Minutes:
Prayers
Before the meeting formally commenced the Lord Mayor asked his chaplainthe Revd Alison Adams to say an appropriate prayer.
Statements
In the light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s recent announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review to 2020 the City Mayor gave a brief statement regarding the settlement and the anticipated significant impacts and pressures on Council services once the detailed figures were made available in mid-December.
Councillor Waddington informed Council of recent Government funding reductions for English courses for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and highlighted the impacts on Council services and cultural integration in addition to the impacts on economic independence and social isolation of the individuals affected. Councillor Waddington noted that the Council would be urging the government to reverse the funding changes.
Oral health promotion service
The Lord Mayor noted that Leicester had high levels of tooth decay in pre-school children and that to address this the Oral Health Promotion Partnership Programme had been established by the Council in 2013 with the aim of supporting coordinated activity across Leicester City to improve oral health, reduce oral health inequalities and lay solid foundations for good oral health throughout life.
As a result of its work the Oral Health Promotion Partnership Programme had been awarded a 2 year Health and Wellbeing Award for its planned and comprehensive programme of oral health improvement for children.
The Lord Mayor welcomed:
Dr Jasmine Murphy – Consultant in Public Health
Paul Akroyd – Project Manager (Public Health)
Sarah Brown - Oral Health Promoter
Michelle Hall – Oral Health Promoter (on maternity leave)
Laura Watkins – Oral Health Promoter
to receive the award.
Food for life awards
The Lord Mayor gave details of Leicester’s Food Plan which was part of a long term programme to make Leicester a healthy and sustainable food city. The Lord Mayor was therefore delighted to announce that the Soil Association Food for Life Bronze award had been won by Overdale Junior School and that the Soil Association Food for Life Bronze Catering Mark Award had been won by Leicester City Council’s in house catering service.
The Lord Mayor invite Karen Cooper, Juliet Hart, Isaac Ford, Charlie Ball, Samuel Hall, Jamie Shears and Gurleen Johal from Overdale Junior School and Jane Faulks, Head of Leicester City Council’s Catering Service to receive the awards.
Lord Mayor additionally invited Councillor Osman to pay tribute to the work done by the school and the catering service.
GNG football club award
The Lord Mayor informed Council that the GNG Football Club from Leicester had recently been awarded the Club of the Year National Award at the third Asian Football Awards. GNG had been active in the city for the last fifty years with the club recently involved in developing its own clubhouse, facilities and pitches at Riverside and Aylestone Playing Fields with the support of the Football Foundation, Leicester City Council and Leicester Health Trust.
Accordingly the Lord Mayor invited Dr Charnpreet Singh Johal, Parmjit Singh Ryat, Surinder Pal Singh, Rohan Singh Purewal and Arjan Singh Dayal to receive the award.
Lord Mayor invited Councillor Clair to say a few words who congratulated the club and thanked the City Mayor for the Council’s commitment to sport and the management of the club for their work and noted the work undertaken by Councillor Singh Johal.
Recent Attacks
The Lord Mayor referred to the shared revulsion of the people of Leicester of all backgrounds and faiths over the recent atrocious killings of innocent people including in Paris, Beirut, Mali and Egypt.
The Lord Mayor led the Council in a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to those who have lost their lives and also to remember their loved ones and the many people who were injured by the attacks.
Fire & Emergency Evacuation Procedure
The Lord Mayor asked all present to note the evacuation procedures detailed on the Agenda for the meeting and asked anyone with any queries to speak to one of the Town Hall staff who would be able to assist.