Agenda and draft minutes

Present: Councillors: J Scullion (Calderdale MBC), S Hinchcliffe (City of Bradford MDC), C Scott (Kirklees MC), J Lewis (Leeds City Council), A Waller (City of York) and R Cooper (Harrogate BC)

In Attendance: A Taylor (WYCA), T Riordan (LCC), N Eastwood (LCC) R Colley (LCC) and J Grieve (LCC)

To seek nominations for the position of Chair.

Nominations were sought for the position of Chair.

Councillor S Hinchcliffe was nominated for the position of Chair, the nomination was seconded.

Upon being put to the vote:

RESOLVED – That Councillor S Hinchliffe be elected as Chair for the duration of the meeting.

To consider any appeals in accordance with  Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information  Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and  public will be excluded).

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration. (The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes).

There were no late items of business identified.

To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

1)  To consider whether or not to accept the officers’ recommendation in respect of the above information.

2)  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public due to the confidential nature of the business to be considered.

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: S Pandor (Kirklees MC),  T Swift (Calderdale MBC) and D Jeffery (City of Wakefield MDC)

Councillors: J Scullion (Calderdale MBC), and C Scott (Kirklees MC) were in attendance as substitute Members.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer, Financial Services, Leeds City Council which sets out:

a)  The context in which the 2021/22 Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool has been set up;

b)  The governance arrangements and memorandum of understanding for the Leeds City Region Pool;

c)  The current position of the Leeds City Region Pool, including the estimated 2021/22 financial position and the latest income projections;

d)  The proposed allocation of funding for 2021/22;

e)  The continuation of the Leeds City Region Pool into 2022/23;

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer, Financial Services, Leeds City Council submitted a report which set out:

(i)  The context in which the 2021/22 Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool had been set up;

(ii)  The governance arrangements and memorandum of understanding for the Leeds City Region Pool;

(iii)  The current position of the Leeds City Region Pool, including the estimated 2021/22 financial position and the latest income projections;

(iv)  The proposed allocation of funding for 2021/22;

(v)  The continuation of the Leeds City Region Pool into 2022/23;

Referring to the proposed allocation of funding for 2021/22, Members asked if there was a timescale for the allocation of funds.

Members were informed that a decision was required by 31^st March 2022

RESOLVED –

(a)  To note the context and structure of the 2021/22 Leeds City Region  Business Rates Pool as described in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the submitted report;

(b)  To approve the Memorandum of Understanding and Terms of Reference set out in Paragraph 3 and Appendices A and B;

(c)  To note the projected Pool income for 2021/22 as shown in Paragraph 4;

(d)  To note the risks to retained income and of breaching safety net at Paragraph 5;

(e)  To note and approve in principle the proposed allocation of projected income to member authorities at Paragraph 6.

(f)  To note the Government’s deadline for submitting changes to the  membership of the Pool and approve in principle the continuation of the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool into 2022/23, with current seven member authorities of the Pool, in principle at paragraph 7.

The date and time of the next meeting, to be determined at a later date.

RESOLVED – The date and time of the next meeting to be determined at a later date.