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 Miss A R Bond, Mrs K M Chalk, Mrs S Z Haq, 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 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 previous meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 11 December 2018 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

There was no action list arising from the previous meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 11 December 2018.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The absence of any actions arising from the previous meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 11 December 2018 be noted.

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.

None.

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.

In accordance with Rule 7.2 of Part 4 of the Constitution, the Mayor moved for the order of business to be altered and taken in the order as reflected in the minutes.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The order of business be altered accordingly.

Report of the Director of Finance & Transformation / Section 151 Officer

The Council gave consideration to report (as set out on pages 13-35 of the agenda) which asked it to approve the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget for 2019/20.

The Chair of the Policy, Finance and Development Committee, Councillor Mrs S B Morris, introduced the report and advised that the Council was proposing a balanced budget for the final year of the government’s current multi-year settlement.

It was acknowledged that the future remained the Council’s biggest uncertainty, with no clarity at the current time as to how central government proposes to fund local government in the years ahead. For example, it was not known how the review into fairer funding will affect the Council, nor how the new business rate retention scheme will be implemented post 2020.

Overall, it was concluded that the Council is in a stable financial position although there remained significant challenges, and further work would need to be done to reduce the Council’s costs and increase its income streams to ensure high quality services could continue to be delivered.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)          That Council approves the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget for 2019/2020 (as set out in the report and at Appendix 1);

(ii)        That Council approve the levels of reserves (as set out at paragraph 7 of the report);

(iii)      That Council approves the Capital Programme (as set out in Appendix 2);

(iv)       That the Housing Revenue Account estimates for 2019/20 be approved (as set out in Appendix 3); and

(v)        That Council approves a decrease of 1% in housing rents and increases in other charges of 3.2% (as set out in Appendix 2).

Votes For                  17

Votes Against          2

Abstentions             0

Report of the Director of Finance & Transformation / Section 151 Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report (as set out on pages 36-40 of the agenda) which asked it to set and approve the amount of Council Tax for the Borough for 2019/20.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)          It be noted that under powers delegated to the Chief Financial Officer, the Council has calculated the amount of 17,423.2 as its Council Tax base for the financial year 2019/20 in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012.

(ii)        It be noted that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2019/20 is £3,911,508.

(iii)      The following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2019/20 in accordance with sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended):

(a)     £19,114,596 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act.

(b)     £15,203,088 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act.

(c)      £3,911,508 being the amount by which the aggregate at (iii)(a) above exceeds the aggregate at (iii)(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31A (4) of the Act, as its Council Tax Requirement for the year.

(d)     £224.50 being the amount at (iii)(c) divided by the amount at A above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

(e)     Valuation Bands

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at (iii)(d) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 36(1) of the Act, as the amount to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

(iv)      It is noted that for the year 2019/20, Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester and Leicestershire, and the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories shown below and that Leicestershire County Council have indicated that their provisional precept will be confirmed on 20 February 2019.

Precepting Authorities - Valuation Bands

Report of the Head of People & Performance

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 41-52 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2019/20 and the continued commitment to paying the Real Living Wage.

It was noted that earlier in the month the latest Gender Pay Gap figures had been published by those organisations required under legislation to do so by virtue of having 250 or more employees. Whilst the size of Oadby & Wigston Borough Council’s workforce meant that the Authority fell below the statutory threshold of being required to report the Pay Gap, the Leader of the Council requested that the figures for the Authority be calculated and included within the 2020/21 Pay Policy Statement. The Head of People & Performance confirmed that the Council does calculate its Gender Pay Gap and has previously reported it to the Policy, Finance and Development Committee, but undertook to also include it in in next year’s annual Statement.

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)                  The Pay Policy Statement for 2019/20 be approved; and

(ii)                The Council’s continued commitment to paying the Real Living Wage be approved.

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.