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 E R Barr and L A Bentley.

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 agenda item 6a, Councillor Mrs S B Morris declared a non-pecuniary interest insofar as she was a Director of the Wigston Multi-Academy Trust.

In respect of agenda item 10:

(i)     Councillor K J Loydall declared a non-pecuniary interest insofar as 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.

Those Members who declared an interest confirmed that they 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 Thursday, 23 February 2017 in accordance with Rule 17 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Thursday, 23 February 2017 to 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 Thursday, 23 February 2017.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Action List arising from the Meeting of the Council held on Thursday, 23 February 2017 be noted by Members.

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

The Council gave consideration to the Motion on Notice (at pages 13-14) in respect of the UK Youth Parliament Curriculum for Life (“the Curriculum”) which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

Councillor R E R Morris advocated that the UK Youth Parliament and the Oadby and Wigston Youth Council agreed that a review of the current Personal, Social and Health Education (PHSE) forming part of the National Curriculum needed to be undertaken. This was said to be needed so to aid in the development of young persons’: citizenship and political education; sex and relationship education; cultural awareness; community cohesion; finance skills; sustainable living. It was further stated that teachers needed to be trained to a minimum standard to be able to deliver the proposed Citizenship and PSHE education under the revised Curriculum.

The Motion was moved by Councillor R E R Morris and seconded by Councillor Miss M V Chamberlain.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

1.      This Council notes:

a)     That the UK Youth Parliament, during their sitting in the Houses of Parliament on 11 November 2016, and following 2016’s successful ‘Make Your Mark’ Ballot, have chosen to campaign for a ‘Curriculum for Life’ to be incorporated into the National Curriculum.

b)     That the purpose of the UK Youth Parliament’s campaign is to see the National Curriculum radically overhauled through a youth-led review that helps develop young people’s political knowledge, better sex and relationship education, cultural awareness, community cohesion, finance skills, and sustainable living.

c)     That nationally 142,471 young people aged 11-18 voted ‘A curriculum to prepare us for life’ as their main concern through the ‘Make Your Mark’ Ballot, the UK’s largest youth consultation, in which 978,216 votes were cast.

d)     That the Oadby & Wigston Youth Council, as the Borough’s voice for young people, are supporting the UK Youth Parliament’s campaign and have actively taken steps towards its realisation, including writing letters to local schools, our local MP Sir Edward Garnier, and the Secretary of State for Education seeking wider promotion and support of a ‘Curriculum for Life’.

2.      This Council believes:

a)     That Citizenship and PSHE education are important for young people’s growth and development, as they teach vital life skills and can be the first steps to engaging young people in political life.

b)     That a youth-led, UK-wide review of the place of Citizenship and PSHE education in the National Curriculum should be held.

c)     That teaching staff should be specifically trained to a national standard to deliver Citizenship and PSHE education following the findings of the above review, and the ‘Make Your Mark’ Ballot.

d)     That a revised National Curriculum should highlight the importance of the following subjects;

·      Political Education

·      Sex and Relationships Education (SRE)

·      Cultural Awareness

·      Community Cohesion

·      Finance Skills

·      Sustainable Living

·      Citizenship Education Test

3.      This Council resolves:

a)     To write to Sir Edward Garnier MP, and Justine Greening MP as Secretary of State for Education, indicating its support of the ‘Curriculum for Life’ campaign led by the UK Youth Parliament,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88a

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.

None.

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 upcoming elections for Leicestershire County Council due to be held on Thursday, 4 May 2017 and wished all candidates the best of luck in their respective campaigns.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 22 - 23) together with the supplementary agenda update (at pages 1 - 7) as delivered as summarised by the Chief Executive 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).

With reference to the resolution of the Council on 19 April 2016, the Leader reiterated that the Council was minded to successively adopt the Members’ Allowance Scheme (“the Scheme”) in its current format for the next three years until May 2020.

The Leader amended to the substantive recommendations, namely that the rate of the following Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA’s) remain at £1,000 for the:

·      Vice Chairman of Council (Deputy Mayor)

·      Vice Chairman of Licensing & Regulatory Committee

·      Generic Task Group Chairman Allowance

·      Change Management Committee Chairman

·      Community Engagement Group Chairman

·      Children and Young People Forum Chairman

·      Greening of the Borough Working Group Chairman

·      Community Safety Partnership Chairman

·      Place Shaping Working Group Chairman

·      Health and Wellbeing Board Chairman

·      Residents Forum Chairman

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

The Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded the recommendation(s) as amended.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Scheme for Members’ Allowance for 2017/18, as recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel, be adopted as amended.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 33 - 52), 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 moved the recommendations en bloc as set out at paragraphs 2.1 to 2.3 of the report.

Councillor Mrs H E Loydall seconded the recommendations.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)        The Prudential Indicators for 2017/18 (set out at Appendix 1) be approved;

(ii)       The Treasury Strategy and Plan for 2017/18 (set out at Appendix 2) be approved; and

(iii)      The Investment Strategy for 2017/18 to 2019/20 (set out at Appendix 3) be approved.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 53 - 70) together with the supplementary agenda update (at pages 8 - 25) as delivered as summarised by the Senior Democratic Services Officer / Legal Officer which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor B Dave, expressed their gratitude to the Senior Democratic Services Officer / Legal Officer for his work in compiling the draft Schedule.

The Leader of the Council moved the recommendations en bloc as set out at paragraphs 2.1 to 2.2 of the report.

Councillor D M Carter seconded the recommendations.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)     The draft Schedule of Council and Allied Meetings for 2017/18 be noted by Members for information only;

(ii)    The proposed dates, times and venues of meetings for the municipal year 2017/18 be provisionally entered onto the Council’s meeting management application.

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 71 – 73) as delivered and summarised by the Planning, Policy and Regeneration Manager which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Leader of the Council commended the introduction of the Pilot Wi-Fi Project (“the Project”). He opined that economic development did not fall under the remit of Residents’ Forums and thus confirmed that funds would not be drawn from the same. The Leader further enquired as to the range of the proposed Project’s infrastructure.

The Planning, Policy and Regeneration Manager stated that the Project’s infrastructure would predominantly extend to Bell Street and part of Leicester Road, Wigston.

The Leader of the Council moved the recommendations en bloc as set out at paragraphs 2.1 to 2.2 of the report as amended.

The Deputy Leader seconded the recommendations as amended.

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)     A supplementary budget of £1,200 towards the first year revenue support for the Pilot Wi-Fi Project be approved; and

(ii)    A supplementary capital budget of 50% (£5,000) for the Pilot Wi-Fi Project in matched capital funding be approved, given that the Borough Council will commit to the future revenue costs of the scheme and that Leicestershire County Council has agreed to fund 50% (£5,000) of the installation costs.

Votes For                   22

Votes Against            0

Abstentions               1

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.

With reference to the Minutes of the Meeting of the Community Safety Partnership held on Monday, 20 February 2017 at agenda item 14b, minute reference 37 (at pages 84 - 85), Councillor K J Loydall provided an update from the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) citing an email received from Wayne Gale, Station Manager for the Wigston & Western area regarding the two recent fires in the Borough.

The Member expressed his sincere gratitude on behalf of all Members of the Council to all Officers who attended the recent Borough fires and stated that the Police and LFRS are working well together to keep all those in the Borough all safe.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes as set out at:

(i)        agenda item numbers 15a - 15g and 15k - 15m of main agenda document (pages 74 - 148); and

(ii)       agenda item numbers 15h - 15i of the supplementary agenda update document (pages 26 - 48)

from the meetings of the below-mentioned Committees, Forums, Working Groups and Outside Bodies for the purposes of information be received by the Council.

Members are advised that the Minutes of the Service Delivery Committee held on Tuesday, 21 March 2017shall follow in an Agenda Update issued ahead of the meeting of the Council in due course.

Members are advised that the Minutes of the Policy, Finance and Development Committee held on Tuesday, 28 March 2017 shall follow in an Agenda Update issued ahead of the meeting of the Council in due course.