Agenda

To approve the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 10^th July 2024.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

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

To receive deputations in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

To consider the report of the Chief HR Officer inviting Council to approve the recommendation of the Employment Committee to appoint Mariana Pexton to the role of Interim Chief Executive/Head of Paid Service.

To consider the joint report of the City Solicitor and Chief HR Officer seeking approval to the change of payment date for Member Allowances from 16^th of the month to on or around the 26^th of the month and approval that the Member Allowance Scheme will be amended to reflect the change of payment date from 16^th to 26^th of the month within the Constitution.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor on appointments.

To consider the report of the Director of Communities, Housing and Environment presenting to Council the Community Committees’ Annual Report.  

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Financial Services presenting to Council the Annual Report of the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee, Council are requested to receive and consider the annual report reflecting the work of the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee in the 2023-24 municipal year.

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

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

This Council believes the pensioners' winter fuel allowance is an invaluable lifeline to thousands of older people in Leeds at risk of not being able to heat their homes.

Council therefore opposes the proposal to scrap this vital pensioner benefit and calls on the Government to honour the pre-election promise made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to fully fund the winter fuel allowance.

This Council acknowledges that during this spring and summer the refuse service has continuously underperformed and has now dipped below any reasonable standard, taking into account and accepting the many complexities around service delivery in Leeds.

Council further accepts that attempts to instigate positive change through scrutiny have proved largely ineffective and that the necessary tools to drive forward improved delivery are already, broadly, in place.

With that in mind, Council therefore resolves to immediately form a cross-party working group to work with the service to bring about meaningful and sustainable change.

Council commits to working collegiately to ensure that the mechanisms that are currently in place to support improved service delivery are fully adhered to and adopted and to further ensure that the people of Leeds are obtaining the best possible service.

This Council is proud to represent a city built on the values of unity, acceptance and togetherness and believes these values are key to promoting community cohesion and resisting those who seek to create division and undermine community relations.

Council welcomes Executive Board’s agreement at its July meeting to zero tolerance to all forms of discrimination and hatred, including discrimination based on religion such as anti-muslim prejudice, antisemitism, or any other religious prejudice.  Council further welcomes the Administration’s commitment to deliver a new cohesion strategy for Leeds that will be shaped with input from community groups, stakeholders, partners and young people, and will be reported to future meetings.

Council is grateful to those working to safeguard vulnerable people, the police, community leaders, third sector organisations, local councillors, council staff and other agencies for their response to incidents over summer, and for their ongoing work to support community relations and keep our city safe.

Council believes the existing strong local partnerships with community and faith leaders are a huge asset in Leeds and we will continue working alongside all partners to show resilience, strength and solidarity.  Council is clear that racism, prejudice, intolerance and hatred have no place in Leeds and Council reaffirms our commitment to the values of unity, acceptance, togetherness and celebrating diversity.