Agenda and minutes

Prayers

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

Former Councillor Bhatti

The Lord Mayor informed Council with deep regret of the death of former Councillor Culdipp Singh Bhatti who passed away on 1 January 2016, at the age of 80 years. Councillor Bhatti was a former Lord Mayor and represented the Rushey Mead Ward from 1983 when he was first elected until 2015 when he stood down.  Councillor Bhatti’s service on the Council included a period as Deputy Leader Council leader and he was awarded an MBE in June 2005 for his services to children in Leicester.

The Council observed a minutes silence to remember the life and contribution of Culdipp Singh Bhatti to the City and the Council.

New Years Honours List – Adrian Wills

The Lord Mayor was delighted to announce that the Council’s Head of Neighbourhood Services, Adrian Wills, had been awarded an MBE for his contribution to Neighbourhood Services.  The Lord Mayor congratulated Adrian on behalf of the Council.

Institute For Risk Management Global Risk Award Shortlisting

The Lord Mayor congratulated Tony Edeson, the Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management and Sonal Devani, Risk Management Manager on being shortlisted for The Institute for Risk Management, Global Risk Award in the category ‘Excellence in the face of Adversity’.  Their submission outlined the work done over the past 4-5 years in improving resilience through much improved business continuity management and the Lord Mayor wished them all the best for the awards which would take place at London’s Hilton Hotel in April 2016.

Fire & Emergency Evacuation Procedure

The Lord Mayor asked all present to note the evacuation procedures detailed on the Agenda for the meeting and asked anyone with any queries to speak to one of the Town Hall staff who will be able to assist.

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

Councillor Chowdhury declared an Other Disclosable Interest in item 10 on the agenda Notices of Motion as he worked for a voluntary organisation that received European Union funding. 

Councillor Porter declared an Other Disclosable Interest in item 5.1 on the agenda ‘Petitions to be debated’ as he had signed the petition referred to.

Councillor Corrall declared an Other Disclosable Interest in item 5.1 on the agenda ‘Petitions to be debated’ as a former member of the Combined Fire Authority.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26^th November 2015 are available to view at:

http://cabinet.lcc.local/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=7048&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:

23.       That the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 26 November 2015, copies having been circulated to each Member of the Council, be taken as read and that they be approved as a correct record.

None.

-           Presented by Members of the Public

-           Presented by Councillors

-           Petitions to be debated

            5.1  Petition to reject the Proposal to Close the Central Fire Station and             Sell the Building.

PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

None.

PETITIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

Councillor Bajaj presented a petition with 39 signatures in the following terms:

“People of the local community would like to vote for a sitting bench, to be situated next to the bus stop outside of the Evington Leisure Centre, Downing Drive, Leicester LE5 6LP.  This is to accommodate for the large elderly community which struggles to make the bus on time due to traffic speed.”

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. 

PETITIONS TO BE DEBATED

The Monitoring Officer noted that under the terms of the Council’s Petitions Scheme the petitioner had been invited to speak on their petition for a maximum of five minutes.  This would be followed by a debate on the issues raised by the petition for a maximum of 15 minutes.

The Lord Mayor noted that under Council Procedure Rule 43 he had decided to allow a further 10 minutes for the item giving 30 minutes in total.

Mr Duncan Rees presented the petition in the following terms:

“Please sign this petition to reject the proposal to close Central Fire Station and sell the building: Say no to cuts which affect frontline services and demand that elected members of the Combined Fire Authority and City Mayor Peter Soulsby reject all of these proposals and insist Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service explore alternative ways to save money”.

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

24.       That Council is asked to note the concerns raised by the petitioners and ask its representatives on the Fire Authority to take forward the concerns expressed in the petition and during the debate.

-           From Members of the Public

-           From Councillors

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

Lord Mayor:  Mr. Gater to present five questions.  Mr. Gater, your first question please.

Mr. John Gater:  Thank you.  “Does the Council agree that the crimes carried out by Greville Janner against boys and girls in the care of the local authority in the 1970’s and 1980’s are heinous?”

Lord Mayor:  City Mayor.

City Mayor:  My Lord Mayor I am sure I speak for all Members of the Council to say that the allegations are of crimes that are indeed heinous.  They are very serious indeed and some of the stories from the victims have been very harrowing and deeply moved all those who met them.  I think they are ones that raise very significant questions for those involved at the time but they also involve questions that we in this generation must apply to the organisations and institutions of today and make sure that what is alleged to have happened during that period can never happen in  this generation.

Lord Mayor:  Mr. Gater, any supplementary question?

Mr. Gater:   Not on that no thank you. 

Lord Mayor:  OK.  Would you like to move to your second question please.

Mr Gater:   “Now he has died, does the Council agree a full and proper Inquiry is conducted about the role of Leicestershire Police and the CPS in regard to Greville Janner’s crimes?”

Lord Mayor:  City Mayor.

City Mayor:  My Lord Mayor I have said on a number of occasions and I know other members share this view that the victims of the alleged perpetrator have been denied the opportunity to  be heard and were denied at the time the opportunity to have what they were saying taken with the seriousness that it deserves.  I am reassured that the Goddard Inquiry has said that the alleged victims will be listened to and have said that the role of the various organisations, some of which Mr. Gater has mentioned in his question, will be reviewed.  I very much hope that that will indeed be the case, I am told that the victims of the alleged crimes will want to try and make sure it is, but I also know the media both locally and nationally and us at a local level and politicians nationally will want to do their best to make sure that the answers are given and the institutions involved are actually held to account.

Lord Mayor:  Thank you City Mayor.  Mr. Gater, have you got a supplementary question?

Mr. Gater:  There is a supplementary question.  On Tuesday the Henriques Report into the conduct of the CPS was published and there has now been a ping pong match between the CPS and Leicestershire Police because Leicestershire Police are saying they were never consulted in that report and the CPS are blaming the Leicestershire Police, and Leicestershire Police are blaming the CPS.  Nobody is taking overall responsibility for the failure to prosecute Janner.

Lord Mayor:  Is there a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

7.1  Treasury Strategy 2016/17

Treasury Strategy 2016/17

A report of the Director of Finance was considered which proposed a strategy for the Council’s borrowing and investments during 2016/17.

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

25.       That Council approves the Treasury Strategy, and the authorised borrowing limit set out in paragraph 6.3 of the report.  Other than limits which apply specifically to 2016/17, the Council is asked to give this strategy immediate effect.

8.1  Standards Committee Annual Report

8.1                               Annual Report of Standards Committee – July 2013 – June 2015 – Analysis of Cases Referred

A report on the casework undertaken by the Committee in the period work of the committee and casework undertaken in the July 2013 – June 2015 was considered.

Moved by Councillor Shelton, seconded by Councillor Sood and carried:-

26.       That Council notes the report.

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

None.

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

Leicester City Council and the UK’s Membership of the European Union

Over half of Britain’s exports go to EU countries, worth £227 billion last year to the UK economy.  UK businesses large and small are dependent on trade with the EU.  Major employers from across the world choose to locate in Britain and in the East Midlands because we are a gateway into the European Union, supporting many thousands of jobs. 

EU Membership has given vital rights to British workers and the EU’s rules provide important protection to consumers, workers and the environment.  Rights to equal pay, paid holidays, maternity and paternity leave, equal rights for part-time workers and health and safety regulations are protected under EU law.

There are direct benefits to Leicester’s communities of EU membership including EU funding which supports economic growth and regeneration across the city; for example the £89m indicative allocation of EU funds to support economic and social programmes across the Leicester and Leicestershire LEP area 2014/20 and the £24m that has supported regeneration and economic development initiatives since 2011.

We have seen significant progress in recent years in attracting major employers and jobs to Leicester.  Britain leaving the EU would seriously undermine those efforts and weaken our ability to attract investment and jobs to Leicester.

The EU is not perfect and there is a strong case for reform. Leicester City Council believes that EU reform should make the EU better for the UK and that means remaining a member to lead that reform, not being a spectator on the sidelines.

Leicester City Council believes it is in the best interests of residents, business and the whole city of Leicester for the UK to remain a member of the European Union.  

Proposed by the Deputy City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Russell and carried::

27.       Leicester City Council and the UK’s Membership of the European Union

Over half of Britain’s exports go to EU countries, worth £227 billion last year to the UK economy. UK businesses large and small are dependent on trade with the EU. Major employers from across the world choose to locate in Britain and in the East Midlands because we are a gateway into the European Union, supporting many thousands of jobs.

EU Membership has given vital rights to British workers and the EU’s rules provide important protection to consumers, workers and the environment. Rights to equal pay, paid holidays, maternity and paternity leave, equal rights for part-time workers and health and safety regulations are protected under EU law.

There are direct benefits to Leicester’s communities of EU membership including EU funding which supports economic growth and regeneration across the city; for example the £89m indicative allocation of EU funds to support economic and social programmes across the Leicester and Leicestershire LEP area 2014/20 and the £24m that has supported regeneration and economic development initiatives since 2011.

We have seen significant progress in recent years in attracting major employers and jobs to Leicester. Britain leaving the EU would seriously undermine those efforts and weaken our ability to attract investment and jobs to Leicester.

The EU is not perfect and there is a strong case for reform. Leicester City Council believes that EU reform should make the EU better for the UK and that means remaining a member to lead that reform, not being a spectator on the sidelines.

Leicester City Council believes it is in the best interests of residents, business and the whole city of Leicester for the UK to remain a member of the European Union.

None.

Close of Meeting

The Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 7.30pm.