Councillor Mohan Sokhal

LGA (Local Government Association) Corporate Peer Challenge - Kirklees Council Action Plan (Reference to Council)

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 8th April 2025 1.30 pm - April 08, 2025

The Local Government Association (LGA) came to visit Kirklees Council in November 2024, to carry out a Corporate Peer Challenge. The Corporate Peer Challenge is key part of the LGA’s improvement and assurance framework. Local Government Peers provide feedback to the Council on a range of corporate issues, based on evidence and information provided to them, and conversations with a range of staff, Councillors, partners and other key stakeholders. The LGA provide a report, outlining feedback from the visit, and key recommendations.   This report will present an Action Plan to Cabinet, which aims to deliver improvements which address the key recommendations in the LGA report. Cabinet will be asked to approve the action plan for delivery.   Key Officers and Members were engaged in the peer challenge visit itself, which informed the LGA’s report. Key Officers and Members will be engaged in the development process, including the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee.  

Recommendations Approved

Public Space Protection Orders

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 8th April 2025 1.30 pm - April 08, 2025

Review of Public Space Protection Orders, along with introduction of new PSPO’s.   Engagement and Consultation   Meetings with internal and external stakeholders to discuss the implementation of new PSPO’s, including Safer Kirklees and West Yorkshire Police.   Visits were made to Community Output Groups to discuss the new proposals for Public Protection Orders.     In line with the requirements of the legislation, public consultation took place between 9 July 2024 to the 6 August 2024 via an online survey accessed through the Council’s Website.   A consultation with Councillors was made on the Neighbourhood Platform, also visits made to Cogs.   Safer Kirklees, Greenspace Action Team, Cleansing, various charities, Huddersfield Bid, West Yorkshire Police, various local businesses.   In line with the requirements of the legislation, public consultation took place between 9 July 2024 to the 6 August 2024 via an online survey accessed through the Council’s Website.   The consultation received 371 Reponses, with the majority of the responses being in favour of more enforcement and tougher sanctions, across all areas of the PSPO’s   In relation to new PSPO’s around Nuisance Vehicles 88 percent of respondents wanted the PSPO.   Begging: The majority of respondents (84%) felt that the issue of begging had either stayed the same or got worse over the past 3 years.   Loitering: The majority of respondents (81%) felt that the issue of loitering had either stayed the same or got worse over the past 3 years.   Street drinking: The majority of respondents (75%) felt that the issue of street drinking had either stayed the same or got worse over the past 3 years.   Public urination / defecation: The majority of respondents (53%) felt that the issue of street drinking had either stayed the same or got worse over the past 3 years.   Feeding birds or vermin: The majority of respondents (59%) felt that the issue of Bird Feeding had either stayed the same or got worse over the past 3 years.   Erecting temporary structures without land owners permission: The majority of respondents (65%) answered ‘I don’t know / this doesn’t affect me’ regarding this issue  

Recommendations Approved

Planning Application - Application No: 2024/92936

From: District-Wide Planning Committee - Thursday 13th March 2025 1.00 pm - March 13, 2025

Recommendations Approved

Planning Application - Application No: 2022/93731

From: District-Wide Planning Committee - Thursday 13th March 2025 1.00 pm - March 13, 2025

Recommendations Approved

Membership of the Committee

From: Strategic Planning Committee - Thursday 6th March 2025 1.00 pm - March 06, 2025

Recommendations Approved