Agenda item

This Council believes the economy of the North does not currently perform to its full potential due to a lack of investment in crucial infrastructure such as transport, education and housing.

Council believes as the UK moves closer to Brexit, significant investment is needed to increase economic growth across the North and rebalance the national economy which will benefit the wealth of the country as a whole.

Council believes this longstanding deficiency stops children and young people in Leeds making the most of their potential through life and discourages inward investment and economic growth. Evidence demonstrates inadequate transport networks limit journeys for freight and people, businesses cannot recruit qualified staff and low pay is endemic.

This Council regrets recent attempts by cabinet ministers to abdicate responsibility for addressing these issues and agrees to write to the Prime Minister to seek assurances on much-needed Government investment. 

It was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Pryor that this Council believes the economy of the North does not currently perform to its full potential due to a lack of investment in crucial infrastructure such as transport, education and housing.

Council believes as the UK moves closer to Brexit, significant investment is needed to increase economic growth across the North and rebalance the national economy which will benefit the wealth of the country as a whole.

Council believes this longstanding deficiency stops children and young people in Leeds making the most of their potential through life and discourages inward investment and economic growth. Evidence demonstrates inadequate transport networks limit journeys for freight and people, businesses cannot recruit qualified staff and low pay is endemic.

This Council regrets recent attempts by cabinet ministers to abdicate responsibility for addressing these issues and agrees to write to the Prime Minister to seek assurances on much-needed Government investment. 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Campbell, seconded by Councillor Lay, ‘in paragraph three, delete “children and young people in Leeds” and replace with “citizens in Leeds from”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Lamb, seconded by Councillor Buckley

Delete all after ‘This Council’ and replace with:

is concerned that the ruling administration continues to look to Government rather than delivering proactive and innovative ways of dealing with issues in Leeds. Council sees this as an attempt to abdicate responsibility for dealing with key issues here in our city as highlighted by the failure to secure a devolution deal for our region over the past 5 years.

Council welcomes record investment into the region under successive Conservative Governments, including the UK's largest Growth Deal agreed for the Leeds City Region and recalls the disappointing levels of investment in Leeds under the last Labour Government, highlighted by the last minute scrapping of the Supertram scheme.

Council notes the successes achieved here in Leeds thanks to the Conservative Government's long-term economic plan and competent stewardship of the public finances since 2010. This has resulted in Leeds experiencing the fastest private sector jobs growth of any UK city; having the largest concentration of financial and professional services and digital jobs in the UK outside of London; recording the second highest productivity levels of the core cities; and, in the Leader of Council's own words, delivering "a strong economy that has enabled the city to recover well from the recession.”

Council recognises that it is business and commerce, supported by central government economic policy that has contributed to record growth in the city and Council welcomes continued government investment into the region.

The amendments in the name of Councillor Campbell and Councillor Lamb were declared lost and upon the motion being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council believes the economy of the North does not currently perform to its full potential due to a lack of investment in crucial infrastructure such as transport, education and housing.

Council believes as the UK moves closer to Brexit, significant investment is needed to increase economic growth across the North and rebalance the national economy which will benefit the wealth of the country as a whole.

Council believes this longstanding deficiency stops children and young people in Leeds making the most of their potential through life and discourages inward investment and economic growth. Evidence demonstrates inadequate transport networks limit journeys for freight and people, businesses cannot recruit qualified staff and low pay is endemic.

This Council regrets recent attempts by cabinet ministers to abdicate responsibility for addressing these issues and agrees to write to the Prime Minister to seek assurances on much-needed Government investment.