Agenda and minutes

Prior to the formal business commencing, the former Director of Public Health and the Current Director of Public Health have been invited to present the report to Council which outlines lessons learned from COVID in Leicester.

The report can be accessed by following this link:

Beyond the lockdowns: Lessons learned from Leicester's COVID story

The former Director of Public Health and the current Director of Public Health presented to the Council, the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2022; ‘Beyond the lockdowns: Lessons learned from Leicester’s COVID story.’

The presentation covered a range of matters relating the pandemic in the city, such as key data such as number of lives lost, numbers of positive cases and vaccine take up, details of the spread of cases in the city, how the city responded and how some of the initiatives were rolled out nationally; vaccination take up details and the barriers to take up; impact on mental health; impact on early years, health inequalities and older people / social isolation. Details were also provided regarding the lessons learnt such as the importance of local leadership in such circumstances, flexibility, innovation, resilience and partnerships.

The Lord Mayor thanked the former and current Director’s of Public Health for their presentation.

The Lord Mayor paid particular tribute to the former Director of Public Health, Ivan Browne on behalf of the Council and city for all his work in the role, and especially during the pandemic.

Democratic and Civic Support Manager

The Lord Mayor noted that Matthew Reeves, Democratic and Civic Support Manager would be leaving his role at the Council. She thanked Matthew for his support and advice in her role as Lord Mayor, as well as wider service to the Council and wished him well for the future.

Charity Support

The Lord Mayor referred to a recent charity fundraising event for her chosen charity, Charity Link, the Leicestershire 3 peaks challenge. Due to other commitments could only climb one of the peaks, but noted that it was a very successful event. The Lord Mayor also noted that she had produced cards with QR code links on them in case people wanted to donate to the Lord Mayor’s charity.

St Kitts and Nevis Independence

The Lord Mayor noted that she had recently attended an event to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Independence of St Kitts and Nevis. She passed on congratulations to the local St Kitts and Nevis community in Leicester who were celebrating at this time.

Council meetings – explanation of rules and expectations

The Lord Mayor gave a detailed speech which reflected upon conduct at recent Council meetings following the election. She noted that they had been fractious and combative in parts and didn’t present a dignified picture of politics to the public. She also noted that Council had been used as a forum to raise misconduct allegations and that the Monitoring Officer had dealt with formal complaints arising from behaviour at council.

The Lord Mayor further outlined Constitutional rules, specifically Point of Order and Personal Explanation and the circumstances when and how these should be used, and that she would rule from the chair when they were being used incorrectly.

The Lord Mayor also commented that she definitely didn’t want to curtail debate or shield anybody from scrutiny, but stressed that any criticisms should be criticising an issue, not a person. She encouraged members to behave in a way that showed the best of politics and political life.

The Lord Mayor invited Members to declare any interests they might have in the business on the agenda not already declared on their register of interests.

Councillor Kennedy-Lount declared an ordinary disclosable interest in the report, Service Plan for Food Law Regulation 2022/23 as he was a holder of a level 3 certificate for food hygiene.

There were no other declarations.

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

22^nd June 2023 – Special Council Meeting

https://cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=12813&Ver=4

6^th July 2023

https://cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=12775&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 held on 22 June 2023 (Special Council) and 6 July 2023 having been circulated to each Member of the Council, be taken as read and are approved as a correct record.

There were no statements by the City Mayor or Executive.

-           Presented by Members of the Public

-           Presented by Councillors

-           Petitions to be debated

Petitions from Members of the Public

No petitions for presentation had been received from members of the public.

Petitions from Councillors

Councillor Waddington presented a petition with 28 valid signatures in the following terms:-

“We the residents of Tudor Close and Rivers Street request that Leicester City Council introduce a Residents Parking Scheme in our area.”

Under Council Procedure Rule 13a, the aforementioned petition was referred to the Monitoring Officer for consideration and action as appropriate.

-           From Members of the Public

-           From Councillors

The following questions were asked by members of the public:

1.         Jacqueline Nangreave

“When is Leicester City Council going to fully reopen the Customer Service Centre on Granby Street, all day, 5 days per week? At present council tax has gone up and our services have gone down”

Deputy City Mayor Councillor Cutkelvin in response said that she welcomed the union led campaign regarding the customer service centre, and she was pleased to have taken on customer services as part of her Executive portfolio, stressing the importance of getting customer services right. She further noted that many residents were switching away from face to face engagement with the Council, but agreed there would always be a need for some of this provision. The Deputy City Mayor noted that the Customer Service Centre received approximately 70 customers a day, who received prompt, attentive service. She also noted that many visitors to the centre used the contact phones when visiting. It was further noted that the centre was a large space which was very much under used and there was a need to review the space and refresh the customer service offer.

Jaqueline asked a supplementary question. She felt that residents had fewer services, but higher levels of tax. She queried how the Council could show it was not biased against poor and older people as those groups had their options for contacting the council constricted?

The Deputy City Mayor in response agreed it was an important point, which was why the services were being refreshed and equalities issues would be taken in to account. She also however reiterated that the space at York House was under used and she didn’t feel that the Customer Service Centre was always the right answer for providing the best service.

2.         Jacqueline Nangreave

“What is the average time a resident must wait for the phone to be answered When phoning the council”

Deputy City Mayor Councillor Cutkelvin in response that the Council continued to provide a wide range of services via different phone lines, with 23 different lines available. As the contact on these lines was so varied, it was difficult to provide the average, but the average wait when contacting the Customer Service Centre was 6.5 minutes, but this could vary.

Jaqueline asked a supplementary question, querying how her 91 year old neighbour could get his bus pass on a Wednesday?

The Deputy City Mayor in response said that residents could request permits in a range of ways, but they could go through their local Councillor if they were facing difficulties.

3.         Jacqueline Nangreave

“Why is it that letters sent from the council to a resident have no return address and no officer named as the sender”

Deputy City Mayor Councillor Cutkelvin in response said that the majority of letters sent from the Council did have contact details and details of the sender, but this could depend on the nature of the information or service. She asked that the questioner provide specific examples in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

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

That Council note the contents of the plan and endorse the delivery of the food service plan 2023/24.

Councillor Moore made a suggestion that future Scrutiny Annual Reports contain details of any changes which had occurred as a result of the activity of Scrutiny Committees.

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

That Council note the report and endorse the work of scrutiny during 2022-23.

Moved by Councillor Kaur Saini, seconded by Councillor Surti and carried:

That Council receive the report.

-        To note any changes to the Executive

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

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

That Councillor Surti be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Overview Select Committee.

There being no other business, the Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 9:44pm.