Agenda and minutes

a)  The Lord Mayor welcomed Tom Riordan, Chief Executive, to his first meeting of Council.

b)  The Lord Mayor reported that Ian Walton of Governance Services had recently retired and wished him a long and happy retirement.

c)  The Lord Mayor reported the recent deaths of Lady Edna Healey, Honorary Alderman Linda Middleton MBE DL and Denise Preston, and Council stood in silent tribute.

It was moved by Councillor Gruen and seconded by Councillor Lobley under Council Procedure Rule 22.1 that Procedure Rule 3.0 (time limits for business) be suspended to allow the business of the ordinary meeting to be extended by the duration of the Extraordinary Meeting and

RESOLVED – That Council Procedure Rule 3 be suspended to allow the business of the ordinary meeting to be extended by thirty-five minutes.

To confirm the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 14^th July 2010.

It was moved by Councillor Gruen and seconded by Councillor Lobley and

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th July 2010 be approved.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members

The Lord Mayor announced that a list of written declarations submitted by Members was on deposit in the public galleries and had been circulated to each Member’s place in the Chamber.

Following an invitation to declare individual interests, and advice regarding potential declarations having been given from the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) in relation to minute 29 declarations in accordance with the Council’s Member’s Code of Conduct were made as follows:- 

a)   Members declared personal interests in minute 29 of this meeting as follows:-

b)  Councillor Smith declared a personal and prejudicial interest in minute 29 as a client of his may be affected.

c)  Members declared personal interests in minute 31 of this meeting, as follows:-

d)  Members declared personal interests in minute 32 of this meeting, as follows:-

e)  Members declared personal interests in minute 33 of this meeting, as follows:-

To receive deputations in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10

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

1)  Leeds Youth Council Regarding the Equality and Diversity Action Plan.

2)  Local Residents concerned at access arrangements to Throstle Nest Villa, Horsforth.

3)  Unison Leeds Community Health regarding NHS Leeds and Social Enterprise.

RESOLVED – That the subject matter in respect of the deputations be referred to the Executive Board for consideration.

To consider the following report which the Chief Executive considers to be appropriate to be received at this meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(f):-

That the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) on appointments be approved

P GRUEN

a)  Appointments

It was moved by Councillor Gruen seconded by Councillor Lobley and

RESOLVED – That the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) on appointments be approved, subject to an amendment to paragraph 1.2; the appointments approved were as follows:-

-  Cllr Morgan replaces Cllr J Harper on Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services).

-  Cllr A Hussain replaces Cllr A McKenna on Scrutiny Board (Health)

-  Cllr Taggart replaces Cllr G Harper on Plans Panel (City Centre)

-  Cllr Nash replaces Cllr Mulherin on Development Plans Panel

-  Cllr W Hyde replaces Councillor Anderson on West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority.

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

It was moved by Councillor Gruen and seconded by Councillor Lobley that, under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 2.3, the recommendations of the General Purposes Committee be heard next.

RESOLVED – To vary the order of business to allow the recommendations of the General Purposes Committee to be heard next.

That the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) on a recommendation of the General Purposes Committee with regard to a proposed amendment to Council Procedure Rules be approved

K WAKEFIELD

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield seconded by Councillor Blake and

RESOLVED – That Council approve the recommendation of the General Purposes Committee that Council Procedure Rule 11.6 be amended to allow, at the close of question time, the question in progress to be dealt with in full, including the asking and response to any supplementary question.

To deal with questions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11

1)  Councillor A Carter to the Executive Member (Development & Regeneration).

Can the Executive Board Member for City Development confirm that the reduction he has agreed in spending on highway maintenance is the £476,000 outlined in the Executive Board Report that went to the August cycle

The Executive Member (Development & Regeneration) replied.

2)  Councillor Harris to the Executive Member (Environmental Services).

Can the Executive Board Member for Environmental Services please confirm if the figures highlighted in the YEP on 8th July 2010 regarding the cost to the council of the bin strike last year are correct?

The Executive Member (Environmental Services) replied.

3)  Councillor Dobson to the Executive Member (Neighbourhoods and Housing).

Would the Executive Member for Environment & Neighbourhoods please confirm the cost to the Council of Court Orders and cleanups in respect of traveller encampments since 2004?

The Executive Member (Neighbourhoods and Housing) replied.

4)  Councillor G Hussain to the Executive Member (Children’s Services).

Would the Executive Member for Children’s Services care to comment on the impact of the threatened cut in funding to the national Playbuilder scheme on proposed projects across Leeds?

The Executive Member (Children’s Services) replied.

5)  Councillor A Carter to the Executive Member (Environmental Services).

Will the Executive Board Member for Environmental Services confirm that savings to the City Council (and therefore the council tax payer) that will result from the re-routing of the refuse collection service and other related issues are now estimated at around £2.4million per annum? 

The Executive Member (Environmental Services) replied.

6)  Councillor Monaghan to the Executive Member (Environmental Services).

Can the Executive Board Member for Environmental Services provide an update on the progress of implementing the streetscene change programme? 

The Executive Member (Environmental Services) replied.

7)  Councillor Dunn to the Executive Member (Children’s Services).

Would the Executive Member for Children’s Services care to comment on the recently announced A Level and GCSE results? 

The Executive Member (Children’s Services) replied.

8)  Councillor Groves to the Executive Member (Leisure)

Could the Executive Board Member for Leisure please update Council on the plan to renovate Middleton Park? 

The Executive Member (Leisure) replied.

9)  Councillor W Hyde to the Executive Member (Neighbourhoods and Housing).

Can the Executive Board Member for Neighbourhoods & Housing confirm where he plans to locate the administration’s new gypsy and traveller accommodation? 

The Executive Member (Neighbourhoods and Housing) 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:

10.  Cllr Cleasby to the Executive Member (Adult Social Care).

11.  Councillor Maqsood to the Executive Member (Neighbourhood and Housing).

12.  Councillor G Harper to the Executive Member (Development & Regeneration).

13.  Councillor Lobley to the Executive Member (Adult Social Care).

14.  Councillor Pryke to the Executive Member (Environmental Services).

15.  Councillor Pryke to the Executive Member (Neighbourhood and Housing).

16.  Councillor Cleasby to the Executive Member (Environmental Services).

17.  Councillor Pryke to the Executive Member (Environmental Services)

18.  Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

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

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

An amendment (reference back) was moved by Councillor Golton and seconded by Councillor J Procter to add the following at the end of item 8:-

‘but to ask the Executive Board to reconsider the decisions (a, b, c) in relation to the ‘(b) Reduction in Grants: Implications for Services’, as contained in minute 71, page 46/47 of the Executive Board minutes of 25^th August 2010.

The amendment 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.

On the requisitions of Councillors J Procter and J L Carter, the voting on the amendment (reference back) was recorded as follows:-

PRESENT  -  95

YES

Anderson, Barker, Bentley, Brett, Campbell, A Carter, J L Carter, Castle, Chapman, Chastney, Cleasby, Downes, Ewens, Mrs R Feldman, R D Feldman, Fox, Golton, M Hamilton, Harrand, Harris, W Hyde, Kendall, Kirkland, Lamb, Lancaster, G Latty, P Latty, Lobley, Marjoram, Matthews, Monaghan, J Procter, R Procter, Pryke, Robinson, Schofield, A Taylor, Townsley, Wilkinson, Wilson, Wood.

41

NO

Akhtar, Armitage, Atha, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Blake, Congreve, Coulson, Davey, Dobson, Dowson, Driver, Dunn, Gabriel, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, Gruen, S Hamilton, Hanley, Hardy, G Harper, J Harper, A Hussain, G Hussain, G Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Maqsood, A McKenna, Morgan, Mulherin, Murray, Nash, Ogilvie, Parker, Rafique, Renshaw, Selby, Taggart, E Taylor, Wakefield, Yeadon. 

48

ABSTAIN

Elliott, Finnigan, Gettings, Grayshon, Leadley, Varley.

6

During the debate under minute 29, above, the following motions to suspend Council Procedure Rules were moved:-

a)  Meeting adjournment

It was moved by Council Golton and seconded by Councillor J Procter that under Council Procedure Rule 13.2(h) the meeting be adjourned to allow consideration to be given to the provision of the exempt information which related to the reference back as detailed within minute 29.

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was declared lost.

On the requisition of Councillors J Procter and J L Carter, the voting on the motion to adjourn the meeting was recorded as follows:-

PRESENT  -  98

YES

Anderson, Barker, Bentley, Brett, Campbell, A Carter, J L Carter, Castle, Chapman, Chastney, Cleasby, Downes, Ewens, Mrs R Feldman, R D Feldman, Fox, Golton, M Hamilton, Harrand, Harris, W Hyde, Kendall, Kirkland, Lamb, Lancaster, G Latty, P Latty, Lobley, Marjoram, Matthews, Monaghan, J Procter, R Procter, Pryke, Robinson, Schofield, Smith, A Taylor, Townsley, Wilkinson, Wilson, Wood, Vote of the Lord Mayor.

43

NO

Akhtar, Armitage, Atha, Atkinson, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Blake, Congreve, Coulson, Davey, Dobson, Dowson, Driver, Dunn, Gabriel, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, Gruen, S Hamilton, Hanley, Hardy, G Harper, J Harper, A Hussain, G Hussain, G Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Maqsood, A McKenna, Morgan, Mulherin, Murray, Nash, Ogilvie, Parker, Rafique, Renshaw, Selby, Taggart, E Taylor, Wakefield, Yeadon.

49

ABSTAIN

Elliott, Finnigan, Gettings, Grayshon, Leadley, Varley.

6

b)  Change to Order of Business

It was moved by Councillor Lobley and seconded by Councillor Bentley, that under Council Procedure Rule 13.2(c), the order of business be changed to enable consideration of the amendment (reference back) in the name of Councillor Robinson at the completion of the first amendment (reference back) in the name of Councillor Golton.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was declared lost.

On the requisition of Councillors J Procter and J L Carter, the voting on the motion to change the order of business was recorded as follows:-

PRESENT  -  96

YES

Anderson, Barker, Bentley, Brett, Campbell, A Carter, J L Carter, Castle, Chapman, Chastney, Cleasby, Downes, Elliott, Ewens, Mrs R Feldman, R D Feldman, Finnigan, Fox, Gettings, Golton, Grayshon, M Hamilton, Harrand, Harris, W Hyde, Kendall, Kirkland, Lamb, Lancaster, G Latty, P Latty, Leadley, Lobley, Marjoram, Matthews, Monaghan, J Procter, R Procter, Pryke, Robinson, Schofield, A Taylor, Townsley, Varley, Wilkinson, Wilson, Wood.

47

NO

Akhtar, Armitage, Atha, Atkinson, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Blake, Congreve, Coulson, Davey, Dobson, Dowson, Driver, Dunn, Gabriel, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, Gruen, S Hamilton, Hanley, Hardy, G Harper, J Harper, A Hussain, G Hussain, G Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Maqsood, A McKenna, Morgan, Mulherin, Murray, Nash,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

This Council recognises that addressing the budget deficit will provide significant challenges to Leeds City Council and our partners in the public and voluntary sector.  Denying the deficit and ignoring the very real economic problems left by the last Government would be a disaster not only for Leeds but for the country as a whole.

This Council therefore notes with dismay that the first 100 days of this Labour administration have been a lost opportunity, marked by procrastination, delay and failure to consult on key decisions.

This Council therefore resolves to support the new Chief Executive in identifying efficiencies away from the frontline that will enable the authority to play its part in reducing public expenditure while maintaining essential services.

A CARTER

It was moved by Councillor A Carter seconded by Councillor Golton that this Council recognises that addressing the budget deficit will provide significant challenges to Leeds City Council and our partners in the public and voluntary sector.  Denying the deficit and ignoring the very real economic problems left by the last Government would be a disaster not only for Leeds but for the country as a whole.

This Council therefore notes with dismay that the first 100 days of this Labour administration have been a lost opportunity, marked by procrastination, delay and failure to consult on key decisions.

This Council therefore resolves to support the new Chief Executive in identifying efficiencies away from the frontline that will enable the authority to play its part in reducing public expenditure while maintaining essential services.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Wakefield seconded by Councillor Taggart to delete all after […voluntary sector] and add:-

‘This Council notes that the budget deficits inherited from the previous Administration, in Adult Social Care and Children’s Services, have put the Council under severe financial pressure.

This Council further notes with dismay, therefore, the devastating impact of the Government requirement to make over £25m of cuts to grants for Leeds in this financial year.  This has meant no time for proper consultation with the services provided by the public and voluntary sectors in the City, who care for some of our most vulnerable people.

However, this Council resolves to work with the new Chief Executive and all Council staff to identify efficiencies that will enable the Authority to maintain essential protection for the young, the elderly, the vulnerable and assist the unemployed, whilst reducing public expenditure.’

On the casting vote of the Lord Mayor, the amendment was carried. Upon being put as the substantive motion, on the casting vote of the Lord Mayor it was.

RESOLVED – That this Council recognises that addressing the budget deficit will provide significant challenges to Leeds City Council and our partners in the public and voluntary sector

This Council notes that the budget deficits inherited from the previous Administration, in Adult Social Care and Children’s Services, have put the Council under severe financial pressure.

This Council further notes with dismay, therefore, the devastating impact of the Government requirement to make over £25m of cuts to grants for Leeds in this financial year.  This has meant no time for proper consultation with the services provided by the public and voluntary sectors in the City, who care for some of our most vulnerable people.

However, this Council resolves to work with the new Chief Executive and all Council staff to identify efficiencies that will enable the Authority to maintain essential protection for the young, the elderly, the vulnerable and assist the unemployed, whilst reducing public expenditure.

On the requisition of Councillors Lobley and Robinson the voting on the amendment in the name of Councillor Wakefield was recorded as follows:-

PRESENT  -  96

YES

Akhtar, Armitage, Atha, Blake, Congreve, Coulson  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

This Council opposes the government’s plan to scrap Police Authorities and replace them with directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners. 

This Council recognises the need for increased police accountability to encourage greater public confidence in both local and national policing but feels that Elected Members have a very important role to play in this which would be lost if Police Authorities were scrapped.

This Council therefore calls on the Chief Executive and all Leeds MPs to write to the home secretary setting out our opposition to this plan and requesting that the plan to abolish Police Authorities be abandoned.

A LOWE

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.10, leave of Council was given to alter the motion in the name of Councillor Lowe to subsume the amendment in the name of Councillor J L Carter.

Under the Provision of Council Procedure Rule 14.11, with the consent of the seconder, leave of Council was given to Councillor J L Carter to withdraw the amendment in his name.

It was moved by Councillor Lowe seconded by Councillor J L Carter and

RESOLVED  That this Council opposes any plans to scrap Police Authorities.

This Council notes that the Government’s plans would mean a Commissioner in West Yorkshire having responsibility for an area covering 23 parliamentary constituencies, three cities and two major towns and therefore considers this might adversely affect the ambition for greater local accountability.

Council therefore resolves that greater consideration should be given to how local accountability can be strengthened. This Council recognises the need for increased police accountability to encourage greater public confidence in both local and national policing but feels that Elected Members have a very important role to play in this which would be lost if Police Authorities were scrapped.

This Council therefore calls on the Chief Executive and all Leeds MPs to write to the Home Secretary setting out our opposition to any plan to abolish police authorities.

This Council pledges its full and unequivocal support to England’s ‘Back the bid campaign’ to host the football World Cup in 2018.

This Council expresses its great pride that Leeds has been nominated as a host city for the tournament which underlines its position as one of the country’s premier sporting venues.

Furthermore, this Council recognises the positive economic benefits and exposure that hosting this prestigious global event will bring to our city.

A OGILVIE

It was moved by Councillor Ogilvie seconded by Councillor Mulherin and

RESOLVED – That this Council pledges its full and unequivocal support to England’s ‘Back the bid campaign’ to host the football World Cup in 2018.

This Council expresses its great pride that Leeds has been nominated as a host city for the tournament which underlines its position as one of the country’s premier sporting venues.

Furthermore, this Council recognises the positive economic benefits and exposure that hosting this prestigious global event will bring to our city.