Agenda and minutes

Prayers

Before the meeting formally commenced the Lord Mayor asked his chaplainthe Revd Alison Adams to say an appropriate prayer.

Statements

In the light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s recent announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review to 2020 the City Mayor gave a brief statement regarding the settlement and the anticipated significant impacts and pressures on Council services once the detailed figures were made available in mid-December.

Councillor Waddington informed Council of recent Government funding reductions for English courses for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and highlighted the impacts on Council services and cultural integration in addition to the impacts on economic independence and social isolation of the individuals affected.  Councillor Waddington noted that the Council would be urging the government to reverse the funding changes.

Oral health promotion service

The Lord Mayor noted that Leicester had high levels of tooth decay in pre-school children and that to address this the Oral Health Promotion Partnership Programme had been established by the Council in 2013 with the aim of supporting coordinated activity across Leicester City to improve oral health, reduce oral health inequalities and lay solid foundations for good oral health throughout life.

As a result of its work the Oral Health Promotion Partnership Programme had been awarded a 2 year Health and Wellbeing Award for its planned and comprehensive programme of oral health improvement for children.

The Lord Mayor welcomed:

Dr Jasmine Murphy – Consultant in Public Health

Paul Akroyd – Project Manager (Public Health)

Sarah Brown - Oral Health Promoter

Michelle Hall – Oral Health Promoter (on maternity leave)

Laura Watkins – Oral Health Promoter

to receive the award.

Food for life awards

The Lord Mayor gave details of Leicester’s Food Plan which was part of a long term programme to make Leicester a healthy and sustainable food city.  The Lord Mayor was therefore delighted to announce that the Soil Association Food for Life Bronze award had been won by Overdale Junior School and that the Soil Association Food for Life Bronze Catering Mark Award had been won by Leicester City Council’s in house catering service.

The Lord Mayor invite Karen Cooper, Juliet Hart, Isaac Ford, Charlie Ball, Samuel Hall, Jamie Shears and Gurleen Johal from Overdale Junior School and Jane Faulks, Head of Leicester City Council’s Catering Service to receive the awards.

Lord Mayor additionally invited Councillor Osman to pay tribute to the work done by the school and the catering service.

GNG football club award

The Lord Mayor informed Council that the GNG Football Club from Leicester had recently been awarded the Club of the Year National Award at the third Asian Football Awards.  GNG had been active in the city for the last fifty years with the club recently involved in developing its own clubhouse, facilities and pitches at Riverside and Aylestone Playing Fields with the support of the Football Foundation, Leicester City Council and Leicester Health Trust. 

Accordingly the Lord Mayor invited Dr Charnpreet Singh Johal, Parmjit Singh Ryat, Surinder  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

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

Councillor Aldred declared an Other Disclosable Interests in relation to questions 2-4 as a family member worked for the Fire Authority.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8^th October 2015 are available to view at:

http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk:8071/documents/g6901/Printed%20minutes%20Thursday%2008-Oct-2015%2017.00%20Council.pdf?T=1

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:

16.       That the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 8 October 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 Patel presented a petition with 573 signatures in the following terms:

“The members of Rushey Fields Residents Association & residents would like to request you to install CCTV cameras in Rushey Fields Park and at the junction of Gipsy Lane and Harrison Road for the safety of park users, pupils of Rushey Mead High School, Soar Valley College, Rushey Mead Primary School and St Patrick’s Primary School, as well as devotees of Guru Ravidas, Sai Krupa Temple and Shakti Mandir, Harrison Road, Dashmesh Gurdwara, Gipsy Lane and for the safety of residents.”

Councillor Rae Bhatia presented a petition with 30 signatures in the following terms:

“We the undersigned request the Council to carry out the urgent remodelling and re-surfacing (not repairs) of the carriageway between Darlington Road and the Heathley Park traffic lights (Westbound) of the carriageway.”

Councillor Porter presented a petition with 682 signatures in the following terms:

“We the undersigned call on the Council to listen to local people and remove 24/7 bus lanes on Lutterworth Road and Aylestone Road or amend the bus lane restrictions to Monday – Friday at peak periods only.”

Councillor Porter presented a petition with 88 signatures in the following terms:

“We the undersigned call on the Council to install bollards to stop Marsden Lane and Sanvey Lane being used as rat-runs. Motorists attempting to bypass traffic on Middleton Street and Lutterworth Road use these roads as a cut through.  We’re exceedingly concerned about pedestrian safety and dangerous driving.  We respectfully request that the council listen to us and work with residents in order that bollards can be installed as quickly as possible.”

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 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

Lord Mayor:  This next item is questions from the public.  Mrs. Flude to present four questions on behalf of Mr. David Hartshorne.  Mrs. Flude your first question please.

Mrs. Flude:   How important does the City Mayor think it is that our road network is free flowing in order to allow the City to be safe, competitive and an attractive location to live, work and socialise?

Lord Mayor:  Thank you.  City Mayor.

City Mayor:   Thank you my Lord Mayor.  My Lord Mayor I was not surprised to discover that Mrs. Flude was going to be the person to actually ask these questions.  Her virtually single handed campaign against almost every improvement in the City Centre has become legendary, despite of course the complete absence of any public support.  I think that I recall her having opposed Jubilee Square, the improvements in Newarke Street, the Guildhall Lane improvements and even the very significant improvements outside of her own business.  I think my Lord Mayor it is interesting to note that the author of these questions who perhaps also has on occasions joined Mrs. Flude in her campaign has substantially appreciated, apparently, the improvements that have taken place in and around the area where her business exists in that I understand that he has a recently put in an application for a payment licence which will enable him to take advantage of that area, a licence we have been very pleased to grant. 

Lord Mayor:  Mrs Flude have you got a supplementary question?

Mrs. Flude:  I have but he did not actually answer my question. 

Lord Mayor:  Would you like to raise a supplementary question.

Mrs. Flude:  OK.  Department for Transport congestion figures show that our journey times are taking on average 5% longer than it did in 2011 when you started to trim the capacity for cars on our highways, and I wonder what impact that is having on air quality in the City Centre.

City Mayor:    Thank you Mrs. Flude.  City Mayor.

City Mayor:  My Lord Mayor I think that it is undoubtedly the case that those who commute into the City Centre make a significant contribution to the air quality in the City and we have encouraged as far as we can a change of mode of transport such that air quality can be improved hence of course the encouragement of public transport in general and the improvement of the availability of cycle ways in the City Centre.  I understand from today’s Guardian that Mrs. Flude herself travels in in a van every morning, some 23 miles the Guardian tells me.  I would suggest that she might consider herself altering the mode of transport and thereby contributing to the quality of air in the City.

Lord Mayor:  Mrs. Flude have you a supplementary question?

Mrs. Flude:  I’ve asked my supplementary question. 

Lord Mayor:  Thank you.  Would you like to ask your next question please?

Mrs Flude:   OK.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

6.1       Healthier Air for Leicester:  Leicester’s Air Quality Action Plan 2015-           2026

6.2       Leicester and Leicestershire Combined Authority

6.3       Review of Statement of Licensing Policy

6.4       Gambling Policy

6.5       Minimum Revenue Provision

Colour copies of graphs from items 6.1 & 6.2 have been provided for Councillors. 

If you require any of these documents in colour please email committees@leicester.gov.uk, or phone (0116) 454 6352.

Healthier Air for Leicester:  Leicester’s Air Quality Action Plan 2015-2026

Details were given of the proposed Air Quality Action Plan for the City for 2015 – 2026 which had been developed following consultation with key stakeholders and in compliance with statutory guidance and set out ambitions and actions under 4 key themes.

Moved by Councillor Clarke, seconded by Councillor Osman and carried:-

17.       That Council adopts the Healthier Air for Leicester:  Leicester’s Air Quality Action Plan 2015-2026.

Leicester and Leicestershire Combined Authority

A report of the Strategic Director for City Development, Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Culture was considered which sought approval to submit a proposal to establish a combined authority for Leicester and Leicestershire to the Department for Communities and Local Government.  The considerations of the Economic Development, Transport and Tourism Scrutiny Commission were received and it was noted that the report was being considered by the nine Councils across Leicester and Leicestershire during November and December.

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

18.       That Council:

1. Approve the Scheme for the Combined Authority;
2. Approve the Governance Review;
3. Authorise the publication of the Scheme and its submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG);
4. Authorise the Chief Operating Officer, following consultation with the City Mayor, to make any final amendments to the Scheme and Governance Review prior to their submission to the DCLG in December or January 2016;
5. Authorise the Chief Operating Officer, following consultation with the City Mayor, to enter into discussions with the DCLG and such other Government departments and other persons as are considered necessary by the Chief Operating Officer to agree the terms of the Order establishing the Combined Authority and to approve the final form of the Order on behalf of the City Council; and
6. Authorise the Chief Operating Officer, following consultation with the City Mayor:

i)      to negotiate, agree and execute all ancillary documents in support of the operation of the Combined Authority, including (without limitation) the constitution of the Combined Authority;  and

ii)    to take all decisions and actions necessary to enable the establishment of the Combined Authority.

Review of Statement of Licensing Policy

A report of the Director of Local Services and Enforcement was considered which sought approval to a Licensing Act Policy concerning the sale or supply of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late nigh refreshment for 2016 – 2021.

Moved by Councillor Waddington, seconded by the Councillor Thomas and carried.

19.       That Council approves the revised policy as shown in Appendix A of the report.

Gambling Policy

A report of the Director of Local Services and Enforcement was considered which sought approval to a Gambling concerning the Council’s responsibilities under the Gambling Act 2005 for 2016 – 2019.

Councillor Waddington, seconded by the Councillor Thomas to move:-

20.       That Council approve the revised policy as shown in Appendix A of the report.

Minimum Revenue Provision

A report of the Director of Finance was considered which sought approval to a revised policy to apply from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

7.1       Annual Report of the Audit & Risk Committee to Council for the       Municipal Year 2014-2015

Annual Report of the Audit and Risk Committee to Council for the Municipal Year 2014-2015

Councillor Patel, Chair of the Audit Committee submitted a report on the work of the Audit Committee during the municipal year 2014-15

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

22.       That Council receives the report.

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

None.

None.

The Lord Mayor noted the success of the recent Christmas lights switch on and that this was the last meeting of the calendar year and so wished all present a happy and peaceful Christmas and declared the meeting closed at 6.52pm.