Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Offices, Bushloe House, Station Road, Wigston, Leicestershire, LE18 2DR. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  Tel: (0116) 257 2775 Email: democratic.services@oadby-wigston.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

32.

Calling to Order of the Meeting

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

Minutes:

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

33.

Apologies for Absence

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.

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillors L A Bentley, Mrs L M Broadley, F S Broadley, Mrs L Eaton JP, D W Loydall, Mrs H E Loydall, R E R Morris and Mrs S B Morris.

34.

Declarations of Interest

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'.

Minutes:

None.

35.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 214 KB

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

Minutes:

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 July 2022 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

36.

Action List Arising from the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 286 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In relation to action point 1, Councillor M H Charlesworth expressed his gratitude to Officers for writing to the various recipients and to those who provided a response.

 

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

The Action List arising from the previous meeting held on 12 July 2022 be noted.

37.

Motions on Notice

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

Minutes:

None.

38.

Petitions, Deputations and Questions

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.

Minutes:

None.

39.

Mayor's Announcements

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

Minutes:

The Mayor announced that she had hoped for a greater turnout at the reading of the Borough Proclamation on the accession of His Majesty King Charles III that took place at Peace Memorial Park in Wigston on Sunday 11 September 2022.

39a.

Official Mayoral / Deputy Mayoral Engagements pdf icon PDF 202 KB

Minutes:

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.

40.

Leader's Statement

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

Minutes:

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 particularly reflected on the challenges and pressures arising from the volatility of the current financial situation in terms of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the uncertainty surrounding the Local Government Financial Settlement for 2022/23 onwards and the knock-on effect of the Government’s recently announced Growth Plan. The budgetary implications were said to require the Council to make difficult decisions in the short-to-medium term regarding further efficiency savings and maximising income streams whilst also providing support to the Borough’s residents.

41.

Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (2022 - 2027) pdf icon PDF 208 KB

Report of the Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 35 - 81 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it to approve the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (2022 - 2027).

 

Members were advised that in relation to the Modular Build Project at Horsewell Lane in Wigston, a site survey had recently been undertaken by the Council’s Economic Regeneration Team with a view to make further progress as soon as possible.

 

Members also requested that Officers make representations to the Government advocating for fairer funding arrangements under the proposed Business Rates Retention Scheme given the lower growth opportunities available in the Borough.

 

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

(i)       The contents of the report be noted; and

(ii)      The Medium-Term Financial Strategy (2022 - 2027) be approved.

42.

Maximising the Council's Income (September 2022) pdf icon PDF 219 KB

Report of the Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 82 – 94 of the agenda reports pack) which sought its approval of a new Corporate Charging Policy (“the Policy”) to support the maximisation of Council income and to review and approve the business case for two new income generating opportunities.

 

A Member suggested that a spend limit of £5.00 per player per week be considered if the Council was minded to approve the Community Lottery Scheme to curb the potential for excess gambling and that spend levels be periodically reported back.

 

Members welcomed upcoming planned initiatives to further the promotion of the Council’s permit scheme for car parks across the Borough to residents and visitors.  

 

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded by Councillor Dr I K Ridley and

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

(i)       The new Corporate Charging Policy (a set out at Appendix 1 to the report) be approved;

(ii)      The proposals for the provision of a Community Lottery and new approach to Events Management be approved; and

(iii)    The Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer be given delegated authority to make any required budgetary changes for the schemes to progress.

43.

Budget Setting Approach (2023/24) pdf icon PDF 501 KB

Report of the Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 95 – 98 of the agenda reports pack) which sought to consult Members on the approach for setting the 2023/24 budget.

 

Members were advised that mobilisation of the Sustainability Plan as part of the Medium-Term Finance Strategy (2022-2017) was already underway, an integral part of which involved the undertaking of reviews across the Council’s service areas with the outcomes to be reported back to the Service Delivery Committee.

 

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council and       

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

The budget-setting approach for 2023/24 be noted.

44.

Draft Land and Buildings Disposal Policy (September 2022) pdf icon PDF 176 KB

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 99 – 133 of the agenda reports pack) which sought its approval of a Draft Land and Buildings Disposal Policy (“the Policy”).

 

It was clarified for Members that paragraph 5.3 of the Policy referred to an identification of surplus/underused land on an operational level by Officers only.

 

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

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

That the draft Land and Buildings Disposal Policy (set out at Appendix 1 of the report) be approved).

45.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund Local Partnership Group Formation pdf icon PDF 538 KB

Report of the Economic Regeneration Manager

Minutes:

The Council gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 134 – 140 of the agenda reports pack) which asked Members to agree the formation, co-ordination and membership of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Local Partnership Group.

 

Members were advised that under United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund, all local authorities were allocated grant funding compared to a selective bidding-process under the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Funds.

 

It was clarified to Members that, in relation to paragraph 3.6 of the report, ‘a County Councillor representative’ referred to a Member elected to both this Council and the County Council. It was also welcomed that the Helping Hands Community Trust should be added to the ‘People, Skills and Business LPG Membership’.

 

There was no update to report at the meeting on whether the Investment Plan had be approved yet by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

 

It was moved by the Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor D M Carter and

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

(i)       The proposed membership of the Local Partnership Group for the UKSPF (as set out in 3.6 and 3.7 of the report) be approved;

(ii)      The changes proposed by the LPG to the Investment Plan, subject to being compliant with the fund, be approved by the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Strategic Director/S151 Officer (as set out in 4.3 of the report); and

(iii)    The Chair of each of the LPG groups bring forward a nomination of a County Councillor representative at the appropriate time.

46.

Domestic Abuse Policies (September 2022) pdf icon PDF 198 KB

Report of the Housing Manager

Report of the Interim HR Manager

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 3 - 27 of the agenda update reports pack) which sought its approval to implement two new corporate Domestic Abuse Policies.

 

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded by Councillor Mrs L Kaufman

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

(i)       The content of the report and appendices be noted; and

(ii)      The Domestic Abuse Policies (at appendix 1 and 3) be approved.

47.

Civic Agreement Update with Leicester/shire Universities pdf icon PDF 187 KB

Report of the Strategic Director

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 141 - 151 of the agenda reports pack) provided Members with overview of the CIVIC University Agreement entered into between the Council, the University of Leicester and other partners in June 2022.

 

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

The content of the report and appendices be noted.

48.

New Vision for the Council (Presentation)

Presentation of the Strategic Director

Minutes:

The Council gave consideration to a presentation which provided an update to Members in relation to the Council’s New Vision.

 

In relation to concerns around the limited number responses received from the recent public consultation, Members were advised that the Local Government Association’s baseline requirements had been met in affirming the Council’s vision.

 

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

The content of the presentation be noted.

49.

Leisure Centre Contract Update (September 2022)

Minutes:

Under section 100B(4)(B) of the Local Government Act 1972, by reason of special  circumstance, in that an additional item of business needed to be considered before the next meeting of the Council.

 

The Mayor was of the opinion that an urgent item of business regarding the Council’s Leisure Centre Contract was be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency as the contract in question required affirmative action to be taken by Officers by 3 October 2022 under a delegated authority which can only be resolved by Council.

 

Furthermore, it was moved by the Mayor, seconded by the Deputy Mayor 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 urgent item 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 outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

The Committee gave consideration to the exempt report (as tabled at the meeting) regarding a leisure centre contract update for September 2022, together with a exempt presentation delivered by Mr Robin Thompson of RPT Consulting Limited.

 

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

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

 

The recommendations be approved.

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