Agenda

To issue a welcome to those present, and to confirm if there are any apologies for absence.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed on the agenda.

The minutes of the meeting of the Economic Development, Transport and Climate Emergency Scrutiny Commission held on Wednesday 8^th January have been circulated, and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The Chair is invited to make any announcements as they see fit. 

Any questions, representations and statements of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures will be reported.

The following question and statement were submitted by Mr Wynd:

Approximately a year ago I read a story that Green Party was trying to get funds for a kid’s park in Clarendon Park as residents were having to fund it themselves. I'm not sure of the outcome of this whether the council have addressed this open space for the public.

In addition to this I highlight the design of the Rally open space, a path has been put straight through the middle of this instead of widening the old path route.

I was invited to help save Tudor Rally adventure playground along with eight other kids play schemes via a protest. I'm glad to see with the pressure placed on the council they backed down and have now funded these schemes.

The development plans for Beaumont Park, so another loss of open space.

I invite the other councillors to highlight any other loss of open spaces they have encountered. I say this as the council’s argument for the market to be left as an open space lacks its validity.

The council announced their original proposition for the new market and convinced the traders to move to Green Dragon Square, they demolished the old market then realised this was a great open space for the public. I'm unsure how they didn't realise this before as I have seen three developments in this meeting where they used footage from the air. Why wasn't this utilised for the market, who knows.

I attended a meeting last year where I highlighted to the attendees that I had seen the Leicester public asking for a larger market/ undercover space. I also voiced this in the last meeting.

In a previous scrutiny meeting it was highlighted that four propositions would be unveiled, this never came to light but in the last meeting I was advised that three other propositions existed and could be considered. It is unclear but seems that none of these propositions were any bigger for the public to vote on.

The council has agreed with themselves that the 1 proposition they put forward was a success and is now pushing forward to the planning stage. The story was run by both the BBC and Leicester Live, and in their Facebook groups the council took a right slating over the proposals, very little agreement with the council’s proposals.

I posted in a Leicester based Facebook group about the above and proposition that was going to be implemented and got nearly 500 like reacts indicating they agreed the council had not got this right.

I asked two times this year what was happening over the market and got no response, Then the council announced they were pushing on with their plans. It looks like the decision had already been made.

I have spoken to Leicester Media Online who say they have received a lot of objections about the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Any petitions received in accordance with Council procedures will be reported.

A verbal update will be given on the Market Place development plans.

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment submits a report providing an update on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) programme, including plans for the transition year for 2025-26.

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inwards Investment submits a report following on the impact of the pilot year (2023-24) and an update on the 2024-25 programme.

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment submits a report for the Commission to consider and comment upon the development of the UKSPF funded ESOL projects in 2024-25.

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment and the Director of LLEP submit a report to update the Scrutiny Commission on the work of the Business and Skills Partnership for Leicester and Leicestershire.

The Chair of the Economic Development, Transport and Climate Emergency Scrutiny Committee will provide a verbal update on the Executive response to the Electric Vehicle Charging Points Scrutiny review report.

Members of the Commission will be asked to consider the work programme and make suggestions for additional items as it considers necessary.