Agenda item

To receive and consider a written report from the Leader and ask questions on the work of the Executive.

A written report was received from the Executive Leader, Cllr Aspden, on the work of the Executive.

Members were then invited to question the Leader on his report.  Questions were received from the floor from the following Members in relation to the subjects listed, and replied to as indicated:

Devolution

From Cllr Daubeney: With the impending change of government following the resignation of the Prime Minister this afternoon, is there any risk of delay to the Devolution plan discussed at the last meeting?

Response: It’s imperative that these changes do not slow our timetable.  We will launch the 8-week consultation tomorrow so that it can come back to Council in February.  I have had assurances from civil servants that the current turbulence will not affect this.  Now more than ever we need certainty.

Purple Flag

From Cllr Kilbane: Do you accept that Purple Flag does nothing to tackle the most acute anti-social behaviour such as that in Westfield, and what are you doing about this?

Response:. The scheme is about partnership working, urging all to work together to create as safe and welcoming city as possible.  We need to ensure it focuses on the problems that communities see and challenge the police to do what they can.  I’d be happy to meet with Cllr Douglas to discuss the specifics.

[Supplementary: We were told the scheme would tackle drunken behaviour by persuading people to book tables in advance - but what about youth services in Wakefield?]

Supplementary Response: We need to work with communities and with partners on the underlying causes - early intervention is needed.  The council must do all it can, but I would go back to the key point of investment in councils and key services; we have seen year on year of cuts, and if the cuts get worse so will public services; we need to make the case to government.

[Supplementary from Cllr Crawshaw: I agree that multi-agency work is necessary, but having identified problems in several wards I invited councillors to come together to discuss these but received no response except from colleagues in Micklegate and Heworth wards, so your words sound good but your actions don’t match.]

Supplementary Response: If you’d like to contact me or my colleagues with specific information about that, I am sure it can be explained.

Cost of Living Crisis

From Cllr Hollyer: As the Tory government chaos continues, what work is being undertaken to ensure that key services are protected as much as possible?

Response: The government has said there will not be a spending review or a fair funding review for local government, which poses challenges.  So we are taking action in-year to ensure we can control the budget as soon as possible before consulting as early as possible on next year’s budget.  We will have to look at a level of cuts similar to those made over the past decade.  It’s about making sure that we concentrate on prioritising those services that are most important to residents, and making it clear that it is the current government turbulence that’s leading to these cuts across the country, unless the new PM changes their tune next week.