Agenda and minutes

(a)  The Lord Mayor welcomed members to this meeting of Full Council and also any members of the public who were joining the meeting and reminded those present that the meeting was to be streamed live.

(b) The Lord Mayor informed Members of a fund raising event that would be taking place on the 8^th March 2024 and invited Members to attend, the Lord Mayor also thanked Members for their contributions to the appeal for donations to the aid convoy that would be going to the Ukraine.

(e) The Lord Mayor informed Council that she would adjourn the meeting between approximately 3.00pm and 3.30pm.

To approve the minutes of the Council Meetings held on 17^th January 2024.

It was moved by Councillor Flint, seconded by Councillor Stephenson and

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 17^th January 2024 be approved.

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

Councillor Rafique declared an interest as a Trustee of Wades Charity and in line with Legal advice and having applied the test set out in paragraph 9 of the Code of Conduct he did not consider the nature of his interest would prevent him from fully participating in the Budget item.

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

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(d) Councillor Lamb shared with Council correspondence that had not previously been shared with Members in respect of an unauthorised survey that had been sent to some council officers and some wider partners, Councillor Lewis replied. 

It was moved by Councillor Flint, seconded by Councillor Stephenson and

RESOLVED - That in accordance with Council Procedure Rule (CPR) 22.1;

(a)That Council Procedure Rule (CPR) 14.6(b) be suspended in respect of the Budget item  to allow members to move and second amendments en bloc

(b)That CPR 14.1 be suspended in respect of the Budget item and to agree;

(i)that time limits will not be imposed on the speeches of Group Leaders(or their nominee) in the budget debate.

(ii)that a member contributing to the budget debate can do so for up to 5 minutes.

(iii)that a member seconding the budget motion or budget amendments can do so for up to 5 minutes.

(iv)that when summing up on the budget motion the Leader of Council can do so for up to 15 minutes.

(c) That CPR 3.3 and 4.1 be suspended in respect of item 5 Recommendations of the Executive Board - Best City Ambition, item 6 Recommendations of the General Purposes Committee – Pay Policy Statement, item 7 Appointments Report and item 8 Minutes of Executive Board. In order that those items will be formally moved, seconded and voted upon without debate.

i)  2024/25 Revenue Budget

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Financial Services on the proposals for the City Council’s Revenue Budget for 2024/25.

ii)  Council Tax

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Financial Services setting out the various steps in the process and the proposed council taxes for 2024/25 including the precepts issued by the Mayor of West Yorkshire (Police), the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority and the parish and town councils within the Leeds area.

iii)  Capital Programme Update 2023 to 2028

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Financial Services on the Capital Programme for the period 2023 to 2028. 

iv)  Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Financial Services on the Treasury Management Strategy for 2024/25. 

It was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Coupar

i)  Revenue Budget

a)  To note the recommendation of the Executive Board asking Council to note the recommendations of the Council’s statutory Section 151 officer (the Chief Officer – Financial Services) that the Budget proposals for 2024/25 are robust and that the proposed level of reserves is adequate, as set out at Part 7 of Appendix 1 to this report. 

b)  As recommended by the Executive Board, this report asks Council to adopt the following resolutions:

i.  That the revenue budget for 2024/25 totalling £622.0m be approved. This means that the Leeds element of Council Tax for 2024/25 will increase by 2.99% plus the Adult Social Care precept of 1.99%.

ii.  That grants totalling £73.1k be allocated to parishes as shown at Appendix 5.

iii.  Approval of the revised virement rules at Appendix 7 Virement Decisions to Amend Approved Budgets, specifically that the de minimis level for virements below which any variations to net managed budgets will be deemed ‘Other Budget Adjustments’ is increased from £10k to £50k. Budget movements that are not between budget headings within the approved net managed budget will also be ‘Other Budget Adjustments’.

iv.  Approval of the strategy at Appendix 9 in respect of the flexible use of capital receipts, specifically the additional planned use in 2023/24 of £6.7m and planned use in 2024/25 of £18.9m.

v.  In respect of the Housing Revenue Account that the budget be approved with:

·  An increase of 7.7% in dwelling rents.

·  An increase of 7.7% in garage and travellers site rent.

·  An increase of 7% for the standing charges in district heating schemes and the district heating unit rate will remain at 10p per kwh.

·  A 7% increase in heat consumption charges in sheltered complexes.

·  An increase in service charges for low/medium rise flats to £5.17 per week and for multi-storey flats to £12.20 per week.

·  An increase in the charge for tenants who benefit from the sheltered support service to £9.22 per week.

·  An increase in the Retirement Life charge for the provision of additional community facilities to £12.20 per week for services within complexes and £5.17 per week where they are within a standalone community centre.

·  An increase in the service charges for Wharfedale extra care scheme to £50.73 per week.

·  An increase in the service charge for Gascoigne House extra care scheme to £64.04 per week.

·  The support charge at both extra care schemes to increase from £24.54 in 2023/24 to £28.77 in 2024/25.

vi.  In respect of the Schools Budget, that the High Needs Block budget for 2024/25, as set out in paragraph 3.4 of the Schools Budget Report at Appendix 8 (specifically the table at paragraph 3.4.6) be approved.

ii)  Council Tax 

1)  Members are requested to note that, at the meeting on 17^th January 2024, Council agreed the following amounts for the year 2024/25, in accordance with regulations made under Sections 31B(3) and 34(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992: -  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources setting out recommendations from the Executive Board on 7^th February 2024 to Full Council to accept the Executive Board’s recommendation and adopt the updated Best City Ambition as part of the council’s Budget and Policy Framework.

The report of the Director of Strategy and Resources setting out recommendations from the Executive Board that met on 7^th February 2024, in relation to the Best City Ambition was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Flint and

RESOLVED –

a)  That the updated Best City Ambition, as attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be adopted as part of the council’s Budget and Policy Framework.

b)  To note that graphic design work will continue to be developed prior to publication of the updated Best City Ambition around 1st April 2024, which may include some amendments to wording.

c)  To note that the Director of Strategy and Resources will be responsible for implementing this decision.

d)  To agree to delete the Vision for Leeds from the Budget and Policy Framework at Part 2, Article 4.1(i) of the council’s constitution given the adoption of the Best City Ambition replaces it and there is no longer a statutory requirement for the council to maintain a Sustainable Community Strategy.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Human Resources setting out recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 7^th February 2024 to Full Council in respect of the Pay Policy Statement 2024/25.

The report of the Chief Officer Human Resources setting out recommendations from the General Purposes Committee that met on 7^th February 2024, in relation to approving the pay policy statement was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Flint and

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the Pay Policy Statement 2024/25, as set out in Appendix A of the submitted report and the content as set out in Appendix B of the submitted report be noted;

b)  That the Pay Policy Statement for the 2024/25 financial year as attached in Appendix A of the submitted report be approved;

c)  That the data in the Pay Policy Statement be updated once national pay negotiations for the 2024/25 financial year are concluded;

d)  To note that the Chief Officer Human Resources has existing delegated authority to make any necessary adjustments to the Council’s pay scales arising from nationally agreed pay awards.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor on appointments.

It was moved by Councillor Flint, seconded by Councillor Farley and

RESOLVED – That the report of the City Solicitor on appointments be approved, namely;

·  to note the mandatory appointment on The Health and Wellbeing Board of Jonathan Philips, who is the nominated representative of the Local Healthwatch Organisation.

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

It was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Flint that the minutes be received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(i).

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.

At the conclusion of this item the Council meeting finished.