Agenda item

This Council calls on the ruling administration to make every effort to maintain PCSOs numbers in Leeds. Council believes that the budget freeze granted to police forces in the recent CSR could offer a possible opportunity to attract additional funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner.

This Council also believes the administration should consider additional resources from its own budget.

Recent worldwide events raise a number of questions about security arrangements in the UK and Leeds, as a major UK and European city. Council therefore calls for the establishment of a cross party working group on public safety in Leeds with a view to addressing possible increased security risks and to consider how PCSO funding might be maintained.

It was moved by Councillor B Anderson, seconded by Councillor Amanda Carter that this Council calls on the ruling administration to make every effort to maintain PCSOs numbers in Leeds. Council believes that the budget freeze granted to police forces in the recent CSR could offer a possible opportunity to attract additional funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner.

This Council also believes the administration should consider additional resources from its own budget.

Recent worldwide events raise a number of questions about security arrangements in the UK and Leeds, as a major UK and European city. Council therefore calls for the establishment of a cross party working group on public safety in Leeds with a view to addressing possible increased security risks and to consider how PCSO funding might be maintained.

An amendment was moved by Councillor J Bentley seconded by Councillor Campbell

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This council values the hard work and dedication of the city’s 236 remaining police community support officers and their vital role in helping all of our communities to be safe.

This council believes it important that all council co-funded PCSOs be deployed on an equal basis per ward.

This council therefore commits to do all in its power to retain the current level and deployment of PCSO provision in 2016/2017 and future years and resolves to work closely with the West Yorkshire police and crime commissioner to achieve this aim.

The amended motion would read:

This council values the hard work and dedication of the city’s 236 remaining police community support officers and their vital role in helping all of our communities to be safe.

This council also believes it important that all council co-funded PCSOs are deployed on an equal basis per ward.

This council therefore commits to do all in its power to retain the current level and deployment of PCSO provision in 2016/2017 and future years and resolves to work closely with the West Yorkshire police and crime commissioner to achieve this aim.

Recent worldwide events raise a number of questions about security arrangements in the UK and Leeds, as a major UK and European city.  Council therefore calls for the establishment of a cross party working group on public safety in Leeds with a view to addressing possible increased security risks and to consider how PCSO funding might be maintained.

A second amendment was moved by Councillor M Dobson seconded by Councillor Lowe

Delete all after the first “This Council” and replace with:

commits to making every effort to maintain PCSOs numbers in Leeds.

Council recognises Leeds’ approach to continue the Local Authority contribution for PCSOs in Leeds, at a time when government funding is being significantly reduced. Indeed, Council notes the ambition to maintain funding for PCSOs in the face of this year’s £34 million grant cut, rather than the expected £24 million.

Recent worldwide events raise a number of questions about security arrangements in the UK and Leeds, as a major UK and European city. Council therefore calls on the cross party Scrutiny Board on Environment and Housing to continue to consider public safety in Leeds, including how PCSO funding might be maintained.

Council requests that the Executive Member for Environmental Protection and Community Safety keeps members updated on this issue.

The motion would therefore read:

This Council commits to making every effort to maintain PCSOs numbers in Leeds.

Council recognises Leeds’ approach to continue the Local Authority contribution for PCSOs in Leeds, at a time when government funding is being significantly reduced. Indeed, Council notes the ambition to maintain funding for PCSOs in the face of this year’s £34 million grant cut, rather than the expected £24 million.

Recent worldwide events raise a number of questions about security arrangements in the UK and Leeds, as a major UK and European city. Council therefore calls on the cross party Scrutiny Board on Environment and Housing to continue to consider public safety in Leeds, including how PCSO funding might be maintained.

Council requests that the Executive Member for Environmental Protection and Community Safety keeps members updated on this issue.

The amendment in the name of Councillor J Bentley was declared lost.

The amendment in the name of Councillor M Dobson was carried and upon being put to the vote it was;

RESOLVED - This Council commits to making every effort to maintain PCSOs numbers in Leeds.

Council recognises Leeds’ approach to continue the Local Authority contribution for PCSOs in Leeds, at a time when government funding is being significantly reduced. Indeed, Council notes the ambition to maintain funding for PCSOs in the face of this year’s £34 million grant cut, rather than the expected £24 million.

Recent worldwide events raise a number of questions about security arrangements in the UK and Leeds, as a major UK and European city. Council therefore calls on the cross party Scrutiny Board on Environment and Housing to continue to consider public safety in Leeds, including how PCSO funding might be maintained.

Council requests that the Executive Member for Environmental Protection and Community Safety keeps members updated on this issue.