Last time we had a full Council meeting I reflected on some of the examples of the hard work that officers of this council do on behalf of our communities. This time I have great pleasure in reflecting on a couple of examples where that work is being recognised by others.
Firstly I want to congratulate everybody who has been involved in Snapdragon this year. Not only did they deliver the best Snapdragon festival ever, but they have now been nominated in the category of the best free festival in the Leicestershire Tourism Awards 2018. We all wish them well in the judging and look forward to the continued growth and further success of this festival.
The council has also been awarded the RSPCA Stray Dog Footprint gold standard for the 7th year in a row and we will also be given a platinum award in recognition of this continued achievement at PawPrints tenth anniversary and winners’ reception in November this year. Another great achievement and right that we should be proud that our officers should get such recognition.
Because of my reduced mobility at present I was not able to attend the grand opening of the extension to the Barlestone Village Hall, which this Council supported through its Developing Communities Fund. Officers, the Deputy Leader and Mayor attended the event and I am delighted that we are now seeing the results of this Council’s long overdue investment in our rural communities. I’m sure more of these projects will be completed in the coming months and years and I’m hopeful that we shall be able to commit even further funds to more new schemes in the future.
I attended Planning Committee last week and we determined the MIRA TIC-IT application. After much consideration I supported the officer’s recommendation to approve the application and I do believe that this will be a good development for our area. But we must also do what we can to develop further the interest in the battlefield and to make sure that we celebrate what we have in our borough. We must do more to enable people to follow the steps of those who fought and to understand what the battle was like. We should also seek to make 22nd August a day when the whole borough can take part in remembering the events of that day in 1485. In deciding what we can do to make more of our history we need to involve our communities as well as local parish councils and businesses. We should also take care to involve those groups who have an interest in what we do, including The Battlefields Trust and The Richard III Society. Members from all areas will be able to get involved in the development of these proposals.
Moving to the business on our agenda this evening we have a proposal before Council to give council tax support for some of the borough’s most vulnerable individuals, specifically young people leaving care. Whilst this is a small number of people to add to the more than 3,000 pensioners and over 2,500 working age households who already receive some council tax discount, it sends a clear message that we will support those most in need as they move into the next phase of their life. I think this is a proposal that all members can support, and I’m pleased that the proposal is supported by the Scrutiny Commission.
LCC approved a motion last week in which they continue to exclude borough and district councils from the development of proposals for local government reform in Leicestershire. The motion included a point that Council
vi) recognises that Leicestershire County Council must be allowed to pursue its right to self-determination of policy via the democratic process and that this Council respects the rights of other local authorities to do the same.
That may be true, but when it comes to developing a policy to scrap this council they have no right to do so without our involvement.
LCC further agreed
iv) that plans for an East Midlands Strategic Alliance to counterbalance the West Midlands Combined Authority requires further work and agreement amongst regional leaders and stakeholders before a business case is submitted to the Secretary of State.
I am aware that by regional leaders the County Council is not involving districts and boroughs in their discussions, and they do not want us influencing the outcome, but the statement itself shows a lack of vision for what can be achieved in the East Midlands.
I personally find it ridiculous that LCC takes that attitude over something which could so dramatically affect this council and the people of the borough, yet when it comes to something that LCC want support for, such as key elements of the Strategic Growth Plan it is happy to work with us. In being selective, LCC is not acting like the true partner it should be, and they risk losing our trust and respect in doing so.
In August this Council approved a motion to work with other local authorities to deliver a better alternative to the re-organisation model being proposed by Leicestershire County Council. Leicestershire County Council has refused to join us in those discussions and tonight we have an update on the options being considered at agenda item 12.
In light of the most recent developments and analysis I shall also table a motion to amend the recommendations in that item. This council can sit back and wait for LCC to develop proposals to scrap it, or we can take positive action to determine what is the best course of action for our community, I shall recommend the latter.
Minutes:
In his position statement, the Leader referred to the success of the Snapdragon festival and achievement of the RSPCA Stray Dog Footprint gold standard and congratulated officers involved. He mentioned the recent opening of the extension to Barlestone Village Hall, the consideration of the MIRA application by the Planning Committee, and agenda items for the evening.