Agenda and minutes

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

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

The meeting was led in prayer by the Reverend to the Mayor.

To receive apologies for absence from Members to determine the quorum of the meeting in accordance with Rule 7 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

An apology for absence was received from Councillors Miss P V Joshi and D W Loydall.

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'.

Councillor M H Charlesworth declared a non-pecuniary interest with regard to item 13 of the agenda, insofar as he was the holder of a current Street Trading permit issued by the Council.

To read, confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting in accordance with Rule 19 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on Tuesday, 30 July 2019 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

There is no the Action List arising from the previous meeting.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The absence of any actions arising from the meeting of the Council held on

Tuesday, 30 July 2019 be noted by Members.

To consider any Motions on Notice in accordance with Rule 14 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

To receive any Petitions, Deputations and, or, to answer any Questions by Members or the Public in accordance with Rule(s) 11, 12, 13 and 10 of Part 4 of the Constitution and the Petitions Procedure Rules respectively.

None.

The Mayor confirmed that three questions had been received by Councillors under Rule 13.2 of Part 4 of the Constitution of the Council.

1.           Question from Cllr Michael H Charlesworth (Wigston All Saints Ward) to Councillor Garth (Bill) A Boulter, Chair of Service Delivery Committee:

“Does the Council intend to increase the number of parking bays for those with disabilities, now that new legislation has recognised that those with hidden disabilities are eligible for a blue badge?”

Response:

The Department for Transport (DfT) has made changes to the Blue Badge criteria so that some people with hidden disabilities will now be able to apply for a blue badge. The legislation came into effect on 30 August 2019 and the DfT are expecting there to be an increase in the number of applications received. For Leicestershire, these applications will be received and dealt with by Leicestershire County Council.

As a consequence of the increased availability of blue badges there is expected to be an increase in the demand for disabled parking bays within car parks. However, the DfT has stated "The impact [of changing the blue badge eligibility] on parking will vary from place to place, depending on factors such as location, population density, current capacity, possible capacity, and more. Parking may need to be reviewed in some places, but until the impact of these changes is seen in practice it is impossible to understand local needs. The Department for Transport will review the impact of the expanded criteria, in the wider context, twelve months after implementation."

The change in legislation has not placed a requirement on local authorities to provide more spaces. Therefore, Officers will be monitoring the use of disabled parking bays over the coming months to see if there are any capacity issues which require an increase in their number.  Also, Customer Services staff have been asked to monitor any complaints or comments from blue badge holders about space availability.

The current recommendation by the Department for Transport is that 6% of the number of bays within a car park should be designated Disabled Bays. Town centre car parks in Oadby and Wigston meet this 6% criteria and in some locations exceed it.

The number of disabled bays currently provided in OWBC town centre car parks are:

Oadby - East Street (13); Sandhurst Street (11); Ellis Park (2).

Wigston - Junction Road (8); Paddock Street (5); Aylestone Lane (4); Frederick Street (4), Spring Lane (2).

South Wigston - Countesthorpe Road (5); Station Street (2).

Supplementary Question from Cllr Michael H Charlesworth:

“Do we know how many Blue Badge holders there currently are in the Borough of Oadby & Wigston, and over time is the number increasing?”

Response from Councillor Garth (Bill) Boulter:

Contact will be made with Leicestershire County Council who administer the Blue Badge scheme, to enquire if this information is available.

2.           Question from Cllr Michael H Charlesworth (Wigston All Saints Ward) to Councillor Lee A Bentley, Chair of Development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34a.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor in accordance with Rule 2 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

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.

To receive any statement from the Leader of the Council in accordance with Article 2.9.2(ii) of Part 2 of the Constitution.

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.

Verbal Update of the Resilience Officer

The Council gave consideration to a verbal update delivered by the Deputy Chief Executive, informing Members of the work the Council is currently undertaking internally and with local and national public agencies through the Local Resilience Forum (Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland), to prepare for Brexit.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The contents of the verbal update be noted by Members.

Report of the Democratic & Electoral Services Manager / Deputy Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 7-9 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the appointment of the Council’s Chief Financial Officer/Section 151 Officer.

It was moved by D A Gamble, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)                  That the appointment of Clive Mason as the Council’s Chief Financial Officer/Section 151 Officer be confirmed with effect from 14 October 2019; and

(ii)                That the Monitoring Officer arrange for the Constitution to be reviewed and amended as appropriate.

Report of the Democratic & Electoral Services Manager / Deputy Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 10-23 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the final arrangements proposed by the (Acting) Returning Officer in respect of the polling districts and polling places to be used at all relevant future elections and referendums that take place within the Borough.

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The revised polling district and polling place arrangements as proposed by the (Acting) Returning Officer be approved.

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 24-27 of the agenda, which asked it to approve an amendment to lawfully facilitate charitable/not-for-profit events taking place in prohibited/consent streets in the Borough, thereby avoiding conflict with the current Street Trading Policy.

It was moved by Mrs L M Broadley, seconded by G A Boulter and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)          The Head of Law and Democracy/Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority to suspend the Street Trading Policy in a specified street (either a prohibited or consent street) for a period not exceeding 24-hours, following consultation with the Chief Executive and Ward Members, to facilitate community/not-for-profit and charitable events, save as to that the delegation not extending to permitting single street traders on what would otherwise be prohibited streets; and

(ii)        The Head of Law and Democracy / Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority to grant individual exemptions to the Street Trading Policy to facilitate community/not-for-profit or charitable events for a period not exceeding 24-hours in streets that would otherwise be consent streets, following consultation with the Chief Executive and Ward Members.

Votes For:                 23

Votes Against:         0

Abstentions:                        1

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 28-29 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the creation of a Community Garden at Blaby Road Park, South Wigston.

It was moved by the Leader of the Council, seconded by R E R Morris and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)          The application to create a Community Garden in Blaby Road Park, South Wigston be approved; and

(ii)        The decision regarding the location within the park and the terms on which a licence is granted be delegated to the Head of Law & Democracy in consultation with the Ward Members and appropriate Officers.