Decision details

On 12^th December 2014, the Leeds City Region Leaders’ Board (LCR LB) resolved to recommend the dissolution of the LCR LB with effect from 31st March 2015. It also recommended to LCR authorities that in the event of this dissolution, a Business Rates Joint Committee be established comprising the contributory authorities of the Business Rates Pool. As such, this Key Decision will look to provide Executive Board with the opportunity toestablish a Business Rates Joint Committee and to make minor consequential amendments to the associated Pooling Agreement.

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report which sought approval to appoint the Leader of Council to a new joint committee in relation to the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool, with such a joint committee consisting of the Leader of each Pool authority. In addition, the report also sought approval of the new governance arrangements for the Business Rates Pool and to also provide the City Solicitor with the necessary delegated authority to seek the agreement of the other six members of the Pool to such arrangements.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given to the Leader of the Council being appointed to a new joint committee in relation to the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool, from 1st April 2015 until the 2016 Annual Meeting; with such a joint committee consisting of the Leader of each Pool authority, and with the terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report;

(b)  That the revised governance agreement for the Business Rates Pool, as set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report, be approved;

(c)  That the necessary authority be delegated to the City Solicitor to seek the formal agreement of the other six Pool members to the new arrangements.

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from Call In if it is considered that any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the public’s interests. As such it was determined that the resolutions relating to this report were exempt from the Call In process given that the new Joint Committee needed to be in place in order to ensure the continuation of the Pool for the start of new financial year)

The changes are designed to ensure the continuation of the LCR Pool and are essentially administrative in nature. They are being considered independently by the other six LCR Pool members and no further consultation is considered appropriate.

None.