Agenda and minutes

Anniversary of Windrush

The Lord Mayor noted that it was Windrush day on 22^nd June, which was an opportunity to recognise British Caribbean communities and acknowledge both the sacrifices and contributions the Windrush generation and their descendants had made to British society. He further noted that only in recent years, injustices which had been suffered by this community had been acknowledged with many perishing before they received justice.

The Lord Mayor asked those present to stand for a minute’s silence in memory of those who have sadly passed from this community.

Civic Events

The Lord Mayor noted that in the short time he had become Lord Mayor, he had been fortunate to attend a number of engagements.

Initially he had attended a number of events across the city to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, including the lighting of the Jubilee Beacon held at the Space Centre, a celebration at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, jubilee tea parties and a special service at St Mary de Castro.

He noted he had been part of some interesting and unusual events, including the 100th anniversary flower show at St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, he had collected the peppercorn rent from O’Neill’s Public House at the Damask Rose Ceremony and enjoyed cultural celebrations with the Nepalese and Polish communities.

He noted it had been a privilege to join together with family, colleagues and friends to celebrate the life of former Chief Constable, Simon Cole.

On 19th June he had been present at the Town Hall when it was lit in red to mark World Sickle Cell Day.

Finally on 20 June he was honoured to mark the start of Armed Forces Week with the raising of the armed forces flag, followed by a very successful Armed Forces Day, which saw a parade of military personnel march through the city centre followed by the first open air service in Green Dragon Square.

Honoured Citizen Scheme

The Lord Mayor commented that there were many people throughout the city who made a real difference to their local communities and the lives of others. He reminded Council of the Honoured Citizen Award Scheme. He explained that the scheme provided an opportunity to acknowledge significant contributions. He encouraged Council members to make a nomination for anyone who it was felt worthy of recognition and that information and nomination forms were available from the Member & Civic Team.

Fire and Emergency Evacuation Procedure

The Lord Mayor reminded all those present of the fire evacuation procedures detailed on the agenda.

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

Councillor Porter declared that he had signed a petition against the traffic measures in Evington.

The minutes of the meetings held below are available to view at the links shown:

23 February 2022 – Special Council Meeting

https://cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=11717&Ver=4

23 February 2022 – Budget Council Meeting

https://cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=10905&Ver=4

23 February 2022 – Council Meeting

https://cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=10943&Ver=4

19 May 2022 – Annual Council Meeting

https://cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=10906&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 meetings of Council held, 23 February 2022 (Special Council Meeting), 23 February 2022 (Budget Council Meeting), 23 February 2022 (Council Meeting) and 19 May 2022 (Annual Council Meeting), copies having been circulated to each member of the council, be taken as read and that they each be approved as a correct record.

Queens Award for Voluntary Services

The City Mayor encouraged Members of Council to champion the work of voluntary groups in each of their wards. Outstanding examples of the work of these groups was celebrated through the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. These awards were started in 2002 around the time of the Golden Jubilee and were said to be the equivalent of MBEs and were the highest awards given to voluntary groups. He noted that many voluntary groups in the city did fantastic work and members were encouraged to put them forward for a nomination. It was suggested that Members email the City Mayor’s Office with any suggestions for nominations they may have.

-           Presented by Members of the Public

-           Presented by Councillors

-           Petitions to be debated

5.1       Requesting Safeguards Including a 20 Mph Zone, Barriers and Speed Cameras Along Hungarton Boulevard

Petitions from members of the public

Mr Shah Ali, presented a petition with 535 valid signatures in the following terms:-

“The Safer Streets Healthier Neighbourhood's scheme for Evington will reduce access to and from residents homes on Davenport Road, Greystone Avenue, Newhaven Road & Mickelton Road and force them to take longer journeys using busier, frequently congested and more dangerous roads/junctions which will greatly affect the families, elderly and working populace of the area while doing almost nothing to meet the schemes desired goals.

It will also force local traffic onto already congested/dangerous main roads. As well making the situation worse and putting the lives of these and other Leicester residents, many of who are likely to be friends and family of Evington / Goodwood residents, at risk and in the end actually lead to an increase in pollution.

All cars on the school run now will also be forced to find somewhere to turn around as they complete their drop off/pick up, putting pedestrians further at risk, in order to make their way back out of the schools area via the same route they arrived on.  This will also again lead to their journeys being longer, more dangerous and polluting if they actually need to reach a different side of Evington / Goodwood.

The scheme will also restrict certain residents from using vehicles on their road completely during suggested peak times which will unfairly limit their way of life greatly, unless an agreement is reached with them that provides compensation.

To resolve school rat runs that occur twice a day on weekdays only local residents will be penalised 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

The scheme does not appear to take into account the large number of essential workers (such as school teachers, medical centre employees, pharmacists, care home workers, domiciliary carers and grocery/takeaway shop staff) that need to travel in and out of Evington / Goodwood to perform their already difficult roles and who will experience significant problems due to the planned barriers being put in place on their regular journeys, making their roles even more challenging and untenable.

The scheme also stated it aimed to put the detailed measures in place every day of the week for the entire year despite schools being closed over weekends/holidays and residents having no serious issues with traffic at those times.  The scheme was also designed without the input of the community, its implementation decided with no prior notice of the plans to the public and its communication was only supplied in English despite this being a second language for many of the local residents who would therefore struggle to understand the document and changes that would be severely impacting them.

In summary, the suggested road changes detailed in the scheme will actually cause an increase in pollution, lead to greater risks in public safety and needlessly cause great difficulties to Evington/Goodwood and Leicester residents in general if they are implemented so we urge the council not to proceed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

The following questions were asked by Members of the Public.

1.            Mr Alarakha Alimahomed

“Regarding the program of safer healthier street, the council chose Devonport Road closure, one way system on Gamel Road, and Greystone Avenue, why did they not call a consultation meeting with presently residents effected instead posting letters and leaflet in letterboxes without the official channels in taking account the diversity of various racial residents who do not have the understanding of English language? This decision causes major disruption to the majority access just to satisfy few residents.”

Deputy City Mayor, Councillor Clarke in response noted that there were 11 questions in relation to the Evington Safer Streets Healthy Neighbourhood scheme and he would cover some details in the first response relevant to all questions. He noted that the Evington and other schemes were not chosen by accident, but had a history of concerns about rat running, speeding, poor air quality and health deprivation. The schemes were the result of an evidence based bid for government funding. The schemes were also experimental and based on feedback, they could be kept, amended or rejected.

The Council had gone above its legal obligations to consult on the scheme and had been comprehensive in doing so. Examples of the consultation included face to face, not simply letters or leaflets. There had been opinion surveys, a Traffic Regulation Order letter, 3 on-street roadshows, a residents meeting at City Hall and a commitment to having a resident’s forum as the experiment proceeded.

The Deputy City Mayor also noted that he was pleased that the Transport Team was diverse and could engage with residents in a range of languages at on-street consultation road shows. He also noted that leaflets were pictoral in nature in order to communicate with a wide range of people.

Mr Alimohamed asked a supplementary question. He felt health was the most important factor. He asked to consider the implications for a 96 year old woman who had to travel on a longer journey to her destination and he felt this was a health issue.

The Deputy City Mayor responded that all eventualities were considered as part of the scheme, particularly whether the benefits, health or otherwise, outweighed the disbenefits and this would be taken into account as a result of the experiment.

2.         Mr Mohamed Osman

“Can the council assure residents of Goodwood that they will stop implementing the unwanted road closures until a full consultation is carried out?”

It was noted that Mr Osman was not present at the meeting, but a response was still provided to the question.

Deputy City Mayor, Councillor Clarke in response said that details of the scheme had been widely promoted as noted in the answer to the previous question.

The Deputy City Mayor also however noted that there had been positive responses to the consultation and outlined some of these responses; one said that it will cause inconvenience but will cut out rat runs and make the streets safer; another said that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Moved by Assistant City Mayor, Councillor Cutkelvin, seconded by Councillor Westley and carried:

a)     That Selective Licensing schemes in the targeted areas (Option A in the report, read in conjunction with appendix B, Maps covering selective designations and street names) be supported and should be introduced with effect from 10^th October 2022 (See 4.1.10 of the report.) The designated areas were identified both in the business case and during the consultation as the areas most acutely impacted by the proliferation of the private rented sector in Leicester.

b)     As the principle of Additional Licensing citywide (Option B in the report) is favoured, that this be revisited once Option A is embedded and there is further evidence of the success of licensing in raising standards in the sector. This will also allow time for any impact of the potential extension of the Article 4 directive to have been realised.

c)      That the proposed fees, discounts and penalties identified in Section 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 (and outlined in the report) be approved.

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

That consideration of the Code of Conduct report be deferred to the September meeting of full Council.

-        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.

Proposed by the Deputy City Mayor Councillor Russell, seconded by the Deputy City Mayor Councillor Clarke that:

“As a major employer, and investor in local, regional, and national supply chains, this council recognises that, far too often, exploitative, unscrupulous, and abusive employment practices exist. This Council condemns those practices and is committed to rooting them out.

As part of its determination to tackle modern day slavery, this Council adopts the following cooperative charter which sets out strategies for more rigorous supply chain management and reporting processes.

Whilst recognising the action already being taken, Leicester City Council will:-

1. Train its corporate procurement team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.
2. Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.
3. Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.
4. Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.
5. Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
6. Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
7. Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.
8. Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.
9. Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.
10. Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.

Moved by Deputy City Mayor Councillor Russell, seconded by Deputy City Mayor Councillor Clarke and carried:

As a major employer, and investor in local, regional, and national supply chains, this council recognises that, far too often, exploitative, unscrupulous, and abusive employment practices exist. This Council condemns those practices and is committed to rooting them out.

As part of its determination to tackle modern day slavery, this Council adopts the following cooperative charter which sets out strategies for more rigorous supply chain management and reporting processes.

Whilst recognising the action already being taken, Leicester City Council will:-

1. Train its corporate procurement team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.

2. Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.

3. Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.

4. Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.

5. Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

6. Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

7. Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.

8. Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.

9. Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.

10. Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.

Council is asked to approve a Council meeting on 22 February 2023 to follow on from the Budget Council.

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

That Council approve a Council meeting on 22 February 2023 to follow on the from the Budget Council meeting.

There being no other business, the Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 8:09pm.