Agenda and minutes

Surjit Singh Bangh

The Lord Mayor informed that Surjit Singh Bangh from the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Football Club had sadly passed away on 26 October 2024 at the age of 47. Surjit, known as Jonny, was the club captain from 1998 and was highly regarded and much loved by members of the club and the wider football circles both locally and nationally. The Lord Mayor expressed condolences to Surjit Singh Bangh’s family, friends and members of the GNG Club.

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

Cllr Kitterick and Cllr Bajaj declared an interest in the Gambling Policy 2025-28 item.

The minutes of the meeting held below are available to view at the links below:

21 March 2024

Agenda for Council on Thursday, 21 March 2024, 5:00 pm (leicester.gov.uk)

16 May 2024 – Annual Meeting

Agenda for Council on Thursday, 16 May 2024, 5:00 pm (leicester.gov.uk)

5 September 2024

Agenda for Council on Thursday, 5 September 2024, 5:00 pm (leicester.gov.uk)

Copies are also available from Governance Services 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 21 March 2024, be taken as read and are approved as a correct record.

That the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 16 May 2024, be taken as read and are approved as a correct record.

That the minutes of Council held on 5 September 2024, be taken as read and are approved as a correct record.

Councillor Rae Bhatia raised a correction to the minutes from the 5^th of September meeting regarding the Corporate Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy Item. It was noted that the minutes did not reflect an agreement for Councillor Malik and Council Russell to engage with a group of family carers to discuss the inclusion of Family Carers as an additional group within the strategy.

In response, the Monitoring Officer clarified the purpose of Full Council minutes, explaining that they record key decisions and resolutions rather than reflecting the debate and discussions. Approving minutes of previous Full Council minutes requires members to approve whether decisions and resolutions were accurately recorded, rather than discussing their fulness. It was further noted that the publicly available audio recording on YouTube services as a comprehensive record of the meeting.

Councillor Russell addressed the matter surrounding Family Carers within the strategy and confirmed that discussions will be held going forward.

City Mayor noted the sad passing of John Prescott, Cllr Rae Bhatia echoed the City Mayors remarks and requested a minute silence.

A minute silence was held for John Prescott and Roger Blackmore who was the leader of Leicester City Council from 2003 to 2004, and 2005 to 2008 and also the Lord Mayor of Leicester from 2009 to 2010.

Cllr Sood made a statement thanking those organising and participating in the Remembrance Service, and also highlighted the successful interfaith week.

-         Presented by Members of the Public

Ms Alison Simpson, Residents Parking Scheme Ripon Street.

Mr Avtar Singh Desi, Poor Road Conditions in Barnes Close

-         Presented by Councillors – None

-         Petitions to be debated – None

PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

Ms Alison Simpson presented the petition with 28 valid signatures in the following terms:

“The residents of Ripon Street, Leicester petition Leicester City Council to enforce the residents parking scheme on Ripon Street. We are subject to continued and dangerous daily breaches of the scheme by non-residents who are dropping off, collecting and waiting for children at various times throughout the day, including evenings and weekends. Permit holders are finding it increasingly difficult to use the narrow entrance to the street safely. The number of non-permit holders parked up also makes it difficult to permit holders to park.”

PETITIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

Councillor Sangha presented the petition with 44 valid signatures in the following terms:

“We are writing to you as residents of Barnes Close, Rushey Mead Leicester to highlight the very poor condition of the road surface of Barnes Close which need urgent attention for a complete new surface.

There have been in recent years some patch-up jobs of potholes, but the work has been inadequate and not sustainable, and holes have reappeared. As one of the largest Cul-de-sacs off Trevino Drive the traffic passing through the road is one of the highest, coupled with many visitors in the Close during the day providing regular and frequent care. The high tragic volume is having an adverse effect on the road and equally important is damaging the vehicles using the Cul-de-sac, both for residents and visitors.

Furthermore, residents feel that they are being treated unfairly when other Cul-desacs off Trevino Drive have been treated to a complete re-surface of their Cul-desacs, namely Faldo Close and Marsh Close in the recent past. As residents of Barnes Close there needs to be equity by the Council for all residents of Rushey Mead.

We do understand the financial situation of the council but at the same time there is also a need for some basic standards and more importantly having Road surfaces that are safe to use for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. At the moment the surface is posing a Health &Safety risk for all users.

We do hope that you will look into this matter urgently and arrange for a complete Road resurface for the whole of Barnes Close.”

Under Council Procedure Rule 13a, the aforementioned petition was referred

to the Monitoring Officer for consideration and action as appropriate.

Please note that a full record of the questions and responses is available on the recording of the meeting at Council 21 November 2024 - YouTube Time codes for each question will be provided before the wording of the question.

QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

1. Cllr O’Neill

0:42:00

“The Labour government's budget presents the opportunity for the council to start financially benefiting from the right to buy scheme. With the discount for council tenants to buy their council home also reducing, will this mean we are able to build more council homes than are purchased which hasn't been possible previously? Will the executive and the City Mayor continue to press the government to end the right to buy scheme altogether?”

Cllr Cutkelvin provided a response to this question.

2. Cllr Haq

0:46:00

“How much does it cost the council for the bell hop bus in Leicester city center? ”

Cllr Whittle provided a response to this question and to Cllr Haq’s supplemental question.

3. Cllr Haq

0:47:00

“How many new Hot food licenses have been issued in Leicester city center ? ”

Cllr Cutkelvin provided a response to this question and to Cllr Haq’s supplemental question.

4. Cllr Haq

0:50:00

“How much of the money given to Leicester City Council by the NHS for heating support for vulnerable and elderly residents was actually paid towards heating bills?”

Cllr Russell provided a response to this question and to Cllr Haq’s supplemental question.

5. Cllr Haq

0:53:00

“How much of the pesticide glyphosate is Leicester city council using every year?”

Cllr Whittle provided a response to this question and to Cllr Haq’s supplemental question.

6. Cllr Haq

0:56:00

“How much is the cost per month of security for the site at Hospital Close? and when did the council start the contract for the security?”

Cllr Cutkelvin provided a response to this question and to Cllr Haq’s supplemental question.

7. Cllr Adatia

WITHDRAWN

8. Cllr Joannou

1:00:00

“The people of Evington desperately need traffic lights at the bottom of Downing Drive/ Uppingham Road. This has been raised at every ward meeting, visits by highways officers and indeed Headteachers of local schools for the last five years. The huge back up of traffic and dangerous cross junction driving will result in a fatality. Several accidents have already happened there. Residents have asked continually for the last five years to install traffic lights. It appears that safety comes secondary to cost. Why has this pressing matter not been addressed by the council?”

Cllr Whittle provided a response to this question and to Cllr Joannou’s supplemental question.

9. Cllr Joannou

1:03:00

“The Transport Secretary recently said that E-Scooters should be made legal on public roads. Does the City Mayor agree with it?”

City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Joannou’s supplemental question.

10. Cllr Joshi

1:07:00

“There are 12 vacant business units at Vulcan House, which no one can afford to take up due to 1000% service charge hike. There is a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Moved by Councillor Cutkelvin, seconded by Councillor Singh Johal and carried:

That Council approve the statement of gambling policy for 2025-28.

Moved by Councillor Cassidy, seconded by Councillor Dawood and carried:

Full Council is asked to note the report and endorse the work of scrutiny during 2023-24.

Council Motion: Opposing the Restriction of Universal Winter Fuel Payments. 

Councillor Porter proposes that:

Leicester City Council acknowledges the uncaring announcement by the Labour government to end universal winter fuel payments by implementing income means-testing and tightening of the eligibility criteria. This decision, viewed as harsh and unsympathetic by many, will likely lead to financial hardship for thousands of local pensioners, leaving many vulnerable to the cold this winter. Research indicates that restricting winter fuel payments could tragically result in up to 4,000 additional pensioner deaths.
The Council strongly condemns the Labour government's decision and calls for an immediate reversal, advocating for the reinstatement of winter fuel payments for all pensioners.

The Council resolves to:

? Joint Council Leadership Appeal: 
Request that all council group leaders co-sign a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking for the new winter fuel payment policy to be suspended and thoroughly reviewed.

? Launch an Awareness Campaign for Pension Credit Uptake: 
Initiate an urgent, targeted awareness campaign to make sure all eligible pensioners are aware of and have access to pension credit. This campaign will include information on council noticeboards, social media platforms, the local press and targeted letters to all eligible individuals.

Please note that a full record of the of the discussion is available on the recording of the meeting at Council 21 November 2024 - YouTube at time 2:20:35.

Moved by Councillor Porter, seconded by Councillor Rae Bhatia:

Leicester City Council acknowledges the uncaring announcement by the Labour government to end universal winter fuel payments by implementing income means-testing and tightening of the eligibility criteria. This decision,

viewed as harsh and unsympathetic by many, will likely lead to financial hardship for thousands of local pensioners, leaving many vulnerable to the cold this winter. Research indicates that restricting winter fuel payments could tragically result in up to 4,000 additional pensioner deaths.

The Council strongly condemns the Labour government's decision and calls for an immediate reversal, advocating for the reinstatement of winter fuel payments for all pensioners.

The Council resolves to:

? Joint Council Leadership Appeal:

Request that all council group leaders co-sign a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking for the new winter fuel payment policy to be suspended and thoroughly reviewed.

? Launch an Awareness Campaign for Pension Credit Uptake:

Initiate an urgent, targeted awareness campaign to make sure all eligible pensioners are aware of and have access to pension credit. This campaign will include information on council noticeboards, social media platforms, the local press and targeted letters to all eligible individuals.

AMENDMENT

Moved by Councillor Surti, seconded by Councillor Porter:

“This council believes all our residents should be able to have warm secure homes.

We are concerned that the changes to the winter fuel allowance puts this at risk both for those that are not claiming pension credit and those that are close to but not eligible.

This council will write to the chancellor requesting additional funding to target support to this vulnerable population.

We will also seek to direct our various communication resources to encourage take up of pension credit and the wide range of support available from our energy advice services. To include but not be limited to mainstream and social media, targeted advertising and letters, and work with partners to amplify these messages.”

This was accepted by Councillor Porter and Councillor Rae Bhatia as a friendly amendment.

The Lord Mayor put the amended motion to the vote and declared the motion carried.

There was no other urgent business.