Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor referred to the sudden death of Councillor Gary Crookes on 13 June, 2019.

Gary was first elected in 1995 representing Wainbody Ward, which he continued to represent until his untimely death.

For nearly a quarter of a century, he played a leading role in several areas including Chair of the Children Learning and Young People Scrutiny Board, Deputy Chair of Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee and as Shadow Cabinet Member for Education and Jobs and Regeneration. He also served on the Licensing and Regulatory and Planning Committees, as well as helping several charities and organisations, including the Coventry General Charities Trustees and the Sir Charles Barratt Memorial Foundation.

He was Lord Mayor of the City in 2013.

Council noted that, on behalf of the City Council, the Lord Mayor and Leader had sent a joint letter of condolence to his wife Shirley.

The Council stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

Members paid tribute to Gary and extended the Council’s sincere condolences to his wife Shirley and the rest of the family.

The minutes of the Annual Meeting and the Extraordinary Meeting held on 16 May, 2019 were agreed and signed as true records.

To be presented by the Lord Mayor and Judge Lockhart, Honorary Recorder

On behalf of the City Council, the Lord Mayor presented Georgina Egan with the Good Citizen Award. Her citation read:

“As artistic director of EGO Performance Company Georgina has dedicated her time and offered her expertise to supporting, nurturing and developing the talents of young people within Coventry, with the goal to create a vibrant place to live and work for all.  The work of EGO has not only attracted significant funds into the city for the creative industries but also given new practical skills for many people as they make their way in life. 

Georgina is often behind a range of extraordinary events such as the recent Queen's 90th Birthday Celebratory Pageant, where members of EGO paraded down the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace and Her Majesty.

Aside from her work at EGO, Georgina has gone the extra mile in expanding the breadth and range of high-quality youth activity provided in the city.  She has worked on many youth projects, arranged youth community trips to youth festivals around the UK and worked hard to ensure those without the means can attend by raising funds via community events and activities.  It is a testimony to her hard work that many of the young people she has worked with have made a transition into work and particularly the creative industries because of Georgina’s genuine care and concern for their future.

In addition, Georgina mentors young people, giving them support in their daily lives, outside of mainstream education and helps them to become independent citizens of Coventry.  Outside of the scope of her job, Georgina set up a pay-it-forward scheme to ensure that young people can eat good healthy food at the EGO venue, ensuring hot meals and a range of activities are freely available for the youths.

It is evident that through Georgina’s work she has shown tremendous commitment to the young people of Coventry by investing her time, efforts and resources to help better their lives as well as the City.  Her actions properly reflect her character and she is a worthy recipient of this Coventry Good Citizen Award”.

a)  Condolences

(i)  The Lord Mayor referred to the recent death of John Payne’s son Richard following a tragic avalanche in the Himalayas recently. John worked for the City Council for many years in the community sector.

Members noted that a joint letter of condolence has been sent to John and his family.

(ii)  The Lord Mayor referred to the recent death of former Councillor Olwyn Wesson who represented Cheylesmore Ward from 1983 to 1996.

Members noted that a joint letter of condolence will be sent out to Olwyn’s family.

  (b)   Birthday Honours

The Lord Mayor referred to the awards made to the following people in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours List:

-  MBE: To Rashid Bhayat, Positive Youth Foundation, for services to young people in Coventry and the wider Midlands.

-  MBE: To Ghulam Vohram Vice Chair of Coventry Muslim Forum for services to community cohesion.

-  BEM: To Alan Griffiths of Broad Street for services to community in Foleshill.

-  BEM: To Marilyn ‘Mel’ Haddon for services to charitable fundraising for cancer research.

-  BEM: To Mary ‘Freda’ Lambert, a school governor at Broad Heath Primary School for services to education.

In addition, awards were also made to those associated to the city nut live elsewhere:

-  CBE: To Professor John Latham, Vice Chancellor of Coventry University for services to higher education.

-  CBE: To Ian Callum the Chief Designer at Jaguar Land Rover to services to the British car industry.

-  OBE: To Professor Sudhesh Kumar, the Dean of Warwick Medical School for services to medicine and diabetes.

-  BEM:P To Matthew Scott, a senior warden at the University of Warwick for services to students and the community.

Council noted that a letter of congratulations has been sent to all of the recipients, on behalf of the City Council.

  (c)  Congratulations on Awards

On behalf of the City Council, the Lord Mayor congratulated the Foleshill Fire Cadets who have won the Queens Awards for Voluntary Services and The Lawton Tube Company who have won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

RESOLVED that the following petitions be referred to the appropriate City Council bodies:

(a)  Residents request calling for Leyland Road to be made a priority for repairs to the road and pavement – 43 signatures, presented by Councillor J Lepoidevin.

(b)  Request for residents parking scheme on Bryn Road – 38 signatures, presented by Councillor B Kaur.

(c)  A campaign to renovate the War Memorial Skatepark as it is not fit for purpose because of its age, lack of repair and limited size. In its current state it is unsafe and cannot accommodate the number of skatepark users – 1425 signatures, presented by Councillor K Sandhu.

(d)  Request for parking permits for residents of Matlock Road – 21 signatures, presented by Councillor B Kaur.

(e)  Objection to Planning Application FUL/2019/1190, 55 Yelverton Road – 24 signatures, presented by Councillor M Mutton.

(f)  Request for a safe pedestrian crossing outside Henley Green Primary School – 276 signatures, presented by Councillor K Maton.

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

This item was withdrawn at the meeting.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The City Council considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which sough approval to change appointments in relation to City Council representatives on the Belgrade Theatre Trust, the Soothern and Craner Educational Foundation and Bond’s Hospital Estate Charity Trustees.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1.  Approves the appointment of Councillor R Bailey as a City Council representative on the Belgrade Theatre Trust for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2019/2020 replacing Councillor T Mayer.

2.  Approves the appointment of Councillor J Birdi as a City Council representative on the Soothern and Craner Education Foundation for the remainder of the term of office which expires on 31 May 2020 replacing former Councillor K Taylor.

3.  Approves the appointment of Councillor J Clifford as a City Council representative on the Bond’s Hospital Estate Charity Trustees for the remainder of the term of office which expires on 31 May 2020 replacing Councillor K Sandhu.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The City Council noted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which reported on Key Decisions made in the previous year where the Special Urgency provisions were used. This applied where it was not practicable to give notice at least 5 clear days in advance of a Key Decision being made.

The Leader reported that there were no such cases during the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

Report of the Chief Executive

The City Council noted a report of the Chief Executive which informed of decisions undertaken by the Chief Executive, in accordance with the Consultation and in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Councillor G Duggins, to exercise emergency functions in respect of:

1)  The acceptance of a Grant Award of £2,517,500 from the Clean Bus Technology Fund for the delivery of the Clean Bus Project and the addition of this Grant Award to the Council’s Capital Programme, and;

2)  The acceptance of a Grant Award of £4,500,000 from the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) for the development and delivery of the Council’s Air Quality Action Plan (LAQAP); the undertaking of associated work to meet the terms the terms of the Direction issued by Government on 26 March, 2019; and the addition of this Grant Award to the Council’s Capital Programme.

The Council had made it clear to JAQU that acceptance of the grant in no way indicates that the Council accepts that a Clean Air Zone will form part of the revised LAQAP. That would depend purely upon the outcome of the additional modelling work that the Council has agreed to undertake in compliance with Article 4 of the Direction.  

The Council would therefore accept the grant offer of £4.5 million on the basis that it will not access these funds prior to the submission of the additional evidence following the additional modelling work, and agreement with government regarding the LAQAP proposals to be taken forward to statutory consultation and subsequently to Full Business Case development by 27 September 2019.

(a)  Written Question – Booklet 1

(b)  Oral Questions to Chairs of Scrutiny Boards/Chair of Scrutiny

Co-ordination Committee

(c)  Oral Questions to Chairs of other meetings

(d)  Oral Questions to Representatives on Outside Bodies

(e)  Oral Questions to Cabinet Members and Deputy Cabinet Members on any matter

Councillors P Hetherton, AS Khan, J O’Boyle and T Khan provided written answers to the questions set out in the Questions Booklet together with oral responses to supplementary questions put to them at the meeting.

The following Members answered oral questions put to them by other Member as set out below, together with supplementary questions on the same matters:

(a)  The Leader of the Council, Councillor G Duggins, made a Statement in respect of “The Football Club”.

Councillor G Ridley responded to the Statement.

(b)  The Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership, Councillor G Duggins, made a Statement in respect of “West Midlands Combined Authority”.

Councillor G Ridley responded to the Statement.

(c)  The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor P Seaman, made a Statement in respect of “Children’s Services Improvement Plan”.

Councillor J Lepoidevin responded to the Statement.

To be moved by Councillor J O’Boyle and seconded by Councillor P Hetherton

“This Council confirms its commitment to addressing the isssue of climate change and recommends the course of action that we are currently undertaking to respond to the climate change emergency”

The following Motion was moved by Councillor J O’Boyle and seconded by Councillor P Hetherton:

“This Council confirms its commitment to addressing the issue of climate change and recommends the course of action that we are currently undertaking to respond to the climate change emergency”.

RESOLVED that the Motion, as set out above, be unanimously adopted.