Agenda and minutes

By-election of Councillor – Evington ward

The Lord Mayor referred to the recent by election in the Evington Ward, where Councillor Shahid Khan was duly elected. The Lord Mayor invited the City Mayor to formally introduce Councillor Khan to Council. The City Mayor congratulated Councillor Khan and welcomed him to the Council.

Councillor Ratilal Govind and Alderman Malik Salim

The Lord Mayor reflected upon the recent sad loss of Councillor Ratilal Govind who passed away after a difficult fight against Cancer on 2^nd December last year. He noted that he was a dedicated and effective Councillor who served on a wide range of Committees, noting that he was recently the Vice-Chair of the Overview Select Committee. He had served as a Councillor since 2015.

The Lord Mayor also noted the sad loss of Alderman Malik Salim who passed away last year. He was elected as a Councillor in 1989 and served the City for 10 years. He was appointed as an Honorary Alderman for his service. He was also the Chairman of the Islamic Centre in Leicester.

The Council stood for a minute’s silence in memory of Councillor Govind and Alderman Salim.

Simon Cole

The Lord Mayor referenced the recently announced retirement of Chief Constable Simon Cole QPM, after 33 years of service with the Police Force. It was noted that Simon was the longest serving Chief Constable in the United Kingdom. He had dealt with many challenges during his time in the role, such as the Covid lockdowns, Premier League celebrations, and sad events such as the helicopter crash at Leicester City and the Hinckley Road explosion. It was noted that Simon had dealt with these challenges effectively and sensitively. The Lord Mayor also noted that Simon had worked well with the Council and under his leadership he had made the city a safer and more pleasant place to live.

The Lord Mayor thanked Simon on behalf of the citizens of Leicester.

The Lord Mayor also invited the City Mayor to say a few words in relation to Simon. The City Mayor referred to Simon’s impressive abilities, good sense and steady leadership. He also noted his good awareness of Leicester, it challenges and needs. He noted that he would be very much missed, and he wished him well.

Charity Events

The Lord Mayor informed Council of two forthcoming charity events. A Spring ball was taking place at the Mercure Grand Hotel on Saturday 2^nd April 2022. There was also going to be a coffee morning hosted by the Lady Mayoress at the Town Hall on Saturday 30^th April. Both events would be supporting the Lord Mayor’s charities, Silver Star Diabetes and the Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity. All Members were encouraged to support the events.

Freedom of the City

The Lord Mayor reflected upon the decision which Council had just taken, to confer Honorary Freedom of the City to Leicester City Football Club. He noted that this honour was very much deserved for their sporting achievements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

The Lord Mayor invited the Monitoring Officer to make a statement in relation to declarations for the budget meeting.

The Monitoring Officer reminded Members that there was no requirement to declare any interests already on their registers. He noted that Members had been contacted in advance of the meeting regarding interests, but no issues had been raised. He also reminded Members if they had a pecuniary interest they would need to leave the meeting. He further noted that it was judgement for Members to make regarding the declaration of interests. He also explained about Section 106 of the Local Government Act 1992 requirements regarding the need for voting Members to not be 2 months or more in arrears of Council tax payments as this could be a criminal offence. He further outlined details of a dispensation which, following consultation with the Standards Committee, he could grant to elected Members who were Council tenants or had family members or close associates who were Council tenants. Without this dispensation it would not be possible for members with an interest in this area to vote on either the General Fund Revenue Budget or the Housing Revenue Account.

The following members sought and were granted a dispensation:

Councillor Aldred

Councillor Aqbany

Councillor Cank

Councillor Chamund

Councillor Halford

Councillor Nangreave

Councillor Pickering

Councillor Shelton

Councillor Thalukdar

Councillor Westley

There were no statements by the City Mayor / Executive.

Council is asked to approve the recommendations set out on page 1.

The City Mayor submitted his proposed budget for 2022/23. The report contained details of the financial pressures facing the Council, the proposed budget strategy including assessments of risk, and impact and consultation outcomes.

Details of the City Mayor’s Recommendation of General Fund Revenue Budget 2022/23 and the General Fund Revenue Budget and Council Tax 2022/23 – Formal Resolutions were circulated to Members prior to the meeting and are attached to these minutes.

Moved by the City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Cassidy: That Council:

Thanks scrutiny committees who have commented on our draft budget; 

Note the comments made in the City Mayor’s formal Decision Notice published on 22 February 2022 and attached as Appendix A to the script, made available at the meeting and attached to these minutes.

Approve the recommendations set out in section 3.1 of the report ‘General Fund Revenue Budget 2022/23’ without amendment; and

Approve the formal budget resolution as set out in Appendix B to the script, made available at the meeting and attached to these minutes.

The Lord Mayor put the motion to the vote.

It was noted that under the requirements of The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 the names of the Councillors voting for or against the proposition or abstaining would be recorded by the City Barrister and Monitoring Officer and included in the minutes of the meeting.

For the motion:

Councillors Aldred, Ali, Aqbany, Bajaj, Barton, , Broadwell, Cank, Cassidy, Chamund, Clair, Clarke, Cole, Cutkelvin, Dawood, Dempster, Fonseca, Gee, Halford, Joel, Joshi,  Khan, Kitterick, Malik, March, Master, Moore, Myers, Nangreave, O’Donnell, Pandya, Pantling, Patel, Pickering, Rae Bhatia, Rahman, Singh Riyait, Russell, Kaur Saini, Singh Sandhu, Sangster, Shelton, Singh Johal, Solanki, Soulsby (City Mayor), Thalukdar, Valand, Waddington, Westley, Whittle, Willmott.

Against the motion:

Councillor Porter.

The Lord Mayor declared the motion carried.

Council is asked to approve the recommendations set out on page 69.

A report was considered which sought approval of a Capital Programme for the Council for the period 2022/23. Details were included within the report of the resources position and proposed projects. The report had been considered at the meeting of Overview Select Committee on 10th February 2022 and a copy of the minutes were circulated to Members with the agenda.

Moved by the City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Cassidy and carried:

That Council:

Thanks the Overview Select Committee for their comments on our draft budget, which were attached to the report;

Notes the comments made in the City Mayor’s formal Recommendation to Council Notice published on 22 February 2022 and attached as Appendix D to the script, made available prior to the meeting and attached to these minutes; and

Approves the recommendations set out in section 2 of the report ‘Capital Programme 2022/23’ subject to the addition of £100,000 for building works at West Gate Special School to be allocated from the programme contingency, as referred to in the City Mayor’s formal recommendation to Council..

Council is asked to approve the recommendations set out on page 109.

Moved by Councillor Cutkelvin, seconded by Councillor Westley and carried:

That Council:

Thanks the Tenants and Leaseholders Forum, Housing Scrutiny Commission, Overview Select Committee and others who have commented on our draft Housing Revenue Account budget. The comments of the Housing Scrutiny Commission and  Overview Select Committee were included in the report.

Notes the comments made in the Assistant City Mayor, Education and Housing’s formal recommendation to Council notice published on 20 February 2022 and attached as Appendix E to the script and made available prior to the meeting; and

Approves the recommendations set out in Section 3 of the report ‘Housing Revenue Account Budget (including HRA Capital Programme) 2022/23 without amendment.

Council is asked to approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23 subject to any comments made by the Overview Select Committee at its meeting held on 10 February 2022 and attached at Appendix 4-D1 on page 173.

Moved by the City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Cassidy and carried:

That Council notes the comments of the Overview Select Committee attached to the report and approves the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23, which includes the annual Treasury Investment Strategy at Appendix B of the report.

Council is asked to approve the Investment Strategy 2022/23 subject to any comments made by the Overview Select Committee at its meeting held on 10 February 2021 and attached at Appendix 4-E1 on page 199.

Moved by the City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Cassidy and carried:

That Council notes the comments of the Overview Select Committee attached to the report and approves the Investment Strategy.

There being no urgent business, the Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 7.05pm.