The City Mayor will answer questions raised by members of the Overview Select Committee on issues not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
Minutes:
The Chair invited Members to raise questions for the City Mayor
Knighton Flooding.
Councillor Grant thanked the City Mayor for visiting Knighton recently one Saturday evening where there was some flooding, and also for attending the Knighton Ward Community Meeting.
Advice on reporting incidents of wrongdoing
Councillor Grant stated that very recently he had become increasingly aware of stories relating to impropriety involving elected representatives, which crossed over to the business of the Council. He was aware that the City Mayor had acted before to protect the reputation of the authority, and he questioned whether there was a way for people to come forward either anonymously or in confidence to report their concerns over wrongdoing. He also questioned whether there was any advice for staff who may have been junior officers at the time, who wished to come forward at a later date to report their concerns of wrongdoing.
The City Mayor responded that the Council would encourage everyone with suspicions about incidents of wrongdoing, to come forward. Someone from outside the organisations may be best directed to the Monitoring Officer, who would deal with such issues in a sensitive and robust way. If the suspected impropriety involved someone breaking the law, the Police should be informed. No one with concerns of that nature should be intimidated because those concerns related to a person in public life.
The Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance, explained that there was information on reporting wrongdoing on the Council website and she would check the wording to make sure that it was appropriate. There was also a whistleblowing policy, and staff could speak to their manager or an officer in Human Resources.
Improvements to the Market and New Market Square
Councillor Newcombe questioned whether there were any plans to build a short stay car park near to the market, which would help people with heavy shopping. He also questioned whether there were any plans to improve Dolphin Square and the alleyway from the market to the Town Hall Square. He commented that this area was often used by street drinkers; the alleyway was used as a toilet, the area was dark, especially in winter months and in his view generally unsafe.
The City Mayor responded that he believed that paving the area behind the corn exchange and the other planned work would complement the market, and a better outcome would be achieved as the market square would have only provided a minimal number of car park spaces. There were some on-street parking spaces near to the market and also a surface level car park by the Sue Townsend Theatre on Newarke Street.
The City Mayor added that he was sympathetic to Councillor Newcombe’s comments relating to Dolphin Square and the alleyway; the area had deteriorated since it was first laid out and was no longer pleasant. The intention was for this area to be properly laid out, clean and lit. The work would be carried out either as part of the improvements planned behind the Corn Exchange or as part of the Market improvements itself. The City Mayor said he would find out and let Councillor Newcombe know.
|
Action |
By |
|
To inform Councillor Newcombe as to which scheme included the planned work for Dolphin Square and the alleyway. |
The City Mayor’s Office |
Draft Economic Action Plan
Councillor Dempster invited the City Mayor to comment on the amount of money to be invested in the Economic Action Plan (EAP).
The City Mayor responded that the EAP was first adopted in 2012 and was now being refreshed. The EAP had exceeded all expectations. Over 5000 jobs had been created and significant sums of both Government and European Union money had been obtained. The Council had been able to support businesses and encourage them to investment in the City. Looking forward to 2020, the intention for the new EAP was to invest in European Union money, while it was available, to build 7000 new homes, to create 3000 new jobs and to bring in £50m on inward investment. There were challenges to face but the plan provided a focus for capital investment. The City Mayor added that he needed to emphasise the difference between capital investment and the very serious crisis in revenue spend.
Revenue Budget
Councillor Dempster asked the City Mayor whether he would agree that the challenges with the revenue budget meant that the Council could only provide statutory services.
The City Mayor confirmed that this was correct. It was necessary to reduce revenue spending by very significant amounts and as a result, it might not be possible to continue to provide non-statutory services, either wholly or partially. The cuts were unprecedented in the history of English local government.
Eco Management and Audit System (EMAS) and move to a different standard.
Councillor Dempster reported that a decision had been recently made to move from EMAS to a different standard and she questioned the reason for this.
The City Mayor responded that he understood that EMAS was now dated and the new standard was more stringent. He had been told that the costs of inspection remained the same and there were no cost implications for services as a result of the change. The City Mayor added that the council wanted to maintain their energy management standards.
Grammar Schools
Councillor Dempster sought the City Mayor’s assurances that he would fight any proposals to move to a Grammar School system. She expressed strong concerns that the mental health of children could be affected by the outcome of exams they had taken at the age of 10 or 11. Councillor Dempster added that every year she had increasing confidence that all the schools in Leicester helped every child fulfil their potential.
The City Mayor confirmed that he would campaign against Grammar Schools as vigorously as possible. He said that the secondary schools in the city had dramatically improved and be believed that the prospect of further changes to the education system would not be helpful to schools or the pupils. The City Mayor commented that the prospect of labelling children at that age as ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ was appalling. In the past, the majority of children were classed as failed and that label had remained with them throughout their lives. He thought that the system was cruel and unnecessary because the argument that Grammar Schools provided a higher quality education or promoted social mobility was a myth.
Franklyn Fields
Councillor Porter expressed a view that that the Council had misled residents by stating that the land on Franklyn Fields was an allocated site for housing in the Local Plan. He asked whether the City Mayor was aware of this.
The City Mayor responded that he was not aware of this but would be happy to check to see if information had been correctly represented. The City Mayor suggested that if there were concerns about a misrepresentation, it would be helpful if evidence and prior notice had been given so that he could ascertain the validity of Councillor Porter’s concern.
Councillor Porter also asked for details of the discussion that took place with Morris Homes in relation to Franklyn Fields. He expressed a view that Morris Homes had received preferential treatment and asked for the reason for this.
The City Mayor added that discussions had taken place between potential developers and officers of the Council. He offered to send the decision notice, the recommendations of officers and all the information that was possible to put into the public domain.
|
Action |
By |
|
For information relating to Morris Homes and Franklyn Fields, to be sent to Councillor Porter |
City Mayor’s Office |
Local Plan
Councillor Porter asked when the consultation would start for the new Local Plan.
The City Mayor replied that he would respond in writing in the near future.
|
Action |
By |
|
For a response to be sent to Councillor Porter, in respect of his question regarding the consultation on the new Local Plan |
City Mayor’s Office. |
Leisure Centres
Councillor Newcombe asked when a report on the Leisure Centre Facilities Review would be forthcoming. This question had been asked at a Scrutiny Commission meeting held prior to the May 2015 election and Members had been advised that the report would be ready after that election.
The City Mayor replied that he thought this would be ready before the end of the year but he would check and respond to Councillor Newcombe.
|
Action |
By |
|
For information to be sent to Councillor Newcombe, on when a report on the Leisure Centre Facilities Review would be available. |
City Mayor’s Office |
Budgetary savings
Councillor Malik expressed a concern that during a time when the Council had to make cuts to important services to secure financial savings; the message as to reason why savings had to be made was not always being communicated effectively in the media.
The City Mayor responded that it was frustrating when the media allowed the impression to be given that the Council were making cuts to service through choice. The severe cuts in funding from the government were unprecedented and out of proportion to the cuts they were making in their own departments. Savings of this nature could not be made by re-organisation alone but inevitably involved cuts to front line services, though the Council tried to protect them. The City Mayor asked everyone to remind people that the cuts were being made due to the reductions in government funding.