a movement of many students (mostly first year students) from shared housing in the Area of Housing Mix into the new purpose built blocks leasing to a substantial number of unlet shared homes. Bringing these back into residential use will be costly to purchasers and often difficult where they are located in areas of high student concentration.
Meanwhile the accessibility of housing in the area is becoming ever more restricted. House prices have increased substantially over recent years, pushed up by investors and buy to let landlords, benefiting existing households, but virtually removing access for first time buyers and hindering opportunities for households to trade up within the area.
There is little available affordable housing for rent with limited stocks of social rented housing rarely becoming available for let; self-contained private rents unaffordable to young couples and single people, and mortgage costs often out of reach for first time buyers.
The housing situation in the Area of Housing Mix is unique in Leeds - and indeed, in its scale, unique in the country. It is a situation however, that is evident in ‘university towns’, and responses in Leeds have been seen as cutting-edge nationally, and Universities UK (UUK )has singled out Leeds for its approach to student housing.
The purpose of this strategy is to establish a strategic approach to addressing the housing market and demographic changes that have affected the communities comprising the Area of Housing Mix in order to restore a more balanced housing market and population mix and create a better functioning local housing ladder with a range of housing options.
November 2008 3 Page 74 STRATEGIC CONTEXT
This Housing Strategy for the area of Housing Mix sits within a broad strategic context, incorporating national, regional and local strategic drivers. Nationally, this strategy links to a number of major strategic threads. The Sustainable Communities Plan (2004) aimed to achieve balance in communities; avoiding concentration of housing tenures or of population types, and through encouraging a combination of amenities and facilities that can create and maintain sustainable communities. Housing and Planning Policy including the Housing Act 2004 (which introduced the licensing of Housing in Multiple Occupation) and the recent Housing Green Paper: Homes for the Future (which sought to achieve greater access to affordable housing through substantially increasing supply while making better use of existing housing) and Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3, on affordable housing). It also refers to the current consideration by central Government of changing the Use Classes Order to help further regulate housing in multiple occupation. Governmental Higher Education Policy has over a number of years been to increase the numbers of young people going into higher education in order to improve the competitiveness of the UK economy. Currently there is a debate over further expansion of higher education through means other than the traditional ‘after school’ access route including home-based, part- time and workplace-based learning which could have an effect on the numbers of undergraduates moving to access higher education. Nationally research has been undertaken into the impact of higher education on housing provision and in particular the operation of the private rented sector. Research commissioned by Communities & Local Government (CLG) and undertaken by ECOTEC on Evidence Gathering - Housing in Multiple Occupation and possible planning responses , was published on 26 September 2008 and considered the impact of HMOs and of potential options for dealing with issues arising including changes to the Use Classes Order. Another piece of research by Julie Rugg of York University considered the operation of the private rented sector and the impact of increased student numbers on the sector and the locations where such housing was concentrated. At a regional level the strategy links to the aim of the Regional Spatial Strategy to ensure effective provision of housing growth, affordable housing, improved housing mix and housing for various communities or special groups, including students. At a local level, the strategy links to a number of strategic threads. The Vision for Leeds has as one of its core aims ‘Going up a League’ increasing economic growth and the regional, national and international importance of Leeds. Graduate retention to add to the skills base of the Leeds economy and the increasing ‘knowledge economy’ is essential to achieving this aim. The strategy also supports the other major objective of the Vision for Leeds of ‘Narrowing the Gap’ between affluent and deprived parts of the city and communities. This strategy also contributes to one of the key themes of the Leeds Strategic Plan of creating thriving communities. The strategy supports the Leeds Housing Strategy 2005 - 2010 which identifies the creation and maintenance of balanced and sustainable communities as a key aim. The balanced accommodation of students is a component part delivering this aim along with HMO licensing, provision of affordable housing and bringing empty properties back into use. This is currently under review with a revised strategy expected in April 2009.
November 2008 4 Page 75 The Strategy for Housing Students in Leeds , a contributory strategy to the Leeds Housing Strategy, aims to achieve a balance between encouraging students and ensuring their safe accommodation and the need to achieve a better balance between the student and residential populations This strategy is underpinned and informed by local planning policies such as and the Core Strategy of the Leeds Local Development Plan, the Area of Housing Mix (policies H15 and H15A); the encouragement of purpose-built student accommodation, and the Council’s Supplementary Planning Document on Affordable Housing. The strategy complements the Shared Housing Action Plan which aims at implementing measures to better improve the composition of the Area of Housing Mix, develop more housing options and better manage the area’s constituent neighbourhoods.
November 2008 5 Page 76 ISSUES TO ADDRESS
There are a wide number of issues prevalent in the Area of Housing Mix that this housing strategy is seeking to address:
Demographic Imbalance The % of the population of the area that are students has been increasing over the last 10 years. In 1991 the % of population aged 16 – 29 was 39.6% in Headingley ward compared to 21.4% for Leeds as a whole. The 2001 Census records 69.7% of the population of Headingley as being aged 16 – 29 compared to 19.7% for Leeds as a whole. There has also been a marked change in housing tenure patterns in the area with the proportion owner occupied declining and the proportion rented privately increasing.
While students and shared housing have been a major component of the composition of the Area of Housing Mix for a considerable time, significant changes have taken place in the concentrations of shared housing and the student population within the Area of Housing Mix and the constituent parts of the area.
This change was fuelled by the Government inspired increase in the numbers of young people seeking to access higher education. However, the decision to increase significantly the numbers of students was taken without any real without any real planning of accommodation needs or consideration of how those students would be accommodated, and without any realization or analysis of the impact that this would have on areas where students traditionally lived.
Leeds Metropolitan University was unable to house all first year students in halls of residence and instead many had to live in shared housing adding to already large numbers of returning students living in shared housing in Leeds 6. This was fuelled by investors and landlords seeking to buy residential properties to offer an increased supply of shared housing to meet increasing demand from students. The result was the dominance of certain parts of the area by houses in multiple occupation and other shared housing accommodating students. This process has been defined through research by Dr Darren Smith published in 2005 as ‘studentification’.
In recent years private sector providers, such as Unite, Opel Securities and Liberty Park have invested in construction of purpose built cluster based halls of residence mainly in and around the city centre, but with some inside the Area of Housing Mix which has begun to alter the composition of the area and led to some movement of students out of the area.
The % of the population who are students varies from 77% in North Hyde Park to 4% in West Park and Weetwood (see Appendix B), leaving some neighbourhoods dominated by students and other more mixed with a range of family types (with young children, teenage children, single parents) and age ranges. Over recent years there has been a growing BME population, including South Asian populations, households of African and middle-eastern origin and increasing inflow of migrants from the EU accession states. With the right interventions, the opportunity exists to achieve a more balanced, but mixed and diverse community.
November 2008 6 Page 77 Reducing the impacts of tenure imbalance The reduction in the residential population of the Area of Housing Mix has had a clear impact : • A smaller proportion of families with children living in the area has had an impact on demand for school places and four primary schools in the area have closed over the last 3 years. • An increasing number of houses in multiple occupation has brought an increase in the number of cars and of traffic congestion, especially at rush hours. • The changing population has brought with it a proliferation of take away outlets and bars to meet demand from an increasingly young population and the number of retail shops has reduced, although this could be as much to do with changing shopping patterns, the rise of the hypermarkets and the use of internet shopping. It has also brought a proliferation of lettings agencies taking up shop units (over 60 in the Area of Housing Mix) • The increase of HMOs in the area has brought with it problems for environmental and waste management as the amount of waste per household in the area has increased. • A high level of HMOs in the area has brought very high levels of burglary as burglary of one property can generate multiple crime reports. The high perceived and actual levels of burglary has in turn, had an impact on the attractiveness of the area, and feelings of safety and security for existing residents. • The increasing number of young people, living largely unmanaged, in the area has brought problems with low level anti-social behaviour, as it would however in any area with large numbers of young people. • Stress for residents arising from noise levels and a sense of disempowerment amongst the existing residential population resulting from the changing population balance. . • Loss of ‘social capital’ arising from loss of amenities and the impact on local community cohesion, engagement and involvement arising from the reduction of the ‘settled population’ and the increased ‘transient’ population.
Access to housing Access to housing for starter households, first time buyers and those in need of social rented housing is becoming increasingly difficult. Social housing stock There is a relatively low supply of social rented housing and a very high demand. In summer 2007 there were 6,420 social rented homes in inner North West Leeds, over 1,000 lower than in 2002.
No of social rented homes No of social rented homes Change 2002 2007 Woodhouse 885 586 -299 Hyde Park 258 239 -19 Headingley 579 559 -20 Burley 1569 1262 -307 Kirkstall 606 502 -104 West Park 449 410 -39 Far Headingley/Becketts Park 903 721 -182 Meanwood 181 134 -47 7432 6420 -1012
November 2008 7 Page 78 The table above shows this. This stock reduction has largely arisen from sales of council homes under the right to buy, most of which have been family houses of 2 beds or more. Waiting list demand at the same time has remained strong with 3,179 households waiting for social housing.
A reducing stock has meant fewer properties becoming available, and of those becoming available, a very small proportion have been family homes and most have been 1 or 2 bed flats and miscellaneous terraced and back to back properties. With reducing turnover, then available vacancies become available to those in the greatest need only, reducing the scope for households on the waiting list with general needs.
Private rented housing affordability While there is a substantial and growing private rented housing sector in the area, supply is either high rent and geared at ‘professionals’ or shared housing/HMOs aimed at students. Rents for self contained private rented housing are becoming unaffordable to those on lower incomes.
The average rent for a 2 bed flat in the area would take up over 45% of the monthly income of a single person with a ‘bottom quartile’ income (Under £17,500 per year) and 130% of the monthly income of a single person with an income in the bottom 10% (£6,000 per year). The average rent for a 1 bed flat in the area would take up 38% of the monthly income of a single person with a ‘bottom quartile’ income (Under £17,500 per year) and all the monthly income of a single person with an income in the bottom 10% (£6,000 per year) – more affordable but the risk of incurring other debt in order to afford to pay the rent.
This has meant that rooms in shared housing have become more attractive to young workers as rent payments would take up a considerably lower % of disposable income and bring the sociability of sharing. This however, in turn, has meant increasing demand for shared housing and to some degree, a replacement of groups of students in shared housing with groups of young workers.
Access to home ownership With competition for family housing coming from investment landlords, the parents of students and residential households then prices have risen leading to severe problems for first time buyers and households seeking to either move into the area or within the area. For first time buyers the situation has become acute.
The average entry level house price across the area is £161,958. This requires a single income of £46,274 or a joint household income of £55,848 compared to the single average income in Leeds of £23,500 or a joint average income of £35,250.
Even small back to back terraces in parts of Hyde Park, central Headingley or Woodhouse are becoming unaffordable; most sell now for £100,000 to £140,000 which requires a single income of £34,500 or a joint income of £41,500. The table below shows some of the variations across the area. This effectively means that entry level housing in the area is largely unaffordable to households with average incomes or below.
November 2008 8 Page 79 Entry Level Single Joint Monthy % of joint % of joint % single % of single Price Income income mortgage bottom 25% average average bottom 25% needed needed income income income income (£26,250 pa) (£35,250 pa) (£23,500 pa) (£17,500 pa)
Woodhouse £138,991 £39,712 £47,928 £1,054 48.2% 35.9% 53.8% 72.3% Hyde Park £148,468 £42,419 £51,196 £1,127 51.5% 38.4% 57.6% 77.3% Little Woodhouse £161,430 £46,123 £55,666 £1,222 55.9% 41.6% 62.4% 83.8% South Headingley £164,336 £46,953 £56,668 £1,261 57.6% 42.9% 64.4% 86.5% Central Headingley £177,059 £50,588 £61,055 £1,354 61.9% 46.1% 69.2% 92.9% Headingley Hill £170,697 £48,771 £58,861 £1,298 59.3% 44.2% 66.3% 89.0% Becketts Park £177,511 £50,717 £61,211 £1,360 62.2% 46.3% 69.5% 93.3% West Park £183,035 £52,296 £63,116 £1,413 64.6% 48.1% 72.2% 96.9% Kirkstall £132,613 £37,889 £45,729 £1,008 46.1% 34.3% 51.5% 69.1% Burley £165,438 £47,268 £57,048 £1,261 57.6% 42.9% 64.4% 86.5%
Recently the ‘credit crunch’ has had an impact on access to home ownership in the area. Reducing mortgage lending especially to first time buyers and the withdrawal of 100% mortgages and requirement for deposits being reinstituted), then this situation may well further worsen.
Need for increased affordable housing and a better housing mix The scope for development of new housing and new affordable housing across the area remains limited. There are few large development sites and those sites that exist are small to medium sized brownfield sites, where there are complexities of site preparation, clearance and finding an appropriate housing mix that is financially viable.
The main development sites are at Leeds Girls High School and Tetley Hall with some smaller sites around Clarendon Road (see Appendix C). These may generate a significant number of new homes but it is important not only that these deliver an affordable housing requirement in line with Council policies but also that housing developed adds to the housing mix of the area.
Current Council policy requires affordable housing provision under S106 agreements to be on site and to reflect the general nature of the housing being delivered. However, on some sites in the area student housing is being sought, and on others the size of the sites would only deliver more flats, which would not contribute to an ability to meet housing needs within the area as the area already contains a large stock of flats. The current review of the Council’s Supplementary Planning Document on Affordable Housing is giving consideration to seeking off-site provision where on-site provision is inappropriate (for example where student housing is proposed) or where a mix of on-site and off site affordable housing provision would provide benefits to the local area and would deliver similar levels of affordable housing. In the Area of Housing Mix this could be in the form of off-site provision being existing street properties sold at discount through the Headingley Development Trust as a Community Land Trust for letting through local housing associations
November 2008 9 Page 80 Reducing the number of empty/unlet properties The housing market changes that have been occurring within the Area of Housing Mix have led to an emerging issue with empty or unlet homes. It is currently estimated that there are 312 unlet private rented properties in the area with 1,168 unlet bedspaces. Clearly however there are differences between empty and unlet properties and it may be that letting at less than capacity could generate improved quality as landlords restore communal rooms and improve to attract lower demand.
With clear indications of a movement of first year students and some, albeit a small number, of returning students taking up rooms in new purpose built halls of residence, then demand from students for shared housing in the area has been shown to have diminished. However, this is the first full year of letting for many of the purpose built halls and there are still a significant number of new purpose built halls under construction.
Some landlords have simply diversified their demand base and sought to let to young workers or professionals and there is clear evidence of an increase in the numbers of such households sharing housing in the area. Many other landlords are biding their time until they have a better and clearer picture of demand and supply, and are letting at under capacity in order to ensure at least some income is received.
In the meantime the ‘credit crunch’, the changes in mortgage rates and lending policies and a likely stagnation or reduction in house prices could have an impact on the market, and, if accompanied by reductions in demand from students, may well push landlords, and especially buy to let landlords, to cut their losses and sell up, raising the risk of more empty homes. On the other hand with mortgage finance being restricted and lenders now requiring deposits before granting mortgages then this may indicate a growing demand for shared private rented housing in the area from young households unable to afford to rent self contained private rented flats
November 2008 10 Page 81 INTERVENTIONS
A range of housing interventions will be needed with some variation between the various parts of the Area of Housing Mix. These actions could be divided into demand side measures, supply side measures and measures to better manage housing markets in the Area of Housing Mix.
A. Demand Side 1. Rebalancing the community (new markets) a) Seeking to introduce more ‘settled’ households into the area, including encouragement to families (wishing to move to the area or within the area trading up); student families; refugees and migrant workers seeking to stay in the UK; young couples (family builders), young professionals/ workers (in their first or second jobs) and graduates. b) Headingley Homes , Manning Stainton’s and Headingley Development Trusts scheme to enable residential households to sell to other residential households rather than landlords c) Encouraging dispersal of students to areas outside the Area of Housing Mix , through the actions set out in the Strategy for Housing Students in Leeds 2. Assistance with Deconversion a) Seeking Funding to enable loans to secure de-conversion of homes converted to HMOs that will require substantial costs, on top of high prices, to enable reoccupation by residential households b) Considering using Leeds rebuild trainees to do conversion work 3. Housing Improvement a) Decent Homes improvements to social housing stock in the area b) Equity Release loan provision for vulnerable private owners c) Measures to improve the energy efficiency of housing across sectors and increase provision of affordable warmth and reduce the number of households living in fuel poverty d) Maintaining the quality and affordability of housing, through continuing to encourage higher standards of provision, reviewing the affordability of rents
B. Supply Side 1. Affordable housing provision a) Land availability in the Area of Housing Mix needs to be assessed as part of the wider Strategic Land Availability Assessment being undertaken by the Council including identification of any Housing Revenue Account land for development of affordable housing (shared equity and social rented provision) using Housing Corporation grant b) Using S106 agreements to secure affordable housing to provided on-site; with a balance between social rented, shared equity, discounted sale and sub-market rent, or off-site; through sale of street properties at discounted rates to Headingley Homes CLT (see below) for renting through a local housing association to households in need, or sale under shared equity to key workers.
November 2008 11 Page 82 2. Community Land Trust a) Establishing Headingley Homes, a Community Land/Asset Trust linked to the Headingley Development Trust, with structure, governance and purpose and a Business Plan to deliver a feasible programme of acquisition of assets and use of those assets to fund further acquisition and finance a balance between properties to rent or sell under shared equity through a housing association b) Establishing a management agreement with a local housing association(s) to undertake housing management and maintenance of rented units leased or sold to Headingley Homes
3. Bringing empty homes back into use a) Establish an Empty Homes team/officer with responsibility for bringing empty homes back into use to i. Identify the scale and ownership of unlet properties and owners intentions and those long term voids ii. Establish options for using Housing Act 2004 powers of Empty Dwelling Management Orders iii. Encourage the Council to levy a full council tax charge on empty homes iv. Explore partnerships between landlords/owners and housing associations to bring empty homes back into use b) Assess the potential for acquisition for improvement and letting or sale under shared equity through Headingley Homes
C. Market Management 1. HMO Licensing a) Continuation of action to implement mandatory HMO licensing. b) Consideration of additional licensing to include all shared housing. 2. Landlord Accreditation a) Continuing to encourage increased accreditation of private landlords through UNIPOL or the Leeds Landlords Accreditation Scheme (LLAS) 3. Planning policies a) Ensuring application of Leeds Development Plan policies (affordable housing) and consideration over time of an Area Action Plan for the area and implementation of Area of Housing Mix policies H15 and H15A b) Lobbying for a change in the Use Classes Order to oblige purchasers of properties seeking to let them as HMOs or shared housing to seek planning permission.
November 2008 12 Page 83
3. Housing/ Tenancy Management and Support and Neighbourhood Management a) Identification of measures to improve the management and support of tenants including investigation of ‘common services’ jointly resourced by WNW Homes, housing associations and local private landlords? b) Implementation of the measures relating to neighbourhood, area and environmental management contained in the Shared Housing Action Plan to ensure that the area is safe and secure and attractive to new residents. c) Management and representation of students living in the area
November 2008 13 Page 84 DELIVERY
The delivery of this housing strategy for the Area of Housing Mix should be guided through the Area Committee for Inner North West Leeds, the Shared Housing Group and the West North West District Housing Partnership with the operational support of the West and North West Area Management Team, West North West Homes and the range of housing providers and service providers covering the area.
Delivery of this strategy will depend on effective partnerships being developed and maintained between the Council and housing providers across sectors.
The prime partnership grouping will be the Shared Housing Group which, with the support of Inner North West Area Committee and the West and North West Area Management Team, will oversee the implementation of the Shared Housing Action Plan , instrumental to ensuring that the area is attractive to incoming residents and provides the attractive, safe and secure environment that will persuade residents to remain there.
The Inner North West Area Committee will ensure the implementation of this strategy. The Housing Strategy Sub Group of the Area Committee will monitor progress in its delivery and recommend remedial action to the Area Committee where necessary.
The West and North West Homes District Housing Partnership (WNW Leeds DHP) will seek to identify housing needs and requirements, gaps in provision and the types and mix of housing development needed to meet needs and demand.
Community Groups in the area, individually, or through the Headingley Network and the Leeds HMO Lobby, need to both continue to apply pressure for continuing action to improve the range of housing available ion the area and to provide a mechanism for community engagement and participation.
The Headingley Development Trust is increasingly developing as a key component of the continuing improvement and management of the area with the potential development of the Heart initiative and the establishment of Headingley Homes to try and bring unwanted assets into community ownership and use to provide access to affordable homes.
West North West Homes Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) is a prime partner in the delivery of housing services in the area and is the lead partner in the WNW Leeds DHP. It will deliver improvements to the council housing stock and access to housing for households in housing need. It will lead in establishing opportunities for redevelopment of council estates in the area that could deliver increased numbers and an enhanced range of affordable homes.
Leeds City Council Development Department is responsible for ensuring implementation of the planning policies applicable to the Area of Housing Mix.
Leeds City Council Environment and Neighbourhoods Department has responsibility for encouraging the development of more affordable housing in the area and for ensuring efficient and effective waste management, refuse collection and street-scene services to the area.
November 2008 14 Page 85
Under the guidance of the Inner North West Area Committee, the Leeds City Council West and North West Area Management Team will ensure that that measures and actions are in place to deliver effective neighbourhood management, community safety and street scene services.
Housing Associations operating in the area will provide the means to develop affordable housing options on development sites, provide access to affordable housing and work in partnership with the City Council and Headingley Development Trust to bring empty homes back into use.
The Universities and Students Unions will contribute through their implementation of the Strategy for Housing Students in Leeds and their own respective housing strategies. They are also keen They can also continue to support and promote accreditation to improve the range of housing already available, to provide mechanisms for ensuring that students choose landlords recommended to them by their peers to ensure a high standard within the shared housing stock, and to ensure that students rent from the agents with the best management practices. The Universities and Students Unions can also commit themselves to influencing the behaviour of students and provide mechanisms for enhanced community engagement of students. .
UNIPOL will continue to act as the major provider of ‘halls of residence’ and shared housing (for students and young professionals), as well as being a promoter for accredited housing for students. UNIPOL will also continue to promote to students the benefits of a wide range of localities and provide an excellent example of pro-active management practice.
Estate and Lettings Agents in the area provide access to housing and a means of matching those looking for housing with available supply. Manning Stainton in particular will continue their initiative aimed at enabling households wishing to sell to a ‘family’ only to do so.
Private Landlords will continue to provide housing to meet local needs and demands and will be encouraged to become an accredited landlord ( if not so already) and continually improve their quality of housing and management.
Housebuilders/developers will provide new housing in the area and in line with Council planning policy will ensure that the appropriate proportion of that new housing is affordable.
The Leeds Tenants Federation can represent the interests of social housing tenants living in the area and may develop mechanisms for securing the engagement and participation of private tenants in local tenants and residents groups.
November 2008 15 Page 86 OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES
There are a number of key outputs that this Housing Strategy for the Area of Housing Mix seeks to achieve
• A more balanced community – With housing tenure patterns closer to the Leeds average – With a population and household mix closer to the Leeds average – With a majority of homes to be in permanent occupancy
• Increased provision of affordable housing – More social rented homes built and let – More homes available for sale through equity share – More rented homes available at below market rent levels aimed at low paid and key workers – Better access for starter households to housing in Leeds 6
• Fewer unlet or empty properties – More empty homes brought back into use
• Improved Management of rented housing – Continual increase in the number of accredited landlords in the area and in the number of bedspaces covered – All HMOs liable for licensing to be licensed – Better management standards in the private rented sector – Less nuisance incidents reported from residents of shared housing
November 2008 16 Page 87 Appendix A: Area of Housing Mix and Sub Areas
November 2008 17 Page 88 Appendix B: Concentrations of Student Households 2006/07
Area/Street Map Ref Population LMU Students University of Leeds ALL % of all % Students Students Students Population students
Univerity Campus's W2 2315 509 4.00% 1675 10.13% 2184 7.46% 94.30% North Hyde Park HP2 1900 77 0.79% 1380 7.88% 1457 5.35% 76.70% Central Headingley H1 7515 1307 10.27% 2636 15.95% 3943 13.48% 52.50% Little Woodhouse W3 4770 1783 14.01% 710 4.30% 2493 8.52% 52.30% South Headingley H3 4526 475 3.73% 1877 11.36% 2352 8.04% 52.00% Hyde Park HP1 8126 824 6.47% 3242 19.62% 4066 13.90% 50.00% Woodhouse W1 8944 863 6.78% 2474 14.97% 3337 11.41% 37.30% Cardigan Triangle H3 1703 219 1.72% 411 2.49% 630 2.15% 37.00% Burley Lodge (inc Harold's) B2 3972 380 3.93% 916 5.23% 1296 4.77% 36.36% Far Headingley (inc Becketts Park) H2 1705 359 2.82% 226 1.37% 585 2.00% 34.30% B1
Page 89 Burley 8611 758 5.95% 1111 6.72% 1869 6.39% 21.70% Headingley Hill H4 1168 107 1.10% 116 0.66% 223 0.86% 19.10% Kirkstall K 8024 910 1.60% 224 1.27% 1134 4.17% 14.13% Meanwood M 8835 281 2.21% 311 1.88% 592 2.02% 6.70% Moor Grange MG 1910 80 0.63% 30 0.18% 110 0.38% 5.80% West Park/Weetwood WP 2902 52 0.41% 77 0.47% 129 0.44% 4.40% Unknown postcode/address 697 5.47% 91 0.55% 788 2.69%
Inner NW Leeds 76859 9681 35.60% 17507 64.40% 27188 100%% 35.40%
November 2008 18 Appendix C: Inner North West Leeds Housing Intervention Matrix
Intervention Package for across the Area of Housing Mix
Housing Supply • Bringing empty properties back into use • Acquisition and refurbishment of unlet unwanted properties for equity share or social /intermediate rent under S106 agreements for sites in NW Leeds (HDT) • Increased affordable housing provision from sites identified through the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment - Equity share housing - Sub market rented housing - Social rented housing
Demand management Page 90 • Equity loans for homeowners to secure refurbishment to Decent Homes Standard at least • Encouragement of young families and young couples • Self-contained and shared housing for young workers • Homelessness leasing • Encouraging movement of students into purpose built accommodation where appropriate • Encouragement of demand from refugees with permission to stay and migrant workers wishing to settle • Financial assistance to 1 st time buyers • Mortgage rescue products to help homeowners in difficulties maintain their homes
Housing and neighbourhood management • Infrastructure improvements • HMO Licensing • Environmental/streetscene management • Community safety
November 2008 19 Area Specific Interventions
Map Area Housing Supply Demand management Housing and neighbourhood management Code W1 Woodhouse • Deconversion loans/grants • Intensive Neighbourhood Management • Decent Homes Improvements • Operation Champion • Environmental Improvement and ‘greening’ W3 Little Woodhouse • Deconversion loans/grants • Environmental Improvement and ‘greening’
HP1 Hyde Park • Leeds Girls High site – S106 agreement – • Deconversion loans/grants • Intensive Neighbourhood Management on site/off site • Decent Homes Improvements • Operation Champion • Environmental Improvement and ‘greening’ HP2 North Hyde Park • Leeds Girls High site – S106 agreement – • Deconversion loans/grants on site/off site H4 Headingley Hill • Leeds Girls High site – S106 agreement – • Deconversion loans/grants on site/off site H3 South Headingley • Leeds Girls High site – S106 agreement* • De-conversion grants/loans • Intensive Neighbourhood Management • Leeds and Yorkshire - Valley House – S106 • Environmental Improvement and ‘greening’ agreement - off-site
Page 91 • Parklane/Glassworks site – off site provision of affordable housing H1 Central Headingley • De-conversion grants/loans • Intensive Neighbourhood Management • Environmental Improvement and ‘greening’ H2 Far Headingley • Tetley Hall Site – S106 agreement – off • De-conversion grants/loans (including Becketts site/on site provision of affordable housing Park) • Parklane- Baltimore Diner site – S106 – off- site provision of affordable housing • Headingley Campus halls of residence MG Moor Grange • Parklane- Baltimore Diner site – S106 – off- • Decent Homes Improvements site provision of affordable housing • Headingley Campus halls of residence WP West Park/ • Tetley Hall Site – S106 agreement – off • Decent Homes Improvements Weetwood site/on site provision of affordable housing B2 Burley Lodge • Parklane/Glassworks site – off site provision • Deconversion loans/grants? • Intensive Neighbourhood Management of affordable housing • Group repair in Burley Lodge B1 Burley • Decent Homes improvements
K Kirkstall • Parklane- Baltimore Diner site – S106 – off- • Decent Homes improvements site provision of affordable housing • Kwiksave site – S106 agreement – on- site/off-site provision of affordable housing
November 2008 20 This page is intentionally left blank
Page 92 Agenda Item 14
Originator: Jade Corcoran
Tel: 24 78027
Report of the Director of City Development
Inner North West Area Committee
Date: 5th February 2009
Subject: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
Electoral Wards Affected: Specific Implications For: Ethnic minorities
Women
Disabled people
Council Delegated Executive Delegated Executive Function Function available Function not available for for Call In Call In Details set out in the report
Executive Summary
This paper outlines the significance and importance of a document (HMO Report), which was recently written by officers, summarising a report that has been published by Community & Local Government (CLG) regarding Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
Attached at Appendix 2 is a Executive Summary of the private rented sector: its contribution and potential, a research paper by Julie Rugg and David Rhodes.
1.0 Background Information
1.1 The purpose of this paper is to make Members of the Area Committee aware of the recent research that was conducted into Houses of Multiple Occupation and the possible planning responses to this. The report outlining the research, finding, and recommendations was produced by ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd on behalf of the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
1.2 The attached document (appendix one) has been written by officers to brief members on Leeds City Council’s involvement in the research and outline the findings and recommendations of the report produced by ECOTEC. In addition to this, the paper advices what the implications of the findings are for Leeds.
1.3 The report produced by officers has also been circulated to West, Central, and East Plans Panels. The research conducted by ECOTEC considers issues relating to Page 93 high concentrations of HMOs/shared housing, and does not focus on one particular type of household. Therefore, the findings and implications of this study are relevant for the whole city.
2.0 Main Issues
2.1 The attached report firstly outlines the background to why Leeds and other Local Authorities have lobbied for legislative change with regards to HMOs. The approach taken by Northern Ireland in relation to HMOs, and how this could be incorporated into the planning system relating to England and Wales, is discussed.
2.2 The purpose of the evidence gather exercise conducted by ECOTEC and the conclusions that are drawn from this are summarised. Particular attention is made in relation to the three options that are suggested, and how these are related to the short, medium, and long term.
2.3 The implications of this research in terms of local policy and resources for Leeds are outlined.
3.0 Conclusions
3.1 The paper concludes that the areas of good practice that the ECOTEC report documents (see appendix A) are dealing with the symptoms of the effects of high concentrations of HMOs and not the causes. Leeds does many of the initiatives that are outlined, and there are clearly still problems arising from high concentrations of HMOs. Considering this, continuing to lobby for legislative change with support from the Core Cities, MPs, the National HMO Lobby and community groups is an appropriate action. In addition to this, we must continue to expand on our own best practice and learn from other Local Authorities.
4.0 Recommendations
4.1 Members are asked to note the contents and recommendations of the attached report and comment as they feel appropriate.
5.0 Background reports
5.1 Report of the Director of City Development (LCC), 2008. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
5.2 Communities & Local Government, 2008. Evidence Gathering – Housing in Multiple Occupation and possible planning responses. Communities & Local Government, [Online], Available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/evidencegatheringresearch
Page 94 Originator: Andrew Crates / Jade Corcoran
Tel: 0113 247 8027
Report of the Director of City Development
City Centre Plans Panel
Date: 6th November 2008
Subject: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
Electoral Wards Affected: All Specific Implications For:
Equality and Diversity ¥
Community Cohesion ¥ ¥ Ward Members consulted Narrowing the Gap (referred to in report)
Executive Summary
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) fulfil a useful function in providing relatively short term accommodation. However, large concentrations of HMOs can cause problems and these have been well documented, particularly in university towns and cities, such as Leeds.
For some time, local communities have expressed concern about the impact of HMOs with regard to loss of family housing stock, demographic imbalance, transient communities and the difficulties experienced in delivering local services. Local Authorities have historically had a great deal of difficulty in exercising control over HMOs, particularly in planning. Whilst the Housing Act 2004 introduced mandatory licensing for many forms of HMOs, this is concerned with safety and housing quality, rather than land use planning. It is often argued that many of the initiatives in place deal only with the symptoms of large concentrations of HMOs, but do not deal with the causes in planning terms. These concerns have been expressed most recently to Communities and Local Government (CLG), who commissioned ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd to undertake an evidence gathering exercise. A report outlining the findings of the research has now been published (September 2008).
The aim of the research was to identify good practice, test if good practice could have wider application and also determine how planning can tackle these problems. Leeds is one of five focus areas included in the research and is praised for its good practice. Consideration is also given to changing planning legislation, specifically the Use Classes Order, and the report concludes that CLG ought to conduct further research into the effects that this would have. Such legislative changes have already taken place in Northern Ireland in 2004. This is one of the key areas where many community organisations feel that Local Authorities could obtain tighter planning controls, assisted by the correct Policies, in order to realise the objectives of sustainable, cohesive communities.
Page 95 1.0 Purpose of this Report
1.1 This report is intended to update Plans Panel Members on the recent work carried out for Communities and Local Government (CLG) in relation to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd have now produced a final report for CLG outlining their research, findings and recommendations. For information, a full copy of the final report can be viewed by following the web link: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/evidenceg atheringresearch
1.2 This report also aims to advise on what the implications of ECOTEC’s findings are for Leeds.
2.0 Background Information
2.1 In Leeds, the larger part of the student population live in shared houses, forming part of the traditional housing stock. This is often housing which may well otherwise be used for family housing. Despite planning policies and initiatives which try to deal with the effects of student developments in the locality, one of the key overriding problems is that the vast majority of student accommodation requires no planning permission to be used in the nature that it is (i.e. to accommodate six individuals or less). Where the Council has tried to pursue enforcement action against what are considered to be unauthorised HMOs, appeals have often been allowed on the basis that the property arguably still functions as a single dwellinghouse. This undermines the Council’s Policies and initiatives to try and improve local environments and create more sustainable communities.
2.2 A large proportion of the student accommodation is concentrated in inner north west Leeds, particularly in the Headingley and Hyde Park and Woodhouse Wards. Local residents, and in particular Leeds HMO Lobby, have made repeated representations to the Inner North West Area Committee, who have requested that the Council should lobby for legislative change. Leeds HMO Lobby is part of the National HMO Lobby, which has been campaigning for a number of years on issues affecting communities with high concentrations of HMOs. Through the exchange of ideas between the HMO Lobby and officers, a paper was presented to the Core Cities group, of which Leeds is a member. It was agreed that Leeds and Nottingham, who share similar issues with student HMOs, should write jointly to CLG to offer solutions. In addition, contact was made with the Local Government Association (LGA), Planning Advisory Service and the Planning Officers Society. Through the process of lobbying, officers have sought to keep Members abreast of progress, in addition to Leeds North West MP, Greg Mulholland, who is also a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Balanced and Sustainable Communities, which has an interest in HMO issues.
Page 96 The ‘Northern Ireland Model’
2.3 In the joint letter from Leeds City Council and Nottingham City Council, it was suggested that CLG should consider an approach similar to the ‘Northern Ireland model’. The approach taken in Northern Ireland has long been advocated by the National HMO Lobby. In Northern Ireland, the definition of an HMO is the same in both Planning and Housing terms. Furthermore, the Planning (Use Classes) Order (Northern Ireland) 2004 defines HMOs as being Sui Generis. This approach means that HMOs are more clearly and tightly defined and planning permission is required to change a use to and from them. This would give much greater control to Local Planning Authorities over the future development of HMOs.
2.4 In Northern Ireland, the existing use rights were conferred to those properties newly defined as HMOs. As such, only properties being used as HMOs post 2004 are subject to planning control.
2.5 In order for the above to work in England and Wales, this would firstly require the re-definition of HMOs in planning legislation to the definition provided in the Housing Act 2004, which defines an HMO as an entire house, flat or converted building which is let to three or more tenants forming two or more households, who share facilities. Secondly, HMOs would need to be removed entirely from Class C3, either by being deemed Sui Generis, as above, or by adding an additional Class C4. The benefit of this approach is that it would deal with HMOs in their entirety, counteracting the argument that such an approach is seeking to discriminate against students.
2.6 Whilst concentrations of students in HMOs is the primary issue in Leeds, the above approach would have significant benefit to many other towns and cities across the country, such as market and coastal towns with high concentrations of HMOs.
3.0 Main Issues arising from the ECOTEC research
3.1 ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd were commissioned by CLG to carry out an evidence gathering exercise to review the problems caused by high concentrations of HMOs. The purpose of the evidence gathering exercise was to:
x Identify good practice in areas that manage to cope relatively well with high concentrations of HMOs (particularly those occupied by students who tend to be transient, thus potentially causing problems around community cohesion and survival of community facilities), x Test whether these ideas could have a wider application in those areas that are having more difficulty with such issues and x Determine whether (and if so what) planning policy is a suitable lever to tackle these problems.
Page 97 3.2 As part of their work, a series of five focus groups with interested parties were set up to obtain a more in-depth understanding of the issues faced in each of the particular localities. The focus groups were held in areas that were currently experiencing issues around high concentrations of HMOs and student populations, including Leeds, Nottingham, Southampton, Loughborough and Exeter.
3.3 Given that Leeds was one of the five focus group areas, Leeds City Council has been significantly involved in the evidence gathering exercise and made strong representations with regard to the need for legislative change, in addition to the initiatives that are already in place. Specifically, ECOTEC carried out a number of interviews with local stakeholders including Council officers and held a workshop with the Council’s Shared Housing Group. The existence of this multi agency group was one of the areas where Leeds was praised in the final report. This work culminated in a seminar session held at CLG’s headquarters, attended by officers and members of Leeds HMO Lobby.
Findings of the research
3.4 CLG have now issued their final report, which contains the observations and recommendations made by ECOTEC, following the evidence gathering exercise. The report considers the arguments put forward by all of the stakeholders and the existing local level initiatives. The report states that there is much good practice and organisations in Leeds are praised in a number of areas, as illustrated in the table at Appendix A, extracted from the report. The text of the report specifically highlights initiatives such as Leeds City Council’s ‘Area of Housing Mix’ Policy, a dedicated Community Planning Officer, ‘To Let’ board controls, the Shared Housing Group and Shared Housing Action Plan (SHAP). Whilst the report refers to the ‘Area of Housing Mix’ as an area of good practice, it is however disappointing that little support has so far been received by the Planning Inspectorate through appeals against the refusal of planning permission.
3.5 The report goes on to suggest a number of options as follows: x Option one – do nothing, x Option two – promote the use of non-planning related mechanisms and planning policy levers through wider dissemination, and x Option three – amend the Use Classes Order to provide a definition of HMOs and allow tighter planning controls over houses in multiple occupation.
3.6 The report acknowledges that many stakeholders consider that the existing initiatives only really deal with the symptoms of HMO problems, but do not deal with the causes. It is also recognised that many stakeholders consider that changes to the Use Classes Order are an essential part of trying to control the growth and location of HMOs in the future, as per the ‘Northern Ireland model’. Nevertheless, it is also recognised that there are counter arguments to the above made by some stakeholders, particularly with
Page 98 regard to avoiding any unintended consequences, such as increasing rents, undermining regeneration and creating resource pressures.
3.7 The report suggests that various actions can be considered in the short term and medium-term to long-term. In the short term, it is suggested that there should be: x Wider dissemination of good practice. x Monitoring of existing housing and planning powers to ensure that they are being adequately used – HMO licensing, Landlord accreditation, dedicated staff and the use of specific development plan policies etc x A Task and Finish Group established by CLG to monitor the impact and effectiveness of current legislative powers and policies, identifying any weaknesses.
3.8 In the medium-term to long-term, should the evidence suggest that there is a need to consider amendments to the Use Classes Order, it is recommended that: x Further examination into Northern Ireland’s experience should be undertaken and an assessment made of how effective the measures have been. x If legislative change is considered, attention must be paid to issues raised by stakeholders, including any unintended consequences, as mentioned above.
4.0 Implications for Council Policy and Governance
4.1 As previously outlined, the majority of the methods of good practice are already adopted by Leeds City Council and other stakeholder organisations. It is argued that these address the symptoms, but do not respond to the structural issues involved with community cohesion and demographic imbalance, which are the result of a high proportion of students. Therefore, the implications of this report for Leeds are associated with continuing to lobby CLG with regard to further designing and testing of any legislative changes as a specific short term action. Subject to any future changes to the Use Classes Order, the Council would need to draw up appropriate and robust development plan Policies to deal with HMO issues. We can of course identify any other areas of good practice that we can learn from and apply within the city.
5.0 Legal and Resource Implications
5.1 It is anticipated that officers, the Community Planner for Inner North West and groups such as the Shared Housing Group, Leeds HMO Lobby and other community organisations will continue to collaborate and assist with sharing good practice, as well as lobbying for legislative change.
6.0 Conclusions
6.1 The role of ECOTEC has been to undertake an evidence gathering exercise for CLG in order to review the problems caused by high concentrations of
Page 99 HMOs. The report distils the issues and provides information on areas of best practice from the localities involved in the focus groups. Whilst the information on areas of good practice is useful, the report cannot go any further than to recommend that further research is carried out in relation to the Northern Ireland experience.
6.2 Leeds is often regarded by other local authorities as being at the forefront of good practice in dealing with the effects of high concentrations of HMOs. Clearly, despite these initiatives, there are still problems and so lobbying for legislative change is an appropriate course of action. Therefore, we must consider if there are any areas of good practice that we can learn from and also continue to lobby CLG, with support from the Core Cities, MPs, the National HMO Lobby and community groups, with regard to changes to the Use Classes Order, whilst being mindful of any unintended consequences.
7.0 Recommendations
7.1 Members are asked to note the contents of the report and comment as they feel appropriate. It is recommended that lobbying of CLG, MPs, the Local Government Association and other appropriate organisations continues in order to advance legislative change. Additionally, it is recommended that consideration be given to reviewing planning policy with regard to HMOs and student accommodation through the emerging Local Development Framework (LDF) process in order to ensure that we have robust policies in place.
Page 100 Appendix A: Good Practice Checklist
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TheCentreforHousingPolicy Telephone:01904321480 UniversityofYork Fax:01904321481 YO105DD Website:http://www.york.ac.uk/chp
Page 114 The private rented sector: its contribution and potential EXCUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
TheReviewoftheprivaterentedsector(PRS)hastakenplaceinthecontextof changeforthesector.ThelongdeclineofthePRShasstartedtoreverse,andthe sectorhasbeguntoincreaseinabsolutesizeandintermsoftheproportionof householdsitaccommodates.
Attentionhasbecomefocussedonthecapacityofthesectortomeetarangeof housingneeds.Atthesametimetherehasbeenacknowledgmentthatthesector presentsanumberofpolicychallengesrelatingtosuchissuesaspropertyquality, managementstandardsandsecurityoftenure.
TheReviewhasaddressedthebroadtermsofreferencesetbyCommunitiesand LocalGovernmentbycompletingtwoprincipaltasks:detailedanalysisoflargeǦ scaledatasets,andanextendedseriesofstakeholdermeetings.Dataanalysishas underlinedthehighlycomplexnatureofthePRSandthestakeholdermeetingshave helpedtoclarifyissuesaroundtheefficacyofexistingpolicyrelatingtoprivate renting,andtheneedforfurtherintervention.
AttheheartoftheReviewisthedesiretoseeprivaterentingasalessmarginal, poorlyǦregarded‘third’optionthatsitsbehindthepreferredtenuresofowner occupationandsocialrenting.TheReviewconcludeswithaseriesof recommendationsonpolicy‘directionsoftravel’thatseektomaximisethefull potentialofthePRSasaflexible,wellǦfunctioningelementofEngland’shousing market.
Contribution
ThefirstsectionoftheReviewdescribesindetailthecompositionofthePRSand thecontributionitmakestothespreadofhousingoptionsinEngland.Intermsof supply,agreatdealofcommentaryhasbecomeattachedtotheimpactonthePRS ofbuyǦtoǦletmortgages,whicharesupposedtohaveledtoaproliferationofnew landlords.However,dataindicatethat46percentofgrossadvancesofbuyǦtoǦlet mortgagesin2007wereremortgages:existinglandlordsweretakingthe
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Page 115 opportunitytorefinancetheirportfoliosonmorefavourableterms.However,the proportionofsmallerlandlordsinthemarkethasgrown,ashasthedegreeof investmentintentamongstalllandlords.
Manypeoplewillhavesomeexperienceofrentingprivatelyduringthecourseof theirlives.Privaterentingoffersamultitudeofrolesinhousingbiographiesacross thewholesocialspectrum,servingasafirstportofcallfornewhouseholds,a‘boltǦ hole’whenhousingcircumstanceschange,astoppingǦoffpointaspeoplechange jobsandmovehouse,and–formanyhouseholds–alongǦtermhome.TwentyǦone percentofprivaterentershadbeenlivingattheircurrentaddressforfiveormore years.However,‘churn’inthePRSishigh,reflectingtheshortǦtermnatureofmany oftheusesofthePRS:40percentofPRShouseholdshadbeenlivingattheir currentaddressforlessthantwelvemonths.
ThePRSiscomplex,andperhapsbestunderstoodthroughmappingitsconstituent nichemarkets.Thesemarketscanbedefinedintermsofdemandandsupply characteristics,distinctiverentalpracticesand–insomecases–specifictypesof centralpolicyinterventionthatshapethewaythesubǦmarketoperates.Policyfor thePRShastotakeintoaccounttheinteractionofthesesubǦmarketsatalocal level.
DistinctsubǦmarketsinclude
y youngprofessionals,whosepresenceinthePRSreflectsacomplexamalgam ofchoiceandconstraint; y students,whoseneedsareincreasinglybeingmetbylarger,branded, institutionallandlords; y thehousingbenefitmarket,wherelandlordandtenantbehaviourislargely framedbyhousingbenefitadministration; y slumrentalsattheverybottomofthePRS,wherelandlordsaccommodate oftenvulnerablehouseholdsinextremelypoorqualityproperty; y tiedhousing,whichisadiminishingsubǦsectornationallybutstillhasan importantroleinsomerurallocations; y highǦincomerenters,oftenincorporatelettings; y immigrantswhosemostimmediateoptionisprivaterenting; y asylumseekers,housedthroughcontractualarrangementswithgovernment agencies; y temporaryaccommodation,financedthroughspecificsubsidyfromthe DepartmentforWorkandPensions;and y regulatedtenancies,whichareadwindlingportionofthemarket.
TheconfigurationofsubǦmarketswillvaryfromareatoarea:evenneighbouring boroughsmayhaveverydissimilarprivaterentalsectors.
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Page 116 Thecomplexityofthesectorhastobeappreciatedinanypolicydevelopment,and underpinsdiscussionoftheobstaclesandissuesthatattachtothePRSfulfillingits potential.
Potential
TheReviewaddressesanumberofareaswherethesectorisreportedlyunderǦ performing.
Deliveringnewandaffordablepropertysupply
Theneedtoaccommodateanincreasingnumberofhouseholdsisaconcernthatis centraltogovernmenthousingpolicy,andattentionhasbeenfocussedonthe growthofthePRS.However,itremainstobeaskedhowfarthesectorhasprovided aframeworkforbringingnewhousingtotherentalmarket,orwhetherits expansionhasbeenlargelyaconsequenceofabsorbingexistingpropertyfromother tenures.Dataonthisissuearenotreadilyforthcoming.Despitethepopular imagery,therearefewdatathatfirmlylinkbuyǦtoǦletmortgageswithnewǦbuild property,althoughthereissomeevidencethatthiskindofmortgageismorelikely tobeusedtopurchasepropertybuiltpostǦ1964.ItispossiblethatwherethePRSis generatingnewproperty,thepropertytendstobeinsubǦmarketswherehighǦ densitybuildisappropriate.ForexampleinthestudentsubǦmarket,institutional investmentsarebringingnewbedspacesthroughthebuildingoflargeprivateǦ sectorhallsofresidence.
Theindustryhasarguedforalterationinplanningregulationsthatwouldactively requireacertainamountofpropertiestobeletontherentalmarket.Thisargument isgenerallyproposedontheunderstandingthatthesectorshould‘grow’,although targetsandobjectivesforthisgrowtharerarelyforthcoming.
Withregardtoaffordability,itcouldbearguedthatthesectorhasbeensuccessfulin meetingthehousingneedsof‘intermediate’households,whoseincomemeansthat theyareunabletoaffordowneroccupation,butwhoarenotinaprioritygroupfor socialhousing.
Securinghigherlevelsofinstitutionalinvestment
Thedesiretosecurehigherlevelsofinstitutionalinvestmentforprivaterentinghas becomeamantraformuchoftheindustry,andhascapturedsupportfromtenant representativespersuadedbytheargumentthatinstitutionallandlordswillbe,
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Page 117 perforce,moreprofessionallandlords.Itisarguedthatthe‘cottageindustry’PRSis volatile,tiedasmuchofitistothemortgagemarketandtothefinancialprobityof individuallandlords,andthereisaneedforabettertaxationvehicletoleverin largerǦscaleinvestmenttothePRS.
Thereisalonghistorytotheattemptsmadetoframetaxationregulationstoeffect largeǦscaleinstitutionalinvestment.TheReviewconcludesthatmuchofthisdebate reflectstheattempttoconstrueresidentiallettingascommercialletting,whenin realitythetwosectorsareverydifferent.Theresidentialmarkethas,atpresent, veryfewlargelandlordsoperatingatascalewheremajorinstitutionalinvestmentis appropriate.Policiesshouldthereforeconcentrateonhelpinggoodlandlordsofall sizestoexpandtheirportfolios.Itisimportantthatthispolicyshouldincludesmaller landlords,sincethelargerlandlordsgenerallygrowthroughportfolioacquisition. Suggestionsincludechangestostampdutyandtocapitalgainstax,toencourage portfoliodevelopment.
TheReviewalsoconcludesthatsmallǦscalelandlordismdoesnotnecessarilymean financialinstability.Dataindicatethatmany‘cottageindustry’landlordsareina goodfinancialsituation:themajorityhavelowloanǦtovalueǦratiosandmanyhave unmortgagedproperties.SmallǦscalelandlordismisalsocharacterisedbyagreat dealofuncosted‘sweatequity’,withlandlordstendingnottofactorintotheirrents theirtimespentmanagingproperty.Largerinstitutionallandlords,bycontrast,have highermanagementcostsandevenwherethereareeconomiesofscale,thesecosts willalwaysconstituteasubstantialproportionofthegrosstonetreductionintheir rentalyield.
‘Professionalising’rentalhousingmanagement
OneofthemorefrequentcriticismsofthePRSrelatestothequalityoflandlord management.However,poormanagementhastobejudgedintermsofintent:very manylandlordsoperateprofessionally,butsomelandlordssimplydonotconsider lettingtobeanactivitythatrequiresregulation,andotherlandlords–averysmall proportion–wilfullyactillegally.Itisnotpossibletojudgehowmanylandlordsfall intothesethreebroadcategories,oreventoestimatetheincidenceofpoor managementpractice.However,threequartersofprivatetenantswereeithervery orfairlysatisfiedwiththeirlandlord.
Marketforcesdonotadequately‘police’managementqualityinthePRS,since thereisanexcessofdemandforrentalpropertyatthebottomofthesector.In general,thetaskofpolicingisspreadamongstanumberofagenciesincluding differentlocalauthorityofficers,otherstatutoryagenciesincludingHMRevenue andCustoms,thepoliceandtheindustryitself.LocalauthorityEnvironmental HealthOfficerscarrytheprincipalresponsibilityforpolicingthesector,butthereis
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Page 118 dissatisfactionwiththelevelofpriorityandthereforeresourcesaffordedthis activitybylocalauthorities.
Anumberofsuggestionshavebeenmadetoincreaselevelsofprofessionalism amongstPRSlandlords.Itisthoughtthatincreasingthenumbersofcorporate landlordsorincreasingtheuseofmanagingagentswouldeffectbetter managementstandards.However,tenantsatisfactionlevelsarenotnecessarily higheramongsttenantsoflargerlandlords.Managingagentsareunregulated,and thereiswidespreaddissatisfactionwiththeirstandards.Indeed,therehavebeen callsformandatorylicensingofthispartofthesector.
Accreditationcarriesthepotentialtoimprovebettermanagementpracticeamongst landlordswhoarealreadyseekingtooperateinaprofessionalfashion.The expansionofaccreditationschemeswouldleadtothepossibilitythatmarket advantagewouldmorereadilyattachtoaccreditation,ashasbeenthecasetosome extentinthestudentrentalsubǦmarket.
CompulsoryregistrationoflandlordshasalreadybeenintroducedinScotland,and therearecallstohavesimilarregulationinEngland.However,theScottish regulationrequireslandlordstomeet‘hurdle’criteria,andthedissatisfactionwith theprocesshasbecomeevidentamongstlandlordssubjecttodelaysinprocessing.
Overall,itisgenerallyconcludedthatapatchworkofpolicingactivityissuitable giventhefracturednatureofhousingsupply,butthecurrentregulatoryframework isnoteffectiveinallowinglocalauthoritiestotargetandsanctionthesmallminority ofwilfullybadlandlords.
Improvingpropertyquality
PropertyconditioninthePRShasbeenimprovingovertime,butisstillworsethan ineithersocialhousingorowneroccupation.Fiftypercentofprivaterented propertyfailedtomeetthenewdecenthomesstandard.Householdsinreceiptofat leastoneofthemainmeansǦtestedbenefitsweremorelikelytoliveinproperties failingtomeetthedecenthomestandardincorporatingthehousinghealthand safetyratingsystem.
Theeconomicsofpoorqualitypropertyisnotwellunderstood.Analysisofrental yieldsindicatesthatyieldsarehigheronpropertyinpoorercondition,although theseyieldsarereducedwhenvoidsandbaddebtbytenantsaretakenintoaccount. However,itisuncertainhowlandlordsformulatetheirstrategiesonrepairsand maintenance:EHCSdataindicatethatexpenditureonpropertyrepairisnot necessarilytargetedonthepropertiesmostinneedofrepair,andlandlordsarenot alwaysknowledgeableaboutwhethertheirpropertiesmeetstatutoryrequirements.
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Page 119 Therearefurtherobstaclestoimprovingpropertystandards.ThePRScontains moreolderstockthanothertenures,andtheaveragecostofrepairstobringunits uptostandardishigherthanforowneroccupationandsocialhousing.Thereis scopeforreviewingtaxationframeworksaroundpropertyimprovementand considertheremovalofanydisincentives:forexample,immediatetaxreliefisnot availableonimprovementworksandlandlordshavetowaituntiltheysellproperty, togainreliefagainstCapitalGainsTax.
Formanycommentators,improvementtopropertystandardswillonlyfollowif thereisanextensiontotheregulatoryregime.Therearesuggestionsthatall propertiesshouldbelicensed.Thismeasurewouldincreasesubstantiallythetaskof policingthesectorbylocalauthoritiesthataresometimesfailingtomeetexisting mandatoryrequirementsundertheHousingAct2004.Thetaskofinspectionand enforcementcouldbeabsorbedbyaccreditationschemes,whichinsomecases havebeensuccessfulinimprovingpropertystandardsinsomesectorsofthe market.Thereisscopeforconsideringanenhancedroleformanagingagents, providedsuchagentsarethemselvesstronglyregulated.Accordingtothe2006 EHCS,41percentofdwellingswherealandlordhadusedanagentwere‘nonǦ decent’.Ifitbecamemandatoryforagentsonlytodealwithpropertiesmeetingthe decenthomesstandard,thenmuchofthetaskofpolicingthewidermarketPRS wouldbeabsorbed.
Afurthersuggestionistheintroductionofcompetitionamongstlandlordsfor tenantsatthebottomendofthesector.Iftenantsonhousingbenefithadaccessto awiderselectionofpropertiesthenlandlordsowningtheveryworstquality accommodationwouldbepushedoutofthemarket.Changestothebenefitregime, tointroduceuniversalassistancewithdepositsandrentinadvance,wouldmean thatmorelandlordswouldbewillingtoaccepttenantsonhousingbenefit.
Providingsustainabletenancies
Securityoftenureisanissuethatiscentraltoanydiscussionofprivaterenting.A numberofcommentatorsconsiderthatthePRSprovidesonlyinsecure,shortǦterm housing:assuredshortholdtenancies(ASTs)meanthattenanciesturnover frequently,andtenantshavelittleprotectionagainstlandlordsseekingeviction.
AnalysisofthePRSfortheReviewhasindicatedthatmanyoftheusesofprivate rentingareessentiallyshortǦterminnature.Thisfactdistortsthedataon‘churn’in thePRS.Somepartsofthesectoraremorestablethanothers.Forhigherincome groups,staysinprivaterentingcanbeforveryshortperiods.ForthelowestǦquartile incomegroup,36percenthadstayedattheircurrentaddressforfiveyearsormore.
Aseriesofchangeshasbeensuggestedtotheexistingtenancyframework.Astrong lobbyhasarisenaroundtheincidenceofsoǦcalled‘retaliatoryeviction’,wherebya
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Page 120 landlordseekstoevicttenantsbecausetheycomplainaboutpropertyrepairs. However,itisdifficulttopinpointevidencethatthispracticeisextensive.The suggestedchange–thattheabilitytoserveas21noticeshouldbeprohibitedto landlordswhohavereceivedacomplaintfromatenant–doesnotnecessarilydeal withwhatisessentialasymptomofverypoorlandlordmanagementpractice.A moreeffectiveapproachmightbetocreateaframeworkwhereitismorelikelythat thiskindoflandlordcanberemovedfromthesectoraltogether.
IthasalsobeenarguedthatASTsmeansthattenanciesareshort,andtenants obligedtomovearound‘everysixmonths’.Dataevidenceindicatesthatjustover halfofASTtenancieslastatleastayear,andafifthlastthreeyearsormore. Nevertheless,tenantsseekingalongǦtermtenancymayfeelthemselvestobe insecureinthePRS.
SimplificationofthelegalarrangementshasbeensuggestedbytheLaw Commission,andthereissomesupportfortheirrecommendationthattenancy agreementsshouldberemodelled,tobecomemoretransparentconsumer contractswheretenancytermsareagreedattheoutsetbetweenlandlordand tenant.Althoughthereiswidesupportforthisprinciple,thereisconcernaboutthe accompanyingproposalthatthesixǦmonth‘moratorium’onevictionofferedbythe currentASTwouldbedropped.
Theindustrygenerallyfavourscontinuationofthecurrenttenancyframework, althoughlandlordsthemselvesoftenfavourtenantsthatseeklongertenancies. However,ASTsremainattractivetolandlordsbecausethiskindoftenancy mitigatestheperceivedriskoflettingtoatenantwhothenfailstopaytherentor damagestheproperty.Formanytenants,anassuredshortholdtenancysuitstheir purposes,sinceonlyashortǦtermstayinaparticularrentedpropertyisgenerally anticipated.Themajorityoftenanciesareendedbythetenantthemselves.
However,problemsariseforthesubstantialproportionofhouseholdsseekinga longerhomeinthetenure.Attentionpaidtothelegalitiesoftenancyagreements hasdistractedattentionfromexploringtheissueofwhytenanciesendagainstthe wishesofthetenant,becauseitisassumedthat–inthePRS–tenanciesgenerally do.Inactuality,tenanciesfailforspecificreasons,suchasrentarrears,poorquality propertymakingatenancyunsustainableandissuesrelatingtoantiǦsocial behaviour.Itisperhapsmoreappropriatetofocuspolicyinterventiononthese reasonsfortenancyfailure,ratherthanonatenancyframeworkthatappears–for themostpart–adequateforpurpose.
Homelessnesspreventionanddischarginghomelessnessduty
Recentyearshaveseentheconvergenceoftwopolicythreads.First,sincethelate 1980stherehavebeenanumberofinitiativesthataimtopreventhomelessness
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Page 121 amongst‘nonǦstatutorily’homelesshouseholdsbyeasingtheiraccesstoprivate sectortenancies.Depositguaranteeschemesareperhapsthemostnotable development.Second,andmorerecently,localauthoritieshavebeenseeking propertiesinthePRStohelpdealwiththeirresponsibilitiestoeligible, unintentionallyhomelesshouseholdsunderhomelessnesslegislation.
ItisoftenarguedthatitisfeasibletoexpectthePRStoexpandtomeetadditional demandforpropertyfromlowincomeand/orhomelesshouseholds.Indeed,the PRShasadistinctivehousingbenefitsubǦmarket.However,therearequestionsthat relatetocapacity.Landlordscanbeveryreluctanttodealwithhouseholdsinreceipt ofhousingbenefit,andasaconsequencethereisasubstantialamountofunmet needforaccommodationinthehousingbenefitsubǦmarketofthePRS.Thelevelof needisevidencedbytherangeofincentivesthathavebeendevelopedto encourageexistinghousingbenefitlandlordstoexpandtheirportfoliosandto inducewiderǦmarketoperatorstoenterthesector.Incentivescanincludeexpensive leasingarrangements,whichtiestatutoryauthoritiesintoarrangementsto guaranteerentalpaymentstolandlordsoverthreeorfiveyears,irrespectiveof whethertheirpropertiesaretenanted.
Furthermore,increaseduseofthePRStoprovidelongǦtermaccommodationfor eligible,unintentionallyhomelesshouseholdswillprobablyimpactonthesupplyof propertytohouseholdsforwhichthereisnosuchresponsibility.Thisgroup– includingforexample,singlepeopleoryoungcoupleswithoutchildren–have alwaysreliedonthePRSastheprincipalsourceofaccommodation.Statutory agencyinterestinthePRSintroducesafurtherlevelofcompetitionforpropertyat thebottomofthesector,particularlyifthoseagenciesintroduceincentivesfor landlordstolettoparticularnominatedhouseholds.
Leavingtoonesidequestionsabouttheabilityofthesectortomeetdemandfor propertyatthelowerendofthePRS,therearequestionsabouttenants’abilityto paythehigherrentsthatarechargedinthesector.OverallinEngland,spendingper recipientonhousingbenefitinthePRSwas£98.51perweek,comparedwith£65.38 perweekwherethetenantwasinalocalauthorityproperty.Furthermore,thereare moreacuteworkdisincentivesoperatingwhereatenantisinreceiptofhousing benefitinthePRS,asahigherincomeisrequiredtoshiftahouseholdoffbenefit dependency.
Inaddition,itcouldbearguedthatatenancyinthePRSwouldnotberegardedby tenantsasahousing‘offer’equivalenttoasocialhousingtenancy.Tenant satisfactionwithsocialhousingcanbelow:forexample,thepresenceofdrug dealersandusers,litterandrubbishinthestreetandtroublesome teenagers/childrenweremorelikelytoberegardedasa‘serious’problembysocial housingtenants.However,theperceivedproblemswithpropertyquality,securityof
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Page 122 tenureandaffordabilityallplayapartinpersuadingtenantsthatthePRSprovides– atbest–aninsecurehome.
Managing‘problem’privaterenting
Anumberoftoolsareavailabletolocalauthoritiestomanagetheincidenceof problemsthatmightemergewherethereareparticularconcentrationsofrental demandinagivenarea,andtheReviewconsideredresponsestostudenthousing, to‘slum’landlordismandtomigrantworkerovercrowding.
Theconcentrationofstudentrentalsinthevicinityofhighereducationinstitutions hasattractedagreatdealofpolicyattention.Itisarguedthatstudentrenting ‘destabilises’communities,‘pricesout’owneroccupiersandfirstǦtimebuyersin particular,andsubjectslongerǦtermresidentstonoiseandrubbishnuisance. However,censusdatademonstratethatintensivestudenthabitationisnot common:therearemorethan8,000wardsinEngland,andofthesejust59had studentdensitieswhereastudenthouseholdreferencepersoncomprisedtenper centormoreofallhouseholdreferencepersonsintheward.
Despitethelowincidenceofthisproblem,lobbyistsseekachangetotheUse ClassesOrder,whichwouldallowlocalauthoritiestoeffecttightercontrolofHMO numbersandsolimitstudenthousingnumbersinagivenarea.However,itcouldbe arguedthatmanyofthe‘housing’problemsbeingdescribedareinfactpolicing issues.ThereisageneralwillingnesstousecriminalsanctiontocontainantiǦsocial behaviourwhenitisconnectedwithdeprivationandsocialexclusiononsocial housingestates.However,thereisanunderstandingthatstudentbehaviour– howeverthreatening,damagingordisruptive–shouldstandoutsidethelaw.In addition,itcouldbearguedthatmuchofthe‘environmental’antiǦsocialbehaviour isadequatelycoveredbyexistingenvironmentalhealthregulations,providinglocal authoritieschoosetoprioritisethisproblem.
Leavingtheseissuestooneside,therehastobea‘commonsense’ acknowledgementthatdemandforpropertyfromstudentsandhighereducation staffwillbeaconsequenceofthepresenceofahighereducationinstitutionina particularlocality.Ifstudentdemandwasnotspatiallyconcentratedinhousesin multipleoccupation,thendemandforpropertywouldbeevenmoreintensive,and students–unabletolivewithinwalkingdistanceoftheirplaceofstudy–wouldseek alternativetransportprovision.Itisperhapsalsoworthrememberingthathigher educationinstitutionsaredeemedtobesobeneficialtothelocaleconomythatthe governmentisseekingtoestablishtwentynewhighereducationcentresasameans ofeffectingarearegenerationandjobcreation.
‘Slum’landlordismisevidentinmanylocalities,wheretheconcentrationofverylow qualityrentalcreatesanareaofhighǦturnovertenancies.Localauthoritiesinsome
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Page 123 areashaveusedselectivelicensingasawayofdealingwiththeseareas.Morecould bedonetoshareexperiencesoftheuseofselectivelicensing,andperhapssome changecouldbemadetotheregulationsto‘uncouple’theprovisionthatthis measureisonlyapplicableinareasoflowdemand.
Formanylocalauthorities,migrantworkerovercrowdinghasbecomeaproblematic featureofthelocalPRS.Thisisparticularlythecasewhenincreasedandintensive demandforrentalpropertyhasbecomeevidentoveraveryshortperiodoftime. Overcrowdingcanleadtopublichealthissues.Problemsinframingappropriate policysolutionsarecompoundedbythefactthatthehousingandlabourmarket linkagescanbecloselyintertwined.Forexample,migrantworkersmightbelivingin tiedaccommodation;theirpresencemightbeverynecessarytoaseasonal economy;andtheworkersthemselvesmightbechoosingtooverǦoccupysoasto minimisetheirhousingcosts.Bestpracticeguidanceappearstobelackingforlocal authoritiesdealingwiththeproblem.
Underlyingmuchofthisdiscussionisdebateonthewaythatlocalauthorities approachthetaskof‘managing’thePRS.Therewasgeneralagreementthat appropriatetoolswereavailable,providingthatlocalauthoritieswereinaposition toresourcePRSǦrelatedactivity.TheAuditCommissioninspectionregimeindicated thatlocalauthoritiesdidnotscorewithregardtotheirPRSresponsibilities.Aimsfor strategicmanagementofthePRStendtobeframedintermsofcontainingdemand forprivaterentedproperty,andassessinghowfarthelocalmarkethadreacheda defined‘tippingpoint’inthenumberofsharedpropertiesinanarea.
Abetterapproachmightbetoassessreasonswhyaparticularareamighthavea highlytransientrentedpopulation.Insomelocations,thetransiencemightsimply reflecttherolesthatthePRSinagivenlocationisplayinginsupportingthelocal labourmarket.Greaterattentionneedstobepaidwherethetransiencereflectsthe inabilityofalowǦincomehouseholdstosettleinthePRS.
Policydirectionsoftravel
Thereportconcludesbyoutliningsixpolicy‘directionsoftravel’.Thesepolicyareas arelargelythematic,andrelatetounderlyingtrendsinthe‘issueǦbased’chaptersof theReviewreport.
First,thereportunderlinestheneedfordevelopmentofasoundevidencebase.A greatdealofpolicyisdevisedonthebasisofpoorǦqualityevidenceproducedby industryortenantlobbygroups.AfirmunderstandingofthePRSandthewayit operatestendstobelackingamongstpolicymakersatanationallevelandofficers implementingpolicyatalocallevel.TransferenceofknowledgeonthePRSispoor acrossgovernmentdepartments,whichisreflectedinalackofcoǦordinationata locallevel.Asapriority,thegovernmentshouldreviewinformationcollected
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Page 124 throughthenationaldatasetstoensurethatmorepertinentquestionsareaskedof landlordsandtenants.
Morepolicyisneededtoencourageabetterunderstandingofmanagingrented housing,amongstlandlordsandmanaging/lettingagentsandamongstlocal authoritiesdevisingstrategiesforaddressingissuesinthePRS.Managingagents shouldbesubjecttomandatoryregulationtoensurebetterqualitymanagement standards,andregisteredsociallandlordsshouldbeencouragedtoenterthe marketplaceandselltheirrentalmanagementskillstoprivatelandlordsand propertyinvestors.
Thegovernmentshoulddeviseinitiativesto‘grow’thebusinessofletting, encouragingsmaller,goodlandlordstoexpandtheirportfoliosandmoveintothe businessoflettingfullǦtime,andhelpinglargercorporatelandlordstoincreasetheir lettingsandsoattracthigherlevelsofinstitutionalinvestment.Changestothetax regimeshouldbeframedtoencouragelandlordstoviewtheirlettingactivityas businessratherthaninvestmentactivity,andbuyǦtoǦletmortgagesshouldbe availablesubjecttobusinessplanningandtheinclusionofstrategiestoprotect tenantsintheeventofadefaultonmortgagepaymentsbythelandlord.
LowǦincomehouseholdsshouldbeabletomakearealchoicebetweenasocialor privatelet.Equalisingtherentalchoiceshouldbetheaimofaseriesofpolicy objectives,toensurethataPRStenancycanbeviewedasbeingequallydesirableby householdswhowouldgenerallylooktothesocialsectorforlongǦtermhousing. TenancysustainabilityshouldbeacorePRSpolicyobjective.Sociallettings agenciescouldbeestablishedtodealwithalltheprivaterentingprocurement requiredbystatutoryagenciesinagivenarea.Theseagenciesshouldchargea standardmanagementfee,andmovethehousingbenefitmarketawayfroma cultureof‘incentiveinflation’.
Theexistingregulatoryframeworkdoesnotoffersufficientsanctionwhere landlordsopenlycontraveneregulations.LightǦtouchlicensingandeffective redresscanencouragelocalauthoritiestotargettheveryworstlandlords,by ensuringthateffectivesanctionsareinplace.Apermitorlicencewouldberequired byalllandlords,butwouldbeavailablewithoutanyhurdlecriteriaonpaymentofa smallfee.Nationallyadministered,thelicencewouldberevokedifthelandlorddid notmeetstatutoryrequirementsonhousingmanagementandquality.Thelicence feeincomewouldfinancetheestablishmentofanaugmentedsystemofhousing redress.
Thereisinsufficientevidencethatexistingtenancyframeworksareproblematic. Manyoftheforegoingmeasureswillleadtoprivatelettingbeingregardedasaless riskyactivitybybothlandlordsandtenants.
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Page 125 Conclusion
ThePRSisakeycomponentofthehousingmarketinEngland.Theflexibilityofthe PRSneedstobeprotected,andpolicyinterventionsshouldflowwiththemarket ratherthanseektochangeitsessentialcharacteristics.
HighǦlevelcoǦordinationofpolicybetweengovernmentdepartmentswould contributetothetaskofframinga‘crossǦdepartmental’cultureforlocalǦlevel interventioninthePRS.AMinisterialstatementofintentwouldhelptounderline theimportanceofthesectortotheoperationofhousingandlabourmarkets,and encouragelocalauthoritiestoseeka‘privaterented’dimensiontoNational Indicators.
UseofthePRStoaccommodatemorehouseholdsonlowincomesmustfollowfrom ratherthandriveinitiativestoimproveprivaterenting:whenthesectorisseenasan affordable,secureenvironmentinwhichtomakealongǦtermhome,therewillbe littleneedtodevisepoliciestoencouragehouseholdsintoprivaterenting.
TheReviewoftheprivaterentedsectorbenefitedsubstantiallyfrombeingan independentexercise.CommunitiesandLocalGovernmentprovidedbroadtermsof reference,butthestructureandfinalconclusionsofthereportremaintheauthors’,as doanyerrorsoromissions.
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Page 127
16 Page 128 Agenda Item 15
Originator: Sarah Charlton
Tel: 3952831
Report of the West North West Area Manager
Inner North West Area Committee
Date: 5th February 2009
Subject: Forum and Sub Group Update Report
Electoral W ards Affected: Specific Implications For:
ALL Equality and Diversity ü
Community Cohesion ü
Ward Members consulted Narrowing the Gap ü (referred to in report)
Council Delegated Executive ü Delegated Executive Function Function available Function not available for for Call In Call In Details set out in the report
Executive Summary
This report provides Members with full minutes from ward forums and sub groups that have taken place since the last Area Committee. It also provides information on future meeting dates for the Committee’s forums and sub groups.
1.0 Background Information
1.1 The following forums and sub groups are covered by this report, with minutes of the meetings appended as shown:
• Children & Young Peoples sub group 17 th December (Appendix 1) • Transport sub group 15 th December ( Appendix 2 ) • Housing Strategy sub group18th November (Appendix 3) • Hyde Park & Woodhouse Forum 26 th November (Appendix 4) • Planning sub group 10 th December (Appendix 5) • Community Safety sub group 3 rd December (Appendix 6) • Students in the community sub group 1 st December (Appendix 7)
Page 129 2.0 Future meeting dates
2.1 The following provides details, where they have been set, of future dates and venues of the Committee’s forums and sub groups:-
• Hyde Park and Woodhouse Forum – date to be confirmed • Kirkstall Burley Forum – 17 th February 2009 • Children and Young People’s sub group – date to be confirmed • Students and the Community – date to be confirmed • Planning sub group – date to be confirmed • Streetscene sub group – 8th January 2009 • Headingley Forum – no date set • Housing Strategy Group – date to be confirmed • Community Safety sub group – date to be confirmed • Central Headingley Strategy Group –date to be confirmed
3.0 Recommendations
3.1 The Area Committee is asked to note the contents of the minutes.
Background reports None
Page 130 Appendix 1
Inner North West Area Committee Children & Young People Sub Group 17 th December 2008 Minutes
Attendance: Action
Councillor Ewens - Chair (PE) Councillor Illingworth (JI) Councillor Bentley (SB) Sarah Charlton, NW Area Management (SC) Suzanne Wainwright, LCC Youth Service (SW) Jane Maxwell, Locality Enabler Children’s Services (JM) Mike Taylor, BMX representative Toby Werhun, BMX representative Lee Mawson, BMX representative
1.0 Minutes of the last meeting 1.1 Agreed as a true record.
2.0 Matters Arising
2.1 All matter arising covered in agenda items.
3.0 BMX Site
3.1 The BMX site that had been set up in Batcliffe Woods has now been closed and the BMX users along with Councillors are keen to see a new one established as soon as possible.
3.2 SC updated the group on the outcome of the LEDA process, which was that some concerns had been raised over the proximity of the proposed BMX track on Dobby Row, Kirkstall to the new A65 bus lane. Cllr Illingworth and the BMX users agreed that as the location was formed as a natural dip in the land that they did not see this as a significant problem.
3.3 The users explained that the usual way for these sites to work is for them to evolve over time creating new and different dirt jumps. There are many other sites outside of Leeds that are well used, one in Cleethorpes was used as an example. Toby Werhun explained that he had a range of information including photographs and film of sites and how they are used.
3.4 SC explained that in order to progress this piece of work she would set up a SC meeting with JM, SW, Phil Staniforth and Development to further discuss. JM noted that Leeds City Councils Executive Board had agreed an approach to risk linked to play which may be useful.
1 Page 131
Key Message – The sub groups supports the further investigation of a BMX/ KEY dirt jump track in Inner North West Leeds. MESSAGE
4.0 Extended Services
4.1 It was agreed that Alison Larkin would be put on the contact list for this SC subgroup.
4.2 Cllr Ewens noted that she was very keen to ensure that children who attend specialist learning centres (SILCS) had extended services provision close to their home and not only at the SILC.
4.3 JM gave the following update on Extended Services: • Lawnswood Hub – have been working with the BEST team and have bought in additional staff and provision for the cluster. • Targeted youth support for 11 – 19 year olds across the area is due to start in January. • Play officer Vicky Marsden has completed an audit of free play provision and has identified Tinshill/ Holt Park and West Park areas as having a lack of provision. ACTION – Invite Vicky to the next meeting. SC
5.0 Service Updates and Ward Issues
5.1 Suzanne Wainwright gave the following Youth Service update: • The Inner North West Area, following a considerable amount of staff movement is now almost fully staffed • Revisit programme has been running successfully, this is a partnership with attendance management and Youth Offending Service. This is a focussed piece of work with young people who are on the verge of exclusion. • Work on youth work volunteering with the Macca mosque is continuing apace. Three of the volunteers have now completed the introduction to youth work course. • A celebration event is being held at the Bangledeshi centre in Harehills which brings together young people from across the city to celebrate diversity. A group of young people from Woodsley Road and the West Park Centre will be attending. • The Friday night project at Holt Park is running successfully but was not getting the older age group young people that it was targeting.
5.2 Cllr Illingworth asked what provision was being made for Cragside recreation ground in the Playing Pitch Strategy. 6.0 Date & Time of Next Meeting
6.1 To be confirmed
2 Page 132 Appendix 2
North West Inner Area Committee Transport Group 15 th December 2008 7.00pm, West Park Centre
Present: Councillor Ben Chastney (Chair), Cllr Penny Ewens, Nicola Price (Area Management), Richard Ellis (LCC, Highways Traffic Management), Lisa Brannan (University of Leeds), Ross Chapman, David Tuck, Doug Kemp, Janet Kemp, Paul Marchant, Chris Spoor, N Ingham, Mike Willison, John Dickinson, Ruth Overy, Paul Jolliffe, Stephen Hammond, Phil Widger and David Lloyd Hughes.
Apologies: Steve Taylor and Andrew Hall (LCC Transport Planning).
Action 1.0 Welcome and Introductions
1.1 Cllr Chastney welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2.0 Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising
2.1 The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as accurate apart from 5.1 that should have read proposed cycle lane and 6.1 was clarified as a Noted correct record of someone’s comment at the meeting.
2.2 Arising from 2.4 – RE reported that Ash Road parking is going to be looked at within the area around Headingley Mount. Noted
2.3 Arising from 6.1 - Cllr C reported that no further meetings have been held with Leeds Met but the group will be kept updated. Noted
3.0 Report on Verges and other items raised at last meeting
3.1 A report containing the information received so far was handed out and NP to send round the rest of the information when received from Highways Maintenance. NP
4.0 Proposed A660 bus lane widening Woodhouse Moor 4.1 Cllr C reported that this item has moved on rapidly since the last meeting and has now been subject to call in. Cllr C explained the procedure of call in for the members of the meeting. To report back at a future meeting. Noted
Area Management Contact: Nicola Price - 395 0976 - [email protected] Page 133 5.0 Butcher Hill report
5.1 Although Cllr Illingworth, who asked for the report to go on the agenda was not in attendance the group felt the report answered the queries raised at the last meeting. Noted
6.0 West Park Parking Scheme Update
6.1 RE update the group on the scheme and confirmed that highways are still addressing the responses that have been received: around 250. They are trying to speak to everyone who has put in a response and as far as possible take their views into account. Noted
RE also reported tat initially an experimental order was used for the yellow lines, which lasts 18 months but this can be changed without a lengthy legal process. Noted
It was agreed a further update would come to a future meeting. Noted
7.0 Any other business
7.1 It was raised that the path down to Headingley Station is overgrown. NP to refer to ginnels team. NP
7.2 An issue was raised with the parking bay at Becketts Park at Batcliffe Mount and Park as when cars are parked there you have to walk on the grass or road. Cllr C to pass on email. Cllr C
7.3 It was agreed the city wide review of resident’s parking would be put on a future meeting. Also RE to find out criteria for resident’s parking. RE Noted/RE also explained that there is no limit to the number of permits one house can have as long as there are that many people living at the address. A number of residents at the meeting felt there should be a limit. It was agreed that Andrew Hall should attend a future meeting to look at the strategy for how this could be resolved. AH
7.4 It was agreed that highways maintenance would be put on a future agenda, all to feed through any other items. All
7.5 A query was raised about new road surfacing but RE clarified that often during the first year new road surfaces have oils on them but they are not unsafe. Noted
7.6 An issue with an unauthorised driveway on the corner of Kipstone Road was raised as it is believed to be dangerous. RE to look into. RE
7.7 A query was also raised about gritting, NP to send out the policy. NP
7.8 A discussion took place on parking on corners and it was clarified that you shouldn’t park within 10m of a junction and if the police think you are causig an obstruction they can give you a ticket. It was raised that on LCC website it says cars can be removed. NP to check. NP
Area Management Contact: Nicola Price - 395 0976 - [email protected] Page 134 8.0 Key Messages
8.1 It was agreed that a copy of the current Inner North West Area Delivery Plan would be sent to the mailing list and they would be involved in updated the current transport section for the next year. NP
8.2 It was agreed that there should be a transport policy for the area. Agreed
8.3 Resident’s parking needs addressing as a whole in the area. Agreed
8.4 Illegal and obstructive parking needs to be enforced more rigorously. Agreed
9.0 Date and time of next meeting
9.1 To be confirmed.
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Page 136 Appendix 3
Housing Strategy Group Meeting
18 th November 2008, 1pm, Civic Hall
Attendees: Cllr Martin Hamilton (Chair) Nicola Price, WNW Area Management, Leeds City Council (LCC) Scott Blakeway, Unipol Richard Tyler, HMO Lobby Huw Jones, Re’new
Apologies: Rachel Unsworth, University of Leeds Jade Corcoran, Development Department, LCC
Action 1.0 Welcome and Introductions
1.1 Cllr Hamilton welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2.0 Background to Group and Strategy
2.1 As there were new members RT explained that the need for a specific Inner North West Housing Strategy had emerged from the local community and it will sit alongside the private rented strategy and student housing strategy.
2.2 The sub-group of the Area Committee was set up, by the Inner North West Area Committee
A seminar was organised last June to brainstorm the issues and 2.3 possible solutions and this has been pulled together by HJ into a strategy. Noted 3.0 Membership and Remit of the Group
3.1 It was agreed that the group should be the steering group for implementing the strategy, although its membership may need to be widened to allow it to do this effectively. Agreed
4.0 Housing Strategy for the Area of Housing Mix
4.1 The group went through the strategy and HJ to do amendments as necessary. HJ also to speak to Lois to make sure the strategy fits with other LCC policies. HJ
5.0 Future Progress
Page 137
5.1 It was agreed the final draft of the strategy should be put on the agenda for the December Inner North West Area Committee for Agreed approval. 5.2 If agreed at Area Committee the next steps are for HJ to devise an HJ action plan for the strategy.
6.0 Time and Date of Next Meeting
6.1 To be confirmed
Page 138
Appendix 4
Hyde Park & Woodhouse Forum
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 26 th November 2008, 7pm Burley Lodge Centre
Present: Cllr Penny Ewens Chair, Ward Member Gwynneth Harrup Groundwork Leeds Joe Ledger Local resident Philippa Denton Leeds University Rowena Collings Leeds University Alex Tyson Local resident Joanne Piddington UNIPOL Josie Green NHPNA Tony Green NHPNA Bill McKinnon Friends of Woodhouse Moor Mercia Southon NHPNA Ben McDougall Leeds Metropolitan Students Union Rob Damiao Leeds University Union Siobhan Thew Leeds Met Leila Hidayat Leeds Met Rose Hampton Leeds University Union Amanda Jackson University of Leeds Mary Walsh Willows Resident Association Isobel Sidebottom NHPNA Officers in Attendance: Nicola Price West North West Area Management Insp Fran Naughton West Yorkshire Police Insp Ian Croft West Yorkshire Police Alan Winterburn Neighbourhoods and Environment, LCC Zahid Butt West North West Area Management
Apologies: J Wood (Head at Little London Primary school), Mr Munny (Leeds Muslim Centre), Carly Grimshaw (WNWHL), Martin Patterson, Sue Buckle, Rita Parker and Jean Crowther.
Action 1.0 Welcome and Introductions
1.1 Cllr Ewens welcomed all to the meeting.
2.0 Minutes of last meeting and matters arising
2.1 The minutes of 18 th September were agreed as a correct record of the meeting, but it should be noted that at 2.1 the graffiti equipment can be borrowed not hired and it should be Janine not Janet McHugh. Noted
Area Management Contact: Nicola Price - 395 0976 - [email protected]
Page 139 2.2 Arising from 3.3 – To note the closure of Meanwood Recycling Centre was for one week only and it now takes tetra packs and aluminium foil. Noted
2.3 Arising from 6.1 – The area covered by the Groundwork Masterplan includes the Holborns, Christophers and Quarries. Noted 3.0 Woodhouse Moor DPPO
3.1 Zahid Butt, Area Community Safety Co-ordinator, attended for this item to update the forum on the DPPO consultation, which is currently in progress. ZB explained that full copies of the proposals can be found on the Intranet and have also been posted up in local shops, libraries etc. Noted
The next stage is for the plans to go to licensing committee, probably in January, and ZB agreed he would accept comments on the proposals until then. Noted
A query was raised about whether a press release had been sent out. ZB confirmed one had; it was published by the Yorkshire Post on 17 th November. Noted
4.0 Woodhouse Moor Improvements
4.1 Phil Staniforth, Parks Senior Area Manager, handed out maps of the proposed improvements to Woodhouse Moor and explained that the improvements would include refurbishing the tennis courts and the installation of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA). The MUGA will include facilities to play basketball, football etc. The refurbishment of the bowls pavilion has already been completed and they are looking at ways to increase its usage. Noted
4.2 PS confirmed that the old tennis courts would be refurbished before the others were turned into the MUGA so there would always be somewhere to play tennis. Cllr E said that she is hopeful that with the new courts a tennis club could be set up. They could also use the changing rooms at the newly furnished bowls pavilion as they would then be near enough. Noted
4.3 PS also confirmed that the new MUGA would be maintained by parks and countryside and that at present there is no notion of applying a charge to use the changing facilities. Noted
4.4 BMcD commented that the plans look really good and would be especially good for those people in the area who don’t have a back garden as it will give them more to do on the Moor. Noted 4.5 PS requested that it either of the universities know of any
Area Management Contact: Nicola Price - 395 0976 - [email protected]
Page 140 groups that would like to use the pavilion could they let him BMcD know. NP to pass on PS contact details. /RD
5.0 Woodsley Road Town Centre Plans
5.1 Cllr E reported that although it was taken off the list for town and district centre funding we are looking at what can be done to improve it, including festive lighting. This will hopefully attract people to using the centre, including students who live in the halls near by. Noted
5.2 Regarding parking scheme Cllr E reported that Cliff Road is out for consultation and Woodsley Road is being promoted as a priority. Noted
The 56 route is also having a number of markings put down to make it easier for the bus to get down. Noted
It was agreed that highways would be put on the next agenda for discussion. Agreed
6.0 Neighbourhood Policing Team
6.1 Insp Naughton and Insp Croft attended the meeting on behalf of the Neighbourhood Policing Team. They confirmed that parking is a large problem in the area and the police are happy to give tickets to cars that are causing obstructions, but obviously it needs balancing with other operational needs. Noted
6.2 20 extra police and the ANPR were in Woodhouse Street last week undertaking an operation and 15 vehicles were clamped, 19 people were arrested. Noted
6.3 A cannabis farm has also been found in Woodsley Road after a fire had started. If anyone has suspicions of something similar near them they should contact the NPT who will check it out. Noted
6.4 Starting this week the police are also doing property marking in the Hyde Park area and talking to residents about remembering to keep windows and doors locked and to use timer switches. Noted
6.5 Despite fears being raised due to the stabbing of a student robberies in the area have not increased but forum advised not to talk on the phone when walking or walk on Woodhouse Ridge in the dark. Insp N to pass further details to RD for Insp N website.
6.6 SB from UNIPOL reported that they are also now able to distribute messages and UNIPOL also now attend the community safety Multi-Agency Tasking meetings and run
Area Management Contact: Nicola Price - 395 0976 - [email protected]
Page 141 victim support sessions. Their code review will be going out for consultation in April when a draft is ready. Noted
7.0 AOB and Key Messages for Inner Area Committee
7.1 RD updated the meeting on Leeds University Union key issues. They have received a number of complaints regarding leaves and slippy pavements, the house hunting period starts 10 th January and so talks for first years on living in the community are starting and a new community guide being produced. Noted
They also offer a contract checking service and last year checked over 4000 for students renting houses. Noted
RD to let Cllr E have the email address of the person dealing with deposits this year as Cllr E reported she always gets a lot of queries. RD
They are also currently lobbying central government to get the ceiling on deposit schemes to be raised above £25k as when there Are a large number of students in a house this is not high enough. Noted
Students are also advised to take photos of the house before they move in and take an inventory of property to safeguard themselves when they move out. Noted
7.2 BMcD reported that Leeds Met are also undertaking talks in student halls, giving advice etc. To email BMcD is there is anything you would like to be included in the guide next year. All
7.3 BM reported that there is a problem with leaves on Cardigan Road and Springfield Terrace and the ginnel from Hyde Park to Meanwood needs clearing. NP to pass through to Streetscene for action. NP
7.4 SB offered to give an update of housing demand in Leeds at the next meeting and this suggestion was well received by the forum. SB
7.5 It was also agreed that a key message is on parking and that it should be discussed at the next forum. NP
7.6 A discussion took place on the bylaw regarding barbeques on Woodhouse Moor as it was suggested this could only take place in a designated camping area. Below is an extract from LCC bylaws for pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces that were agreed by Exec Board on 2 nd Sept 2008.
Area Management Contact: Nicola Price - 395 0976 - [email protected]
Page 142 Fires 11. (1) No person shall light a fire or place, throw or drop a lighted match or any other thing likely to cause a fire. (2) Byelaw 11(1) shall not apply to: (a) the lighting of a fire at any event for which the Council has given permission that fires may be lit; or (b) the lighting or use, in such a manner as to safeguard against damage or danger to any person, of a properly constructed barbecue, in a designated area for barbecues.
7.7 Cllr E’s commended the police on their swift action when a parking offence had been committed that meant buses could not get through. Noted
8.0 Date of Next Meeting and Suggestions for Agenda
8.1 The next meeting date to be confirmed.
Area Management Contact: Nicola Price - 395 0976 - [email protected]
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Page 144 Appendix 5 PLANNING GROUP 10 th December 2008 (9:00 – 10:00) Civic Hall
MINUTES
Present: Cllr J Monaghan (Chair) Hyde Park and Woodhouse Cllr S Bentley Weetwood Freda Matthews Hyde Park and Woodhouse Resident Rep. Richard Tyler Headingley Resident Rep. Ken Torode Kirkstall Resident Representative
Officer(s) in Jade Corcoran Community Planner Attendance Guest Speakers Mike Ralph (Planner) Modus David Skidmore (Architect & Director)
Action 1. Apologises & Minutes (Including Matters Arising) 1.1. Apologies from David Hall 1.2. Item 6.1 – This key message was delivered to Area Committee in November. 1.3. Item 6.2 – This key message is to be held until the matter has been discussed at the next meeting in January.
2. Civic Quarter Campus Presentation by Modus 2.1. Representatives from Modus, Mike Ralph (MR) and David Skidmore (DS), gave a presentation to the group regarding their proposal for the Civic Quarter. MR introduced Modus as a developer investor, which is a company that tends to keep developments/projects long term. Modus is made up of employees with different skills and expertise. In the past Modus has tended to focus on mixed use projects that consist of retail, leisure, residential, and employment. Over the last two years the company have looked to other opportunities that include cultural, civic, and education. 2.2. RT – Ownership detail? DS – Block A (where the hoardings are) is owned outright, and Modus has a contract with Leeds Met for the rest of the site. As the University vacates different sections Modus will take over and ownership will be transfered. JM – Has the details of the project altered since the presentation to Central Plans Panel? DS – Yes, the project has moved on as Modus are still gathering fed back and reacting to that. 2.3. The Civic Quarter is flanked by Portland Way, Woodhouse Lane, Clarendon Way, and the Inner Ring Road. The learning centre is the only building in this area that is not incorporated within the
Page 145 project. Planning Permission is being sought for a master plan to allow for a phased development. Leeds Met is to vacant the site over a two to three year time period. The first phase of development is to demolish block A and develop the site; the second phase involves demolishing block F approximately two years in; the third phase is to come on line after 3 years and involves blocks D, G, and H; the fourth phase involves retaining and refurbishing block C. The development is to be education focused but will incorporate other uses. 2.4. ‘Leeds Innovation Zone’ is the development concept, which links into education (retaining knowledge), commercial enterprise (ancillary retail, leisure), healthcare (campus doctors surgery), and student accommodation. Mix and blend of development relates to the planning policies associated with the area. 2.5. The massing of the development will step up as the site moves up from the Ring Road. Phase one will incorporate commercial space/hotel and education facilities. The quantum of space is still to be determined with Leeds Met. Phase two is to consist of business/health care – dialogue with Uni, as they may utilize existing facilities instead of investing in this development. Phase three will be concerned with building 1000 rooms of accommodation – the ground floor of the development is likely to be ancillary accommodation. Phase four involves retaining and refurbishing the existing building (building C) – this is still under negotiation as Leeds Met is not committing to relocate. 2.6. The key issues with Planning Services are: scale (lower at the bottom of the site), permeability, and boundary treatments/landscaping. The buildings involved with phase two and three are not set inline within one another to avoid a wall to the Ring Road. Tree removal is proposed, however, this intended to be off set by a high quality landscape scheme and public realm. 2.7. Public space – retention of existing landscape character (retention of significant mature trees), informal green space, visual linkage to university, and informal civic gathering space. 2.8. SB – How dominate are the building sited at the top of the slope going to be? How many stories? DS – The height of the buildings haven’t been confirmed yet. However, covered arcades (feature of Leeds) are to be introduced to break up the blocks. FM – The bridge across Woodhouse Lane into Little Woodhouse is the gateway between this residential area and the city. This bridge is an eyesore, what design measures are going into the proposed footbridge from the development to the University Campus. DS – We are intending to sue a flat fo rm approach rather than a bridge. SB – What are your proposals for parking? What happens here will impact upon outer areas. DS – Parking will bring forward commercial benefits, so phase three may incorporate a multi- storey car park. However, this maybe a competing interest with LCC policies on parking in the City centre. RT – If Boddington’s falls through with the University will the student accommodation you are proposing still be progressed? DS – Student accommodation on this site would still be viable and would work
Page 146 well with the rest of the scheme.
3. Neighbourhood Design Statements update 3.1. JC reported that the Kirkstall Vision group have held four workshop sessions. These sessions looked at what local residents like about Kirkstall now and how their area should be shaped over the next 15-20 years. The first and last workshops were well attended and will be valuable within the analysis stage. 3.2. FM informed the group that the Little Woodhouse NDS had been taken to a Christmas Fare, which proved successful. In addition to this, the NDS was taken to the Little Woodhouse Neighbours Association AGM. FM has also spoken to those that live in the Marlboroughs and offered to take the exhibition to them. 3.3. RT is in dialogue with Tony Ray. They are due to meet shortly.
4. Significant Applications/Appeals 4.1. Leeds Girls High School Update There is not any new information with regards to this application.
4.2. Tetley Hall Update The position of this application has not altered, and there has not been any new information recievd from wither the applicant or consultees.
4.6. The Former Glassworks Appeal The appeal was dismissed due to the poor quality of the design and the impact that a high concentration of students would have on neighbouring residential amenity.
5. AOB 5.1. FM would like deserted sites to be a future agenda item. 5.2. RT raised an interest in discussing S106 agreements and how the community can become more involved with them.
6. Key Message for Area Committee 6.1. None
7. Date & Time of Next Meeting 7.1. Wednesday 14 th January 2009 – 9:00 (Civic Hall)
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Page 148 Appendix 6
Neighbourhoods & Housing
Inner Community Safety Sub Group 3rd December 2008, Civic Hall
Present : Cllr Bentley (chair), Zahid Butt, Tony Edwards (youth Service), Sgt Jessop (Police), Narinder Matharu (ASBU)
Apologies: Cllr Matthews, Insp Naughton, Insp Croft, Cllr Atha, Mark Hall, Suzanne Wainwright
Action Matters Arising
Correction of minutes from 23 rd October – page 2 Youth Service Noted volunteers at Makkah Mosque should read 3 volunteers not 2 as stated.
PAYP (Positive Activities for Young People) lack of funding for North Noted West. No key worker for the area results in low numbers of referrals – which is one of the criteria. Issue about how crime is recorded in North West and whether the young people element is recorded in offences accurately. Key message: - we are concerned that we have discovered that we do Key Message not have a key worker for North West, although there is one for Hyde Park and Woodhouse ward, this means that the funding is not coming into Inner North West.
A Community Safety Event was held in a school, with Safer Leeds getting feedback from the children about their crime experiences and views on crime. We would like a similar event for North West. Zahid to contact Safer Leeds.
1 Page 149 1.0 Update from Police
Operation Cleansweep underway, aims to execute outstanding warrants Noted and keep victims informed of results with personal visits. 19 arrests made recently during this initiative.
Small rise in burglary in Becketts Park and Escorts. The majority of burglaries continue to be walkins through unlocked doors and windows. Knowledge campaign is now in full swing with students volunteers assisting.
Cycle theft an issue for both Universities. A suspect has recently been arrested and Police are working with CASAC and security from both Universities to address this problem. Use of CCTV proving useful and CASAC are providing locks and alarms.
Robbery has experienced a slight increase on Meanwood Road, targeting students. Flyers sent to all residents, working with North East Division and Universities to address this.
Little London drugs enforcement work has proved successful with significant arrests, disruptions and positive feedback from resident groups. This links well with Youth Service plans to work with young people and groups in the area. The initiative has drawn down £6,000 of funds from the Intensive Neighbourhood Management Project and West North West Homes and used the funds to target plain clothes operations in the area, additional to regular Policing for the area. Some Police funds have also been used in the area, making the funds go further. However, the funds are due to come to an end soon and the challenge will be how this work is sustained. 12 Injunctions secured against drug users are proving effective as no arrests have been needed and resident feedback has stated that the injunctions are being adhered to. Councillor Bentley suggested looking at Area Committee funds to help support this work next year.
Safety Arches have been used in Headingley with no knives found. This shows that it knife crime is still a rarity in North West and this initiative has had the full support of Headingley Pubwatch.
Congratulations to PC Robinson in finding a cannabis factory.
2 Page 150 2.0 Youth Service
Weapons awareness training is being undertaken for all Youth Workers and Managers.
£2,000 of funding has been secured for Revizit in Inner North West. The programme will run for 10 weeks and work on a voluntary basis with 12 young people 13+. The programme addresses behaviour with a core group of professionals working with the group.
Operation Champion and Action Days need some leaflets aimed at young people. This is a gap which needs addressing. The material should be in medium which appeals to young people. ASBU have an ASB session which they undertake at the local school for Operation Champion – Youth Service are welcome to tap into this. ZB to speak to University and Safer Leeds.
The full management team are now in place for Inner North West. There are some gaps at Youth Worker level and these will be filled through a rolling recruitment programme. There are 74 hours left for Inner North west.
Mobile delivery sessions have been increased by 3 extra lunchtime sessions in Lawnswood and some evening sessions.
Get Involved Event planned in Little London on Saturday 10 th January, 5- 9pm. The event is a consultation event based at the COmmunity Centre and will include techno, dance and mixing sessions to help facilitate this.
The Blackman Lane Muga will be lit on some evenings as the pilot lighting initiative has proved successful. This will mean that football and other events could be held there.
Explorer is a 23 week course with a certificate at the end – Sgt Ian Poskitt is leadingon this.
3 Page 151 ASBU
Narinder to chase up PAYP figures and circulate.
ASB victim packs are now personally delivered and discussed with victims. Councillor Bentley pointed out that many ASB cases escalate from low level ASB not being addressed – eg doors slamming, dogs barking / fouling. Some of these cases go on for years with no outcomes. People keep filling diaries out for years.
Narinder stated that she hoped this was addressed and that her staff would do all they can to move cases forward to successful outcomes. There were some restrictions when cases were word against word, but agencies are working much closer together and we can draw on partner agencies to resolve cases, eg noise nuisance monitoring equipment, covert cameras, etc.
There are 4 open cases and 18 with Legal. Of these 18, 12 are the Little London injunctions.
A new piece of legislation came into force on 1 st December 2008 which allows the closure of premises for ASB. The legislation applies to all tenures and South Leeds used this power in a one of their recent cases.
3.0 CASAC
398 properties have had anti climb paint applied to their properties. The project is funded through wellbeing and is concentrating on the Harolds and Thornevilles and will now move to the Brudenells. Window restricters are also offered for lower level windows.
Cops is a visual audit project profiling things which could contribute to crime or something which could generate a crime in an area. For example overgrown bushes, graffiti, open doors / windows could contribute to a crime being committed and a laptop in a car could generate a crime. The project was trailed in the Ash Road area and has proved successful with only 2 burglaries in the area. Partners involved in this project include Safer Leeds, Leeds Federated, CASAC, Police and Wardens.
Cacoon target hardening now being undertaken with other properties in the street target hardened as research shows that burglars will come back to the street.
UPVC Euro Cyclinder locks are still being targeted. These locks used on PVC doors and 80% referrals are currently for this type of vulnerability.
Visor guards are also proving popular as this stops people putting hands through letterboxes to get at locks or keys.
4 Page 152 8.0 AOB
none
9.0 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
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Page 154 Appendix 7
North West Inner Area Committee Students in the Community Group 1st December 2008, 2.30pm, Civic Hall
Present: Cllr . Monaghan, Headingley (Chair) Nicola Price, WNW Area Management Cllr. Ewens, Hyde Park and Woodhouse Rob Damiao, Leeds University Students’ Union Amanda Jackson, University of Leeds Ben McDougall, Leeds Metropolitan Students’ Union Carole Munsey, West Yorkshire Police Scott Blakeway, UNIPOL Barrie Payne, HMO Lobby Cllr. Bentley, Weetwood Victoria Whalley, Environmental Action Team Rachel Charlton, Recycling Education Awareness Chris Firth, Environmental Services Linda Sherwood, Housing Licensing Manager
Action 1.0 Welcome and Introductions
1.1 Councillor Monaghan welcomed representatives to the meeting. Apologies were noted from Isobel Swift, David Collett, Gill Niven, Rachel McCormick, Zahid Butt, Ruth Lees, Martin Stanniforth and P Stephenson. Noted
2.0 Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising
2.1 The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as an accurate record.
2.2 To note Rob’s name should be spelt Damiao
3.0 Review of fresher’s week, inc recommendations for next year
3.1 Each organisation was requested to give a brief update on how they found the 2008 fresher’s period.
3.2 Inner North West Area Committee – § Cllr Monaghan reported that he thought the period had been better than other years. There was however a problem with the bins Noted being emptied. CF reported they should have been emptied on the Saturday. It was agreed that it would be useful if one vehicle could be designated to the area on the Sunday’s during fresher’s week. CF to look into. CF § Cllr Bentley reported she had not received any complaints about noise or asb but the main problem in the Weetwood area is
Area Management Contact: Nicola Price - 395 0976 - [email protected] Page 155 parking around Leeds Met campus. CF reported there are also problems with them parking on corners and the refuse vans can’t get through. CM to request PCSOs to look out for and action where necessary. BMcD reported there is a scheme where CM civilians are trained to give parking tickets, to get info to NP. BMcD § A discussion was had about the need for a park and ride at Boddington Hall, it was agreed this should be recorded as a key Key message. Message
3.3 Leeds Metropolitan University Union – Ben McDougall § BMcD reported he also thought it went well from what he saw. Noted § To note Leeds Met are doing a survey early next year on how students travel to uni, to bring results to meeting when done. BMcD
3.4 Environmental Action Team – Victoria Whalley § VW reported that the EAT had issued 40 fixed penalty notices, had given out a prosecution for the monster truck on the first day, carried out duty of care inspections on takeaways and subsequently issued 34 sec 47 notices regarding incorrectly contained waste. This work was carried out by a team of up to 6 offices working on a rota every day and EAT felt this had had a positive impact on the area. Noted § The flyer consent scheme is now in its third year and is also seeing results as most people did have the proper authority. Noted
3.5 Recycling Education and Awareness – Rachel Charlton § RC reported that she had attended most of the fresher’s fairs, although she had had some problems in containing halls of residence. AJ/CM to pass through contact details for all halls of residence. AJ/CM
3.6 Streetscene Services – Chris Firth § CF explained he had taken over the area the week before fresher’s week and that although it was felt it went well they could do with more flyer bins next year as some went missing. Noted
3.7 Leeds Accredited Landlords – Linda Sherwood § LS reported that there had been mixed response as to whether it had been better or worse this year. LS requested that landlords be able to dispose of beds/fridges/mattress’ etc at the household waste sites. CF advised the problem is that the tips aren’t licensed. NP to check out further details and also see whether we NP can extend the amnesty to two weeks.
3.8 Local Residents § BP reported he had been away until the Sunday but had had reports from his neighbours that the situation was better over the changeover weekend but since then the situation got worse. BP had no sleep for two nights with the anti-social behaviour including kicking off wing mirrors and paint being poured on cars and has been abused twice. The situation has now quietened down though and there were less incidences with fireworks than previously. Noted
3.9 West Yorkshire Police – Carole Munsey § CM reported no incidences had been passed through for action Area Management Contact: Nicola Price - 395 0976 - [email protected] Page 156 and Operation Walksafe went well. CM to get asb/criminal damages figures for period and pass through to NP. CM
3.10 UNIPOL – Scott Blakeway § SB reported that UNIPOL have distributed the Little London Woodhouse tenants guide, funded by Park Lane and Liberty to all tenants. SB
3.11 Leeds University Union (including Green Streets project) – Rob Damiao § RD reported that 380 fridge magnets and the community guides have been delivered. 100 bikes have also been given out to students for the year under the Velocampus scheme, the scheme was so successful it will hopefully be expanded next year. Noted
4.0 Planning for 2009
4.1 All to send NP a list of what actions already go on to add to plan. All
4.2 Student Changeover Project proposal Leeds University Union – Isobel Smith was unfortunately off sick but NP to email round when received and any comments can be fed back to RD. NP/All
4.3 It was agreed that planning for the changeover needs to be done earlier this year and messages need to start going out from 1 st Noted March.
4.4 The community guide is being updated and if anyone has any items they would like to go in please email RD at [email protected] . When complete RD to send draft guide out for comment. All/RD
4.5 To note house hunting starts in 10/1/09 this year and talks for those in halls are being held again.
4.6 AJ raised the issue that there is no way of knowing whether noise nuisance calls involve students and from what university they are from. NP to pick up with noise nuisance team. NP
4.7 Streetscene have agreed that Green Streets can be paid for every ton of waste they save going to landfill. NP to confirm the amount they would receive and send to RD. NP
5.0 Any Other Business
5.1 It was agreed that Park Lane college and the College of Art and Technology would be invited to the next meeting. NP
5.2 Cllr Ewens reported that there were a number of students at the last Hyde Park and Woodhouse forum, which was good to see. Noted
6.0 Date and time of next meeting
6.1 Date of next meeting to be confirmed.
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Hawksworth Wood Primary School, Cragside Walk, Leeds 5.
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