Agenda and minutes

It was moved by Mr Brown, seconded by Mr Barber and carried:

 

“That Mr David Knaggs be elected Chairman for the period until the next Annual Meeting of the Council.”

 

Mr Knaggs read out and signed his Declaration of Acceptance of Office which was witnessed and signed by the Chief Executive.

 

Mr Knaggs took the Chair and thanked his proposer and seconder and members of the Council for electing him.

 

The Chairman thanked Mrs Pullen and Mrs Newham, for services to the County during Mrs Pullen’s period of office as Chairman.  Mr Barber, Mr Brown and Mr Galton each joined the Chairman in associating their Groups with the thanks to Mrs Pullen and Mrs Newham.  Mrs Pullen thanked members for their generous remarks.

It was moved by Mr Barber, seconded by Mr Brown and carried:

 

“That Mr Peter Winkless be appointed Vice-Chairman for the period until the next Annual Meeting of the Council.”

 

Mr Winkless read out and signed his Declaration of Acceptance of Office which was witnessed and signed by the Chief Executive.

 

Mr Winkless thanked his proposer and seconder for their generous remarks and members of the Council for appointing him as Vice-Chairman.

Ashby Canal, Moira

 

The Chairman was pleased to report that the Ashby Canal at Moira had been awarded top in its class against more than 180 waterways projects around the Country.  The restoration project had won the 2002 Waterways Renaissance Tourism Award of the Waterways Trust and British Urban Regeneration Association.  The project had also received a Civic Trust Award.

 

The County Council had led the project to restore the Ashby Canal, in association with other Authorities and Groups.  The awards were on display in the Members’ Lounge, and the Chairman felt sure that members would wish to join him in thanking all those involved in achieving these awards.

 

Library Service, Chartermark

 

The Chairman also reported that on display in the Members’ Lounge was the certificate presented to the County Council’s Library Service on achieving the Chartermark, which was awarded for excellence in the provision of public services.  Again, the Chairman felt sure that members would wish to join him in congratulating all of the members of staff concerned in providing the Library Service, the quality of which had been recognised by this award.

 

Mr E Palmer CC

 

The Chairman extended his congratulations to County Councillor Mr Palmer on his election on 13 May as Chairman of North West Leicestershire District Council.

 

Denise Outen

 

The Chairman was pleased to announce that Denise Outen, the County Council’s International Links Co-ordinator, had been awarded the “Palmes Academiques”, a decoration for services to French Education.  The award, rarely given to non-French nationals, had been presented at an education symposium in Rouen.  Denise had been in post for over twenty years, making a huge contribution to international links both educationally and corporately.

 

Members joined the Chairman in thanking Denise Outen for her work, and congratulating her on this award.

 

Visitors

 

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting all visitors and guests of members.

It was moved by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman and carried:-

 

“That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 March 2003 copies of which have been circulated to members, be taken as read, confirmed and signed.”

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to make declarations of personal interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.

 

No such declarations were made.

(A)    Mr Lucas asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:

 

“1.     What steps are the Cabinet taking to recognise the work of the Leicestershire Archaeological Field Walking Groups, supported by County Council Archaeology staff, which has resulted recently in some fantastic discoveries in Leicestershire?

 

2.     Does the Leader agree with me that the small team of staff who form the Archaeology Section deserve praise for their dedication and the fine work they produce and contribute to, on a shoe-string budget?

 

3.     Will the Cabinet consider the possibility of seeking British Museum support towards establishing a fresh museum in Market Harborough to show our “Sutton Hoo” as this would be a major visitor/tourist attraction?”

 

Mr Barber replied as follows:

 

“1.      The Cabinet recognises the work of these groups through its support for them.  The County Council has supported community archaeology since its inception in Leicestershire in 1975.  Leicestershire has led the way in community archaeology nationally.  The training and long-term support given to community volunteers by the County Council ensured that finds such as the recent Iron Age and Roman discovery in South Leicestershire were handled locally in an appropriate manner to ensure its protection and safeguarding.

 

2.      Yes, but I am not sure that I could accept Mr. Lucas’ claim that a six figure budget is a shoe-string budget.

 

3.      We are discussing with the British Museum the future of the coin hoard and the Roman helmet and access to the collection for Leicestershire people.  One option may be that Harborough Museum will house this display.  However, I think that we have to be realistic and accept that a new museum in Market Harborough is unaffordable.  I would much prefer that we use this discovery to promote the existing museum which we operate with the support of the District Council.”

 

(B)    Mr Griffiths asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:

 

“What progress has been made with the decision taken arising from the Best Value Review of Domiciliary Services relating to the expansion of Luncheon Clubs?”

 

Mr Miller replied as follows:

 

“The Best Value Review outcome included a commitment to increase luncheon club facilities across the County.  The intention, as far as possible, is to develop new luncheon clubs where there are currently gaps in provision.  The precise location of some new luncheon clubs will be determined by the outcome of recent Village Appraisals, some of which identified the need for such facilities.

 

The 2003/2004 budget includes £30,000 specifically for the development of new luncheon clubs. This will be taken forward in partnership with voluntary sector organisations.

 

Ongoing discussions have been taking place with partner agencies, particularly the WRVS and Age Concern to identify partners willing to help the Council establish additional luncheon clubs.

 

In recent months, three new lunch clubs have been planned.  The first, in Loughborough, has opened and is run by the Charnwood Community Council.  The second, called Cameo, will operate in Ibstock and will be privately run.  Cameo will open next month.  The third, in Syston, will also be run by the Charnwood Community Council and is due to open in August.  All three luncheon clubs will be funded by the County Council.

 

Discussions with the WRVS have been very positive and an agreement has been reached for a number of new luncheon clubs to be set up and run by WRVS across the County.  The first of these will open in the Autumn although the WRVS are currently looking to identify a venue and the precise location has, therefore, yet to be decided.

 

The Social Services Department is also working  ...  view the full minutes text for item 111.

(A)       Dates of Council Meetings 2003/04.

(A)    DATES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS 2003/04

It was moved by Mr Barber, seconded by Mr Parsons and carried:

 

“That Council meetings in 2003/2004 be held on the following dates:-

 

Wednesday     9^th July, 2003

Wednesday     17^th September, 2003

Wednesday     26^th November, 2003

Wednesday     28^th January, 2004

Wednesday     25^th February, 2004 (Budget Meeting)

Wednesday     24^th March, 2004

Wednesday     19^th May, 2004 (Annual Meeting)”

The Leader presented a position statement indicating that he was standing down as Leader of the Council and thanking all those people who had supported him during his period of office.  The Chairman thanked Mr Barber for his services during his period of Leadership of the Council and several members spoke associating themselves and their Groups with the Chairman’s remarks.

(a)    to appoint the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council and Members of the Cabinet;

 

(b)    to appoint members of the Scrutiny Commission, Boards and Committees.

A:         APPOINTMENT OF THE LEADER AND DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE CABINET

 

It was moved by Mr Barber and seconded by Mr Chapman:

 

“That the members named on list ‘A’ (attached to these minutes) be appointed Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council and Members of the Cabinet.”

 

The motion was put and carried.

 

B:(i)         APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE SCRUTINY COMMISSION, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

 

It was moved by Mr Parsons and seconded by Mr Chapman:

 

“That the membership of the Scrutiny Commission, Boards and Committees be as set out in List ‘B’ (attached to these minutes).”

 

The motion was put and carried.

 

B: (ii)          SPOKESMEN

 

Mr Chapman named the members shown in the second column of list ‘S’, as Conservative Spokesmen of the bodies as shown.

 

Mr Hyde named the members shown in the third column of list ‘S’, as Labour Spokespersons of the bodies as shown.

 

Mr Bill named the members shown in the fourth column of list ‘S’ as Liberal Democrat Spokesmen of the bodies as shown.

 

A copy of list ‘S’ is attached to these minutes.

 

SUBSTITUTES

 

It was moved by Mr Chapman, seconded by Mr Hyde and carried:

 

"That the Chief Executive be authorised to make and terminate appointments to the Commission, committees, boards and other County Council bodies (not including the Cabinet) in accordance with the wishes of the political groups to whom the seat in question has been allocated, subject in the case of those bodies set out in List ‘B’ to the Group giving one day’s notice to the Chief Executive of its wishes”.

 

 

 

 

 

                            CHAIRMAN

 

 

 

21 May 2003

2.30 p.m. – 4.12 p.m.