Labour votes for fewer Police on Morley Streets

Labour backs reducing Police Officer numbers in Morley

Our proposal for an additional 22 Police Community Support Officers for outer areas in Leeds was voted down by Labour Councillors at Leeds City Councils Budget Meeting last Wednesday. Our proposal would see City Centre Parking Charges increased to cover more police community support officers on local streets.

We are disappointed that we did not get the backing of other councillors for increasing the number of PCSOs patrolling Morley’s Streets. It’s a double blow as the Leader of Leeds City Council also announced that they would reduce the number of PCSOs paid for by the Council for Morley from ten down to six. PCSOs have made a significant contribution to reducing crime levels in Morley and the reduction in their number is a step backwards.

The number of PCSOs is to be reduced in most outer areas in Leeds which is proving controversial as the Police and Crime Commissioner confirmed an underspend of £5 million on his staffing budget.

The PCC not only has a ring fenced budget and is increasing the precept all Morley residents pay to the Police, he has also underspent his staffing budget by over £5 million this year. There is no justification for cutting Police numbers in the Morley area and we will be campaigning for a Policing fair deal for Morley.

Morley Town Council increased its community safety budget by over 20% to £64,000 a year to support Policing levels across the Morley Town Council area. It’s clear that our commitment

to Morley Folk is much deeper than Labours!

Budget for Siegen Manor

MBI Councillors campaigning to save Siegen Manor

Morley Borough Independent Councillors will formally raise an amendment to Leeds City Councils Budget, due to be debated on Wednesday, to save Siegen Manor Older Persons home in Morley from closure. The home, which has many elderly and disabled residents, is presently subject to a consultation process due to be concluded in June this year.

We are amending the proposed budget to prevent Siegen Manor from being closed. Our proposal would see a general increase in parking charges which will raise enough money to prevent the closure of Siegen Manor and two other homes across Leeds.

A decision will be taken on Wednesday on whether to raise £5 million for Adult Social Care with a 2% levy on Council Tax bills.

We have been campaigning with residents and their families for months to prevent Siegen Manor from closing. We have found a realistic and affordable alternative to closure which would keep the home open until better extra care accommodation is available in the Morley area. The additional money generated from the 2% levy can be used to improve Adult Social Care in Morley and across Leeds.

We have campaigned with the local MP Andrea Jenkyns and the families of residents to raise a petition opposing closure with over 1200 signatures.

Our budget amendment offers a realistic alternative to closure and I hope we will gain the support of Councillors across the Leeds City Council area to keep Siegen Manor open as closure will have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of all the residents there.

Keeping Police Numbers high in Morley

We are presently in discussions with the Police Service about keeping Police Numbers as high as possible in the Morley area. Following news that the Police and Crime Commissioner has been given a ring fenced budget and that he does not need to make any cuts to Police numbers - we have gone back to negotiate firmly to make sure we keep as many PCSOs in Morley as we can.

Morley residents already pay three times for the Police Service. This includes a precept to the Police Authority, payment to Leeds City Council who finance PCSOs and in their precept to Morley Town Council who again make payments for additional Policing.

We will not tolerate reductions in PCSO numbers if Morley's Policing Team is reduced to provide additional PCSOs to those councils - such as Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale - who do not put their hands as deeply into their pockets as Morley residents do.

We are negotiating hard at Town and City Council level to make sure we retain Police numbers as high as we can and will be moving a budget amendment at Leeds City Councils Budget meeting to deliver more Police on Morley streets.

Crime levels across Morley have decreased over the last decade and we need to work as hard as we can to keep them as low as possible.