Agenda item

Leader of the Council's Position Statement

Tonight’s agenda includes reports on off street parking orders enabling the introduction of over 260 additional free car parking spaces for shoppers in our key town centre car parks and over 130 free spaces in the mornings to support residents where there is limited parking availability. This delivers on our pledge to help boost our town centres.

 

A report on the polling place review has worked out timely given the recent announcement of the 12 December general election. Also to note is the report on council tax that reviews local discounts and premiums which reflect the outcome of consultation and feedback from a recent Scrutiny Commission. Finally there is a report setting out the priority commitments of my administration on initiatives aligned to the delivery of the current corporate plan.

 

Electric Charging Points

 

In line with the Council climate change declaration, I am pleased to confirm that progress is being made towards the delivery of a scheme that could see new electric charging points delivered in our town centre car parks in 2020. Quotes are due by next week. We are also participating in a joint bid to the LLEP which could see further resources being secured for additional charging points in the borough.

 

Proms in the Park

 

I am pleased to be able to confirm that the much loved Proms in the Park will be back at Hollycroft Park on 22 August 2020. This is a joint venture between the Council and Hinckley Round Table. This will be an even bigger event than in previous years with family events taking place during the day and the concert in the evening. My thanks to my Executive lead and the Cultural Services team for bringing this plan together.

 

Climate Change

 

At a recent briefing of my Executive we were updated on the progress officers have made in the preparation of a draft climate change action plan. I would like to express my thanks to those officers engaged in developing the plan and propose that a cross party member working group be established to review the draft plan. This will be chaired by Cllr Cartwright with Cllr Gibbens as Vice Chair of the working group.

 

Local Authority Lottery

 

We were also presented with a report on alternatives to launching a Local Authority Lottery. We agreed to progress an option of working with an established community foundation to generate income to support good causes in the borough and to help sustain our VCS. We will then review the decision to progress with the lottery in 12 months’ time.

 

LCC Unitary Proposal

 

As Members will be aware, the County Council has recently published a business case in relation to its proposal for a single new unitary council based on the county council’s boundaries.

 

As previously reported any changes to the structure of local government can only be made by Parliament, by the introduction of statute, with a bill to abolish previous structures, and to create a new authority. Such a procedure would require significant time and resources and would require the support of MPs to carry it through the various stages to completion.

 

It has been recognised nationally that Government is unlikely to proceed with such a process without the broad support of local MPs in the area, and the backing of the majority of councils and councillors, both at county and district level.

 

All seven county MPs continue to express their strong opposition to the proposal put forward by the County Council, most recently on the 16 October, in a letter to the Leader of the County Council, copied to district leaders.

 

To date the County Council has acknowledged that there is currently no mechanism to progress their detailed business case proposal.

 

We know that detailed business cases are time consuming and expensive to produce. The district leaders have supported the MPs view, that to expend up to £400,000 on an alternative proposal would be inappropriate, given that there is currently no mechanism, nor burning desire by residents, for structural change.

 

A single unitary council will put it out of touch with our local communities and I call on the County Council to stop wasting residents’ council tax on this unwanted proposal. I am also extremely disappointed over the lack of meaningful engagement with the districts on this which could have profound impacts on our residents and parishes.

 

If national policy changes as a result of the election on 12 December, then we will obviously react accordingly. In the meantime, the seven district and borough councils in Leicestershire continue to work collaboratively to deliver highly-effective and efficient services to residents.

 

It is the district and borough councils’ collective view that better and cheaper services can be delivered through greater collaboration while keeping services local to the people who use them.

 

There continues to be an open invitation to the County Council to work with us on ideas for future collaboration.

 

Communication from MHCLG

 

We have been asked by Government to formally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism which gives a clear indication that anti-Semitic behaviour will not be tolerated.

 

My intention would be for this to be circulated to all officers and members to be adopted as a working definition and I will inform MHCLG accordingly.

Minutes:

In his statement, the Leader referred to electric car charging points, Proms in the Park, climate change and the local authority lottery. It was suggested that a briefing note on progress in relation to the local authority lottery be produced. The Leader outlined concerns over the county council’s unitary proposals, referring to a survey of local residents wishing to see services retained locally and a recent letter signed by all MPs in Leicestershire expressing their strong opposition to the proposals. He called on the Leader of the county council to stop any further work and waste of resources.

 

The Leader also informed members of the government’s request for authorities to adopt the following non legally binding working definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and stated he would respond to MHCLG to confirm and asked that it be circulated to HBBC staff:

 

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”