Agenda and minutes

The meeting of the Council will be called to order to receive Her Worship The Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The meeting of the Council was called to order to receive Her Worship The Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of late Alderman Duncan Lucas and Councillor Robert Eaton.

To receive apologies for absence from Members to determine the quorum of the meeting in accordance with Rule 7 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

An apology for absence was received from Councillors M H Charlesworth, M L Darr, Mrs L Eaton JP, D A Gamble, Ms C D Kozlowski and R E R Morris.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

None.

To read, confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting in accordance with Rule 19 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 December 2021 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

To read, confirm and note the Action List arising from the previous meeting.

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting held on 21 December 2021.

To consider any Motions on Notice in accordance with Rule 14 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

To receive any Petitions, Deputations and, or, to answer any Questions by Members or the Public in accordance with Rule(s) 11, 12, 13 and 10 of Part 4 of the Constitution and the Petitions Procedure Rules respectively.

None.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor in accordance with Rule 2 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The list of Official Engagements attended by The Mayor and/or Deputy Mayor be noted.

In accordance with Rule 6.3 of Part 4 of the Constitution, the Chair moved for the order of business to be altered and taken in the order as reflected in the minutes.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The order of business be altered accordingly.

Report of the Head of Finance/Deputy S151 Officer.

Councillor F S Ghattoraya entered the meeting at 7.13pm after the commencement of the debate, and therefore did not take part in the vote thereon.

The Council gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 10 - 15 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it set and approve the amount of Council Tax for the Borough of Oadby and Wigston for 2021/22 in accordance with section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011. A brief summary of the proposals was delivered by the Vice-Chair of Policy, Finance and Development Committee, Councillor Dr I K Ridley, followed by an update from the Head of Finance.

A number of Members drew attention to the fact that the Borough Council only receives 12% of Council Tax collected, and requested that the Council should communicate clearly to its residents that despite being the collection authority, the majority of the percentage split (72%) goes to Leicestershire County Council.

A number of questions were raised by Members regarding how the £150 Council Tax rebate for properties in Bands A-D would be administered, and reassurance was sought that payments would be made to eligible households as efficiently as possible. It was confirmed by Officers that government guidance had only been issued the day before the meeting so the detail was still being reviewed, however residents were to be encouraged to sign-up for direct debit payments in order to receive the rebate automatically early in the financial year 2022/23. It was clarified that where the Council does not hold live direct debit instructions for an eligible household, contact would be made in order for them to make a claim.

The recommendations were moved en bloc by Councillor Dr I K Ridley, seconded by Mrs S B Morris and it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

A.     It be noted that under powers delegated to the Chief Financial Officer, the Council has calculated the amount of 17,602.15 as its Council Tax base for the financial year 2022/23 in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012.

B.     It be noted that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2022/23 is £4,215,715.

C.     The following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2022/23 in accordance with sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended):

(i)       £35,644,007 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act.

(ii)     £31,428,292 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act.

(iii)    £4,215,715 being the amount by which the aggregate at C(i) above exceeds the aggregate at C(ii) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31 A (4) of the Act, as its Council Tax Requirement for the year.

(iv)    £239.50 being the amount at C(iii) divided by the amount at A above, calculated by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 133.

Report of the Head of Finance / Deputy S151 Officer.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 16 – 46 of the agenda, which asked it to review the draft budget estimates for 2022/23, the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) forecasts, and the 2022/23 Capital Programme and proposed sources of funding. A brief summary of the proposals was delivered by the Vice-Chair of Policy, Finance and Development Committee, Councillor Dr I K Ridley, followed by an update from the Head of Finance.

The Head of Finance tabled the following corrections to the original report:

(i)           Page 21 Paragraph 9.2 - The General Fund balance is £1.348m and is forecast to be £1.011m at 1 April 2022, assuming current year financial outturn is as forecast at Q3; and

(ii)          Page 35, Section E - The updated MTFP presents a total deficit by 2025/26 of £320k. There are currently plans being explored to create new funding streams, but the cost of implementation and the timing of the streams is a risk.

Acknowledging the continued pressures faced, Members commended the work undertaken by Officers to achieve delivery of a balanced budget.

It was moved by Councillor Dr I K Ridley, seconded by Councillor Mrs S Z Haq and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)                                  The Section 151 Officer’s statement on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of reserves be noted;

(ii)                                The Revenue Budget 2022/23 be approved;

(iii)                              The HRA budget for 2022/23 be approved;

(iv)                              The new Capital Schemes of the General Fund and HRA be approved; and

(v)                                The Capital Strategy be approved.

Report of the Head of Finance/Deputy Section 151 Officer and Finance Manager.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 47-85 of the agenda, which asked it to review the Treasury Management Policy, the Council’s Prudential indicators, the Treasury Strategy and Plan and the Investment Strategy for 2022/23. A brief summary of the proposals was delivered by the Vice-Chair of Policy, Finance and Development Committee, Councillor Dr I K Ridley, followed by an update from the Head of Finance.

It was moved by Councillor Dr I K Ridley, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)              The Treasury Management Policy be approved;

(ii)            The Prudential Indicators for 2022/23 be approved;

(iii)          The Treasury Strategy and Plan 2022/23 be approved; and

(iv)          The Investment Strategy 2022/23 be approved;

Votes For:                             18

Votes Against:                      0

Abstentions:                         1

Report of the Chief Executive / Head of Paid Service.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 86-95 of the agenda, which asked it to review the proposed Pay Policy Statement for the coming financial year 2022/23.

It was moved by Mrs L M Broadley, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)          The Pay Policy Statement for 2022/23 be approved;

(ii)        Once agreement at national level is reached, the pay structure incorporating the National Joint Council (NJC) 2021/22 pay award will be brought back to Council for approval; and

(iii)       The continued commitment to paying the Real Living Wage for 2022/23 be approved.

Report of the Democratic & Electoral Services Manager

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 6-8 of the agenda update, which asked it to ratify amendments to the representation on the Committees, Sub-Committees and other Panels and Boards to which the Council appoints, as a consequence of a recent by-election in Wigston Meadowcourt Ward.

It was moved by the Leader of the Council, seconded by Mrs S B Morris and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)             The revised allocation of seats to political groups be approved; and

(ii)           The proposed appointment of nominations to those seats be approved.

To receive any statement from the Leader of the Council in accordance with Article 2.9.2(ii) of Part 2 of the Constitution.

The Leader of the Council presented a Statement outlining his recent work, the administration’s plans and an overview of recent decisions taken since the previous meeting of the Council.

The Leader expressed shock and concern regarding the escalation of conflict in Ukraine and stated that the Borough would seek to support the settlement of refugees displaced by the violence. A Member suggested that it would send a message of solidarity if the Council were to raise the Ukranian Flag in Peace Memorial Park, Wigston.

The Leader called upon health providers to consider carefully the location and accessibility of Covid vaccination sites, given that parts of the Borough still lagged well behind the national average rates of vaccination. It was also announced that a Covid Recovery Plan, a refresh of the Council’s Corporate Plan and a review of the Member Enquiry system would all be forthcoming.

It was confirmed that a Communications Strategy was currently being worked on with a view to being put before Members at either Policy, Finance and Development Committee in March 2022, or Full Council in April 2022. It was also confirmed that an update on the lunchtime opening of the Customer Service Centre would be provided to the March meeting of Service Delivery Committee.