Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Bridges, M French and J Hoult.

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

Pecuniary interests were declared in relation to agenda item 10 on the Ashby Business Improvement District (BID) by Councillors E Allman, B Harrison-Rushton, N Smith and N Rushton for reasons of being the owner of or a relation to the owner of a business in the area.

The Chairman reported that both himself and the Leader had handed over a cheque in the sum of £20k to the Measham Canal Restoration Fund; he had this week attended a flag raising ceremony; and wished to advise members that his charity dinner scheduled for 1 July had been postponed to 29 July as a result of the extension to the lifting of the lockdown restrictions. Further details will be included in the Members’ Bulletin.

Members are reminded that under paragraph 11.1 of part 4 of the Constitution, questions can be asked of the Leader and Cabinet Members without notice about any matter contained in any address.  Questions shall be limited to five minutes in total for each announcement.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor R Blunt announced that the Council had submitted a bid for funding in the sum of £11.5m to the Levelling Up Fund as part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to the regeneration of Coalville. The bid included provision for a Skills and Art Centre which would see cinema screens being introduced to Coalville. The outcome of the bid would not be known until the end of the year but he was confident that everything that could have been done had been done to secure the best chance of success. 

This news was broadly supported from the floor with some air of skepticism from some based on previous promises the Council had made in bringing a cinema to Coalville.

To receive questions from members of the public under procedure rule no.10.  The procedure rule provides that members of the public may ask members of the Cabinet any question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the District, provided that three clear days’ notice in writing has been given to the Head of Legal and Commercial Services.

There were no questions received.

To receive members’ questions under procedure rule no.11.  The procedure rule provides that any member may ask the Chairman of a board or group any question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the District, provided that three clear days’ notice in writing has been given to the Head of Legal and Commercial Services.

There were no questions received.

To consider the following motion received from Councillor R Ashman:

“This Council:

• Notes that 2021 is the 26th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which saw over 8,000 Muslim men and boys killed by Serbian nationalist forces.

• Notes that in 2009 the European Parliament passed a resolution that 11 July should be recognised as the day of commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide all over the EU; and in 2015 urged the development of educational and cultural programmes that promote an understanding of the causes of such atrocities and raise awareness about the need to nurture peace and to promote human rights and interfaith tolerance. All UK political parties have supported the work of Remembering Srebrenica in this regard.

• Applauds the work of those involved in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their surviving relatives, including the International Commission of Missing People (ICMP) and the Mothers of Srebrenica, whose courage and humility in the face of unthinkable horror is an inspiration to us all.

• Commends the work of the charity, Remembering Srebrenica, in raising awareness of this tragic and preventable genocide and working in communities across Britain to help them learn the lessons of Srebrenica.

The Council resolves to:

• Incorporate the lessons learnt into our existing Hate Crime work programme within the Council’s Equality and Diversity action plan ensuring we support Remembering Srebrenica to share the lessons learnt, to tackle hatred and intolerance, and to help build a better, safer and more cohesive society for everyone.

• Work with Remembering Srebrenica delegates from North West Leicestershire who visited Bosnia on the ‘Lessons from Srebrenica’ education programme and have been working tirelessly in the community to share key messages and raise awareness of the genocide.

• Hold Srebrenica memorial events in July each year throughout North West Leicestershire as part of the UK-wide Remembering Srebrenica Memorial Week.”

Council considered and debated the following motion received from Councillor R Ashman:

 “This Council:

·           Notes that 2021 is the 26th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which saw over 8,000 Muslim men and boys killed by Serbian nationalist forces.

·           Notes that in 2009 the European Parliament passed a resolution that 11 July should be recognised as the day of commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide all over the EU; and in 2015 urged the development of educational and cultural programmes that promote an understanding of the causes of such atrocities and raise awareness about the need to nurture peace and to promote human rights and interfaith tolerance. All UK political parties have supported the work of Remembering Srebrenica in this regard.

·           Applauds the work of those involved in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their surviving relatives, including the International Commission of Missing People (ICMP) and the Mothers of Srebrenica, whose courage and humility in the face of unthinkable horror is an inspiration to us all.

·           Commends the work of the charity, Remembering Srebrenica, in raising awareness of this tragic and preventable genocide and working in communities across Britain to help them learn the lessons of Srebrenica”.

The motion received cross party support and members made some poignant references to the ongoing issues across the world.

It was moved by Councillor R Ashman, seconded by Councillor S Sheahan and

RESOLVED THAT:- The Council

(1)  Incorporates the lessons learnt into our existing Hate Crime work programme within the Council’s Equality and Diversity action plan ensuring we support Remembering Srebrenica to share the lessons learnt, to tackle hatred and intolerance, and to help build a better, safer and more cohesive society for everyone.

(2)  Works with Remembering Srebrenica delegates from North West Leicestershire who visited Bosnia on the ‘Lessons from Srebrenica’ education programme and have been working tirelessly in the community to share key messages and raise awareness of the genocide.

(3)  Holds Srebrenica memorial events in July each year throughout North West Leicestershire as part of the UK-wide Remembering Srebrenica Memorial Week.”

The Chairman then invited Council to hold a minutes silence to remember Srebrenica.

To receive petitions in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme. 

No petitions were received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 25 May 2021

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2021.

It was moved by Councillor V Richichi, seconded by Councillor R  Boam and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2021 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Councillors E Allman, B Harrison-Rushton and N Rushton left the meeting at this point having declared a pecuniary interest.

Councillor N Smith left the room for consideration of this item having declared a pecuniary interest.

Report of the Strategic Director (Place)

Councillor T Gillard presented the report to members.

The report was supported and it was confirmed that the aim of the BID was to support Ashby and not to divert resources.

It was moved by Councillor T Gillard, seconded by Councillor D Bigby and

RESOLVED THAT: Council

1. Notes the Ashby BID proposals set out in the report;
   
   
2. Notes the recommendations of Cabinet on 8 June 2021;
   
   
3. In the event of a successful ballot, approves the proposal for the Council to join the Ashby BID Company and participate in the incorporation of it;
   
   
4. In the event of a successful ballot, approves the entering into of a Members’ Agreement, Articles of Association and associated documents with the BID company and delegates authority for negotiating and agreeing the final Members’ Agreement, Articles of Association and associated documents to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business and Regeneration;
   
   
5. Notes the power delegated within the Constitution to the Chief Executive to appoint a representative of the Council to the Ashby BID Company Board of Directors.

Report of the Strategic Directors

Councillor R Ashman presented the report to members.

The report was supported and it was felt that, whilst the Cross Party Working Group had ensured that good progress had been made, there was still more work to do to improve the scrutiny function.

It was moved by Councillor R Ashman, seconded by Councillor D Harrison and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The annual scrutiny report be noted;

2.    Council agrees to continue the Scrutiny Cross Party Working Group having had regard to the views of Members of both Scrutiny Committees.