Agenda and minutes

The meeting of the Council will be called to order to receive His Worship The Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Members, Officers and those otherwise in attendance are asked to remain standing whilst the Meeting is led in prayer by the Chaplin.

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

The meeting was led in prayer by the Chaplin.

An apology for absence was received from Councillors D M Carter, Mrs S Z Haq, T Barr, Dr T K Khong and R H Thakor.

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 of the Council held on Tuesday, 08 December 2015 in accordance with Rule 17 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 08 December 2015 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

To read, confirm and note the Action List arising from the previous meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 08 December 2015.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Action List arising from the previous meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 08 December 2015 be noted by Members.

To consider any Motions on Notice in accordance with Rule 12 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

To receive any Petitions and, or, Deputations in accordance with Rule 24 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

Members are reminded that in accordance with Rule 11.1 of Part 4 of the Constitution, questions can be asked of the Leader of the Council and the Chair of a Committee without notice upon an item of the report of a Committee when that item is being receiving or under consideration by the Council. 

None.

The Mayor presented to Members the list of Official Mayoral Engagements attended by The Mayor and, or, Deputy Mayor as set out at agenda item 8a in the first supplementary agenda update (at page 1). The Mayor further confirmed his attendance at the ‘Lessons from the Holocaust’ event on 20 January 2016 (at line 4) and the ‘High Sheriff Changeover’ event due to be held on 08 April 2016 (at line 25).

In accordance with Rule 7.3 of Part 4 of the Constitution, the Mayor moved for the order of business to be altered and agenda item 9, ‘Leader’s Statement’ be taken at the end of the meeting.

RESOLVED THAT:

The order of business be altered and agenda item 9, ‘Leader’s Statement’ be taken at the end of the meeting.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (at pages 19 - 24) as delivered by the Chief Executive, which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Chief Executive directed Members’ attention to paragraphs 4.1 to 4.9 of the Corporate Plan, ‘The Council’s Commitments’ as set out in Appendix A (at pages 22 - 23). He noted that the delivery of the nine commitments, and the wider Corporate Plan, was entirely dependent upon the four-year financial settlement (as only recently clarified by central government) and would predominantly feature in a revision of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) in due course. On a national level, the settlement was said to realise an ever diminishing role for local government and an expectation that local authorities were to become increasingly more self-sufficient. The Chief Executive reported that Heads of Service and Managers were working to respond to the challenges faced and to ensure that the Council’s commitments were achievable in accordance with the soon-to-be revised MTFS.

With reference to ‘Governance Structure’ at paragraph 2.2 (at page 21), citing ‘5 Conservatives’, Councillor B Fahey stated that, in fact, there were 6 Conservative Members and requested the same be amended. The Member further questioned the accuracy of the commitment made at paragraph 4.1.a, ‘Maintain Front Line Services’ (at page 22) alleging that ‘free shoppers’ car parking’ was restricted (i.e. a maximum of three hours) and that ‘weekly collection of waste and recycling’ was fortnightly.

The Leader of the Council noted the error made at paragraph 2.2 and assured Opposition Members that the requested amendment would be made, accordingly. In respect of paragraph 4.1.a, the Leader stated that: residents of the Borough understood what was meant by ‘free shoppers’ car parking’ (without further clarification); refuse/residual and recyclable waste were, in fact, collected on a weekly-basis; and garden waste was collected on a fortnightly-basis.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The overarching Corporate Plan for the life-cycle of this Council be agreed by Members.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 25 - 56) as jointly-delivered by the Chief Executive, in the absence of the Interim Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer), and the Chair of the Policy, Finance and Development Committee, Councillor Mrs S B Morris, which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Chief Executive stated that the report was a technical consolidation for Members’ consideration of the information hitherto resolved at the meetings of the Service Delivery Committee held on 19 January 2016 and the Policy, Finance and Development Committee held on 02 February 2016, respectively.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris sought to introduce the Council's Budget proposals for 2016/17, noting the challenging times faced by the public sector and, in particular, local government. With reference to the ‘General Fund Budget Summary 2016/17’ as set out in Appendix 1 (at page 30), the net Committee expenditure in 2016/17 was cited to be just under £6.1 million, over £300,000 less than in 2015/16, owing to a reduction in the Council’s Revenue Support Grant of over £400,00 whilst, at the same time, the costs of financing the Council’s investment in services had increased. This was said to include investment in a new fleet of refuse vehicles and the two, new Leisure Centres and Swimming Pools which had doubled the annual interest and principal repayments from £306,000 in 2015/16 to £626,000 in 2016/17.

The Member stated that in order to balance the books, the Council was proposing to identify savings in 2016/17 largely around staffing levels, citing the Council’s earlier resolution in December 2015 to reduce the use of agency, contractor and interim staff. In addition, savings were said to be found from the current establishment by deleting posts that have been vacant for some time. She stated that a further review of the establishment across the Council's services would also be undertaken, in respect of which: any staff reductions would only be agreed if there was certainty that community services would not be affected; and no compulsorily redundancies would be sought, thus avoiding considerable costs and risks to service disruption. She further stated that in future years, the Council would look to find further savings from the better use of technology, asset rationalisation and new ways of working.

The Member reported that grant funding from central government was to be reduced from £1.1 million in 2015/16 to just over £700,000 in 2016/17, with all local authorities having seen similar reductions. She stated that the government had announced their intention to phase out this grant entirely by 2020, which would see further reductions. At a national level, it was said that the government’s belief in an economic recovery would mean that there will be more business activity (and more business rates for Councils to collect) in the coming years, and that the extra business rate income would offset the reductions in grant. However, the problem for Councils like Oadby and Wigston was said to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

The Council gave consideration to the report in the first supplementary agenda update (at pages 2 -9), as jointly-delivered by the Chief Executive, in the absence of the Interim Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer), and the Chair of the Policy, Finance and Development Committee, Councillor Mrs S B Morris, which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Leader of the Council sought to clarify that report set out in the first supplementary agenda update (at pages 2 -9) was to supersede the original report in provided in main agenda document (at pages 57 - 60) due to short-notice revision of the precepts for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris requested that the substantive recommendation set out at paragraph 2.1. of the report (at page 6) be amended to incorporate an increase of 1.99% in Council Tax and, subject to that amendment, commended the report to Members.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris moved the recommendations as set out at paragraphs 2.1. to 2.5 of the report (as amended).

Councillor Mrs L M Broadley stated that the proposed increase in Council Tax was the first for this Council in five-years: however, noted that the Council still remained one of the lowest-setting authorities across all Leicester/shire District and Borough Councils.

Councillor Mrs L M Broadley seconded the recommendations (as amended).

The Leader of the Opposition sought further clarification as the recommendation at paragraph 2.1 (as amended).

Councillor Mrs S B Morris advised that the amendment to the substantive recommendation opted to incorporate an increase of 1.99%, as opposed to an increase of £5, to the rate of Council Tax for 2016/17.

The Opposition Leader enquired as to the reason for the increase in the Council’s base rate.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris advised that the increase of 1.99% served to normalise the Council base rate as a result, and subsequent to, the successive acceptance of the Council Tax Freeze Grant (CTFG) for the preceding five-years.

The Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor M H Charlesworth, stated that the CTFG was taken in previous years in the knowledge that future budgets were to be amended, accordingly. He noted that the levying of Council Tax was done for prudent, as opposed to political, purposes which required a sensible approach to avoid service failure.

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)        It be noted that, under powers delegated to the Chief Finance Officer, the Council be calculated at the amount of 16,944.20 as its Council Tax base for the financial year 2016/17 and that an increase of 1.99% in Council Tax be approved in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012.

(ii)       The Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2016/17 be approved at £3,501,210;

(iii)      The following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2016/17 in accordance with sections 30 to 306 (as amended) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(a)       £19,017,644 being the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 61 - 70) as delivered by the Director of Services, which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Director of Services stated that the annual publication of the Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix A (at pages 63 – 69), was a statutory obligation outlining, amongst other things, the pay of the Council’s staff: most notably, a pay comparison between its Chief Officers vis-a-vis its lowest-paid employees. She reported that the Living Wage was introduced by this Council back in 2013 and would continue to be paid to those few qualifying employees for the foreseeable future.

The Deputy Leader welcomed the Council’s continuance of the Living Wage and moved the recommendation at paragraph 2 of the report (at page 61).

Councillor D A Gamble seconded the recommendation.

Councillor B Fahey enquired as to the respective number(s) of permanent, full-time, part-time and agency Council staff currently employed in each salary banding.

Councillor S B Morris advised that the information requested was not readily available at this meeting but would be provided to the Member in due course.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 be approved.

The Council gave consideration to the report (at pages 71 - 78) as delivered and summarised by the Planning, Policy and Regeneration Manager, which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Deputy Leader enquired as to what the government’s intended position was to be should New Homes Bonuses (NHB’s) be phased out as understood.

The Planning, Policy and Regeneration Manager advised that the government’s proposal sought to amend as oppose to phase out the NHB’s incentive scheme in respect of: a reduction in the number of years that NWB’s are paid (i.e. from six to four years) and; to limit NWB allocations for none/late submission of Local Plans.

Councillor Mrs L Eaton left the Chamber at 8:15 pm.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The proposed comments as set out in paragraphs 3.3 to 3.15 and 3.18 to 3.20 of the report be approved as the Council’s response to the Government consultations.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out in the second supplementary agenda update (at pages 1 - 3) as delivered and summarised by the Planning, Policy and Regeneration Manager, which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)        The progress on the Local Development Orders and the future work programme be noted by Members; and

(ii)       The statutory consultation beginning on Monday, 22 February 2016 be noted by Members.

Councillor Mrs L Eaton returned to the Chamber at 8:21 pm.

The Council will receive the minutes from the meetings of the below-mentioned Committees, Forums, Working Groups and Outside Bodies for the purposes of information in accordance with Rule 17 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

The Council received the minutes as set out at agenda item numbers 16a -16m (pages 8 - 155), together with the supplementary update (at pages 10 – 23), from the meetings of the below-mentioned Committees, Forums, Working Groups and Outside Bodies for the purposes of information.

Members are further advised that the Minutes of the Service Delivery Committee held on Tuesday, 19 January 2016 are yet to be finalised and, as such, shall be received for the purposes of information at the next meeting of the Council on Tuesday, 19 April 2016.

Members are advised that the Minutes of the Development Control Committee held on Thursday, 21 January 2016 shall be received in a Supplementary Agenda Update issued ahead of the meeting of the Council in due course.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor J W Boyce, noted the progress made to date in respect of the Combined Authority for Leicester/shire (CA) which had since included a first draft its Terms of Reference and Constitution which were not likely to be finalised until May or June of this year. It was said that a number of governance-related implications also required addressing, namely: the fact that the Leaders of this Council and Melton Borough Council did not enjoy an executive, decision-making capacity; and the election and accountability of a directly-elected Mayor. The matter of reserved and delegated powers to be exercised, respectively, by the CA and the Constituent Member Councils, and the need for commensurate budget allocations to allow the same, was also said to be the subject of ongoing negotiations. Proposals determining the membership status of those local authorities bordering the Leicester/shire area (i.e. Rutland Country Council) were also under consideration in addition to whether the geo-political remit of any CA ought to combine the Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire areas.

The Leader further informed Members that work was currently being undertaken in respect of the framing of a proposal by this Council in response to a request requiring details of the available provision and infrastructure within the Borough to meet the government’s commitment to accommodate 20,000 Syrian refugees. The proposal was said to be complex one entertaining several service-area implications: however, it was emphasised that the re-housing needs of those Syrian refugees to be met within this Borough were to be resourced from the private-sector. On a wider-aspect, the Leader also informed Members that Kennedy House, a former homelessness unit based in South Wigston, had recently been identified by the Home Office and G4S for inclusion in the National Asylum-Seeker Dispersal Scheme to house asylum-seekers whilst their applications were being determined. He stated that discussions where currently being held between all stakeholders and interested parties to secure the best deal possible, most notably surrounding those asylum-seekers’ entitlement to certain rights, and the implications thereof, granted by virtue of the asylum decision-making process in deeming to have a “local connection” to the Borough. It was assured that Member’s were to be kept informed about future developments.