The Leeds City Council Executive Board met on 17 September 2025, and members discussed several key issues including a report on the Leeds Ofsted Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS), a proposal to bid for Leeds to become a host city for the Football Women's World Cup 2035, and the council's financial health monitoring. The board approved the submission of a bid for Leeds to become a host city for the Football Women's World Cup 2035.

Here's a more detailed look at the topics discussed:

• Football Women's World Cup 2035 Bid
• Financial Health Monitoring 2025/26
• Organisational Plan 2025-2028
• Report on the Leeds Ofsted Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS)
• Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2024-2025
• Safer Leeds Annual Update 2024-2025
• Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024 - 2025
• Dolphin Manor Care Home - New Service Model
• Leeds Planning Service: Planning Advisory Service (PAS) Peer Challenge Report
• Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025: Heat in the City: Our Health in a Warming Leeds

Football Women's World Cup 2035 Bid

The board approved the submission of a bid for Leeds to become a host city for the Football Women's World Cup 2035 (FWWC35). The Director of City Development is authorised to enter into a contractual agreement by 31 October 2025 to be a host city for the event.

The report highlighted the economic and cultural benefits of hosting such an event and sought the Board's approval regarding related financial, contractual and organisational requirements. It noted that the Football Women's World Cup 2035 could be the largest single-sport event ever to be held on British soil.

The success of the England Women's Football Team in the Euros in both 2022 and 2025 has brought about a large family fan base and Leeds would benefit greatly both financially and socially from hosting matches within the tournament building on other internationally recognised women's sporting events being hosted in the City over the next few years.

The report also noted that Elland Road, Leeds United is currently looking to put forward the Elland Road stadium to be one of the key venues to be considered to host matches within the tournament and meet the required stadia standards.

Financial Health Monitoring 2025/26

The Executive Board received an update on the council's financial performance against the 2025/26 revenue budget as at Month 4 (July). The report noted a General Fund overspend of £22.7m, or 3.46% of the approved budget. The report also included updates on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), the Dedicated School Grant (DSG), the Council Tax and Business Rates Collection Fund and Treasury Prudential Indicators.

The report highlighted that £19.36m of savings were delayed, primarily within Adults & Health and Children & Families. The report stated that the freeze on recruitment, agency and overtime spend and the freeze on non-essential spend first introduced in 2022/23 will continue in 2025/26.

Organisational Plan 2025-2028

The Executive Board received an overview of early work to develop a new organisational plan for the council, aligned to both the Leeds Ambitions and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The plan will set out a framework for the council's future activity structured around two key focuses:

• Resetting and reshaping to achieve financial sustainability; and
• Making a full contribution to delivery of the Leeds Ambitions.

The report described a framework for both the structure of the plan itself and how it will be produced, including through extensive engagement with staff and elected members across the organisation. The key building blocks for a transformation programme which will be at the heart of implementation of the plan, especially for the financial sustainability element, were outlined with further detail to follow in December 2025.

Report on the Leeds Ofsted Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS)

The Executive Board considered the report of the Director of Children and Families which detailed the findings of the recent inspection of Leeds' Local Authority Children's Services, as carried out by Ofsted between 30 June and 4 July 2025 as part of the Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS) framework.

The report noted that the overall judgement for the Leeds ILACS 2025 is 'Outstanding', and that Leeds is the sole core city to have attained an 'Outstanding' rating across three successive ILACS inspection cycles.

The report also highlighted areas of positive practice including:

• Social workers thoroughly understand children's worlds and demonstrate a sensitive and nurturing approach to direct work.
• Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children receive a warm welcome and live in accommodation that meets their needs.
• Safeguarding risks to children are identified quickly and are appropriately considered in strategy meetings.

The report also highlighted the following areas for improvement:

• The quality and accuracy of children's records to reflect the work that is being completed.
• Consistency in the response to all children experiencing neglect.

Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2024-2025

The Executive Board considered the report of the Director of Children and Families presenting the Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) Annual Report 2024-2025. The report outlines the activity that has taken place during the year in relation to the Safeguarding Partners' statutory duties to work together in exercising their functions of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including developments in practice, progress with priorities, learning, scrutiny, inspections and statutory responsibilities.

Safer Leeds Annual Update 2024-2025

The Executive Board considered the report of the Director of Communities, Housing and Environment which presents the Safer Leeds Annual Update report for 2024/25. In presenting the report, the annual update provides details of the progress being made against the key deliverables set out in the Leeds Community Safety Strategy 2024 – 2027 and highlights the wider actions that remain ongoing in this area.

Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024 - 2025

The Executive Board considered the report of the Director of Adults and Health which presents for the Board's consideration the 2024/25 Annual Report of the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board.

Dolphin Manor Care Home - New Service Model

The Executive Board considered the report of the Director of Adults and Health which, following a decision of the Board in July 2024 to approve a proposal for Dolphin Manor, details the background to that decision and provides an update on the future service model and implementation plans.

Following a strategic review of dementia care needs across the city, the proposal is for care services provided at Dolphin Manor to transition into a specialist dementia short stay hub. This new model will offer inclusive, short-stay recovery and rehabilitative service. Different levels of support, designed around people's individual needs will be delivered by the Council's Adults and Health Care Delivery Service and in partnership with Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Leeds Planning Service: Planning Advisory Service (PAS) Peer Challenge Report

The Executive Board considered the report of the Chief Executive providing an update on, and assurances that appropriate actions are being taken by the Council in response to an ongoing West Yorkshire Police investigation. The actions being taken are to ensure business continuity, resilience and safe service delivery during this period. As part of such actions, a Planning Advisory Service (PAS) Peer Challenge was instigated to provide an independent assessment of Leeds City Council's Development Management and Enforcement Services. The resulting report is presented as an appendix to the cover report.

The report highlighted that the services are well performing and delivering high-quality outcomes , alongside several challenges to continuing strong performance and making some recommendations.

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025: Heat in the City: Our Health in a Warming Leeds

The Executive Board considered the report of the Director of Public Health which presents the Director's Annual Report for 2025 entitled, 'Heat in the City: Our Health in a Warming Leeds', which explores the impact upon health across the city as a result of the increasing temperatures that are being experienced.

The report highlights three key areas:

• Unequal impacts of rising temperatures on health
• How rising temperatures can affect long-term health conditions
• Emerging risks of vector borne infections and air quality.

The report also stresses the importance of recognising the unequal impacts of heat on certain communities and the compounding impact that multiple vulnerabilities can create for some people.