Agenda and minutes

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

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 Reverend to the Mayor.

An apology for absence was received from Councillors E R Barr, Mrs K M Chalk, Miss M V Chamberlain, R E Fahey 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'.

Councillors D M Carter and Mrs S Z Haq declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 12, insofar as they serve as current Nominative Trustees of Oadby Village Hall Trust.

The Leader of the Council declared a pecuniary interest in Item 15, insofar as he was the proposed recipient of the final payment recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel.

The Interim Chief Executive declared a non/pecuniary interest in Item 16, insofar as the report recommended her appointment as Chief Executive with immediate effect.

To read, confirm and sign the Minutes of the previous meetings of the Council in accordance with Rule 17 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 24 April 2018 to be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 15 May 2018 to be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 22 May 2018 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 Tuesday, 24 April 2018.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Action List arising from the meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 24 April 2018 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 and to answer any Questions by the Public or Members in accordance with Rules 10 and 11 of Part 4 of the Constitution respectively.

The Council received notification that a petition had been received requesting the installation of public toilets in Uplands Park, Oadby. A copy of the petition was available at the meeting for Members to view.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The receipt of the petition be noted by Members and the item be referred to the next available meeting of the Service Delivery Committee on Tuesday, 11 September 2018.

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 by Members.

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.

A short discussion was held regarding the recent proposal announced by the Leader of Leicestershire County Council to create a new unitary authority to replace the County Council and the seven District/Borough Councils in Leicestershire. The Leaders of each of the District/Borough Councils had subsequently issued a collective statement in response to the proposal, which stated that they had a number of reservations about the proposed model, although recognising that it may be premature to rule it out at this stage. A number of Members expressed disappointment regarding the way in which the proposal had been communicated, and stressed the need for the Borough Council and its residents to have a strong voice during the discussions to follow. 

Report of the Chair of the 5-Member Working Group

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 19-30 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the retention of weekly refuse and recycling collections, and to approve the introduction of wheeled bins for general waste collections from 01 June 2019.

The report was widely welcomed by Members as informative, evidence-based and clear in its recommendations. Delight was expressed that the administration had delivered on its commitment to protect weekly waste collections for residents in spite of the various pressures facing the authority, particularly in light of the consultation responses which had shown overwhelming support for the continuation of this service.

A Member explained that he personally would have preferred a go-live date of 01 April 2019 as opposed to 01 June 2019, as the clear benefits of the new scheme made it desirable in his view to roll the programme out as early as possible. The Member did however knowledge the time pressures and potential risks that this would involve. Other Members however stressed that 01 June represented a more sensible approach, as this would allow recent changes to garden waste and recycling collections to bed in and lessons from those schemes to be evaluated, ensuring that when the scheme did launch the transition would be as smooth as possible.

It was requested that Members be kept fully informed of the progress of the scheme during all stages of the lead-in period towards implementation in June 2019. The Director of Finance and Transformation confirmed that the Service Delivery Committee would retain oversight of the project and be kept updated on a regular basis.

Members asked that their thanks to the project team responsible for the successful transition to wheeled bins for recycling be passed on, as well as their appreciation to the refuse staff for maintaining normal service levels during the recent hot weather.

It was moved by the Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor L A Bentley, and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       Weekly refuse and recycling collections be maintained;

(ii)     A planned introduction of wheeled bins for general waste be approved; and

(iii)   An implementation date of 01 June 2019 be approved.

Report of the Democratic & Electoral Services Manager

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 31-49 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the revised polling districts and polling place arrangements as proposed by the (Acting) Returning Officer and as set out at Appendix 3.

A Member spoke in support of the proposed change of polling place in Wigston Meadowcourt Ward from the Girl Guide Clubroom to South Leicester Rugby Club. It was argued that this change was long overdue as the Clubroom offered inadequate facilities for staff and voters and unsuitable parking provision. The Rugby Club meanwhile offered superior facilities and was located conveniently for the ongoing housing development taking place in the area. It was stressed that electors affected by the change would need to be given information regarding the new arrangements and appropriate signage would need to be in place on polling day to avoid any confusion.

A Member also asked whether the redevelopment of Horsewell Lane Pavilion was expected to have any impact on polling arrangements for electors in polling district M (All Saints Ward) during the elections scheduled for May 2019. It was confirmed that any impact of the renovation works was expected to be minimal, as the old Pavilion would remain fully operational until such time as the new facility became available for use.

It was moved by the Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor L A Bentley and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The revised polling districts and polling place arrangements be approved.

Report of the Democratic & Electoral Services Manager

Having declared a non-pecuniary interest in the item, Councillors D M Carter and Mrs S Z Haq left the Chamber and took no part in the debate on the item of business and voting thereon.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 50-52 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the re-appointment of Councillor David M Carter as a Nominative Trustee of Oadby Village Hall Trust.

It was moved by the Leader of the Council, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The re-appointment of Councillor David M Carter as a Nominative Trustee of Oadby Village Hall Trust for a term of four years with effect from 31 July 2018 be approved.

Report of the Senior Democratic Services Officer / Legal Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 53-59 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the re-appointment of eligible seats on the Service Delivery and Licensing & Regulatory Committees as allocated to the Oadby-Wigston Independent Group.

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The nominated appointments to the Service Delivery Committee and the Licensing & Regulatory Committee be approved.

Report of the Head of Law & Governance / Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 60-62 of the agenda, which asked it to note the outcome of a Determination Sub-Committee held on 12 June 2018 at which Councillor Ravendra H Thakor was found to have breached the Code of Conduct, following which a number of sanctions had been imposed.

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The contents of the report be noted by the Council.

Report of the Head of Law & Governance / Monitoring Officer

Having declared a pecuniary interest, the Leader of the Council left the Chamber and took no part in the debate on the item of business and voting thereon.

Councillor J Kaufman left the Chamber.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 63-65 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) that the Leader of the Council receive a final payment of £2,000 in relation to the additional time spent on Council business during the previous two years.

A Member expressed disagreement with the wording of paragraph 2.4 of the report, which stated that Members voted against the recommendation of the IRP at the Council meeting held on 05 December 2017. The Member herself had voted in support of the recommendation at that meeting, and stated that she also supported the revised recommendation.

Several other Members stated that their full support for the IRP’s current recommendation, having voted against the previous recommendation on the basis that it was not clear at that time how much longer the additional duties being undertaken by the Leader were likely to continue for. Now that the additional work had been completed, most Members were supportive of a final payment to recognise the significant additional work undertaken and to also draw a line under the matter.

It was moved by Councillor D A Gamble, seconded by Councillor K J Loydall JP and

RESOLVED THAT:

An additional final payment of £2,000 be made to the Leader of the Council in relation to the additional time spent on Council business during the past two years.

Votes For                  17

Votes Against          0

Abstentions                         2

The Leader of the Council and Councillor J Kaufman returned to the Chamber.

Report of the Head of Law & Governance / Monitoring Officer

Having declared a pecuniary interest, the Interim Chief Executive left the Chamber.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 66-68 of the agenda, which asked it to note the proposals for producing a new Corporate Plan to be in place for 2019, and to approve the appointment of the Interim Chief Executive as Chief Executive on a fixed-term two year contract with immediate effect.

At the request of the Chair it was recommended that part of the item be debated in closed session, as in view of the nature of the business to be transacted it was likely that if members of the press or public were present during the item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The press and public be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item on the grounds that it involved the disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph(s) 1, 2 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.

On conclusion of the debate held in closed session, by affirmation of the meeting it was:

RESOLVED THAT:

To resume the meeting in open session.

The Leader of the Council stressed that during a time of considerable uncertainty in light of issues such as Brexit and unitary authority proposals, it was crucial that the Council remained organisationally fit for purpose and equipped to deal with future challenges.

In response to a Member question regarding Brexit contingency arrangements, the Leader of the Council confirmed that this would primarily fall within the remit of the Local Resilience Forum.

Members indicated that they were prepared to note recommendation A of the report without the need for a vote.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

Members note the work and timetable to commence on a renewed Corporate Plan for 2019 and a review of the resources required to deliver the Plan.

It was then moved by the Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor J Kaufman, and

RESOLVED THAT:

The Interim Chief Executive be appointed Chief Executive on a fixed-term two year contract with immediate effect.

Votes For                  19

Votes Against          0

Abstentions                         2

In accordance with section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, by reason of special circumstance, the Mayor was of the opinion that this item of business should be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency to immediately brief Members on an exempt matter.

The Mayor recommended that in view of the nature of the business to be transacted it was likely that if members of the press and public were present during the following item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

It was moved by the Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor Mrs S B Morris and

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 disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph(s) 1, 2 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.

The Council received a verbal update as delivered and summarised by the Head of Law & Governance / Monitoring Officer in closed session.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The contents of the verbal update be noted by Members.