Agenda item

This Council is concerned at the administration’s proposals to accommodate Gypsies and Travellers on numerous undisclosed “negotiated stopping sites” across Leeds.

 

Council does not believe any new sites should be brought forward without full consultation and the support of local communities. Council calls on the administration to immediately publish a list of the intended locations of sites so that there can be proper democratic oversight of the proposals and to allow local communities to express their views on the plans.

 

Finally, Council requests the Director of Resources and Housing to set out in a report to Executive Board how the Council can become more innovative in its use of monitoring and enforcement methods, so that when disruptive or costly activities occur on unauthorised encampments, those responsible can be held accountable.

 

It was moved by Councillor N Buckley, seconded by Councillor Amanda Carter that this Council is concerned at the administration’s proposals to accommodate Gypsies and Travellers on numerous undisclosed “negotiated stopping sites” across Leeds.

 

Council does not believe any new sites should be brought forward without full consultation and the support of local communities. Council calls on the administration to immediately publish a list of the intended locations of sites so that there can be proper democratic oversight of the proposals and to allow local communities to express their views on the plans.

 

Finally, Council requests the Director of Resources and Housing to set out in a report to Executive Board how the Council can become more innovative in its use of monitoring and enforcement methods, so that when disruptive or costly activities occur on unauthorised encampments, those responsible can be held accountable.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Leadley, seconded by Councillor Finnigan

 

Delete all after “This Council” and insert the following:

 

“is concerned by the administration’s proposals to accommodate Gypsies and Travellers on numerous undisclosed ‘negotiated stop sites’ across Leeds.

 

Council does not believe that any new sites should be brought forward without local ward councillors, including those in Alwoodley and Headingley, being told in confidence, so that they can have goodly amounts of time in which to make plans to welcome Gypsies and Travellers into their communities.

 

Finally, Council requests the Director of Resources and Housing to set out in a report to Executive Board how the City Council can become more innovative in its use of monitoring and enforcement, with a view to showing whether negotiated stopping sites reduce expense to the City Council, environmental harm, and general nuisance to property owners and occupiers, and whether they are beneficial to Gypsies and Travellers.”

 

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Coupar, seconded by Councillor R Lewis

 

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

 

“respects the cultural traditions of the gypsy and traveller community and believes Leeds residents have the right to live lives that aren’t negatively affected by new encampments in their area. 

 

Council notes the current Administration has a coherent strategy to work with the police and other key agencies to limit the impact of unauthorised encampments on Leeds residents, in direct contrast to when the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups were in Administration. 

 

Council believes negotiated stopping is an innovative approach to addressing problems caused by unauthorised encampments, as it enables the use of behaviour contracts to help reduce any negative impact of encampments on residents of Leeds.

 

Council notes negotiated stopping forms one part of an overall strategy, which also includes support for travellers who wish to pursue permanent accommodation in Leeds.

 

Council notes there is no pool of sites as land used for negotiated stopping is land that is only available to be used for a limited period on a short term basis at the point when an encampment occurs. 

 

This Council believes decent homes are a key element of any thriving sustainable community, including the Gypsy and Traveller Community, and confirms its commitment to meeting their needs within its overall vision for the city.”

 

 

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

 

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

 

RESOLVED – That this Councilrespects the cultural traditions of the gypsy and traveller community and believes Leeds residents have the right to live lives that aren’t negatively affected by new encampments in their area. 

 

Council notes the current Administration has a coherent strategy to work with the police and other key agencies to limit the impact of unauthorised encampments on Leeds residents, in direct contrast to when the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups were in Administration. 

 

Council believes negotiated stopping is an innovative approach to addressing problems caused by unauthorised encampments, as it enables the use of behaviour contracts to help reduce any negative impact of encampments on residents of Leeds.

 

Council notes negotiated stopping forms one part of an overall strategy, which also includes support for travellers who wish to pursue permanent accommodation in Leeds.

 

Council notes there is no pool of sites as land used for negotiated stopping is land that is only available to be used for a limited period on a short term basis at the point when an encampment occurs. 

 

This Council believes decent homes are a key element of any thriving sustainable community, including the Gypsy and Traveller Community, and confirms its commitment to meeting their needs within its overall vision for the city.

 

On the requisition of Councillors G Latty and Cohen the voting on Councillor Leadley’s amendment was recorded as follows;

 

YES – 11

 

J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Campbell, Elliott, Finnigan, Gettings, Golton, Lay and Leadley 

 

NO – 72

 

Akhtar, B Anderson, C Anderson, Arif, Blake, Bruce, Buckley, Andrew Carter, Amanda Carter, Charlwood, Cohen, Collins, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey, M Dobson, Dunn, Flynn, Gabriel, Garthwaite, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, C Gruen, P Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Harper, Harrand,  Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, Khan, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lyons, Lowe, Macniven, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, J Procter,  Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Robinson, Smart, Sobel, Stephenson, E Taylor, Towler,  Tunnicliffe, Venner, Wakefield, Walshaw, Wilkinson, Wood and Yeadon

 

ABSTAIN – 3

 

C Dobson, Field and Walker

 

On the requisition of Councillors G Latty and Cohen the voting on Councillor Coupar’s amendment was recorded as follows;

 

YES – 55

 

Akhtar, Arif, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey, Dunn, Field,  Gabriel, Garthwaite, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, C Gruen, P Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Harper, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, Khan, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lyons, Lowe, Macniven, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Tunnicliffe, Venner, Wakefield, Walshaw and Yeadon

 

 

 

NO – 24

 

B Anderson, C Anderson, Buckley, Andrew Carter, Amanda Carter, Cohen, Collins, C Dobson, M Dobson, Elliott, Finnigan, Flynn, Gettings, Harrand, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Leadley, J Procter, Robinson, Stephenson, Walker Wilkinson and Wood

 

 

 

ABSTAIN – 7

 

J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Campbell, Golton and Lay

 

 

On the requisition of Councillors G Latty and Cohen the voting on the substantive motion in the name of Councillor Coupar was recorded as follows;

 

YES – 54

 

Akhtar, Arif, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey, Dunn, Gabriel, Garthwaite, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, C Gruen, P Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Harper, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, Khan, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lyons, Lowe, Macniven, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Tunnicliffe, Venner, Wakefield, Walshaw and Yeadon

 

NO – 25

 

B Anderson, C Anderson, Buckley, Andrew Carter, Amanda Carter, Cohen, Collins,  C Dobson, M Dobson, Elliott, Field, Finnigan, Flynn, Gettings, Harrand, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, Leadley, J Procter, Robinson, Stephenson, Walker Wilkinson and Wood

 

ABSTAIN – 7

 

J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Campbell, Golton and Lay