Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor gave details of the MP6 annual political speaking competition open to all city schools which aimed  to provide a platform for young people and their political concerns, in front of key decision makers.  The Lord Mayor explained that MP6 was more than a competition and was an initiative with the goal of engaging a curiosity in world affairs, a thirst for political literacy and the knowledge and understanding to communicate in an increasingly globalised landscape.

The Lord Mayor was delighted to announce that this year’s competition had been won by Isaac Saunders, from English Martyrs School, speaking on the subject “UKIP; Good or Bad?” with second place taken by Rebecca Stone from Hamilton Community College, speaking on “British values”.  The Lord Mayor noted that he was particularly pleased to announce the winners as he had attended one of the first of the competitions at Hamilton some years previously.

The Lord Mayor invited Isaac and Rebecca to read out their winning speeches.

The Lord Mayor thanked Isaac and Rebecca on behalf of Council and congratulated them and all those who had taken part before presenting the prizes.

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

Councillor R Patel and Councillor Potter each declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Councillors’ Question 31 under agenda item 5. “Questions”, as they both represented the Humberstone and Hamilton Ward, in which the Netherhall Luncheon Club operated.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, this interest was not considered so significant that it was likely to prejudice the Councillor’s judgement of the public interest and so were not required to withdraw from the meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 19 June 2014 are available to view at http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk:8071/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=6366&Ver=4.  Copies are also available from Democratic Support on 0116 454 6352 / committees@leicester.gov.uk.

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

14.       That the minutes of the Meeting of Council held on 19 June 2014, a copy having been sent to each Member of the Council, be taken as read and that they be approved as a correct record.

PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

None received.

PETITIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

Councillor Willmott presented a petition with 236 signatures in the following terms:

“Yog Sandesh Health Magazine, which cost 3 pence a day to library department, was removed by library department from Belgrave Library. The members of Rushey Fields Residence Association and residence of Leicester would like to request Leicester City Council to have the above named magazine in Leicester libraries in English, Gujrati and Hindi.”

Councillor Waddington presented a petition with 36 signatures in the following terms:

“This is a petition to get the rocks removed from the play area in the Rally Park as they are getting very dangerous.”

Councillor Meghani presented a petition with 12 signatures in the following terms:

“Residents of Blakesley Walk in Beaumont Leys are petitioning to request that a small fence on Council-owned land is fixed, and that the area surrounding the broken fence which has unfortunately been used to dump rubbish, is properly tidied up. Local residents have tried to get help from Council officers already but have only received excuses and unhelpful replies. We have therefore approached our local Councillors, who in addition to assisting us present this petition, have also taken and submitted photographs clearly showing the extent of the problem. The area in question is located between two sets of garages in the final cul-de-sac on the left of Shottens Close, off Great Meadow Road. We would very much appreciate it if Council officers took this seriously and worked promptly to resolve the matter."

The Lord Mayor stated that under Council Procedure Rule 13a the aforementioned petitions would be referred to the Monitoring Officer for consideration and action as appropriate.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

Lord Mayor:  Questions from members of the public.  Mr. Mark Garthorpe

Mr. Garthorpe:  Shall I read my question out now, straight out?

Lord Mayor:  Carry on straight into it.

Mr. Garthorpe: OK. My question is or my comments/question – Wordsworth House, a former hostel used and funded by Leicester City Council has, through the removal from Council services, essentially been banned from housing Council homeless clients due to unworkable preconditions and commissioning.  Bureaucratic ramifications of this have led to no-one wanting to be temporarily housed there as they would be considered to be adequately housed and would get no further support.  Why has this been done at a time when homelessness is increasing, putting vulnerable lives at risk?

Lord Mayor:  Councillor Connelly to respond.

Councillor Connelly:  Thank you my Lord Mayor.  As Councillors will be aware last year the Council reviewed our homelessness strategy which the previous strategy, whilst was good was simply not good enough.  Clearly as an authority we were spending significant amounts of money in respect of providing hostel beds, and for many people that was the sign of whether, as an authority, we were looking after the homeless.  The reality was that we were significantly failing to prevent people from becoming homeless, we were not directing our resources to prevent people from becoming homeless, and then when they did become homeless we were not providing them with the support to get back into settled accommodation.  So following extensive consultation, both with councillors, Housing and Scrutiny Commission and with the voluntary sector, we introduced a new homelessness strategy which I am pleased to say appears to be working.  In respect of homelessness those who have come to us who were possibly going to be homeless we have increased that from 72 cases to 83% this year so that people will be prevented from becoming homeless.  In respect of those who do become homeless we have been able to accommodate them. We have 131 bed spaces provided by ourselves, by the Council at either the Dawn Centre and at Border House and we commissioned 130 bed spaces in the voluntary sector.  The reality is there are no unworkable preconditions because the voluntary sector went out to tender, the voluntary sector tendered for that and were successful.  The present positon is that at the moment is that we have seen no increase in homelessness.  In respect of rough sleeping we have reduced that down to an average of 9 and where we identify anybody sleeping rough through the no second night out project we do look to get them rehoused as quickly as possible.  So in respect of that, as an authority, I believe we have taken the right decision about the new homelessness strategy.  I understand the position of Wordsworth House but the other voluntary sector groups did tender because they were of the view that there were no unworkable preconditions.  If there were unworkable preconditions none of them would have tendered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

6.1 Scrutiny Annual Report 2013/14

Scrutiny Annual Report 2013/14

Councillor Dawood chair of Overview Scrutiny Committee presented the Scrutiny Annual Report for 2013-2014 which contained details of the work of the Committee and Scrutiny Commissions during the year. 

Moved by Councillor Dawood, seconded by Councillor Singh and carried:-

15.       That Council formally notes and endorses the work of scrutiny in 2013/2014.

7.1 Revision to the Constitution of Leicester City Council.

Review of the Constitution for Leicester City Council

The Monitoring Officer and the Director of Communications, Delivery and Political Governance submitted a report which gave details of suggested amendments to the Constitution reflecting on going work to monitor and review the Constitution and reflect changes arising from Government Regulations. 

Moved by Councillor Clayton, seconded by the City Mayor and carried:-

16.       To agree the changes to the Constitution in line with the Schedule included in the Council report with:

i.              The exception of the deletion of the suggested change to Council Procedure Rule 14a (X).

ii.             The addition of the following text to Part 5 Codes and Protocols – Political Conventions, Part B, Section 27 ‘Chairs of Scrutiny Commissions may hold agenda planning meetings approximately two weeks before full scrutiny commission meetings, at which draft agendas and reports should be presented by an appropriate officer wherever possible, who may be the lead officer for the Commission.

To vary the composition and fill any vacancies of the Executive and any Committee of the Council.

None

None

None

The meeting closed at 9.42pm.