By John Baron
Cash-strapped council chiefs are set to axe the Inner West Community Committee in a bid to save money.
The committee, which makes decisions about services and priorities for the local area, is made up of nine councillors – three each from the Armley, Bramley & Stanningley and Kirkstall wards.
But a report to senior councillors at next week’s executive board meeting outlines proposals to reduce the number of community committees across Leeds from ten to eight.
It’s hoped the move will save £243,000 annually.
Both Armley and Kirkstall wards will form a new Inner South West Community Committee alongside Beeston & Holbeck and Hunslet & Riverside wards.
And Bramley & Stanningley ward will move into Outer West Community Committee, joining the existing three wards of Calverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley, and Pudsey. Horsforth is part of the Outer North West Community Committee.
A council report said: “Due to the pressures on council budgets and the need for all services to consider savings options this proposal was brought forward to deliver required savings, whilst protecting the overall integrity of the Community Committee arrangements which have served us well for a long period of time.
“It was felt that a move from ten to eight committees is manageable and could be done concurrently with the ongoing community committee review, which has identified opportunities to work more effectively, and better engage with local people.
“This will enable them to continue to support all the residents of Leeds, in a more effective and efficient way.”
The committees will continue to meet four times a year.
The proposed ward make up of the eight new Community Committee geographies are:
- Inner East: Burmantofts & Richmond Hill; Gipton & Harehills, Killingbeck & Seacroft and Roundhay.
- Outer East: Crossgates & Whinmoor; Temple Newsam; Kippax & Methley; and Garforth & Swillington.
- Inner South West: Beeston & Holbeck, Hunslet & Riverside, Armley and Kirkstall.
- Outer South: Morley North, Morley South, Ardsley & Robin Hood, Rothwell, andMiddleton.
- Inner North: Headingley & Hyde Park, Little London & Woodhouse, Chapel Allerton andMoortown.
- Outer North East: Alwoodley; Harewood, Wetherby and Adel & Wharfedale.
- Outer West: Calverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley, Pudsey and Bramley &Stanningley.
- Outer North West: Guiseley & Rawdon, Otley & Yeadon, Horsforth and Weetwood.
The full council report can be read in full here (item number 14).
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The Committee was made up of 9 Councillors and 9 Co-Opted Members representing the local community. The Co-Optees always seemed to get forgotten but hey, that’s ok, no need to thank me for my 20 years unpaid service.