Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Executive which sets out the steps Leeds City Council, working closely with partners, will take to support people, growth, businesses, and key institutions in the city following the EU Referendum.

The Chief Executive submitted a report which presented the steps that Leeds City Council, working closely with partners, were taking in order to support people, growth, businesses, and key institutions across the city following the EU Referendum.

Emphasis was placed upon the vital role of the Council, working with partners across all sectors, in moving Leeds forward following the referendum result. Also highlighted was the strength and resilience that the city had shown in the past and would continue to show in the future. The Board also provided reassurance that all citizens and communities of Leeds, regardless of their nationality, were welcome in the city. It was also acknowledged that whilst there would be uncertainty as a result of the referendum result, such circumstances would also present opportunities for the city and the wider region.

Members highlighted the need for Leeds’ viewpoint to be robustly represented in any post referendum discussions, and it was noted that the Leader had spoken to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and had also written to the Prime Minister on such matters. It was also highlighted that consideration needed to be given to the ways in which it could be ensured that all citizens felt that their viewpoints were listened to and that they did not feel marginalised.

RESOLVED – That the following be approved:-

(a)  That the Chief Officer Economy and Regeneration be requested to identify the impact of the economic uncertainty on major development projects, and measures that could be undertaken by the Council working with the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to de-risk existing schemes, and to bring forward new projects in order to take advantage of the positive exchange rate;

(b)  That the case be made to Government to secure the European Structural Investment Funding (ESIF) which is committed to Leeds City Region over the remainder of the period the UK is a member of the EU, and once the UK leaves the EU, for funding to replace the European Funds earmarked for the city region;

(c)  That the Chief Officer Economy and Regeneration be requested to put in place strengthened Key Account Management mechanisms for supporting businesses, particularly those where there is a potential risk of disinvestment, and key institutions in the city that could be affected by changes in EU funding, and their ability to recruit staff from across the EU;

(d)  That the Chief Officer Economy and Regeneration be requested to set up a standing task force in order to respond to any major disinvestment and redundancies, by providing support for people to find alternative jobs, and seeking to attract investment to sites that become available;

(e)  That the Council continue to promote a tolerant, open and inclusive city, providing information and advice to people on the implications of ‘Brexit’ and reassuring them that they are welcome to live and work in Leeds, whilst also monitoring and seeking to tackle any community tensions;

(f)  That the Council continue to make the case for increased devolution in order to ensure that Leeds and the City Region have the powers and resources to respond to changing economic circumstances, and to do so in a way that connects local people better with the making of decisions that affect their lives;

(g)  That actions be taken to enhance the image of Leeds on the global stage as an outward-looking, diverse and international city by continuing to promote inward investment in Leeds, attracting international visitors, strengthening existing international partnerships and reaffirming the Council’s support to the bid for Leeds to become European Capital of Culture in 2023. (If the UK is not eligible for a Capital of Culture (which is only one of a number of possibilities), consideration be given to the potential for a major international cultural festival being held in order to bring people together and promote Leeds internationally).