By John Baron
Councillors representing ‘outer’ west Leeds have awarded grants worth thousands of pounds to ‘in bloom’ groups, Christmas light switch ons and youth activities – but have warned a reduced budget will affect which initiatives they support in future.
Members of the outer west community committee – who represent Calverley & Farsley, Pudfsey and Farnley & Wortley wards – heard they faced around a 10% cut in the amount of funding they receive from Leeds City Council.
Meeting chair Councillor Amanda Carter (Cons Calverley & Farsley) said the cut affected all community committees across the city
“we know we will have to make a cut in what we are able to spend,” she added.
Members of the Outer West Community Committee met at Farnley Hall today (Tuesday) to decide the applications or ring fence funding from the 2023-24 financial year, after deferring decisions at last month’s meeting due to uncertainty over the budget.
Some applications were awarded grants less than originally requested due to the budget cuts.
Here’s a list of the applications they considered from Calverley & Farsley, Pudsey and Farnley & Wortley wards:
Calverley in Bloom – £5,500
To plant and maintain the village’s floral displays.
Farsley in Bloom – £3,049
New Farnley in Bloom – £1,000
Pudsey in Bloom – £5,001
Tyersal and New Farnley parks worker – £15,570
Staff member will cut grass, prune, litter pick, remove fly tipping. inspect play equipment and maintain the parkland. Councillors will approach the parks department to see if the grant total can be reduced to last year’s levels.
Pudsey Adult Band Project – £2,950
Participants will be able to take part in creating music by either forming a band or having the chance to learn about electronic music such as; DJing, Launchpads, and Ableton software.
Pudsey Carnival – £2,600
To support the annual parade and carnival at Queens Park.
Farnley Football Project – £1,000
Targeting young people on Bawns and Heights estates.
Rock up to do a mock up project (Pudsey) – £12,000
Funding will allow the project to continue working with young people aged 13-18, to reduce the numbers of young people not in education employment or training. Engaging with young people ninth community.
Mini Summer Sports Programme 2023 – £720
Sport sessions across the Farsley, Calverley, Pudsey Wards (Hainsworth Park, Calverley Park, Swinnow Moor and Farnley Rec) – but councillors said they may need to look at other venues if existing ones aren’t popular.
Farnley Youth Project – £2,500
Weekly structured activities to young people around subjects such as health and wellbeing, cooking, relationships, self-confidence, crime and anti-social behaviour, community, internet safety, life skills, arts and crafts and careers.
Farsley & Calverley transition group – £1,530
To develop youth provision in the ward.
Summer Holiday Targeted Provision – Outer West – £1,440
To enable some of the hardest to reach and vulnerable young people to access positive activities.
Pudsey Youth Cafe – £4,120
The group runs each Wednesday evening from 6.30pm–8pm and is a safe space in Pudsey where young people can gain a positive social experience. It was suggested that the organisers look into running half term events in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour in the town.
Breeze in the Park 2023 – £11,400
The grant will be used to deliver summer Breeze in the Park events in Farnley Hall Park, Hainsworth Park in Farsley, and Queens Park, Pudsey. Councillors agreed the expenditure in principle but will ask organisers whether it’s possible too run a series of mini-Breeze events in parks in more areas across the three wards.
Dance Action Zone Leeds in Farnley/Wortley – £3,331
Creating a dance program in school holidays.
The committee also approved ring-fencing funds for Calverley and Farsley Christmas Lights (£6,959), £12,000 towards CCTV schemes, £7,699 to Pudsey Christmas Lights, and £1,840 for Rodley Christmas Lights.
They also agreed a further £4,450 for Farsley Festival – although councillors want to see Love Farsley’s accounts before agreeing a final amount – and £2,592 for Outer West Easter Holiday Activity Days 2024.
A £1,218.70 award for Pudsey Park Weekend Littering to employ additional litter picking over town summer weekends in Pudsey Park was deferred for further information, as was £6,600 for activities at West Leeds Activity Centre.
The Outer West Community Committee, which met at Farnley Hall, is made up of all nine councillors from the Calverley & Farsley, Pudsey and Farnley & Wortley wards. It consists of five Conservative councillors, two Green and two Labour.
The full agenda can be read in full here.
WLD has been chronicling local cuts in our Cutswatch series here.
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