Agenda and minutes

a)  The Lord Mayor reported the recent death of Honorary Alderman Peggy White CBE, and Council stood in silent tribute.

b)  The Lord Mayor congratulated the following who were honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List:-

·  Professor Nicola Cullum - Dames Commander OBE

·  Linda Pollard  – CBE

·  Geoffrey Lister – CBE

·  Tina Brown – MBE

·  Peter Latham – MBE

·  Mrs Quirk – MBE

·  Rosalind Adrianna – MBE

·  Sarah Williams – MBE

·  Pauline Gavin – OBE

c)  The Lord Mayor informed Council that he had recently received a letter of thanks from the Rifles who had recently marched through the City.    

To confirm the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 20^th May 2013.

It was moved by Councillor G Harper, seconded by Councillor G Latty and

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th May 2013 be approved.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no communications.

Four deputations were admitted to the meeting and addressed Council, as follows:-

1)  Hands Off Our Homes regarding spare bedrooms in Council homes.

2)  Save Primrose Hill Care Home Campaign regarding Primrose Hill Care Home.

3)  Morley Against Reckless Construction (MARC) regarding the proposed building of 8,000+ homes in the Morley area.

4)  Families of residents of Manorfield House Residential Home in Horsforth regarding possible closure.

RESOLVED –That the subject matter in respect of the deputations be referred to the Executive Board for consideration.

That the report of the City Solicitor on appointments be approved.

  G HARPER

It was moved by Councillor G Harper, seconded by Councillor Nash and

RESOLVED – That the report of the City Solicitor on appointments be noted.

That the report of the City Solicitor presenting the Scrutiny Boards’ Annual report to Council, prepared in accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution, be approved. 

P GRUEN

It was moved by Councillor P Gruen, seconded by Councillor G Harper and

RESOLVED – That the report of the City Solicitor, presenting the Scrutiny Board’s Annual Report to Council, prepared in accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution, be received and noted.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development regarding the Submission of the Transport and Works Act Order Application for the New Generation Transport (NGT) Scheme following consideration of this matter by Executive Board on the 13^th March 2013.

  K WAKEFIELD

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor G Harper and

RESOLVED -

a)  That the joint promotion with the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive of an order made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 for the purposes of and in connection with the construction and operation of a trolley vehicle system in the city of Leeds comprising a northern route running from the city centre through Headingley to a park and ride site at Bodington and on to Holt Park, and a southern route running from the city centre to a park and ride site at Stourton; and to make provision in the city for the stopping up or diversion of existing rights of way, traffic regulation, street works, the construction of stops along the route, park and ride facilities, other associated and consequential works, the compulsory purchase of land and rights in land, the use of land permanently, the temporary possession of land and other works and provisions necessary for the purposes of, or for purposes ancillary to, the construction or operation of the trolley vehicle system be authorised;

b)  That subject to the above, the necessary authority be delegated to the Director of City Development  in order to allow him to take  all such steps as may be necessary or expedient to carry the above Resolution into effect, including all those steps required for the Council to apply for and thereafter to promote its application for the Order; and

c)  To authorise the corporate seal of the Council being affixed to any documents required to be sealed in connection with the application for and subsequent promotion of the Order.

On the requisition of Councillors G Harper and Nash, the voting on the motion was recorded as follows:-

YES

Akhtar, Atha, Blake, Bruce, Campbell, A Carter, Castle, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Cummins, Davey, Dawson, Dobson, Downes, Dowson, Dunn, Gabriel, Golton, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, C Gruen, P Gruen, S Hamilton, Hanley, Hardy, Harington, Harland, G Harper, J Harper, Harrand, A Hussain, G Hussain, G Hyde, Illingworth, Ingham, Iqbal, Jarosz, Khan, G Latty, Lay, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, Mitchell, Morgan, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, J Procter, Rafique, Renshaw, Selby, Sobel, Taggart, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Urry, Wakefield. 

68

NO

Anderson, J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, Chapman, Cleasby, Elliott, Finnigan, Gettings, Fox, Lamb, Leadley, Robinson, Townsley, Varley, Wadsworth, Wilkinson.

19

ABSTAIN

Cohen, M Hamilton, P Latty, Walker, Walshaw  5 

To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive regarding the Best Council Plan 2013-2017, following consideration of this matter by Executive Board on the 19^th June 2013.

  K WAKEFIELD

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor G Harper and

RESOLVED -

a)  That the Best Council Plan 2013-17 be approved;

b)  That  Executive Board be authorised to make “in-year” amendments to this plans as may be required; and

c)  That the revisions to the Equality Improvement Priorities be approved.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods regarding the Safer Leeds Strategy 2013-2014, following consideration of this matter by Executive Board on the 19^th June 2013.

P GRUEN

It was moved by Councillor P Gruen , seconded by Councillor G Harper and

RESOLVED – That the Safer Leeds Strategy, be approved as the city’s Crime and Disorder Strategy for 2013-14.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development regarding the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, following consideration of this matter by Executive Board on the 19^th June 2013.

  K WAKEFIELD

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor G Harper and

RESOLVED -

i)That the findings of the Review of governance arrangements relating to transport, economic development and regeneration, pursuant to Section 108 of the Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and Section 82 of the Local Transport Act 2008 (as set out at Appendix A and appended to this report), together with the results of the consultation exercise conducted (at Section 4.1 of this report) be noted.

ii)To agree for the reasons set out in the Review document that the establishment of a Combined Authority for the area of West Yorkshire would be likely to improve:

·  the exercise of statutory functions relating to economic development, regeneration and transport in the area;

·  the effectiveness and efficiency of transport in the area; and

·  the economic conditions in the area.

iii)That the Final Scheme (in the form set out at Appendix B and appended to this report) including the proposal that the West Yorkshire ITA is dissolved be endorsed, and that the West Yorkshire PTE is also dissolved and that all their individual functions, property, rights, liabilities and staff are transferred to the Combined Authority.

iv)To agree to publish the Scheme pursuant to section 109(2) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

v)To consent to the inclusion of Leeds City Council in the area of the Combined Authority.

vi)To agree that the City of York Council and the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership should be invited to join the Combined Authority for the area of West Yorkshire as non-constituent members.

vii)To authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and with the other West Yorkshire Authorities to undertake such steps as are necessary to facilitate the submission of the Scheme and the preparation of the draft Order.

To consider the report of the Leader of Council which informs Council of the amendments made by the Leader to the Executive Arrangements.

K WAKEFIELD

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor G Harper and

RESOLVED – That the new executive arrangements as set out in the report of the City Solicitor and shown in the following appendices attached to the report be noted:-

·  Executive Members Portofolios (Appendix A);

·  Executive members Overview of Roles and Responsibilities (Appendix B);

·  Support to Executive Members (Appendix C);

·  Officer Delegation Scheme (Executive Functions) General Delegations (Appendix D);

·  Officer Delegation Scheme (Executive Functions) Assistant Chief Executive (Customers and Communitities) (Appendix E); and

·  Officer Delegation Scheme (Executive Functions) Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods (Appendix F).

To consider the report of the City Solicitor advising of the receipt of a report from the Independent Remuneration Panel and seeking Council to make a number of changes in respect of the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

K WAKEFIELD

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor P Gruen and

RESOLVED –

a)  That the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel as detailed in the report of the City Solicitor be approved.

b)  That the City Solicitor be authorised to make any consequential changes to the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

It was moved by Councillor G Harper, seconded by Councillor Nash, that leave of Council be given to suspend Council Procedure Rule 11.2 (Notice of questions) to allow the questions to be taken in an order different to that notified.

RESOLVED – That leave of Council be given to reorder the questions, as follows:-

Q14 in the name of Councillor Harland be asked as Q17

Q17 in the name of Councillor S Hamilton be asked as Q14

Q1  Councillor P Latty to the Executive Member for Children’s Services

  Does the Executive Member for Children’s Services agree with me that parental choice should be a key principle when deciding which school a child attends?

  The Executive Member for Children’s Services replied to the question and the subsequent supplementary.

Q2  Councillor J Bentley to the Executive Member for Development and the Economy

  What were the specific reasons for the report on the West Park Centre   being withdrawn from the June Executive Board agenda without notice?

  The Executive Member for Development and the Economy replied to the question and the subsequent supplementary.

Q3  Councillor K Groves to the Executive Member for Children’s Services

  Would the Executive Member for Children’s Services join me in welcoming the Government’s u-turn on childcare ratios?

  The Executive Member for Children’s Services replied to the question

Q4   Councillor Finnigan to the Executive Member for Development and the Economy

  Can the Executive Member for Development confirm if he is aware of the withdrawal of Kirklees Councils LDF core strategy?

  The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services replied in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.3(b) to the question and the subsequent supplementary.

Q5  Councillor E Taylor to the Executive Member for Development and the Economy

  Would the Executive Member for Development and Economy outline what he feels the potential regeneration impact of the development at Kirkstall Forge could be for Leeds?

  The Executive Member for Development and the Economy replied to the question

Q6  Councillor Castle to the Executive Member for Development and the Economy

  Does the Executive Member for Development and Economy believe that health and safety concerns should be paramount when visits to Council buildings are given the go ahead?

  The Executive Member for Development and the Economy replied to the question and the subsequent supplementary.

Q7  Councillor Golton to the Leader of Council

  Is the Leader of Council satisfied with the level of sickness absence across the council during 2012/13?

  The Leader of Council replied to the question and the subsequent supplementary.

Q8  Councillor Akhtar to the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services

Can the Executive Board Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services update members on the housing scheme in Little London, Beeston Hill and Holbeck?

  The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services replied to the question and the subsequent supplementary.

Q9  Councillor Finnigan to the Executive Member for Development and the Economy

  Can the Executive Board Member for Development confirm the present number of housing units granted planning permission but no yet built across the Leeds City Council planning area?

  The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services replied in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.3(b) to the question and the subsequent supplementary. 

Q10  Councillor J Dunn to the Executive Member for the Environment

  Can the Executive Board Member for the Environment please update members on the roll out of alternate weekly collections in the city?

  The Executive Member for the Environment replied to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

It was moved by Councillor G Harper, seconded by Councillor Nash, that leave of Council be given to suspend Council Procedure Rule 3.3 to allow the consideration of Executive Board Minutes only to continue until 5.00pm at which point the Leader of Council will sum up for a period of up to 10 minutes.

RESOLVED – That leave of Council be given to suspend Council Procedure Rule 3.3 to allow the consideration of Executive Board Minutes only to continue until 5.00pm at which point the Leader of Council will sum up for a period of up to 10 minutes.

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor G Harper and

RESOLVED – That the minutes be received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(i).

Council Procedure Rule 4, providing for the winding up of business, was applied prior to all notified comments on the minutes having been debated.

To receive Community Concerns in respect of:-

1)  Councillor Finnigan – The over development of Morley.

2)  Councillor Hardy – The impact of low level anti-social behaviour on residents in Farnley and Wortley.

3)  Councillor Walker – The misuse of Temporary Event Notices in Inner North West.

4)  Councillor M Hamilton – The introduction of charges for residents parking permits in Headingley ward.

5)  Councillor A Blackburn – Future maintenance of bowling greens.

6)  Councillor Lamb - Concerns about the proposals to cease funding for home to school transport for pupils attending faith schools.

Council heard the following Community Concerns;

1)  Councillor Finnigan – The over development of Morley.

2)  Councillor Hardy – The impact of low level anti-social behaviour on residents in Farnley and Wortley.

3)  Councillor Walker – The misuse of Temporary Event Notices in Inner North West.

4)  Councillor M Hamilton – The introduction of charges for residents parking permits in Headingley ward.

5)  Councillor A Blackburn – Future maintenance of bowling greens.

6)  Councillor Lamb - Concerns about the proposals to cease funding for home to school transport for pupils attending faith schools.

This Council notes the campaign by the Local Works group to establish a Supermarket Levy on stores with a rateable value in excess of £500,000 in Leeds and in areas throughout the country. Such a levy could generate up to £7.2m per annum for the Council which could then be used to fund growth initiatives and support local town and district shopping centres that have suffered during the economic downturn.

This Council further notes the implementation of similar proposals in Northern Ireland and while not necessarily subscribing to that exact scheme believes that similar proposals could bring benefits to people in Leeds.

Council is aware of the need to garner support from local people and would also wish to discuss any proposals in detail with large retailers before any policy is implemented.

This Council believes that this issue should be explored in Leeds and therefore calls on officers within City Development to bring forward a report to Executive Board exploring the options open to the Council in more detail.

A CARTER

It was moved by Councillor A Carter, seconded by Councillor G Latty and

RESOLVED - That this Council notes the campaign by the Local Works group to establish a Supermarket Levy on stores with a rateable value in excess of £500,000 in Leeds and in areas throughout the country. Such a levy could generate up to £7.2m per annum for the Council which could then be used to fund growth initiatives and support local town and district shopping centres that have suffered during the economic downturn.

This Council further notes the implementation of similar proposals in Northern Ireland and while not necessarily subscribing to that exact scheme believes that similar proposals could bring benefits to people in Leeds.

Council is aware of the need to garner support from local people and would also wish to discuss any proposals in detail with large retailers before any policy is implemented.

This Council believes that this issue should be explored in Leeds and therefore calls on officers within City Development to bring forward a report to Executive Board exploring the options open to the Council in more detail.’

This Council is alarmed by the impact of Government policies on residents in Leeds, which have led to the fragmentation of the NHS, longer waiting times for in-patient and Accident & Emergency care, escalating financial pressures, the squandering of resources on a massive top-down reorganisation that requires greater privatisation of services, and a serious decline in staff morale and patient confidence in the NHS.

Council affirms its commitment to the NHS’s founding principles of a universal service free at the point of need, and believes that though it is approaching its 65^th birthday our NHS is not yet ready to retire.

P TRUSWELL

It was moved by Councillor Truswell, seconded by Councillor Harland that this Council is alarmed by the impact of Government policies on residents in Leeds, which have led to the fragmentation of the NHS, longer waiting times for in-patient and Accident & Emergency care, escalating financial pressures, the squandering of resources on a massive top-down reorganisation that requires greater privatisation of services, and a serious decline in staff morale and patient confidence in the NHS.

Council affirms its commitment to the NHS’s founding principles of a universal service free at the point of need, and believes that though it is approaching its 65^th birthday our NHS is not yet ready to retire. 

An amendment was moved by Councillor G Latty, seconded by Councillor Lay, to delete first paragraph and insert the following:

“This Council notes the efforts of the Coalition Government to reform the NHS, by putting patients at the heart of the system, giving GPs and local health practitioners the freedom to take direct charge of the services they offer and improving health service accountability and transparency.

“Council acknowledges that the reforms are extensive, will take time to fully implement, and that services will need to be closely monitored to ensure standards are maintained during the transition period. But this Council regards these reforms as a fundamentally necessary process to make the kind of improvements that a modern NHS needs, after a decade of mismanagement by the previous Government leading to recent crises such as the Mid Staffordshire scandal and covering up of service failures by the CQC.

“Furthermore, Council notes that the involvement of the private sector within the NHS was greatly expanded by the previous Labour government and that under the Opposition’s national spending plans there would be 43,000 fewer nurses and 11,000 fewer doctors – and that this would likely have a far worse effect on staff morale and patient confidence than any of the reforms proposed by the current government.”

The amended motion would read:

“This Council notes the efforts of the Coalition Government to reform the NHS, by putting patients at the heart of the system, giving GPs and local health practitioners the freedom to take direct charge of the services they offer and improving health service accountability and transparency.

“Council acknowledges that the reforms are extensive, will take time to fully implement, and that services will need to be closely monitored to ensure standards are maintained during the transition period. But this Council regards these reforms as a fundamentally necessary process to make the kind of improvements that a modern NHS needs, after a decade of mismanagement by the previous Government leading to recent crises such as the Mid Staffordshire scandal and covering up of service failures by the CQC.

“Furthermore, Council notes that the involvement of the private sector within the NHS was greatly expanded by the previous Labour government and that under the Opposition’s national spending plans there would be 43,000 fewer nurses and 11,000 fewer doctors – and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

This Council regrets the feebleness of the housing delivery report. Adopted by the Executive Board on 13^th March 2013.

T LEADLEY

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.10, and with the consent of the seconder, leave of Council was given to withdraw the motion in the name of Councillor Leadley and the amendment in the name of Councillor P Gruen.