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Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: THE COUNCIL CHAMBER - FIRST FLOOR, TOWN HALL, TOWN HALL SQUARE, LEICESTER

Contact: John Thorpe, tel: 0116 454 6351 (ext: 37 6551) 

Items
No. Item

11.

LORD MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

New Councillor

The Lord Mayor informed Council that following a by-election held in the Castle Ward on 8 June 2017 Mr Danny Myers had been duly elected and had signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

 

The City Mayor introduced Councillor Myers to Council.

 

 

ICC Women’s World Cup

The Lord Mayor drew Council’s attention to the on-going ICC Women’s World Cup and the major role played by the City.  7 Matches were being hosted at Grace Road with the City pleased to welcome cricket teams from across the world.

 

Andrew Metcalfe

The Lord Mayor noted the sad loss of former Councillor Andrew Metcalfe who passed away on 2 July.  The Lord Mayor led Members in a minutes silence to remember his life and work.

 

Fire & Emergency Evacuation Procedure

The Lord Mayor requested all present to note the evacuation procedures detailed on the Agenda for the meeting and asked anyone with any queries to speak to a member of the Town Hall staff.

12.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

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

 

At the request of the Lord Mayor the Head of Law and Deputy Monitoring Officer addressed Council and confirmed as the recommendations within item 7.1 on the agenda regarding the Local Plan were solely in relation to the consultation there was no requirement on Members to make any declarations in relation to the content or proposals within the plan.

 

No declarations were made.

13.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 16 March 2017 and the Annual Meeting on 11 May 2017 are available to view at:

 

16 March 2017:

http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk:8071/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=7518&Ver=4

 

11 May 2017:

http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk:8071/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=7519&Ver=4

 

Copies are also available from Democratic Support on (0116) 454 6350 or Committees@leicester.gov.uk

Minutes:

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

 

8.         That the minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council held on 16th March 2017 and the Annual meeting on 11th May 2017, a copy of each having been circulated to each Member of the Council, be taken as read and that they be approved as a correct record.

14.

STATEMENTS BY THE CITY MAYOR/EXECUTIVE

Minutes:

Lord Mayor invited the City Mayor and Councillor Connelly to make statements to Council.

 

The City Mayor informed Council that Councillor Palmer, the Deputy City Mayor would be stepping down in October in order to take up a role as Member of the European Parliament.  The City Mayor noted that Councillor Palmer had represented the Eyres Monsell ward since 2007 and had additionally served as a Cabinet Member and since 2011 as the City’s first Deputy City Mayor driving forward many key issues for the benefit of constituents and the wider City.  The City Mayor thanked Councillor Palmer for his support, passion and work personally for him when he was an MP for the City and his support as Deputy City Mayor and on behalf of the City Council for the contribution he has and would continue to make and wished him well in the EU parliament and future political career.

 

Councillor Connelly gave an update to Council on fire safety at Council owned tower blocks and confirmed that none had cladding or a gas supply and no complaints had been received from residents and tenants, tenant groups, housing associations or ward Councillors in relation to fire safety.  Refurbishment works had upgraded fire safety measures but in the light of the Grenfell Tower disaster sprinkler systems would be fitted to all Council tower blocks when refurbished or would be retro fitted.  Weekly fire inspections were carried out and working with the Fire and Rescue services tenants and residents work had been undertaken to reassure tenants of measures in place. A fire audit had taken place which had supported the Council’s approach and any recommendations would be implemented together with any future recommendations arising from the Grenfell Tower public inquiry.  A report on fire safety was due to be considered at the Housing Scrutiny Committee in the coming week and a briefing for all Members had been arranged with the Chief Fire Officer.

15.

PETITIONS

-           Presented by Members of the Public

-           Presented by Councillors

-           Petitions to be debated

Minutes:

PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

The Lord Mayor stated that no petitions from members of the public had been received for presentation at the meeting.

 

PETITIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

Councillor Waddington presented a petition with 148 signatures in the following terms:

We, residents of Beaumont Leys, call upon Leicester City Council to take all action possible, including legal action if necessary to require Sanctuary Housing to deal with the problems caused by John Calvert Court.  John Calvert Court is owned by Sanctuary Housing but has been left empty for many years. It is a magnet for serious anti-social behaviour and is blighting our neighbourhood.  The building or the site should be used for suitable housing and not left to be vandalised. Sanctuary Housing have irresponsibly neglected to take action to sort it out so we request that the City Council does so, as soon as possible.”

 

Councillor Clair presented a petition with 125 signatures in the following terms:

“The members of Rushey Fields Residents Association would like to have six flood lights in Rushey Fields Recreation Ground, two lights in the tennis court, two lights in the cricket ground area, one in the community garden area and one near the outside gym, similar to flood lights in the bowling ground area of the park.”

 

Councillor Chaplin presented a petition with 29 signatures in the following terms:

“We ask the Council to help in removing problems arising from unmanaged overgrowth adjacent to properties in Waldale Drive.  Residents value the work staff do, but acknowledge that with cuts to services due to lack of central funding, the pest control and related services seem very stretched and residents facing major infestations need properly allocated time and support from staff. This service is very important to the health and wellbeing of residents.”

 

Under Council Procedure Rule 13a the aforementioned petitions would be referred to the Monitoring Officer for consideration and action as appropriate.

16.

QUESTIONS

-           From Members of the Public

-           From Councillors

Minutes:

Lord Mayor:  Questions from members of the public.  May I invite Mrs. Groom to present her question please.

 

Mrs. Groom:  Will Leicester City Council call upon the government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after the 6th April 1951 who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the state pension age with lack of appropriate notification, so that women do not live in hardship due to pension changes they were not told about until it was too late to make alternative arrangements?”

 

Lord Mayor:  Thank you Mrs. Groom.  Councillor Waddington please.

 

Councillor Waddington:  Thank you my Lord Mayor and thank you Mrs. Groom, thank you Pauline for the question.  On the 30th March 2017 the City Mayor and I wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to add our support to that of many other local authorities and the Leicester South MP, Jon Ashworth, for the WASPI campaign.  The WASPI campaign, or Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign is one that I know you, Pauline, are working very hard for.  In our letter we requested that the government reconsider the state pension arrangement for women born in the 1950s.  Many women in this age group were taken by surprise when their pension age was suddenly increased giving them insufficient notice to make proper financial arrangements for their retirement.   The decision which was made by the Coalition government in 2011 to increase the state retirement age faster than had been envisaged did not give the women the 15 years notice of the changes which had been the norm, and this has created an unfair situation with many of these women finding that their retirement plans have been shattered and their expected income reduced.  We asked in our letter that the Conservative government look again at the situation and rectify it.  We received a reply from the Minister for Pensions, Richard Harrington, MP, in April 2017 stating that, and I quote “there are no plans to make further transitional arrangements for this group”.    Since then as you Pauline and all of us are aware the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, and our local MPs have added their support to the WASPI campaign and promised justice for the women who have been affected by the changes.  Although I don’t envisage any change coming from the present government, indeed I understand that at a debate in Parliament on this yesterday, the government made it clear they were not going to make any changes and instead suggested that women in this age group take up apprenticeships.  Yes, well, however, we can and do expect a future Labour government to address this unfairness, and I and my Labour colleagues will be working hard for that change of government in order to benefit the WASPI women and the many other groups who have suffered inequality and injustice under both the Coalition and Tory governments. 

 

Lord Mayor:  Thank you Councillor Waddington.  Mrs. Groom do  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

MATTERS RESERVED TO COUNCIL pdf icon PDF 49 KB

7.1       Replacement Local Plan

 

7.2       Leicester City Draft Youth Justice Plan 2017-18

 

7.3       Member Allowances Scheme 2017/18 – Confirmation of Scheme

Additional documents:

Minutes:

7.1       REPLACEMENT LOCAL PLAN

 

Under Council Procedure Rule 22 (d) (ii), the Lord Mayor agreed an extension of time to the City Mayor in speaking on this item.

 

The City Mayor gave a presentation regarding the Replacement Local Plan, consultation process, key issues and challenges to be addressed and the anticipated timetable.

 

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

 

9.         That Council approves public consultation for this stage of the replacement Leicester Local Plan as set out in the report.

 

 

7.2          LEICESTER CITY DRAFT YOUTH JUSTICE PLAN 2017/18

 

A report was considered which sought approval to the Plan and set out details of how youth justice services were to be provided and funded, how the Youth Offending Team would operate and be composed and funded and what functions it would carry out.

 

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

 

10.       That Council:

(i)           Notes and agrees the Leicester City Youth Justice Plan for 2017/18.

(ii)          Notes the review of progress and agree the priorities in the report.

(iii)        Requests the Children, Young People and Schools Scrutiny Commission to review progress against the actions and recommendations in October 2017.

 

 

7.3                   MEMBERS ALLOWANCES SCHEME 2017/18 – CONFIRMATION OF SCHEME

 

A report was considered which set out the 2017/18 Scheme and proposed amendments to the scheme.

 

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

 

11.       That Council confirms the Members Allowances Scheme for 2017/18 including the ability for the City Mayor to vary Deputy and Assistant City Mayor Special Responsibility Allowances according to changing responsibilities within the overall financial envelope for these allowances, and the minor amendment to section 5ii of the Scheme relating to the commencement of allowances after an election.

18.

REPORTS OF THE MONITORING OFFICER pdf icon PDF 44 KB

8.1       Standards ‘Arrangements’ – Revisions

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

8.1          STANDARDS ‘ARRANGEMENTS’ - REVISIONS

 

The Monitoring Officer presented a report that sought the approval of Council to the revised “Arrangements” for dealing with complaints against Members and co-opted Members under the Localism Act 2011, (found in Part 5 of the Council’s Constitution).

 

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

 

12.                   That Council accepts the changes to the arrangements as set out in Appendix A to the report.

19.

EXECUTIVE AND COMMITTEES

-        To note any changes to the Executive

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

Minutes:

None identified.

20.

NOTICES OF MOTION

Minutes:

None identified.

21.

ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS

Minutes:

There being no items of urgent business identified the Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 8.10pm.