Agenda and decisions

To receive any announcements by the Mayor and Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive provided confirmation, in advance of the receipt of deputations, that no decision was to be made at the meeting in regards to the Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

Group Business Managers will report any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Sims and Palfreeman.

To receive the Minutes for the previous meeting of Council, held on 9 November 2016.

Approved as a correct.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items of the Agenda in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of them items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

No interests were declared.

Any Member of the Council can submit a petition, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.

No petitions were received.

Council will receive any petitions from members of the public, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 or will receive any deputations, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

Council received deputations from (i) Mike Forster and John Garside in regards to the ‘Save HRI’ Campaign, and (ii) Alisa Devlin and Mark Riley in regards to town centre trade and the impact of the bus gates upon local businesses.

Council will receive any questions from members of the public, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

No questions were asked.

To receive the Minutes of the previous meeting of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, held on 29 September 2016, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 5.

Item not considered (due to time constraints).

To receive the report.

Contact: Tim Mitchell, Finance Manager

Item not considered (due to time constraints).

To receive the report.

Contact: Tom Ghee, Group Engineer

Item not considered (due to time constraints).

To consider the report.

Contact: Simon Taylor, Head of Development Management

That the Interim Affordable Housing Policy be approved.

To consider the report.

Contact: Richard Farnhill, Governance Manager

That the appointment of Jacqui Gedman as Acting Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, to include the roles of Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer be approved.

To receive written questions to the Leader and Cabinet in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.

(Note: The deadline for the submission of written questions is 10.00am on the day prior to the Council meeting)

Item not considered (due to time constraints).

To receive written questions to Chairs of Committees/Sub-Committees/Panels and Spokespersons of Joint Committees/External Bodies in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.

(Note: the deadline for the submission of written questions is 10.00am on the day prior to the Council meeting.)

Item not considered (due to time constraints).

To receive for information the Minutes of Cabinet held on 3 October, 12 October, 18 October, 15 November and 28 November 2016 and Cabinet Committee – Local Issues held on 19 October 2016.

Item not considered (due to time constraints).

a)    To receive the following Portfolio updates;

i)     Family Support and Child Protection (Councillor Hill)

ii)    Asset Strategy, Resources and Creative Kirklees (Councillor G Turner)

b)    Oral Questions/Comments to Cabinet Members on their Portfolios and relevant Cabinet Minutes;

a)    Highways and Neighbourhoods (Councillor Khan)

b)    Housing and Enforcement Management (Councillor Mather)

c)    Economy, Skills, Transportation and Planning (Councillor McBride)

d)    Strategy and Strategic Resources, New Council and Regional Issues (Councillors Pandor and Sheard)

e)    Asset Strategy, Resources and Creative Kirklees (Councillor G Turner)

f)     Community Cohesion and Schools (Councillor Ahmed)

g)    Family Support and Child Protection (Councillor Hill)

h)   Adults, Health and Activity to Improve Health (Councillor Kendrick)

Council received a Portfolio Update from Councillor Erin Hill (Family Support and Child Protection Portfolio) in regards to the post Ofsted Inspection next steps.

(a)  Corporate Governance and Audit Committee

(b)  District Committee – Batley and Spen

(c)  District Committee – Dewsbury and Mirfield

(d)  District Committee – Kirklees Rural

(e)  Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

(f)   Personnel Committee

(g)  Strategic Planning Committee

Item not considered (due to time constraints).

(a) Appeals Panel (Councillor Armer)

(b) Corporate Governance and Audit Committee (Councillor Richards)

(c) Corporate Parenting Panel (Councillor Hill)

(d) District Committee - Batley and Spen (Councillor Lowe)

(e) District Committee - Dewsbury and Mirfield (Councillor Dad)

(f) District Committee - Huddersfield (Councillor Ullah)

(g) District Committee - Kirklees Rural (Councillor Watson)

(h) Employee Relations Sub Committee (Councillor Sheard)

(i) Health and Wellbeing Board (Councillor Kendrick)

(j) Licensing and Safety Committee - including Licensing Panel and Regulatory Panel (Councillor Scott)

(k) Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (Councillor Stewart-Turner)

(l) Personnel Committee (Councillor Sheard)

(m) Planning Sub Committee - Heavy Woollen Area (Councillor Kane)

(n) Planning Sub Committee - Huddersfield Area (Councillor Lyons)

(o) Policy Committee (Councillor Walker)

(p) Strategic Planning Committee (Councillor S Hall)

(q) Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (Councillor Smaje)

(r) Kirklees Active Leisure (Councillor Sokhal)

(s) West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Councillor Sheard)

(t) West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority (Councillor O’Donovan)

(u) West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee (Councillor Pandor)

(v) West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel (Councillor Hussain)

Item not considered (due to time constraints).

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Armer, D Hall, McGuin, Patrick, Smith, J Taylor and Wilson:

‘This Council;

a)    Confirms its support for town and village economies throughout Kirklees

b)    Acknowledges that its Economic Strategy 2014 - 2020 promised that it would play an enabling role with partners, including the private sector, and specifically pledged itself to economic revitalisation in Huddersfield by making it easier for businesses to succeed

c)    Notes that, as part of its six Headline Initiatives it pledged to revitalise Huddersfield Town Centre and also create Quality Places by encouraging neighbourhood level economic development

d)    Further acknowledges that the rise of internet shopping and the success of out of town shopping centres have increased the pressure on local independent traders

e)    Is concerned that, unless it supports the retention of businesses in Kirklees, the potential benefit of retaining business rates will be lost to residents

f)     Is further concerned that some businesses have made the decision to re-locate from Huddersfield town centre citing ‘Bus Gates’ as the reason

This Council therefore Resolves:

i)     To confirm its support for all town and village economies in the Borough, its pledge to revitalise Huddersfield Town Centre and create Quality Places in local neighbourhoods throughout Kirklees

ii)    To indicate its support for the traders in Huddersfield by
(a) asking Cabinet to consider immediately suspending the ‘Bus Gate’ project whilst the All Party Panel referred to in
(b) has met and concluded its work, and
(b) creating an All Party Panel to review the original introduction, objectives and future effect of the project in the manner resolved at 3 below.

The Panel will

a)    be constituted on a 1:1:1:1 basis

b)    be chaired by a member of an opposition Group

c)    to ensure its independence, will not contain any Member of the Cabinet or Members of the Huddersfield District Committee

d)    produce recommendations to Cabinet for consideration after initial consideration of full Council at its meeting in April 2017 and

e)    the appointment of Chair and membership of the Panel will be delegated to a joint meeting of Group Leaders’.

Motion Amended as below;

Delete all words after ‘This Council therefore Resolves:’ and replace with the following;

“To consider the challenges to town centres of internet shopping, out of town shopping centres and the specific opportunities which Kingsgate 2 and HD1 and town centre living can afford to Huddersfield.

To achieve this objective form an all-party group to work with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills, Transportation and Planning to explore all facets of town centre development in Huddersfield.”