The Inner South West Community Committee met to discuss and approve funding for a number of local projects using the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital (CRIS) Budget, and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Budget for 2025-2026. The committee also discussed concerns about the use of CCTV cameras in the area and agreed to invite representatives from West Yorkshire Police and Leedswatch to a future meeting.

Finance Report

The committee received an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund (YAF), Capital (CRIS) Budget, and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Budget for 2025-2026. They approved a number of grant applications, including:

• £9,420 from CIL funds for Beeston & Holbeck Festive Lights, following an offer from Beeston in Bloom to provide a Christmas tree.
• £8,852 from the Wellbeing Fund for Hunslet & Riverside Festive Lights, with the condition that the organisation should contribute in future years.
• £2,000 from the Wellbeing Fund for the Lantern Festival in LS11, with the understanding that funding from the Community Committee could not be guaranteed annually.
• £1,125 from the Wellbeing Fund for a Wellbeing Project by Asha Neighbourhood Project, with £1,000 allocated to Beeston & Holbeck and £125 to Armley.
• £800 from Capital Funds for Hunslet Clean Up Equipment for the Hunslet Tenants & Residents Association.
• £2,543 from CIL funds for Armley Festive Lights.
• £3,000 from CIL funds for Kirkstall Festive Lights.
• £11,150 from CIL funds for Kirkstall Benches and Bins.

CCTV Usage

Members raised concerns that the number of times CCTV cameras in the Inner South West area had been accessed for information or evidence had dropped significantly since 2023-24. They requested that Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Chair of Community Committee Inner South West, write to West Yorkshire Police to ask them to attend a meeting to discuss this issue. The Locality Officer said that she would provide information to Armley and Kirkstall members on the use of CCTV in their wards.

Members recalled a visit to Leedswatch¹ where they were told that the CCTV was used specifically by the police. They also raised concerns about a lack of resources within the Neighbourhood Policing Team, which had led to instances not being followed up properly.

The committee decided to invite representatives from the Police and Leedswatch to the next Community Committee meeting in November. Councillor Iqbal offered to raise questions on behalf of the committee at a meeting between Leedswatch and Community Committee Chairs on 8 October, if members contacted him with their concerns.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 4 November 2025 at 5.30pm. The agenda would include the Forward Plan 2025-26, providing an update on the work carried out by the Service Delivery Groups.