VERBATIM REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF LEEDS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 14TH SEPTEMBER 2005 THE LORD MAYOR (Councillor W. S. Hyde): Good afternoon, everybody. Can I just remind everyone in the chamber that mobile telephones and other electrical equipment should be switched off when the Council is in session. Can I also, in response to a request from Councillor Gruen, agree to Members removing their coats, if they so wish. COUNCILLOR A. CARTER: He might have waited until you actually gave permission, Lord Mayor. THE LORD MAYOR: It's not for me to comment on that. ITEM 1 - MINUTES OF MEETINGS ON 20TH JULY 2005 COUNCILLOR PROCTER: Lord Mayor, can I move the minutes be received. COUNCILLOR GRUEN: Second. (The motion was carried) ITEM 2 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST THE LORD MAYOR: A list of written declarations submitted by Members is on display in the ante-room, on deposit in public galleries and has been circulated to each Member's place in the Chamber. Could I invite any further individual declarations or corrections to be notified on this list. COUNCILLOR PHILLIPS: Lord Mayor, I should declare, like Councillor McKenna, that my daughter attends Garforth Community College. THE LORD MAYOR: Thank you. Are there any other additions or alterations? Can I then ask Members to show by a show of hands to confirm that they have read the list and agree its contents in so far as they relate to their own interests. Please indicate. Well, some of us agree that it is alright, thank you. ITEM 3 - COMMUNICATIONS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE (Mr. P. Rogerson): No communications to report. ITEM 4 - DEPUTATIONS 1 THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE: No deputations, Lord Mayor. ITEM 5 - REPORTS COUNCILLOR PROCTER: Lord Mayor, I think some Members are having some trouble hearing you through the microphone that you have at your table. Yes, Lord Mayor, I would like to move 5(a) in terms of the notice, Lord Mayor. COUNCILLOR GRUEN: I second, Lord Mayor. (The motion was carried) COUNCILLOR PROCTER: Lord Mayor, contrary to what is indicated on the order paper, I move that 5(b) be noted but not approved. COUNCILLOR HAMILTON: Lord Mayor, I second and reserve the right to speak. (The motion was carried) ITEM 6 - QUESTIONS COUNCILLOR WAKEFIELD: Lord Mayor, will the Leader of the Council please tell me what discussions he has had with the police in relation to the policing of our communities when the new 24-hour licensing regime comes into operation? COUNCILLOR HARRIS: Lord Mayor, I have not had any formal discussions with the police on this matter, but I have had informal discussions, as I believe have Councillors Carter and Carter - male, that is - and I certainly understand that Councillor Brett as well, both in his capacity as a Member of Council and serving on the Police Authority. The nature of those discussions have fallen into two areas - from my perspective, this is - firstly, the view the police are taking of the overall implication of the introduction of the new licensing rules and, as you know, and it was made very clear by Chief Inspector, isn't it, Dodd yesterday at the meeting with David Milliband, the police are extremely concerned about the implications for the City as a whole but in particular for the city centre. The second area of discussions obviously have been what the police are proposing to do and I cannot report that I am aware of any major specific initiatives, only that they are keeping a watching brief, that obviously they will increase police activity, but they have got to see exactly what the fall-out will be once they see the effects of the new rules. I should, before sitting down, however, just point out that to date certainly up to 2 this morning we have not received a license application for a 24-hour opening. To date there have been no applications for 24-hour opening. COUNCILLOR WAKEFIELD: Thank you, Lord Mayor. In light of the Leader's concern for community safety, will he now consider restoring the cut in the proof of age scheme which was successfully piloted in Leeds and actually dealt with under- age binge drinking. It was actually supported by 90% of the retailers, supported by the schools and, indeed, young people, and actually now is running in every authority in West Yorkshire except Leeds. If he won't consider it, would he tell us why not? It cost £70,000. COUNCILLOR HARRIS: Well, I won't pretend to have the details at my fingertips. You raise a valid point in Council. I would wish to discuss this with certainly Les Carter, and we will certainly look at it. It is a valid point. COUNCILLOR WAKEFIELD: Okay. COUNCILLOR AKHTAR: My Lord Mayor, can the Executive Member responsible for narrowing the Gap comment on the future of the Council's Job Guarantee Scheme? COUNCILLOR BLACKBURN: Lord Mayor the future of the Council's Job Guarantee Scheme is extremely secure. The scheme continues to expand and diversify. New Employer Partnerships and new occupational areas are being included, e.g. heating and ventilation, and the principles which underpin the scheme are being adapted to develop new models, e.g. Junior Job Guarantee and NHS Employability Programme. The Job Guarantee approach is being adopted by other agencies and is fast becoming mainstream activity which can only be a benefit to the workless residents of the City. The Council has also put into place arrangements for it to become the largest Job Guarantee employer within the City, and staff from all departments are working with Learning & Leisure, Jobs and Skills and Job Centre Plus to recruit to vacancies using the Job Guarantee model. The Council recruitment and selection procedures position Job Guarantee as a main means to attract skilled staff to the Council posts. COUNCILLOR SHELBROOKE: My Lord Mayor, would the Executive Board Member for learning agree that this year's Key Stage 3 results reflect the hard work and dedication of the pupils and staff in our schools? COUNCILLOR HARKER: Yes. Yes, I would like (applause) I have got more to say. 3 COUNCILLOR ATHA: Tell us why. COUNCILLOR HARKER: I would like to pay -- it was the applause put me off. I don't usually get much from that side of the House. I would like to congratulate all our primary schools and high schools on the Key stage results this year. The Key Stage 3 results have shown further improvement. We are narrowing the gap and I think the work that Education Leeds and other agencies are doing in our schools to foster the programme of No Child Left Behind is now beginning to bear fruit and can be seen, and I think later in this chamber we will be discussing that sort of thing further. COUNCILLOR ATHA: What about complimenting the teachers? COUNCILLOR HARKER: And the students, sorry. COUNCILLOR ATHA: How about the teachers? COUNCILLOR HARKER: And the teachers. I meant them all. COUNCILLOR ATHA: It is good of you to remember them. COUNCILLOR HARKER: Thank you, Bernard. THE LORD MAYOR: Come along, let's stick to the rules. COUNCILLOR HARKER: I did say "yes", Bernard. COUNCILLOR FINNIGAN: Lord Mayor, would the Executive Board Member responsible for Education confirm if there is a programme to eliminate the use of temporary buildings within Leeds schools? COUNCILLOR HARKER: My Lord Mayor, the simple answer is there isn't a programme as such, but while Education Leeds does not have a fixed programme they do look regularly at the temporary accommodation, and when we are in the process of remodelling schools we work to take out that temporary accommodation. I think I know one of the schools that you have in mind and I am very conscious that they have a whole department in temporary accommodation at the moment, and I am working with Education Leeds to see what we might be able to do in the future. COUNCILLOR FINNIGAN: Lord Mayor, by way of a supplementary, could I ask that Councillor Harker redoubles his efforts to resolve the problems that we have clearly got at Bruntcliffe High School in terms of a Maths Department still operating out of temporary buildings? 4 COUNCILLOR HARKER: The simple answer to that is "Yes", it is on nearly every agenda when I meet Education Leeds. COUNCILLOR A. BLACKBURN: Would the Executive Board Member for Learning join with me in congratulating the pupils and staff of schools in Leeds on this year's GCSE and A level results? THE LORD MAYOR: Before calling on Councillor Harker, could we please have one meeting? It would be helpful if all Members of Council could hear the questions. If we have three or four different meetings going on, it is not always possible. COUNCILLOR HARKER: I am pleased to report to Council that again the GCSE results have shown an improvement this year, and again this is due in large measure to a lot of hard work by staff and students combined. The GCSE results this year only report those GCSEs gained by students at the end of year 11, but I would like to also pay a compliment to a school in our six schools compact programme for narrowing the gap who put in a number of Year 10 students this year and got 154 passes, 133 of those passes at Grade A-C, so I would like to particularly single out one school, the governors, the teachers and the students of John Smeaton. (Applause) COUNCILLOR R. LEWIS: Lord Mayor, will the Executive Board Member for Neighbourhoods and Housing please tell Council what targets are set for his department to ensure that customers' telephone calls and letters are dealt with promptly? COUNCILLOR J.