- 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 20 March 2025 - YouTube 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. Cllr Haq
0:35:14 - 0:38:35
“What is the total amount of Staff hours spent by council Staff on Send appeals and hearing in 2024 ? And the cost?”
Councillor Pantling provided a response to this question and to Cllr Haq’s supplemental question.
2. Cllr March
0:38:35 - 0:41:50
“The Clarendon Park playground remains closed and has done for too long. It is a vital asset to the local community, a lifeline for many families and very well used throughout the year, especially as the weather is improving. When can people expect the park to be open safely again, please?" ”
Councillor Dempster provided a response to this question and to Cllr March’s supplemental question.
3. Cllr Haq
0:41:50 - 0:47:10
“Why and When did Leicester city council decide to count PIP allowance as income? And how much extra money will be raised by the extra council tax received?”
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Haq’s supplemental question.
4. Cllr Haq
0:47:10 - 0:50:40
“How much was the cost of the Dial a ride service? And why has it ceased ? ”
Councillor Whittle provided a response to this question and to Cllr Haq’s supplemental question.
5. Cllr Singh Patel
0:50:40-0:55:15
“Over the years, more and more children's homes are being opened. But what is City Council doing to help children recover and return to their families? How many children have successfully gone back home? What measures are being taken to improve the service in reuniting children with their parents/families?”
Councillor Pantling provided a response to this question and to Cllr Singh Patel’s supplemental question.
6. Cllr Gopal
0:55:15-0:57:25
“Private hire taxi drivers are facing difficulties dropping passengers at St Margaret Bus Station due to the limited parking space as there is only one designated spot in front of the taxi rank. If they attempt to use any other area the traffic marshals either stop them or issue a ticket. Could Council look into providing additional spaces for private hire taxi drivers too?”
Councillor Cutkelvin provided a response to this question.
7. Cllr Chauhan
0:57:25-1:00:37
“Under Museums Service Vision & Strategic Priorities 2025-29 Belgrave Hall is being removed as a heritage site. Can the city mayor advice why this draconian decision has been taken and on what basis such an important heritage asset is being discarded to become just another site? This being so critical, why has there been no public consultation taken place on this?"
Councillor Dempster provided a response to this question and to Cllr Chauhan’s supplemental question.
8. Cllr Orton
1:00:37 - 1:05:10
“Large number of residents came out to protest against the concreting of Beaumont Park last Saturday. Their message to the city council is clear - don't destroy our lives by destroying our public green spaces. Can the City Mayor therefore now agree to scrap plans to build on Beaumont Park?”
Councillor Cutkelvin provided a response to this question and to Cllr Orton’s supplemental question.
9. Cllr Rae Bhatia
1:05:10 - 1:07:15
“Following the recent announcement by the Prime Minister about abolishing NHS England, what impact will this have on council's public health responsibilities and the triple down effect on local jobs and services to our communities?”
Councillor Dempster provided a response to this question and to Cllr Rae Bhatia’s supplemental question.
10.Cllr Rae Bhatia
1:07:15 - 1:11:05
“Under the new rules, Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are now counted as income when calculating eligibility for Council Tax Support. This change has caused the council tax bills for some disabled residents to increase by as much as 400%, leaving them with significantly higher bills. Would the City Mayor agree with me on this and therefore withdraw this method of calculation to help the most vulnerable?”
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Rae Bhatia’s supplemental question.
11.Cllr Sahu
1:11:05 - 1:16:00
Is the relevant assistant mayor aware that Leicester City Council hasn’t signed the Care Leavers Covenant and despite promises in Sept 24, care leavers still aren’t considered in the Equalities Impact Assessments, and now it seems Social Care will not have care leaver placements supporting the ICS Care Leavers Employability programme. Except for the 16 apprenticeships in Housing, can the assistant mayor let me know how they support the children in their care gain employment within Leicester City Council?
Councillor Malik provided a response to this question and to Cllr Sahu’s supplemental question.
The Lord Mayor agreed to adjourn the meeting from 6:15pm to 6:35pm (timecode 1:16:00-1:47:30 on the recording) to allow those observing Ramadan to break for prayer.
12.Cllr Sahu
1:47:30 - 1:51:45
Is the City Mayor aware that whilst the City Council is proposing to spend £550,000 on a corridor to the King Richard III centre, Wigan Council are spending £500k on grants to Small Businesses who take on an apprentice, and because of this their figures on young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) are bucking the national trend in a positive direction. What is Leicester City Council doing to encourage apprenticeships amongst Small Businesses, and what plans do they have to tackle the NEET figures In Leicester?
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Sahu’s supplemental question.
13.Cllr Gregg
1:51:45 - 1:55:10
Since the cuts agreed by Labour Councillors to the Council Tax Support scheme in January 2025 how many households have completely lost Council Tax Support?
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Gregg’s supplemental question.
14.Cllr Gregg
1:55:10 - 1:57:00
Since the cuts agreed by Labour Councillors to the Council Tax Support scheme in January 2025 how many of the Leicester households that have lost some or all of their Council Tax Support are in receipt of Personal Independence Payments?
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Gregg’s supplemental question.
15.Cllr Kitterick
1:57:00 - 2:01:05
Can the relevant assistant mayor clarify what is the current position with community groups being asked to vacate the West End Neighbourhood Centre? Can the Assistant Mayor confirm that this eviction follows the council imposing "market rent" on the property and how many other community groups are facing the imposition of such a "market rent" on their properties.
Councillor Dempster provided a response to this question and to Cllr Kitterick’s supplemental question.
16.Cllr Kitterick
2:01:05 - 2:04:10
How many vacant retails units does the City Council currently own in Leicester?
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Kitterick’s supplemental question.
17.Cllr Kitterick
2:04:10 - 2:07:30
When were councillors consulted about the Museum Service Vision cuts outlined in an email received by councillors on the 13th March 2025?
Councillor Dempster provided a response to this question.
18.Cllr Kitterick
2:07:30 - 2:12:00
Why does it appear that Leicester City Council sold 30 acres of land at the Broadnook development at around a quarter of its market value to a private property developer?
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Kitterick’s supplemental question.
19.Cllr Kennedy-Lount
2:12:00 - 2:16:15
“Why didn't the City Council consult with a TRO before they installed the concrete blocks cycle lanes on Aylestone Road and Braunstone Lane East?”
Councillor Whittle provided a response to this question and to Kennedy-Lount’s supplemental question.
20.Cllr Waddington
2:16:15 - 2:20:42
' When will the long-promised development plan for the Fosse Neighbourhood Centre, to enable it to become an asset to the community, be produced and consulted upon?'
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Waddington’s supplemental question.
21.Cllr Porter
2:20:42 - 2:24:00
What is the start date for the public consultation on the council’s Museum Service Vision & Strategic Priorities for 2025 to 2029? This proposal includes drastic changes such as:Closing Newarke Houses Museum for most of the year, with access limited to only Saturdays between May and August. Further reducing the opening hours of Abbey Pumping Station. The complete closure of Belgrave Hall, described in the council’s document as a “suspension of the site as a heritage venue.” When will local residents have the opportunity to have their say on these destructive changes to Leicester’s cultural heritage?
Councillor Dempster provided a response to this question and to Cllr Porter’s supplemental question.
22.Cllr Porter
2:24:00 - 2:28:00
Local residents continue to complain about the poor quality of the council's telephone service - excessively long waiting times, often leading people to give up. It's almost as if the council is deliberately limiting taxpayers' access to the services they fund. So when will the council finally conduct the promised review of the telephone service? We have been raising this issue repeatedly, yet no action has been taken. Who is in charge of this matter and why has no one taken responsibility for improving the service?
Councillor Dempster provided a response to this question and to Cllr Porter’s supplemental question.
23.Cllr Porter
2:28:00 - 2:32:24
Who on the council takes ultimate responsibility for council housing complaints?
Councillor Cutkelvin provided a response to this question.
24.Cllr Porter
2:32:24 - 2:37:16
According to a freedom of information request, on 29th March 2023 the council sold a property on Castle View for £226,000, that property is currently up for sale for almost £1 million.
Who was responsible for valuing the property prior to its sale?
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Porter’s supplemental question.
25.Cllr Porter
2:37:16 - 2:38:00
According to a freedom of information request, on 29th March 2023 the council sold a property on Castle View for £226,000, that property is currently up for sale for almost £1 million.
Who approved the decision to sell the property at £226,000?
City Mayor provided a response to this question.
26.Cllr Porter
2:38:40 - 2:39:44
According to a freedom of information request, on 29th March 2023 the council sold a property on Castle View for £226,000, that property is currently up for sale for almost £1 million.Can the council provide a detailed explanation of the process used to determine the sale price?
City Mayor provided a response to this question and to Cllr Porter’s supplemental question.
27.Cllr Porter
2:39:44 - 2:47:12
Can the council give the dates of all recorded flooding events in Leicester since 2011, including the most recent flooding incidents?
Councillor Whittle provided a response to this question and to Cllr Porter’s supplemental question.