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 F S Broadley, Mrs L M Broadley, T Barr, Ms A R Bond, 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'.

In respect of agenda item 10:

(i)     Councillor K J Loydall declared that he personally knew two of the Panel Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

(ii)    Councillor Mrs L Eaton declared that she personally knew one of the Panel Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Both Members attended the meeting without prejudice and with an open mind.

To read, confirm and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 18 February 2016 in accordance with Rule 17 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Thursday, 18 February 2016 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, 18 February 2016.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Action List arising from the previous meeting of the Council held on Thursday, 18 February 2016 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 stated that the meeting was the last business meeting of the Council for the municipal year 2015/16. He expressed his gratitude to Members for their professional conduct in the transaction of the Council’s business and noted the contributions made by all Members’ that had enriched the quality of debates held.

The Mayor further announced that Major’s Curry and Charity Auction Night was to be held on Tuesday, 26 April 2016 at the Cuisine of India, Kelmarsh Avenue, Wigston.

RESOLVED THAT:

The list of Official Mayoral Engagements attended by The Mayor and, or, Deputy Mayor be noted by Members.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor J W Boyce, noted the limited progress made to date in respect of the Combined Authority for Leicester and Leicestershire. He advised that more information was to be presented to Members at the next business meeting of the Council scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 14 June 2016.

The Leader further noted the upcoming election for the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Leicestershire police area due to be held on Thursday, 5 May 2016 and wished all four candidates the best of luck in their respective campaigns.

The Leader announced to Members that at the present time the Chief Executive remained in poor health. He reported that the Interim Chief Financial Officer and the Monitoring Officer / Director of Services were jointly providing interim cover in his absence. He added that should longer-term cover arrangements be necessary, this would be organised and Members informed, accordingly. On behalf of all Members and Officers, he wished the Chief Executive a full and prompt recovery.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 18 - 25) as delivered as summarised by the Monitoring Officer / Director of Services which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Leader of the Council expressed his gratitude to the Panel Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) and advised that the obtaining governance regulations were to be reviewed in the upcoming financial year by the Change Management Committee. He noted that the recommended increase in Basic Allowance was the first for six years.

The Leader made three amendments to the substantive recommendations, namely that:

(a)       Members be permitted to claim no more than two SRA’s;

(b)       the rate if SRA for Vice-Chairs of the Policy, Finance and Development Committee, Service Delivery Committee and Development Control Committee remain at £1,150; and

(c)       the Council be minded to successively adopt the Members’ Allowance Scheme (“the Scheme”) in its current format for the next four years (until May 2020).

The Leader of the Council moved the recommendation(s) as recommended by the IRP (as set out at Appendix 1) as amended.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris seconded the recommendation(s) as amended.

Councillor G S Atwal stated that he was opposed to any increase recommended in the revised Scheme.

Councillor L A Bentley stated that it was a Member’s individual prerogative as to whether to accept or refuse the receipt of any allowance and, or, increase thereof.

Councillor J Kaufman noted the significance of the introduction of Members’ Allowances Schemes as a Labour-led initiative to widen the pool of prospective candidates seeking election as a local Councillor.

Councillor Mrs H E Loydall noted a number of amendments made to the Council’s policies under a Liberal Democrat administration that sought to attract candidates from a more representative cross-section of the Borough. She further noted that this Borough’s Members were the lowest-paid of all Leicester/shire authorities and represented the best value for service to the taxpayer.

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)        The Special Responsibility Allowances (as set at column two of Appendix 1) be agreed as amended;

(ii)       The Members’ Allowance Scheme for 2016/17 (as set out at Appendix A) be adopted as amended effective for the period 18 May 2016 until 9 May 2017;

(iii)      A Basic Allowance of £4,750 be paid to each Member effective from 18May 2016;

(iv)      Members be permitted to claim no more than two Special Responsibility Allowances;

(v)       The results of the Independent Remuneration Panel’s continuing work and benchmarking exercise against comparable local authorities be noted; and

(vi)      The Council be minded to successively adopt the Members’ Allowance Scheme in its current format for the next four years (until May 2020).

Votes For                   19

Votes Against            1

Abstentions               0

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 26 - 49), as delivered and summarised by the Interim Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Leader stated that although the phasing out of the Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and the increase in receipts of local business rates had some revenue potential, it was not without risk. He said that economic growth was required in both the housing and business sectors in the Borough otherwise the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) would be constrained. He further invited all Members to be constructive in any alternative proposals to the Council’s £12.5m investment programme.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris commended the MTFS and moved the recommendations as set out at paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 of the report.

Councillor D A Gamble seconded the recommendations.

Councillor G A Boulter noted the authority’s improved financial standing and its building of reserves since the Liberal Democrat group took control of the Council in 1991 which was said to be consistently reflected in the auditors’ reports.

Councillor G S Atwal stated that he did not agree with report’s anticipated increases of 1.99% to rate of Council Tax in each of the next three years.

The Interim Chief Financial Officer stated that the anticipated increases in Council Tax were based on a four-year forecast and that, although the Council Tax Freeze Grant was not available for 2016/17, this did not preclude its availability in later years. He further advised that the additional income generated of £75,000 per annum from the rise was nevertheless insubstantial to bridge the funding gap of £1.4m over the same four-year period.

Councillor K J Loydall noted the difficulty of the decisions taken by the Council to balance the books since 1991 to address the Liberal Democrat group’s inheritance of a £1m deficit from a previous Conservative-led administration.

Councillor Mrs H E Loydall noted the achievements in frontline services made by the Council in the present, austere economic climate and commended Members’ and Officers’ efforts in securing the necessary financial savings through prudent forward planning.

Councillor J Kaufman enquired as to the real-term increase in Council Tax for a Band D property for the ensuing year.

The Interim Chief Financial Officer reported that the rise amounted to an increase of £4.30 per annum per Band D property, excluding the increase(s) of 3.99% made by the precepting authorities. He advised that should Members be minded not to increase Council Tax in each of the next three years, further savings of £75,000 per annum would need to be identified.

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)        The Medium Term Financial Strategy (set out in the Appendix) be approved; and;

(ii)       The Council’s current and projected financial positions be noted by Members.

Votes For                   19

Votes Against            0

Abstentions               1

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 50 - 70), as delivered and summarised by the Interim Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris stated that the borrowing of capital investment funds in respect of the Borough’s new leisure facilities negated the associated-costs formerly borne by the Council in the running of the previous facilities. The cost of borrowing was said to amount to a saving of approximately £300,000 per annum.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris moved the recommendations as set out at paragraphs 2.1 to 2.3 of the report.

Councillor D A Gamble seconded the recommendations.

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)        The Prudential Indicators for 2016/17 (set out at Appendix 1) be approved;

(ii)       The Treasury Strategy and Plan for 2016/17 (set out at Appendix 2) be approved; and

(iii)      The Investment Strategy for 2016/17 to 2018/19 (set out at Appendix 3) be approved.

Votes For                   19

Votes Against            0

Abstentions               1

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (at pages 71 - 73) as delivered as summarised by the Monitoring Officer / Director of Services which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Leader requested that the final decision of Local Government Boundary Commission for England be reported back to a subsequent meeting of the Council.

RESOLVED THAT:

The final recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England be noted by Members.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 74 - 91) as delivered as summarised by the Monitoring Officer / Director of Services which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

RESOLVED THAT:

The draft Schedule of Council and Allied Meetings for 2016/17 be noted by Members.

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 Monitoring Officer / Director of Services advised Members that any amendments to minutes received by the Council were to be properly raised at the next ordinary meeting of the pertaining Committee, Forum, and, or, Working Group in question for consideration and, or, inclusion into that subsequent meeting’s minutes.

Councillor D M Carter stated that amendments to the minutes of the Oadby Residents' Forum held on Tuesday, 01 March 2016 were required and would be raised accordingly.

Councillor G A Boulter stated that amendments to the minutes of the Service Delivery Committee held on Tuesday, 22 March 2016 were required and would be raised accordingly.

The Leader moved that the minutes received by Council at this meeting be adopted (as tabled) and the aforementioned minutes of the Oadby Residents' Forum and Service Delivery Committee be remitted back for amendment and confirmation, respectively.

Councillor Mrs S B Morris seconded the Leader’s motion.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)     The minutes as set out at agenda item numbers 15a -15m (pages 92 - 161), together with the supplementary update (at pages 1 – 21), from the meetings of the below-mentioned Committees, Forums, Working Groups and Outside Bodies for the purposes of information be received by the Council; and

(ii)    The minutes of the Oadby Residents' Forum held on Tuesday, 01 March 2016 and the minutes of the Service Delivery Committee held on Tuesday, 22 March 2016 be remitted back for amendment and confirmation, respectively.