Agenda and minutes

Present: Councillors: J Scullion (Calderdale MBC), S Hinchcliffe (City of Bradford MDC), G Turner (Kirklees MC), J Lewis (Leeds City Council), S Siddons (Scarborough Borough Council), P Widdowson (City of York) and D Jeffery (City of Wakefield MDC)

In Attendance: V Bradshaw (LCC), W Sampson (Harrogate Borough Council) N Warren (City of Wakefield MDC)  A Taylor (WYCA), and J Grieve (LCC)

Members were informed that Councillor Swift (Chair) had sent his apologies for today’s meeting, in his absence an alternative Member was required to Chair the meeting.

Councillor S Hinchcliffe was nominated for the position of Chair, the nomination was seconded.

Upon being put to the vote:

RESOLVED – That Councillor S Hinchliffe be elected as Chair for the duration of the meeting.

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.  (The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

There were no late items of business identified.

To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in 

  respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public due to the confidential nature of the business to be considered.

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: K Aspden (City Of York) R Cooper, (Harrogate BC) C Les (North Yorkshire CC) S Pandor (Kirklees MC) and T Swift (Calderdale MBC)

Councillors: J Scullion (Calderdale MBC), G Turner (Kirklees MC) and P Widdowson (City of York) were in attendance as substitute Members.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2000 and paragraphs 13 -18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19 - 20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest made at the meeting.

To approve as a correct record, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 30^th September 2020.

(Copy attached)

Members considered the minutes of the previous meeting held on 30^th September 2020.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 30^th September 2020 be accepted as a true and correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes (If any)

There were no issues raised under matters arising.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer, Financial Services, Leeds City Council which sets out:

a)  The context in which the 2020/21 North and West Yorkshire Business Rates Pool is set up;

b)  The current position of the North and West Yorkshire Pool, including the estimated 2020/21 financial position and the latest income projections;

c)  The allocation of projected income to member authorities for 2020/21;

d)  That the Pool will be dissolved on 31^st March 2021.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer, Financial Services, Leeds City Council submitted a report which sets out:

a)  The context in which the 2020/21 North and West Yorkshire Business Rates Pool is set up;

b)  The current position of the North and West Yorkshire Pool, including the estimated 2020/21 financial position and the latest income projections;

c)  The allocation of projected income to member authorities for 2020/21;

d)  That the Pool will be dissolved on 31^stMarch 2021.

In the discussion that followed Members welcomed the report, commenting that it provided a well laid out synopsis.

Referring to “Risks to Pool Funding”, Paragraph 4 of the submitted report referred, Members asked if there was any risk of breaching the safety net, could any assurances be provided.

Members were informed that all partner authorities had provided robust details around financial forecasting, the best assessment at this stage was that safety net payments would not be called upon.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the context of the 2020/21 North and West Yorkshire Business Rates Pool as described in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the submitted report;

b)  To note the Memorandum of Understanding and Terms of Reference set out in Paragraph 2 and Appendices A and B;

c)  To note the projected Pool income for 2020/21 as shown in Paragraph 3 and the risk of breaching safety net at Paragraph 4; and

d)  To note the projected Pool income for 2020/21 as shown in Paragraph 3 and the risk of breaching safety net at Paragraph 4; and

e)  To approve the allocation of estimated projected income to member authorities at Paragraph 5 and, with reference to the Pool being dissolved on 31st March 2021, that final income will be allocated after all member authorities receive final audited accounts, as noted at Paragraph 6.