Agenda and minutes

1.            Prayers

The Lord Mayor’s Chaplain, Rev Jill Marsh opened the meeting with prayers.

2.            Resignation of Councillor Blower

The Lord Mayor informed Council that Councillor Blower had resigned as Councillor for Eyres Monsell and that a By-Election would follow.

3.            Enderby Park & Ride

The Lord Mayor noted that Enderby Park & Ride had achieved two awards in the “Parking Review British Parking Awards 2010”, one for Best New Car Park and one for Best Marketing.  He congratulated everyone involved. 

4.            Achievements in Schools

The Lord Mayor noted the raft of recent positive announcements in Education.  He congratulated the Acting Head of Inglehurst Junior School, Mr Daniel Bullock and the school for their outstanding rating by OFSTED.

The Lord Mayor also announced the splendid achievement in that the Secretary of State had revoked the Improvement Notice issued in June 2008.  This was a terrific outcome and reflected the hard work by all involved: schools, governors, partners and City Council staff.  The Lord Mayor thanked everyone for their contribution and gave a special thanks to Councillor Dempster, who had worked tirelessly with the senior management team at the Council and with schools and partners to embed the improvements and champion children’s services in the political arena.

5.            Former Lord Mayor, Councillor Manjula Sood

The Lord Mayor presented Councillor Manjula Sood with her illuminated address as a reminder of her year in office.  It was a record of her achievement in a wonderful year as Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor thanked her for her contribution to the city over the last 3 years as High Bailiff, Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor.

6.            Councillor Ross Willmott

The Lord Mayor noted that Councillor Willmott had stepped down as Leader of the Council and had agreed for Councillor Willmott to address Council.  Councillor Willmott explained his decision to step down as Leader of the Council, and Leader of the Labour Group and summarised the Council’s  achievements during his time as Leader and thanked those from across the Council and the City who had given him help and support.

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

Councillor Patel informed Council, that at the Annual Meeting on 27 May 2010, the Labour Group proposed to nominate for the 2010/11 Municipal Year Councillor Osman for election to the Office of High Bailiff.

Councillor Coley informed Council, that at the Annual Meeting on 27 May 2010, the Liberal Democrat Group proposed to nominate for the 2010/11 Municipal Year Councillor Hunt for election to the Office of High Bailiff.

Moved by the Lord Mayor, seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor, and carried:-

44.       That the Minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 28 January 2010, 24 February 2010 (Budget Meeting) and 24 February 2010 (Special Meeting) having been printed and a copy sent to each Member of the Council be taken as read and that they be approved as a correct record “

Moved by Councillor Patel, seconded by Councillor Dempster and carried:-

45.       “That membership of Cabinet and Regulatory Committees be as follows:

(i)         the Leader of the Council, Chair of the Cabinet, and Cabinet Member for Strategy, Finance, Communications & Property be Councillor Veejay Patel;

(ii)        the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children & Schools  be Councillor Vi Dempster;

(iii)              the other Membership of the Cabinet be:-

            Councillor Naylor            Health & Community Safety

            Councillor Wann,            Culture & Leisure

            Councillor Russell            Environment & Sustainability

            Councillor Westley            Housing

            Councillor Palmer            Adults

            Councillor Osman            Regeneration & Transport

            Councillor Dawood            Community Cohesion & Human Resources

            Councillor Bhatti,             Front Line Service Improvement and                                                                  Neighbourhoods;

(iv)       that Councillor Potter be Chair Planning & Development Control and

            Councillor Mayat be Vice Chair, Planning & Development Control;

(v)        resulting changes to membership be allocated in consultation with the Group Whip;

(vi)       all other positions to remain unchanged”.

Moved by Councillor Potter, seconded by Councillor Thomas and carried :-

46.       “that changes to Vice-Chairs of Scrutiny be made as follows:-

(i)             Councillor Senior             Vice-Chair Children & Young People Scrutiny

Councillor Bhavsar            Vice Chair Overview & Scrutiny Management

                        Board

Councillor Desai Vice Chair Performance & Value For Money Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Mrs Sood             Vice Chair Health Scrutiny Committee

(ii)        that the position of Deputy Task Group Leader for Adults and Housing be re-established;

(iii)       that Task Group Leaders and Deputy Task Group Leaders be appointed as follows:-

Councillor Newcombe      Regeneration & Transport

Councillor Clair                        Culture & Leisure

Councillor Aqbany                        Adults & Housing

Councillor Joshi                Environment & Sustainability

Councillor BajajCommunity Cohesion & Community Safety

Councillor Hunt                        Regeneration & Transport (Deputy)

Councillor M Sood                Culture & Leisure (Deputy)

Councillor Kitterick                      Adults & Housing (Deputy)

Councillor Shelton                      Environment & Sustainability (Deputy)

Councillor GloverCommunity Cohesion & Community Safety (Deputy);

(iv)            that Councillor Chowdhury be appointed Vice Chair Audit;

(v)            All other positions to remain unchanged”.

-            Presented by Councillors

-            Presented by Members of the Public

PETITIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

Councillor Allen presented a petition with 90 signatures in the following terms:-

“We the undersigned electors of the City of Leicester request that the Council reconsider the plan to close the Central Lending Library situated in Belvoir Street, Leicester because it maintains that to do so will be a financial saving and further that it is in its view more convenient for the Library to be contained on a more compact site along with other Council provided amenities and further to alter the use of the building to one of an Advice Centre.”

Councillor Shah presented a petition with 9 signatures in the following terms:-

“We the residents of Meadowsweet Road demand that Keyham Lodge School remove the unsightly mobile classroom illegally placed by our homes immediately.  It is a visual monstrosity, which has already caused great distress to the residents through vandalism and the invasion of our privacy.  There will be more distress caused through noise when lessons begin and the devaluation of our properties when residents want to sell.”

Councillor Shah presented a petition with 84 signatures in the following terms:-

“We the undersigned object very strongly to the recent unauthorised change of use of the Car Park at Humberstone Constitutional Club, 155 Humberstone Drive, LE5 0RF, which is part of the Old Humberstone Conservation Area.  Since 6th February 2010 the site has been used by a scaffolding company, with all the associated (daily) noise and heavy lorry movement, in what has always been a very peaceful area.  We appeal to Leicester City Council to act immediately to bring an end to this nuisance”.

PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

- None -

Moved by the Lord Mayor, seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor and carried:-

47.              “That the aforementioned petitions be referred to the Monitoring Officer for consideration and action as appropriate.”

-           From Members of the Public

-           From Councillors

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

Mr Scott Kennedy-Lount: Good evening my Lord Mayor, good evening Council.  Can the Cabinet Lead for Regeneration offer latest information concerning the developments for the Invincible public house on Sturdy Road?

Councillor Osman: Thank you my Lord Mayor, can I thank Mr Scott Kennedy-Lount for that question and can I just reiterate that the Council is committed to the redevelopment of The Exchange and municipal sites? in partnership with the owners of the Invincible site.  The redevelopment would see the demolition of the Invincible and the provision of new shopping centres on that site and this would allow the Exchange to be demolished and a great range of housing to be built in its place.  This is a scheme which local people supported in public consultation events earlier this year and I know Councillor Rory Palmer and others have been actively involved and we are committed to that as a Labour Group.

Mr Scott Kennedy-Lount: Thank you Lord Mayor, thank you Councillor.  You have mentioned that it is still proposed to demolish the site and incorporate it within the Exchange Shopping Centre for the new development. There has been no news other than what was stated in the Leicester Mercury in December of last year that news would be coming later within the Spring.  Is there still a timescale in the pipeline for residents to be happier with dates, so the development can move on a lot quicker?

Councillor Osman: Yes I can give reassurances that the delay was due to the global recession we were having nationally and internationally, but things are on track and in terms of consultation we have had 90% of the residents who have supported the scheme and I can reassure Mr Scott Kennedy-Lount that this will go ahead this year.

Mr Scott Kennedy-Lount: Can the Cabinet Lead for Libraries advise why only Freemen residents were consulted regarding plans for the Pork Pie Library when the ward boundary places the library in Eyres Monsell ward?

Councillor Bhatti: Thank you my Lord Mayor.  I would like to answer both questions together, both 7.2 and 7.3, they are related.

Mr Scott Kennedy-Lount: Before we continue Sir, I’d like to withdraw question 3 if that is possible my Lord Mayor?

Councillor Bhatti: That’s fine.  It was explained in the response to the previous council questions on this subject, that was made at the January Council meeting, that a full public consultation including issues around the future role of Southfields Library was to have taken place once the project had brought just beyond the initial stage.  It would have been, at this point, that the people of both Eyres Monsell and the Freemen Ward would have been fully consulted.  I should point out that the residents of Eyres Monsell were consulted by Councillor Palmer and the matter was raised at both the Freemen and Eyres Monsell Ward Community meetings.  The project however has not progressed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.1            Transfer of Statutory Responsibility of the Social Work Function from Leicestershire and Rutland to Leicester City

8.2            Extension to Street Drinking Ban in Leicester

8.3            Review of Corporate Capital Programme 2010/11

8.4       Local Area Agreement Annual Refresh 2009/10

8.5            Corporate Parenting Annual Report

8.6       State of the City Report 2009

8.7            Leicester City Council’s Corporate Plan 2010/11 – 2012/13

8.1            TRANSFER OF STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SOCIAL WORK FUNCTION FROM LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND TO LEICESTER CITY

At its meeting on 15 February 2010 Cabinet considered a report which sought approval for the transfer of Statutory Responsibility of the Social Work function from Leicestershire and Rutland to Leicester City in respect of the ‘Emergency Duty Social Work’ service.  Council was asked to approve the resolution of Cabinet.

The report to Cabinet and resolution of Cabinet had been circulated.  

Moved by Councillor Dempster, seconded by Councillor Corrall and carried:-

47.       “That Council note and approve the resolution of Cabinet taken at its meeting on 15 February 2010 set out below, in relation to the Transfer of Statutory Responsibility of the Social Work function from Leicestershire and Rutland to Leicester City in respect of the ‘Emergency Duty Social Work’ service.

That Cabinet:

1)                 approves the Transfer of Statutory Responsibility of the Social Work Function from Leicestershire and Rutland in respect of the Emergency Social Work Service;

2)                 notes and agrees that this takes effect upon the transfer of County Social Work staff to Leicester City and the agreement to and signing of a Service Level Agreement between all parties governing the form and function of the service, governance arrangements and legal and financial issues.”

8.2            EXTENSION TO THE STREET DRINKING BAN IN LEICESTER

At its meeting on 8 March 2010 Cabinet considered a report that sought approval for the inclusion of additional streets within the current Street Drinking Ban.  Council was asked to agree to include all areas as detailed below in an amended Street Drinking Ban as provisioned for under section13 (3) b in the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

The report to Cabinet and resolution of Cabinet had been circulated. 

Moved by Councillor Naylor, seconded by Councillor Bajaj and carried:-   

48.       “That Council approve the inclusion of the areas detailed below in an amended Street Drinking Ban as provisioned for under section13 (3) b in the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

·         Cottesmore Road up to junction with Fernie Road

·         Quorn Road up to junction with Fernie Road

·         Uppingham Road from 1 Uppingham Road to junction with Oakley Road

·         Nelson Street

·         Upper Nelson Street

·         Regent Street

·         Slate Street

·         Leicester Train Station

·         Overton Road”

8.3  REVIEW OF CORPORATE CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2010/11

Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest Councillor Senior left the Chamber for the duration of this item. 

At its meeting on 8 March 2010 Cabinet considered a report that presented a “Corporate” Capital Programme for 2010/11. Council was asked to approve the recommendations of Cabinet.

A copy of the report had been circulated with the resolution of Cabinet.

Moved by Councillor Patel, seconded by Councillor Chowdhury:-

49.       “That Council approve the recommendations of Cabinet, taken at its meeting on 8 March 2010 Cabinet in respect of the Corporate Capital Programme for 2010/11 as set out below:-

That Cabinet: 

1)                 recommends to Council:

a)that the schemes identified in Appendix A, as described in paragraph 5 be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.1       Code of Practice for Member Involvement in Licensing Matters

9.1       CODE OF PRACTICE FOR MEMBER INVOLVEMENT IN LICENSING DECISIONS

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report enabling the necessary approvals to be given for a Code of Practice for Member involvement in licensing matters.

Council was recommended; to approve the Code of Practice and confirm that it will come into effect once approved by Council; and to delegate authority to the Director, Legal Services, in consultation with the Director, Environmental Services and in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee, to make any further amendments to the Code, should this be required in consequence of Council deliberations and any future changes to the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Moved by Councillor Russell, seconded by Councillor Thomas and carried:-

54.       That Council:-

a) approve the Code of Practice for Member Involvement in Licensing Decisions;

b)  confirm that it will come into effect once approved by  Council;

c)       delegate authority to the Director, Legal Services, in  consultation with the Director, Environmental Services and in consultation with the Chair and members of the Licensing Committee, to make any further amendments to the Code, should this be required in consequence of Council deliberations and any future changes to the Members’ Code of Conduct”.

- None -

- None -

Before the Lord Mayor closed the Meeting Councillor Patel noted that this was the final meeting prior to Annual Council and took the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution that the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress had made in the City over the last year.