Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor’s Announcements were delivered during the preceding Special Meeting.

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

 

There were no declarations.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2026 are available to view at:

 

Agenda for Council on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, 6:00 pm | Leicester City Council

 

Copies are also available from Governance Services on (0116) 454 6350 or governance@leicester.gov.uk

The Lord Mayor moved, seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor:

 

"That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 25 February 2026 be taken as read and are approved as a correct record.”

 

 

Please note that a full record of the of the discussion is available on the recording of the meeting at Council - 26 March 2026 at time 15:55-27:06.

 

The City Mayor made a statement comprising of four main items:

 

1.    Proposed Immigration Reforms

The City Mayor informed Council of his intention to write to the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister regarding the Government’s proposed reforms to earned settlement and immigration policy. The City Mayor indicated that a motion on this matter is expected to be brought to a future meeting of Council. The City Mayor outlined concerns regarding the potential impact of the proposals on Leicester’s diverse communities and urged that the implications of the proposals on Leicester’s diverse communities be fully considered prior to implementation.

 

2.    School Term Dates

The City Mayor noted that the school term dates are subject to consultation and that a full consultation exercise would take place in late Spring and indicated that Leicester City Council’s preference is it maintain its established pattern.

 

3.    Closure of NCP Car Parks

The City Mayor informed Council of the imminent closure of four NCP operated car parks within the city centre: Abbey Street, East Street, Lee Circle and Rutland Street. The City Mayor advised that the decision had been taken by the administrators and was outside the control of the Council. Whilst the closures would reduce overall capacity, alternative provision remains available across the city centre and the current usage levels are below capacity. The City Mayor acknowledged the potential impact on night-time venues including the Curve Theatre, Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre. Council was informed that the status of the car parks would be monitored and further measured may be considered if required. 

 

4.    Takeover Leicester Event

The City Mayor updated on the Council’s recent ‘Takeover Leicester’ event, involving young people from the Young People’s Council, the Children in Care Council and the care-experienced groups. The City Mayor noted that the initiative forms part of a national programme to support young people’s participation in decision-making, welcomed the engagement from those involved and expressed thanks to the participants and organisers.

-           Presented by Members of the Public

-           Presented by Councillors

-           Petitions to be debated

Petitions from Members of the Public

 

No petitions were received from Members of the Public.

 

Petitions from Councillors

 

No petitions were received from Councillors.

 

Petitions to be debated

 

No petitions were received to be debated.

Please note that a full record of the questions and responses is available on the recording of the meeting at Council - 26 March 2026 Time codes for each question will be provided before the wording of the question.

 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

 

No questions received from Members of the Public.

 

QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

 

Note

The Lord Mayor requests that Members take account of the provisions of

Council Procedure Rule 14 in the Council’s Constitution in putting questions

and in particular Rule 14 (a) (vi) regarding supplementary questions:

 

“(vi) At the meeting, after a question has been given a reply (including by

way of a consolidated reply), the person who asked the question may ask

one supplementary question for the purposes of clarifying the reply and, in

the following paragraphs of this part of this Rule the word 'question' shall

include such a supplementary question.”

 

1.    Councillor Russell

 

0:28:40 - 0:31.19

 

“Please can the Assistant Mayor for Education update council on the performance of our council run children's homes?”

 

Councillor Pantling provided a response to this question.

 

2.    Councillor Haq 

 

0:31.19 – 0:35:31

 

“Why has the council decided to pay awarded compensation to Housing tenants by the Ombudsman after refusing on numerous occasions? ”

 

Councillor Cutkelvin provided a response to this question.

 

3.     Councillor Haq

 

0:35:31 - 0:38:00

 

“How much money has the council spent in total from local and national government on bus and cycle lanes in the last 10 years?”

 

Councillor Whittle provided a response to this question.

 

4.    Councillor Haq

 

0:38:00 - 0:41:00

 

How much further money has been spent on Granby st in the last 12 months?” Councillor Whittle provided a response to this question. 5. Councillor Haq 0:46:00 – 0:49:20 “How many year 6 special needs children do not have school places for year 7 ?” Councillor Pantling provided a response to this question.

 

5.    Councillor Haq

 

0:41:00 - 0:46:00

 

How much further money has been spent on Granby st in the last 12 months?”

 

Councillor Whittle provided a response to this question.

 

6.    Councillor Haq

 

0:46:00 – 0:49:20

 

 

“How many year 6 special needs children do not have school places for year 7 ?”

 

Councillor Pantling provided a response to this question.

 

6. Councillor Haq

 

0:49:20 – 0:52:15

 

“In the last 6 months how much is the council losing or estimated with the park and Ride service ?”

 

Councillor Whittle provided a response to this question.

 

7. Councillor Aqbany

 

0:52:15 – 0:55:40

 

“How many right to buy applications in total were received by our "Right To Buy", team just before the discounts change deadline in November 2024?”

What is the legal duration for such applications to be processed?

 

Councillor Cutkelvin provided a response to this question.

 

8. Councillor Kennedy-Lount

 

0:55:40 - 0:58:30

 

Can the Cabinet Lead for Social Care advise how many contracted companies including internal provision,  Leicester City Council have partnered with in 2023, 2024 and 2025 to provide home help services for independent living at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Please note that a full record of the of the discussion is available on the recording of the meeting at Council - 26 March 2026  at time 2:26:40-4:16:15.

 

Councillor Cutkelvin seconded by Councillor Surti and moved:

 

“That the Council notes and adopts the following documents:

• Leicester Local Plan and modifications (Appendix 2) be adopted and published in accordance with Regulation 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended by Section 23(2) and (3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (As amended by section 112(3) of the Localism Act 2011)

• The Policies Map (Appendix 3)

Authorises the Director of Planning, Development and Transportation, in consultation with the Portfolio Lead for Planning, to make minor typographical amendments or factual updates in preparing the final version of the Local Plan.

Authorises a copy of the local plan, the adoption statement and the sustainability report will be made available for public inspection on the Council’s website.

Notification will be sent to any person who requested to be kept informed of the plan progress. A copy of the adopted Local Plan and the adoption statement will be sent to the Secretary of State. The Council anticipate that this will take place by the first week in May”

 

AMENDMENT

 

During the debate on the substantive Motion, the following Amendment was moved and seconded:

 

Proposed by Councillor Osman, seconded by Councillor Westley:

 

"Sites such as the Western Park, Beaumont Park and Brent Knowle Gardens be deleted and retained as green spaces within current status as it stands"

 

VOTE: Following further debate, the Lord Mayor put the amendment to vote which was not carried.

 

The meeting returned to consideration of the substantive Motion.

 

Under Council Procedure Rule 29 of the Council’s Constitution, three Councillors requested a recorded vote.

 

VOTE: Under Council Procedure Rule 29 of the Council’s Constitution, three Councillors requested a recorded vote. The Lord Mayor put the substantive motion to the vote.

 

For the motion (28): Councillors: Agath, Aldred, Bajaj, Batool, Bonham, Cank, Clarke, Cole, Cutkelvin, Dempster, Halford, Joel, Kaur Saini, Malik, March, Mohammed, Moore, O’Neil, Pantling, Pickering, Russell, Singh-Johal, Singh-Sangha, Soulsby (City Mayor), Surti, Waddington, Whittle and Zaman.

 

Against the motion (18): Councillors: Adatia, Bora, A. Chauhan, Dave, Gopal, Gregg, Haq, Joannou, Joshi, Kennedy-Lount, Kitterick, Modhwadia, Orton, Osman, Porter, Sahu, Singh-Patel and Westley.

 

The Lord Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

The Lord Mayor agreed to adjourn the meeting from 4:16:15-4:29:00, following which the meeting resumed and consideration moved to the next item of business.

Please note that a full record of the of the discussion is available on the recording of the meeting at Council - 26 March 2026 at time 4:29:25-4:33:35.

 

City Mayor, seconded by Councillor Cutkelvin moved:

 

a)    “That Council approves the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/2027 (Appendix A)

b)    That Council notes the Gender Pay Gap Report for 2025 (Appendix B)”

 

Following the debate, the Lord Mayor put the motion to the vote and declared the motion carried.

Please note that a full record of the of the discussion is available on the recording of the meeting at Council - 26 March 2026 at time 4:33:35-4:54:10.

 

Councillor Bajaj, seconded by Councillor Mohammed moved:

 

“To agree the appointment of Mr Michael Edwards and Mrs Mojisola Green as statutory Independent Persons for Leicester City Council’s Member Misconduct process from 1st April 2026”

 

Following the debate, the Lord Mayor put the motion to the vote and declared the motion carried.

 

Please note that a full record of the of the discussion is available on the recording of the meeting at Council - 26 March 2026 at time 4:54:10 - 4:56:40.

 

Councillor Mohammed, seconded by Councillor Bajaj moved that Council:

 

“Make the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2026/27 as set out at Appendix A.

Note that the Scheme be published in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements”

 

Following the debate, the Lord Mayor put the motion to the vote and declared the motion carried.

 

Please note that a full record of the of the discussion is available on the recording of the meeting at Council - 26 March 2026 at time 4:56:40 -5:56:30.

 

Councillor Kitterick, seconded by Councillor Osman and moved:

 

“We the undersigned wish to "Call-in" the Executive Decision for the Future Provision of Libraries and Community Centres. We have concerns about the recommendations in the report including the following The loss of the St Matthews and Fosse Neighbourhood Centres. The possible loss of the Gilmorton Community Rooms The reduction in hours for Evington and Knighton Libraries. The proposed changes to the running of the Tudor Centre The very steep increase in charges and income targets that could affect the affordability of using our centres. The reduction on the Book Fund. The council has the resources to avoid these cuts and should use it's reserves to do so and we, therefore, ask the Executive to reconsider their decision.”

 

Following the debate, the Lord Mayor put the motion to the vote and declared the motion LOST.

 

There were no notices for a motion.

There being no other urgent business, the meeting closed at 22:57pm.