Agenda and minutes

MARK GROUP

In the light of the recently reported issues regarding the Mark Group the Lord Mayor asked the City Mayor to make a brief statement to Council.

The City Mayor reported with regret that the Mark Group which had a national and international reputation and an excellent record of high quality training and apprenticeships had gone into administration and noted that in response to the news the Council was working with partners including Job Centre Plus and through the Apprentice Hub to seek to find alternatives for the many staff and apprentices.  The City Mayor also noted the impact of the change in government policy on the Mark Group and the support the local MP Liz Kendle was giving in raising the matter in Parliament and that he would also be writing to government to make them aware of the negative impacts of the decisions on efforts to combat climate change and on many people in Leicester.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

The Lord Mayor noted that he had written to Her Majesty the Queen congratulating her on becoming the longest serving monarch on 9 September 2015 and noting the honour the City felt to be the first place visited on the Diamond Jubilee Tour in 2012.  The Lord Mayor read out the letter sent and the reply received from Her Majesty’s Chief Clerk in which the Queens pleasure in being reminded of her visit to the City was noted together with her thanks for the kind thoughts and best wishes to the Lord Mayor and all concerned.

HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT

In advance of Remembrance Sunday next month the Lord Mayor reminded Members of the centenary of the Battle of Hohenzollern Redoubt in the First World with October 13, 1915, the bloodiest day of the War for local soldiers.  Over the course of a few hours 3,700 men from the 46^th (North Midland) Division were killed or wounded with by the end of the day every officer from the 4^th and 5^th Battalion Leicesters killed or wounded.

The Lord Mayor noted that Flags would be flown at half-mast at Leicester Town Hall, City Hall and at Newarke Houses Museum.  Leicester Cathedral, County Hall and Rutland County Council's offices will also fly flags at half-mast, with businesses across the city and county invited to do the same.

LORD MAYOR’S APPEAL

The Lord Mayor noted that his theme for the year was the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people and stated that he was supporting the two main charities working in this field, The Spark Arts for Children and Place2Be.

For over 14 years The Spark Arts for Children had been committed to offering accessible, high quality and inspirational arts experiences to children from 0-13 years from all backgrounds and their families.  The aim of the work with the charity was to inspire, build confidence, self-esteem and resilience of participating children through performance poet Joe Coelho who will work with young people to create and perform their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Councillor Shelton declared an Other Disclosable Interest in relation to item 9 on the agenda ‘Notices of Motion’ as a trade union member for 52 years.

At the request of the Lord Mayor the Monitoring Officer gave advice in relation to the declarations of interests in relation to the Notice of Motion at item 9 on the agenda and stated that as it currently stood the Motion did not propose a change to Council policy and that where Members had declared that they were trade union members on their declaration of interests no further declaration of the interest at this meeting was required unless they specifically wished to do so.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18^th June 2015 are available to view at:

http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk:8071/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=6886&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:

11.       That the minutes of the meetings of Council held on 18 June 2015, copies having been circulated to each Member of the Council, be taken as read and that they be approved as a correct record.

-           Presented by Members of the Public

-           Presented by Councillors

Councillor Waddington presented a petition with 386 signatures in the following terms:

“We, the undersigned are residents of Leicester City, and the residents of Pitchens Close and surrounding areas. We are requesting from Leicester City Council the creation of a new and safe natural play area for Castle Hill Country Park.  Unlike other parts of the City, the area of Pitchens Close / Bluegates Road is lacking any play provisions for children and young persons despite there being a large number of families within the area.

26 years ago there was a play area on the perimeter of Pitchens Close, but this was vandalised. However, nothing was ever replaced.

Castle Hill Country Park is the largest of Leicester’s Parks and at present lacks any provisions for play.  Parks have identified a potential space on the perimeter of Pitchens Close / Stoneywell Road.

The creation of the play area would greatly improve community cohesion, restore pride within the area, aiding physical and emotional wellbeing, be beneficial to local schools, inform children of nature and help to discourage street football and anti-social behaviour.

We believe children are being deprived of the freedom to enjoy natural, safe and physical play.  Please don’t deprive these children and families anymore who mainly suffer from social deprivation, unemployment, crime and poverty within the ward of Beaumont Leys.”

Councillor Bajaj presented a petition with 11 signatures in the following terms:

“We the residents of Grocot Road, Hextall Road and Blundell Road in Evington are concerned about the state of pavements which are badly cracked, broken and loose and pose a serious health and safety hazard causing trips and falls especially to the elderly, a lot walking on the road to avoid the pavements; a hazard in itself.”

Councillor Bajaj presented a petition with 58 signatures in the following terms:

“We the undersigned would like the Leicester City Council to take action regarding speeding traffic on Davenport Road. We would like to see a 20 mph speed limit imposed and speed cushions.”

Councillor Bajaj presented a petition with 19 signatures in the following terms:

“We the residents in Evington are concerned regarding where cars pull out onto ‘The Common’ from Evington Park car park.  Both pedestrians and bikers alike are having to stop abruptly to avoid collision.  Cars on ‘The Common’ are having to stop as cars pulling out of the car park don’t always stop to look.”

Councillor Porter presented a petition with 176 signatures in the following terms:

“We the undersigned do not support the City Council’s proposals to install speed humps and speed ramps on Middleton Street. We support traffic calming but object to the proposed speed humps and speed ramps.”

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

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

None.

QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

Lord Mayor:  Questions from Councillors.  The first one is Councillor Bajaj.  

Councillor Bajaj:  “What plan does the City Mayor have to keep the City roads well maintained before the winter kicks in”?

Lord Mayor:  City Mayor.  

City Mayor:  Thank you my Lord Mayor.  The highway maintenance programme is planned to protect our highway assets throughout the year but of course in particular in preparation for winter.  The programme covers over 500 miles of roads and includes patching and surface dressing, joint sealing of the footways with a slurry mix, carriageway resurfacing, white line maintenance.  So in addition to the planned maintenance work highways inspections are carried out.  We do it on a minimum of a six month cyclic basis and any defects are repaired as part of that, including because there was quite some focus on this just a few years ago, I am told some 5800 potholes in carriageways and 9165 in footways over the last 12 months.  So a very extensive programme and a particular focus on making sure we are ready for the winter ahead.

Lord Mayor:  Councillor Bajaj have you a supplementary question?

Councillor Bajaj:   No my Lord Mayor.  If I can move on to my second question.   “What actions have been taken to raise awareness of air pollution to stop it getting worse and to reduce it in Leicester”?

Lord Mayor:  Councillor Clarke.

Councillor Clarke:  Thank you my Lord Mayor.  In terms of raising awareness my Lord Mayor I am pleased that the drafting of the air quality action plan process has received a lot of media attention locally.  The draft air quality action plan will help us achieve our EU targets by 2020 and that is not just us as a local authority, that is DEFRA the government office that monitors our performance.  So improving air quality is obviously an important part of improving the health, particularly through respiratory illness, of residents of the City, and myself and Councillor Osman have been obviously working very hard to deliver an appropriate air quality action plan together.  Key actions in the plan for your information my Lord Mayor include the Connecting Leicester and Cycle Action Plan, measures to introduce a low emissions zone in the City for buses; using our planning powers particularly to encourage cycling, walking and the use of public transport.  We also have an ambitious bid going to the Office for Low Emission Vehicles which will greatly improve our electric vehicle infrastructure in the City.  Part of this bid would include an awareness raising campaign that you have talked of in your question Councillor Bajaj which will be targeted at existing and prospective low emission vehicle owners and obviously we hope that the government will look favourably on our bid because we think we deserve the investment in our City.

Lord Mayor:  Councillor Bajaj have you a supplementary question?

Councillor Bajaj:  No my Lord Mayor.

Lord Mayor:  Thank you.  Councillor Bajaj item 3.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

6.1  Independent Remuneration Panel Process

6.2  Leicester Youth Justice Plan 2015-16

6.3  Call-In – Highfields Community Association – Following the withdrawal of the call-in, this item will not be considered at the Council meeting.

Independent Remuneration Panel Process

A report of the Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance was considered which sought approval to the commencement of a review of the Council’s Scheme of Members Allowances by an independent panel as specified in legislation.

Moved by Councillor Westley, seconded by Councillor Alfonso and carried:-

12.  That Council:

1)         approve the appointment and composition of an Independent Remuneration Panel to consider Members Allowances in Leicester as detailed in the report;

2)         approve the commencement of a review of the Council’s Scheme of Members Allowances by the Independent Remuneration Panel as specified in legislation on the basis defined in the report and taking into account the current financial constraints facing the Council and;

3)         note that consideration of the report of the Panel is a matter reserved to Council and that Council in setting a Scheme of Allowances at that point will have the choice to accept in full or in part or reject the findings of the Panel;

and additionally under Council Procedure Rule 15f the further two resolutions;

4)         in order to ensure that the Panel represents the views of city residents more fully, 3 members of the public who meet the statutory conditions for membership of the panel be appointed by the Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance on the recommendation of the Chair of the Panel, following an open and formal public recruitment exercise; and

5)         notes that the additional members of the Panel will be offered expenses in line with those detailed in the report and that the timescale for the delivery of the report to Council is likely to require amendment.

Leicester Youth Justice Plan 2015-16

A report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services was considered which gave details of the annual Youth Justice Plan for Leicester which had been developed following consultation with partners.

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

13.  That Council notes and adopts the Leicester City Youth Justice Plan for 2015/16.

Call-In of Executive Decision – Highfields Community Association

The Lord Mayor noted that this item would not now be considered following the withdrawal of the call-in.

7.1  Scrutiny Annual Report

Scrutiny Annual Report

Councillor Dawood (Chair of Overview Select Committee 2014-15) submitted a report which gave details of the work of Scrutiny during 2014-15.

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

14.       That Council notes and endorses the work of Scrutiny during 2014-15.

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

None.

Proposed by the Deputy City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Barton:

Preamble

In July 2015, the Government announced its intention to change legislation affecting trade unions including measures relating to industrial action ballots; the organisation of industrial action and trade union subscription payment arrangements (known as check off).

Motion

Leicester City Council believes:

1.    That the right to join a trade union and to participate in lawful industrial action is a fundamental right which should be respected in a free and democratic society.

2.    The Government’s proposals in the trade Union Bill will undermine constructive employment relations and that effective industrial relations are achieved by meaningful engagement and not additional legal restrictions on trade union activity.

3.    Effective workplace representation ensures access to justice and has benefits across employing organisations and that trace unions are an integral part of a modern workplace.

4.    The Government’s Trade Union Bill is a politically-motivated attack on trade unions and could have negative consequences for wider society.

Leicester City Council resolves to:

1.    Write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills stating the Council’s opposition to their Trade Union Bill and to participate in any consultations to this effect.

2.    To continue to recognise the important role played by the council’s recognised trade unions in representing their members. 

Moved by the Deputy City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Barton and carried:

15.       Preamble

In July 2015, the Government announced its intention to change legislation affecting trade unions including measures relating to industrial action ballots; the organisation of industrial action and trade union subscription payment arrangements (known as check off).

Motion

Leicester City Council believes:

1.             That the right to join a trade union and to participate in lawful industrial action is a fundamental right which should be respected in a free and democratic society.

2.             The Government’s proposals in the trade Union Bill will undermine constructive employment relations and that effective industrial relations are achieved by meaningful engagement and not additional legal restrictions on trade union activity.

3.             Effective workplace representation ensures access to justice and has benefits across employing organisations and that trade unions are an integral part of a modern workplace.

4.             The Government’s Trade Union Bill is a politically-motivated attack on trade unions and could have negative consequences for wider society.

Leicester City Council resolves to:

1.             Write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills stating the Council’s opposition to their Trade Union Bill and to participate in any consultations to this effect.

2.             To continue to recognise the important role played by the council’s recognised trade unions in representing their members. 

None.

Close of Meeting

The Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 7.47 pm.