Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor informed the Council that the timings for this meeting would be extended by 10 minutes to take account of the time taken in the extraordinary meeting.

 

The Lord Mayor informed Council that she had agreed to the admission of a late item of business under Council Procedure Rule 2.2(f) for reason of expeditiously securing attendance at meetings (minute 60(b) refers).  The Lord Mayor also informed Council that an additional page of minutes relating to Corporate Governance and Audit Committee of the 30^th September 2009 omitted from the agenda had been circulated.

 

To confirm the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 16^th September 2009.

It was moved by Councillor J Procter, seconded by Councillor Gruen and

 

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th September 2009 be approved.

 

To receive any declarations of interest from Members.

The Lord Mayor announced that a list of written declarations submitted by members was on deposit in the public galleries and had been circulated to each Member’s place in the Chamber.

 

Following an invitation to declare further individual interests, declarations in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct were made as follows:-

 

a)  Councillor Anderson declared a personal interest in minute 62 of this meeting as Chair of the Leeds Casino Task Group.

 

b)  Members declared personal interests in minute 63 of this meeting as follows:-

 

Cllr A Blackburn	Mother-in-law in receipt of Social Care
Cllr A Parnham	Child in secondary education in Leeds
Cllr T Leadley	Member of METRO.

 

c)  Members declared personal interests in minute 64 of this meeting as follows:-

 

 

Cllr J Bale	Member, Area Children’s Partnership; Member, Learning Disabilities Partnership Board
Cllr C Fox	Member, Bramhope Youth Development Trust
Cllr P Harrand	Member, Leeds Learning Disabilities Partnership Board; Member, Education Advisory Board for the East Moor Secure Children's Centre
Cllr V Kendall	Member, Adoption Panel – Skyrack
Cllr A Lamb	Trustee, Schools Partnership Trust
Cllr G Wilkinson	Member, Children's Advisory Panel
Cllr T Murray	Chief Executive of Learning Partnerships and Non Executive Director of IGEN.
Cllr A Lowe	Chief Executive of Touchstone Leeds
Cllr M Lobley	Chair of Rewew
Cllr M Coulson	Adoption Panel – Leodis, Fostering Panel East Leeds
Cllr B Chastney	Adoption Panel - Elmete
Cllr J Jarosz	Adoption Panel - Elmete

 

d)  Members declared personal interests in minute 65 of this meeting as follows:-

 

Cllr B Anderson	Chair, Leeds Initiative City Centre Management Initiative; Personal Interest – Chair, Leeds City Centre Partnership
Cllr A Carter	Leeds Initiative Economy Partnership

 

e)  Members declared personal interests in minute 66 of this meeting as follows:-

 

Cllr B Anderson	Chair, Leeds City Centre Partnership
Cllr A Carter	Leeds Initiative Economy Partnership

 

f)  Members declared personal interests in minute 68 of this meeting as follows:-

 

Cllr J Bale	Member, Society for the Environment
Cllr F Robinson	Member, Royal Horticultural Society
Cllr D Schofield	Member, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust; Council for the Protection of Rural England

 

g)  Members declared personal interests in minute 69 of this meeting as follows:-

 

Cllr A Carter	2 tickets to Leeds Rhinos v. Manly rugby match plus refreshments
Cllr F Robinson	Leeds Rugby Club - 2 tickets to Carnegie World Club Challenge match
Cllr G Wilkinson	Leeds Rugby Club - 2 tickets to Celebration Gala Dinner at Headingley Stadium
Cllr James Lewis	Leeds Rhino’s season ticket holder
Cllr Keith Parker	Trustee of Leeds Rhino’s
Cllr Chris Townsley	Season ticket holder at Leeds Rhinos

 

h)  Members declared personal interests in minute 66 of this meeting as follows:-

 

Cllr B Anderson	Attendance at the Ashes Test Match at Headingley on 7th August 2009
Cllr A Carter	Invitation to attend, with guest, the one day international cricket match at Headingley Carnegie Stadium (including lunch and afternoon tea); Complimentary ticket for the 2nd NPower Test match, tea and biscuits and lunch; Complimentary entrance ticket, parking and refreshments  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

To receive deputations in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

There were no deputations admitted to the meeting.

 

To consider the following motion (the Chief Executive considers that this report is appropriate to be received at this meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(f)):-

 

That the following nominations for receipt of the Leeds Award be approved and that the Lord Mayor be requested to undertake an appropriate award ceremony:-

 

Claude Bandawe

Alec Bloom MBE

Brian Wheelhouse

Tony Edwards

 

R BRETT

a)  Leeds Award

 

It was moved by Councillor Brett, seconded by Councillor A Carter and

 

RESOLVED – That the nominations for the receipt of the Leeds Award be approved and that the Lord Mayor be requested to undertake an appropriate ceremony.

 

Claude Bandawe

Alec Bloom MBE

Brian Wheelhouse

Tony Edwards

 

b)  Appointments

 

It was moved by Councillor J Procter, seconded by Councillor Bentley and

 

RESOLVED – That the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) be approved.

 

To deal with questions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

1)  Councillor Wakefield to the Leader of Council

 

Can the Leader of Council provide an update on the court case at London’s High Court regarding the validity of the authority’s delegated powers between 2004 and early 2008?

 

The Leader of Council replied.

 

2)  Councillor Bentley to the Leader of Council.

 

Would the Leader of Council inform Council on the current situation regarding the strike in Streetscene Services?

 

The Leader of Council replied.

 

3)  Councillor Wadsworth to the Executive Member (Development and Regeneration)

 

Can the Executive Board Member for City Development & Regeneration provide an update on the Council’s Next Generation Transport (NGT) bid?

 

The Executive Member (Development and Regeneration) replied.

 

 

4)  Councillor Harington to the Executive Member (Environmental Services).

 

Can the Executive Board member for Environmental Services offer his personal guarantee that tackling climate change is high on the Council’s agenda?

 

The Executive Member (Environmental Services) replied.

 

5)  Councillor D Blackburn to the Executive Member (Adult Social Care).

 

Would the Executive Member for Adult Social Care like to comment on the current situation regarding Roseville Enterprises?

 

The Executive Member (Adult Social Care) replied

 

6)  Councillor R Lewis to the Executive Member (Development and Regeneration).

 

Can the Executive Board member for City Development please outline how many unresolved Council planning cases there are in the city?

 

The Executive Member (Development and Regeneration) replied.

 

7)  Councillor Cleasby to the Leader of Council.

 

Would the Leader of Council outline what actions have been taken to improve the circulation of Taxis in Leeds City Centre?

 

The Leader of Council replied.

 

8)  Councillor Andrew to the Deputy Leader of Council.

 

Could the Deputy Leader of Council provide details on the estimated amount of wasted European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) this government has overseen in recent years?

 

The Deputy Leader of Council replied.

 

9)  Councillor Blake to the Leader of Council.

 

Can the leader of Council offer his cast iron guarantee to members that tax payers’ money is being well spent by his administration?

 

The Leader of Council replied.

 

10)  Councillor D Blackburn to the Executive Member (Environmental Services).

 

Could the Executive Member for Environmental Services tell Council what additional costs have been incurred in the areas under his portfolio due to the bin strike?

 

The Executive Member (Environmental Services) replied.

 

At the conclusion of question time, the following questions remained unanswered and it was noted that under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 11.6, written responses would be sent to each member of Council.

 

11  Councillor Gruen to the Executive Member (Neighbourhoods & Housing).

 

12  Councillor Chapman to the Executive Member (Learning).

 

13  Councillor Anderson to the Deputy Leader of Council.

 

14  Councillor Yeadon to the Leader of Council

 

15  Councillor Taggart to the Leader of Council

 

16  Councillor Hamilton to the Leader of Council

 

17  Councillor Lyons to the Executive Member (Environmental Services)

 

18  Councillor Grahame to the Leader of Council

 

19  Councillor Bentley to the Executive Member (Learning)

 

20  Councillor Driver to the Executive Member (Development and Regeneration)

 

21  Councillor Wakefield  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

That the recommendations of the Executive Board with regard to:-

 

a)  the approval of a virement;

 

b)  the approval of the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy; and

 

b)  to amendments to the Council Business Plan 2008-2011;

 

as presented by the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) be approved.

 

R BRETT

a)  Financial Health Monitoring 2009/10 – Half Year Report

 

It was moved by Councillor Brett, seconded by Councillor A Carter and

 

RESOLVED – That a virement in the sum of £1,500,000 from debt charge savings to fund the early leavers initiative, in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) be approved.

 

b)  The Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy

 

It was moved by Councillor Brett, seconded by Councillor A Carter and

 

RESOLVED – That Council approve that the proposed response to the consultation exercise, as contained in appendix 2 to the report to the Executive Board on 4^th November 2009, be approved as the Council’s response to matters raised in consultation and that the revised draft Statement of Gambling Policy, as set out in appendix 1 to the report, be approved as the final Policy under the Gambling Act 2005 in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance).

 

c)  The Council Business Plan 2008-11 – Mid-Term Review and Refresh

 

It was moved by Councillor Brett, seconded by Councillor A Carter and

 

RESOLVED – That Council approves the amendments to the Council Business Plan 2008-11, as detailed in the report to the Executive Board on 4^th November 2009 and authorises the Chief Executive to review and update any performance targets for the final year of the plan in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance).

 

To receive the minutes in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(o).

 

R BRETT

It was moved by Councillor Brett, seconded by Councillor A Carter and

 

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

 

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

 

In summing up, the Leader of Council reported that this would be the last meeting of Council attended by Dave Page, Deputy Chief Executive and, on behalf of the Council, wished him a long and happy retirement.

 

The meeting was suspended at 5:05 pm and resumed at 5:35 pm.

 

This Council condemns the ruling administration for their continued failure to support children and young people in our city.

 

J JAROSZ

It was moved by Councillor Jarosz, seconded by Councillor Mulherin that

 

This Council condemns the ruling administration for their continued failure to support children and young people in our city.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor W Hyde to delete all after ‘This Council’ and replace with:-

 

‘remains determined to fulfil the objectives set out in the two WP resolutions adopted earlier this year regarding Children’s Services.  This Council is committed to continuous improvement in all services for Children & Young People, as set out in the Children and Young People’s plan revised and adopted by the Executive Board on 17^th June 2009.

 

The amendment was carried and, upon being put as the substantive motion, it was

 

RESOLVED – That this Council remains determined to fulfil the objectives set out in the two WP resolutions adopted earlier this year regarding Children’s Services.  This Council is committed to continuous improvement in all services for Children & Young People, as set out in the Children and Young People’s plan revised and adopted by the Executive Board on 17^th June 2009.

 

During the discussion on this item, Councillor Lobley declared a personal interest as the Chair of Renew.

 

(The provisions of Council Procedure Rule 3.1(d) were applied at the conclusion of the vote on the motion.)

 

This Council condemns the Government decision to review the business case for the Leeds City Council led Leeds Arena development.

 

Council welcomes the commitment made by the ruling administration to develop the scheme with or without government support and further welcomes the inward investment and regeneration this project will deliver.

 

A CARTER

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.11, with the consent of the seconder, leave of Council was given to withdraw the motion in the name of Councillor A Carter.

 

This Council underlines its commitment to Leeds Kirkgate Market and all markets across the city. Council further notes the progress which has been made in relation to some issues at Kirkgate Market recently, but recognises there is still a lot of work to be done. 

 

Council also acknowledges the important role that traders play in Kirkgate Market, and resolves therefore to do everything in its power to save and preserve this vital retail asset in our city.

 

M DOBSON

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.11, with the consent of the seconder, leave of Council was given to withdraw the motion in the name of Councillor Dobson.

 

This Council accepts that all road traffic accidents that lead to the death or injury of pedestrians or motorists are a tragedy for families and communities.  This Council notes recent tragic events on roads across Leeds, including the death of a student on Britannia Road, Morley and the injury of a mother and child in a road traffic accident on Wide Lane and pledges to explore all possibilities and financing options to reduce the potential for any such future incidents.

 

T GRAYSHON

It was moved by Councillor Grayshon, seconded by Councillor Finnigan and

 

RESOLVED – That this Council accepts that all road traffic accidents that lead to the death or injury of pedestrians or motorists are a tragedy for families and communities.  This Council notes recent tragic events on roads across Leeds, including the death of a student on Britannia Road, Morley and the injury of a mother and child in a road traffic accident on Wide Lane and pledges to explore all possibilities and financing options to reduce the potential for any such future incidents.

 

This Council expresses its deep concern over the decline of the British bee population. Council therefore resolves to consider and look to implement the necessary and appropriate environmental steps to help protect and increase the local bee population.

 

Council further notes that bees are essential to the food supply not just in the UK but worldwide, and that their extinction would be catastrophic for our planet.

 

B SELBY

It was moved by Councillor Selby, seconded by Councillor D Blackburn and

 

RESOLVED – That this Council expresses its deep concern over the decline of the British bee population. Council therefore resolves to consider and look to implement the necessary and appropriate environmental steps to help protect and increase the local bee population.

 

Council further notes that bees are essential to the food supply not just in the UK but worldwide, and that their extinction would be catastrophic for our planet.

 

This council congratulates the Leeds Rhinos rugby league team who, by defeating St Helen's, won an unprecedented third consecutive Super League championship. Council further hopes the team will carry this success forward and do the city proud by winning the World Club Challenge in 2010.

 

S SMITH

It was moved by Councillor Smith, seconded by Councillor Lancaster and

 

RESOLVED – That this Council congratulates the Leeds Rhinos rugby league team who, by defeating St Helen's, won an unprecedented third consecutive Super League championship. Council further hopes the team will carry this success forward and do the city proud by winning the World Club Challenge in 2010.

 

This council congratulates Yorkshire County Cricket Club on winning the right to stage the Pakistan - Australia Test match at Headingley next July.  The Council is proud that Leeds has been chosen to play host to the Pakistan Cricket Team to allow them to play Australia at a neutral venue, and believes this offers an opportunity for Yorkshire Cricket to develop its contacts with local communities.

 

M HAMILTON

It was moved by Councillor Hamilton, seconded by Councillor Leadley and

 

RESOLVED – That this Council congratulates Yorkshire County Cricket Club on winning the right to stage the Pakistan - Australia Test match at Headingley next July.  The Council is proud that Leeds has been chosen to play host to the Pakistan Cricket Team to allow them to play Australia at a neutral venue, and believes this offers an opportunity for Yorkshire Cricket to develop its contacts with local communities.

 

This Council urges the Government to adopt the recent EU directive that recommends a cut in VAT rates for building repairs and home maintenance work.

 

Council believes that reducing VAT to a permanent rate of 5% on home maintenance and building repairs, while bringing a significant revenue cost to the government, would be substantially mitigated by the increase in the volume of work generated as a result of the reduction in prices.

 

Key benefits would include:

 

-  the creation of more jobs for small businesses;

-  a reduction in the number of empty homes;

-  encouraging more people to use energy efficient products;

-  a reduction in fuel poverty;

-  an improvement in housing standards.

 

This Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of Exchequer expressing Council’s support for such a move.

 

S ANDREW

It was moved by Councillor Andrew, seconded by Councillor J Procter and

 

RESOLVED – That this Council urges the Government to adopt the recent EU directive that recommends a cut in VAT rates for building repairs and home maintenance work.

 

Council believes that reducing VAT to a permanent rate of 5% on home maintenance and building repairs, while bringing a significant revenue cost to the government, would be substantially mitigated by the increase in the volume of work generated as a result of the reduction in prices.

 

Key benefits would include:

 

the creation of more jobs for small businesses;

a reduction in the number of empty homes;

encouraging more people to use energy efficient products;

a reduction in fuel poverty;

an improvement in housing standards.

 

This Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of Exchequer expressing Council’s support for such a move.

 

Council rose at 7.25 pm.