Agenda and minutes

Former Councillors Mustafa Kamal and Mike Lee

The Lord Mayor reflected on the sad passing of two former Councillors.

She noted that Mustafa Kamal had served as a Councillor between 1987 and 2003 and again from 2011 to 2015, where he represented Belgrave, Wycliffe and Spinney Hills wards. He served as Deputy Leader between 1994 and 1999 and also as Lord Mayor for the mayoral year 2013 to 2014.

She also noted that Mike Lee had served as a Councillor for Charnwood Ward between 1987 and 1991. Mike became a successful broadcaster after his time on the Council.

The Lord Mayor noted that they had both served the city faithfully and that they would both be deeply missed.

Council stood for a minute’s silence in memory of both former Councillors.

Leicester Inner City World Cup

The Lord Mayor offered her congratulations to the Antigua and Barbuda team who recently won the inaugural Leicester Inner City World Cup. The tournament was an opportunity for local people of many different backgrounds to come together through sport.

16 teams representing different countries took part in the tournament and it was an opportunity to celebrate the city’s unity and diversity.

The winners were honoured with a reception hosted by the Lord Mayor and attended by the High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda, Karen-Mae Hill.

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

No declarations were made.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2019 are available to view at:

http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk:8071/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=81&MId=9384&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:

That the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 13^th June 2019, copies having been circulated to each Member of the Council, be taken as read and that each be approved as a correct record.

There were no statements.

-           Presented by Members of the Public

-           Presented by Councillors

-           Petitions to be debated

Petitions from members of the public

There were no petitions from members of the public.

Petitions from councillors

Councillor Waddington presented a petition with 14 valid signatures in the following terms:-

“We, the undersigned, are concerned residents who urge our representatives to act now to create a better environment and space for the residents of the Close. We the residents are requesting a safe and secure area in which the residents are able to park their cars. At current, the space provided, especially at the end of Tudor Close is neglected by the council, due to the overgrown weeds.

We believe that with a 7-foot metal fence surrounding this area, it would enable residents to park their vehicles safely and rule out any further criminal activity in this area, whether this be aimed at cars using the facilities or space in general.

A well-used and maintained area is a sign of ownership and therefore would discourage fly tippers leaving their waste in this area, as ideally it would be securely fenced and gated with a key only available to those whom live on the Close.”

Councillor Cole presented a petition with 25 valid signatures in the following terms:-

“We, the undersigned are concerned citizens who urge our Leicester City Council to investigate and in consultation with local residents develop sustainable solutions to the parking crisis including looking at existing parking arrangements further on Falconer Crescent (re-utilising green spaces).”

Under Council procedure Rule 13a the aforementioned petitions was referred to the Monitoring Officer for consideration and action as appropriate.

The following questions were asked by members of the public and Councillors and details of who responded are included below. The full details of questions and the responses can be viewed on the webcast of the meeting on the Council’s website at:

https://leicester.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/445888

We maintain a comprehensive library of webcast Council meetings. The webcast for this meeting will remain on the live website until 3^rd October 2020, and after this date can be requested from the Democratic Support Team by contacting (0116) 454 6350 or at committees@leicester.gov.uk.

For your convenience, links to each question and response are embedded after each question below.

Questions from Members of the Public

1.      Mr Derek Aldridge:-

“Why can the City Mayor sell properties at £1 when they could have either been knocked down and used the land for building houses or flats, or to sell the land to a developer with planning permission?”

City Mayor replied.

Link to webcast of question 1

2.    Miss Sarah Corrall:-

“Is it right that young persons should be excluded from participating in sporting activity at a Council run facility because the parents cannot afford to pay by direct debit and can only afford weekly payments”

The questioner wasn’t in attendance. A written response to be sent.

3.    Ms Kriss Fearon (on behalf of Mr Kaiser Nabola):-

“I understand the Waterside School project has been stalled for a long time. At the moment me and many others in my ward are wondering what is going on. Could you give me some ideas as to what is going on by providing me a response to the points below, so I can share with others who are feeling the same way as me.

1.         When will the school be built?

2.         How large will it be?

3.         When will it be completed and opened?

4.         When will you know?

5.         What is the catchment area?

6.         Who is going to be consulted?

7.         What happens now with Slater and Fosse Schools?

8.         How has the need changed - is this demographic or

            economic change?

9.         What are you going to do with the land instead?”

City Mayor replied.

Link to webcast of question 3

4.         Ms Kriss Fearon:-

“I understand that the new school might not go ahead now. Could you explain the reasons for this, and tell me what is going to happen to support Fosse and Slater schools which are struggling for space? Could you also tell me what is going to be done with the land?”

City Mayor replied.

Link to webcast of question 4

5.         Mr William Harding:-

“Knowing that the council seems unwilling to build the school due to cost what is being done to try and find ways to build the school without letting the site be used as an Academy?”

City Mayor replied.

Link to webcast of question 5

Questions from Councillors

1.         Councillor March: -

“I’m proud that this city voted to remain in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Moved by Deputy City Mayor Councillor Russell, seconded by Councillor Dawood and carried:

That:

a)         the Leicester City Youth Justice Plan for 2019/20 be adopted; and

b)         the priorities for 2019-20 be approved.

Moved by Deputy City Mayor Councillor Clair, seconded by Councillor Khote and carried:

That the Leicester City Council Service Plan for Food Law Regulation 2019/2020 be adopted.

-        To note any changes to the Executive

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

There were no Executive or Committees business.

Moved by Councillor Pantling, seconded by Councillor O’Donnell and carried:

That the contents of the report be noted.

There being no urgent business, the Lord Mayor declared the meeting closed at 6.46pm.