Agenda item

Leeds has an ambition to be the best city for all its citizens and this includes those residents with a learning disability. This council also has a focus and commitment to support individuals with a learning disability to live independent, active and fulfilling lives. 

 

This Council therefore commits to further enhance the lives of those with a learning disability by:

 

·  committing to provide a stronger focus in assisting all those with a learning disability the  opportunity of work.

·  welcoming a deputation of residents with a learning disability to address Council on what more we can do to help them into employment.

·  asking the appropriate Scrutiny Board(s) to explore how we can create meaningful jobs across the city for those that want one: 

o  by creating meaningful employment/jobs within the Council.

o  by ensuring those jobs have the support mechanisms needed to help individuals with a learning disability to ‘get into’ and ‘stay in’ employment.

o  by setting a target figure for employment and work towards it.

o  by using its influence to encourage its partners in the public, private and the third sectors to do the same.

o  by supporting the Yorkshire Evening Post campaign ‘Let’s work together’.

 

And asks the Chief Officer for Employment and Skills to bring a report to the September 2019 Executive Board with recommendations of how the Council’s ambition can be achieved.  

 

It was moved by Councillor Lay, seconded by Councillor Pryor that Leeds has an ambition to be the best city for all its citizens and this includes those residents with a learning disability. This council also has a focus and commitment to support individuals with a learning disability to live independent, active and fulfilling lives. 

 

Leeds has demonstrated this commitment through:

 

·  the development of the ‘Being Me’ strategy that works to co-ordinate the different organisations that support people in Leeds with learning disabilities and their families.

·  The establishment of an Employment Task Group, bringing together the Council and Third Sector to identify employment barriers and opportunities for those with learning disabilities.

·  Reviewing relevant aspects of the recruitment policy with the Disability At Work Network (DAWN)

 

This Council therefore re-commits to further enhance the lives of those with a learning disability by:

 

·  providing a strong focus in assisting all those with a learning disability the opportunity of work through the on-going establishment of the Learning Disability Hub and a targeted Jobs Fayre.

·  welcoming a deputation of residents with a learning disability to address Council on what they would like to see the Council do to assist them further.

·  asking the appropriate Scrutiny Board(s) to evaluate the work we are doing to create meaningful jobs across the city for those that want one: 

o  by creating a greater number of meaningful employment/jobs within the Council.

o  by exploring how we can further work alongside DAWN and others to ensure those jobs have the support mechanisms needed to help individuals with a learning disability to ‘get into’ and ‘stay in’ employment.

o  by increasing the employment figures for people with learning disabilities.

o  by using its influence to encourage its partners in the public, private and the third sectors to do the same.

o  by supporting the Yorkshire Evening Post campaign ‘Let’s work together’.

 

And asks the Chief Officer for Employment and Skills to bring a report to the October 2019 Executive Board updating on progress against the ‘Being Me’ strategy along with recommendations of how the Council’s ambition can be achieved.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Cohen, seconded by Councillor Shemilt

 

Delete all after ‘fulfilling lives’ and replace with:

 

This Council therefore commits to further enhance the lives of those with a learning disability by:

 

·  committing to provide a stronger focus in assisting all those with a learning disability the  opportunity of work.

·  welcoming a deputation of residents with a learning disability to address Council on what more we can do to help them into employment.

·  asking the appropriate Scrutiny Board(s) to explore how we can create meaningful jobs across the city for those that want one: 

o  by creating meaningful employment/jobs within the Council.

o  by ensuring those jobs have the support mechanisms needed to help individuals with a learning disability to ‘get into’ and ‘stay in’ employment.

o  by setting a target figure for employment and work towards it.

o  by using its influence to encourage its partners in the public, private and the third sectors to do the same.

o  by supporting the Yorkshire Evening Post campaign ‘Let’s work together’.

 

And asks the Chief Officer for Employment and Skills to bring a report to the September 2019 Executive Board with recommendations of how the Council’s ambition can be achieved.

 

Council also wishes to acknowledge the efforts of central government in helping to create record numbers of jobs. Figures released in November 2018 showed 973,000 more disabled people in work since 2013. 

 

Council welcomes the recent government announcements aimed at breaking down barriers faced by disabled people in employment, including the launching of a new cross-government disability team, a consultation on new measures to help employers better support disabled people in work, and exploring how to improve support for those on disability benefits.”

 

Motion will read:

 

“Leeds has an ambition to be the best city for all its citizens and this includes those residents with a learning disability. This council also has a focus and commitment to support individuals with a learning disability to live independent, active and fulfilling lives. 

 

“This Council therefore commits to further enhance the lives of those with a learning disability by:

 

·  committing to provide a stronger focus in assisting all those with a learning disability the  opportunity of work.

·  welcoming a deputation of residents with a learning disability to address Council on what more we can do to help them into employment.

·  asking the appropriate Scrutiny Board(s) to explore how we can create meaningful jobs across the city for those that want one: 

o  by creating meaningful employment/jobs within the Council.

o  by ensuring those jobs have the support mechanisms needed to help individuals with a learning disability to ‘get into’ and ‘stay in’ employment.

o  by setting a target figure for employment and work towards it.

o  by using its influence to encourage its partners in the public, private and the third sectors to do the same.

o  by supporting the Yorkshire Evening Post campaign ‘Let’s work together’.

 

And asks the Chief Officer for Employment and Skills to bring a report to the September 2019 Executive Board with recommendations of how the Council’s ambition can be achieved.  

 

Council also wishes to acknowledge the efforts of central government in helping to create record numbers of jobs. Figures released in November 2018 showed 973,000 more disabled people in work since 2013. 

 

Council welcomes the recent government announcements aimed at breaking down barriers faced by disabled people in employment, including the launching of a new cross-government disability team, a consultation on new measures to help employers better support disabled people in work, and exploring how to improve support for those on disability benefits.”

 

 

Following the discussion on the motion and amendment and prior to summing up on the motion by Councillor Lay, Councillor Cohen seconded by Councillor Shemilt sought leave of Council under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.10 to withdraw his replacement amendment to which Council agreed.

 

Following summing up on the motion it was;

 

RESOLVED – That Leeds has an ambition to be the best city for all its citizens and this includes those residents with a learning disability. This council also has a focus and commitment to support individuals with a learning disability to live independent, active and fulfilling lives. 

 

Leeds has demonstrated this commitment through:

 

·  the development of the ‘Being Me’ strategy that works to co-ordinate the different organisations that support people in Leeds with learning disabilities and their families.

·  The establishment of an Employment Task Group, bringing together the Council and Third Sector to identify employment barriers and opportunities for those with learning disabilities.

·  Reviewing relevant aspects of the recruitment policy with the Disability At Work Network (DAWN)

 

This Council therefore re-commits to further enhance the lives of those with a learning disability by:

 

·  providing a strong focus in assisting all those with a learning disability the opportunity of work through the on-going establishment of the Learning Disability Hub and a targeted Jobs Fayre.

·  welcoming a deputation of residents with a learning disability to address Council on what they would like to see the Council do to assist them further.

·  asking the appropriate Scrutiny Board(s) to evaluate the work we are doing to create meaningful jobs across the city for those that want one: 

o  by creating a greater number of meaningful employment/jobs within the Council.

o  by exploring how we can further work alongside DAWN and others to ensure those jobs have the support mechanisms needed to help individuals with a learning disability to ‘get into’ and ‘stay in’ employment.

o  by increasing the employment figures for people with learning disabilities.

o  by using its influence to encourage its partners in the public, private and the third sectors to do the same.

o  by supporting the Yorkshire Evening Post campaign ‘Let’s work together’.

 

And asks the Chief Officer for Employment and Skills to bring a report to the October 2019 Executive Board updating on progress against the ‘Being Me’ strategy along with recommendations of how the Council’s ambition can be achieved.