Decision details

The Director of Communities, Housing and Environment submitted a report presenting a proposal to cease with the ‘Managed Approach’ and replace it with a revised approach, as outlined within the submitted report, in order to tackle and reduce on-street sex work in the city. The report noted that this proposal was seeking Executive Board’s endorsement, given that the proposal was subject to agreement by the Safer Leeds Community Safety Partnership.

In presenting the report, the Executive Member for Resources highlighted that she had written to all Members notifying them about the submission of this report to Executive Board.

Members considered the proposals detailed within the report. In response to some Members’ comments and concerns, specifically with regard to the time taken to arrive at the current proposals, the Board was provided with further information regarding the following: the initial aims of the Managed Approach and how those initial aims and the overall Approach had continued to be reviewed and evolved; the consideration of the outcomes arising from processes such as the independent review which was presented to the Board in July 2020 and the ‘Listening Well’ campaign; and the combination of factors which had led to the current proposals being submitted to Executive Board for endorsement and to the Safer Leeds Community Safety Partnership for agreement.

In discussing the report, Members highlighted that, further to the information provided at the meeting, they looked forward to receiving more detail on the proposals moving forward and the package of multi-agency support which would continue to be put in place for those affected.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the proposal to now cease with the Managed Approach and replace it with the revised approach outlined within the submitted report to tackle and reduce on-street sex work in the city, be endorsed, with it being noted that such proposals are subject to agreement by the Safer Leeds Community Safety Partnership (LSP);

(b)  That the significance of the operational developments leading to the proposed revised approach, be acknowledged and noted;

(c)  That it be noted that the Director of Communities, Housing and Environment, and where appropriate, partner organisations and representatives, will be responsible for the delivery of the revised approach;

(d)  That it be agreed that members of the Executive Board be kept informed and updated on any key changes arising from the implementation of the new approach.

(At the conclusion of this item, the meeting was adjourned at 2.30pm for a period of 30 minutes, prior to reconvening at 3.00pm)