Members of the public will be invited to ask questions about local issues. The purpose of this session is to collect and clearly record the questions.
The Committee administrator will write the questions down. If we know the answer we will give a response immediately, but in most cases we will need to take the question to a relevant officer after the meeting for a full response. You can get more information about how to submit questions and what will happen to them from Your guide to Area Committees.
Minutes:
1. Presentation of Insignia to Honorary Aldermen
Arising out of the Special Council Meeting, held on 4 October 2007, at which the Council had conferred the title of Honorary Alderman on eight former members of the City Council, the Lord Mayor presented to the following their Insignia of Office:-
Alderman Anne Bunce Alderman Terence Howatt
Alderman Ned Newitt Alderman Winston Nurse
Alderman Anthony O’Brien Alderman Brian Roberts
Alderman Malik Salim
Alderman Roman Scuplak was unable to attend this meeting to receive his Insignia.
2. Herald Goddard, Deceased – An Appreciation
The Lord Mayor called on Councillor Willmott who provided Council with an appreciation of the late Herald Goddard. Along with his late wife, Joan, Herald Goddard has been a distinguished benefactor and patron of the arts, most especially supporting Leicester Museums, Leicester Theatre Trust, Leicester University and the Richard Attenborough Centre. An association with the Museum Service for well over half a century, co-option on to the Arts and Libraries Committee as a special advisor on the arts and a generous benefactor, both as a private donor and through the Goddard Charitable Trust enabled Leicester University and the Museum Service in particular to enrich their collections with ceramics, water colours, etchings and sculptures.
In summary, the city owes a debt of gratitude to Herald Goddard for his lifetime’s service to Leicester as a patron and benefactor of the arts.
3. European City of Sport 2008
The Lord Mayor referred Council to the award to Leicester of European City of Sport 2008 and displayed to Council the trophy which had been received. The Lord Mayor further commented that it was a testimony, particularly to the work of the Sports Team, led by Paul Edwards, and eight members of staff who had been closely involved in the Award, who received warm appreciation from the Council.
4. Retirement of Mike Forrester, Corporate Director of Adults and Housing
The Lord Mayor drew to the attention of Council that this Meeting would be the last such meeting which Mike Forrester, the Corporate Director of Adults and Housing, would be required to attend before leaving the authority.
On behalf of both the Council and the people of Leicester, the Lord Mayor thanked Mr. Forrester for his leadership, drive, enthusiasm and expertise whilst in each of his varying roles whilst at the Council and offered very best wishes for the future.
5. Retirement of Rodney Green, Chief Executive.
The Lord Mayor also drew to the attention of Council the retirement of the Council’s Chief Executive, Rodney Green, after over 11 years service in that post.
The Lord Mayor thanked Mr. Green for his many and varied contributions since Local Government Reorganisation more than a decade ago to the work of the Council and development of the city, including through extensive partnership working, and also his contribution to national initiatives including, most recently, his work on the National Migration Forum.
Mr. Green responded to the thanks, as expressed by the Lord Mayor, expressed his pride in the City of Leicester and wished both the Council and the City well in their respective development over the coming years.