Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Lendy Memorial from its meeting held on 19 January 2021.  

Cabinet considered the recommendations contained in the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Lendy Memorial Lion petition.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Leighton , informed the Cabinet that Council had asked the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to look into the Lendy Memorial Lion petition in detail after it received a lot of resident support. Councillor Leighton explained that the officers report contained two recommendations, the second regarding a letter of support for two academics to undertake further research, however, she had wanted to discuss each recommendation separately as primarily the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been asked to recommend a course of action regarding the memorial and the Committee felt there should be no delay in addressing this as residents had made it clear that they wished for the memorial to be uncovered. 

Councillor Leighton explained that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee were satisfied that the Council had established the credentials of Mr Doyle, an investigative journalist who had provided the Council with a detailed background to the memorial and the Lendy brothers but that the provenance of the academics had been queried as their credentials had not been validated.

Councillor Leighton concluded that whilst the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had unanimously agreed with recommendation 1, they had been divided on recommendation 2 with seven members voting for, five against and two choosing to abstain.

The Leader allowed Councillor Sider to address the Committee as Armed Forces Champion. Councillor Sider echoed Councillor Leighton adding that he had sought information on the background of the academics and had been concerned that some of the tweets associated with them did not appear to be unbiased. Councillor Sider requested that Cabinet support recommendation 1 but reject recommendation 2.

Resolved that:

i.        The Council supports the views of residents, as expressed in the petition. The statue should immediately be uncovered and left in place.

ii.        The Council provides at the site a plaque containing historical information, with more detailed information available, for example through a QR code.

iii.        The Council works with local informed sources and their wealth of information so other suggestions for ensuring access to detailed background information can be pursued, such as a booklet in the Embroidery Gallery and the involvement of the well-respected local history society.

Reason for decision:

The Council has listened to the views of its residents who have made it clear that they wish the memorial to be uncovered and left in situ for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The Council believes it is important to provide residents and visitors to the borough with access to historical information about the brothers and the  memorials heritage and believes that a wealth of information is already available and thus the Council does not believe it is necessary to write a letter of support for the academics to receive funding for further research.

To make a recommendation to Cabinet in relation to the Lower Sunbury Lendy memorial Lion.

The (Joint) Group Head Community Wellbeing introduced the report and explained that the Committee needed to consider two issues; the report written about the Lendy memorial by Alan Doyle and to recommend to Cabinet a course of action based on the information currently available and whether to accept the offer of supporting an application to the Arts and Humanities Research Council for a grant to undertake further research on the Lendy statue.

The Committee scrutinised the officers report and discussed each issue in turn.

On the first issue Members noted the online petition to save the Lendy Memorial had over 2,100 signatures and that the local community had expressed their support for the Memorial in posts on the Council’s social media accounts.

The Committee felt strongly that the Council should listen to the community and ensure the memorial remain in situ with the coverings removed.

Members noted that the police had contacted officers and advised them to protect the memorial as there were concerns for its safety but agreed they did not believe there was any evidence to suggest the memorial was in danger at present. Members discussed the possibility of installing CCTV at the site but concluded it was not necessary.

Members strongly agreed that they would like information to be provided about the memorial in an appropriate format at the site. 

Members noted the academics proposal and their intention to carry out the research with or without the Council’s support.

The Committee thanked Mr Doyle for his thorough, impartial, and considered report which informed the debate and concluded that the memorial was erected by the local community in remembrance of two local brothers who fought in wars and distinguished themselves on the continent of Africa in the 19th century.

On the second issue,  members agreed that they would like information to be provided about the memorial in an appropriate format at the site. Some members queried the provenance of the academics, who were reported to specialise in the history of North East  Africa and the Caribbean, whereas the Lendy brothers had been posted to South East Africa.

The Committee were divided on the matter. Some members considered that Mr Doyle’s report covered the points listed for research in the academics’ proposal whilst others thought the Council should consider information provided from all sources.

The Committee noted that legislation is proposed to ensure that decisions on statues are made locally after public consultation.

The Committee, whilst resolving to provide a letter of support for the academics, did so by a tight margin of 7 votes to 5 with two members choosing to abstain.

The Committee resolved to make the following recommendations to Cabinet:

Recommendation 1:

i.        The Council supports the views of residents, as expressed in the petition. The statue should immediately be uncovered and left in place.

ii.        The Council provides at the site a plaque containing historical information, with more detailed information available, for example through a QR code.

iii.        The Committee agrees that the Council works  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10