Agenda and minutes

The meeting of the Council will be called to order to receive His Worship The Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Members, Officers and those otherwise in attendance are asked to remain standing whilst the meeting is led in prayer by the Chaplin.

The meeting of the Council was called to order to receive His Worship The Mayor.

The meeting was led in prayer by the Chaplin.

An apology for absence was received from the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mrs S Z Haq, Councillors Miss A R Bond and R H Thakor and the Director of Services / Monitoring Officer, Mrs A E Court.

RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor Mrs L Eaton substitute for the Deputy Mayor as Vice Chair of the Council for the duration of the meeting.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

None.

To read, confirm and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 14 June 2016 in accordance with Rule 17 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 14 June 2016 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

To consider any Motions on Notice in accordance with Rule 12 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

The Council gave consideration to the Motion on Notice (at page 5) in respect of racism, xenophobia and hate crimes following the outcome of the result in the referendum of the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union. This should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Motion was moved by Councillor Mrs S B Morris.

The Member reported that an increasing number of reports from residents within the Borough had been received by Councillors regarding incidents of alleged racism, xenophobia and hate crime. She stated that all people ought to be considered and respected as “human beings” irrespective of race, colour, creed, or national origin and invited all Members to give their unanimous support to the Motion.

The Motion was seconded by Councillor J Kaufman.

The Member noted the significant increases in reported hate crimes at a national level and, in particular, within the areas in which the “leave” vote was the highest. He stated that, although there was no intimation that those who had voted “leave” were responsible, the outcome of the referendum had provided the opportunity and excuse to perpetrate such abuses. He emphasised that there was zero-tolerance towards such crimes within the Borough and encouraged all Members to act to stamp it out.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor B Dave, endorsed the Motion and the sentiments of Members’ earlier contributions. He noted the importance of all Members’ responsibility as community leaders to promote an inclusive and tolerant Borough. He said the issue of hate crime should never become a complacent one.

Councillor K J Loydall stated that discussions had been jointly-held in recent years by the Community Safety Partnership Group and the Police and Crime Panel to raise awareness of the subject-matter. He reported that at a meeting of the Leicestershire Safer Communities Strategy Board due to held on 8 September 2016 at County Hall, a vision statement (entitled a ‘Strategy Statement for Tackling Hate Crime’) was to be agreed as a basis of a pan-Leicestershire, multi-agency and cross-party initiative to realise the objectives of the Motion before Members.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

This Council notes:

(i)        As elected Members of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council (OWBC), we are very concerned about racism, xenophobia and hate crimes.

(ii)       Members of this Council remain committed to stamping out all forms of racism, xenophobia and hate crimes.

(iii)      OWBC already works with the police and other agencies to raise awareness of the causes and problems created by hate crimes and addresses these problems and will continue to do so.

(iv)      We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society where racism, xenophobia and hate crime have no place. We reassure all people living in the Borough that they are valued members of our community, and publicly condemn any such crimes.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor B Dave, left the Chamber at 7:23 pm.

To receive any Petitions and, or, Deputations in accordance with Rule 24 of Part 4 of the Constitution and to answer any Questions on Notice in accordance with Rule 11 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

Members are reminded that in accordance with Rule 11.1 of Part 4 of the Constitution, questions can be asked of the Leader of the Council and the Chair of a Committee without notice upon an item of the report of a Committee when that item is being receiving or is under consideration by the Council.

None.

The Mayor expressed his gratitude to all those who donated at the charitable collection held at Sainsburys on Bell Street, Wigston on 1 July 2016. He particularly noted the generosity and support of Councillors Miss A R Bond, D M Carter and Mrs S Z Haq for their fundraising efforts. He further thanked Councillor G A Boulter and his wife, Mrs L Boulter, for hosting a garden party on 27 August.

The Mayor further announced that a three-course charitable Autumn Lunch was to be held at the Glen Gorse Golf Club, Oadby on 16 October and that the Members’ Civic Service was to be held on 25 September at St Paul’s Church, Hamble Road, Oadby.

RESOLVED THAT:

The list of Official Mayoral Engagements attended by The Mayor and, or, Deputy Mayor be noted by Members.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor J W Boyce, spoke upon the adjournment debate granted to the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Harborough Constituency, The Rt Hon Sir Edward Garnier MP QC, regarding the Governance of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council as debated in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 06 September 2016.

The Leader described the speech delivered by Sir Edward as a recapitulation of - together with other concomitant matters - the ongoing issue(s) regarding the collective staff grievance against the Senior Management Team (SMT). He said that the information to which Sir Edward referred had already been shared with Members since the grievance’s inception, which Members’ were holding to account, and was freely available in the public domain (to the extent permissible by law). It was noted that neither he nor the Chief Executive was made aware that the debate was to go ahead until short-notice. He advised Members that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Mr Marcus Jones MP, was fully and honestly briefed by this Council prior to the debate. The documents that were provided to Mr Jones were tabled and circulated to Members at the meeting.

With reference to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary’s response, the Leader emphasised that the Council’s external auditor, KPMG, was not of the opinion that there was a threat to neither this Council’s viability nor any risk of service failure. He further sought to clarify that no Member or Officer at the Council had any former relationship with any of the two external Officers appointed to assist in the matter in question. He stated that the grievance was being dealt with in the most open and transparent way possible in conjunction with the ongoing work undertaken by the Change Management Committee to drive and deliver a schedule of Council-wide improvements together with the assistance of the Local Government Association (LGA). He noted the importance of concluding the matter in the proper fashion.

The Leader further emphasised that the Council enjoyed a highly-motivated and highly-trained complement of staff who worked tirelessly to make a difference to the Borough and proposed to Members that a list detailing the achievements made by the Council in the preceding year be published on the Council’s website thanking the same.

The Leader advised that he was prepared to answer Members’ questions by suspending the Council Procedure Rules set out in Part 4 of the Constitution.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris moved that the Council Procedure Rules (capable of suspension) as set out in Part 4 of the Constitution be suspended.

Councillors J Kaufman seconded Councillor Mrs S B Morris’ motion.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Council Procedure Rules (capable of suspension) as set out in Part 4 of the Constitution be suspended.

Votes For                   18

Votes Against            0

Abstentions               3

Councillor Mrs L M Broadley enquired as to: (i) what the Harborough MP’s motivation was behind the debate; (ii) why the Leader and, or, the Chief Executive was not formally approached by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

The Council gave consideration to the report (at pages 11-12) as delivered and summarised by the Chief Executive which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Leader of the Council moved the recommendation as set out at paragraph 2 of the report (at page 11).

The Deputy Leader of the Council seconded the recommendation.

Councillor Mrs H E Loydall requested, subject to the Chair of the Policy, Finance and Development Committee’s discretion, that all Members be informed of the relevant meeting of the Committee and to be given an opportunity to speak upon the item.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Council agrees that, due to the revised timescale, the progression of the Combined Authority for Leicester and Leicestershire be reported to and considered by the Policy, Finance and Development Committee at its most appropriate meeting during the Autumn Schedule.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (at pages 13-15) as delivered and summarised by the Senior Democratic Services Officer / Legal Officer which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Leader of the Council moved the recommendation as set out at paragraph 2 of the report (at page 13).

The Deputy Leader of the Council seconded the recommendation.

The Deputy Leader stated that, considering the circumstances, the re-appointment of the membership of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee on this occasion was not to set a precedent for adjusting other committee membership numbers in the future.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The nominated re-appointment of the membership of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2016/17 (in accordance with the appendix) be approved.

The Council will receive the minutes from the meetings of the below-mentioned Committees, Forums, Working Groups and Outside Bodies for the purposes of information in accordance with Rule 17 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes as set out at agenda item numbers 11a -11l (pages 16 - 85) from the meetings of the below-mentioned Committees, Forums, Working Groups and Outside Bodies for the purposes of information be received by the Council.