Agenda item

This Council notes with concern the enormous North-South divide in this country.

Council further notes with concern that the burden of austerity measures has fallen mainly on the North.

Council therefore calls on the next Government to carry out a fundamental review of the allocation of resources for public services and the allocation of investment in infrastructure in order to promote economic growth and prosperity in the North. 

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.9(a), leave of Council was given to alter the wording of the motion in the name of Councillor Sobel to include the amendment in the name of Councillor David Blackburn.

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 13.2(d) and 14.10 and with the consent of the seconder, leave of Council was given to Councillor David Blackburn to withdraw the amendment in his name.

It was moved by Councillor Sobel, seconded by Councillor D Blackburn that this Council notes with concern the enormous North-South divide in this country.

Council further notes with concern that the burden of austerity measures has fallen mainly on the North.

Council therefore calls on the next Government to carry out a fundamental review of the allocation of resources for public services and the allocation of investment in infrastructure in order to promote economic growth and prosperity in the North. 

Further, this Council calls on the next Government to introduce meaningful devolution to Leeds and the Leeds City Region.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor S Bentley

In the first paragraph delete all after ‘concern the’ and replace with “increasing divide between the south east of England and the rest of the country over successive decades, in terms of economic growth and income inequality.”

Delete second paragraph.

In the third paragraph delete all after ‘ government to’ and replace with “develop further the progress made in this parliament, through City Deals and the work of Local Enterprise Partnerships, to rebalance the allocation of resources for public services and the allocation of investment in infrastructure in order to promote economic growth and prosperity in the north.”

Add new fourth paragraph

“This Council further calls on all parties to commit to introduce fiscal devolution for local authorities as part of their wider devolution agenda.”

The revised motion would then read :

“This Council notes with concern the increasing divide between the south east of England and the rest of the country over successive decades, in terms of economic growth and income inequality.

Council therefore calls on the next Government to develop further the progress made in this parliament, through City Deals and the work of Local Enterprise Partnerships, to rebalance the allocation of resources for public services and the allocation of investment in infrastructure in order to promote economic growth and prosperity in the north.

This Council further calls on all parties to commit to introduce fiscal devolution for local authorities as part of their wider devolution agenda.”

Councillor Lamb moved a second amendment, seconded by Councillor Robinson,

Delete all after: ‘This Council notes’

And replace with: ‘that all major political parties in Britain are committed to a programme of austerity in order to address the unprecedented budget deficit left by the last Government. Council also recognises the Government’s clear focus on creating a Northern powerhouse and re-balancing the northern economy which under the previous Government had become far too reliant on public sector employment and funding.

‘This Council further notes that “a fundamental review of the allocation of resources for public services” is taking place in the current parliament through the efforts made by the Government to devolve powers and additional resources to major urban areas such as the deal done with Manchester in November 2014.

‘However, this Council believes that devolution should come to all major cities in the North and calls on the next Government to complete the work started in this parliament that will enable further economic growth and prosperity in the North of England.’ 

Motion would then read:

‘This Council notes that all major political parties in Britain are committed to a programme of austerity in order to address the unprecedented budget deficit left by the last Government. Council also recognises the Government’s clear focus on creating a Northern powerhouse and re-balancing the northern economy which under the previous Government had become far too reliant on public sector employment and funding.

‘This Council further notes that “a fundamental review of the allocation of resources for public services” is taking place in the current parliament through the efforts made by the Government to devolve powers and additional resources to major urban areas such as the deal done with Manchester in November 2014.

‘However, this Council believes that devolution should come to all major cities in the North and calls on the next Government to complete the work started in this parliament that will enable further economic growth and prosperity in the North of England.’

The amendments in the names of Councillor Golton and Councillor Lamb were declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was;

RESOLVED  -  That this Council notes with concern the enormous North-South divide in this country.

Council further notes with concern that the burden of austerity measures has fallen mainly on the North.

Council therefore calls on the next Government to carry out a fundamental review of the allocation of resources for public services and the allocation of investment in infrastructure in order to promote economic growth and prosperity in the North. 

Further, this Council calls on the next Government to introduce meaningful devolution to Leeds and the Leeds City Region.