Agenda item

“This Council remembers all who lost their lives due to Coronavirus and expresses its deepest sympathies to all who have lost loved ones.

Council is eternally grateful to the health and social care workers, other key workers and volunteers in Leeds who continue to do such an incredible job. Council is proud of the response of the people of Leeds to the pandemic and believes their grit and determination will help drive the city’s economic recovery.

Council recognises the unprecedented impact on the council’s finances from additional expenditure and lost income related to Coronavirus. Council notes the promise from Government to do “whatever is necessary” to support councils in doing everything possible to respond to the virus. Council welcomes the commitments made so far by Government but recognises these fall far short of covering the additional costs and loss of income associated with our Coronavirus response.

Council supports the short term immediate measures to deliver savings that were reported to Executive Board in June, but notes this comes after a decade of austerity being imposed on the council and is deeply concerned further measures will be required which could involve huge cuts to services vital to the city’s social wellbeing and economic recovery, as well as possible job losses affecting the very workers who led the fight against coronavirus.  Council notes all other local authorities are facing a financial challenge.

This Council, along with councils all over the country, is ready to step up to help the UK recover from this unprecedented global crisis. Council believes further financial support from government is needed to do this, plus the removal of red tape and giving more freedoms in the way councils operate financially. This would allow the council to do what we have already proved we can do in delivering improved public services and prosperity for the people of Leeds.

“Council resolves to continue working with organisations including Core Cities and the Local Government Association to make the case that all councils are desperately in need of extra funding and to lobby the Government for the resources we need.”

It was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Hayden that this Council remembers all who lost their lives due to Coronavirus and expresses its deepest sympathies to all who have lost loved ones.

Council is eternally grateful to the health and social care workers, other key workers and volunteers in Leeds who continue to do such an incredible job. Council is proud of the response of the people of Leeds to the pandemic and believes their grit and determination will help drive the city’s economic recovery.

Council recognises the unprecedented impact on the council’s finances from additional expenditure and lost income related to Coronavirus. Council notes the promise from Government to do “whatever is necessary” to support councils in doing everything possible to respond to the virus. Council welcomes the commitments made so far by Government but recognises these fall far short of covering the additional costs and loss of income associated with our Coronavirus response.

Council supports the short term immediate measures to deliver savings that were reported to Executive Board in June, but notes this comes after a decade of austerity being imposed on the council and is deeply concerned further measures will be required which could involve huge cuts to services vital to the city’s social wellbeing and economic recovery, as well as possible job losses affecting the very workers who led the fight against coronavirus.  Council notes all other local authorities are facing a financial challenge.

This Council, along with councils all over the country, is ready to step up to help the UK recover from this unprecedented global crisis. Council believes further financial support from government is needed to do this, plus the removal of red tape and giving more freedoms in the way councils operate financially. This would allow the council to do what we have already proved we can do in delivering improved public services and prosperity for the people of Leeds.

“Council resolves to continue working with organisations including Core Cities and the Local Government Association to make the case that all councils are desperately in need of extra funding and to lobby the Government for the resources we need.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Harrington

In paragraph 3 delete after ‘by Government’ and replace with:

‘and resolves to continue to lobby for additional resources and financial flexibility needed to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic in Leeds.’

In paragraph 4 delete after ‘but notes’ and replace with:

‘that net external borrowing by Leeds City Council increased from £1.40bn in 2014/15 to £2.24bn in 2019/20 an increase of over £800m in a 5 year period. The impact of this and the changes to MRP policy means that Leeds City Council faces significant revenue budget pressures linked to debt management and borrowing polices in addition to those brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.’

Insert a new paragraph 5 as follows:

‘Council acknowledges in these difficult times the need to put politics to one side and calls for 

-  A cross party budget working group to be formed and meet within 30 days of this meeting 

-  A local cross party business and economic support task force to be formed and meet within 30 days of this meeting

-  A local cross party working group on cutting red tape & regulation to encourage growth and prosperity in Leeds to be formed and meet within 30 days of this meeting’

In Paragraph 6 delete after ‘red tape’ and replace with:

‘to free up the council and to unleash the ingenuity and innovation of businesses, charities, individuals and the entrepreneurs of Leeds to allow them to succeed.’

Delete the last paragraph and replace with:

‘Council requests that the Chief Executive develops a renewed economic strategy and debt recovery plan to be shared with all elected members as soon as possible.’

Motion will read:

“This Council remembers all who lost their lives due to Coronavirus and expresses its deepest sympathies to all who have lost loved ones.

Council is eternally grateful to the health and social care workers, other key workers and volunteers in Leeds who continue to do such an incredible job. Council is proud of the response of the people of Leeds to the pandemic and believes their grit and determination will help drive the city’s economic recovery.

Council recognises the unprecedented impact on the council’s finances from additional expenditure and lost income related to Coronavirus. Council notes the promise from Government to do “whatever is necessary” to support councils in doing everything possible to respond to the virus. Council welcomes the commitments made so far by Government and resolves to continue to lobby for additional resources and financial flexibility needed to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic in Leeds.

Council supports the short term immediate measures to deliver savings that were reported to Executive Board in June, but notes that net external borrowing by Leeds City Council increased from £1.40bn in 2014/15 to £2.24bn in 2019/20 an increase of over £800m in a 5 year period. The impact of this and the changes to MRP policy means that Leeds City Council faces significant revenue budget pressures linked to debt management and borrowing polices in addition to those brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Council acknowledges in these difficult times the need to put politics to one side and calls for: 

-  A cross party budget working group to be formed and meet within 30 days of this meeting 

-  A local cross party business and economic support task force to be formed and meet within 30 days of this meeting

-  A local cross party working group on cutting red tape & regulation to encourage growth and prosperity in Leeds to be formed and meet within 30 days of this meeting 

This Council, along with councils all over the country, is ready to step up to help the UK recover from this unprecedented global crisis. Council believes further financial support from government is needed to do this, plus the removal of red tape to free up the council and to unleash the ingenuity and innovation of businesses, charities, individuals and the entrepreneurs of Leeds to allow them to succeed. 

Council requests that the Chief Executive develops a renewed economic strategy and debt recovery plan to be shared with all elected members as soon as possible.

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

RESOLVED – That this Council remembers all who lost their lives due to Coronavirus and expresses its deepest sympathies to all who have lost loved ones.

Council is eternally grateful to the health and social care workers, other key workers and volunteers in Leeds who continue to do such an incredible job. Council is proud of the response of the people of Leeds to the pandemic and believes their grit and determination will help drive the city’s economic recovery.

Council recognises the unprecedented impact on the council’s finances from additional expenditure and lost income related to Coronavirus. Council notes the promise from Government to do “whatever is necessary” to support councils in doing everything possible to respond to the virus. Council welcomes the commitments made so far by Government but recognises these fall far short of covering the additional costs and loss of income associated with our Coronavirus response.

Council supports the short term immediate measures to deliver savings that were reported to Executive Board in June, but notes this comes after a decade of austerity being imposed on the council and is deeply concerned further measures will be required which could involve huge cuts to services vital to the city’s social wellbeing and economic recovery, as well as possible job losses affecting the very workers who led the fight against coronavirus.  Council notes all other local authorities are facing a financial challenge.

This Council, along with councils all over the country, is ready to step up to help the UK recover from this unprecedented global crisis. Council believes further financial support from government is needed to do this, plus the removal of red tape and giving more freedoms in the way councils operate financially. This would allow the council to do what we have already proved we can do in delivering improved public services and prosperity for the people of Leeds.

“Council resolves to continue working with organisations including Core Cities and the Local Government Association to make the case that all councils are desperately in need of extra funding and to lobby the Government for the resources we need.