Agenda and minutes

a)  The Lord Mayor informed Council that Councillor Mitchell had recently given birth to Asher Anthony Mitchell Gaunt.

b)  The Lord Mayor congratulated the following, who had recently been honoured in the New Year Honours list:-

  Professor Nicola Cullum - Dames Commander OBE

Linda Pollard  – CBE

Geoffrey Lister – CBE

Tina Brown – MBE

Peter Latham – MBE

Mrs Quirk – MBE

Rosalind Adrianna – MBE

Sarah Williams – MBE

Pauline Gavin - OBE

c)  The Lord Mayor reminded all those present that the Council meeting was been webcast.

d)  The Lord Mayor reported the recent death of Nelson Mandela and Mrs Carole Carter, and Council stood in silent tribute.

To approve the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 13^th November 2013.

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

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th November 2013 be approved.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chief Executive informed Council that responses To Council resolutions had been received from;

Lord Freud MP, Minister for Welfare Reform with regard to a White Paper on Housing Benefit Reform considered at Council in September 2013.

Jo Swinson MP, Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs with regard to a White Paper on the payday lending market considered at Council in September 2013.

The Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Minister of State for Business and Energy regarding the White Paper on the sale of Royal Mail Shares considered at Council in November 2013.

The responses had previously been circulated to all Members of Council.

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

1)  Leeds Children’s Mayor regarding the winning manifesto – Life Cycle of Leeds. 

2)  New Farnley Vision Group regarding the Village Design statement.

3)  Leeds International Piano Competition Committee regarding the Competition.

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

To consider the joint report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods and City Solicitor setting out recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 11^th December 2013 to Full Council in relation to the appointment of a Housing Advisory Board and asking full Council to appoint the Board, and also appoint the members of the Board.

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor G Harper and

RESOLVED -

(a)  To appoint a Housing Advisory Board to discharge the functions as set out in the terms of reference attached at appendix 1 of the report ;

(b)  To appoint six Elected Members to the Housing Advisory Board;

(c)  To agree that the Housing Advisory Board may select up to three non-voting co-optees, with some specialist skill or knowledge which would be of assistance to the Housing Advisory Board, to be appointed for a term of office which relates to a particular issue; and

(d)  That the quorum for the Board be 4, including two Councillors and 1 tenant/leaseholder voting co-opted member.

  (e) That the following Members be appointed to the Housing Advisory  Board:

(f)  That further to the recommendation of General Purposes Committee that full Council co-opt ;

·  Three tenants/leaseholders

·  Three people who are independent of the Council as voting members of the Housing Advisory Board for the terms of office indicated in the report submitted to that committee,

·  to co-opt those named in the table below as voting members of the Housing Advisory Board, with a term of office up to the annual meeting in 2014, (with the intention that the terms of office will be reviewed at that meeting):

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) setting out recommendations from the Licensing Committee on 17 December 2013 to Full Council regarding the Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy 2014-18.

It was moved by Councillor Charlwood, seconded by Councillor G Harper and

RESOLVED - That the Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy 2014-18 be approved as the new policy.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive(Citizens and Communities) setting out recommendations from the Executive Board on 18 December 2013 to Full Council in respect of a Localised Council Tax Support Scheme.

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor G Harper and

RESOLVED - 

To adopt a local Council Tax Support scheme that:

Continues to:

·  Protect lone parents with children under 5, carers and customers in receipt of severe or enhanced disability premium from reductions in support;

·  Protects people in receipt of Armed Forces Compensation Payments from reductions in support and includes continuing the longstanding policy whereby the Council has exercised its discretion to disregard war pensions in full;

·  Support people moving into work by continuing to apply the current run-on scheme which sees qualifying people who move into work continuing to receive the same level of support for the first 4 weeks of work;

·  Reduces Council Tax Support entitlement for all other working age customers as calculated  under the rules of the Current Council Tax Support scheme by 26% rather than the19% reduction that the current scheme provides.

To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive on the Calculation of the Council Tax and Business Rates Tax Bases for 2014/15 seeking agreement to the 2014/15 council tax bases for Leeds and the parish/town councils set out in the report and providing indicative business rates shares for 2014/15 and to request Council to give delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive to finalise the shares and to submit them in the National Non-Domestic Rates Return 1 2014-15 on or before 31st January 2014.

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor G Harper 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 2014/15 shall be 211,767 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 3.9, 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 2014.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor on appointments.

It was moved by Councillor G Harper, seconded by Councillor Nash and

RESOLVED –

That the appointment referred to in paragraph 4 of this report be approved, namely that Councillor Hardy be appointed to replace Councillor Walker on Plans Panel (South & West).

To consider the report of the City Solicitor on attendance at meetings.

It was moved by Councillor G Harper, seconded by Councillor Nash and

RESOLVED – That the absence of Councillor Mitchell from meetings of the authority for a period of six months from this meeting be approved.

Q1  Councillor A Carter to the Chair of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel

Will the Chair of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel assure me that she will raise the issue of the closure of the Pudsey Custody Suite at the next session of the Police and Crime Panel?

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

Q2  Councillor Lay to the Executive Member (Health & Well-being):-

Could the Executive portfolio holder for Health & Well-being update council on the future of sexual health services in the City?

The Executive Member (Health & Well-being) replied.

Q3  Councillor J Harper to the Executive Member (Children’s Services):-

Could the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services please update Council on the implications for the city of changes to legislation regarding school organisation and the provision of school places?

The Executive Member (Children’s Services) replied.

Q4  Councillor Finnigan to the Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services):-

Can the Executive Board Member for Housing confirm the political make-up of the new Housing Committee which replaced the ALMO boards when they were abolished?

The Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services) replied.

Q5  Councillor Groves to the Executive Member (Adult Social Care):-

Please can the Executive Member for Adult Social Care comment on how reforms to welfare are affecting people with disabilities?

The Executive Member (Adult Social Care) replied.

Q6  Councillor Wood to the Executive Member (Development and the Economy):-

What measures has the Executive Board Member put in place to ensure that the ‘Cycle City Ambition Grant - Highway to Health’ project does not have unintended impacts?

The Executive Member (Development and the Economy) replied.

Q7  Councillor S Bentley to the Executive Member (Children’s Services):-

Can the Executive Member for Children’s Services tell me what consideration was given to utilising low carbon vehicles in the recent decision to procure 36 new vehicles for the transport of children with special needs and adults?

The Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services) replied in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.3(b).

Q8  Councillor Selby to the Executive Member (Leisure and Skills):-

Does Cllr Yeadon believe the work of the Council and its partners to tackle youth unemployment will be affected by the recent decision by the Department for Education to reduce funding for full time 18 year old students?

The Executive Member (Leisure and Skills) replied.

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

Can the Executive Board Member for Development confirm the total amount of New Homes Bonus that will be generated with the housing units granted Planning Permission in outline or at reserved matters stages in Morley since the beginning of 2012 should all such development go ahead?

The Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services) replied in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.3(b).

Q10  Councillor Congreve to the Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Planning and Support Services):-

Could the Executive Member with responsibility for housing inform me of how many tenancies are now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

It was moved by Councillor Wakefield, seconded by Councillor G Harper 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. 

During the debate under minute 95 above, it was moved by Councillor G Harper, seconded by Councillor Nash that under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 22.1 that Council Procedure Rule 3.3 be suspended to allow consideration of the Executive Board minutes for an additional 10 minutes until 4.20pm, comments on the other minutes will then follow until 4.40pm with the Leader of Council commencing his summing up at 4.40pm for a period up to 10 minutes.

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was carried.

To receive up to 6 Community Concerns :-

Council heard the following Community Concerns;

1)Councillor Charlwood  - The upkeep of the Woodlea estate, including the surrounding green land owned by the NHS and also the upkeep of the mansion building site. 

2)Councillor Akhtar - Health and Well-Being in Hyde Park and Woodhouse.

3)Councillor Finnigan  – New Homes Bonus and its impact in Morley.

4)Councillor Campbell –To raise issues relating to aids and adaptations for the elderly and disabled.

5)Councillor Buckley – Problems with community access to local schools as a result of PFI contracts.

During the consideration of Community Concerns, the meeting was suspended at 5.00 pm and resumed at 5.30 pm.

Immediately after the adjournment for tea the Lord Mayor congratulated Councillor David Congreve on his selection as Lord Mayor elect for 2014/15 and Councillor Janet Harper who would be Lady Mayoress for 2014/15.

This Council re-affirms its commitment to fund 5 PCSOs in every ward in Leeds in 2014/15 under the deployment arrangements that are currently in place.

It was moved by Councillor A Carter, seconded by Councillor G Latty that this Council re-affirms its commitment to fund 5 PCSOs in every ward in Leeds in 2014/15 under the deployment arrangements that are currently in place.

An amendment was moved by Councillor P Gruen, seconded by Councillor G Harper

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

faces unprecedented financial challenges due to the imposition of Government cuts in grant, particularly in Northern metropolitan cities like Leeds.

Within this context the Administration will place before Council a budget in February which will include recommendations regarding the funding and deployment of PCSOs.

The amendment in the name of Councillor P Gruen was carried, and upon being put as the substantive motion, it was

RESOLVED – That this Council faces unprecedented financial challenges due to the imposition of Government cuts in grant, particularly in Northern metropolitan cities like Leeds.

Within this context the Administration will place before Council a budget in February which will include recommendations regarding the funding and deployment of PCSOs.

On the requisition of Councillors G Latty and J Procter, the voting on the amendment was recorded as follows:-

YES - 56

Akhtar, Atha, Blake, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey, Dawson, Dobson, Dowson, Gabriel, , P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, C Gruen, P Gruen, S Hamilton, Hanley, Hardy, Harington, Harland, G Harper J Harper, A Hussain, G Hussain, G Hyde, Illingworth, Ingham, Iqbal, Jarosz, Khan, J Lewis, R Lewis,Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, Morgan, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, , Rafique, Renshaw, Selby, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Urry, Wakefield, Walker, Walshaw and Yeadon. 

NO - 29

Anderson, J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, A Carter, Campbell, Castle, Chapman, Cleasby, Cohen, Collins, Downes, Elliott, Finnigan, Golton , Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Lay, Leadley, J Procter, Robinson, Townsley, Varley, Wadsworth, Wilkinson, Wood.

 ABSTAIN- 0

Council believes there is a genuine need for new houses throughout the city to provide affordable homes for first time buyers and opportunities for independent living for our growing elderly population.

Council also recognises the impact of good housing design and planning on improving health and wellbeing for all residents.

To achieve this, Council believes that:

1.  the coalition government’s National Planning Policy Framework should include the same level of prioritisation for brownfield sites as the previous planning guidance, which was shaped under the last government. This is as currently an unnecessary emphasis is being placed on greenfield land.

2.  prompt, strong and democratic local decision making is needed so that local communities can collaborate with Town Halls through the development and adoption of their Neighbourhood Plans as an effective mechanism for determining planning applications.

To facilitate this, Council recommends the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to:

1.  restore the sequential brownfield/ greenfield presumption; and,

2.  reaffirm the primary importance of democratic, local planning in decision making by amending the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 so that all decisions, which accord with an up to date and adopted Local Plan, are decided locally and have no automatic right of appeal to a Planning Inspector.

Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Leeds MPs in order to outline Council’s recommendations.

It was moved by Councillor P Gruen, seconded by Councillor Congreve that  Council believes there is a genuine need for new houses throughout the city to provide affordable homes for first time buyers and opportunities for independent living for our growing elderly population.

Council also recognises the impact of good housing design and planning on improving health and wellbeing for all residents.

To achieve this, Council believes that:

1.  the coalition government’s National Planning Policy Framework should include the same level of prioritisation for brownfield sites as the previous planning guidance, which was shaped under the last government. This is as currently an unnecessary emphasis is being placed on greenfield land.

2.  prompt, strong and democratic local decision making is needed so that local communities can collaborate with Town Halls through the development and adoption of their Neighbourhood Plans as an effective mechanism for determining planning applications.

To facilitate this, Council recommends the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to:

1.  restore the sequential brownfield/ greenfield presumption; and,

2.  reaffirm the primary importance of democratic, local planning in decision making by amending the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 so that all decisions, which accord with an up to date and adopted Local Plan, are decided locally and have no automatic right of appeal to a Planning Inspector.

Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Leeds MPs in order to outline Council’s recommendations.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Leadley, seconded by Councillor Elliott;

Delete all after “Council believes there is a genuine need for new houses throughout the city to provide affordable homes for first-time buyers”, and insert;

“and social renting tenants, and to adjust the city’s housing stock to match its growing elderly population.

Council believes that good Planning and design will improve health and well-being.

To achieve this Council believes that;

1 Any National Planning Policy Framework must have a presumption to use brownfield land first, to avoid loss of green enclaves in built-up areas and erosion of Green Belt.

2 Once a Local Development Framework is adopted, Neighbourhood Plans should follow soon after to give a sound background against which Planning applications should be determined.

3 Council acknowledges that the LDF target of providing land for 74,000 new dwellings gross in sixteen years in Leeds is unnecessary and would mean large loss of Green Belt. A target of 50,000 new dwellings gross would be ample and ambitious, and avoid loss of Green Belt and urban green space.

Council urges the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to;

1 Restore sequential testing and presumption in favour of using brownfield land first;

2 Amend the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to allow third-party appeals against grants of Planning permission where preliminary screening by the Planning Inspectorate has show that there is a reasonably arguable case;

3 Set a Leeds LDF Core Strategy target of building around 50,000 new dwellings  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.

Council believes that much has been done in recent years through schemes such as Wrap Up Leeds to deal with domestic energy efficiency.  It also notes with regret that the Leeds City Council programme of domestic energy activities has been adversely affected by major changes to the way the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) operates, that were announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

Council believes that Leeds still has a long way to go to effectively deal with fuel poverty caused by homes with  low-energy efficiency and calls on the Chief Executive to request that the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change meets with an all-party delegation, so the case can be put for resources being made available to resolve some of these issues.

Council also requests that the Chief Executive writes to all Leeds MPs asking them for their support in this matter.

It was moved by Councillor D Blackburn , seconded by Councillor A Blackburn that Council believes that much has been done in recent years through schemes such as Wrap Up Leeds to deal with domestic energy efficiency.  It also notes with regret that the Leeds City Council programme of domestic energy activities has been adversely affected by major changes to the way the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) operates, that were announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

Council believes that Leeds still has a long way to go to effectively deal with fuel poverty caused by homes with  low-energy efficiency and calls on the Chief Executive to request that the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change meets with an all-party delegation, so the case can be put for resources being made available to resolve some of these issues.

Council also requests that the Chief Executive writes to all Leeds MPs asking them for their support in this matter.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Dobson, seconded by Councillor G Harper;

Council believes that much has been done in recent years through schemes such as Wrap Up Leeds to deal with domestic energy efficiency.  It also notes with regret that the Leeds City Council programme of domestic energy activities has been adversely affected by major changes to the way the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) operates that were announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

Delete all after first paragraph and replace with:

Council acknowledges the disproportionate impact of these recent changes on communities in Leeds due to the unique nature of the city’s housing stock. Council therefore welcomes action agreed to date that aims to raise awareness of this situation with Government ministers.

Council reiterates calls for a cross-party meeting with the Secretary of State for Energy with a view to enabling work to commence immediately on projects in Leeds.

Council reaffirms its commitment to a significant and wide-ranging programme of energy efficiency improvements across the city and requests that the Chief Executive writes to all Leeds MPs to secure their assistance in facilitating the changes required to enable the Council to deliver this much needed work.

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Wadsworth, seconded by Councillor Cohen;

Insert after ‘domestic energy efficiency’ in paragraph 1: ‘While a more balanced approach to its implementation would have been preferable, addressing those in most need first, as opposed to an apparent focus on numbers of households, the scheme has delivered significant positives.’

Replace ‘It’ with ‘Council’ in paragraph 1.

Insert after ‘Chancellor’s Autumn Statement’ in paragraph 1: ‘This Council welcomes the Government’s attempts to reduce household energy bills that have, in recent years, begun to spiral out of control. However, Council is concerned that the changes to ECO will not necessarily directly impact on customer bills as was intended.’

Motion will read:

Council believes that much has been done in recent years through schemes such as Wrap Up Leeds to deal with domestic energy efficiency. While a more balanced approach to its  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101.