Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor announced that Yvonne Crowther, a resident of the Cardinal estate in Beeston, had recently won the Yorkshire region of the Pride of Britain Awards and would now be considered for the National Awards in London.

To confirm the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 13^th July 2011.

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

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 13^th July and 07^th September 2011 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 display in the ante-room, on deposit in the public galleries and had been circulated to each Member’s place in the Chamber.

Following an invitation to declare further individual interests, declarations in accordance with the Council’s Member’s Code of Conduct were made as follows:- 

a)  Members declared personal interests in minute 45 of this meeting as follows:-

b)  Members declared personal interests in minute 46 of this meeting as follows:-

c)  Councillor Harris declared personal and prejudicial interest in minute 46 as a director of a company and left the meeting during discussion of the item.

d)  Members declared personal interests in minute 47 of this meeting as follows:-

e)  Members declared personal interests in minute 48 of this meeting as follows:-

f)  Members declared personal interests in minute 49 of this meeting as follows:-

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

The Chief Executive reported that new guidance on deputations to Council had been circulated to all Members of Council.

To receive deputations in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10

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

1)  Leeds Fairtrade Steering Group regarding the promotion of fair trade issues within the City

2)  Leeds Owl Trail, plans for 2011-2012

3)  Friends of the Earth Regarding Leeds Waste Incineration Project.

4)  Representatives and small businesses of Farnley & Wortley re proposals to build a supermarket at the Stonebridge Mill Site.

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

To consider reports as follows (the Monitoring Officer considers that these reports are appropriate to be received at this meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(f))

That the report of the City Solicitor on appointments be approved.

        J LEWIS

a)  Appointments

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

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report of the City Solicitor on appointments, be approved, namely:-

That Councillor A McKenna replace Councillor Charlwood on Scrutiny Board (Children and Families). 

That Councillor Charlwood replace Councillor A McKenna on Scrutiny Board (Health and Well-being and Adult Social Care).

That Councillor Hardy replace Councillor E Taylor on Scrutiny Board(Safer and Stronger Communities). 

That Councillor Fox replace Councillor G Latty on Scrutiny Board (Health and Well-being and Adult Social Care).

That Councillor R Grahame replace Councillor Gabriel on Scrutiny Board (Resources and Council Services).

To deal with questions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11

Q1  Councillor A Carter to the Executive Member (Development and the Economy):-

Can the Executive Board Member for City Development tell me the total value of outstanding Section 106 monies owed to the Council, which should already have been paid, and how much of that has been outstanding for more than 12 months and what the value of the outstanding amounts of 106 monies that should have been paid to the council under £30,000 per site is?

The Executive Member (Development and the Economy) replied.

Q2  Councillor Downes to the Executive Member (Adult Health and Social Care):-

Could the Executive Board Member for Adult Health & Social Care outline what alternative services exist for those Blind and Visually Impaired people in Leeds who previously used services including :- Training Kitchen, Low Vision Aids Room, Talking Book and Braille Library, Computer Room, News/Sports tapes, Annual holidays and Café; which were located at Shire View in Headingley?

The Executive Member (Adult Health and Social Care) replied.

Q3  Councillor A Khan to the Executive Member (Development and the Economy):-

Could the Executive Member for Development & Economy please update Council on the draft National Planning Policy Framework recently published by the government and the implications this has for Leeds?

The Executive Member (Development and the Economy) replied.

Q4  Councillor K Bruce to the Leader of Council

Does the Leader of Council agree that having Chinese athletes training in the city ahead of next year’s Olympics is a coup for Leeds?

The Leader of Council replied.

Q5  Councillor J Procter to the Executive Member (Leisure):-

Can the Executive Board Member for Leisure please inform Council how many tickets were sold for Classical Fantasia and how much income his policy to charge for this event has generated?

The Executive Member (Leisure) replied.

Q6  Councillor J Matthews to the Executive Member (Children’s Services):-

Could the Executive Board Member for Children’s Services outline what the Council’s policy is on school uniforms?

The Executive Member (Children’s Services) replied.

Q7  Councillor S Armitage to the Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration):-

Could the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Housing & Regeneration advise Members of the expanded role PCSOs will play in keeping our communities safe and clean?

The Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration) replied.

Q8  Councillor R Charlwood to the Executive Member (Children’s Services):-

Could the Executive Member for Children’s Services update Council on this year’s exam results?

The Executive Member (Children’s Services) replied.

Q9  Councillor P Wadsworth to the Executive Member (Development and the Economy):-

Can the Executive Board Member for City Development please update Council if, in the wake of the kiss and fly tax being introduced, the airport is honouring its obligations to fund public transport links that help combat parking overspill that may adversely affect local residents?

The Executive Member (Development and the Economy) replied.

Q10  Councillor R Pryke to the Executive Member (Leisure):-

Could Cllr Ogilvie inform Council what the income was from ticket sales for Classical Fantasia, and Opera in the Park, and what  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

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

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor J Lewis 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).

Procedure Rule 4, providing for the winding up of business, was applied prior to all notified comments on the minutes having been debated.

The meeting was suspended at 5.00 pm and resumed at 5.25 pm.

This council welcomes Leeds City Council’s continued commitment to much of the recycling improvement plan and the recent achievement of a 40% recycling rate.

However, this council believes it was wrong to abandon the expansion of the popular and successful Rothwell food waste collection pilot.

This council notes that the market for the outputs of food waste collection is expanding and that a plant to process it located in Leeds will lead to green jobs for the city and further notes that failing to recycle food waste will increase the volume of waste sent to Labour’s planned incinerator for East Leeds.

This council resolves to expand the food waste collection scheme to one additional round in 2011/12 and further requests that a report be brought to Executive Board detailing how the scheme can be introduced to further areas in future years.

    S GOLTON

It was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor Wilson that this Council welcomes Leeds City Council’s continued commitment to much of the recycling improvement plan and the recent achievement of a 40% recycling rate. 

However, this Council believes it was wrong to abandon the expansion of the popular and successful Rothwell food waste collection pilot.

This Council notes that the market for the outputs of food waste collection is expanding and that a plant to process it located in Leeds will lead to green jobs for the city and further notes that failing to recycle food waste will increase the volume of waste sent to Labour’s planned incinerator for East Leeds.

This Council resolves to expand the food waste collection scheme to one additional round in 2011/12 and further requests that a report be brought to Executive Board detailing how the scheme can be introduced to further areas in future years.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Dobson, seconded by Councillor Walshaw, that this Council welcomes Leeds City Council’s continued commitment to the recycling improvement plan and the recent achievement of a 40% recycling rate.

Delete all after “recycling rate” and replace with:

over the last four months which is an historic first in our city.

Council recognises the success of the Rothwell food pilot which provides a strong platform for the roll out of additional food waste collections in the future.

This Council therefore commits itself to further exploring the affordability of this proposal as part of our overall strategy to produce sustainable energy and reduce reliance on landfill.

Council also requests that once this piece of work is completed, a report be brought back to the Executive Board to discuss its findings.

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Anderson, seconded by Councillor Wadsworth, to delete all after: ‘40% recycling rate’ and replace with:-

‘This council notes the 88% increase in recycling against the city average during the recent Rothwell recycling pilot as well as the high 94% customer satisfaction rate.

This Council notes that the market for the outputs of food waste collection is expanding and requests that the a report be brought to the Executive Board outlining how financially viable schemes to recycle more household waste could be introduced as landfill taxes increase.’

The amended motion would read:-

‘This Council welcomes Leeds City Council’s continued commitment to much of the recycling improvement plan and the recent achievement of a 40% recycling rate.

This Council notes the 88% increase in recycling against the city average during the recent Rothwell recycling pilot as well as the high 94% customer satisfaction rate.

This Council notes that the market for the outputs of food waste collection is expanding and requests that the a report be brought to the Executive Board outlining how financially viable schemes to recycle more household waste could be introduced as landfill taxes increase.’

A third amendment was moved by Councillor A Blackburn, and, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.3(b),  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

The containment of isolated incidents of violence in Leeds, during national riots in August,  has once again demonstrated that a strong partnership between Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and other representatives on the Safer Leeds Executive, delivers positive outcomes for people in Leeds.

This Council extends its thanks and appreciation to community leaders, police officers, PCSOs and youth workers who worked to prevent further unrest. Council also recognises the hard work of street cleansing teams within communities affected by isolated incidents of disorder. 

Strong leadership and a commitment to democratic engagement from Police Divisional Command was invaluable during this difficult period.

This Council believes that 20% budget cuts will make it harder for the police to keep the streets safe and maintain order.

Council therefore calls upon the Government to abandon plans to spend £100 million introducing directly elected police commissioners and to instead ensure forces have the resources they need to provide effective community policing.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary and all Leeds MPs in order to highlight the importance of prioritising community policing, particularly at a time of budget reductions.

      P GRUEN

It was moved by Councillor Gruen, seconded by Councillor Lowe, that the containment of isolated incidents of violence in Leeds, during national riots in August, has once again demonstrated that a strong partnership between Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and other representatives on the Safer Leeds Executive, delivers positive outcomes for people in Leeds.

This Council extends its thanks and appreciation to community leaders, police officers, PCSOs and youth workers who worked to prevent further unrest. Council also recognises the hard work of street cleansing teams within communities affected by isolated incidents of disorder. 

Strong leadership and a commitment to democratic engagement from Police Divisional Command was invaluable during this difficult period.

This Council believes that 20% budget cuts will make it harder for the police to keep the streets safe and maintain order.

Council therefore calls upon the Government to abandon plans to spend £100 million introducing directly elected police commissioners and to instead ensure forces have the resources they need to provide effective community policing.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary and all Leeds MPs in order to highlight the importance of prioritising community policing, particularly at a time of budget reductions.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Downes, seconded by Councillor Hamilton, to delete paragraphs 4 and 5 and replace with:-

‘Council notes reports that 75% of those arrested and charged in connection with the recent riots were re-offenders.  Council believes that the criminal justice system has failed to tackle re-offending in the past and believes that a wider range of tools to prevent re-offending, in particular ‘restorative justice’ measures, will reduce such outbreaks of criminality in the future.’

Following ‘community policing’ in paragraph 6 add :-

‘and restorative justice measures’

A second amendment was moved by Councillor J L Carter, seconded by Councillor C Fox, to insert ‘and local ward Councillors’ in paragraph 2, replace ‘Police Divisional Command’ with ‘Leeds Divisional Commanders’ in paragraph 3, and Delete all after ‘during this difficult period’ and replace with:

‘This Council condemns the actions of a criminal minority that brought chaos to the streets of several major cities this Summer and pledges to offer unstinting support to the Police as it seeks to bring those responsible to justice.

This Council further supports the efforts of West Yorkshire Police Force and West Yorkshire Police Authority as they seek to make back office savings and notes the work done to re-organise and review policing structures to protect front line resources. Council further notes the Force’s ‘Here for Good’ campaign that makes a strong commitment to frontline neighbourhood policing in a challenging financial climate.

Whilst this Council is opposed to the introduction of police commissioners it considers that should such elections take place the Government should pay the additional costs of the elections, over and above the £50 million they have already allocated, in order that scarce resources are not diverted away from neighbourhood policing.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

This Council notes with concern the ongoing discussions regarding the proposed reconfiguration of children’s cardiac surgery services and the devastating effect this could have on the Yorkshire Heart Centre at Leeds General Infirmary and the families of this region.

The Council supports the demands of the cross party Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for West Yorkshire for the government to re-examine the way in which the decision is being made and ensure that the democratic process is not being ignored. 

Council therefore urges the government to confirm that all available information will be examined before a decision is made which could force parents from Yorkshire to travel hundreds of miles should their children need cardiac treatment.

    J BLAKE 

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

RESOLVED – That this Council notes with concern the ongoing discussions regarding the proposed reconfiguration of children’s cardiac surgery services and the devastating effect this could have on the Yorkshire Heart Centre at Leeds General Infirmary and the families of this region.

The Council supports the demands of the cross party Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Yorkshire and Humber for the Government to re-examine the way in which the decision is being made and ensure that the democratic process is not being ignored. 

Council therefore urges the government to confirm that all available information will be examined before a decision is made which could force parents from Yorkshire to travel hundreds of miles should their children need cardiac treatment.

This Council supports the Private Members’ Fire Safety (Protection of Tenants) Bill 2010-11 in the name of Adrian Sanders MP, which calls for it to become mandatory that all rented properties be fitted with functioning smoke alarms.

    A McKENNA

It was moved by Councillor A McKenna, seconded by Councillor Harrand, and

RESOLVED – That this Council supports the Private Members’ Fire Safety (Protection of Tenants) Bill 2010-11 in the name of Adrian Sanders, MP, which calls for it to become mandatory that all rented properties be fitted with functioning smoke alarms.

Council rose at 7.15 pm.