Agenda

To receive any announcements from the Mayor and Chief Executive.

Group Business Managers to submit any apologies for absence.

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

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

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

The Committee 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.

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.

To receive the Minutes of West Yorkshire Combined Authority held on 20 June 2024.

To consider the report.

Contact: Robert Green, Climate Change

To consider the report.

Contact: Kevin Mulvaley, Service Director - Finance

To receive the Annual Report.

Contact: Leigh Webb, Acting Head of Governance

To consider the report.

Contact: Martin Dearnley, Head of Audit and Risk 

To consider the appointment of the Chair of Licensing and Safety Committee for the remainder of the 2024/2025 municipal year.

Contact: Leigh Webb, Acting Head of Governance

To consider the appointment of the Chair of Personnel Committee for the remainder of the 2024/2025 municipal year.

Contact: Leigh Webb, Acting Head of Governance

To receive the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2023/2024.

Contact: Leigh Webb, Acting Head of Governance

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 and responses will be tabled at the meeting. One supplementary questions will be permitted.

A key discussion will take place on Children’s Services - Children's social services improvement journey: where we have come from, what we have achieved, and what are the next steps"

Under the provision of Council Procedure Rule 5(5), the Key Discussion Debate shall commence no later than 7.00pm.

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Pattison, Crook, Kendrick, Turner, Munir Ahmed, A U Pinnock, Addy and Hawkins;

“This Council notes that Kirklees is a district celebrated for its tolerance, inclusivity and strong stance against all forms of discrimination. This enables our many and diverse communities to live together in unity.

The current conflict in Israel and Gaza is inflicting intolerable suffering on innocent victims and continues to be the cause of much pain and concern to all communities here in Kirklees. We stand firmly in solidarity with all those suffering from conflict and against all forms of prejudice, including racism, antisemitism and islamophobia.

This Council condemns the loss of civilian life, the destruction of property, homes and essential civilian infrastructure and any taking of hostages.

Furthermore, this Council:

(i)             reiterates our call (Kirklees Labour Motion Amendment, 17th January 2024) for an immediate, permanent and lasting humanitarian ceasefire and for the cessation of all violence in Gaza and the wider region.

(ii)            calls for the immediate, unconditional and safe return of all hostages.

(iii)          acknowledges and endorses the positive move by the new UK government to recommence funding for UNRWA, to help mitigate the suffering of displaced people who are victims of violent conflict.

(iv)          calls for more to be done to provide unimpeded and desperately needed humanitarian aid to all parts of Gaza, including food, water, medicine and fuel.

(v)           calls for international law to be upheld and for a secure two state solution to be urgently sought.

(vi)          acknowledges the efforts made by local community leaders and key representatives working to bring communities together (along with the Police and the Council) and calls for this work to continue in order to maintain community cohesion in Kirklees.

(vii)         applauds the new UK government for stating that the government will not pursue an objection to the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

(viii)       calls for restrictions to UK weapons sales to the Israeli Government to ensure that no weapon made partly or entirely in the UK is used against civilian targets on all sides.

(ix)          endorses the intention to fly a flag of peace from Huddersfield and Dewsbury Town Halls to indicate our solidarity with all people suffering from conflict, our strong advocation of peace and our wish for an end to armed conflict.

Therefore, this Council calls for lasting peace in Gaza and the Middle East.”

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors J D Lawson, Arshad, Khan, Safdar, Anwar, Kahut and Bramwell.

“This Council notes that nearly a year on from the start of the latest conflict in Gaza:

a)    10,000’s of innocent men, women and children have been killed or seriously injured. Many more are missing in the debris of Gaza.

b)    Gaza is being raised to the ground. There has been indiscriminate bombing of refugee camps, medical facilities, schools, places of worship of all denominations and the general infra structure.

c)    Aid is still not getting into Gaza in the quantity  needed due to interference by the Israeli Govt this has resulted in widespread malnutrition and the remaining medical facilities running without  even the basic of  medical supplies.

d)    That the Israeli government is guilty of war crimes and breaching International Humanitarian Law. Creating an Apartheid State within  the Palestinian Territories of Gaza and the West Bank.

e)    The International Court of Justice has declared the situation in Gaza to be genocide

f)      That many residents of Kirklees remain gravely concerned about the ongoing situation in Gaza and wish to see an end to the genocide in Gaza.

This Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister to urge him to revoke licenses which allow the selling  of arms and military equipment to Israel until a time the Israeli Government stops the on-going genocide in Gaza, ceases to occupy the Palestinian Territories of the West Bank  and Gaza, abides by the IJC rulings and the numerous United Nations resolutions. That the Prime Minister lobbies his Israeli counterpart to immediately allowed in aid to Gaza unfettered by obstructions, in a bid to holt the humanitarian crisis that is occurring within Gaza. And that the Prime Minister uses all diplomatic channels at his disposal to call for a ceasefire and the return of the Israeli hostages

We ask that the Palestinian Flag be flown at Huddersfield, Batley and Dewsbury Town Halls in an act of remembrance for those who have died. This would be at no expense to local council tax payers as the flags would be purchased by a local group.

We ask that Kirklees Council where at all lawful and practical to avoid purchases of goods from Israeli companies illegally occupying the afore mentioned Palestinian Territories.

That the council commits to conducting a thorough review of its procurement practices to ensure that goods and consumables sourced from companies directly or indirectly involved in the conflict are not used.”

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Hall and Taylor;

“This Council notes:

• The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

• The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK says will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.

• The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents of Kirklees Council and across the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.

• The criticism from Age UK, the Countryside Alliance and other charities, highlighting the social injustice and potential health risks posed by this sudden policy change.

• The additional strain this decision will place on vulnerable pensioners, many of whom do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.

Council believes:

• That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the UK and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.

• While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, many thousands across Kirklees Council sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their allowance.

• The decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments, especially with such short notice and without adequate compensatory measures, is deeply unfair and will disproportionately affect the health and well-being of our poorest older residents.

• The government’s approach fails to consider the administrative barriers and stigma that prevent eligible pensioners from claiming Pension Credit, leaving many without the support they desperately need.

Council resolves to:

• Bring forward a Council-led local awareness campaign to alert those eligible of Pension Credit which in some respects will help access to the Winter Fuel Payment for those most in need.

• Request that the Council Leader write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging her to reverse the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.

• Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Kirklees Council are supported in claiming their entitlement.”

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Darwan, Hussain, Moore, H Zaman, Bramwell, Safdar, Scott, Masood Ahmed, A Zaman, Daji, Kahut and Anwar.

“This Council notes that almost a year ago from the start of the recent conflict in Gaza:

a)    Israel’s ground and air campaign in Gaza has killed more than 39,324 people and continuing, mostly civilians, and driven most of the enclave’s 2.3 million people from their homes Plus 90,830 Palestinian people injured and approximately 1,478 Israelis have been reported as killed.

b)    The Israeli crimes violate international criminal laws, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide, which the Israel Defense Forces, the military branch of the state of Israel, has been accused of committing since the founding of Israel in 1948. These have included murder, intentional targeting of civilians, killing prisoners of war and surrendered combatants, indiscriminate attacks, collective punishment, starvation, the use of human shields, sexual violence and rape, torture, pillage, forced transfer, breach of medical neutrality, targeting journalists, attacking civilian and protected objects, wanton destruction, incitement to genocide, and genocide.

c)    Many residents in Kirklees remain gravely concerned about the continued horrifying situation in Gaza. Most societies consider murder to be an extremely serious crime, and thus believe that a person convicted of murder should receive harsh punishments for the purposes of retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, or incapacitation. In most countries, a person convicted of murder generally receives a long-term prison sentence, a life sentence, or capital punishment.

This Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the UK Prime Minster Kier Starmer and to the Foreign Secretary David Lammy to immediately request the following:

1.    Suspend both extant licenses for military equipment and technology and theissuing of new licenses while Israel continues to carry out widespread serious violations with impunity.

2.    Adhere to its obligations under international law, respect the International Court of Justiceruling, and advocate for adherence to international law and accountability for all parties.

3.    Use every diplomatic and economic lever at its disposal to help secure an immediate and
permanent ceasefire, to stop the death and destruction, and to secure the safe release of hostages on both sides.

4.    Significant and immediate aid and protection for Palestinians in Gaza who face imminent danger from hunger, disease, and military bombardment.

5.    To look at a leadership change in Israel. It appears increasingly clear that a ceasefire will not happen with Netanyahu and his supporters in control of Israel’s policy and military.

6.    Control of Gaza to be given to the Palestinian Authority.

In addition to the above we ask that the Council Leader that the Palestinian Flag be flown at Huddersfield, Batley and Dewsbury Town Halls in an act of remembrance for those who have died. In the past Huddersfield Town Hall have flown the Irish flag. The flags will be donated by a local Kirklees group and at no cost to the Kirklees Council or to the Local Council  ...  view the full agenda text for item 21:

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors JD Lawson, Bramwell, Arshad, Safdar and Khan;

“This Council notes that some 3 million pensioners are entitled to pension credit which gives a guaranteed income of £17322 for a couple and £11,336 for a single pensioner but it is thought that nearly 800,000 pensioners do not claim  Pension Credit. With the governments  draconian plans only those entitled to pension credit will receive the winter fuel allowance.

Given that gas and electric are due to rise again by 10%  in October, many pensioners will again find themselves living in fuel poverty but will not be entitled to any assistance as their household income will be over the limit to claim Pension Credit some only by a few pounds. Many retired Kirklees residents will find themselves with the choice of either heating or eating this winter.

We ask the leader of the council to write to the Prime minister asking him to look again at this policy and at the very least raise the cut off point for eligibility to a more reasonable amount – the median income with in the UK was £34,963 in 2023.

We also ask that Kirklees runs a campaign to ensure all pensioners who are entitled to Pension Credit  are aware of it and how they can apply for it.”

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Cooper, Vickers, Allison and Lee-Richards;

This Council:

-       condemns the organised racist and islamophobic violence by far right      rioters in many towns and cities in England;

-       notes the failed Huddersfield riot called for Monday 5th August which drew little support and thanks the police for their robust response;

-       believes the divisive rhetoric of some mainstream politicians and media has fuelled the recent violence and the ‘Stop the Boats’ narrative has contributed to division and has helped further stigmatise migrants and asylum seekers;

-       is concerned that even an advisor, appointed by the previous Government, identified that successive governments have failed the British people and left local authorities struggling to deal with extremist challenges;

-       recognises the fear of violence and intimidation terrified many people of colour, especially women, and made people feel unsafe in their hometowns;

-       acknowledges that the threat of serious violence impacted negatively on businesses in the local economy;

-       recognises that  migrants have always contributed to our society as workers, taxpayers and citizens and that segregation of asylum

seekers into different systems for homelessness, destitution and work creates further division and lack of cohesion in society;

-       condemns the policy of austerity, which causes hardship and resentment amongst the communities most left behind;

-       welcomes the scrapping of the Rwanda deportation scheme and Bibby Stockholm barge;

-       thanks the Police and Crown Prosecution Service for pursuing rightful convictions and for the local press for reporting on the sentences;

-       calls on the government to abandon any proposals to place asylum seekers in overcrowded unsuitable accommodation, in large numbers, that may make them a target for racist and far right violence;

-       thanks the people of Kirklees who have spoken out against violence intimidation and racism;

-       believes that the majority of people in Kirklees want an asylum system that is fair, well managed and humane;

-       resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister with a copy of this motion and to ask him to consider implementing a Social Cohesion Strategy for the UK.”

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors J Lawson and Davies;

“This Council notes:

1)    The Conservative Government, under Margaret Thatcher, introduced the Right to Buy scheme in the United Kingdom. The Right to Buy scheme allows eligible council tenants and tenants in housing associations to purchase their council property, often at a discounted rate;

2)    When the Right to Buy scheme was introduced in England and Wales in 1980, it was designed to help ‘generation rent’ to get on the property ladder and was seen by some as a means to encourage homeownership and social mobility. Since 1980, more than two million homes have been sold under the scheme;

3)    Government figures released in February 2024, which show that 22,023 social homes were either sold or demolished in England in 2023, while 9,561 social homes were built, a net loss of 12,462 homes. In the past 10 years, there has been a total loss of 177,487 social homes, while over 1.28 million households in England are currently on council waiting lists for social housing. This is at a time when local authorities in England spent a record £2.29 billion a year in providing emergency temporary accommodation for homeless households between April 2023 and March 2024, a 29% increase from the previous year. In any one year in Kirklees, there are between 19,000 and 20,000 people waiting for a council property, but only around 1,700 to 1,800 homes become available in any given year;

4)    According to the think-tank, the New Economics Foundation (NEF), over 40% of council houses and flats sold under the Right to Buy scheme across the country are now owned by private landlords. In the last 10 years alone, over 109,000 former council homes have started being let privately.

This Council believes that:

1)    Although the Right to Buy scheme has increased home ownership and has made home ownership more accessible to some, the failure to replacehomes sold through the scheme has hindered its success. Although there was a commitment to the building of replacement social homes for each one sold when the scheme was set up, less than 5% of homes sold off through the Right to Buy scheme have been replaced since the policy was introduced;
 

2)    Increasingly, it is evident that the Right to Buy scheme has failed. It has largely exacerbated rather than alleviated the housing crisis in the UK. While thousands of homes are sold through Right to Buy each year, the number of replacement homes falls drastically short, resulting in a net loss of social homes. This is at a time when the private sector isn’t building enough affordable homes and local authorities are unable to do so. While local authorities, including Kirklees Council, endeavour to respond to escalating demand for housing, vulnerable households find themselves locked out of safe and secure social housing;

3)    The Right to Buy scheme effectively forces many households into private renting, when the properties were built originally with the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 24:

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Munro and Davies;

“This Council notes:

1)    The recent announcement by the Labour Government to end universal winter fuel payments and restrict eligibility to only those in receipt of Pension Credits and other benefits;

2)    Though many argue that universal winter fuel payments are not necessary, Council is deeply concerned that many pensioners on lower and middle incomes will not now receive the payments. Across England and Wales, the number of people eligible for Winter Fuel Payments will fall by 10 million (from 11.4 million to only 1.5 million);

3)    In Kirklees the number of pensioners affected by the change in eligibility criteria is 63,108. That means that just under 88% of pensioners in Kirklees currently eligible for winter fuel payments will no longer be able to claim the payment from this winter onwards.

This Council:

1)    Believes that the Labour Government has set the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify for winter fuel payments far too low. Only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a week for couples) are eligible for pension credits. This is significantly lower than the living wage rate;

2)    Is also concerned by the low take up of Pension Credit, with only 63% of those eligible nationwide receiving them – and over 880,000 pensioners not doing so. Council recognises the role we have to play to increase awareness of benefits, such as Pension Credit, to ensure people are aware of the support they are entitled to;

3)    Further notes that the price most households pay for gas and electricity will rise by 10% on average from October this year, which combined by theremoval of winter fuel payments, will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty. 

This Council, therefore, resolves to:

1)    Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the policy on linking winter fuel payments to Pension Credit receipt to be immediately paused and introduce a new threshold to determine eligibility for winter fuel payments. Council further requests the Chief Executive write to all MPs covering Kirklees, asking them to give their formal support to halting the changes to the winter fuel payment eligibility;

2)    Request all group leaders at Kirklees Council sign a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the new winter fuel payment policy to be suspended and reviewed;

3)    Urgently commence a significant awareness campaign to maximise uptake of Pension Credits. This will include use of council noticeboards, social media, promotion in local press and targeted letters to those who may be eligible.”

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Davies and Munro;

“This Council notes:

1)    The two-child limit to benefit payments was introduced by the Conservative Government in 2017 and is currently supported by the new Labour Government. The cap restricts Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit to the first two children in most households;

2)    The recent research conducted by the End Child Poverty Coalition, which has found that:

·       1.5 million children in the UK live in households subject to the two-child limit on benefit payments. This is roughly one-in-ten children in the UK.

·       In 2023/24 the two-child limit cost families up to £3,235 per child each year.

·       There is a strong correlation between families affected by the two-child limit and those who are living in poverty.

·       Scrapping the two-child limit would lift 250,000 children out of poverty overnight, and significantly reduce the level of poverty that a further 850,000 children live in.

·       Scrapping the two-child limit would cost £1.3 billion. However, it is estimated that child poverty costs the economy over £39 billion a year. This includes increased public service expenditures and lost economic output, due to lower earnings potential among adults who grow up in impoverished conditions.

3)    New data which reveals that the Yorkshire and Humber region, which includes Kirklees, is a hotspot for children hit by the two-child limit on benefits, with 13% of children in Yorkshire and Humber impacted. As a comparison, across the nations, the figure is 11% for both England and Wales. At the same time, the number of children living in poverty in Kirklees in 2021/22 was 34,969. That is 33.7% of all children living in the district;

4)    The Liberal Democrat national party has consistently opposed the two-child limit to benefit payments since it was introduced – calling for it to be axed in their 2017, 2019 and 2024 manifestos.  Council notes with concern the stance of the Labour Government, who are committed to keeping the cap – going as far as suspending the whip from MPs who rebel against this position.

This Council believes that:

The two-child limit to benefit payments is a cruel and harmful policy that should be scrapped. Research from the University of York has shown that its introduction has had no positive impacts on employment and earnings. Instead, it has dragged thousands of local families into poverty and has been a key driver of child poverty in recent years. Furthermore, the policy has had a negative impact on many people’s mental health, increasing stress and anxiety and harming their well-being, with knock-on effects on children’s opportunities and wellbeing.

This Council, therefore, resolves to:

1)    Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister indicating Kirklees Council’s strong belief that the two-child limit to benefit payments should be scrapped – which would help many children and households in Kirklees;

2)    Further, instruct the Chief Executive to write to all MPs covering Kirklees Council’s area, asking them to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 26:

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Hussain, Scott, H Zaman, Moore, A Zaman, Masood Ahmed, Bramwell, Anwar, Safdar, Darwan and Daji;

“This Council notes with deep concern the Labour Government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance, resulting in over 10 million pensioners losing up to £300 a year. This loss is equivalent to more than a week’s pension income, and the cuts come just as Ofgem has announced an energy price cap increase of £149 this winter. This represents a devastating double blow for millions of vulnerable pensioners.

We believe that austerity policies such as this are not the answer, and pensioners should not be made to bear the burden of government mismanagement. The wealth exists in our society to provide support where it is most needed. For example, energy companies more than trebled their profits during the pandemic, and the 50 richest families in Britain own a combined £500 billion in wealth – equivalent to half of the UK population’s combined wealth. A wealth tax on the richest 1% would raise billions, yet the government has chosen to target pensioners instead of seeking fairer solutions.

Some argue that wealthy pensioners receive the Winter Fuel Payment unnecessarily, but we strongly support the universal nature of this payment. Like the state pension itself, a universal payment ensures that nobody falls through the cracks. Linking the Winter Fuel Payment to pension credit will leave millions of vulnerable pensioners without the extra support they need. Currently, over 850,000 pensioners who qualify for pension credit do not receive it, missing out on an average of £2,677 a year. These same pensioners will now face losing up to £300 more with these cuts. Additionally, Age UK estimates that a further one million pensioners who live just £50 above the poverty line will also lose out on the Winter Fuel Payment, pushing them closer to financial hardship.

It is important to stress that the proposed cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment are expected to save only £1.4 billion a year. However, if all pensioners entitled to pension credit were encouraged to apply as a result of these changes, the cost of paying this unclaimed credit would rise to £2.2 billion annually – meaning the government might save nothing at all from these cuts.

The Chancellor’s announcement of an extension to the Household Support Fund is a temporary and inadequate measure. It places an additional burden on pensioners, forcing them to rely on charitable grants from their local councils instead of receiving their automatic Winter Fuel Payment. Pensioners, who have worked hard all their lives, should not be forced to go cap-in-hand for basic support.

This Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the government and demand that they reverse the proposed cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance. Our vulnerable pensioners deserve better, and they should not be made to suffer as a result of government decisions that fail to tax the wealthiest individuals and corporations adequately.

We  ...  view the full agenda text for item 27: