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.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of both the late former Councillor Jim Allen who passed away on 21 January 2021, and the late former Officer Jez Crooks who passed away on 16 January 2021.

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 Councillor Mrs H E Loydall and R E R Morris.

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 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 15 December 2020 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

There as no Action List arising from the previous meeting.

There was no Action list arising from previous meeting held on 15 December 2020.

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.

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

All civic engagements undertaken by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor have been suspended during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The continued suspension of all civic engagements undertaken by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic be noted.

In accordance with Rule 6.3 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 and taken accordingly.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive / Section 151 Officer

In accordance with Rule 18.3.2 of Part 4 of the Constitution, as required by Regulation 4 and Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 (as amended), the names of the Members who cast a vote for the motion or against the motion or who abstain from voting will be recorded for this item of business and will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting’s proceedings.

The Council gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 10 - 15 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it set and approve the amount of Council Tax for the Borough of Oadby and Wigston for 2021/22 in accordance with section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011.

It was moved by the Leader of the Council and seconded by Councillor D A Gamble that the recommendations be put to the vote en bloc and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

A.     It be noted that under powers delegated to the Chief Finance Officer, the Council has calculated the amount of 17,558.7 as its Council Tax base for the financial year 2021/22 in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012.

B.     It be noted that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2021/22 is £4,117,515.

C.     The following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2021/22 in accordance with sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended):

(i)       £34,464,259 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act.

(ii)     £30,346,744 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act.

(iii)    £4,117,515 being the amount by which the aggregate at C(i) above exceeds the aggregate at C(ii) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31 A (4) of the Act, as its Council Tax Requirement for the year.

(iv)    £234.50 being the amount at C(iii) divided by the amount at A above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 3 B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

(v)     Valuation Bands

Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at C(iv) 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.

D.     It is noted that for the year 2021/22, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester/shire, and the Leicester/shire 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive / Section 151 Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 16 - 66 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it to approve the projected General Fund base budget position for 2021/22 based upon the Local Government Finance Settlement and consider the Capital Programme for 2021/22 (excluding carry forwards from 2020/21).

The report was commended by the Chair of the Policy, Finance and Development Committee, Councillor D A Gamble, and with reference to a presentation which provided Members with a number of headline budget statistics (as set out at slide 1). A written copy of the Chair’s statement and the presentation is filed with these minutes.

It was moved by Councillor D A Gamble and seconded by Councillor Dr I K Ridley that the recommendations, as amended as proposed by Councillor Mrs S B Morris and seconded by Councillor Mrs L M Broadley, be put to the vote en bloc and

RESOLVED THAT:

A.     The Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2021/2022 (as set out in the report and at Appendix 1) be approved;

B.     Council approves the levels of reserves (as set out at paragraph 5 of the report);

C.     The Capital Programme (as set out at Appendix 2) be approved;

D.    The Housing Revenue Account estimates for 2021/22 (as set out at Appendix 3) be approved;

E.     The Scale of Fees & Charges for 2021/22 (as set out at Appendix 4) be approved;

F.     Consultations be held involving all staff, inviting participation in shaping the future of the Council, through putting ideas forward on income generation and providing services differently and cost effectively;

G.    A report on the details of the proposed commercial charging regime for the Council’s car parks and review of the refuse and recycling service be bought back to the next or subsequent meeting of the Full Council for consideration, approval or otherwise before any actions or decisions in relation to same are taken or implemented; and

H.    A report in relation to staff long-term sickness be bought back to the next or subsequent meeting of either the Policy, Finance and Development Committee or the People Committee.

Votes For                  21

Votes Against          0

Abstentions             3

Report of the Chief Executive / Head of Paid Service

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 67 - 77 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it to approve the Council’s Pay Policy Statement and its continued commitment to paying the Real Living Wage for 2021/22.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs L M Broadley, seconded by Councillor K J Loydall and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

A.      The Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22 (as set out in Appendix 1) be approved; and

B.      The continued commitment to paying the Real Living Wage for 2021/22 be approved.

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, an overview of recent decisions taken since the previous meeting of the Council and an overview of the decisions likely to be taken in the future.

This included his summation of the current commentary surrounding the future of local government financial settlement, the need for income generation and cost controls, on service delivery, on staff resources, on the Customer Service Centre and the recent Customer Service Excellence Award, on future sustainability initiatives, on assets to generate income, on growth and development, on private/public sector opportunities and on the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

A written copy of the Leader’s Statement is filed with these minutes.