Agenda item

This Council believes West Yorkshire Police must enforce the law without fear or favour. This Council agrees to write to the Chief Constable to confirm this is the view of Leeds City Council.

It was moved by Councillor Finnigan, seconded by Councillor Hutchison that this Council believes West Yorkshire Police must enforce the law without fear or favour. This Council agrees to write to the Chief Constable to confirm this is the view of Leeds City Council.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Lamb, seconded by Councillor Buckley

Insert as Paragraph 1:

‘This Council fully commits to delivering against the aims and objectives set out in the declared Climate Emergency. Council notes the importance of gaining widespread public support for action on this agenda and is concerned that disruptive protests may be counter-productive to achieving these ambitions.’

Motion will read:

‘This Council fully commits to delivering against the aims and objectives set out in the declared Climate Emergency. Council notes the importance of gaining widespread public support for action on this agenda and is concerned that disruptive protests may be counter-productive to achieving these ambitions.

This Council believes West Yorkshire Police must enforce the law without fear or favour. This Council agrees to write to the Chief Constable to confirm this is the view of Leeds City Council.’

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Campbell, seconded by Councillor Golton

In paragraph one of the motion, insert between must and enforce in the first line:

“be funded adequately to ensure it can”

The motion will then read:

“This Council believes West Yorkshire Police must be funded adequately to ensure it can enforce the law without fear or favour.

This Council agrees to write to the Chief Constable to confirm this is the view of the City Council”

A third amendment was moved by Councillor Coupar, seconded by Councillor Ragan

 Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

“...notes the recent High Court ruling that a Metropolitan Police ban on an Extinction Rebellion protest was unlawful.

“Council believes effective partnership working between Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police is key to providing safe communities across Leeds and notes the strong partnership arrangements already in place through Safer Leeds, the Police and Crime Panel and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

“Council supports continued close working with West Yorkshire police and other partners, including when lawful protests are taking place in Leeds, to ensure minimal disruption and the safety of our residents.

“This Council commits to maintaining and strengthening its partnership with West Yorkshire Police and will write a letter to the new Chief Constable to underline the strength of that commitment.”

The amendments in the name of Councillors Lamb and Campbell were declared lost, the amendment in the name of Councillor Coupar was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council notes the recent High Court ruling that a Metropolitan Police ban on an Extinction Rebellion protest was unlawful.

Council believes effective partnership working between Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police is key to providing safe communities across Leeds and notes the strong partnership arrangements already in place through Safer Leeds, the Police and Crime Panel and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Council supports continued close working with West Yorkshire police and other partners, including when lawful protests are taking place in Leeds, to ensure minimal disruption and the safety of our residents.

This Council commits to maintaining and strengthening its partnership with West Yorkshire Police and will write a letter to the new Chief Constable to underline the strength of that commitment.