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.

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 F S Broadley, Mrs L M Broadley, Mrs L Eaton JP, Ms H E Darling, R E R Morris and Mrs S B 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(s) in accordance with Rule 19 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

Councillor Mrs H E Loydall requested that it be noted that Oadby & Wigston Borough Council tax rates are the lowest in Leicestershire when taking into account the parish precepts levied in other Leicestershire areas, but not in Oadby and Wigston which is unparished.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 December 2022 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous extraordinary meeting held on 07 February 2023 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting(s).

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting(s).

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.

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 16 - 19 of the agenda reports pack) which requested Council’s approval for the creation of a Capital Projects Sub-Committee.

It was moved by the Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor M H Charlesworth and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The establishment of a Capital Projects Sub-Committee (as set out in paragraph 1.1 of the report) be approved;

(ii)      The Terms of Reference for the said Sub-Committee (as set out in Appendix 1 of the report) be approved; and

(iii)    The delegated authority is given to the Head of Law & Democracy (Monitoring Officer) to make any consequen-tial changes to the Constitution arising from this decision.

Report of the Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer

Report of the Head of Finance / Deputy Section 151 Officer

In accordance with Rule 18.3.2 of Part 4 of the Constitution, as required by Regulation 4 and Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 (as amended), the names of the Members who cast a vote for the motion or against the motion or who abstain from voting will be recorded for this item of business and will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting’s proceedings.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 20 - 25 of the agenda reports pack) which asked Council to set and approve the amount of Council Tax for its area in accordance with section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011.

The Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer stated that on page 21, recommendation D, the table which lists the Leicestershire County Council pre-sets for next year are a penny difference lower on bands A, F and H.

The recommendations were moved en bloc by Councillor M H Charlesworth seconded by Councillor J Kaufman and

RESOLVED THAT:

A.        Under powers delegated to the Chief Financial Officer, the Council has calculated the amount of 17,986.7as its Council Tax base for the financial year 2023/24 in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012 be noted.

B.        The Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2023/24 is £4,436,703 be noted.

C.        The following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2023/24 in accordance with sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended):

(i)       £38,215,339 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act.

(ii)     £33,778,720 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act.

(iii)    £4,436,618 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)    £246.66 being the amount at C(iii) divided by the amount at A above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 3 B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

(v)      Valuation Bands 2023/24

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at C(iv) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 36(1) of the Act, as the amount to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

D.       For the year 2023/24, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester/shire, and the  Leicester/shire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority   have stated the following amounts in precepts issued   to the Council, in accordance with section 40 of the   Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the   categories shown below and that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

Report of the Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 26 - 114 of the agenda reports pack) which asked Council to receive an update on the medium-term financial outlook and approve the General Fund Revenue Budget, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget, the Scale of Fees and Charges for 2023/24 and the General Fund and HRA Capital Programmes for 2023/24 – 2027/28.

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded by Councillor Dr I K Ridley and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The Section 151 Officer’s statement on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of reserves as set out in Section 11 of the report be noted;

(ii)      The General Fund Revenue Budget for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 5 be approved;

(iii)    The HRA budget for 2023/24 as detailed in Appendix 8, including rent increase of 7% in line with the national rent policy formula and 100% increase in heating charges based on option 3 as set out in Section 7 be approved;

(iv)    The Scale of Fees and Charges as set out in Appendix 9 be approved;

(v)      The new Capital Schemes of the General Fund and HRA, including the provision for 2024/25 for the replacement of fleet, in order to minimise service Agenda Item 12 disruption as a result of long lead-in times, as set out in Appendix 10 be approved;

(vi)    Capital schemes that Full Council wish to delegate to the new Capital Projects Sub-Committee for monitoring of delivery, subject to Council approval of its establishment are identified;

(vii)   The proposed repurposing of earmarked reserve to bolster the general fund reserve as detailed in Appendix 11 be ratified.

Votes For                  16

Votes Against          0

Abstentions             3

Report of the Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer

Report of the Head of Finance / Deputy Section 151 Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 115 - 162 of the agenda reports pack) which asked Council to approvevarious budget and economic strategies, policies, plans and statements.

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded by Councillor Mrs S Z Haq and

UNANIMOUSLYRESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The Capital Strategy including the Prudential Indicators (as set out in Appendix 1) be approved;

(ii)      That the Treasury Management Policy, Treasury Strategy and Plan 2023/24 (as set out in Appendix 2 and 3) be approved;

(iii)    That the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement 2023/24 (as set out in Appendix 4) be approved;

(iv)    That the Investment Strategy 2023/24 (as set out in Appendix 5) be approved; and

(v)      That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (as set out in Appendix 6) be approved.

Report of the Chief Executive / Head of Paid Service

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 163 - 182 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it to review the proposed Pay Policy Statement for the coming financial year 2023/24.

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworthseconded by Councillor K J Loydall and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The contents of the report and appendices be noted;

(ii)      The Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24 (as set out at Appendix 1) be approved; an

(iii)    The continued commitment to paying the Real Living Wage for 2023/24 be approved.

Votes For                  16

Votes Against          0

Abstentions             3

Report of the Senior Strategic Development Manager

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 183 - 229 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it seek approval and adopt the Leicestershire Resources and Waste Strategy 2022-2050 (LRWS/Strategy). The Strategy sets out how the Leicestershire Waste Partnership (LWP) intends to manage municipal waste up until 2050.

It was moved by Councillor Michael H Charlesworth, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The Leicestershire Resources and Waste Strategy 2022 (provided in Appendix 1) be approved;

(ii)      The Leicestershire Waste Partnership is continued but it be requested that it is developed and enhanced to ensure appropriate political, strategic and operational engagement be endorsed by Council; and

(iii)    The Leicestershire Waste Partnership explores collaborative opportunities which have the potential to deliver environmental improvements, whilst helping to reduce costs across the waste system, such that cost shunting is avoided and mutual benefits are shared across all partners be requested by Council.

(iv)    The fact that Oadby and Wigston Borough Council operates a weekly refuse and recycling collection be noted.

Report of the Legal & Democratic Services Manager / Deputy Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 230 - 246 of the agenda reports pack) which advised the Council on the final arrangements being proposed by the Returning Officer in respect of the polling districts, places and stations in the Borough of Oadby and Wigston.

It was moved byCouncillor D M Carter, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The content of the report and appendices be noted;

(ii)      The Council approves the revised Polling District, Polling Places and Polling Station arrangements (“the Polling Arrangements”) as proposed by the Returning Officer (as set out at Appendix 3 to this report); and

(iii)    Delegated authority be given to the Returning Officer to make alternative Polling Arrangements should any of the approved Polling Places and Polling Stations be untenable at short-notice prior to/on polling day itself.

Votes For                  17

Votes Against          0

Abstentions             2

Report of the Legal & Democratic Services Manager / Deputy Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 247 - 248 of the agenda reports pack) which requested the appointment of two Deputy Electoral Registration Officers to support the Electoral Registration Officer.

It was moved by the Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor C D Kozlowski and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The Head of Law & Democracy (Monitoring Officer) and the Legal & Democratic Services Manager (Deputy Monitoring Officer) be appointed Deputy Electoral Registration Officers.

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 said that Oadby and Wigston Borough Council like other Councils is going to face significant pressures during the cost of living crisis and that the Council is going to have real financial difficulties and will have to turn to working with people that they have not worked with before.