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 Council that he would adjourn the meeting for a comfort break at an appropriate time in the afternoon.

(c) The Lord Mayor informed Council that Hon Alderman Keith Parker had recently passed away and Councillor Harland paid tribute to Hon Alderman Parker.

Council stood in silent tribute. 

To approve the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 18^th January 2023.

It was moved by Councillor Lennox, seconded by Councillor Cohen and

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th January 2023 be approved.

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

Prior to moving his amendments Councillor Dobson informed Council that he wished to declare an interest as a Neighbourhood Network Manager and on that basis he would be abstaining on voting on Amendments that may impact on that.

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

There were no communications.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Human Resources setting out recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 8^th February 2023 to Full Council in respect of the Pay Policy Statement 2023/24.

The report of the Chief Officer Human Resources putting forward recommendations from the General Purposes Committee that met on 8th February 2023, in relation to approving the pay policy statement was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Lennox and

RESOLVED –

a) That the contents of the Pay Policy Statement 2023/24, as set out in Appendix A to the submitted report and the content as set out in Appendix B to the submitted report be noted;

b) That the Pay Policy Statement for the 2023/24 financial year as set out 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 2023/24 financial year are concluded;

d) To 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.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory setting out recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 8^th February 2023 to Full Council in respect of the Community Governance Review - Thorp Arch Parish Council.

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory putting forward recommendations from the General Purposes Committee that met on 8th February 2023, in relation to approving an increase in the number of Parish Councillors for Thorp Arch Parish Council was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Lennox and

RESOLVED – That a request to increase the number of Parish Councillors for Thorp Arch Parish Councillors from 5 to 6 be approved.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory setting out recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 8^th February 2023 to Full Council in respect of the Community Governance Review - Ledston Parish Council.

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory putting forward recommendations from the General Purposes Committee that met on 8th February 2023, in relation to abolishing Ledston Parish Council was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Lennox and

RESOLVED – That a request to abolish Ledston Parish Council be approved.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor setting out recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 8^th February 2023 to Full Council in respect of the appointment of an additional Independent Person.

The report of the City Solicitor putting forward recommendations from the General Purposes Committee that met on 8th February 2023, in relation to the appointment of an additional Independent Person to the Standards and Conduct Committee was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Lennox and

RESOLVED – That Claire McManus be appointed as an Independent Person to the Standards and Conduct Committee, 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.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor on appointments.

It was moved by Councillor Lennox, seconded by Councillor Forsaith and

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

·  That Councillor Carlisle replace Councillor Blackburn on the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee.

i) Leeds City Council Revenue Budget 2023/24 

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Financial Services on the proposals for the City Council’s Revenue Budget for 2023/24.

ii) Council Tax 2023/2024

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Financial Services setting out the various steps in the process and the proposed council taxes for 2023/24 including the precepts issued by the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire, the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority and the parish and town councils within the Leeds area.

iii) Capital Programme Update 2023 – 2027

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Financial Services on the Capital programme for the period 2023 – 2027.

iv) Treasury Management Strategy 2023/2024

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Financial Services on the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy for 2023/24.

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 officer (the Chief Officer – Financial Services) that the Budget proposals for 2023/24 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 2023/24 totalling £573.4m be approved. This means that the Leeds element of council tax for 2023/24 will increase by 2.99% plus the Adult Social Care precept of 2.00%. This excludes the police and fire precepts which have been incorporated into the Council Tax report submitted to Council elsewhere on this agenda;

ii. That grants totalling £69.6k be allocated to parishes as shown at Appendix 5;

iii. Approval of the strategy at Appendix 9 in respect of the flexible use of capital receipts, specifically the additional planned use in 2022/23 of £2.7m and planned use in 2023/24 of £19.0m;

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

• An increase of 7% in dwelling rents;

• An increase of 7% in garage and travellers site rent;

• An increase of 12.6% (RPI) for the standing charges in district heating schemes and the district heating unit rate will increase to 10p per kwh;

• A 30% increase in heat consumption charges in sheltered complexes;

• An increase in service charges for low/medium rise flats to £4.83 per week and for multi-storey flats £11.40 per week;

• A decrease in the charge for tenants who benefit from the sheltered support

service to £8.51 per week;

• An increase in the Retirement Life charge for the provision of additional

community facilities to £11.40 per week for services within complexes and £4.83 per week where they are within a standalone community centre;

• An increase in the service charges for Wharfedale extra care scheme to £47.41 per week, in addition the support charge will increase by 9%.

v. In respect of the Schools Budget, that the High Needs Block budget for 2023/24, as set out in paragraph 4.4 of the Schools Budget Report at Appendix 8, specifically the table at paragraph 4.4.6 of the report, be approved.

ii)  Council Tax

1  Members are requested to note that, at the meeting on 18^th January 2023, Council agreed the following amounts for the year 2023/24, in accordance with regulations made under Sections 31B(3) and 34(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992: -

a)  239,337.8 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) as its council tax base for the year.

b)  Table 1: Tax base Numbers 2023/24

2  Members are requested to adopt the following the resolutions: -

a)  that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

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

It was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Lennox 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.