‘This Council notes with concern that the ruling administration’s policy of providing more authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites in Leeds is taking place behind closed doors, without affording a chance for public scrutiny or debate in respect of its search for sites.
Council is also concerned that the ruling administration is using all its power and influence over Council officers to stop members of the opposition being able to debate site selection openly and in public.
1 Council calls on the administration to publicly release the site names being considered for a Gypsy and Traveller site, which currently amounts to nearly 90 in total.
2 Ensure full and meaningful consultation takes place on any plans to build more Travellers’ sites in Leeds, at each stage of the process; and
3 commits to holding local plebiscites in order to effectively gauge whether local communities near proposed sites are in favour of the proposals.
This Council further notes that there is a one party Labour working group who are considering site selection and calls on the ruling administration to stop this undemocratic working practice, on this key issue for residents in Leeds, by ensuring such working groups represent all Members of Council.
This Council urges the Government to follow the lead of the Government in the Republic of Ireland in making unauthorised encampments a criminal rather than a civil offence.’
J L CARTER
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor J L Carter, seconded by Councillor J Procter that this Council notes with concern that the ruling administration’s policy of providing more authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites in Leeds is taking place behind closed doors, without affording a chance for public scrutiny or debate in respect of its search for sites.
Council is also concerned that the ruling administration is using all its power and influence over Council officers to stop members of the opposition being able to debate site selection openly and in public.
1 Council calls on the administration to publicly release the site names being considered for a Gypsy and Traveller site, which currently amounts to nearly 90 in total.
2 Ensure full and meaningful consultation takes place on any plans to build more Travellers’ sites in Leeds, at each stage of the process; and
3 commits to holding local plebiscites in order to effectively gauge whether local communities near proposed sites are in favour of the proposals.
This Council further notes that there is a one party Labour working group who are considering site selection and calls on the ruling administration to stop this undemocratic working practice, on this key issue for residents in Leeds, by ensuring such working groups represent all Members of Council.
This Council urges the Government to follow the lead of the Government in the Republic of Ireland in making unauthorised encampments a criminal rather than a civil offence.
After the motion was moved and seconded, Councillor J Lewis, seconded by Councillor Nash, moved under provisions of Council Procedure Rule 22.1, that Council Procedure Rule 13.1 be suspended to allow the introduction of the amendment below in the name of Councillor Gruen.
Having received leave of Council, Councillor Gruen, seconded by Councillor Atha, moved the following motion:-
To delete all after ‘This Council’ and replace with:-
‘recognises that the £2m spent on legal and clean up costs related to unauthorised traveller encampments by the previous administration made no progress towards a lasting solution for the people of Leeds and was not a good use of taxpayers money.
It is acknowledged that a new approach is needed to alleviate the disruption that unauthorised encampments can cause for communities. Council places on record its thanks to the Scrutiny Board (Environment & Neighbourhoods) for their thorough investigation into this issue, and acknowledges their recommendation that additional permanent pitches be provided for ‘Leeds-based’ travellers.
Council encourages officers to complete their search of potential traveller sites, in line with criteria agreed by Executive Board, as swiftly and as thoroughly as possible. Council endorses the commitment to publicise the findings of this review once it is complete, along with the commitment to undertake comprehensive consultation before any planning application for a new site is submitted.
It is believed that the provision of additional sites, coupled with the strongest possible enforcement action against unauthorised encampments, will result in a reduction in the disruption that unauthorised sites cause Leeds residents. Council therefore offers its support to this approach.’
The amendment in the name of Councillor Gruen was carried and, upon being put as the substantive motion, it was
RESOLVED – That this Council recognises that the £2m spent on legal and clean up costs related to unauthorised traveller encampments by the previous administration made no progress towards a lasting solution for the people of Leeds and was not a good use of taxpayers money.
It is acknowledged that a new approach is needed to alleviate the disruption that unauthorised encampments can cause for communities. Council places on record its thanks to the Scrutiny Board (Environment & Neighbourhoods) for their thorough investigation into this issue, and acknowledges their recommendation that additional permanent pitches be provided for ‘Leeds-based’ travellers.
Council encourages officers to complete their search of potential traveller sites, in line with criteria agreed by Executive Board, as swiftly and as thoroughly as possible. Council endorses the commitment to publicise the findings of this review once it is complete, along with the commitment to undertake comprehensive consultation before any planning application for a new site is submitted.
It is believed that the provision of additional sites, coupled with the strongest possible enforcement action against unauthorised encampments, will result in a reduction in the disruption that unauthorised sites cause Leeds residents. Council therefore offers its support to this approach.
On the requisition of Councillors Lobley and Wadsworth, the voting on the amendment was recorded as follows:-
YES
Akhtar, Armitage, Atha, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Davey, Dawson, 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, Khan, Leadley, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, Morgan, Mulherin, Murray, Nash, Ogilvie, Parker, Rafique, Renshaw, Selby, Taggart, E Taylor, Wakefield, Walshaw, Yeadon.
56
NO
Anderson, A Carter, J L Carter, Castle, Cohen, Collins, Elliott, Feldman, Finnigan, Gettings, Harrand, W Hyde, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Lobley, Marjoram, J Procter, Robinson, Varley, Wadsworth, Wilkinson, Wood
23
ABSTAIN
Downes, Ewens
2
On the requisition of Councillors Lobley and Wadsworth, the voting on the substantive motion was recorded as follows:-
YES
Akhtar, Armitage, Atha, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Davey, Dawson, 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, Khan, Leadley, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, Morgan, Mulherin, Murray, Nash, Ogilvie, Parker, Rafique, Renshaw, Selby, Taggart, E Taylor, Wakefield, Walshaw, Yeadon.
56
NO
Anderson, A Carter, J L Carter, Castle, Cohen, Collins, Elliott, Feldman, Finnigan, Gettings, Harrand, W Hyde, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Lobley, Marjoram, J Procter, Robinson, Varley, Wadsworth, Wilkinson, Wood.
23
ABSTAIN
A Taylor.
1
(The provisions of Council Procedure Rule 3.1(d) were applied at the conclusion of the vote on the motion.)