Household bin collections. Photo: John Baron/westleedsdispatch.com
Bin collection dates have been announced in Leeds for Christmas 2021.
Due to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, Leeds City Council will collect everyone’s bins a day early the week before Christmas, starting on Sunday, 19 December.
Council chiefs say the majority of householders’ collection days will not change between Christmas and New Year, it will just be those who were due a collection on Saturday, 1 January who will receive a collection a day later, on Sunday, 2 January.
A council spokesperson said:
“These date changes will ensure everyone receives their usual number of collections over the full festive period.
“The key message is: your bin collection day the week before Christmas will be a day early this year, so don’t forget to put your bin out a day early.
“Christmas is always our busiest time of year and we usually see a big increase in cardboard, paper and plastic recycling. This year we’ve again highlighted the wide range of common household items that can go in the green bin. We’ve also added some festive recycling tips and a reminder that people can recycle their empty bottles and jars at one of the 700 recycling banks across the city and donate any unwanted gifts in our recycling centre charity containers.”
For more useful information please see the links below:
Sharing useful hints and tips on how to recycle more at Leeds RecyclesFacebookor Twitter
Never miss a bin collection day by downloading the free Leeds Bins App fromGoogle Playor Apple Store
A public consultation event into the future of a West Leeds church – and plans to transform it into a community facility – has been held.
As previously reported, the Church of England is proposing to close the Church of the Venerable Bede, off Cockshott Lane and Green Lane, saying the place of worship is no longer viable.
An engagement day at the church saw church officials on hand to answer queries and point people on how to contribute to the formal consultation on the future of the building.
Attendees also met representatives of Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL), who outlined their vision of transforming the building into a community space led by young people offering activities for people of all ages in West Leeds.
The upper floor could become a conference and events space for up to 500 people, along with a smaller quiet/contemplative/meeting space for up to 15 people. The lower floor could have a ‘funky’ cafe with wifi and computer access, events space, a meeting room and creative spaces for small business development.
Longer term plans include greening the building to reduce costs and emissions and developing the events space into a local theatre/gig/cinema venue.
Although the building would be run by VAL, activities would be steered by a group of residents called the Venerable Bede Development Group to ensure the activities provided are ones wanted by the community.
Posting on Facebook, Cllr Lou Cunningham (Lab, Armley) said:
“It was good to see that lots of people had taken part in the community engagement at the Venerable Bede church.”
VAL is a charity that supports communities by helping people and organisations that do good in Leeds.
A consultation document says Venerable Bede was part of the review of inner West Leeds parishes conducted with clergy and lay readers from July 2018 to July 2019. The incumbent clergy had originally raised serious doubts about the viability of the church and the parish in 2016, and the review concluded that his doubts were justified.
The report adds that the former Diocesan Buildings for Mission Officer has worked closely with the parish and community on the nearby Wyther Park estate with a view to the church becoming a community hub.
“This is seen as the only community facility for the Wyther estate, and there are signs of growing community use which will give a sustainable future to the building,” the report concludes.
A video has highlighted the progress on roadworks being carried out at the busy junction of the A647 and Ledgard Way in Armley.
Put together by council highways officers, the video highlights the changes the scheme – which is part of a major £20m project to reduce bus journey times along the A647 – will bring for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians
Work at the junction will continue until February 2022 and work on the A647 project as a whole will run until summer next year.
Watch the video here for full details of the changes:
West Leeds residents are invited to a ‘woolly winter walk’ along a section of the Leeds and Liverpool canal from Kirkstall Forge to Leeds Industrial Museum.
Along the route, walkers will find around 500 vouchers for random acts of kindness.
After a short walk to Kirkstall Brewery Bridge, these vouchers can then be exchanged for a handmade knitted or crocheted festive tree decoration. Attendees will also be joined by carol singers.
Along the way, people are being encouraged to stop by Kirkstall Locks to visit the wonderful winter wonderland yarn bombing created by Kirkstall-based Hookers and Clickers charity group.
The event, organised by the Canal & Rivers Trust, runs between 11am-2pm on Saturday, 11 December.
People are being encouraged to walk in their own time and at their own pace.
The top of Kirkstall Abbey pokes out from behind the trees. Photo: MARK STEVENSON
Words: John Baron
People living outside of Leeds could be charged £8 to visit Kirkstall Abbey under new proposals to generate revenue for cash-strapped Leeds City Council.
The proposals, which are due to go before the decision-making executive board next week, would see the council make an extra £160,000 per year from April 2022.
There are also plans to relocate the café from Abbey House Museum to the visitor centre at Kirkstall Abbey with the aim of making an additional £90,000 per year from 2023.
The cafe at Abbey House Museum would be relocated. Photo: Welcome to Yorkshire
A report to be considered by councillors says Leeds residents would be required to show proof of address to enter the Abbey for free. Non-Leeds residents would have to pay £8, which will cover free return visits within 12 months. There is no mention of any fees for concessions in the report.
On the relocation of the cafe, the report adds:
“The café relocation anticipates that turnover will increase as an aspirational café location is created within the Rose Room within the Abbey grounds and overlooking the river.”
The report says the existing café space at Abbey House Museum could be used for functions, events, and school visits, retaining some catering functionality.
Detailed estimates for the cost of these changes and consideration of the works are being obtained. Some costs would be supported from Arts Council England commercial development funding.
The report adds that a public consultation would be carried out on the proposal ahead of any final decision.
The Kirkstall Abbey moves are part of an ‘invest to save’ initiative at the council. Other proposals to be considered by executive board include a review of adult social work provision and investing in two pilot projects to save £3.6m over three years.
WLDreported yesterday that Leeds City Council’s budget is expected to increase next year for the first time in over a decade, but cuts to services would still have to be made.
The amount of money raised via council tax and business rates, along with an extra Government grant, looks set to increase council spending power in 2022/23 by £86.2m, and could result in an increase of more than 100 jobs.
But due partly to increasing costs, the authority still has to find an extra £20m worth of cuts in the coming months, with another council tax increase of just under two per cent. The leader of Leeds City Council warned that, despite the increases in funding, money would still have to be stretched further than ever before.
The busy bridge at Wyther Lane/Amen Corner has finally reopened to traffic – after first being scheduled to re-open back in October.
The historic canal bridge had been closed to traffic since July initially to allow owners the Canal and River Trust to carry out permanent repair work following a car crash which badly damaged part of the bridge back in March.
Damaged: The Wyther Lane Bridge was damaged earlier this year. Photo: Paul Chatterton
Contractors missed three potential re-opening dates, amid concerns from local residents about traffic congestion in the area, especially Broad Lane, and rat running and speeding down residential streets.
Armley councillor Lou Cunningham announced the bridge would re-open this morning. She said:
“Armley councillors have been informed that the new traffic signals will be live this morning and the bridge will be opened.
“Thank you all for your patience with this work scheme.”
On Monday, 15 March, a car crashed into the bridge and destroyed some of it, sparking concerns over road safety from local residents and drivers and a subsequent 691-name petition for safety improvements.
Work to the bridge includes the installation of traffic signals to make it safer for users.
Residents took to social media to express their relief. One person said:
“So much quicker (and safer!) to get through now – yay!”
Another said:
“Thanks, it is much better especially that old narrow path. I am glad it has been widened, I was really anxious as the cars were right at the side of me.”
And another added:
“Just seen cars are back to going over the bridge. Great news for the surrounding streets.”
Leeds City Council’s budget is expected to increase next year for the first time in over a decade, but cuts to services still have to be made, according to the authority’s leadership.
The amount of money raised via council tax and business rates, along with an extra Government grant, looks set to increase council spending power in 2022/23 by £86.2m, and could result in an increase of more than 100 jobs.
But due partly to increasing costs, the authority still has to find an extra £20m worth of cuts in the coming months, with another council tax increase of just under two per cent.
The leader of Leeds City Council warned that, despite the increases in funding, money would still have to be stretched further than ever before.
The news follows the council’s medium-term financial strategy, released this year, which identified a £65.4m cut for the coming year. Since then, the council says it has already agreed £42.9m of measures to plug the gap have already been agreed.
A report, set to go before Leeds City Council’s decision-making executive board next week, shows the Government is set to increase the authority’s revenue support grant by £9m, to £37.4m.
But it was in council tax and business rates that LCC is expected to make the biggest gains.
The report stated: “There has been a partial recovery in the council tax base as levels of council tax support required have decreased and growth in the tax base has increased as the impact of Covid lessens. The total contribution of council tax to the net revenue budget is projected to increase by £23.9m in 2022/23.
“Business rates income has partially recovered in 2021/22, mainly due to the reduction in extended reliefs introduced in 2020/21 as a response to the Covid-19 crisis.”
It later added that the extra funding from business rates is expected to provide an extra £53.24m for council coffers next year.
This is expected to result in a net increase of 122 full time equivalent job posts at the authority when compared with the 2021/22 budget.
However, all of the extra funding is expected to be swallowed up by cost increases, totalling £93.1m. The biggest factors being staff pay inflation (£14.3m) and paying off debts and interest (£30.4m).
When added to other cost pressures, it leaves the council with a budget gap of £20.5m. It plans to find £17.7m of this from “directorate savings” (cuts to services) and £2.7m in “procurement savings” (cuts to money spent paying third parties to carry out work).
It also includes a proposed council tax increase of 1.99 per cent.
Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor James Lewis said:
“As the figures clearly show, we are facing another very challenging year ahead in Leeds, especially with the increasing pressure on local residents through council tax needing to be stretched to cover more services, especially those in adult social care where we have significant demand.
“As a city, Leeds and its residents continue to show remarkable resilience in adapting to the changes in all our lives caused by Covid-19, and we continue to be especially grateful for all our frontline and key workers, especially those in health roles in keeping us safe.
“I am confident we can continue to rise to the challenge through working together, continuing to be ambitious, and showing compassion especially for our most vulnerable residents in the months ahead.”
The report will be discussed by Leeds City Council’s executive board on Wednesday, December 15.
Farnley residents are being urged to get involved at their local community centre, as its new chairman outlined ambitious plans to put it back at the heart of their community.
Peter Allison is the new chairman of Old Farnley and District Community Association – and says he is teeming with ideas on how to ensure the centre is better used by a raft of services and events in the future.
At the centre of his vision, Mr Allison, of Tong Road, is looking at a first-floor extension to accommodate two offices and to rearrange the existing facilities at the centre. Ideas for the centre could include services like a community library.
Mr Allison and the centre’s committee, which includes a number of new members, have already been speaking to organisations like Barca-Leeds, the local food bank, police and Money Buddies about running services in the centre. Future ideas surround increasing digital inclusion.
“We’re trying to put it back into the heart of the community,” said Mr Allison. “We want to get the centre buzzing again.”
More immediate plan includes a Santa’s sleigh drive on December 16 and 17, in a home made sleigh which will go across both Farnley and Wortley communities.
It’s hoped that new sessions will run alongside existing favourites like the Monday luncheon club, Tuesday bingo and Friday coffee morning. A Christmas party will be held at the community centre, featuring a grotto, tombola, music and refreshments on Saturday, 18 December from 11am:
Mr Allison, a former retail electrician who earlier this year set up the successful Farnley & Wortley Litter Pickers group, has been involved at the centre for the past four years, and has run a boxerclass session there.
Other new committee members include Ros Amato, Tara Garside, Julie Hindle and Chris Fletcher.
Anyone wanting to help out at the centre, volunteer at any of the sessions or who have any fresh ideas is welcome to get involved. More details from the centre’s Facebook group, or pick up a slip from the centre itself.
A Farsley care home closed due to council budget cuts could be used for police dog training in the short term, a councillor has claimed.
The decision by the authority to close two care homes – Richmond House in Farsley and Home Lea House in Rothwell – was made back in February, and is expected to save the cash-strapped authority just over £1.5m.
But Councillor Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley and Farsley) has reacted angrily to Leeds City Council’s decision to put Richmond House onto the void property list.
Cllr Carter said:
“The council are obviously intent on the closure and disposal of the home. It’s a tragic mistake particularly when the building should and could be saved. We know that bed spaces are likely to be needed over the winter, Covid is far from defeated and this can only be viewed as extremely short-sighted.
“We have now been asked, as local ward councillors, to agree for the building to be used by West Yorkshire Police as a dog training facility in the short term until the council demolish it, but this closure is a disgraceful stain on those who proposed it and those who voted for it.
“As this winter progresses and the need for more bed space becomes apparent, they should not be allowed to forget this decision. Local residents have every right when they see the amount of money wasted by the council to wonder where their priorities lie!
“What I want to see for this site now – if its reinstatement is inevitable – is for it to be developed as sheltered housing for the elderly, as a small extension to the Dawson’s Corner scheme, which is adjacent.”
Opposition councillors have previously claimed money should be found elsewhere to keep the homes open, with many criticising the council’s decision to spend £10m on its 2023 cultural events programme.
But Labour councillors have hit back, saying there is less demand for these kind of services and highlighted Government funding cuts. Since 2010 the council’s annual core settlement funding from the government has reduced by £263m (or 60 per cent), and it also follows on from the requirement to deliver £56.1m of savings in the current financial year.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson today told WLD:
“We are committed to providing high-quality residential homes and supporting vulnerable people. Unfortunately Richmond House no longer met our standards. People who need rehabilitation can receive this support in any of our three Recovery Hubs, which are run in partnership with Leeds Community Healthcare Trust.
“The council is exploring alternative uses for the site and the local community will be consulted on any future development proposals.
“We are mindful about the impact of disused buildings on local communities and we will therefore be working hard to ensure it remains secure and that a redevelopment scheme is brought forward quickly or the existing building is demolished at an early stage.”
Richmond House was a 20-bed residential service in Farsley. It offered short-term care and support to people who require convalescence following a hospital admission. Council officers said average occupancy since 2018/19 was 55 per cent and its gross budget was £742,000.
Leeds Civic Hall. Photo: John Baron/westleedsdispatch.com
Burley Conservative Club’s application to allow members of the public – as well as club members – to use the club’ facilities has been approved by councillors.
The application to replace the club’s existing premises certificate was considered by members of the licensing sub committee at Leeds Civic Hall.
Their decision will allow the club to change the way it operates and allow members of the public (in addition to club members, associate members and their guests) to use the facilities without the need to apply for Temporary Event Notices.
The application had attracted one objection from a nearby resident, on the grounds of noise and public nuisance. A video had captured drinking, shouting and singing from an area outside the club, on Bankfield Gardens.
The objector told the meeting that he did not want the club to shut down but did not want the residents to be subjected to noise while its patrons were using the outside area.
Paul Owen, representing Burley Conservative Club, said committee members felt that the video wasn’t representative of how the club operates and had been unaware of any problems. He also said the club has a premises certificate and committee members were surprised when they learnt that they were in breach of their licence by allowing drinking outside.
Mr Owen said the club had acted as good citizens and had a good track record, but recognised that outside drinking had caused noise and had put measures in place to reduce it. He stressed that the club did not open until 3pm.
Councillors approved the premises licence as requested, but added additional conditions to ensure the external area is not used for the consumption of alcohol, other drinks and food beyond 10pm.
They also said the external area should be used in a manner which does not cause disturbance to nearby residents and businesses and that all empty glasses and glass receptacles should be cleared from external areas regularly throughout the day.
The existing club premises certificate authorises the supply of alcohol Sunday to Thursday, from 9am to midnight, and Friday and Saturday 9am to 1pm. The application did not seek to extend the hours of opening or entertainment.
Leeds City Council saw a decrease of almost two thirds in its income from parking charges in the past two years, new figures have revealed.
It shows the extent not only of the Covid-19 pandemic, but also on the authority’s attempts to boost its flagging city centre economy during the summer of 2020.
The data was released by Leeds City Council via the Datamill North data processing service.
The total amount of money raised by the council via parking charges in the 2018/19 municipal year – the last to have been unaffected by Covid-19 – was £11.89m.
Compared with the amount raised during the latest 2020/21 period – £4.1m – this shows a decrease of almost £8m.
During that time, the amount of money taken by pay and display meters in the city reduced from £9.2m to just under £3m.
Leeds City Council suspended all of its parking charges when the UK went into lockdown at the end of March 2020, and the city’s council-run car park remained free to use until July 4 that year, when Covid restrictions were eased.
The council also offered discounted parking when the charges were reintroduced, in an attempt to boost the city’s economy post-lockdown.
According to Leeds City Council, parking prices in the city centre currently vary from £1.30 for two hours (Kirkstall Road car park) to £5.20 for two hours (on street parking in the central zone). A car can be parked for up to seven days in Woodhouse Lane Multi-Storey for £48.
