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 L M Broadley, N V Joshi, P Joshi 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'.

Councillor C S Gore declared a non-pecuniary interest with regard to agenda item 10 of the agenda, insofar as renting a plot in the Aylestone Lane allotments.

Upon the Monitoring Officer’s advice, all Members who subscribed to the Garden Waste Service indicated a non-pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item 10.

To read, confirm and approve 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 26 September 2023 be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 28 November 2023 be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

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

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.

The Mayor reminded those in attendance of the sing-a-long Christmas Carol event at Brocks Hill Country Park on Wednesday 13 December, to whom all were invited.

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.

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 her recent work, the administration’s plans and an overview of recent decisions taken since the previous meeting of the Council, together with fielding questions in relation to her Statement.

The Leader spoke upon unprecedented financial challenges the Council was facing due to continuing long-term cuts to funding in addition to more recent pressures around inflation, homelessness and national pay awards for staff, resulting in difficult decisions needing to made as featured elsewhere on the meeting’s agenda.

Report of the Head of Finance / Acting Chief Finance Officer – S151

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 13 - 52 of the agenda reports pack) which presented the revised General Fund Annual Budget for 2024/25 and an updated MTFP for 2024/25 to 2026/27, an update on the capital programme for 2024/25 and the HRA Annual Budget for 2024/25.

It was moved by Councillor C S Gore, seconded by Councillor J K Ford and

DEFEATED THAT:

A separate vote by taken on each item contained ‘Service Delivery Changes – Financial Sustainability Plan’ at Appendix 4 of the report.

Votes For                  5

Votes Against          15

Abstentions             1

It was moved by the Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor G A Boulter and

RESOLVED THAT:

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

(ii)      The general fund balance reserve no longer used to balance the budget;

(iii)    The Service Delivery Changes – Financial Sustainability Plan be approved, save for a 50% reduction in the funding to Helping Hands and the Community and Wellbeing partnership as opposed to 100%; and

(iv)    An increase in housing rents, service charges and garage rents by the maximum social rent level of 7.7% (subject to any changes being announced on the rent setting formula) be approved.

Votes For                  15

Votes Against          6

Abstentions             0

Report of the Head of Finance / Acting Chief Finance Officer – S151

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 53 – 58 of the agenda reports pack) which presented a revied MRP policy for approval to allow for a change in methodology to be implemented.

It was moved by the Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor G A Boulter and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The change in MRP methodology be approved; and

(ii)      The revised MRP Policy to enable the change in methodology to be implemented be approved.

Votes For                  16

Votes Against          5

Abstentions             0

Report of the Chief Executive / Head of Paid Service

The Council gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 59 – 62) of the agenda reports pack) which proposed that individuals with care experience be treated as if it were a Protected Characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded by Councillor K J Loydall and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

Care leavers/care experience being treated by the Council as a Protected Characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

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

The Council gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 63 - 64) of the agenda reports pack) asked it to appoint a single Member representative to the Plastic Free Oadby Steering Group.

It was moved by Councillor G A Boulter, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor C J R Martin be appointed to the Plastic Free Oadby Steering Group.

The press and public are likely to be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item(s) below on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

By general affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item(s) below on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt Report of the Head of Finance / Acting Chief Finance Officer – S151

The Council gave consideration to the exempt report and appendix (as set out at pages 65 – 72 of the private agenda reports pack) which asked it to note the information provided and approve of recommendation B.

It was moved by the Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor K J Loydall

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       Recommendation A be noted.

(ii)      Recommendation B to approved; and

(iii)    Recommendation C be noted.

Votes For                  16

Votes Against          5

Abstentions             0