Agenda item

-           Presented by Members of the Public

-           Presented by Councillors

-           Petitions to be debated

            5.1       Belgrave Library

            5.2       Adventure Playgrounds

PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

The Lord Mayor stated that no petitions from members of the public had been received for presentation at the meeting.

PETITIONS FROM COUNCILLORS

Councillor Singh presented a petition with 71 signatures in the following terms:

“We the undersigned residents of the City of Leicester request the City Council to assist in starting a bus service along Barkbythorpe Road to help alleviate the daily travel needs of young school children, elderly residents and families living in the local area who currently have no access to public transport”.

Councillor Sandhu presented a petition with 108 signatures in the following terms:

“We the undersigned are residents of Hamilton that would like to urge Arriva Bus to consider an additional bus route which can be used for residents to access Belgrave en-route to the City Centre.  Arriva Bus already has the 58 and 58A bus routes that run to/from Hamilton.  We are requesting that a 58B route be created to the City Centre via Belgrave.”

The Lord Mayor stated that under Council Procedure Rule 13 the aforementioned petition would e referred to the Monitoring Officer for consideration and action as appropriate.

PETITIONS TO BE DEBATED

The Monitoring Officer noted that under the terms of the Council’s Petitions Scheme each petitioner had been invited to speak on their petition for a maximum of five minutes.  This would be followed by a debate on the issues raised by the petition for a maximum of 15 minutes.

5.1       A petition was presented by Mr Praful Mashru which had been verified as having the required number of verified signatures to trigger a debate and had been submitted in the following terms:

“We the undersigned firmly oppose Leicester City Council’s plan to:

1)         Close down the Belgrave Library with the intention of moving it to the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre. There is no room for books, computers, tables and other resources inside the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre and this will mean downscaling of the services.  Both buildings are regularly and heavily used. Belgrave Library is an invaluable resource for the pupils and families of local schools. Access to high quality literature is particularly essential during this period of economic hardship.  Losing Belgrave Library will have a massively damaging impact on the education and future life chances of young people in the area.

2)         Alter the provision of meals for the lunch club members.  The kitchen at the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre is adequate to provide freshly cooked and culturally appropriate vegetarian meals for the elderly; disabled and diabetic members of the lunch club. Members are paying £4.20 per plate for this per day. This lunch club is vitally important for the vulnerable and lonely elderly people who come and socialise at the centre.

3)         We strongly oppose Leicester City Council's plan to close the Belgrave Library and to relocate it to the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre”.

Moved by Councillor Master, seconded by Councillor Clarke and carried that:-

22.       That the petition be noted.

5.2       A petition was presented by Mr Kuljit Singh Walia which had been verified as having the required number of verified signatures to trigger a debate and had been submitted in the following terms:

“We the undersigned are petitioning Leicester City Council to withdraw the proposed cuts to the nine Adventure Playgrounds. This petition is by Leicester Playfair, representing Braunstone AP, Woodgate AP, Goldhill AP, The Whatcabin, St Andrews PA, Highfields AP, New Parks AP, Northfields Playbarn, Mowmacre YPPDA.  The proposed budget cuts would be devastating to each one of the 9 Adventure Playgrounds, possibly leading to their closure.  Once they have gone they have gone.”

In the light of the number of Members who indicated a wish to speak the Lord Mayor agreed to an extension of the debate by 5 minutes.

Moved by Councillor Russell, seconded by the City Mayor and carried that:-

23.       That the petition be noted and included as part of the consultation on the Early Years Review.