Agenda for General Purposes Committee on Wednesday, 8th February, 2023, 10.00 am

General Purposes Committee - Wednesday, 8th February, 2023 10.00 am

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR

Contact: Andy Booth

Link: to View Meeting Recording

Items
No.	Item
25.	Appeals against refusal of inspection of documents To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an appeal the press and public will be excluded). (*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting) Minutes: There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.
26.	Exempt Information - possible exclusion of the press and public 1 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. 2 To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information. 3 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:- Minutes: There were no resolutions to exclude the public.
27.	Late items To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration (The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes) Minutes: There were no late items.
28.	Declaration of Interests To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
29.	Apologies for absence To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting. Minutes: Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors S Arif, A Carter, D Coupar and J Lennox. Councillor M Harland was in attendance as substitute.
30.	Minutes of the last meeting - 14 December 2022 PDF 97 KB To receive and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2022 Minutes: RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on the Wednesday, 14 December 2022 be approved as a correct record.
31.	Approval of the Pay Policy Statement 2023/24 PDF 404 KB To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer, Human Resources. Additional documents: Appendix A Annual Pay Policy Statement 23.24 (002) , item 31. PDF 383 KB Appendix B pay multiple comparisons , item 31. PDF 86 KB Minutes: The report of the Chief Officer, Human Resources set out the Council’s Annual Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24 (Appendix A). This was required under the Localism Act 2011 and must be annually approved by Full Council before 31 March each year. Jessica Dolphin, Human Resources Service Manage and Claire Matson, Head of Human Resources were in attendance to resent the report. RESOLVED – (1) That the contents of the Pay Policy Statement 2023/24 at Appendix A and the content as set out in Appendix B be noted. (2) That the Full Council be recommend to: (a) Approve the Pay Policy Statement for the 2023/24 financial year as attached in Appendix A. (b) Resolve that the data in the Pay Policy Statement be updated once national pay negotiations for the 2023/24 financial year are concluded. (c) Note that the Chief Officer (HR) has existing delegated authority to make any necessary adjustments to the Council’s pay scales arising from nationally agreed pay awards.
32.	Community Governance Review of Thorp Arch Parish Council PDF 483 KB To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory Additional documents: Appendix A - Thorp Arch Parish CGR Request , item 32. PDF 750 KB Appendix B - Map of Thorp Arch Parish Council , item 32. PDF 2 MB Appendix C - NALC Guidance-on-councillor-numbers , item 32. PDF 125 KB Appendix D - Wetherby Ward Cllr Support , item 32. PDF 100 KB Minutes: The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory reminded Members of the approval to carry out a Community Governance Review of Thorp Arch Parish Council. The Parish Council had requested an increase in the number of Councillors from 5 to 6. A consultation exercise had taken place as part of the review process and the report set out the outcome of the consultation and recommendation of the Electoral Working Group. John Mulchay, Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory and Susanna Benton, Head of Electoral Services were in attendance to present the report. RESOLVED – (1) That it be recommended to Full Council that the number of Councillors for Thorp Arch Parish Council be increased from 5 to 6. (2) That the change is implemented in time to be effective for the parish Council elections on 4 May 2023.
33.	Community Governance Review of Ledston Parish Council PDF 415 KB To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory Additional documents: Appendix A - Ledston Consultation responses , item 33. PDF 288 KB Appendix B - Ledston PC Request , item 33. PDF 437 KB Appendix C - Ledston Timeline of issues , item 33. PDF 89 KB Appendix D - Ledston PC Map , item 33. PDF 3 MB Minutes: The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory informed Members of the outcome of the Community Governance Review of Ledston Parish Council. The review had been requested by the Parish Council which had been subsequently approved by General Purposes Committee and a 5 week consultation period followed which ended on 19 January 2023. Responses to the consultation were appended to the report. John Mulchay, Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory and Susanna Benton, Head of Electoral Services were in attendance for this item. RESOLVED – (1) That the responses to the consultation period be noted. (2) That the abolition of Ledston Parish Council be recommended to Full Council.
34.	Appointment of Additional Independent Person PDF 330 KB To receive and consider the attached report of the City Solicitor Additional documents: App 1 to GPC report , item 34. PDF 183 KB Minutes: The report of the City Solicitor presented the Committee with a recommendation of a Member Panel in relation to the appointment of an Independent Person. Five candidates had applied for the position and on the basis if their written application and interview, the Panel agreed to recommend the appointment of Mrs Claire McManus as the Independent Person for a period of two years beginning on 1 April 2023 with an option to extend for a further two years. Nicole Walker, Head of Service, attending the meeting to present the report. RESOLVED – That it be recommended to Full Council that Claire McManus be appointed for a period of up to two years, with an option to extend by a further two years, subject to agreement between the Council and Mrs McManus, pursuant to s.28 Localism Act 2011.