Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 24 June 2025 were agreed and signed as a true record.

There were no announcements.

RESOLVED that the following petitions be referred to the appropriate Cabinet Member/City Council body/external organisations:

1.  Request for a footway reconstruction from 25 to 69 Wellesbourne Road and 10 to 16 Aynho Close, Mount Nod – 23 signatures, presented by Councillor P Male.

2.  Request for installation of traffic safety measures in Shilton Lane, Lentons Lane and Woodway Lane – 167 signatures, presented by Councillor P Seaman.

3.  Request for a sympathetic approach to any future development at The Langleys – 29 signatures, presented by Councillor M Lapsa.

4.  Explore solutions to parking problems at The Glade, including the possibility of installing grass reinforcement mesh – 19 signatures, presented by Councillor G Ridley.

5.  Request installation of skips so people can get rid of large items in the Tile Hill North area, especially near Jardine Crescent – 39 signatures, presented by Councillor M Lapsa.

6.  Oppose Hawkhurst development in Solihull on the border with Coventry – 1602 signatures, presented by Councillor J Lepoidevin.

7.  Consider road safety measures outside Park Hill Primary School – 187 signatures – presented by Councillor P Male.

8.  Request for traffic calming measures for Hollyfast Lane, Pikers Lane and Wall Hill Road – 257 signatures, presented by Councillor B Christopher.

Councillor E Reeves declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the matter referred to at Minute 39 below relating to  Debate - Coventry Market and the City Centre South Development.  She withdrew from the meeting, during consideration of the matter.

Further to Minute 3/25 of the Ethics Committee, the City Council considered the Annual Report of the Ethics Committee, setting out the work of the Committee for the 2024-25 municipal year.  The report detailed:

·  The Local Code of Corporate Governance

·  Code of Conduct Complaints

·  Ending Abuse in Public Life - Council’s Self-Assessment and Toolkit

·  Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Report

The report also detailed other regular work of the Committee over the last year including receiving regular reports on ethical standards cases across the country; maintaining a watching brief on work being undertaken by the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and locally on supporting Members in dealing with challenges associated with public service, particularly in relation to intimidation and abuse.

RESOLVED that the City Council note the Ethics Committee Annual Report for 2024/25.

From Cabinet, 8 July 2025

Further to Minute 12/25 of Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance on the Coventry Protocol for Addressing Adult Modern Slavery. Appendices to the report provided: the Coventry Protocol for Addressing Adult Modern Slavery; the Plan on a Page; Equality Impact Assessment; Membership of Modern Slavery Protocol Partnership Group; Modern Slavery Protocol Partnership Input Overview; and Modern Slavery and Exploitation Governance Structure. 

The Council had a legal responsibility to address modern slavery under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and the Modern Slavery: Statutory Guidance for England and Wales (under s49 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015). Locally, the modern slavery approach was co-ordinated through various subgroups within the Community Safety Partnership. Modern slavery and exploitation were key priorities in the Coventry Community Safety Partnership Plan 2025-2028. The Coventry Protocol for Addressing Adult Modern Slavery (The Protocol) was the first document to formalise the city’s operational and strategic response to adult exploitation.

The Protocol set out the strategic vision for the Coventry Modern Slavery Partnership, the city’s multi-agency forum tasked with determining and implementing the strategic response to adult exploitation. The Protocol also presented the operational pathways to guide frontline professionals through the practicalities of modern slavery case management. 

RESOLVED that the City Council supports and endorses the Coventry Protocol for Addressing Adult Modern Slavery.

From Cabinet, 8 July 2025

Further to Minute 11/25 of Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Finance and Resources (Section 151 Officer) which outlined the final revenue and capital outturn position for 2024/25, and reviewed treasury management activity and 2024/25 Prudential Indicators reported under the Prudential Code for Capital Finance. Appendices to the report provided: a detailed breakdown of Directorate Revenue Variations; Capital Programme Changes and Analysis of Rescheduling; and Prudential Indicators.

The overall financial position included the following headline items:

•  An underspend of £1.8m, balanced by a contribution to earmarked reserves.

•  Capital Programme expenditure of £128.8m.

•  A small increase in the level of available Council revenue reserves from £118m to £119m.

The Council had faced significant pressures within both Adults and Children’s Social Care, and City Services. Other overspends were also being reported in Regeneration and Economic Development, Legal and Governance, People, and Organisational Development. These financial pressures were being caused by a combination of continued increases in service demand, complexity of cases and social care market conditions, legacy inflation impacts, income shortfalls due to reduced activity, and slippage in the delivery of some service savings.

The underlying revenue position had improved by £8.8m since Quarter 3 where an overspend of £7.0m was being forecast. The majority of the improved position related to increased one-off income within Contingency and Central budgets which were set out in section 2.1.4 in the report.

RESOLVED that the City Council approves the contribution to reserves of £1.8m for the purposes described in Section 5.1 of the report.

From Audit and Procurement Committee, 21 July 2025

Further to Minute 13/25 of the Audit and Procurement Committee, the City Council considered the annual report of the Committee for 2024/25.

The report detailed the Committee’s activity in 2024/25 in the following areas: Governance; Financial Management and Accounting; External Audit; Internal Audit; Fraud and Error; Procurement and Salaries. Reports considered during this period which were linked to risk management, internal control and governance, included: Whistleblowing Annual Report 2023/24; Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Annual Compliance Report; Complaints to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman 2023/24; Corporate Risk Register; Information Governance Annual Report 2023/24; and Coventry Municipal Holdings Group Accounts.

The report also detailed priorities for the Committee for 2024/25 which included:

·  The Council’s risk management, governance, internal control and financial management arrangements continue to operate effectively, especially in light of the ongoing financial pressures caused by inflation, increasing service demands and difficult conditions within social care markets. 

·  The deadlines relating to the publication of the Council’s 2024/25 unaudited and audited Statements of Accounts are achieved and the Council has appropriate arrangements in place to ensure the timetable is met in forthcoming years. 

RESOLVED that the City Council note the Audit and Procurement Committee Annual Report for 2024/25.

From the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, 21 August 2025

The City Council considered report of the Director of law and Governance which set out details of the Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25.

The Constitution required that Scrutiny reported annually to inform Council of its work. The Annual Report sets out the work undertaken by the following bodies over the last municipal year:

·  Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee

·  Finance and Corporate Services Scrutiny Board

·  Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board

·  Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board

·  Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board

·  Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board

RESOLVED that the City Council:

(1)  Approves the Scrutiny Annual Report to Council 2024-25 (Appendix 1 of the report)

(2)  Notes the Recommendations made to the Executive (Appendix 2 of the report)

(3)  Notes that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee and each Scrutiny Board had an active work programme which was considered at each meeting, where all Members of the Committee/Boards could suggest items for Scrutiny.

From Cabinet, 26 August 2025

Further to Minute 19/25 of Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy which sought approval to submit the reviewed Local Plan for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.

As set out in Paragraph 33 of the National Planning Policy Framework and (Regulation 10A of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012),Local Plans should be considered for review at least once every five years.

As the current Local Plan had been adopted in December 2017, Council approved the commencement of a full review of the Local Plan on 6th December 2022 with the objective of ensuring policies were up to date, in line with changes to national policy and guidance, and that they continued to reflect local priorities. At their meeting, Cabinet had noted that the Coventry City Area Action Plan was adopted alongside the Local Plan, and this would be incorporated in this review. Therefore, all references to ‘The Local Plan’, ‘The Plan’ and ‘Plan Review’ incorporated both documents.

The report provided information in relation to the following:

·  Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework

·  Technical Requirements

·  Public Consultation on the Proposed Submission

RESOLVED that the City Council:

(1)  Approves the submission of the draft Coventry Local Plan at Appendix 1 – 5 together with relevant associated documentation for independent examination by the Secretary of State.

(2)  Directs that submission is accompanied by a request that the Inspector appointed to carry out the examination recommends any modifications necessary to make the Coventry Local Plan sound and legally compliant in accordance with Section 20(7C) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended).

(3)  Delegates authority to the Director of Regeneration and Economy, following consultation with Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, to take or authorise such steps as may be necessary for the independent examination of the Coventry Local Plan to be completed including but not limited to:

a.  Makes appropriate arrangements for submission of the Coventry Local Plan and the completion and submission of all documents relating to the Coventry Local Plan.

b.  Makes all necessary arrangements for examination including:

  i.  The appointment of a Programme Officer.

  ii.  The undertaking and/or commissioning of other work necessary to prepare for and participate at examination.

  iii.  Proposing main and/or minor modifications to the Plan and/or modifications to the Policies Map.

  iv.  Entering into Memorandums of Understanding and Statements of Common Ground.

  v.  The delegation to officers and other commissioned experts to prepare and submit evidence, representations and submissions to the examination and, where necessary, appear at any hearing sessions and represent the Council.

(c)  Implements any consequential actions relating to the examination, including undertaking any consultation that may be necessary, and publishing the recommendations and reasons of the person appointed to carry out the examination.

From Cabinet, 26 August 2025

Further to Minute 20/25 of Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy which indicated that the Planning & Compulsory Planning Act 2004, as amended by the Localism Act 2011, required each local planning authority to prepare and maintain a document setting out the programme for the preparation of planning documents. This was known as the Local Development Scheme (LDS).

The LDS was a project plan for preparing planning documents, but it was not a policy document itself. It provided a starting point for the local community and stakeholders to find out what planning documents were being prepared by the Council and the timetable for when these documents would be produced. In particular, it set out the timetable for the review and update of the Council’s Local Plan and outlined the dates where there would be formal opportunities to get involved in the plan-making process.

In November 2022, Cabinet and Council gave authority to progress with a full review of the Local Plan, seeking to assess if the existing suite of policies had proven effective in decision making, and if these policies aligned with the wider corporate objectives of the Local Authority.  Cabinet and Council authority to progress to the Regulation 19 stage of plan making was agreed in January 2025, and the representations from this publication have now been analysed to inform the forthcoming timelines of the Local Plan Review process.

Further to analysis of the representations received from public consultation, which informed the necessary evidence base to progress to further stages of the plan review, the Local Development Scheme had been reviewed to ensure that the timescales presented provided an accurate forecast of the forthcoming stages. There were several variables that may lead to that timeline being extended including the unavailability of Inspectors to convene the Examination in Public or, a longer time needed to assess and integrate complex representations to the consultations.

An indicative timeline of the Plan review was detailed in the report and included in a refreshed Local Development Scheme at Appendix 1 of the report.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1)  Agreed to adopt the updated draft Local Development Scheme attached at Appendix 1 of the report to take effect immediately.

2)  Delegates authority to the Director of Regeneration and Economy, following consultation with Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, to prepare the Local Development Scheme for publication and correcting any minor errors provided that that such changes do not affect the substantive contents of the Local Development Scheme.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

The City Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which sought approval of the Political Proportionality for the City Council for 2025/26 and the consequential amendments required to appointments to Council bodies which had arisen as a result of the formal notification that, with effect from 1 August, 2025, Councillor G Lewis has resigned from the Labour Group and that Councillors S Gray, G Lewis and E Reeves have formed the  Green and Independent Alliance Group on the City Council. 

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1)  Approve the revised Political Proportionality for the City Council for 2025/26, attached as Appendix 1 of the report.

2)  Approve the following amendments to appointments required as a result of the revised Political Proportionality:

a)  Appoint Councillor M Mutton to the Labour Group place on Planning Committee in place of Councillor G Lewis.

b)  Appoint Councillor S Agboola to the Labour Group place on the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor G Lewis.

c)  Appoint Councillor F Abbott to the Labour Group place on the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5) in place of Councillor G Lewis.

d)  Appoint Councillor G Lewis to the Green and Independent Alliance Group place on the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) in place of Councillor F Abbott.

14.1  Written Question – Booklet 1

14.2  Oral Questions to Chairs of Scrutiny Boards/Chair of Scrutiny

Co-ordination Committee

14.3  Oral Questions to Chairs of other meetings

14.4  Oral Questions to Representatives on Outside Bodies

14.5  Oral Questions to Cabinet Members and Deputy Cabinet Members on any matter

Councillors N Akthar, Brown, Duggins, Hetherton, O’Boyle and Seaman provided written answers to the questions set out in the Questions Booklet, together with oral responses to supplementary questions at the meeting. The following Members answered oral questions put to them by other Members as set out below, together with supplementary questions on the same matters:

The Leader, Councillor G Duggins, made a Statement highlighting local stories and congratulating those involved in the successful Holiday Activities and Food Programme, winning the Inclusive Learning Provider of the Year award, the prestigious Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces, thanking teachers and congratulating students who had received exam results and Coventry City Football Club’s purchase of the CBS Arena.  The leader also referred to the VJ day 80^th anniversary commemorations on 15 August 2025.  Finally, the Leader announced that streetlights, previously turned off between midnight and 5.30am, would be turned on during those hours from 9 September 2025.

Councillor G Ridley, Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor E Reeves Leader of the Green and Independent Alliance, and Councillor J Gardiner, Leader of the Reform UK Group responded to the Statement.

The Leader made a short reply.

"While welcoming the ongoing development of City Centre South, this council recognises the devasting effect disruption is having on traders in Coventry Market. Many of whom have suffered large reductions in turnover with a significant increase in overheads, including the increase in Employer’s National Insurance, which has left many traders in a difficult financial position. We therefore call upon Coventry Council to continue/enter into a meaningful dialogue with the traders to come up with a solution which is fair and equitable to all parties.”

The following Motion was moved by Councillor J Blundell and seconded by Councillor M Heaven:

"While welcoming the ongoing development of City Centre South, this council recognises the devasting effect disruption is having on traders in Coventry Market. Many of whom have suffered large reductions in turnover with a significant increase in overheads, including the increase in Employer’s National Insurance, which has left many traders in a difficult financial position. We therefore call upon Coventry Council to continue/enter into a meaningful dialogue with the traders to come up with a solution which is fair and equitable to all parties.”

RESOLVED that the Motion as set out above not be adopted.

(Note: Councillor E Reeves, having declared and interest in the minute above, left the meeting for the duration of the item)

This Council notes:

• The significant increase in road traffic accidents involving courier and food delivery vehicles within Coventry and across the UK.

• The growing number of delivery drivers and riders operating on our roads, including those using e-bikes, often without formal licensing or safety checks.

This Council believes:

• Public safety is paramount and must be protected through robust regulation of the delivery sector.

• Mandatory licensing for both drivers and vehicles will help ensure roadworthiness, accountability, and compliance with legal standards.

• Delivery work should not be an avenue for unsafe, uninsured, or unregulated road use.

This Council resolves to call on the Government to:

1. Introduce mandatory licensing for all drivers and vehicles used for delivery purposes, including e-bikes.

2. Require all goods and food delivery drivers to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before commencing work.

3. Require all delivery drivers to register with HMRC before starting work with a delivery company.

4. Require that all vehicles used in delivery services — including cars, motorbikes, scooters, and e-bikes — obtain a license from their local authority confirming their roadworthiness.

5. Mandate that all e-bike riders wear helmets and prohibit any illegal modifications that increase speed beyond legal limits.

The following Motion was moved by Councillor N Akhtar and seconded by Councillor M Mutton:

“This Council notes:

•  The significant increase in road traffic accidents involving courier and food delivery vehicles within Coventry and across the UK.

•  The growing number of delivery drivers and riders operating on our roads, including those using e-bikes, often without formal licensing or safety checks.

This Council believes:

•  Public safety is paramount and must be protected through robust regulation of the delivery sector.

•  Mandatory licensing for both drivers and vehicles will help ensure roadworthiness, accountability, and compliance with legal standards.

•  Delivery work should not be an avenue for unsafe, uninsured, or unregulated road use.

This Council resolves to call on the Government to:

1. Introduce mandatory licensing for all drivers and vehicles used for delivery purposes, including e-bikes.

2. Require all goods and food delivery drivers to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before commencing work.

3. Require all delivery drivers to register with HMRC before starting work with a delivery company.

4. Require that all vehicles used in delivery services — including cars, motorbikes, scooters, and e-bikes — obtain a license from their local authority confirming their roadworthiness.

5. Mandate that all e-bike riders wear helmets and prohibit any illegal modifications that increase speed beyond legal limits”.

The following amendment was moved by Councillor J Gardiner, seconded by Councillor M Lapsa, and lost:

“Insert the following at the end of the Motion:

6.  That delivery drivers and riders must carry a copy of their licence at all times and produce it when requested.

7.  This licence should display photo ID as well as the license number.

8.  Licensing also be extended to pedal bike riders engaged in commercial delivery beyond a child’s paper round.

9.  That bikes, scooters and e-bike riders display a unique registration number on their vehicle large enough to be viewed by law enforcement from a distance and identifiable by security cameras.

10. This unique registration number be displayed on the bike/e-bike and helmet, front and back

11. That licensing involves automatic notification to immigration for those who are not British citizens.”

The amended Motion now to read:

This Council notes:

•  The significant increase in road traffic accidents involving courier and food delivery vehicles within Coventry and across the UK.

•  The growing number of delivery drivers and riders operating on our roads, including those using e-bikes, often without formal licensing or safety checks.

This Council believes:

•  Public safety is paramount and must be protected through robust regulation of the delivery sector.

•  Mandatory licensing for both drivers and vehicles will help ensure roadworthiness, accountability, and compliance with legal standards.

•  Delivery work should not be an avenue for unsafe, uninsured, or unregulated road use.

This Council resolves to call on the Government to:

1. Introduce mandatory licensing for all drivers and vehicles used for delivery purposes, including e-bikes.

2. Require all goods and food delivery drivers to undergo a Disclosure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

We live in one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and protecting nature and biodiversity is a key part of the fight against climate change. Access to nature is also extremely important for human well-being and brings a wide range of health benefits. It is, therefore, vital that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that is currently going through Parliament includes strong measures to protect biodiversity and enhance the natural environment.

The current wording of the bill falls short in this area. It does not impose a strong enough duty to avoid harm to biodiversity, makes it too easy for developers to rely on impact offsetting, and does not require offsetting to produce a biodiversity gain.

For these reasons Coventry Council ask that the following revisions are made to the bill:

1.Introduction of the requirement of an Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) to establish a timetable of ecological enhancements linked to any levy payment, this will ensure that harm caused by development will be quickly mitigated.

 2.Introduction of a clause that any contribution to an Environmental Levy for delivery of an EDP can only be made or accepted if an on-site mitigation hierarchy has first been evidenced to have been applied and followed.  We believe that all development should seek to avoid harm to the natural environment, and that offsetting harm through measures on the development site should only happen when harm has already been minimised. Contributions to an off-site levy should only be considered if these have been proven impossible.

 3.The bill should promote access to and appreciation of our precious natural habitats. We propose that EDPs should be required to ensure that, where ‘off site’ mitigations are undertaken, residents in and around the development should be able to easily access the created natural habitats. The City Council strongly believe that protecting nature is not just about conservation but also about making sure everyone can enjoy it. and have equal access to it.

The following Motion was moved by Councillor E Reeves and seconded by Councillor S Gray:

“We live in one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and protecting nature and biodiversity is a key part of the fight against climate change. Access to nature is also extremely important for human well-being and brings a wide range of health benefits. It is, therefore, vital that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that is currently going through Parliament includes strong measures to protect biodiversity and enhance the natural environment.

The current wording of the bill falls short in this area. It does not impose a strong enough duty to avoid harm to biodiversity, makes it too easy for developers to rely on impact offsetting, and does not require offsetting to produce a biodiversity gain.

For these reasons Coventry Council ask that the following revisions are made to the bill:

1.  Introduction of the requirement of an Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) to establish a timetable of ecological enhancements linked to any levy payment, this will ensure that harm caused by development will be quickly mitigated.

2.  Introduction of a clause that any contribution to an Environmental Levy for delivery of an EDP can only be made or accepted if an on-site mitigation hierarchy has first been evidenced to have been applied and followed.  We believe that all development should seek to avoid harm to the natural environment, and that offsetting harm through measures on the development site should only happen when harm has already been minimised. Contributions to an off-site levy should only be considered if these have been proven impossible.

3.  The bill should promote access to and appreciation of our precious natural habitats. We propose that EDPs should be required to ensure that, where ‘off site’ mitigations are undertaken, residents in and around the development should be able to easily access the created natural habitats. The City Council strongly believe that protecting nature is not just about conservation but also about making sure everyone can enjoy it. and have equal access to it.”

RESOLVED that the Motion as set out above not be adopted.

Council notes:

1.  Numerous inquiries and investigations over the past two decades have revealed the existence of grooming gangs operating across various towns and cities in the UK, including recent concerns raised in Coventry and surrounding areas.

2.  Reports have identified numerous suspects, some of whom remain unprosecuted despite the availability of substantial evidence from inquiries and survivor testimonies.

3.  Added concerns have also been raised all around the country where the influx of illegal male migrants, being housed in hotels and HMO’s in residential areas has resulted in an increase in sexual assaults/crimes.

Council believes:

1.  Justice must be delivered for survivors of rape/grooming and exploitation, regardless of how long ago the offences took place.

2.  There should be no political hesitation, cultural sensitivity, or institutional fear that prevents the full prosecution of those identified in these inquiries.

3.  Any new cases of rape/grooming, sexual assaults, must not be hidden because of race/ethnicity, as has been done previously.

Council resolves to

1.  Write to the Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Justice urging them to:

·  Ensure that all those identified in previous and ongoing rape gang investigations, including those in Coventry, are thoroughly pursued and prosecuted where evidence permits.

·  Provide adequate resources to law enforcement agencies and the CPS to facilitate these prosecutions and support for survivors.

·  Commit to a clear and publicly accountable timeline for progress on outstanding investigations.

2.  Request that the Leader of the Council issues a public statement reaffirming this council’s commitment to supporting survivors and calling for justice for all affected by rape gangs and its commitment to support anyone new who comes forward with evidence relating to historic or current rape/grooming gangs.

The following Motion was moved by Councillor M Lapsa and seconded by Councillor J Gardiner:

“Councilnotes:

1.  Numerousinquiries andinvestigations overthe pasttwo decadeshave revealedthe existence of grooming gangs operating across various towns and cities in the UK, including recent concerns raised in Coventry and surrounding areas.

2.  Reportshave identifiednumerous suspects,some ofwhom remainunprosecuted despite the availability of substantial evidence from inquiries and survivor testimonies.

3.  Addedconcerns havealso beenraised allaround thecountry wherethe influxof illegal malemigrants, beinghoused inhotels andHMO’s inresidential areashas resulted in an increase in sexual assaults/crimes.

Councilbelieves:

1.  Justicemust bedelivered forsurvivors ofrape/grooming andexploitation, regardless of how long ago the offences took place.

2.  Thereshould beno politicalhesitation, culturalsensitivity, orinstitutional fearthat prevents the full prosecution of those identified in these inquiries.

3.  Anynew casesof rape/grooming,sexual assaults,must notbe hiddenbecause of race/ethnicity, as has been done previously.

Councilresolves to:

1.  Writeto the Home Secretaryand Secretaryof State forJustice urging themto:

·  Ensure that all those identified in previous and ongoing rape gang investigations,including thosein Coventry,are thoroughlypursued and prosecuted where evidence permits.

·  Provide adequate resourcesto lawenforcement agencies andthe CPSto facilitatethese prosecutions andsupport for survivors.

·  Committo aclear andpublicly accountabletimeline forprogress on outstanding investigations.

2.  Request that the Leader of the Council issues a public statement reaffirming this council’scommitment tosupporting survivorsand callingfor justicefor allaffected by rape gangsand it'scommitment tosupport anyone new whocomes forwardwith evidence relating to historic or current rape/grooming gangs.”

The following amendment was moved by Councillor AS Khan, seconded by Councillor P Seaman, and accepted by Councillor Lapsa thus becoming the substantive motion (in accordance with paragraph 15.1.7 of the Constitution):

“Insert the word “This” at the start of the Motion. After the word “Council notes”, delete paragraphs 1 to 3 and replace with the following:

“Group-based child sexual exploitation, committed by grooming gangs, is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable Insert the word “This” at the start of the Motion. After the word “ Council notes”, delete paragraphs 1 to 3 and replace with the following:

1  Group-based child sexual exploitation, committed by grooming gangs, is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable. These despicable crimes cause the most profound harm to victims and survivors throughout their lives. This scandal, and the abhorrent continuing crimes of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse that persist in this country today, are a stain on our society and are deplored by this Council and Coventry residents

2  The Government has committed to a new national inquiry on grooming gangs, coordinating a series of targeted local investigations, to hold institutions to account for historic failings.

3  The Government will work with the police to launch a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.