Proposals to designate the Scholes Conservation Area

CGS: Scholes Lodge

CGS: Scholes Methodist Church

Parts of a village with a history dating back to medieval and Roman times could soon become a conservation area.

People from Scholes are being asked what they think about proposals for a conservation area in their village, including what they think is special about their village and how it could be enhanced.

The conservation area safeguards the special architectural and historic character of the village and protects important buildings from demolition.

The village of Scholes dates from at least the 13th century, when it is first documented, but there is evidence of human activity in the area dating back to Roman and even prehistoric times. There are also archaeological remains from a medieval moated manor house.

The proposed conservation area would include the historic core along Main Street, and important features such as the Methodist church, the site of the former moated manor house and St Philip’s Church.

A conservation area appraisal and management plan will be produced to ensure the special interest of the conservation area is documented.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council executive board member for economy and development said:

“Despite the long and important history of Scholes and its historic architecture, there is currently no conservation area in the village. These proposals will help safeguard the buildings, architecture and character which makes Scholes special and preserve it for future generations.

“ Awarding an area conservation status is an important step and the opinions of local people are a key part of this process. We want to hear from them about what they value “

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For media enquiries, please contact:

Annie Goodyear, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3937

Email: anniegoodyear@leeds.gov.uk

Roadworks close parts of The Headrow

Parts of The Headrow in Leeds are to be closed for resurfacing.

Work will begin next Monday (February 13th) to repair the damaged road surface on the westbound side of The Headrow between Vicar Lane and Briggate. The road will be closed 24 hours a day for two weeks.

There will be a contraflow in operation for westbound traffic and eastbound traffic will be diverted.

When this is completed, work will start on resurfacing the junctions between the Headrow and Vicar Lane and the Headrow and New Briggate. This will be carried out over four nights and road closures and diversions will be in place

Information signs have been placed on site advising motorists of the road works and possible delays.

Details of how bus services are affected will be posted at stops and shown on yournextbus real-time display screens, and there are details in the Bus Alerts section, which can be found in a red box on every page of the Metro website at http://www.wymetro.com/.

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For media enquiries, please contact;
Annie Goodyear, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3937
Email: anniegoodyear@leeds.gov.uk

Leeds streets ahead on jubilee party plans

Leeds City Council is waiving road closure charges on residential streets for diamond jubilee street parties this year. But council officers are urging anyone planning a street party to apply for a road closure as early as possible.

For practical and safety reasons the council says that, where possible, people should hold their parties in a hall, park or garden. But for those deciding to go ahead with a street party the council has published useful guidelines.

Before applying to close a street, organisers should make sure they have the support of all homeowners and any businesses which might be affected. They should think about whether to make alternative arrangements for parking, consider the needs of pedestrians and ensure there is emergency access.

If the street is on a bus route then this needs more detailed consideration and council officers will discuss it with bus operators. Barbecues are not allowed on the road and householders are being encouraged to think ahead about how they will dispose of any rubbish after the event.

Anyone planning to sell alcohol at a street party will need to apply  for a licence. Live entertainment or pre-recorded music may also require a licence.

Any damage to the highway or private property will have to be paid for by the party organisers so the council is recommending that all organisers take out public liability insurance up to £2million.

Cllr Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy and development, said:

“The diamond jubilee is a once in a lifetime event and we want people to have a wonderful and memorable day. That’s why we are not charging for road closures on residential streets.

“But it is important that if people are thinking of holding a street party they contact us as soon as possible so we can help them to ensure they have everything they need in place well beforehand.”

To request a residential street party road closure application form contact: Traffic Engineering, Highway Services, Selectapost 6, Ring Road, Middleton, Leeds LS10 4AX; telephone 0113 222 4444 or email highways@leeds.gov.uk. Or for an informal discussion call Howard Claxton, on 0113 395 0851. Completed application forms must be returned at least 21 days before the event.

For information on licensing for alcohol or regulated entertainment contact Leeds City Council’s licensing section on 0113 247 4095 or email entertainment.licensing@leeds.gov.uk
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For media enquiries, please contact;
Annie Goodyear, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3937
Email: anniegoodyear@leeds.gov.uk

A local account of adult social care services in Leeds

The first Leeds Local Account will be presented to the council’s executive board later this week. This is a detailed report on how the council is performing in its duty to provide care, support and protection for the most vulnerable people in the city.

From 2012/13, all local authorities with social care responsibilities will be required by the government to produce a reader-friendly, annual local account. These replace the Care Quality Commission’s Annual Performance Assessments, which ceased to take place in 2010.

The local account for Leeds is called ‘Living life your own way’ and has four sections reporting on:

• The quality of social care in Leeds;

• How the council is using its resources and responding to challenges;

• Plans for the future development of adult social services in the city; and

• Information about the people who are being supported by adult social care services, and the type of support they receive.

One of the highlights of this year’s report is confirmation that satisfaction with adult social care services in Leeds is improving. A high percentage of service users said that their personal needs are being met, and they have no concerns about their personal safety. There has been an increase in home care service user’s satisfaction and a 49% reduction in complaints about home care since October 2008. More people’s needs were assessed and delivered within 28 days, and more adults with learning disabilities were in paid employment in Leeds in 2010/11 than the average for similar sized councils.

The report also highlights areas where further improvement is needed. Twenty five percent of service users feel that they do not have enough control over their daily lives; some people don’t find it easy to find out about and access adult social care services in Leeds; some people have complained about delays and changes to services; concerns have been raised about how we consult with existing service users; and our target to reduce the number of older people admitted to care homes in 2010/11 was not achieved.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, executive board member with responsibility for adult health and social care said:
“People in Leeds have a right to know how the council is doing in relation to providing care, support and protection for the city’s most vulnerable people. The Leeds Local Account does exactly this, as well as giving details of what we have achieved over the past year and what our priorities are for the years ahead.

“This report is compelling evidence that social care in Leeds is working effectively to help people live the lives that they want, and that it is flexible and able to offer support to match the unique circumstances of each individual.

“We want Leeds to be the best city in the UK, offering the best health and wellbeing to its citizens, and we know that further improvements are needed in order to achieve this. Ensuring that high quality adult social care is available for those that need it is a key priority for this council.”

Sandie Keene, director of adult social services in Leeds said:
“The publication of the Leeds Local Account gives us the perfect opportunity to tell people what we will be doing over the next three years to ensure better lives for people in Leeds.

“Our three key priorities are aimed at making Leeds a place where people are supported to have better lives. We intend to achieve this through a powerful mixture of enterprise and integration, and working even more closely with health and other service providers to create an adult social care sector that is varied, accessible to all and fit for purpose for the future.”

The council’s three key priorities for adult social care services over the next three years are:

Better lives through enterprise - encouraging existing and new kinds of enterprise to develop in the Leeds care market, including private enterprise, co-operatives, user-led services, staff buyouts and a vibrant voluntary and faith sector.

Better lives through housing, care and support - working in partnership with the public, private and third sector to create different types of housing with support suited to and adaptable for people’s changing needs.

Better lives through integrated services - a range of closely integrated adult social care and health services to deliver a more positive experience to people being supported in older age, illness or disability.

It is anticipated that demand for high quality social care will continue to grow in the future. This is due to an expected rise in the number of older and learning disabled people in Leeds, increased expectations and aspirations of people with social care needs that want to live safer, independent and more fulfilling lives, and growing demand for easier access and greater choice and control over social care.
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Additional info
Local accounts will provide a detailed description of social care services plus an explanation of progress being made in achieving objectives. They also outline areas and priorities for improvement and development over the coming year. Local accounts produced this year are viewed as a ‘practice run’ for local authorities, before they become mandatory next year.

For media enquiries, please contact;
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk