Agenda and decisions

To receive any announcements from the Mayor and Chief Executive.

The Mayor conveyed sympathy, on behalf of the Council, to HM King Charles upon his recent cancer diagnosis, and sent best wishes for a speedy recovery.

The Mayor advised of an event that would be held at Huddersfield Town Hall in recognition of the invaluable role that volunteers play within communities and invited Ward Councillors to advise the Civic Office of nominations for volunteers within their respective wards whom they felt should be recognised for their contributions.

The Mayor advised that he had been present at the 50^th anniversary of the M62 coach bombing memorial service which had taken place on 4 February 2024, and thanked all those who had also attended.

Group Business Managers to submit any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Ahmed, D Firth, Khan, Lowe, Mather, Reynolds and Stephen.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Council Meeting held on 17 January 2024.

Approved as a correct record.

Members will be asked to advise if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest, or any other interests, which may prevent them from participating in the discussion or vote on any of the items.

No interests were declared.

To receive any Petitions from Members of the Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.

Council received petitions from (i) Councillor Gregg opposing the proposed increase in car parking charges in Kirklees and (ii) Councillor Bolt opposing the introduction of car parking charges in Mirfield.

Council will receive any petitions and/or deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also submit a petition at the meeting relating to a matter on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Members of the Public must submit a deputation in writing, at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting and shall subsequently be notified if the deputation shall be heard. A maximum of four deputations shall be heard at any one meeting.

Council received a deputation on behalf of the Friends of Batley Library in regards to the future of the provision of services.

To receive any public questions.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, the period for the asking and answering of public questions shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Any questions must be submitted in writing at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting.

Council received the following public questions from David Heathcote;

1)    As the Council is required to keep a separate account of income and expenditure in respect of designated parking spaces including parking charges, would the cabinet member tell me what was the financial position of that separate account before the decision to increase car parking charges by £2.6m, including information on the projected position in 12 months’ time and specifically what will the increased fees and any surplus be spent on?

2)    Will funds or surpluses raised from car parks in Honley and Meltham be used for local projects in these areas?

A response was provided by the Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees (Councillor Butt).

To receive the Minutes of West Yorkshire Combined Authority held on 12 October 2023.

Received and noted.

To consider the schedule of Meetings of Council for the 2024/2025 Municipal Year.

Contact: Leigh Webb, Acting Head of Governance

That the dates of Council for the 2024/2025 municipal year be agreed as set out in the report.

To receive written questions to the Leader, Cabinet Members, Chairs of Committees and Nominated Spokespersons in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.

A schedule of written questions will be tabled at the meeting.

Received as printed.

In recognition of Kirklees reaching its 50 year milestone on 1 April 2024, this Key Discussion is an opportunity for Councillors to celebrate the positive aspects of the communities that they represent.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Scott, will introduce the discussion.

Council held a key discussion on ‘Fifty Years of Kirklees’.

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Kendrick, Turner, Reynolds, P Davies and Scott;

“This Council notes:

·       Care experienced people face significant barriers that impact them throughout their lives.

·       Despite the resilience of many care experienced people, they too often experience stigma and disadvantage;

·       Care experienced people often face discrimination and stigma across housing, health, education, relationships, employment and in the criminal justice system.

·       Care experienced people may encounter inconsistent support in different geographical areas.

·       As corporate parents, councillors have a collective responsibility for providing the best possible care and safeguarding for the children who are looked after by us as an authority.

·       All corporate parents should commit to acting as mentors, hearing the voices of looked after children and young people and to consider their needs in any aspect of council work.

·       Councillors should be champions of the children and care leavers in our care and challenge the negative attitudes and prejudice that exists in all aspects of society.

·       The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, such as councils, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation of people with protected characteristics.

This Council therefore resolves:

·       That it recognises that care experienced people are a group who are likely to face discrimination.

·       That it recognises that Councils have a duty to put the needs of disadvantaged people at the heart of decision-making through co-production and collaboration.

·       That future decision, services and policies made and adopted by the Council should be assessed through Equality Impact Assessments to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a protected characteristic.

·       That in the delivery of the Public Sector Equality Duty the Council includes care experience in the publication and review of Equality Objectives and the annual publication of information relating to people who share a protected characteristic in services and employment.

·       That this Council will treat care experience as if it were a Protected Characteristic.

·       To formally call upon all other bodies to treat care experience as a protected characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation.

·       For the council to continue proactively seeking out and listening to the voices of care experienced people when developing new policies based on their views.

·       For the Leader of the Council to lobby government to introduce legislation to recognise Care Leavers as a protected group

Motion approved.

To receive, for information, the response to the Motion approved by Council on 17 January 2024.

The response to the Motion was received and noted.