Agenda and minutes

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

The Lord Mayor wished all the City’s Irish friends and all in the City a happy St Patrick’s Day.

The Lord Mayor welcomed Kieza Silveira De Sousa who was a former Young Mayor of Lewisham as his guest for the meeting.  The Young Mayor in Lewisham is democratically elected every year through Lewisham’s schools / colleges and serves a one year term. Kieza was elected ahead of 24 other candidates and as a Young Mayor was a spokesperson for young people’s views. In addition, Kieza gave advice to the elected Mayor on issues relating to young people and oversaw a budget, amongst other important tasks. Kieza is a Masters student at De Montfort University and runs his own design company.

The Lord Mayor was pleased to announce that the King Richard III Partnership had won a national tourism industry award for the events around the reinterment of King Richard III.  The Partnership which comprised the City and County Councils, the University of Leicester and Leicester Cathedral had been awarded the bronze medal in the Tourism Experience Category of Visit England’s Awards for Excellence 2016 for the six-day series of events.  The Lord Mayor congratulated all of those involved in the Partnership and those who helped deliver the events on this well-deserved award.

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

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

No declarations were made.

The minutes of the following meetings are available to view at:

a)     21 January 2016

http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk:8071/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=7049&Ver=4

b)     24 February 2016

http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk:8071/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=7050&x=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:

31.       That the minutes of the meetings of Council held on 21 January and 24 February 2016, copies having been circulated to each Member of the Council, be taken as read and that they be approved as a correct record.

The City Mayor reminded Members of the summary of issues and options received from the Monitoring Officer regarding a legal challenge that had been made following the approval by Council on 13th November 2014 Council of the following motion:

Preamble

Leicester is a City renowned for its tolerance, diversity, unity and its strong stance against all forms of discrimination, this position enables different communities to live together.  It is also important when there is oppression and injustices, that Leicester City Council takes up a position to support communities experiencing such inequalities and in this instance it is the plight of the Palestinian people, which is why the following resolution is being moved.

The Motion

Leicester City Council recognises the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and free from incursion, but condemns the Government of Israel for its continuing illegal occupation of Palestine’s East Jerusalem and the West Bank; for its continuing blockade of Gaza; and the illegal appropriation of land in the West Bank and settlement buildings.

The Council welcomes the decision of the United Nations on 29 November 2012 to recognise Palestine “non-member observer State”, but for the people of Palestine the suffering since 1967 continues. The Council also welcomes UK Parliament's vote on 13th October 2014 to recognise Palestinian Statehood even though the United Kingdom Government fails to do so. It is with regret we note the Government of Israel continues to ignore and breach International Law, Geneva Convention and UN Resolutions and continues with its occupation of Palestinian territories.

Therefore, Leicester City Council resolves, insofar as legal considerations allow, to boycott any produce originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank until such time as it complies with international law and withdraws from Palestinian Occupied territories. Furthermore, Leicester City Council continues its example of good community relationships by developing a sustainable city, promoting harmony and respect for all people to live in a neighbourly way.

The City Mayor noted that he had received representations from a large range of individuals both for and against the motion including Arthur Goodman of Jews for Justice for Palestinians and the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jonathon Arkush.  The City Mayor further stated that the motion had been represented by some as anti-Semitic or as a boycott of Israel which was not the case but had been an attempt to draw attention to an issue which had direct resonance in the City and was the subject of significant international debate.

The City Mayor noted that the Monitoring Officer had outlined the legal position and that costs could be as high as £200,000 in addition to the Council’s own legal costs should the court rule against the Council.  The City Mayor noted that in order to mitigate the risk the Council could choose to rescind the decision which may have the effect of encouraging the claimant to withdraw the claim or allow the Council’s legal representatives to invite the Court to treat  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

-           Presented by Members of the Public

-           Presented by Councillors

None received.

-           From Members of the Public

-           From Councillors

Lord Mayor:  The next item is questions from Councillors.  It has been agreed that the first four questions will receive a combined response.  Councillor Singh your questions please. 

Councillor Singh:  Thank you my Lord Mayor.  The questions are “Would the Deputy Mayor inform the Council of the number of junior doctors that were absent from the Leicester hospitals, this being the Leicester General, the LRI and the Leicester Glenfield during the last official BMA strike?  And I will just paraphrase question 2 which is to elicit factual information.  ”How many planned operations were cancelled?”  Question 3 “How many out-patient appointments were cancelled?”  Question 4 “How long will it take for the backlog of the appointments and operations to be cleared?”  Thank you.

Lord Mayor:  Thank you Councillor Singh.  Deputy City Mayor.

Deputy City Mayor:   Thank you my Lord Mayor.  The first day of the last or the most recent BMA junior doctor’s strike, the 9^th March, saw 168 junior doctors take industrial action at UHL across the UHL sites and on the second day 189.  At LPT that figure was 33 and 36 respectively.  To move on to the second question, the first part of my answer relates to UHL – across the two days 750 out-patient appointments were cancelled, 9 in-patient operations were cancelled, and 38 day case procedures were cancelled and 14 clinics across LPT’s areas of work were also cancelled.  UHL had obviously planned in advance for the industrial action and told me there was no significant backlog to clear and that patients had all been given new slots for appointments and scheduled procedures, and likewise at LPT they had a target to return to business as usual within two days of the industrial action, and I believe that to have been the case.  I want to be absolutely clear my Lord Mayor in merely reporting those figures  I have every sympathy with the action of the junior doctors who were striking.  That is not a decision they arrived at lightly and I think it is symptomatic of the crisis we see across the NHS at the moment.

Lord Mayor:  Thank you Deputy City Mayor.  Councillor Singh have you a supplementary question?

Councillor Singh:   Yes my Lord Mayor I do.  In actual fact I think the sentiments the Deputy Mayor has expressed are in that line.  Will the Deputy Mayor agree and make appropriate representations in his capacity that the government should acknowledge the present situation that it needs an early resolution to the mutual satisfaction of both the medical profession and the associated staff who are crucial to the NHS, and most importantly to recognise the need to safeguard services vital to the health and well-being of the people of this City.

Lord Mayor:  Thank you Councillor Singh.  Deputy City Mayor.

Deputy City Mayor:  Thank you my Lord Mayor.  I will certainly make such representations, I am on record as saying that negotiations need to recommence with the NHS employers and the government coming to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

7.1       Pay Policy Statement 2016/17

7.2       Independent Remuneration Panel Report

7.1                Pay Policy Statement 2016/17

A report of the Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance was considered which gave details of the Pay Policy Statement.  The publication of a Statement was required by the Localism Act 2011 and must be approved by full Council by 1 April each year.

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

32.       That the Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 be approved.

7.2                   Independent Remuneration Panel Report

A report of the Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance was considered which gave details of the content and recommendation of the final report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.  The full report of the Panel was included with the report as an appendix together with the proposed draft of the 2015/16 Members Allowances Scheme.  It was noted that an email address had been made available for the receipt of public comments with the comments received made available at the meeting (and attached to these minutes).

Moved by Councillor Westley, seconded by Councillor Kitterick and carried:

33.       That Council:

(1)       note and adopt the content and recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel’s Report on Members’ Allowances;

(2)       agree the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2015/16 (attached as a draft to the Council report) and the indexation of allowances as specified in the Independent Remuneration Panel’s report to 2019/20; and

(3)      agree that the provisions of the revised Members Allowances Scheme for 2015/16 be implemented from 1 April 2016.

-        To note any changes to the Executive

-        To vary the composition and fill any vacancies of any Committee of the Council

None identified.

None identified.

None identified.

The City Mayor noted that this was the last ordinary meeting of the current municipal year and, on behalf of the Chamber, thanked the Lord Mayor for chairing Council meetings with even handedness, good grace and humour.

The Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 6pm.