Minutes

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Jo Cox MP

The Chairman asked all Members of the Council to join with him in extending sympathies and condolences to the family of the late Jo Cox MP.

What had happened in the streets of West Yorkshire had been an attack on democracy.  The Chairman said that he hoped that politicians would learn lessons from this tragedy, were more measured in the language used which sometimes had served to inflame and stir up hatred, and stated the need to become a more tolerant society and one that accepted and recognised differences.

Jo had been a hard working local MP who, both in Parliament and prior to becoming an MP, had worked tirelessly to help those less fortunate both at home and abroad.

Members joined the Chairman standing in silent tribute to the memory of Jo Cox.

Armed Forces Day

The Chairman reminded Members that the County Council had led the planning for the joint City and County celebration of Armed Forces Day each year. This year’s celebrations had started on 21^st June when the Vice-Chairman and the Lord-Lieutenant, the Leader, many veterans and school children had taken part in a ceremony at Stand Easy, which marked the raising of the Armed Forces Day flag.  That flag had flew outside County Hall leading up to the main celebration which had been held in Leicester on Saturday, 25^th June.

The Cathedral had hosted a service of Thanksgiving, which had been attended by more than 650 service personnel, cadets, veterans and other guests, and had featured the Cottesmore Military Wives Choir. The Service had been followed by a parade through the City of more than 400 personnel who had marched behind the pipes and drums of the Seaforth Highlanders. The Chairman said that he had been proud to be present alongside the Lord-Lieutenant and Lord Mayor for the Salute and March Past.

Battle of The Somme

The Chairman reminded Members that the City and County’s commemoration of the Battle of The Somme would be a Service at Leicester Cathedral on Friday, 1^st July at 10 a.m.  This would be preceded by a half muffled quarter peel of the Cathedral bells and would conclude with a two minute silence at 11 a.m.  The Schools Music Service would be involved at the Cathedral.

There would also be a Whistle for The Somme event at 7.15 a.m. at Stand Easy on Friday, 1^st July. Members were encouraged to attend. Organisations across Leicestershire had been encouraged to observe a two-minute silence and to lower the Union Flag on Friday; District Councils would be taking part in this.

The Chairman advised that, given the significant contribution of Commonwealth countries in the Great War, the County Council had been encouraging temples, mosques and other places of worship to join in prayers on Friday.  A number of churches would also be ringing their bells half-muffled as a tribute to the fallen.

Myra Brodie and John Wallace

The Chairman was delighted to announce that Myra Brodie and John Wallace had been recognised in The Queen’s Birthday 2016 Honours List, receiving British Empire Medals for services to Education.

Myra has been a School Crossing Patrol Warden at Little Bowden Primary School, a role which she had performed for the past twenty five years.

John Wallace, who has been a LA Governor at The Latimer School, had served on the Governing Body for the past twenty eight years.

Members joined the Chairman in offering congratulations to Myra and John for the well-deserved national recognition of their work.

Lesley Hagger

The Chairman reminded Members that this was the last  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

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

“That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18^th May 2016, 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.

All members who were members of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority declared a personal interest in relation to the Notice of Motion on Combined Fire Authority Scrutiny Arrangements (Agenda item 8(a) refers).

All members who served as School Governors declared a personal interest in the Notice of Motion on Schools (Agenda item 8(b) refers).

There were no other declarations.

(A)   Dr Eynon asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:-

"What are the strategic options for the future management of the Arboretum, Sheepy Magna Wheelwright's shop, Century Theatre, Pit Top, Fishing Lakes and other properties associated with Snibston Country Park now that the Museum is closed and how will these options be developed?"

Mr Pain replied as follow:-

“As Dr Eynon has previously been advised, the County Council is assessing possible improvements to the Country Park including the associated amenities referred to in the question.  Local consultation will be arranged at the appropriate time.”

Dr Eynon asked the following supplementary question:-

Mr Pain replied as follows:-

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

“In light of the most recent decision of the Cabinet on the Leicester to Burton Line, would the Leader confirm that the decision does not preclude the Council lobbying for improvements which would enhance the prospects of the line going ahead, nor does it prevent members informally working with officers to further their own understanding of the subject, in support of their role as community representatives?”

Mr Osborne replied as follows:-

“Realistically, lobbying could only be for Government funding.  Without a sound business case, the prospects for which the Cabinet noted do not exist, there is no point in considering lobbying.

Given the vast amount of information about the Line, not least the study recently reported to the Cabinet, which is publicly available, I do not see what more the County Council can do to assist members’ understanding of the subject.  Officers are already working with reduced resources and there are no reasonable grounds on which they could be asked to do further work on the Line in light of the very clear Cabinet decision.”

The Leader presented a position statement on the following matters:-

• EU Referendum
• Fair Funding
• Combined Authority and Devolution Deal
• Great Central Railway
• Melton Mowbray
• A50 Speed Reduction Scheme
• Flooding
• Jonny Walton
• The Battle of the Somme

A copy of the position statement is filed with these minutes.