Agenda and minutes

a)  The Lord Mayor reported the recent death of Lord Harewood, the Seventh Earl of Harewood and Council stood in silent tribute.

b)  The Lord Mayor reported that he had recently received a letter from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridgeshire thanking Council for their congratulations on their recent wedding.

c)  The Lord Mayor welcomed the Mayor of Durban and guests to the Council Meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 26^th May 2011.

It was moved by Councillor J Lewis, seconded by Councillor Lobley and

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th May 2011 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 display in the ante-room, on deposit in the public galleries and had been circulated to each Member’s place in the Chamber.

The City Solicitor set out the position in respect of potential interests in relation to White Paper Motion 10 (Trade Union facilities), in the light of Counsel’s advice on the matter.

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

a)  Members declared personal interests in minute 24(c) of this meeting as follows:-

b)  Members declared personal interests in minute 28 of this meeting as follows:-

c)  Members declared personal interests in minute 33 of this meeting as follows:-

d)  Members declared personal interests in minute 31 of this meeting as follows:-

To receive such communications as the Lord Mayor, the Leader,  Members of the Executive Board or the Chief Executive consider appropriate

The Executive Member (Adult Health and Social Care) informed Council of the current position in Leeds following recent announcements in respect of Southern Cross Care Provider.

To receive deputations in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10

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

1)  Tenfold, the Leeds learning disability forum regarding people with learning disabilities who live in Leeds.

2)  Lingfields and Fir Trees Residents Group regarding resources in the Moor Allerton area with particular reference to the Open House Community Centre.

3)  Carr Manor Road Safety Group regarding road safety issues in the Carr Manor area.

4)  Morley Town Council regarding the possible closure of Knowle Manor.

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

To consider reports as follows (the Chief Executive considers that these reports are appropriate to be received at this meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(f)):-

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

J LEWIS

b)  That the report of the Chief Officer, Democratic and Central Services presenting the Scrutiny Boards’ Annual report to Council, prepared in  accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution, be approved.

K WAKEFIELD 

c)  That the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, as presented by the report of the Chief Officer, Democratic and Central Services, be approved and that the City Solicitor be authorised to make any consequential changes to the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

J LEWIS

a)  Appointments

It was moved by Councillor J Lewis, seconded by Councillor Lobley and

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report of the City Solicitor on appointments, be noted, namely:-

·  Councillor M Hamilton to Scrutiny Board (Safer and Stronger Communities).

·  Councillor M Hamilton to Development Plan Panel.

·  Councillor Feldman to replace Councillor J L Carter on the Standards Committee.

·  Councillor Cleasby to Scrutiny Board (Regeneration).

·  Councillor Bentley to Scrutiny Board (Sustainable Economy and Culture).

·  Councillors Charlwood and Akhtar to Member Management Committee.

·  Councillor Rafique to General Purposes Committee.

·  Councillor Ewens to replace Councillor Cleasby on Scrutiny Board (Regeneration).

b)  That the appointment of Councillor Maqsood as a Support Executive Member by the Leader of Council be noted.

b)  Scrutiny Board’s Annual Report

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor J Lewis and

RESOLVED – That the report of the Chief Officer, Democratic and Central Services, presenting the Scrutiny Board’s Annual Report to Council, prepared in accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution, be approved.

c)  Independent Remuneration Panel – Members Allowances

It was moved by Councillor J Lewis, seconded by Councillor Nash that the report of the Chief Officer, Democratic and Central Services, presenting the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel, along with its recommendations and a response to those recommendations be approved, and that Council authorise the City Solicitor to move any consequential changes to the Members’ Allowance Scheme.

An amendment was moved by Councillor J Matthews, seconded by Councillor M Hamilton to add at the end of the recommendation the following :-

‘That Council ask that the Executive Board to formally establish a Climate Change and Environmental Working Group as an Advisory Committee to the Executive and that the Advisory Committee meet in accordance with Access to Information Procedure Rules, thus ensuring the meetings are held in public and publish proper Agendas and Minutes.’

On being put to the vote the amendment was declared lost and upon the motion being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That the report of the Chief Officer, Democratic and Central Services presenting the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel with suggested amendments, be approved and that the City Solicitor be authorised to make any consequential changes to the Members’ Allowance Scheme.

To deal with questions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11

Q1  Councillor Marjoram to the Executive Member (Development and the Economy):-

Does the Executive Board Member for City Development believe that private firms with enough money should be able control the actions of a Council registered Civil Enforcement Officer?

The Executive Member (Environmental Services) replied.

Q2  Councillor Hamilton to the Executive Member (Adult Health and Social Care):-

Would the Executive Board Member for Adult Health & Social Care outline current timescales the Council is taking to install adaptations to allow older people to remain in their homes?

The Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration) replied.

Q3  Councillor Driver to the Leader of Council:-

Would the Leader of Council join me in welcoming the announcement that the new NHS National Commissioning Board will be based at Quarry House in Leeds?

The Leader of Council replied.

Q4  Councillor Finnigan to the Executive Member (Adult Health and Social Care):-

Can the Executive Board Member for Adult Services confirm the total number of places available in private residential care homes across the Morley area during week commencing 4^th July 2011.

The Executive Member (Adult Health and Social Care) replied.

Q5  Councillor Renshaw to the Executive Member (Adult Health and Social Care):-

Would the Executive Member for Adult Health and Social Care please update council on progress to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities?

The Executive Member (Adult Health and Social Care) replied.

Q6  Councillor J Procter to the Executive Member (Leisure):-

Can the Executive Board Member for Leisure please inform Council how many tickets to date have been sold for Opera in the Park and how much income his policy to charge for this event has generated?

The Executive Member (Leisure) replied.

Q7  Councillor Matthews to the Leader of Council:-

Does Councillor Wakefield still agree with me that members of the public are regularly being put at unacceptable risk in Headingley as a result of irresponsible private hire drivers illegally plying for hire?

The Executive Member (Environmental Services) replied.

Q8  Councillor Lowe to the Executive Member (Children’s Services):-

Would the Executive Member for Children’s Services please update Council on the performance of the Leeds Mentoring Service?

The Executive Member (Children’s Services) replied.

Q9  Councillor Gettings to the Executive Member (Development and the Economy):-

Is it possible for Council to have a brief update on the progress of the Leeds Arena?

The Executive Member (Development and the Economy) replied.

Q10  Councillor Macniven to the Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration):-

Can the Executive Board Member for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration update Members on efforts to tackle Leeds’ longstanding burglary problem?

The Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration) replied.

Q11  Councillor Lobley to the Leader of Council:-

Following recent local media reports does the Leader of Council have any plans to reduce staff mileage rates to the 45p per mile recommended by Government for 2011/12?

The Leader of Council replied.

Q12  Councillor Golton to the Leader of Council:-

Can the Leader of Council confirm his commitment to diverting waste from landfill?

The Executive Member (Environmental  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

a)  That the Natural Resources and Waste Development Plan Document : Formal Submission be approved.

K WAKEFIELD

b)  That the Children and Young People’s Plan 2011/15 be approved.

K WAKEFIELD

c)  That the Vision for Leeds 2011 to 2030, City Priority Plan 2011 to 2015 and the Council Business Plan 2011 to 2015 be approved.

K WAKEFIELD

a)  Natural Resources and Waste Development Plan Document: Formal Submission

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor R Lewis and

RESOLVED – That the recommendations of the Executive Board, as presented by the report of the City Solicitor, with regard to the Natural Resources and Waste Development Plan Document: Formal Submission, be approved.

b)  Children and Young People’s Plan 2011/15

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor Blake and

RESOLVED – That the recommendations of the Executive Board, as presented by the report of the City Solicitor, with regard to the Children and Young People’s Plan 2011/15, be approved.

c)  New Vision and Strategic Plans

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor J Lewis and

RESOLVED – That the recommendations of the Executive Board, as presented by the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement), with regard to the Vision for Leeds 2011 to 2030, the City Priority Plan 2011 to 2015 and the Council Business Plan 2011 to 2015, be approved.

That the Annual report of the Standards Committee be received and noted in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the City Solicitor.

  B SELBY

It was moved by Councillor Nash, seconded by Councillor Feldman and

RESOLVED – That the annual report of the Standards Committee be received in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the City Solicitor.

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

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor J Lewis, that the minutes be received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(i) and that it be noted that the next meeting of the Executive Board will consider the amendment of minute 22 of the Executive Board meeting held on 22^nd June 2011 to incorporate Councillor Andrew Carter’s comments.

Councillor A Carter made further comment on this matter, particularly in respect of Phase 2 and 3 sites.

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.

During the debate under minute 28 above, it was moved by Councillor Lobley, seconded by Councillor J Procter, that under Council Procedure Rule 22.1, Council Procedure Rule 3.1(a) be suspended to allow comments to be made on the minutes to the end of page 14 on the Order Paper.

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

On the requisition of Councillors J Procter and Lobley, the voting on the motion to suspend Council Procedure Rules in the name of Councillor Lobley was recorded as follows:-

YES

Anderson, Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Campbell, A Carter, J L Carter, Castle, Chapman, Chastney, Cohen, Collins, Downes, Elliott, Ewens, Feldman, Finnigan, Fox, Gettings, Golton, M Hamilton, Harrand, W Hyde, Kirkland, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Leadley, Lobley, Marjoram, Matthews, J Procter, Pryke, Robinson, Townsley, Varley, Wadsworth, Wilkinson, Wilson, Wood.

40

NO

Akhtar, Armitage, Atha, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Dawson, Dobson, Dowson, Driver, Dunn, Gabriel, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, Gruen, S Hamilton, Hanley, Hardy, G Harper, J Harper, A Hussain, G Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, Khan, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, MacNiven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, Mitchell, Morgan, Mulherin, Murray, Nash, Ogilvie, Parker, Rafique, Renshaw, Selby, Taggart, E Taylor, Wakefield, Walshaw, Yeadon.

52

ABSTAIN

Davey.

1

(The meeting was suspended at 5.00 pm and resumed at 5.25 pm.)

This Council understands and recognises the valuable role played by Trades Unions in ensuring effective industrial relations and reaffirms the principle of providing reasonable support to Trades Unions including time off for stewards for this purpose.

However, this council believes that given the current state of the public finances taxpayer subsidy of full time Trade Union officials should now be brought to an end. The £417,000 annual cost to taxpayers in Leeds for 15 full time convenors is now unjustifiable both in terms of the massive budget pressure faced by Leeds City Council and the programme of cuts to frontline services currently being undertaken by the Labour administration.

This Council also notes the wider context of the huge donations that Trade Unions are able to offer to the Labour Party.

      A LAMB

As Councillor Lamb commenced the moving of the following White Paper Motion:-

This Council understands and recognises the valuable role played by Trades Unions in ensuring effective industrial relations and reaffirms the principle of providing reasonable support to Trades Unions including time off for stewards for this purpose.

However, this Council believes that given the current state of the public finances taxpayer subsidy of full time Trade Union officials should now be brought to an end.  The £417,000 annual cost to taxpayers in Leeds for 15 full time convenors is now unjustifiable both in terms of the massive budget pressure faced by Leeds City Council and the programme of cuts to frontline services currently being undertaken by the Labour administration.

This Council also notes the wider context of the huge donations that Trade Unions are able to offer to the Labour Party.

Councillor J Lewis moved, seconded by Councillor Nash and it was

RESOLVED – That, in accordance with Council Procedure rule 13.2(g), debate be adjourned to allow further legal advice to be sought by Members.

This council condemns the scale and severity of proposed Government welfare reforms, along with the speed with which they are being introduced.

Council notes with concern that these proposals risk denying vital support to those seeking a more independent life and will result in a welfare system that is unable to stabilise the lives of vulnerable people at times of economic or personal change.

Council further notes that these reforms risk increasing pressure on homelessness services and undermining wider efforts to establish stable, sustainable local communities.

Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Welfare Bill’s sponsor Iain Duncan-Smith (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions) to call for ministers to establish a sustainable system that protects those in need and promotes meaningful employment opportunities.

      B ATHA

It was moved by Councillor Atha, seconded by Councillor Driver that this Council condemns the scale and severity of proposed Government welfare reforms, along with the speed with which they are being introduced.

Council notes with concern that these proposals risk denying vital support to those seeking a more independent life and will result in a welfare system that is unable to stabilise the lives of vulnerable people at times of economic or personal change.

Council further notes that these reforms risk increasing pressure on homelessness services and undermining wider efforts to establish stable, sustainable local communities.

Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Welfare Bill’s sponsor Iain Duncan-Smith (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions) to call for Ministers to establish a sustainable system that protects those in need and promotes meaningful employment opportunities.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor Hamilton to delete ‘condemns’ after ‘This Council’ and replace with “notes the concerns of many over”

Delete ‘severity’ in line one and replace with “depth”

After paragraph 1 insert new paragraph:-

“Council believes that the welfare system as it stands is unfit for purpose and unsustainable, in many cases penalising those it seeks to benefit and rewarding those it doesn’t.”

Delete ‘with concern’ in paragraph 2, line 1 and replace with“concerns expressed by a range of individuals and organisations”

Insert “concerns” after ‘notes’ in paragraph 3 line 1

After paragraph 3 insert new paragraph

 “Council welcomes the constructive and consultative approach the government has taken with the elements of the Bill dealing with DLA where it listened to concerns of service users and stakeholders and adapted proposals accordingly. Council calls on the government to adopt the same approach with regard to the concerns noted above. Council further resolves to adopt an all-party approach to ensuring that the views of Leeds residents are effectively articulated to the Government.”

The amended White Paper would read as below:-

‘This council notes the concerns of many over the scale and depth of proposed Government welfare reforms, along with the speed with which they are being introduced.

Council believes that the welfare system as it stands is unfit for purpose and unsustainable, in many cases penalising those it seeks to benefit and rewarding those it doesn’t.

Council notes concerns expressed by a range of individuals and organisations that these proposals risk denying vital support to those seeking a more independent life and will result in a welfare system that is unable to stabilise the lives of vulnerable people at times of economic or personal change.

Council further notes concerns that these reforms risk increasing pressure on homelessness services and undermining wider efforts to establish stable, sustainable local communities.

Council welcomes the constructive and consultative approach the government has taken with the elements of the Bill dealing with DLA where it listened to concerns of service users and stakeholders and adapted proposals accordingly. Council calls on the government to adopt the same approach with regard to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

Following the resolution earlier in the meeting to adjourn the debate in respect of the White Paper motion in the name of Councillor Lamb on Trade Union Facilities (minute 30 refers), Councillor J Lewis (for clarification purposes) moved, seconded by Councilor Nash and it was

RESOLVED – That in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.2(g), debate be adjourned on the White Paper in the name of Councillor Lamb to allow further legal advice to be sought by Members.

On the requisition of Councillors A Carter and J L Carter, the voting on the motion was recorded as follows:-

YES

Akhtar, Armitage, Atha, Atkinson, A Blackburn, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Davey, Dawson, Dobson, Dowson, Driver, Dunn, Elliott, Finnigan, Gabriel, Gettings, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, Gruen, S Hamilton, Hanley, Hardy, G Harper, J Harper, A Hussain, G Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, Khan, Leadley, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, MacNiven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, Mitchell, Morgan, Mulherin, Murray, Nash, Ogilvie, Parker, Rafique, Renshaw, Selby, Taggart, E Taylor, Varley, Wakefield, Walshaw, Yeadon. 

60

NO

Anderson, Bentley, Campbell, A Carter, J L Carter, Castle, Chapman, Chastney, Cohen, Collins, Downes, Feldman, Fox, Golton, M Hamilton, Harrand, Harris, W Hyde, Kirkland, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Lobley, Marjoram, Matthews, J Procter, Pryke, Robinson, Townsley, Wadsworth, Wilkinson, Wilson, Wood. 

33

ABSTAIN

0

In light of the present financial challenges faced by Southern Cross Care Providers, concerns raised about private sector care standards in a private care hospital exposed by a recent Panorama programme and the Dilnot Commission on funding of care and support which is to report its recommendations next month, this Council agrees to withdraw its proposals to consider closing its residential care homes across the City Council area.

    R FINNIGAN

It was moved by Councillor R Finnigan, seconded by S Golton that in light of the present financial challenges faced by Southern Cross Care Providers, concerns raised about private sector care standards in a private care hospital exposed by a recent Panorama programme and the Dilnot Commission on funding of care and support which is to report its recommendations next month, this Council agrees to withdraw its proposals to consider closing its residential care homes across the City Council area.

An amendment was moved by Councillor G Latty, seconded by Councillor Lobley, to delete all after “this Council” and replace with:

believes that a new approach to funding and delivery of social care is required.

“Council further believes that across the country, care standards in both public and privately operated care homes have, in some cases, been unacceptable and calls on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to improve its approach to inspecting these facilities with a view to improving the overall standard of elderly care provided in residential care homes.

This Council understands the significant cost implications of continuing to deliver an “in-house” focused residential care service for the city’s older people alongside the urgent need to improve and rationalise Council owned facilities to meet decent standards and believes that through effective consultation with service users and their families a more financially sustainable service model can be achieved.”

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.11, with the consent of the seconder and of Council, Councillor Yeadon withdrew the amendment in her name.

The amendment in the name of Councillor G Latty was carried and, upon being put as the substantive motion, it was

RESOLVED – That in light of the present financial challenges faced by Southern Cross Care Providers, concerns raised about private sector care standards in a private care hospital exposed by a recent Panorama programme and the Dilnot Commission on funding of care and support which is to report its recommendations next month, this Council believes that a new approach to funding and delivery of social care is required.

Council further believes that across the country, care standards in both public and privately operated care homes have, in some cases, been unacceptable and calls on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to improve its approach to inspecting these facilities with a view to improving the overall standard of elderly care provided in residential care homes.

This Council understands the significant cost implications of continuing to deliver an “in-house” focused residential care service for the city’s older people alongside the urgent need to improve and rationalise Council owned facilities to meet decent standards and believes that through effective consultation with service users and their families a more sustainable service model can be achieved.

On the requisition of Councillors Finnigan and Matthews, the voting on the amendments was recorded as follows:-

YES

Akhtar, Anderson, Armitage, Atha, Atkinson, Blake, Bruce, J L Carter, Castle, Charlwood, Cohen, Collins, Congreve, Coulson,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Council notes that City of Sanctuary is a national movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.  Its goal is to create a network of towns and cities throughout the UK which are proud to be places of safety and which include people seeking sanctuary fully in the life of their communities.

This council welcomes the extensive work already done by the Leeds City of Sanctuary group towards gaining formal City of Sanctuary status for Leeds.

This Council therefore recognises the contribution of asylum-seekers and refugees to the City of Leeds and is committed to welcoming and including them in our activities and supports Leeds becoming a recognised ‘City of Sanctuary’ for refugees and asylum-seekers.

    J MATTHEWS

It was moved by Councillor Matthews, seconded by Councillor Downes, that Council notes that City of Sanctuary is a national movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.  Its goal is to create a network of towns and cities throughout the UK which are proud to be places of safety and which include people seeking sanctuary fully in the life of their communities.

This Council welcomes the extensive work already done by the Leeds City of Sanctuary Group towards gaining formal City of Sanctuary status for Leeds.

This Council therefore recognises the contribution of asylum-seekers and refugees to the City of Leeds and is committed to welcoming and including them in our activities and supports Leeds becoming a recognised ‘City of Sanctuary’ for refugees and asylum-seekers.

An amendment was moved by P Gruen, seconded by Councillor Murray to delete all after “our activities” and insert “where possible and supports the work being done to move towards Leeds becoming a recognised ‘City of Sanctuary’ for refugees and asylum-seekers.”

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

RESOLVED – That Council notes that City of Sanctuary is a national movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.  Its goal is to create a network of towns and cities throughout the UK which are proud to be places of safety and which include people seeking sanctuary fully in the life of their communities.

This Council welcomes the extensive work already done by the Leeds City of Sanctuary Group towards gaining formal City of Sanctuary status for Leeds.

This Council therefore recognises the contribution of asylum-seekers and refugees to the City of Leeds and is committed to welcoming and including them in our activities where possible and supports the work being done to move towards Leeds becoming a recognised ‘City of Sanctuary’ for refugees and asylum-seekers.

Council rose at 7.15 pm.