Leicester City Council was scheduled to hold a special meeting on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to discuss several pressing issues, including changes to council tax support, the future of community centres, libraries, and museums, and other urgent business. Two motions were put forward for consideration.

Council Tax Support and Benefits

Councillor Patrick Kitterick, seconded by Councillor Nigel Porter, proposed a motion to address concerns regarding changes to Council Tax Support in Leicester and the potential impact of welfare provision cuts announced by Liz Kendall, Member of Parliament for Leicester West and Secretary of State for the Department of Work & Pensions.

The motion highlighted several concerns:

• Residents reporting hardship and distress due to the changes.
• Doubts about the effectiveness of safety net procedures.
• The combined impact of local Council Tax Support changes and national welfare benefit cuts.
• The timing of the Task Group review, which was scheduled to take place after the immediate financial impact on residents.

To mitigate these issues, the council was asked to consider the following:

• Allocate additional funds to a discretionary fund to cover income shortfalls resulting from the withdrawal of Council Tax Support. The proposal suggested reallocating funds from the bizarre Cafe Project at the King Richard III visitors centre and the bottomless pit of a project which is the Leicester Railway refurbishment scheme.
• For Sir Peter Soulsby, City Mayor, and members of the city council to jointly write to Liz Kendall MP to request a reconsideration of the welfare cuts.

Community Centres, Libraries and Museums

Councillor Hemant Rae Bhatia, seconded by Councillor Patrick Kitterick, proposed a motion expressing concern over the future of community centres, libraries, and museums in Leicester.

The motion raised concerns about:

• The council's Museum Service Vision, which included proposals to virtually close public access to Abbey Pumping Station, Newarke Houses Museum and Belgrave Hall.
• A consultation on the widespread 'de-funding' of libraries and community centres across Leicester which had caused huge concern across the City of Leicester.
• The financial impact of the Jewry Wall Museum refurbishment project on other cultural facilities.
• A planned £550,000 project to enhance the cafe at the King Richard III Visitor Centre while other facilities face closure.
• The lack of scrutiny regarding the Museum Service Vision and the operation of Jewry Wall Museum.
• The potential for cuts to community centres and libraries while the council's top 150 officers cost £20 million per year.

The council was asked to consider the following:

• Suspend the implementation of the Museum Service Vision for further scrutiny.
• Cancel the Community Centre and Library consultation.
• Explore alternative cuts to council spending, particularly regarding the cost of the top 150 officers.