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 former Chief Executive John Burton.

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 Mrs L M Broadley, D M Carter, R F Eaton, Mrs L Eaton JP, Miss A Kaur, Ms C D Kozlowski, Mrs H E Loydall and K J Loydall JP.

Councillors M L Darr and Dr I K Ridley attended the meeting remotely.

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 28 September 2021 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

To read, confirm and note the Action List arising from the previous meeting.

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting.

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.

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.

The Leader requested that his gratitude to the Council’s staff for their resilience in continuing to deliver services uninterrupted during the previous twelve months in spite of ongoing national and local pressures be placed on record.

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 11 - 47 of the agenda, which asked it to consider adoption of the Local Government Association (LGA) Model Code of Conduct for Members with local amendments.

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded by Councillor G A Boulter and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)          The Local Government Association (LGA) Model Code of Conduct for Members with local amendments be adopted with effect from 1 April 2022; and

(ii)         The Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority to make any consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution.

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 48-50 of the agenda reports pack which asked it to approve the appointment of a Director / Section 151 Officer.

The Leader of the Council requested that his gratitude to the Interim Head of Finance / Section 151 Officer be placed on record.

It was moved by D A Gamble, seconded by Councillor G A Boulter and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)          The appointment of Tracy Bingham as the Council’s Director / Section 151 Officer be confirmed with effect from 31 January 2022 be approved; and

(ii)         The Monitoring Officer be instructed to review and amend the Council’s Constitution as appropriate.

Report of the Planning Policy Manager.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 51 - 63 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the South Leicestershire Local Plan Making Statement of Common Ground as set out at Appendix A.

It was moved by the Leader of the Council, seconded by Mrs S Z Haq and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The South Leicestershire Local Plan Making Statement of Common Ground be approved.

Report of the Interim Head of Finance / Section 151 Officer.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 3-7 of the agenda update pack, which asked it to approve the appointment of a new external auditor for 2023/24.

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded by Councillor J Kaufman and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)             The Council opts-in to the appointing person arrangements made by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA) for the appointment of external auditors; and

(ii)            Authority be delegated to the Section 151 Officer to submit the formal notice of acceptance and provision of information to PSAA as required.

Report of the Interim Head of Finance / Section 151 Officer.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 8-11 of the agenda update pack, which asked it to note the findings of the review of the Council’s Minimum Revenue Provision and approve an alternative methodology.

A number of Members welcomed the review findings, and felt reassured by the fact that the proposals were underpinned by CIPFA approved methodologies.

It was moved by G A Boulter, seconded by The Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)          The change in methodology be approved; and

(ii)         The resulting savings be added to the Medium Term Financial Plan from 2022/23 onwards.

Report of the Interim Head of Finance / Section 151 Officer.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 12-61 of the agenda update pack, which asked it to note and approve the early draft position for the 2022/23 Budget, and the scale of Fees and Charges for 2021/22.

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)              The proposals in the Draft Budget 2022/23 be approved; and

(ii)            The Scale of Fees & Charges 2021/22 be approved.

The press and public are likely to 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 involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraphs 1 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) outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

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 items below on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraphs 1 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.

Report of the Head of Built Environment.

The Council gave consideration to the exempt report as set out on pages 64 – 97 of the private agenda reports pack.

It was moved by M H Charlesworth, seconded by J Kaufman and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

Recommendations A, B & C be approved.

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy.

The Council gave consideration to the exempt report as set out on pages 98 - 100 of the private agenda reports pack.

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The resolution to extend the six-month meeting attendance rule for the affected Councillors initially until Monday 9 May 2022  be approved.