Agenda item

This Council notes the mounting objections to the Managed Approach in Holbeck and further notes growing evidence of resident and business dissatisfaction with this policy. This Council agrees with the concerns of the Member of Parliament for Leeds Central and believes it is time for the ruling administration to prove to residents and businesses that they can make the Managed Approach work, or suspend it.

It was moved by Councillor Amanda Carter, seconded by Councillor Lamb that 

this Council notes the mounting objections to the Managed Approach in Holbeck and further notes growing evidence of resident and business dissatisfaction with this policy. This Council agrees with the concerns of the Member of Parliament for Leeds Central and believes it is time for the ruling administration to prove to residents and businesses that they can make the Managed Approach work, or suspend it.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Coupar, seconded by Councillor Scopes

Remove all after “This Council…” and replace with:

acknowledges it is important to continuously work closely with both sex workers and the community on the Managed Approach to reduce the negative impacts of their work on residents and businesses, ensuring that Holbeck is a safe area to reside and work in.

Council is aware that since the introduction of the Managed Approach, sex workers are engaging with specialist organisations and professionals, creating a safer environment and arrangements for them to operate in. Safeguarding vulnerable women involved in street-based activity is a high priority and working in partnership with third sector organisations ensures this support is being delivered, resulting in a positive impact.

Council notes the commitment of the work Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and Safer Leeds are undertaking with the Managed Approach. The programme of enhanced activity and intensive partnership work is providing the opportunity to tackle the significant issues that are experienced as a result of the Managed Approach by those living and working in Holbeck.

Council notes the commitment by Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and Safer Leeds to undertake an Independent Review of the Managed Approach once the enhanced activity has been given time to take effect. 

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

RESOLVED – That this Council acknowledges it is important to continuously work closely with both sex workers and the community on the Managed Approach to reduce the negative impacts of their work on residents and businesses, ensuring that Holbeck is a safe area to reside and work in.

Council is aware that since the introduction of the Managed Approach, sex workers are engaging with specialist organisations and professionals, creating a safer environment and arrangements for them to operate in. Safeguarding vulnerable women involved in street-based activity is a high priority and working in partnership with third sector organisations ensures this support is being delivered, resulting in a positive impact.

Council notes the commitment of the work Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and Safer Leeds are undertaking with the Managed Approach. The programme of enhanced activity and intensive partnership work is providing the opportunity to tackle the significant issues that are experienced as a result of the Managed Approach by those living and working in Holbeck.

Council notes the commitment by Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and Safer Leeds to undertake an Independent Review of the Managed Approach once the enhanced activity has been given time to take effect. 

On the requisition of Councillors Lamb and Robinson the voting on the amendment in the name of Councillor Coupar was recorded as follows;

YES – 59

Akhtar, Almas, Arif, Bithell, Blake, Brooks, Bruce, Carlill, Charlwood, Coupar, Dawson, Dowson,  Drinkwater, Dye, Gabriel, Garner, Garthwaite, M Gibson, J Gibson, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, P Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Harper, Hayden, Heselwood, Hussain, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jenkins, Khan, Knight, Lennox,  J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Maqsood, McKenna, Mulherin,  Nash, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Scopes, Shahzad, Smart, E Taylor,  Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Venner, Wakefield, Walshaw, Wenham and Wray.

NO – 31

B Anderson, C Anderson, Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, Campbell, Amanda Carter, Andrew Carter, Cohen, Collins, Dobson, Field, Firth, Flynn, Golton, Harrington, C Harrison, M Harrison, Harrand, Lamb, P Latty, Lay, McCormack, Robinson, Seary, Shemilt, Stephenson, J Taylor, Wadsworth and Wilkinson.

ABSTAIN – 5

Elliott, Gettings, Hutchison, Kidger and Leadley

On the requisition of Councillors Lamb and Robinson the voting on the substantive motion in the name of Councillor Coupar was recorded as follows;

YES – 58

Akhtar, Almas, Arif, Bithell, Blake, Brooks, Bruce, Carlill, Charlwood, Coupar, Dawson, Dowson,  Drinkwater, Dye, Gabriel, Garner, Garthwaite, M Gibson, J Gibson, P Grahame, R Grahame, Groves, P Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Harper, Hayden, Heselwood, Hussain, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jenkins, Khan, Lennox,  J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Maqsood, McKenna, Mulherin,  Nash, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Scopes, Shahzad, Smart, E Taylor,  Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Venner, Wakefield, Walshaw, Wenham and Wray.

NO – 5

A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Dobson, Field, McCormack

ABSTAIN – 32

B Anderson, C Anderson, Bentley, Buckley, Campbell, Amanda Carter, Andrew Carter, Cohen, Collins, Elliott, Firth, Flynn, Gettings, Golton, Harrington, C Harrison, M Harrison, Harrand, Hutchison, Kidger, Knight,  Lamb, P Latty, Lay, Leadley, Robinson, Seary, Shemilt, Stephenson, J Taylor, Wadsworth and Wilkinson.