Leeds council chiefs to discuss flood defences and policing

The executive board will receive an updated report on the effects of the Boxing Day flooding, which will reveal that a staggering 3,396 homes and businesses in the city were either directly flooded or affected by Storm Eva. These included 391 houses, 2,320 flats, 678 businesses and seven others such as churches and sports clubs.

The panel will hear that £1.4m of funding support has already been given to flood hit homes and businesses in Leeds since the Boxing Day deluge.

LEEDS’S FIVE YEAR WAIT FOR ‘ADEQUATE’ FLOOD DEFENCES

Also being put to senior councillors today is the latest on a proposed shake-up of the numbers of police community support officers pounding the streets of Leeds.

As reported last week, under funding reforms agreed between police and council chiefs, the number of minimum civilian officers per neighbourhood could be cut, but they could be increased in crime hotspots. The plan, to be rubber-stamped today, has led to claims that some communities could be left without enough feet on the ground.

It follows months of speculation about a possible slash in overall PCSO numbers in the wake of Government funding cuts,

SHAKE-UP OF LEEDS PCSO NUMBERS

The creation of a council-run lettings agency - which could help the city clamp down on rogue landlords - is also being detailed by decision-makers today.

The council is looking to set up its own agency alongside other proposals to improve housing conditions in the private rented sector.

BAD LANDLORDS ARE TARGET OF NEW SCHEME

The panel will also hear what is being done to ensure a major new regeneration scheme in the south of the city lives up to its billing as one of Europe’s largest up and coming urban expansion plans.

Members will be asked to approve the start of a six week public consultation on a new supplementary planning document for the Holbeck Urbna Village masterplan.

If approved, the document will aim to further boost the regeneration of one of the city’s most historic areas.

Also on the agenda for the 1pm meeting at Leeds Civic Hall today is the latest on the city’s school places expansion programme and new measures to tackle health inequalities.

See a full report of the meeting in tomorrow’s Yorkshire Evening Post. Follow live updates on Twitter by following @AishaIqbalYEP.