- From Members of the Public
- From Councillors
Minutes:
Lord Mayor: Moving on to questions. The next item is questions from members of the public, so I would like to invite Mr. Daniel Woolman to ask his question please.
Mr. Daniel Woolman: Hello Council and thank you for giving me the opportunity to ask this question. Given the recent IPCC report giving us only 11 years to act urgently on climate change, will the Council now consider putting forward a motion similar to what up to today 17 other UK councils have done and declare a climate emergency? The next sustainability action plan could then be informed by this urgent need to bring carbon neutrality for this city forward to 2025 or at least 2030 as councils such as Bristol, Manchester etc have done.
Lord Mayor: Thank you. Councillor Clarke.
Councillor Clarke: Thank you my Lord Mayor and thank you Daniel for the question. My Lord Mayor right now we are facing a manmade disaster of global scale. Our greatest threat in thousands of years – climate change. If we don’t take action the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon. My Lord Mayor they are not my words, but they are the words of our very own Sir David Attenborough when he made his address at the people’s seat to world leaders at COP24 last month. My Lord Mayor this is indeed a climate emergency and I will be putting that in writing following this meeting. This is what the sounds tells us and this is what Sir David reflected in his address and who are we to disagree with him. As a City Council we do have a longstanding commitment to taking action on climate change being a leading city with carbon reduction targets set in the 1990s – well before national targets were set. We are one of the few UK cities to participate fully in the international carbon disclosure project, known as the CDP, that monitors and aims to reduce emissions. We are a member of UK100 a coalition of local authorities pledging to source 100% clean energy and we are a signatory to the covenant of Mayors. We are on track to exceed our current targets for City Council and city-wide emissions. However, when the facts change we must change. The role of the government is critical in delivering the carbon reductions required identified in the IPCC report, as well as enabling councils and other local stakeholders to play their part effectively, I will continue to lobby national government along with lead Members from other cities to drive legislation and provide resources to enable local delivery of low carbon solutions to deliver the target.
Of course, we must ensure that our environmental protections are not eroded as a result of leaving the EU if indeed we do leave. It is incumbent on city leaders and local authorities to recognise our role in addressing this climate emergency. More than 50% of the world’s population lives in cities, cities account for 70% of global CO2 emissions, and cities consume more than 66% of the world’s energies. That is why our next sustainability action plan will do as Mr. Woolman has requested and we will recognise the IPCC report and set out a clear road map to zero emissions in the quickest time possible and in line with the IPCC report’s findings. This will help to limit warming to at most 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. So, we have to redouble our efforts to provide low carbon solutions in the areas of transport, buildings, waste, energy generation as we have done since the 1990s. We must continue to be seen to lead.
So my Lord Mayor in conclusion, in response to a question later in the script I will be providing more evidence of what we have done, but rest assured in answer to the question from Mr. Woolman, in answer to the independent panel on climate change, in answer to Sir David Attenborough, we will do all that we can to respond to this climate emergency. Thank you to you and thank you to the campaigners who have come here this evening.
Lord Mayor: Mr. Woolman would you like to ask a supplementary question?
Mr. Woolman: No that is fine.
Lord Mayor: OK. Thank you very much. I therefore invite Miss. Michaela Smith to ask her question please.
Michaela Smith: Good evening. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government recently invited local authorities to submit an expression of interest in taking part in the innovation in democracy programme. This will involve citizens in decision making at local government level through innovative models of participatory democracy. The aim is to open up a policy decision to citizen deliberation through a citizens’ assembly process complemented by online civic technology tools in order to extend the reach, transparency and accountability of the process. Funding of £60,000 to cover costs and the assistance of an expert democracy support contractor will be provided by the departments. Has Leicester City Council submitted an application for the innovation in democracy programme? If so given the severity of the climate crisis upon us and the urgency of mitigating further harm, would Council agree to seize the opportunity offered by this programme to institute a citizens’ assembly to develop a road map towards a sustainable, resilient city fit for the future. If Leicester City Council has not applied for the innovation and democracy programme would Council nonetheless institute a citizens’ assembly so tasked? Would Council agree to abide by and implement the findings of this assembly as a mark of respect for the voice of the people?
Lord Mayor: City Mayor.
City Mayor: Thank you my Lord Mayor. The Council has not submitted an application for the innovation in democracy programme. Although listening and involving people in Leicester is always an important principle to us at this time it is not something we have considered as an option – having a citizens’ assembly. But I am certainly open, and I am sure my colleagues are, to considering proposals which seek even more effectively to involve people in considering policies and actions for the future. Certainly, we shall take this suggestion away for some further consideration and I would not automatically rule it out. We do have of course many ways already of involving people in decision making, ranging from a wide range of technology based approaches such as our social media polls, our online consultation platform and this is something that is used by many public sector organisations but I think which we have used particularly innovatively and particularly successfully, and of course you know, none of those new forms replace the enormous advantage of actually talking to people face to face and we do have a number of forums in which such face to face style takes place from the Young People’s Council, Older People’s Forum, the Faith and Community Forum and of course inevitably specific focus groups and other forms of surveys and engagement. The development of further actions to address the significant issues of climate change though must of course be informed by the views of those who live and work in the city, and you know following on from the response from Councillor Clarke, I am sure you know we will want to make sure that in that most vital of all issues we continue to engage with the people of the city as effectively as possible. But the short answer is that at this stage we have not made such an expression of interest but of course we are open to persuasion.
Lord Mayor: Miss Smith do you want to ask a supplementary question?
Michaela Smith: No thank you.
Lord Mayor: OK. Thank you very much for your question. Next item is question from Councillors. I will only read out the relevant rules if I deem it necessary during questioning. So, the first question is from Councillor Pantling.
Councillor Pantling: Thank you my Lord Mayor. A number of our tenants have been in contact with myself and Councillor Cleaver with concerns about the letter they have received concerning the proposed changes to the tenancy agreement. Could you please explain the process and what effect this will have on the rights of our tenants? Thank you, my Lord Mayor.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Connelly.
Councillor Connelly: Thank you Councillor Pantling for the question. The recent letter that has been sent out to all tenants is about the conditions of their tenancy. This is a legally binding agreement between the Leicester City Council as the landlord and all the tenants living in Leicester City Council owned residential accommodation. We are proposing to change the current tenancy conditions to update the document and bring it in line with current legislation. It has been nearly 10 years since we last updated this document and many of the existing terms, obligations and conditions will remain the same, but some will need to be changed. We are legally obliged to consult all our tenants whenever we change the conditions of tenancy. The letter that has been sent out outlines this and gives tenants an opportunity to make any comments about changes that are being proposed. The consultation period opened on the 7th January and finishes on the 4th February. Once the consultation has ceased we will obviously review and consider all the responses before determining a final document.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Pantling do you have a supplementary question?
Councillor Pantling: Do you feel that as landlord representing the City Council we should set a good example to the private rental landlord in how we treat our tenants?
Lord Mayor: Assistant City Mayor.
Councillor Connelly: The short answer to that is obviously yes. I will reassure Councillors and tenants who may be watching and listening that once the consultation period is finished and we have determined a final document, that document will be going to Housing Scrutiny so there is the opportunity for Housing Scrutiny to obviously discuss and make comments on our proposed changes and subsequently it will go on to the Executive. So, if Councillors on behalf of their constituents, their tenants, wish to make comments I would certainly welcome those comments.
Lord Mayor: Question 2, Councillor Cutkelvin.
Councillor Cutkelvin: Thank you my Lord Mayor. A number of years ago I made enquiries as to create a small street art mural at the Green Hut on Saffron Lane Tic Toc Park. I was told by officers that this would never be approved. Now that the city has embraced street art and is using it to celebrate what is important to us, can I please have permission from the City Mayor himself to pursue this idea using money from our community ward fund?
Lord Mayor: City Mayor.
City Mayor: Thank you my Lord Mayor. I do very much welcome this suggestion. In fact Members will be aware we now have some very high quality street art in parts of the city, particularly in the city centre, and I think that there is increasing recognition that you know it is something that appropriately located and well done can add very much to the quality of the environment of the city. So, I do welcome this suggestion and I do believe that it would be a very good use of Ward community funding if that is what local people would like to do and what Ward Councillors would support. For those Members who do not know this particular building, it is a kiosk and it is not in particularly good condition. Obviously, anything we do to it you know needs to have the approval and engagement of the occupier and those who use it. Certainly, I do see the potential for street art in locations such as this and certainly in this particular location something that might give a spurt to improve the condition of the actual building itself. A number of issues around it, including tree roots and other things causing problems for its users, but all of those could be dealt with alongside of the introduction of street art there. So, I believe the short answer is yes, I do think it is a good thing to do. I do think it is an appropriate thing to do if that is what local people and the Ward Councillors want and I do believe though that it does need to be looked at in the context of the condition and the usage of the building itself in rather more comprehensive form that just to put paint on it. But having said that I welcome the question and the proposal.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Cutkelvin a supplementary?
Councillor Cutkelvin: No thank you my Lord Mayor.
Lord Mayor: Question 3, Councillor Chaplin.
Councillor Chaplin: Thank you my Lord Mayor. If Banksy reads the Leicester Mercury let’s hope that he comes to Leicester, Stoneygate has spaces and areas that could well do with a Banksy as well as Tic Toc Park. Question number 3 is to ask the Assistant Mayor for Housing how many meetings he has had in the last 12 months with: housing associations, housing department staff in the Council and other landlords to discuss ways to improve homes (most often flats) in converted large old houses in Leicester’s conservation areas?
Lord Mayor: Assistant City Mayor Councillor Connelly.
Councillor Connelly: Thank you Councillor Chaplin for the question. I can confirm that I have not met with any of the organisations or people quoted to specifically discuss ways to improve homes or flats in converted houses in Leicester’s conservation areas. I have had discussions and the Council has been surveying such property in the conservation area, in turn conservation areas in the city as a result we have recently announced that we are making £60,000 available for grants towards replacement of traditional wooden doors and windows in conservation areas and particularly in the Spinney Hill conservation area and also by monies allocated within the housing revenue account to also begin improving Council properties in conservation areas in the city.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Chaplin do you have a supplementary?
Councillor Chaplin: Thank you my Lord Mayor. Thank you for your announcement about the funding and well done Spinney Ward. Obviously these homes have got high ceilings, they have got big windows, single glazing and people often have come to me with problems of damp and mould which lead to health and well-being problems and given especially what Councillor Clarke has said in response to the question about climate change, I do think that it would be worth it if organisations could co-ordinate because many of the homes in Stoneygate Ward are also housing association homes and again it is about giving an example to other landlords. So I would ask if you could agree to set up regular meetings with these organisations with a view to ensuring that some of the families who are in these homes who are already struggling with day to day expenses are not also the ones who are hit with the highest energy bills in the cold weather, and I hope you will be able to given an assurance that it will become something that would be regularly on the meeting agenda with these organisations.
Lord Mayor: Assistant City Mayor.
Councillor Connelly: My thanks for the suggestion from Councillor Chaplin. Obviously one of the issues about replacing windows and doors in conservations areas is obviously the fact that we can’t replace them with UPVC and we believe we should be setting an example within these areas so where they do need replacing we replace them sympathetically, and last year we did that with two council hostels on Loughborough Road and Lower Hastings Street we were able to bring them back into use and conservations officers were helping to make that happen. In respect of future meetings with housing associations and private landlords, as Councillor Chaplin knows both me and her have not been re-selected and I can’t give a commitment from whoever succeeds me in this role, but I will pass on this to them whoever it is, to ensure that happens.
Lord Mayor: Thank you. Question 4, Councillor Barton.
Councillor Barton: Thank you my Lord Mayor. Last autumn the International Panel on Climate Change released a report that warned there is only a dozen years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5 degrees celsius, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. What steps are Leicester City Council taking to address factors contributing to climate change locally? And I know you have already said some of those things.
Lord Mayor: Deputy City Mayor Councillor Clarke do you want to expand.
Councillor Clarke: I would love to expand my Lord Mayor. I have a very long list in front of me and I am happy to share this with whoever would wish to see it but I will give you an indicative idea of what we are doing corporately to meet the challenge that faces us thus far. Our carbon footprint in the Council has reduced by over 37% over the last 10 years and the city-wide emissions have fallen by 44% since 1990 and by all accounts I am told this is an excellent record. So, there has been a 58% reduction in emissions through the replacement of our street lights so we now have LED street lights across the city and we were one of the first councils to implement a programme to do that. Over 40% cut in emissions to our buildings, to council buildings which has been achieved through those efficiency measures that we have been carrying out. There is obviously the energy brand that we have launched recently, Fosse Energy, which provides 100% renewable energy and I know there is something about 100% renewable regeneration that we need to address nationally and internally as well, but we are doing out bit in the city here. Solar PV panels on council buildings at City Hall and our leisure centres, we are looking to expand that programme currently as well. Our district heating network it happens beneath us but that is saving 50,000 tonnes of CO2 since 2012 which is a huge contributor to our savings. Our planning applications, the major ones are required to address climate change, Connecting Leicester, a massive programme of the City Mayor which promotes sustainable transport. We have a European funded green belt project which gives funding to business. We have the EDI-Net project which I should have declared earlier which is a partnership with De Montfort University. I see Councillor Porter has left us but he would have liked to have heard that. We have an eco schools programme. We do work with the Environment Agency around our river catchment area to prevent the flooding of our own city, but also, we do this work to prevent flooding and other severe weather events round the world and as I said earlier it is incumbent on us to keep doing this and actually to ramp up this progress that I describe. Thank you my Lord Mayor.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Barton a supplementary?
Councillor Barton: Thanks. That is good news that we are making so many positive initiatives and changes locally but Leicester is just one city in a very, very big world and how are we going to co-operate to make sure that other cities and communities around the world are able to take similar actions because we can’t do this on our own it is an international problem for humanity.
Lord Mayor: Deputy City Mayor Councillor Clarke.
Councillor Clarke: Thank you my Lord Mayor. As I said earlier we are a member of the UK100 national network of local authorities and looking to address the need for cleaner energy. We are a signatory to various covenants, particularly the covenant of mayors which is an international covenant. We are obviously currently partaking in EU projects which enables the information sharing and knowledge sharing across Europe, and there are other networks such as the energy cities network that we are also active in. So, it is about co-operation and hopefully continued cross-European funding of some sort at least as well. I should say that in your own Ward Councillor Barton you will be aware of the 380 homes in New Parks that are connected to the district heating network as well as the swimming pool, community centre, New College and Forest Lodge. The Western Park Eco House revitalisation where we are looking to put passive housing into many of the buildings around the Eco house and indeed in the Eco house itself. So, there are lots of things happening very locally to you that will help to make that impact in the city and globally.
Lord Mayor: Thank you, moving on to question number ….
Unknown: Why don’t you declare an emergency?
Councillor Clarke: I did earlier Madam.
Unknown: I did not hear it. Sorry. Thank you.
Lord Mayor: You will be able to refer back to that on the webcast and it will be in the minutes. Can I move on to question number 5, Councillor Riyait.
Councillor Riyait: Thank you my Lord Mayor. The school parking proposal for Alderman Richard Hallam show key plans for double yellow lines on the corners of certain streets off Avebury Avenue are not being implemented. My Lord Mayor following some additional information I have had I would like to change the last sentence to why have these plans been delayed? Thank you.
Lord Mayor: Assistant City Mayor Councillor Master.
Councillor Master: Thank you Lord Mayor. Thank you Councillor Riyait for the question and the slight change because it surprised me as well when I saw the question. However, I can give him some reassurance that the plans for the double yellow lines are being taken forward and officers will begin the consultation process later this month to confirm the proposals and the Traffic Regulation Orders as you know for the necessary works to be undertaken. We are also planning to install new bollards, a pram crossing and pedestrian guard rails which we expect this work is due to get underway during the month of February this year.
Lord Mayor: A supplementary question Councillor Riyait?
Councillor Riyait: Yes thank you my Lord Mayor. Thank you for that Councillor Master. It is really good to hear that you know some key parts of the plan are proceeding. It is good to see the double yellow lines are not halting the proceedings and that is the information that I was a party to that it was a misinterpretation from myself. The only slightly disappointing thing is obviously Councillor Master came to the Council I think it was last February/ March time indicating that the full proposals would be implemented by the end of last year so I would ask Councillor Master to ensure that you know we do make progress on these double yellow lines and there is not any further delay. Thank you.
Councillor Master: Thank you Lord Mayor and I will absolutely take that back and ensure that they are timetabled as I have said so you can pass that information on to the relevant parties that I am sure are questioning you about that too.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Riyait question number 6.
Councillor Riyait: Thank you Lord Mayor. Why is a single mum with a disabled child and young daughter been languishing in our temporary hostel for 11 months. Doesn’t this show something is seriously wrong?
Lord Mayor: Assistant City Mayor Councillor Connelly.
Councillor Connelly: Thank you for the question. I can confirm that this family have been in one of our hostels since March 2018. It is highly unusual for a family to have a protracted stay in one of our hostels. The average length of stay at the moment for families is between three and four months. However, in this case the waiting time has been longer than would normally be expected and this is due to the particular needs that the family feel they require in their next accommodation. There are some health needs however and these have been assessed by the disabled children’s services team and there are no specific adaptations or aids required. The family has identified what they believe are property related specifics that would help. The family have also been told both by the disabled children’s services and Housing that by placing particular requirements on any prospective accommodation it will unfortunately elongate their wait for what they consider would be suitable accommodation to move into. The Council’s legal duty under homelessness provisions could be discharged by simply offering them a three-bedroom house. They have been reluctant to move to discharge this duty with any offer and we have been working alongside the family to try and achieve the best that we can from what is available. This is not however going to meet all their expectations and therefore we will continue to support and advise the family to achieve the best possible outcome for them.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Riyait a supplementary question?
Councillor Riyait: Thank you for that Councillor Connelly. You are right to say that the housing options have been trying to work hard to try and find accommodation for this family and I met with housing options and the person involved recently and they certainly are trying to do what they can for the family I am assured of that, and it is a very difficult and obviously upsetting case because obviously I understand you know there are certain requirements from the family and they have you know I think they have, I mean we could argue about this but they have some reasonable expectations. I mean it is difficult for the single mother and I think it is a case where you know this has been going on for quite a long time now and I know that we have made an exceptional case now but I really would ask you know for us to see that not only are we looking after the housing needs but also the emotional and welfare both of the mother and of the children. I think that is lacking and I would ask whether it is Councillor Connelly or other Members of the Executive that they really do look at whether we are supporting them while we look for accommodation. Thank you.
Lord Mayor: Assistant City Mayor.
Councillor Connelly: Thank you Councillor. I can offer that assurance that housing and children’s services are working hand in hand to try and deliver a solution to this family’s unfortunate housing problem and obviously will continue to endeavour to resolve it as soon as possible. I am pleased to hear you, Councillor, praised the work of the housing options team in trying to resolve this issue. I am sure they will be pleased to hear his praise.
Lord Mayor: Ok, thank you. I am now going to take the questions in a slightly different order. I will take the questions from Councillor Rae Bhatia next. So, we will move on to question number 10.
Councillor Rae Bhatia: Thank you my Lord Mayor. I think climate change and the environment seems to be the theme of the day and I thank Councillor Clarke for his earlier commitment on the environment. My question actually is quite linked to that. There is a lot of interest in the recently announced shared bike scheme from various organisations including the shopping centre in Beaumont Leys. Can the Deputy Mayor advise when can we expect this scheme to be rolled out to areas like Beaumont Leys where it has already seen the demand and will also not only be useful to the residents but environmentally will be good? Thank you.
Lord Mayor: Deputy City Mayor Councillor Clarke.
Councillor Clarke: Thank you my Lord Mayor and thank you to Councillor Bhatia for the question. As Councillor Bhatia says we are currently developing options for a public bike share system in the city. That is obviously subject to the resources that are required to deliver such a scheme. Places like Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre and the employment area in Beaumont Leys do potentially lend themselves to a bike share scheme and the facilities required in the future. Officers did recently meet with those that manage the shopping centre and are currently reviewing the options in light of the enthusiasm that was shown there. The first phase of the proposals for the bike share scheme will be focusing on employment areas, the inner neighbourhoods of the city closer to the city centre, the major transport interchanges, the major employers as I said, the education campuses and the retail and recreational sites that generate a high enough level of regular trips that can readily switch to cycling. So, in future phases we will certainly be looking at the wider city area, but I know that there are discreet conversations happening at the moment with the shopping centre and I will be more than happy to carry on the conversation beyond this meeting to see how that conversation develops. Thank you my Lord Mayor.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Rae Bhatia have you got a supplementary?
Councillor Rae Bhatia: No, thank you for that.
Lord Mayor: OK moving on to question 11 then Councillor.
Councillor Rae Bhatia: OK. With the planned improvement of Anstey Lane to A46 junction to accommodate Ashton Green traffic impact which begins in summer this year, can the City Mayor say if we can expect the City Highways to deliver the Glenfrith Way double lane changes close to the roundabout at the same time which was petitioned earlier by hundreds of local residents of Beaumont Leys and surrounding areas? Thank you.
Lord Mayor: Bear with me. City Mayor to reply.
City Mayor: Thank you Lord Mayor and I thank Councillor Bhatia for this question because it does remind us that the petitioners did request an additional lane northeast bound on Glenfrith Way towards the Anstey Lane junction some time earlier in the year and although there are currently no plans to construct additional lanes on that part leading up to the A46 to inform the A46 works at Anstey Lane which are largely funded through Homes England are taking place and when they are completed there will be an opportunity for us to look at whether they have helped or hindered the particular stretch that he and the petitioners are concerned about. The suggestion does have some merit because this undoubtedly, and I have seen it myself, does form a lengthy queue towards the junction in this single lane. Obviously, we will need when the current work is completed to give it a thorough review and that may well be the time to look at giving a high priority to this additional lane. Unfortunately at the moment there is not any funding available for such a scheme and obviously we would need to seek to find a source of funding but it is also I think a matter of very obvious fact that the pressure on the roads on that side of the city is one that is already quite significant and is likely to grow with the increasing housing and other development that is taking place in the surrounding area. I do undertake to keep it under review and to look for opportunities to actually deal with the issue.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Rae Bhatia a supplementary?
Councillor Bhatia: No thank you.
Lord Mayor: OK moving on to your question 12.
Councillor Bhatia: Thank you Lord Mayor. The school run time traffic situation outside Buswells Lodge Primary school on Beauville Drive is going from bad to worse by the day. The altercations between the residents and those arriving to drop their kids as well as amongst the drivers themselves is now happening quite frequently. Despite my earlier request on improving the road markings and some adjustments to the layout including school’s involvement in guiding the parents to walk to school, nothing has come forth. Please can I request the Council to pick this matter up with urgency and come up with a viable solution in consultation with the local residents of the street? Thank you.
Lord Mayor: Assistant City Mayor Councillor Master.
Councillor Master: Thank you Lord Mayor and Councillor Bhatia for the question. We are taking a range of measures around all of our schools and the school run parking situation including Buswells Lodge. We will soon be in the process of consulting over the double yellow lines in the same package that I mentioned to Councillor Riyait earlier in the question. We have installed pencil bollards already at the school gates to help prevent inconsiderate parking which has been highlighted previously and we have also put child bollards which have been installed on the corners of Beauville Drive to help warn motorists that they are approaching a school area and entering a school zone. We are installing additional features to support the school crossing patrol including warning signs with flashing amber lights and new dropped kerbs with tactile paving. In regard to working with Sustrans and with the school to encourage parents and the children to take advantage of all cycling and walking initiatives as part of a healthy air awards scheme, this is also being undertaken at this moment in time. So, there are a number of initiatives that are happening in this particular school as are school run parking issues across the whole of the city.
Lord Mayor: A supplementary Councillor Rae Bhatia?
Councillor Bhatia: Just a quick add on to that. I would request the City Mayor to you know come over and visit the school area during the school run time and see for himself actually the gravity of the situation and that is my request to you know expedite this in an urgent manner. That is all. Thank you.
Lord Mayor: Assistant City Mayor Master do you want to accept this invitation.
Councillor Master: Thank you my Lord Mayor. I have actually been out to the school but I would be happy to come out again and see it first hand with yourself so I can speak to any of the teaching staff, parents or whoever else are around. But just to exaggerate the point in regards to the work that we are doing, there are 120 schools across the city, 53 which currently have school working plans already undertaken which are designed with the schools and with our teams. We have installed over 180 pencil bollards and we have done 44 sting operations which involved the police, the civil enforcement officers and city wardens. Some of this is not just about the physical things that we can do as a local authority, but it is about educating parents not to put their own children and other children at risk and I think that is something else that we still need to work on collectively.
Lord Mayor: OK, now returning to question 7, Councillor Willmott.
Councillor Willmott: Thank you my Lord Mayor and thank you for changing the order. I would like to ask Councillor Clair it is to tell me, how many breaches of planning, and it should say permissions not applications I did revised the wording but it has not got into the order papers because you obviously can’t breach an application so it should say permissions, there have been over the last 3 years and of these how many cases have we taken enforcement action. I will take the rest as read Chair.
Lord Mayor: Deputy City Mayor Councillor Clair.
Councillor Clair: Thank you my Lord Mayor. In the last 3 years 2,273 formal reports of alleged breaches were recorded and received by the enforcement team. Formal action was taken on 48 of those cases. 206 enforcement cases were developments recorded as not in accordance with permission – of these, all breaches considered potentially actionable were resolved through negotiations without resorting to service of an enforcement notice including through submission of amended proposals or retrospective applications. Government guidance requires formal action to only be taken as a last resort and only where significant harm to amenity can be proven. The planning application database cannot be searched for the requested data because it will take officers more time. It is not impossible, but at short notice it is not actually available at the moment to search for the number of applications refused, which then proceeded and were subsequently amended and approved by retrospective applications. If there are, my Lord Mayor, any particular cases Councillor Willmott is referring to I am happy to forward to planning officers and they can meet with Councillor Willmott or he can directly ask the officer to provide the information.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Wilmott a supplementary?
Councillor Willmott: Thank you my Lord Mayor. Yes, I do thank Councillor Clair for his answer. I do appreciate the offer of meeting on particulars, but I would say I would express concern that out of 2,273 if I have written it down right, breaches of planning permissions, there were only 48 enforcement actions taken. Now I understand, obviously, that there is a lot of negotiation goes on; but this is a concern raised by a lot of people over a long period of time anecdotally which is why I want to understand the scale of the issue, and it does seem to me to be that not a great deal of enforcement action is being taken, which I think could undermine the planning process. My question really to Councillor Clair is would it he agree with me and perhaps we can get Scrutiny or himself to look at some of these cases to see if there is anything more in this because I think the planning process credibility depends on us being able to enforce and stick to the regulations and if people are able to develop and then we don’t take enforcement action it undermines the planning process. Now on the face of these numbers it is a concern to me and I would like to ask for further work to be done either at Executive or Scrutiny level on this issue. Thank you Chair.
Lord Mayor: Deputy City Mayor.
Councillor Clair: Yes Chair, it is those numbers which I have mentioned 2,273; they are the reported incidents as complaints where sometimes the perception may be from the neighbour, that even minor things are reported for example, the fence erection of the next-door neighbour, or probably extension. There is a permitted right from the government with new changes to the legislation of planning rules that planning applications are not always required, and even I was surprised when one of my constituents as well as Councillor Willmott, we are co-Councillors, that in Peebles Way an application was actually published that the person wanted to have a six metre extension at the rear garden and I took that case and then I came to know this is unless the resident’s next door neighbour has made a complaint we would have investigated, but because it is the government changes for permitted development you can’t do anything. And similarly, this applies to minor extensions and some porches. So, these are the issues, sometimes there is a perception and sometimes there is a real concern which is reported and included in those numbers, but investigation takes place, officers visit and some of them as I said are resolved and some of them are investigated, and some of them pursue legal action, but I note what Councillor Willmott has suggested. Yes, I will take that back that we need to have a more thorough look that every complaint is dealt with appropriately on its own merit.
Lord Mayor: Question 8, Councillor Willmott.
Councillor Willmott: Thank you my Lord Mayor. How many breaches of planning permissions were in conservation areas in the city and in how many cases did we take enforcement action. I am asking this obviously to test whether we are, if you like, harsher in our enforcement in conservation areas a bit like Councillor Connelly was saying about the new UPVC windows in conservation areas and whether we are actually or do the numbers tell the same story? Thank you Chair.
Lord Mayor: Thank you for the additional context. Deputy City Mayor Councillor Clair.
Councillor Clair: Thank you my Lord Mayor. First, I would like to put on record that we had a conservation area even when I was Councillor for Charnwood Ward, which was in the Spinney Hill area around the park and we have a dedicated team and we have a commitment to preserve our conservation and to advise and work with our constituents. This applies in Stoneygate and many other parts of the city. So, a total of 29 alleged breaches of planning permissions formally reported which fell within the conservation areas, were dealt with in the last three years. Of these all, of the alleged breaches considered potentially actionable were resolved through negotiations without resorting to service of a formal enforcement notice. But I have a breakdown of each area, how many there were, which areas it was, right from city centre, Stoneygate and Spinney Hill and many other areas like West End and Belgrave. But I am happy to provide that and probably hand this information now to Ross Willmott if he so wishes.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Wilmott do you have a supplementary?
Councillor Willmott: I thank Councillor Clair for his answer. I think he said there were 29 alleged breaches but no enforcement action, if I have understood that correctly, was taken in conservation areas. I would like therefore to ask him, and I will provide him the details after the meeting, of a particular case in a conservation area where planning permission for a development of a terraced house was refused as overdevelopment by the Council. The developer, who is a developer this is not a domestic you know sort of getting something a bit wrong in terms of how things get built up which does happen, the developer had overpaid for the house at auction, then proceeded with the development, in a conservation area, and has refused to apply for retrospective permission and we don’t propose to take any enforcement action. I think that I would refer this to Councillor Clair and ask him to reconsider and look at whether we ought to be taking enforcement action because it seems again to undermine the very nature of the conservation area status in parts of our city and brings our policies, you know, undermines our policies I think and I think there may be good reasons and arguments but we need to examine that and I would ask him to look at this case in particular. Thank you Chair.
Lord Mayor: Deputy City Mayor.
Councillor Clair: I agree with Councillor Willmott and I am happy to investigate that particular case which he is referring to, if he can pass on to me details of that particular property and the developer or the particular issue which may have arisen from that.
Lord Mayor: And our final question for this evening Councillor Willmott, question 9.
Councillor Willmott: Thank you my Lord Mayor. Will Councillor Master tell me how much of the capital allocated to the transforming neighbourhoods scheme will be available for Rushey Mead? Thank you.
Lord Mayor: Assistant City Mayor Councillor Master.
Councillor Master: Thank you Lord Mayor. It was determined at the back end of last year, in October 2018, that the decision to merge the Rushey Mead Library and Recreation Centre buildings will not presently be progressed. Therefore, there are currently no plans to progress this merger at this present time, there will be no further call on any capital spend for this project under the transforming neighbourhood services project.
Lord Mayor: Councillor Willmott a supplementary?
Councillor Willmott: That is a very disappointing answer my Lord Mayor and not entirely unexpected but predictable, but still nonetheless disappointing I have to say. I would just like therefore to ask Councillor Master just to look at that again. There are some works needed to the recreation centre, the toilets, the cooker ought to be replaced with a like for like cooker. We are not talking about large sums of money and would ask him to look within his budgets to see if it is possible to find the necessary resources to put those small things right in the recreation centre. There was £100,000 allocated in TNS which clearly has not been spent so that is a saving that could go somewhere else, perhaps we could have a small proportion of that to ensure that the centres that he has kindly kept open can be brought into fit use, for use by the community in Rushey Mead. Thank you my Lord Mayor.
Lord Mayor: Assistant City Mayor.
Councillor Master: Just when we thought the storm had cleared. Thank you, Lord Mayor. Just in regard to some of the works that we have undertaken in remedial works since the decision was made not to merge the centre and that was part of the decision for doing that; to make sure that the centres were up to speed. But we have spent approximately £8,000 on the recreation centre and the library doing minor changes, some decorating work, some windows and doors and some roof and remedial stuff in the two buildings. I am happy if Councillor Willmott has got any additionals that he thinks are still outstanding and I would be happy to look at those along with any Ward funding contributions that he would like to make to those buildings.