Agenda and minutes

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Mr J F Howard

 

The Chairman reported the sad death on 21 August, 2012 of former County Councillor John Howard, aged 83 years.

 

Mr Howard had served on the County Council from 1997 to 2001 representing the former Burbage Electoral Division.  He had served mainly on the Further Education Committee of which he was Chairman, the Economic Development Committee where he was Conservative Spokesman and the Education Committee and many of its associated bodies.

 

He had also served as Chairman of the County Council for 2000/2001.

 

Those present joined the Chairman in standing in silent tribute to the memory of John Howard.

 

Olympic Games and Paralympic Games

 

The Chairman asked members to join him in congratulating Loughborough University on the crucial role it had played in hosting Team GB’s Preparation Camp.  Three members of staff from the County Council (Linda Bradbury, Samantha Hampson and Alexandra Barker) had joined staff from British Telecom and Astra Zeneca as secondees to the University to help to recruit the team of over 300 volunteers who had worked on a range of support jobs throughout the summer to make sure Team GB were well looked after and the Preparation Camp ran efficiently.

 

The Chairman also acknowledged the role played by Jewel Miah CC in his capacity as a Games Maker Volunteer in London during the Olympics.  Lord Coe and many athletes had paid tribute to the work of the Games Makers in ensuring that the Games were a success.

 

As to the question of Olympic and Paralympic Legacy, the Chairman reported that he had been briefed and was very pleased to learn that a report on the Legacy would be considered by the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board the following week.

 

Display of Museum Collections

 

The Chairman drew members’ attention to the display in the Members’ Lounge of a small selection of items demonstrating the diversity of the collections entrusted to the County Council.

 

The clothing display from the high street retailer, NEXT, demonstrated an example of a unique partnership between a major local business and the museum service.  The contemporary collection showed the full range of official clothing designed and supplied by NEXT for Team GB, Paralympics GB and London 2012 officials.

 

The display also included three drawers of small items from the ‘Beasties Road Show’.  Linked to the Natural Life Collections these drawers were developed as part of the work to promote the collections to a wider audience and had proved very popular.

 

Visitors

 

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

 

Mr E. F. White and Mr B. Garner

 

Members joined the Chairman in extending a warm welcome to Messrs Garner and White following their recent absence due to ill health.

 

 

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

 

“That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 4 July 2012, 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 interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

 

No declarations were made.

 

 

The Chairman reported that he had agreed to vary the order of business as provided for in Standing Order 5(1) to enable Agenda Item 8 – Appointments in accordance with items 11 and 12 of Standing Order 4 to be taken next.

 

It was moved by MR GILLARD, seconded by MR SPRASON and carried:-

 

“That Mr N J Rushton be appointed Leader of the Council for the period until the Annual Meeting of the Council following the County Council elections in 2013.”

 

It was moved by MR RUSHTON, seconded by MR GILLARD and carried:-

 

“That it be noted that the Leader has made the following appointments to the Cabinet

 

Deputy Leader of the Council      

Mr D A Sprason (Lead Member for Adult Social Care)

 

Other Members of the Cabinet:

 

Mr R Blunt

Mr J T Orson

Mr I D Ould (Lead Member for Children and Young People’s Service)

Mr B L Pain

Mrs L A S Pendleton

Mrs P Posnett

Mr J B Rhodes

Mr E F White”

 

 

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

 

“1.     When did Mr Rushton become aware of allegations against Mr Parsons concerning his payment for travel in relation to East Midlands Councils and E.U. Committee of the Regions?

 

2.      What did he do about it?”

 

Mr Rushton replied as follows:-

 

“1.     I became aware on 25^th October 2011 when the Chief Executive informed me, as Deputy Leader, that he had commissioned an internal audit investigation and that he had informed Mr Parsons the previous day.

 

2.      I believed that it was right for the internal audit investigation to conclude and report.  In that circumstance there was no action for me to take at that time.”

 

 

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

 

“At the Wigston Community Forum on the 10^th September, a County Council officer said that no further cuts in service (reduction in opening hours/staff) would happen at the Record Office in Wigston.  Can the Leader please confirm this?”

 

Mr Sprason replied as follows:-

 

“At the Wigston Community Forum of 10^th September staff outlined the engagement process for seeking community views on six options for the future delivery of libraries and museums services.

 

The six options focus mainly on library services and to a smaller degree the Melton Carnegie and Charnwood museums.  The Record Office is not included in this piece of work.

 

The County Council recognises the importance of the work undertaken by the Record Office but its position remains the same as reported to the Adults, Communities and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, of which Mr Charlesworth is a member, in that no firm guarantees can be given about budgets or likely savings reductions in the future for any part of the Council's services.”

 

 

(C)    Mr Charlesworth asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:-

 

“What community facilities have been provided in the village of Breedon on the Hill by the County Council since May 2009?”

 

Mr Pain replied as follows:-

 

“Community facilities are provided by the local primary school, St Hardulph’s C of E Primary School, making optimum use of its facilities, which have been there since 2009 and were, indeed, there before.  The arrangement works very well and is popular within the local community, something confirmed to me by the local member, who holds surgeries there.  Some examples of the use of the facility are given below:

 

• Breedon Wanderers use the football pitch for their home matches and for their junior team.

 

• Breedon Tennis Club uses the tennis court.

 

• North West Leicestershire District Council hires the stage area (best for disabled access) for use as a polling station during elections.

 

• A Sunday Service was held in the hall when the church was inaccessible due to emergency plumbing work.

 

Additionally, the community room is well used:

 

• by Breedon Play & Learn for fundraising events, often in conjunction with the school PTFA;
• 3½ days a week by Breedon Play & Learn;
• ½ day a week by Breedon Tiny tots
• Tuesday lunchtimes every fortnight by WI, who run Breedon Luncheon Club;
• Tuesday evenings and Wednesday afternoons – Yoga;
• Monthly evening meeting – Parish Council;
• Monthly evening meeting – WI;
• Monthly evening meeting – Breedon Parish Forum

 

and, as stated above, for surgeries by the local county councillor.”

 

 

(D)    Mr Charlesworth asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:-

 

“1.     How many complaints (letter/email/phone/in person) have Leicestershire County Council/Tarmac received concerning the grass cutting across the County since the end of March 2012?

 

2.      Leicester City Council maintained its grass to a much higher  ...  view the full minutes text for item 171.

A motion to the following effect, moved by Mr Rushton and seconded by Mr Bill, stood adjourned from the last meeting:

 

It was moved by MR RUSHTON, seconded by MR BILL and carried:-

 

“That the changes to Standing Orders (Meeting Procedure Rules), as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Constitution Committee, be approved.”

 

 

The Leader presented a position statement on the following matters:

 

·         Local Authority Mortgage Scheme

·         New Homes Bonus

·         Debt Repayment

·         Ashmount Special School

·         Cycling and Walking

·         Rural Broadband.

 

The Lead Member for Environment and Transport presented a position statement on the following matters:

 

·         Home to School Transport

·         Ausden Clark

·         Supported Bus Network

 

The Lead Member for Children and Young People’s Service presented a position statement on significant improvements and developments for children and young people over the past year.

 

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission presented a position statement on the decision to move children’s congenital heart surgical and ECMO services from the Glenfield Hospital to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

 

It was moved by MR SNARTT and seconded by MR CHARLESWORTH and carried:-

 

“That Professor D Bonner, Mr D Grimes and Ms A Saigal be appointed to serve as Independent Persons for a term of four years ending on 30 September, 2016.”