Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor informed Members that, arising out of the London bombings on 7 July 2005 and the associated loss of life and large number of injuries, on behalf of both the people of Leicester and the Council, the Lord Mayor had sent a card of condolence to the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.  The Lord Mayor also informed Members of a response which had been received.

As this was the first full Council Meeting since the bombings, the Lord Mayor led a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to those who had lost their lives and also to remember their loved ones and the many people who were injured by the blasts.

The Lord Mayor also drew to the attention of the Council that the Leicester Schools Orchestra had just returned from a five day trip to the Loire Valley.  The 70 children, accompanied by 5 teachers, had played at a range of concerts and had been extremely well received – a brilliant example of Leicester’s young people being  ambassadors of the city.

The Town Clerk reported that, at the By-Election held in the  Beaumont Leys  Ward on 14 July 2005,  Mrs. Violet Geddes Graham Dempster  was duly elected to fill the vacancy which arose as a result of the death of Councillor Gordon Getliffe. Also, at the By-Election held in the  Belgrave  Ward on 14 July 2005 , Mr. Rashmikant Joshi  was duly elected to fill the vacancy which arose as a result of the death of Councillor Amritlal Kavia.”

The Lord Mayor invited Members to declare any interests they might have in the business on the agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

Councillor Corrall declared a non-prejudicial interest, his daughter being a sports coach in a city school.  Councillor Porter declared a non-prejudicial interest, his partner being a teacher in a city school and Councillor Sood declared a non-prejudicial interest, her son being a teach in a city school and Councillor Sood being a Director of Leicester Council of Faiths.

Lifelong Learning and Community Development – Balancing the Budget

Moved by Councillor Coley, seconded by Councillor Scuplak, and carried:-

32.       “That, in respect of the Council Report ‘Lifelong Learning and Community Development – Balancing the Budget’, Council notes the recommendations of Cabinet, as specified at a) to e) in the Council Report  but instead is asked to:-

(a)        approve the list of savings identified in Appendix 1 of the supporting information to the Cabinet report,  subject to the deletion from the list of the cessation of the sport and fitness provision [reference 8 (part) and 24] and the application of consistent charging policies for crèches and playgrounds [reference 14 (part) and 15];  and the continued monitoring and, if necessary, remedial action by the Corporate Director of Education and Lifelong Learning to secure the delivery of Learning and Skills Council targets;

(b)        agree that Cabinet be asked to receive a further report on the implications of the application of consistent charging policies for crèches and playgroups;

(c)        seek to achieve the remaining £1 million savings through the implementation of reviews across the Council as part of the implementation of new Departments (such reviews to consider the most appropriate senior management configurations) and the response to the changed priorities of the Learning and Skills Council;

(d)        agree to use up to £700,000 of the Education Department’s earmarked reserves to bridge the budget gap in 2005/06 after allowing for any reserves needed to deal with other budget pressures in the Department;

(e)        agree that £1.1 million of monies originally set aside for investment in primary school key stage 2 development can be released to be spent over the next two years, to raise standards in primary schools developed in consultation with Heads and linked to the strategy for learning and the collaborative network;

(f)         agree to release £0.25 million of monies previously held for investment in primary school capital for that purpose, and set aside up £1 million to bridge the savings needed in Lifelong Learning Division;

(g)        instruct Cabinet to look at ways to fund the primary schools capital development; and,

(h)        agree the budget lines  of the Lifelong Learning Division which result from the recommendation.”

AN AMENDMENT

Moved by Councillor Willmott, seconded by Councillor Kitterick:-

“Delete all after instead, in first paragraph, and replace with:-

‘Council agrees that action needs to be taken to bridge the £3.5 million deficit  that occurred in Education and Lifelong Learning under the stewardship of Councillor Hussein Suleman;  and specifically  that:

a)                  there be no changes in charging regimes for crèches and playgroups until the matter has been considered by the relevant Scrutiny Committee(s);

b)            Council also rejects the £1 million reduction being imposed across departments and recommends that this be met in the 2006/07 budget process;

c)                  Council does not support the decision of the Employees Committee for the two new Corporate Director posts to be paid a top salary of £117,995 at a time when all Council Departments are asked to make savings of £1 million that could reduce front line services to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

The Lord  Mayor informed Council that, in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 40,  she had agreed to accept  as an urgent item on the Agenda the consideration of a Cabinet report on the Festivals and Events Strategy – Consultation Draft, which has been the subject of an Objection by five Members.

The grounds of urgency were to avoid unnecessary delay in the implementation of the Consultation Strategy, the next ordinary of Council, at which the Objection would otherwise be considered, being 29 September 2005.”

OBJECTION TO DECISION

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS STRATEGY – CONSULTATION STRATEGY

In accordance with Rule 12 of the Cabinet Procedure Rules, Councillors Hall (proposer), Willmott (seconder), Kitterick, Corrall and J Blackmore had objected to the decision of Cabinet held on 25 July 2005 with regard to the above.

The submitted grounds for objection were:-

‘as it has not been subjected to Scrutiny’'

A copy of the report had been circulated to Members and the full Strategy made available in the Group Rooms.

The extract of the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 July were circulated to Members.

The City Council was recommended to consider the report.

Under the provisions of Cabinet Procedure Rule 12 (h), the Council may either confirm the decision of Cabinet which would take immediate effect or refer the matter back to Cabinet with an alternative recommendation for Cabinet to consider.

Councillor Mugglestone, seconded by Councillor Farmer, and carried:-

33.       “That the decisions of Cabinet concerning the Festivals and Events Strategy – Consultation Draft be confirmed and that the Arts, Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committee be also asked to consider the Consultation Strategy at an early opportunity within the consultation timetable.”

AN AMENDMENT

Moved by Councillor Connelly, seconded by Councillor Kitterick:-

“That the matter be referred back to Cabinet to enable the Consultation Draft to be referred to Scrutiny.”

The Lord Mayor put the Amendment to the vote and declared it to be lost.

The Lord Mayor put the substantive Motion to the vote and declared it carried.

The Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 6. 28 p.m.