Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor welcomed all those present to the meeting and invited Tony Nelson to say a prayer, which he duly did.

The Lord Mayor noted that he had attended a number of events in recent months, where he was proud to represent the city and see communities out at events once again this year, after cancellations due to the Coronavirus pandemic the previous year.

-     A Business forum hosted at Winstanley House, by the High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda in honour of their 40^th year of political independence.

-     The unveiling of a new war memorial at Willowbrook Park in Thurnby Lodge which had been installed following a long fundraising campaign by residents and ward Councillors.

-     The annual Remembrance Day Service at Victoria Park, which saw people taking the opportunity to show their respect to those who had served our country.

-     The Diwali celebrations on Belgrave Road where a wide and varied range of activities took place for the public to enjoy.

-     The Christmas lights switch on, in the City Centre where people were welcomed back into the city centre to enjoy this event in a safe way.

Sir David Amess

The Lord Mayor reflected on the sad events that lead to the loss of Sir David Amess and reminded all members to be vigilant when working out in their communities.

The Lord Mayor invited Members to declare any interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

No declarations were made.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2021 are available to view at:

https://cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=10903&Ver=4

Copies are also available from Democratic Support on (0116) 454 6350 or committees@leicester.gov.uk

Moved by the Lord Mayor, seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor and carried:

That the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 30 September 2021, copies having been circulated to each member of the council, be taken as read and that they each be approved as a correct record.

The Lord Mayor invited Councillor Russell, Deputy City Mayor, Social Care and Anti-Poverty and the City Mayor to make statements:

Ofsted review – Children’s Services

Councillor Russell, Deputy City Mayor, Social Care and Anti-Poverty, informed Council that following the recent Ofsted inspection into Children’s Services, a ‘good’ rating was received across all areas being reviewed. It was also noted that this was one of the best results in the East Midlands. She further commented that the aim of the service was to ensure that children with challenges had the best possible care and that a good service was delivered across the city on an ongoing basis and not just for Ofsted. She noted that putting Children’s views and listening to them at all times was at the heart of delivering the service. She put on record her thanks to frontline Social Worker staff for working as a team, but also all the others involved in the service, including Councillors, children and families, and other parts of the Council who supported the service.

The City Mayor congratulated Councillor Russell on the Ofsted result and commented that she had been instrumental in taking the service forward to be something to be proud of.

City Centre Development

The City Major spoke in relation to protecting and developing the City Centre in the post Covid-19 pandemic era. He noted that most city centres faced a clear danger to their future at the current time. The City Centre was a fundamental part of the City’s economy, which had been the main focus for many years. He reflected upon the protection of heritage assets such as avoiding the Lanes being turned into a car park and the improvements in the Old Town area. He also commented upon the transformation of the City centre to include a good variety of retail shops, visitor and leisure attractions as well as the wide range of services, events and festivals.  He felt that the city centre had a great future as somewhere to enrich lives and access services, but also to tackle the two great challenges the city faced: inequality and the climate emergency. He further noted that the city centre could enable a better, greener transport service.

The City Mayor also spoke of the need for the Council to be agile in exploring continued investment opportunities in the City Centre, which could add value to the Council’s property portfolio. He therefore reported publicly that the Council had successfully purchased the Haymarket Shopping Centre. This was a strategic investment and had enabled the Council to acquire a key part of the city centre for around £10 Million. He noted that a capital investment of this sort could not be used to fund frontline services directly. The Haymarket Shopping Centre included 65 shopping outlets, a theatre, hotel and adjoins the bus station. What was particularly important for the Council was that it was itself a major current tenant, providing 19% of yearly revenue which it would now pay to itself. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

-           Presented by Members of the Public

-           Presented by Councillors

-           Petitions to be debated

Petitions from members of the public

Mr Mohamed Rafik, presented a petition with 972 valid signatures in the following terms:-

“We the residents of Harrison Road, Edensor Street, Stafford Street, Lancashire Street, St Michaels Avenue, Marfitt Street, Gipsy Road, Moores Road, Flax Road, Arbour Road, Leire Street, Acorn Street, Jermyn Street, Broadhurst Street, Portman Street, Glen Street, Agar Street, Canon Street and including surrounding areas and strongly object to drawings LCC-FPB-HRA-2020-001 (proposed new TRO) and all changes to our roads and surrounding roads. This includes additionally objecting to the safer street healthier neighbourhoods planned road changes for Rushey Mead. We the undersigned concerned citizens and object to all proposed changes.” 

Mr Sanjeev Sharma, presented a petition with 65 valid signatures in the following terms:-

“The residents of Harrison Road, (Junction of Gipsy Lane to Rushey Fields park) of Rushey Mead Ward strongly disagree to have residential parking in Harrison Road, the 80% of the houses in this road do have driveways. The Council should not consider this road for residential parking.”

Petitions from councillors

Councillor Bajaj, presented a petition with 445 signatures in the following terms:-

“We petition, on behalf of the residents who are very concerned for the safety of the users on the A47 and Downing Drive junction and would like to ask the Council for a four way traffic light system to be introduced at this junction.”

“I would appreciate your support to avoid serious accidents happening on this junction.

I would ask Members to note the further information contained within the script”

The remainder of the written petition reads as follows:

•        Over the years there have been numerous accidents however, in the past couple of years this junction has become extremely dangerous.

•      I use this route everyday for the past ten years and have witnessed drivers risking lives so that they can 'dodge' the traffic in the morning. They drive on the wrong side of the road especially on St Swithin's Road to get onto the Uppingham Road slip road. Not taking into account of any oncoming traffic from the main Uppingham Road or the pedestrians. Please see some pictures attached to give you an idea.

•      I have tried to report to the Council over time, but I don't even get any acknowledgment.

•      I started this petition as the current traffic lights further down, may have been suitable at the time they were installed, however, the traffic has now more than doubled over the years and these have now actually become a hazardous rather than a safety precaution.

•      The link for this petition is: https://chng.it/rbSTdsG2n6.  As you will see there are over 500 people who have signed it and agree that traffic lights should be installed there.

•      You will be aware there was an accident recently and a little girl was hurt. This matter was covered by Leicester Mercury too.

Under Council Procedure Rule 13a, the aforementioned petitions will be referred to Monitoring Officer for Consideration and action as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

The following questions were asked by Members of the Public

1. Mr Hersh Thaker:-

“As an ex-school governor at Rushey Mead Primary school I am concerned about the impact on air quality outside of the school resulting from air pollution from idling cars right outside of windows of classrooms that face onto Gipsy Lane. Traffic at this junction is already quite bad. Could the council clarify what traffic and air quality impact assessment has been done considering that we expect that traffic will be made worse on Gipsy Lane and Marfitt street and outside of Rushey Mead Primary school as a result of introducing a one way only system from Leire Street and Marfitt Street?”?

The Deputy City Mayor, Councillor Clarke in response noted that the air pollution levels for the city were within United Kingdom limits. The area described in the question was not in an Air Quality Management area. The air quality monitoring station on Melton Road had shown a sharp decline in air pollution, which was in line with targets. Locally, innovative work was being done with Zephyr Air Monitors at the school showing air quality that was within Government limits and programmes such as a walk to school scheme, bikeability, school run parking sessions and they had been visited by Clean Air Clive.

The modelling undertaken regarding the one-way proposals on Harrison Road, would ban right way turning from Marfitt Street, which would require a review on traffic signals. This would have a beneficial impact on the area outside St Patrick’s school. The Council was also looking at improvements Magnus Street entrance, overall, he felt there was a lot of work was being done with the school.

Mr Thaker asked a supplementary question, was the one-way junction still planned at Marfit Street?

Councillor Clarke responded that the information currently showed that it was not been taken forward and this had been shared with residents this week.

2. Ms Bernadette Martins

“Rushey Mead ward has a high population of residents for which English is an additional language and the population is also generally older and recently settled. The council had not carried out a public engagement event/ consultation or indeed a resident meeting beside doing lamp post flyers and letters to residents which means residents did not fully understand the Harrison Road TRO scheme. Therefore, any conclusion drawn from the responses (or lack of responses) should not be automatically assumed as conclusive support.

Could you clarify what steps were taken to ensure that the consultation was accessible to people without access to technology and for which English is an additional language? For example, was the consultation translated in Gujarati or any other community language, or was it advertised anywhere away from the council website (such as local radio shows, letters to residents, local temples? or any direct resident’s meetings)”

The Deputy City Mayor, Councillor Clarke in response stated that that the Council always looked to undertake an EIA (Equality Impact Assessment) to ensure the City resident’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Moved by Councillor Cassidy, seconded by Councillor Joel and carried:

That the work of scrutiny during 2019 – 2021 be noted and endorsed.

Moved by Deputy City Mayor, Councillor Singh Clair, seconded by Councillor Singh Johal and carried.

That the statement of gambling policy for 2022-2025 be approved.

Moved by Councillor Kaur Saini, Seconded by Councillor Dr Moore and carried:

That Public Sector Audit Appointments invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023, be accepted. 

Moved by Councillor Cank, seconded by Councillor Aldred and carried:

That:

a)      the waiver of the six-month attendance rule provided for within section 85(1) of the Local Government Act for Councillor Ratilal Govind due to illness, be approved;

b)      having regard to the extenuating circumstances arising from Councillor Govind’s illness an extension of time until the end of the current municipal year, 19 May 2022, be granted. 

-        To note any changes to the Executive

-        To vary the composition and fill any vacancies of any Committee of the Council

There was no Executive or committees business.

There being no further or urgent items of business the Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 18:35pm.