Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 219 KBVenue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR
Contact: Andy Booth, 0113 3788665
Link: to View Meeting Recording
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Appeals against refusal of inspection of documents To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an appeal the press and public will be excluded).
(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)
Minutes: There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents. |
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Exempt Information - possible exclusion of the press and public 1 To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.
2 To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.
3 If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-
RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-
Minutes: There were no resolutions to exclude the public. |
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Late items To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration
(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)
Minutes: There were no late items. |
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Declaration of Interests To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Apologies for absence To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting. Minutes: Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors A Carter, S Golton and W Kidger.
Councillor R Finnigan was in attendance as substitute.
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Minutes of the last meeting To receive and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7th February 2024 Minutes: RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on the Wednesday, 7 February be approved as a correct record. |
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Matters arising from the Minutes Minutes: Further to Minute No. 28, Approval of Pay Policy Statement 2024/25, the following information had been provided to Members with regard to employer contributions to the pension scheme.
As the scheme is funded at c. 113%, we understand that the district finance directors have raised this with the fund in their private conversations. The fund director has responded that funding levels won’t be considered again until the next actuarial review period (March 2026). As such the issue has not been progressed or raised at any formal meeting/committee either in Leeds or at WYPF.
The current rates are set for both employees and the employer in the pension regulations and therefore cannot be changed. Regulation 9 in relation to employee contributions and regulation 67 in relation to the employers contribution, sets out the basis of the contributions (see below).
Leeds City Council received notification from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund confirming the employer contribution rates from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2026. Finance have confirmed the employer contribution rates included in the budget for 24/25 are increasing by .1% from 15.7% to 15.8% and this is confirmed in the budget papers.
Regulations – for information
Regulation 9 (1) – Subject to regulation 10 (temporary reduction in contributions (50/50) scheme)), an active member must pay contributions to the scheme in respect of an employment at the contribution rate applicable to the annual pensionable pay that member is receiving in the pay period in which 1st April falls for that employment (or in the case of an active member whose membership commences after 1st April in any year, on the annual pensionable pay the member receives at the commencement of that membership)
Regulation 67 (1) – A Scheme employer must contribute to the appropriate fund in each year covered by a rates and adjustment certificate under regulation 62 (actuarial variations of pension funds) or 64 (circumstances in which revised actuarial valuations and certificates must be obtained) the amount appropriate for that authority as calculated in accordance with the certificate and paragraph (4)
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Review of the Constitution Minutes: The report of the City Solicitor sought agreement from the General Purposes Committee about the detailed amendments falling within the agreed scope of the review of the Constitution. The details relate to amendments to Part 2 Article 13 of the Constitution and Part 4 (b) the Executive and Decision Making Rules.
The recommended option for change is considered the most appropriate in responding to the drivers for the review, having considered a wide range of options, having done extensive engagement and benchmarking work. It will strike a reasonable balance between speeding up decision making, reducing bureaucracy and resource required, retaining openness and engagement with the public and being in line with statutory requirements.
In addition, the report also updated the Committee about changes to the Contract Procedure Rules (Part 4(h)) which are to be approved by the Chief Finance Officer under delegated powers.
In response to a question, it was confirmed that there would not be any changes to call-in requirements.
RESOLVED:
(i) Agree in principle the proposals set out in paragraph 3.7 (ii) Not the proposal to amend the Contract Procedure Rules at Part 4 (h) of the Constitution; and (iii) Recommend to Full Council that it (a) Approves the amendments to Part 2 Article 13 (Decision making) attached as Appendix 2; and (b) Approves the amendments to Part 4 (b) (Executive and Dceision Making Rules) attached as Appendix 3.
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