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YOU ARE SUMMONED TO A MEETING
OF MORLEY TOWN COUNCIL
TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY 22ND OCTOBER 226 AT 7.00 PM
MORLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH, ZION CHAPEL, MERLYN REES AVENUE, MORLEY LS27 9SL
Please note - people attending must not park in the adjoining car park of Haydn Court - this is a private car park for residents only. There is adequate parking in Morrisons Car Park or in the parking bays outside Morley Elderly Action in Wesley Street. Haydn Court car park should also not be used for drivers dropping off passengers using the side entrance path - they should walk the few yards from Wesley Street.
A G E N D A
1. To record attendance
2. To receive apologies for absence given in advance of the meeting
3. To consider the approval of reasons given for absence
4. Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests
Any Councillor who has an interest in any matter for decision, or who has had discussions/been lobbied about any item should declare the item, the nature of their interest etc
Members are reminded about the recent advice from the Monitoring Officer
You will also be aware that it is a personal responsibility (and decision for) each Member to determine whether they have an interest that needs to be declared (or not) at each meeting they attend, noting that a failure to register and/ or disclose a DPI without reasonable excuse is a criminal offence as is participating in a matter in respect of which a Member has a DPI.""
5. Civic Regalia – Insurance, Use Outside Morley Town Hall and Remembrance Sunday
Please refer to appendix for background details
For Council to consider the following matters:
1. The current insurance restrictions applying to the Civic Regalia when removed from Morley Town Hall.
2. The implications of those restrictions for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor attending civic and ceremonial engagements.
3. The arrangements for Remembrance Sunday 2026, including what the Mayor and Deputy Mayor should wear if the existing Civic Chains remain uninsured outside the Town Hall.
4. Whether, as an interim arrangement, the Mayor should be permitted to wear the Mayoral robes together with the Past Mayor's Medal bearing the Morley Crest when the Mayoral Chain cannot be worn.
5. The possibility of purchasing a suitable replica or alternative/less expensive Civic Chain for use at engagements outside the Town Hall.
6. The cost and availability of appropriate insurance for any replacement or replica chain and, ultimately, the Civic Regalia as a whole.
7. The longer-term arrangements for the security, storage, transportation, insurance and use of the Civic Regalia.
Mayor's Recommendation
That the Council to reach a clear decision regarding Remembrance Sunday so that there is no uncertainty on the day itself.
My preference would be that, if the existing chain cannot be appropriately insured in time, the Mayor is able to attend in the Mayoral robes wearing the Past Mayor's Medal bearing the Morley Crest. I believe this would maintain an appropriate level of dignity and recognition for the office of Mayor while ensuring that we do not compromise the Council's insurance position.
I would also like officers to investigate the cost and suitability of obtaining a replica or alternative Civic Chain which could provide a practical longer-term solution for engagements outside the Town Hall.
6 Lighting of Monkey Puzzle Tree in Scatcherd Park
Due to the ongoing works at the Town Hall the "chess square" is unavailable for placing a Christmas tree this year
The Clerks were asked to seek a quotation form our lighting contractor to use the monkey puzzle tree
The Contractors have supplied their quotation
"" So due to access restrictions we would need to hire a spider machine which would mean a hire charge of £1,500 + VAT for install and £1,500 + VAT removal for a machine.
I have left guide pricing below for reference.
Machine hire - £3,000
Product purchase - £3,500 - 600m of static warm white lighting
Install - £1,500
Removal - £750
Storage / Product Testing - £300
The issue is there is no power adjacent so you would need to arrange for the asset owner of the nearest street lighting column to install a feeder pillar at the base of the tree and run a trench from the column to here which will be quite a significant cost.""
Decision Required
That Council determine if it wishes to proceed with this, and if so to request Leeds City Council to provide the electricity feed as described by the contractor.
Council to note that at present there is no costing available for this
Council to note that the on going annual cost for this will be (without inflation) as £5550
£3000 for machine to install
£1500 to install
£750 remove
£300 storage and testing
Cllr Noel Bullock
Mayor
15TH October 2026
Morley Town Council regalia and Insurance Issues
The Council was contacted in early August as the current long-term cover was due for renewal.
Quotes for 1 & 3 year cover were offered and later presented for approval.
Following the valuation of the regalia, Zurich were asked to clarify if they required any additional security provisions whilst the regalia was in the care of the Mayor and deputy. This was on 1 September
Numerous emails resulted ,( in excess of 30)between the Council and Zurich, who in turn were corresponding with their underwriters.
We were asked to ascertain what security measures the current Mayor & Deputy had at their homes and their addresses
Details of when , for how long the regalia was out of the strong room, and how it was transported, etc
On Wednesday, September 16, we received the following email
“””Subject: Morley Town Council - Civic Regalia
I hope you are well.
I have heard back from my Senior Underwriters and unfortunately we are unable to cover the civic regalia which is held at the houses.
This conclusion has been discussed with our Senior Underwriting team and is out of appetite for us.
They have decided to cover your items for 7 days and that we will not be able to cover the Regalia until they are confirmed to be in a secure location.
With this, the items will be on cover till 23/09 and removed after, if not in a secure location.”””
It was confirmed to Zurich that the regalia was in the strong room/safe and cover was confirmed
The regalia is now in the strong room and Zurich asked and were sent photos of the doors etc
Zurich also asked about the ongoing works in the town hall, and were asked as one of the leading insurers in our sector how they provided cover for other town/parish councils
Their reply
“”
Thank you for your email.
When will the regalia be moved from the Town Hall and when does the work begin?
My previous email was referring to the regalia when it is being removed from the secure location and stored elsewhere. Following the discussions with our Senior Underwriting team, we are unable to provide ongoing cover where the regalia will be routinely kept outside of an approved secure location.
I wouldn’t be able to comment on other authorities and their cover with us.
I can speak to my Senior Underwriters and implement the 1 week limit from when the items are moving out of the office, but I cannot guarantee anything.
I appreciate this may not be the outcome you were hoping for and unfortunately I cannot change their decision.””””
Cover at present is subject to conditions including
" The strong room is locked and any loss would be subject to forceable or violent entry or exit."
Following this and under the delegation approved, insurance was effected with Zurich as this also included other elements of cover which the town council needs
The Clerks have also been seeking advice from colleagues in the sector and contacted several brokers and insurance companies seeking quotes etc but at present with no cover offered
On Tuesday, 6 October 2026 we informed Councillors
Dear Councillors,
Unfortunately, our long-standing insurer, Zurich, has recently confirmed that the Civic Regalia is no longer covered when it is taken out of the Town Hall.
Following this, they only confirmed yesterday that the regalia remains covered while it is securely stored in the strong room at the Town Hall, particularly in light of the building works currently taking place.
Zurich initially made enquiries regarding the security arrangements at the homes of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor when the regalia is not in the Town Hall.
However, they subsequently confirmed that they are not prepared to provide cover for the items when they are being worn or stored elsewhere. They were also unwilling to enter into any discussion regarding how other councils arrange insurance for their civic regalia.
We are, naturally, exploring alternative insurance arrangements. In the meantime, we have had to renew the existing policy with Zurich to ensure that other important areas of cover, such as public liability, remain in place.
As you will appreciate, obtaining alternative insurance is not straightforward. Insurers require detailed information, including the number of civic engagements each year, where the regalia is worn, the security arrangements in place when it is being used in public, and how and where it is stored.
We will continue to explore the available options and will keep you updated on any developments.
In the interim, however, we trust you will understand that, unfortunately, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are unable to wear the Civic Regalia in public.
Best wishes
Rachel & Martyn
Harrogate Town Council
Cllr Grayshon circulated a report from Harrogate where they were considering purchasing new regalia.
On talking to the Clerk they were in a similar situation where they were passed the regalia of the former Borough on their formation. Their regalia also being of a similar value to that of Morley.
In view of the security implications ( the borough council had employed an attendant/driver for the mayor) they have taken the decision to but a new Mayoral chain, it is not a replica
This also reflects the rebranding that Council underwent on its formation
Harrogate TC have at this time only bought a new Chain etc for the Mayor they have not replaced the consort or Deputy chains
The report from Harrogate is attached with their permission
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