Agenda and minutes

a)  The Chair reminded those present that the meeting was to be webcast.

b)  The Chair congratulated Councillor Jane Dowson on her selection as Lord Mayor elect for 2017/18.

c)  The Chair congratulated the following who were honoured in the Queen’s New Year Honours List:-

·  Nigel Richardson CBE

·  Prof Carol Smart CBE

·  Nicola Adams OBE

·  Angela Cox OBE

·  Alexander Fox OBE

·  Colin Glass OBE

·  Prof Anne Neville OBE

·  Mohammad Taj OBE

·  Timothy Adams MBE

·  Paul Bennett MBE

·  Roderick Clifton MBE

·  Kadeena Cox MBE

·  Adam Duggleby MBE

·  Chris Mears MBE

·  Catherine Partett MBE

·  David Wilkinson MBE

·  Dr Jason Aldiss BEM

·  Dr Slow Yen Andersen BEM 

To approve the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 9^th November 2016.

It was moved by Councillor Ogilvie, seconded by Councillor G Latty and

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th November 2016 be approved.

Councillor M Dobson declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in respect of Item 13 - White Paper Motion on Neighbourhood Networks as a Manager of a Neighbourhood Network (minute 78 refers).

At the request of Members, the City Solicitor provided advice in respect of Item 13 - White Paper Motion on Neighbourhood Networks (minute 78 refers), Members were advised that they did not have a Disclosable Pecuinary Interest nor were they required to declare an 'Other' interest if they were simply a Member of a Neighbourhood Network.

In respect of Item 5 – Recommendations of the Executive Board, Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2017/18 (minute 70 refers) the City Solicitor advised two Members that they did not have a Disclosable Pecuinary Interest in the decision being taken and therefore did not need to declare an interest.

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

a)  The Chief Executive informed Council that responses to 2 resolutions had been received from David Gauke MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury in respect of the White Paper on Austerity in Local Government considered by Council in September and Lord Nash, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System in respect of the White Paper on Grammar Schools considered by Council in November copies of which had been previously circulated to all Members of Council.

b)  Councillor Andrew Carter informed Council of his concerns in respect of The Green home in Seacroft and an emergency meeting that had taken place at the Green about closure of the facility in July 2017 which was contrary to the Executive Board resolution in November 2016.

Councillor Andrew Carter asked that the Chief Executive write to all members of the Executive Board within 7 days explaining the position, that the Executive Board in February 2017 receive a full report explaining the position and he hoped that the Scrutiny Board would look at the issue as a matter of urgency. 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 it was moved by Councillor J Procter, seconded by Councillor G Latty that the matter raised by Councillor Andrew Carter in his communication be referred to the Executive Board for consideration.

Upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED - That the issue raised by Councillor Andrew Carter in his communication be referred to the Executive Board for consideration.

To receive deputations in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

Four deputations were admitted to the meeting and addressed Council, as follows:-

1)  Leeds Children’s Mayor

2)  Friends of St John’s Church Roundhay

3)  Save Parlington Action Group

4)  Frack Free Leeds and the Knostrop Campaign

RESOLVED – That the subject matter in respect of deputation 1 be referred to the Acting Director of Children’s Services for consideration in consultation with the relevant Executive Member, that the subject matter in respect of deputations 2 be referred to the Director of Environment & Housing for consideration in consultation with the relevant Executive Member, that the subject matter in respect of deputations 3 and 4 be referred to the Director of City Development for consideration in consultation with the relevant Executive Member.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) setting out recommendations from the Executive Board on 14 December 2016 recommendinga local Council Tax Support Scheme for adoption by Council in 2017/18. The scheme will operate for the 17/18 financial year and would continue each year thereafter until the Council adopts a different scheme.

It was moved by Councillor Coupar, seconded by Councillor Ogilvie and

RESOLVED –

a)  To adopt a local Council Tax Support scheme that:

·  Replaces the current Council Tax Support scheme with a Council Tax Support that is aligned with Universal Credit as set out in appendix B of the report;

·  Moves customers onto the new scheme when they are due to transfer to Universal Credit and maintains the current scheme in the meantime;

·  Replaces the scheme of automatic protections with a discretionary hardship scheme with the exception of customers in receipt of Armed Forces Compensation Payments;

·  Moves eligible customers off the scheme of automatic protections when they are due to transfer to Universal Credit

·  Delegates the design and value of the discretionary hardship scheme to the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) with a requirement that the hardship scheme is taken to Scrutiny Board

·  Aligns the treatment of changes in Council Tax Support with the treatment of changes in Housing Benefit

·  Delegates the development of an operational policy for the treatment of fluctuating income to the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities).

b)  To note that the decision will be implemented by the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) and will take effect from 1 April 2017. Implementation will commence as part of the 17/18 annual billing process in order for the new Scheme to be effective from 1 April 2017.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor setting out recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 5 December 2016 to Full Council to consider amendments to the Procedure Rules.

It was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Ogilvie and

RESOLVED – That Council approve the amendments to the Council Procedure Rules set out at Appendix A to the report which would allow greater flexibility around the appointment of substitutes to Plans Panels and the Housing Advisory Board.

To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive seeking agreement to the 2017/18 council tax bases for Leeds and the parish/town councils set out in the report and providing indicative business rates shares for 2017/18 and to request that Council give delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive to finalise the shares and to submit them in the National Non-Domestic Rates Return 1 2017-18 on or before31^st January 2017.

It was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Ogilvie and

RESOLVED -

a)  To agree that, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012,  the amount calculated by the Council as its council tax base for the year 2017/18 shall be 221,937.7 for Leeds and for each parish as listed in Section 3.5 of the report and detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

b)  To note the indicative business rates shares set out in Section 3.8 of the report and delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive to make the detailed calculations and to submit the final figures to the Department for Communities and Local Government on or before 31^st January 2017.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor on appointments.

It was moved by Councillor Ogilvie, seconded by Councillor Buckley and

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report of the City Solicitor on appointments be approved, namely that Councillor Lamb replace Councillor J Procter on Scrutiny Board (Environment and Housing), Councillor Amanda Carter replace Councillor J Procter on General Purposes Committee and Councillor Buckley replace Councillor Lamb on Member Management Committee.

b)  That Councillor Lamb be appointed as Chair of Scrutiny Board (Environment and Housing).

To consider the report of the City Solicitor in respect of the Leeds Award.

It was moved by Councillor Hyde, seconded by Councillor Ogilvie and

RESOLVED – That the recommendations of the Leeds Award Panel to nominate Mr John Wilson to receive the Leeds Award, as presented by the report of the City Solicitor, be approved.

To deal with questions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

Q1  Councillor Amanda Carter to the Chair of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel:-

Does the Chair of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel believe that the Police and Crime Commissioner has performed his role competently, given that the region was recently shamed as being ‘the crime capital of England and Wales’?

The Chair of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel replied.

Q2  Councillor Campbell to the Leader of Council:-

Can the Leader of Council explain which executive member authorised the decision to appeal the ruling of the Information Commissioner regarding Freedom of Information disclosure of members in council tax arrears?

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.3.b the Executive

Member (Strategy and Resources) replied.

Q3  Councillor H Hayden to the Executive Member for Children and Families:-

Would the Executive Member please comment on the Government’s decision to abolish the civil services’ Child Poverty Unit? 

The Executive Member for Children and Families replied.

Q4  Councillor A Blackburn to the Executive Member (Communities):-

Can the Executive Member for Communities inform me how many private landlords have joined the Council’s Private Rented Accommodation Accreditation Scheme during the last year?

The Executive Member (Communities) replied.

Q5  Councillor K Renshaw to the Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning

Can the Executive board member with responsibility for planning please update members on the appeal for Church Fields, otherwise known as Land at Bradford Road, East Ardsley.

The Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning

replied.

Q6  Councillor Andrew Carter to the Leader of Council:-

Will the Leader of Council confirm if Leeds is going to be a pilot area for voter ID?

The Leader of Council replied.

Q7  Councillor C Campbell to the Executive Member (Communities):-

Could the executive member update council on what action West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner is taking to reduce non-emergency waiting times?

The Executive Member (Communities)replied.

Q8  Councillor B Selby to the Leader of Council :-

Will the Leader of Council please update Council on plans for European Capital of Culture 2023?

The Leader of Council replied.

Q9  Councillor A Hussain to the Executive Member for Employment, Enterprise and Opportunity:-

Can the Executive Member update Council on the provision to support people with long-term health conditions back into work?

The Executive Member for Employment, Enterprise and Opportunity

Replied:-

Q10  Councillor R Stephenson to the Executive Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning):-

Can the Executive Member explain why, during his recent conversation with the city's commuters, no feasibility study was commissioned into the benefits of a rapid transit system utilising light rail?

The Executive Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning):-

replied.

At the conclusion of question time, the following questions remained unanswered and it was noted that, under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 11.6, written answers would be sent to each Member of Council:-

Q11  Councillor S Golton to the Executive Member (Health, Wellbeing and Adults)

Q12  Councillor J Pryor to the Executive Member (Communities).

Q13  Councillor S Hamilton to the Executive Member(Health, Wellbeing and Adults)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

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

It was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Ogilvie 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.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor Cleasby required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on this matter.)

At the conclusion of this item Council adjourned from 16.20 to 16.50.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive updating Members on matters in the Leeds City Region LEP and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, specifically this report provides details of the latest public combined authority meeting in December.

It was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor J Lewis and

RESOLVED – That the report of the Chief Executive updating Members on matters in respect of devolution be received.

This Council welcomes the ongoing work being carried out by the Neighbourhood Network Strategic Advisory Group into the future re-commissioning of Neighbourhood Networks in the city.

Council fully supports the work done city wide by Neighbourhood Networks and believes that they provide an invaluable service to many residents in many different communities across the city. Neighbourhood Networks not only provide a great service to residents but also provide services efficiently and deliver significant cost savings to the Council.

This Council believes that Neighbourhood Networks have the potential to be a cornerstone of social prescribing as the concept continues to develop in Leeds.

This Council further believes that funding for Neighbourhood Networks should remain unchanged and continue at current levels.

It was moved by Councillor C Anderson, seconded by Councillor Buckley that this Council welcomes the ongoing work being carried out by the Neighbourhood Network Strategic Advisory Group into the future re-commissioning of Neighbourhood Networks in the city.

Council fully supports the work done city wide by Neighbourhood Networks and believes that they provide an invaluable service to many residents in many different communities across the city. Neighbourhood Networks not only provide a great service to residents but also provide services efficiently and deliver significant cost savings to the Council.

This Council believes that Neighbourhood Networks have the potential to be a cornerstone of social prescribing as the concept continues to develop in Leeds.

This Council further believes that funding for Neighbourhood Networks should remain unchanged and continue at current levels.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Charlwood, seconded by Councillor Nagle;

Replace all after “This Council” with:

"praises the key role of Neighbourhood Networks, such as Armley Helping Hands, Older People’s Action in the Locality and organisations covering a further 35 areas of Leeds, in supporting older people to live safe, independent lives in their communities, whilst also contributing significantly to the wider prevention agenda, easing pressure on local health and care systems including the National Health Service. This includes the Neighbourhood Networks now reporting over 2,500 instances of helping to avoid hospital admission each year and improving the health and well-being of those using the service.

Council further welcomes the establishment of the all-party Neighbourhood Network Strategic Advisory Group which is currently undertaking an open and transparent review into the future recommissioning of the Neighbourhood Network Schemes (NNS) in Leeds.

Council also notes the nationally recognised Neighbourhood Network Services have demonstrated that investment in prevention can fundamentally work to improve lives of people in the city and delay entry into other health and care services. 

Furthermore, this work highlights the ability of local government to deliver innovative programmes which can shape and inform good practice in the sector.

However, the continued cuts to local government, specifically in public health and social care, alongside the squeeze on NHS budgets means that the funding environment remains very uncertain.

Council therefore calls on the government to place health and social care funding on a stable footing, clearly prioritising prevention in the development of the Sustainability and Transformation Plans , to ensure local authorities with health and care partners can effectively address health inequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of people in their areas.”

Full motion will the read:

"This Council praises the key role of Neighbourhood Networks, such as Armley Helping Hands, Older People’s Action in the Locality and organisations covering a further 35 areas of Leeds, in supporting older people to live safe, independent lives in their communities, whilst also contributing significantly to the wider prevention agenda, easing pressure on local health and care systems including the National Health Service. This includes the Neighbourhood Networks now reporting over 2,500 instances of helping to avoid hospital admission each year  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

This council believes that for residential developments to be sustainable they must have services and infrastructure at the same standard throughout the city.

Council therefore believes that a blanket ban on brown bin collections for residents in new developments along with "hard to reach areas" is unfair, discriminatory and divisive.

Council further notes that only operating the garden waste collection between March and October prevents a substantial volume of waste from being recycled.

Council therefore calls on the executive member for environment and sustainability to reverse the brown bin ban and use part of the £7million waste management saving generated by the East Leeds Incinerator to replace it with a policy that treats residents equitably and extend collections over the whole year.

It was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor Downes that this council believes that for residential developments to be sustainable they must have services and infrastructure at the same standard throughout the city.

Council therefore believes that a blanket ban on brown bin collections for residents in new developments along with "hard to reach areas" is unfair, discriminatory and divisive.

Council further notes that only operating the garden waste collection between March and October prevents a substantial volume of waste from being recycled.

Council therefore calls on the executive member for environment and sustainability to reverse the brown bin ban and use part of the £7million waste management saving generated by the East Leeds Incinerator to replace it with a policy that treats residents equitably and extend collections over the whole year. 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Yeadon, seconded by Councillor Sobel;

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

“notes the continued commitment of the Labour Administration to provide a free brown bin service to 62% of properties, unlike many local authorities across the country.

Council notes that despite Conservative and Liberal Democrat cuts to the council’s budget of £214m since 2010 and with £100m more still to come, the Council has maintained and protected its free garden waste collection service. The savings the service have made towards this, including the £7m from the RERF, are just a small proportion of the amount that is needed to sustain vital frontline services such as those for vulnerable people and children. 

This Council restates its ambition, despite these financial challenges, to expand the service in the future by continuing to review and look for improvements in waste management. In 2014, following a review of the service and finding more efficiency, this Council was able to expand the service to around 15,000 more properties. This Council will continue with this ambition and work with residents, communities, businesses and third sector parties to increase recycling and reuse practices across the city.”  

The full motion will then read:

“This Council notes the continued commitment of the Labour Administration to provide a free brown bin service to 62% of properties, unlike many local authorities across the country.

Council notes that despite Conservative and Liberal Democrat cuts to the council’s budget of £214m since 2010 and with £100m more still to come, the Council has maintained and protected its free garden waste collection service. The savings the service have made towards this, including the £7m from the RERF, are just a small proportion of the amount that is needed to sustain vital frontline services such as those for vulnerable people and children. 

This Council restates its ambition, despite these financial challenges, to expand the service in the future by continuing to review and look for improvements in waste management. In 2014, following a review of the service and finding more efficiency, this Council was able to expand the service to around 15,000 more properties. This Council will continue with this ambition and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

This Council believes every elderly or disabled person should receive care appropriate to their personal needs and be treated with respect, dignity and compassion.

Council is therefore dismayed by Government cuts of £4.6bn to Adult Social Care in the last Parliament, while corporation tax will be cut by £7.5bn over the next five years.

Council finds it unforgiveable that the Autumn Statement ignored nationwide calls from local government leaders of all parties, care providers, charities and the NHS to address the social care funding crisis.   

Council believes funding for social care should be allocated on need, so is concerned the social care precept announced as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement is little more than a sticking plaster that unfairly puts the burden on local council tax payers and favours affluent areas of the country over more deprived areas.

This Council calls for Government to urgently reconsider its corporation tax cut and instead re-direct sufficient additional funding to Adult Social Care in order to provide the social care people in Leeds need. 

Council further calls on Government to initiate cross-party talks to develop an agreed national, long term solution on social care funding. 

It was moved by Councillor Charlwood, seconded by Councillor Dawson that this Council believes every elderly or disabled person should receive care appropriate to their personal needs and be treated with respect, dignity and compassion.

Council is therefore dismayed by Government cuts of £4.6bn to Adult Social Care in the last Parliament, while corporation tax will be cut by £7.5bn over the next five years.

Council finds it unforgiveable that the Autumn Statement ignored nationwide calls from local government leaders of all parties, care providers, charities and the NHS to address the social care funding crisis.   

Council believes funding for social care should be allocated on need, so is concerned the social care precept announced as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement is little more than a sticking plaster that unfairly puts the burden on local council tax payers and favours affluent areas of the country over more deprived areas.

This Council calls for Government to urgently reconsider its corporation tax cut and instead re-direct sufficient additional funding to Adult Social Care in order to provide the social care people in Leeds need. 

Council further calls on Government to initiate cross-party talks to develop an agreed national, long term solution on social care funding. 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor Campbell

Delete all in paragraph two after “dismayed by” and replace with “successive governments’ failures to increase adult social care funding in line with increasing demand, need and cost.”

After “address the” in paragraph three, insert “long standing”

Insert at the end of the motion – “Council believes that the care funding crisis and instability of the private care sector mean that the current council policy to transfer all Leeds residential care provision to the private sector is misguided and puts residents at risk.

Council calls on the executive member for health wellbeing and adults to amend the better lives strategy to promote a better mix of care providers in the city and a more stable footing for the Leeds care economy.”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Finnigan, seconded by Councillor Varley

Delete everything other than the first and last paragraphs and replace with

“This Council notes the failure of successive Governments of all political persuasions to deliver a realistic and sustainable financial strategy to provide adequate funding for Adult Social Care.”

The motion will therefore read

“This Council believes every elderly or disabled person should receive care appropriate to their personal needs and be treated with respect, dignity and compassion.

This Council notes the failure of successive Governments of all political parties to deliver a realistic and sustainable financial strategy to provide adequate funding for Adult Social Care.

Council further calls on Government to initiate cross-party talks to develop an agreed national, long term solution on social care funding.”

A third amendment was moved by Councillor C Anderson, seconded by Councillor Stephenson;

Delete all after: ‘respect, dignity and compassion’ and replace with:

Council notes the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.