Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds

Contact: Kevin Tomkinson, Governance & Scrutiny Support Unit 

Media

Items
No. Item

68.

Announcements

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

(a)  The Lord Mayor reminded those present that the meeting was to be webcast.

 

(b)  The Lord Mayor congratulated Councillor Asghar Khan on his nomination as Lord Mayor Elect for the 2020-21 Municipal Year.

 

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

 

  • Tom Riordan CBE 
  • Wallace Sampson OBE
  • Professor Philip Howard OBE
  • Carol Dewhirst OBE
  • Juliet Wright OBE
  • David Toole OBE
  • William and Maureen Hughes MBE
  • Francis Clayton MBE
  • Dr Eileen Burns MBE
  • TrudeSilman MBE
  • Ruth Terry MBE
  • Amy Hearn BEM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

69.

Minutes of the last Meeting pdf icon PDF 678 KB

To approve the minutes of the Council Meetings held on 13th November 2019 and 4th December 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 13th November and 4th December 2019 be approved.

 

70.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest from Members

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interests.

 

71.

Communications

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no communications.

72.

Deputations

To receive deputations in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A deputation from a group regarding employment opportunities for people with a learning disability was admitted to the meeting and addressed Council and it was,

 

RESOLVED – That the subject matter in respect of the deputation be referred to the Director of Adults & Health and the Director of City Development for consideration in consultation with the relevant Executive Member. 

 

 

 

73.

Report on Leeds Award pdf icon PDF 132 KB

To consider the report of the City Solicitor in respect of the outcome of a meeting of the Leeds Award Panel.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED – That the recommendations of the Leeds Award Panel to nominate Dr Mags Portman to posthumously receive the Leeds Award, as presented by the report of the City Solicitor, be approved.

 

74.

Report on Appointments pdf icon PDF 144 KB

To consider the report of the City Solicitor on appointments.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED - That the report of the City Solicitor on appointments be approved, namely that Councillor Dawson replace ‘whips nominee’ on the West Yorkshire Pension Fund – Advisory Group and Councillor Richards to fill a vacancy on the Outer North East Community Community Committee and a Conservative vacancy on the Licensing Committee.

 

 

 

75.

Report on the Calculation of the Council Tax and Business Rates Tax Bases for 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 684 KB

To consider the report of the Chief Officer - Financial Services seeking agreement to the 2020/21 council tax bases for Leeds and the parish/town councils set out in the report and providing indicative business rates shares for 2020/21 and requesting Council to give delegated authority to the Chief Officer – Financial Services to finalise the shares and to submit them in the National Non-Domestic Rates 1 Return 2020/21 on or before 31st January 2020.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Chief Officer-Financial Services seeking Council approval to the 2020/21 council tax bases for Leeds and the parish/town councils set out in the report and providing indicative business rates shares for 2020/21 and  requesting Council to give delegated authority to the Chief Officer – Financial Services to finalise the shares and to submit them in the National Non-Domestic Rates 1 Return 2020-21 on or before31st January 2020 was moved by Councillor J Lewis, seconded by Councillor Dowson 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 2020/21 shall be 231,377.6  for Leeds and for each parish as listed in Section 3.3, of the report, and detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

b)  To agree the increase of the empty homes premium on long term empty properties which have been unoccupied for over two years from 100% to 200%, as detailed in Section 3.2 of the report;

c)  To note the indicative business rates shares set out in Section 3.4, of the report and delegate authority to the Chief Officer – Financial Services to make the detailed calculations and to submit the final figures to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on or before 31st January 2020.

76.

Executive Questions

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Q1  Councillor Andrew Carter to the Executive Member (Learning, Skills and Employment):-

 

  Would Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment  please inform the Council of the number of young people in unregistered alternative provision, full time or part time, and if he does not know would he explain to Council why not?

 

The Executive Member (Learning, Skills and Employment) replied.

 

Q2  Councillor Golton to the Executive Member (Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development):-

 

Does the portfolio holder responsible for Highways agree that responding to the needs of those with limited mobility should be a priority?

 

The Executive Member (Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development) replied.

 

Q3  Councillor Bithell to the Leader of Council:-

 

Given it is now 4 years since the devastation caused by Storm Eva, please can the Leader of Council provide an update on progress with the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2?

 

The Leader of Council replied.

 

Q4  Councillor Hutchison to the Executive Member (Health, Wellbeing and Adults):-

 

Please could the Executive Board Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adults explain why the referral time for Adult ADHD by the Leeds and York NHS Partnership is 9 to 10 months, adding anxiety to a possible sufferer who will be already experiencing attention deficit, focusing issues and the inability to wait their turn for an additional 10 months could invariably result in the individual becoming depressed and despondent with getting further help with the mental illness?

 

The Executive Member (Health, Wellbeing and Adults) replied.

 

Q5  Councillor Smart to the Executive Member (Communities):-

 

Can the Executive Board Member for Communities join me in congratulating the work being done to provide digital skills courses for Leeds mums by Leeds City Council?

 

The Executive Member (Communities) replied.

 

 

Q6  Councillor Wadsworth to the Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee:-

 

Does the Chair of the WYCA Transport Committee think that the council administration in Leeds was right to put so much faith in local bus operators to help solve Leeds’ transport problems?

 

The Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport

Committee replied.

 

Q7  Councillor Bentley to the Executive Member (Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development):-

 

Would the Executive Member inform Council what steps are being taken to improve the safety for pedestrians and cyclists at the Glen Road/Otley Road junction in Far Headingley?

 

The Executive Member (Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development) replied.

 

Q8  Councillor Wray to the Executive Member (Resources):-

 

Can the Executive Member please update Council on the Electric Vehicles trial scheme?

 

The Executive Member (Resources) replied.

 

Q9  Councillor A Blackburn to the Executive Member (Communities):-

 

Can the Executive Member for Communities please inform me as to whether the sprinkler system at Gamble Hill Croft and Gamble Hill Grange will be fully operational by the end of January 2020?

 

The Executive Member (Communities) 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,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

77.

Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Executive Board pdf icon PDF 272 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Stephenson, seconded by Councillor Cohen

 

To add the following at the end of item 9:

 

‘To ask the Executive Board to reconsider the recommendations in relation to minute 120 of the Executive Board minutes of 7 January 2020, in light of additional concerns in respect of safeguarding.’

 

 

Upon being put to the vote the amendment (reference back) was declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was

 

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 Council adjourned from 16.26 to 16.55

 

 

On the requisition of Councillor Stephenson and Cohen the recording on the amendment (reference back) was recorded as follows;

 

YES  -  33

 

B Anderson, C Anderson, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, Amanda Carter, Andrew Carter, Cohen, Collins, Dobson, Elliott, Field, Finnigan, Firth, Flynn, Forsaith, Gettings, Harrand, Harrington, M Harrison, Hutchison,  Kidger, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Richards, Robinson, Seary, Shemilt, Smith, Stephenson, J Taylor and Wadsworth.

 

NO  - 57

 

Akhtar, Almas, Arif, Bentley, Bithell, Blake, Brooks, Carlill, Charlwood, Coupar, Cunningham, Dawson, Downes, Dowson, Drinkwater, Dye, Gabriel, Garner, Garthwaite, Goddard, Golton, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, P Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, Hussain, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jenkins, Khan, Knight, Lennox, J Lewis, Maqsood, Marshall Katung, McKenna, Midgley, Mulherin,  Nash, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Scopes, Shahzad, Sharpe, Smart, Truswell, Venner, Walshaw, Wenham and Wray.

 

ABSTAIN  - 0

 

 

 

 

 

78.

Announcements

Additional documents:

Minutes:

a)  The Lord Mayor welcomed Cllr Field back following a period of illness.

 

b)  The Lord Mayor welcomed Cllr Richards to her first Council meeting following her recent success in the election for the Wetherby Ward.

 

c)  The Lord Mayor congratulated Ali Akbor who was honoured with an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.

 

79.

Report on Devolution pdf icon PDF 355 KB

To consider a report of the Chief Executive updating Members on matters related to the progress of Devolution and matters regarding the Leeds City Region LEP and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

80.

White Paper Motion (in the name of Councillor Andrew Carter) - Transport in the City pdf icon PDF 187 KB

This Council is concerned by recent and repeated examples of gridlock and heavy congestion in the City Centre, leading to significant disruption to commuters as they travel in and out of Leeds.

 

Council notes the investment being made through Connecting Leeds, including the £173.5m granted by Government, but believes that to get the city moving and to encourage greater growth and productivity a new approach to public transport, not wholly reliant on the bus, is required.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the Government commitment to spend £4.2bn on public transport projects outside of London and notes that some of this funding is planned for the Leeds district.

 

Council believes this offers a new opportunity to deliver a mass transit scheme for the city which will deliver obvious economic benefits as well as significantly reducing the city’s carbon emissions in line with the declared Climate Emergency.

 

Council further believes that all areas of the city should be considered for mass transit infrastructure and is concerned that existing WYCA proposals seem to omit North Leeds, and the potential links to Harrogate, York and Wetherby, from any new transport infrastructure plans.

 

In light of this announcement made during the election campaign, this Council calls for a report to be brought to the March Executive Board meeting setting out detailed plans as to how a new mass transit scheme can be delivered to all communities in the city and to include analysis of the potential benefits such a scheme would deliver in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in Leeds.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Andrew Carter, seconded by Councillor Buckley that this Council is concerned by recent and repeated examples of gridlock and heavy congestion in the City Centre, leading to significant disruption to commuters as they travel in and out of Leeds.

 

Council notes the investment being made through Connecting Leeds, including the £173.5m granted by Government, but believes that to get the city moving and to encourage greater growth and productivity a new approach to public transport, not wholly reliant on the bus, is required.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the Government commitment to spend £4.2bn on public transport projects outside of London and notes that some of this funding is planned for the Leeds district.

 

Council believes this offers a new opportunity to deliver a mass transit scheme for the city which will deliver obvious economic benefits as well as significantly reducing the city’s carbon emissions in line with the declared Climate Emergency.

 

Council further believes that all areas of the city should be considered for mass transit infrastructure and is concerned that existing WYCA proposals seem to omit North Leeds, and the potential links to Harrogate, York and Wetherby, from any new transport infrastructure plans.

 

In light of this announcement made during the election campaign, this Council calls for a report to be brought to the March Executive Board meeting setting out detailed plans as to how a new mass transit scheme can be delivered to all communities in the city and to include analysis of the potential benefits such a scheme would deliver in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in Leeds

 

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor D Blackburn, seconded by Councillor Forsaith

 

In the second paragraph, delete all between “… get the city moving” and “a new approach…”

 

Insert the following new paragraph between paragraphs five and six:  (“…transport infrastructure plan” and “In the light of…”)

 

“Council further believes that, where appropriate in the initial stages, priority should be given to the use of redundant former rail infrastructure.”

 

The motion would then read:

 

This Council is concerned by recent and repeated examples of gridlock and heavy congestion in the City Centre, leading to significant disruption to commuters as they travel in and out of Leeds.

Council notes the investment being made through Connecting Leeds, including the £173.5m granted by Government, but believes that to get the city moving a new approach to public transport, not wholly reliant on the bus, is required.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the Government commitment to spend £4.2bn on public transport projects outside of London and notes that some of this funding is planned for the Leeds district.

 

Council believes this offers a new opportunity to deliver a mass transit scheme for the city which will deliver obvious economic benefits as well as significantly reducing the city’s carbon emissions in line with the declared Climate Emergency.

 

Council further believes that all areas of the city should be considered for mass transit infrastructure and is concerned that existing WYCA  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

81.

White Paper Motion (in the name of Councillor D Blackburn) - Public Transport pdf icon PDF 182 KB

Council notes the current uncertain situation with regard to First Bus and other bus operators in West Yorkshire, and believes that the way forward is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take over the running of these operations.

 

Council also believes that appropriate funding should be made available to bring back into operation disused rail infrastructure, such as unused track, and the re-opening of many of the former local railway stations closed many years ago, such as the one in Wortley and the two in Armley.

 

It is Council’s view that only with vibrant publicly owned bus services, running in the interest of the passenger, and expanded local rail services can Leeds (or for that matter, West Yorkshire) achieve a 21st Century public transport system that delivers for its citizens, helps to reduce congestion and is consistent with the aims of the Climate Emergency.

 

Council also notes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he will transform transport in the North.  Bearing this in mind Council, therefore, calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister asking for the Government to support these aspirations, both in actions and funding.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor D Blackburn, seconded by Councillor A Blackburn that Council notes the current uncertain situation with regard to First Bus and other bus operators in West Yorkshire, and believes that the way forward is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take over the running of these operations.

 

Council also believes that appropriate funding should be made available to bring back into operation disused rail infrastructure, such as unused track, and the re-opening of many of the former local railway stations closed many years ago, such as the one in Wortley and the two in Armley.

 

It is Council’s view that only with vibrant publicly owned bus services, running in the interest of the passenger, and expanded local rail services can Leeds (or for that matter, West Yorkshire) achieve a 21st Century public transport system that delivers for its citizens, helps to reduce congestion and is consistent with the aims of the Climate Emergency.

 

Council also notes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he will transform transport in the North.  Bearing this in mind Council, therefore, calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister asking for the Government to support these aspirations, both in actions and funding.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Howley, seconded by Councillor Downes,

 

 In the first paragraph delete all after “Yorkshire” and replace with:

 

“.  It believes that the way forward is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take control of First’s operations and to be given franchising rights to control routes, frequency and ticketing of the bus services in West Yorkshire.”

 

In the second paragraph delete all after “disused” and replace with:

 

“/under used rail infrastructure along with the provision or re-provision of local railway stations including Wortley, Armley, Otley, Marsh Lane and Woodside Quarry.”

 

In the third paragraph remove “owned” and replace with “controlled”.

 

The amended White Paper will then read:

 

“Council notes the current uncertain situation with regard to First Bus and other bus operators in West Yorkshire.  It believes that the way forward is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take control of First’s operations and to be given franchising rights to control routes, frequency and ticketing of the bus services in West Yorkshire.

 

Council also believes that appropriate funding should be made available to bring back into operation disused/under used rail infrastructure along with the provision or re-provision of local railway stations including Wortley, Armley, Otley, Marsh Lane and Woodside Quarry.

 

It is Council’s view that only with vibrant publicly controlled bus services, running in the interest of the passenger, and expanded local rail services can Leeds (or for that matter, West Yorkshire) achieve a 21st Century public transport system that delivers for its citizens, helps to reduce congestion and is consistent with the aims of the Climate Emergency.

 

Council also notes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he will transform transport in the North.  Bearing this in mind Council, therefore, calls on the Chief  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

82.

White Paper Motion (in the name of Councillor Charlwood) - Funding for Services pdf icon PDF 186 KB

Council is proud of its record delivering high quality social care services for adults and children in Leeds, as well as delivering more affordable housing for Leeds residents and providing more school places. 

 

Council believes it is held back from making further improvements in these areas by a lack of action from central Government.  Council was disappointed that the Government failed to use the recent Queen’s Speech to put forward plans to address the national social care, school buildings or housing crises.

 

Council therefore requests the Prime Minister use his upcoming budget to provide funding to tackle the social care, school buildings and housing crises, and to thereby enable the council to make further improvements to these services for the people of Leeds. 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Charlwood, seconded by Councillor Pryor that Council is proud of its record delivering high quality social care services for adults and children in Leeds, as well as delivering more affordable housing for Leeds residents and providing more school places. 

 

Council believes it is held back from making further improvements in these areas by a lack of action from central Government.  Council was disappointed that the Government failed to use the recent Queen’s Speech to put forward plans to address the national social care, school buildings or housing crises.

 

Council therefore requests the Prime Minister use his upcoming budget to provide funding to tackle the social care, school buildings and housing crises, and to thereby enable the council to make further improvements to these services for the people of Leeds. 

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Andrew Carter, seconded by Councillor C Anderson

 

Delete all after ‘Council’ and replace with:

 

notes the recent record of delivering quality social care services for adults and children in Leeds, attempts to deliver more affordable housing for Leeds residents and provision of additional school places in the city. Council thanks staff for their continuing efforts in these areas and believes that the Queen’s Speech, and forthcoming Budget, offer a huge opportunity to deliver a genuine step change in service delivery and enhanced infrastructure in Leeds.

 

Council believes the Queen’s Speech sets out an ambitious programme that will re-focus and reinvigorate the UK as it moves towards leaving the European Union. In particular Council welcomes the following measures introduced through the Queen’s Speech:

 

·  On health a commitment to lock in £33.9bn of health spending over the next four years, deliver 40 new hospitals and deliver 50,000 new nurses and 6,000 new doctors, a further commitment on innovation in medicine and a move to scrap hospital parking charges for the most ill.

 

·  On education a school funding guarantee to areas that have lost out in the past

 

·  On crime a commitment to tougher sentencing that will ensure serious offenders are not released early from prison in addition to the additional 20,000 new police officers announced earlier in the year

 

·  On housing a new homes pledge that will see 1 million new homes created over the new parliament as well as support for first time buyers through a local discount to enable more home ownership and additional protections for those in rented properties.

 

·  On social care a commitment to invest an additional £1bn in each year of the new parliament

 

·  On business rates additional discounts for small businesses that will support local high streets throughout Leeds

 

These amongst a range of other measures makes this a hugely ambitious Queen’s Speech and through the planned legislation on Brexit shows that the People’s Government will listen to the public and deliver against the mandate they secured in December.

 

Finally Council looks forward to the Budget in March where plans to reform the so called ‘green book’ will be unveiled. This will see investment rebalanced  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.