- From Members of the Public
- From Councillors
Minutes:
Please note that a full record of the questions and responses is available on the recording of the meeting at Council 16 January 2025 Livestream - YouTube Time codes for each question will be provided before the wording of the question.
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
1. Jane Russell
0:09:10 - 00:16:52
“I am the Secretary of ERNA (Evington Road Neighbourhood ’Association). Our members have become increasingly concerned about the number of fast-food establishments on Evington Road who are trading in apparent breach of their planning conditions by staying open later than 11pm. Some 20 of these businesses were reported to Planning in August 2024. Another business was refused extended hours, this went to Appeal and the refusal was upheld in July 2024 but no action appears to have been taken in either instance.
Our members would like to know when Planning will take action to rectify these breaches and proactively investigate whether or not other fast-food establishments on Evington Road are in breach of their planning conditions? We would like meaningful actions to be taken within a clear timetable and for these to be communicated to local residents through Stoneygate ward Community Meetings.”
Councillor Cutkelvin provided a response to this question and to Jane Russell’s supplemental question.
2. Val Fisher
0:16:52-0:22:24
“J & A Pharmacy is a shop in Evington Village's shopping arcade on Main Street Evington Village LE5 6DN. Residents learned that this was closing in the middle of January '25 with the loss of the post office and pharmacy. Almost at the same time patients at the Surgery at 10 The Common LE5 6EA realised that this would also close on 6th December, 2024 leaving many of them with the only option to travel to St Elizabeth's Medical Centre in Netherhall, LE5 1DR, two bus rides away.
The impact of these closures together is of huge concern to all residents, but particularly people who are reliant on public transport. Losing these vital services could destroy and inhibit development of this area and people's lives. Will the Council now join local residents in supporting calls to have these services reinstated?”
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Val Fisher’s supplemental question.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS
1. Cllr Chauhan
0:22:40-0:29:50
“It was extremely sad to witness that parts of our city were hit by floods once again twice in less than 18 months. We were assured in this chamber when it was raised last time that the city council will put proper arrangements in place, but as witnessed a week ago nothing has changed since then. There was no proper emergency support structure in place and if there was any then no timely information was cascaded by the officers to the councillors. When field officers arrived on the scene, they were repeating the same lines as what belongs to them and what to the environment agency etc, etc. If you recall, we requested for a single point of contact for the residents but that didn't happen. Can the City Mayor provide us with a full report on what steps were taken since last flooding as clearly those steps were not sufficient. Can he also reassure that resources will be made available now to fill the gaps in preventative measures, especially to the areas which are prone to it.”
Cllr Whittle provided a response to this question and to Cllr Chauhan’s supplemental question.
2. Cllr Modhwadia
0:29:50-0:32:00
“North Evington is currently short of council housing and there is a huge demand for it. We have now been told that City Mayor is moving £90m from capital funds to revenue budget, although when previously asked we were told that capital monies cannot be shifted to revenue. So how come this is being done now? And if it can be done then can some of it be used towards council housing in the ward where it's desperately needed.”
City Mayor provided a response to this question.
3. Cllr Rae Bhatia
0:32:00-0:36:18
“Now that no contractor has been found to take up the train station revamp work it might be a blessing in disguise. Would the City Mayor reconsider the decision to commit £5m of council's scarce funds towards it and bring that back into use for more needful priorities across the city and at the same time potentially improve council's reserves which are getting dire with every passing month.”
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Rae Bhatia’s supplemental question.
4. Cllr Haq
0:36:18-0:38:55
“How many children's Care homes are in Leicester and how many of them are registered with Ofsted.?”
Cllr Russell provided a response to this question and to Cllr Haq’s supplemental question.
5. Cllr Haq
0:38:55-0:44:30
“Businesses in Leicester city centre are struggling and lots of shops are closing, with the amount of constant roadworks and parking issues in the city centre, will the city mayor address the issues?”
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Haq’s supplemental question.
6. Cllr Kitterick
0:44:30-0:48:20
“On a scale of 1-10 (1 being totally unlikely, 10 being absolutely certain), what are the chances of the Leicester Railway Station redevelopment project staying within its current projected budget?”
Cllr Whittle provided a response to this question and to Cllr Kitterick’s supplemental question.
7. Cllr Kennedy-Lount
0:48:20- 0:51:00
“The Flooding Report for Storm Henk published last month states a Deadline of April 2025 to work in conjunction with the Environment Agency to explore opportunities to improve flood defences in Aylestone Meadows Car Park at Marsden Lane and to better divert flows away from properties. Considering there was another breach of water last week what progress to date had been made?”
Cllr Whittle provided a response to this question and to Cllr Kennedy Lount’s supplemental question.
8. Cllr Kennedy-Lount
0:51:10-0:53:50
“In the aftermath of Storm Henk several schemes were set up by the then government including Council Tax discounts and Business Rate relief. As yet nothing of a similar scheme has been put forward by the current government for the current floods across the city last week. Considering we meet next month for the city’s budget, can the cabinet head give assurances these discounts and reliefs will be made available by a local led scheme irrespective of national government grant?”
Cllr Whittle provided a response to this question and to Cllr Kennedy Lount’s supplemental question.
9. Cllr Sahu
0:53:50-0:55:45
“Following on from Adult Social Care scrutiny meeting last week where it appeared that Care Experienced hadn’t been incorporated into all the Equality Impact Assessments, can I seek confirmation that this has now happened?”
Cllr Malik provided a response to this question and to Cllr Sahu’s supplemental question.