Agenda and minutes

Remembrance

The Lord Mayor reflected on the recent sad passing of Chief Constable Simon Cole and Gerry Hirst a co-optee of the Children’s, Young People and Education Scrutiny Commission.

He noted that Simon Cole had been the longest serving Chief Constable in the Country and was highly regarded in the local community and was a dedicated and skilled officer.  He would be greatly missed and be remembered with much fondness

Gerry Hirst had been a former headteacher of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and was, more recently, a schools’ facilitator and educational consultant in addition to being a long serving co-optee.

Council stood for a minute’s silence in Simon Cole and Gerry Hirst’s memory.

Civic Events

The Lord Mayor referred to a number of Civic events he had attended recently.

He had attended the ceremony to bestow the Freedom of the City Leicester City Football Club at the King Power Stadium attended by players and the current Chairmen and guests.  The occasion also saw the inauguration of the newly created City of Leicester Award, which was presented to current chairman, Khun ‘Top’ and to his late father, Khun Vichai.  The Awards recognised their outstanding achievements and commitment to Leicester City Football Club and the City of Leicester.

This was followed by him holding a Spring Ball in support of Silver Star Diabetes and the Royal Anglian Benevolent Charity.

Fire and Emergency Evacuation Procedure

The Lord Mayor reminded all present of the evacuation procedures as detailed on the agenda for the meeting.

Moved by Councillor Dempster, seconded by Councillor Sangster and carried:

That Councillor George Cole be elected to the Office of Lord Mayor of the City for the coming year.

Councillor George Cole, Lord Mayor of Leicester took the Chair.

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

That Councillor Deepak Bajaj be elected to the office of High Bailiff for the coming year.

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

That Councillor Luis Fonseca be appointed Deputy Lord Mayor for the coming year.

The Lord Mayor informed Council that he had appointed five Spiritual Advisors as follows:-

Ras Anum Abeng – Nabingi Church

Pastor Michael Baker – Seventh Day Adventist Church

Bishop Joel Haye – New Testament Church of God

Bishop Marvin Hector – Shiloh Pentecostal Fellowship

Pastor Adetungi Lawal – Winners Chapel International

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

Good evening, all, I am Councillor Sue Hunter, Co councillor with Cllr Bajaj for Evington ward. It is an honour and privilege to deliver the vote of thanks for his year in office as our Lord Mayor 2021-2022.

Councillor Bajaj was elected as Lord Mayor on 29 April 2021.  The annual meeting and election were rather unique – our first ever hybrid meeting of annual council, being held with only 17 people present at the Town Hall, as a result of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.  It is encouraging to see that we are all present this evening.

Councillor Bajaj has supported two charities – Silver Star Diabetes and The Royal Anglian Benevolent Charity - and a number of charity events have been held to raise money to support their valuable work.  Deepak recently held a charity ball at the Grand Hotel which saw a number of guests dance the night away to a local DJ and the Singing Policeman and he also supported the Lady Mayoress and Consort in hosting a Coffee Morning here in the Town Hall.  Two local businesses have kindly hosted charity meals on his behalf – one at Bobby’s Restaurant and the other at the relatively recently opened Tandem Restaurant in Highcross.

Despite a slow start to the year, as a result of the pandemic, he has still managed to attend a wide variety of events, reaching across many areas of the community, including support to young people, the armed forces, faith and community groups and local businesses.  Councillor Bajaj has welcomed pupils from several city schools to City Hall, giving young people an opportunity to explore democracy and question councillors on their involvement in local the community.  He has also supported local groups including Leicester Scouts for the presentation of awards to beavers, cubs and scouts and has met with young people from our twinned cities at the City of Leicester European Twinning Association meeting.

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

I move that the technical resolution regarding the formation of the Overview Select Committee and Scrutiny Commissions and Regulatory and Council Committees, as printed below, be approved.

Technical Resolution – Scrutiny Committee, Commissions & Regulatory and Council Committees

(i)         That the:-

Overview Select Committee

Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission

Children, Young People and Education Scrutiny Commission

Economic Development, Transport and Climate Emergency Scrutiny Commission

Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission

Heritage, Culture, Leisure and Tourism Scrutiny Commission

Housing Scrutiny Commission and

Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Commission

all be established in accordance with the existing Terms of Reference, the size of each being in accordance with the lists circulated to all Members and attached at Appendix A to the Report at Item 7 on the agenda (and attached to these minutes at Appendix A), it being noted that any remaining places will be filled in accordance with relevant procedures and in consultation with the relevant Members.

(ii)        That the

Audit and Risk Committee

Health and Wellbeing Board

Standards Committee

Planning and Development Control Committee

Licensing and Public Safety Committee and

Licensing Sub-Committees

all be established in accordance with the existing Terms of Reference) the size of each being in accordance with the lists circulated to all Members and attached at Appendix A to the Report at Item 7 on the agenda (and attached to these minutes at Appendix A) and to note that there is now a vacancy for the Roman Catholic Diocese Co-opted place on the Children’s Young People and Education Scrutiny Commission (it being noted that the remaining places will be filled in accordance with relevant procedures and in consultation with the relevant Members) except that:

(a)        The Terms of Reference for the Audit & Risk Committee be amended to allow for the inclusion of an Independent Member amongst its membership and

(b)        The size of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee be expanded from 10 places to 15 places.

(iii)       That the Chairs and Vice-Chairs (as appropriate) of the bodies listed in parts (i) and (ii) above be in accordance with the lists circulated to all Members (attached at Appendix A to the Report at Item 7 on the agenda (and attached to these minutes at Appendix A) subject to Cllr Pantling being replaced by Cllr Dr Moore as Vice Chair on the Audit and Risk Committee and Cllr Shelton being replaced by Cllr Joel as Vice Chair on the Standards Committee;

(iv)       That the Employees Committee be established with the Terms of Reference and size as specified within the Council’s Constitution, with the process for the appointment of Chair and membership being in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution; and

(v)        That the updated “Scrutiny Reconfiguration” document be approved as attached at Appendix B to the Report at Item 7 on the agenda (and attached to these minutes at Appendix A).

The City Mayor asked Council to note that he appointed Councillor Malik to join the existing members of the Executive.

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

That the cycle of meetings of the Scrutiny, Regulatory and Council Committees be confirmed as set out in the schedule of meetings attached at Item 9 with the agenda (and attached as Appendix C to these minutes.)

Council is asked to approve “That the Annual Meeting in 2023 be held on 18 May 2023, that Council meet on Wednesday 22 February 2023 to consider the estimates for 2023/24, and that ordinary meetings of Council be held on the dates to be indicated on the Council Script, ie:

7 July 2022

29 September 2022

24 November 2022”

Moved by Councillor Cank, seconded by the City Mayor and carried

That the Annual Meeting in 2023 be held on 18 May 2023, that Council meet on Wednesday 22 February 2023 to consider the estimates for 2023/24, and that ordinary meetings of Council be held on the dates indicated on the Council Script, ie:

7 July 2022

29 September 2022

24 November 2022

The Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 6.55pm.