Agenda item

This Council believes it is in the best interest of the citizens of Leeds to be part of a devolved authority made up of West Yorkshire Councils, North Yorkshire Councils, and the East Riding and Hull.

 

This would create a Northern Powerhouse able to compete, not only on a local and regional scale, but on a national and international scale and would provide a devolved authority area stretching from the Pennines to the sea.

 

It was moved by Councillor Andrew Carter, seconded by Councillor J Procter that this Council believes it is in the best interest of the citizens of Leeds to be part of a devolved authority made up of West Yorkshire Councils, North Yorkshire Councils, and the East Riding and Hull.

 

This would create a Northern Powerhouse able to compete, not only on a local and regional scale, but on a national and international scale and would provide a devolved authority area stretching from the Pennines to the sea.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor J Lewis

 

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

 

“notes the Chancellor set a deadline of 4^th September for areas to submit bids for devolution to Government and that members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the North Yorkshire District Councils of Craven, Harrogate and Selby, and City of York Council reached agreement to submit proposals based on the Leeds City Region geographic area.

 

Council believes that the Leeds City Region strongly aligns with the economic and practical realities of the day to day lives of people who live and/or work in Leeds. Council recognises the improved outcomes already delivered through devolution to the Leeds City Region, such as through the Devolved Youth Contract and support to business growth through the Local Enterprise Partnership Investment Panel.  Council notes that the Leeds City Region geography matches the area covered by the Local Enterprise Partnership, which was itself initiated by central Government. 

 

Council further notes the Chancellor’s insistence that mayoral governance form part of any devolution agreement, despite the people of Leeds rejecting a mayor in the 2012 referendum. This Council is clear that any acceptance of this form of governance will only be considered if significant powers and resources are devolved by Whitehall, rather than taken up from Leeds City Council, as part of any agreement. 

 

This Council believes that regardless of the geography and governance arrangements of any devolution deal, Leeds City Council should itself continue to collaborate with partners across the city, regionally, nationally and internationally in order to produce the conditions to grow the Leeds economy and create much needed jobs for Leeds’ residents.”

 

Full motion would then read:

 

“This Council notes the Chancellor set a deadline of 4^th September for areas to submit bids for devolution to Government and that members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the North Yorkshire District Councils of Craven, Harrogate and Selby, and City of York Council reached agreement to submit proposals based on the Leeds City Region geographic area.

 

Council believes that the Leeds City Region strongly aligns with the economic and practical realities of the day to day lives of people who live and/or work in Leeds. Council recognises the improved outcomes already delivered through devolution to the Leeds City Region, such as through the Devolved Youth Contract and support to business growth through the Local Enterprise Partnership Investment Panel.  Council notes that the Leeds City Region geography matches the area covered by the Local Enterprise Partnership, which was itself initiated by central Government. 

 

Council further notes the Chancellor’s insistence that mayoral governance form part of any devolution agreement, despite the people of Leeds rejecting a mayor in the 2012 referendum. This Council is clear that any acceptance of this form of governance will only be considered if significant powers and resources are devolved by Whitehall, rather than taken up from Leeds City Council, as part of any agreement. 

 

This Council believes that regardless of the geography and governance arrangements of any devolution deal, Leeds City Council should itself continue to collaborate with partners across the city, regionally, nationally and internationally in order to produce the conditions to grow the Leeds economy and create much needed jobs for Leeds’ residents.”

 

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Anderson, seconded by Councillor G Latty to;

 

Add to the end of the motion:

 

‘This Council therefore instructs the Leader of Council to convey the Council’s view to Her Majesty’s Government.’

 

Motion would read:

 

This Council believes it is in the best interest of the citizens of Leeds to be part of a devolved authority made up of West Yorkshire Councils, North Yorkshire Councils, and the East Riding and Hull.

 

This would create a Northern Powerhouse able to compete, not only on a local and regional scale, but on a national and international scale and would provide a devolved authority area stretching from the Pennines to the sea.

 

This Council therefore instructs the Leader of Council to convey the Council’s view to Her Majesty’s Government.’

 

The amendment in the name of Councillor Anderson was declared lost.

 

The amendment in the name of Councillor Blake was carried and upon being put to the vote, it was

 

 

RESOLVED -  That this Council notes the Chancellor set a deadline of 4^th September for areas to submit bids for devolution to Government and that members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the North Yorkshire District Councils of Craven, Harrogate and Selby, and City of York Council reached agreement to submit proposals based on the Leeds City Region geographic area.

 

Council believes that the Leeds City Region strongly aligns with the economic and practical realities of the day to day lives of people who live and/or work in Leeds. Council recognises the improved outcomes already delivered through devolution to the Leeds City Region, such as through the Devolved Youth Contract and support to business growth through the Local Enterprise Partnership Investment Panel.  Council notes that the Leeds City Region geography matches the area covered by the Local Enterprise Partnership, which was itself initiated by central Government. 

 

Council further notes the Chancellor’s insistence that mayoral governance form part of any devolution agreement, despite the people of Leeds rejecting a mayor in the 2012 referendum. This Council is clear that any acceptance of this form of governance will only be considered if significant powers and resources are devolved by Whitehall, rather than taken up from Leeds City Council, as part of any agreement. 

 

This Council believes that regardless of the geography and governance arrangements of any devolution deal, Leeds City Council should itself continue to collaborate with partners across the city, regionally, nationally and internationally in order to produce the conditions to grow the Leeds economy and create much needed jobs for Leeds’ residents.”

 

On the requisition of Councillors G Latty and Lamb, the voting on the amendments were recorded as follows;

 

Amendment in the name of Councillor Blake

 

YES – 59

 

Akhtar, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey Dawson, C Dobson, M Dobson, Dowson ,Dunn, Gabriel, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harington, Harland, Harper, H Hayden, J Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Illingworth, Ingham, Iqbal, A Khan, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Urry, Venner, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield and Yeadon. 

 

 

ABSTAIN – 6

 

J Bentley, S Bentley, Campbell, Cleasby, Golton and Lay.

 

 

No - 21

 

B Anderson, C Anderson, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, Amanda Carter, Andrew Carter, Castle, Cohen, Collins, Elliott ,Flynn, Gettings, Harrand, Lamb, G Latty, J Procter, Robinson, Wadsworth, Wilford and Wilkinson.

 

Amendment in the name of Councillor Anderson  

 

YES - 29

 

B Anderson, C Anderson, J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, Campbell, Amanda Carter , Andrew Carter, Castle, Cleasby, Cohen, Collins, Elliott ,Flynn, Gettings, Golton, Harrand, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Lay,

J Procter, Robinson, Wadsworth, Varley , Wilford and Wilkinson.

 

NO – 59

 

Akhtar, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey Dawson,C Dobson, M Dobson, Dowson ,Dunn, Gabriel, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harington, Harland, Harper, H Hayden, J Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Illingworth, Ingham, Iqbal, A Khan, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Urry, Venner, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield and Yeadon.