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 F S Broadley, Mrs L M Broadley, F S Ghattoraya, D W Loydall and Mrs H E Loydall.

Councillor Miss P V Joshi attended the meeting remotely, but in accordance with the provisions in the Local Government Act 1972, were not considered present for the purposes of voting.

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(s) 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 27 September 2022 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous extraordinary meeting held on 15 November 2022 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting(s).

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting(s).

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.

Submitted by Nigel Herbert

Chair of the Aylestone Lane Allotment Association

The Mayor confirmed that one question by the public had been received from Mr Nigel Herbert, Chairman of the Aylestone Lane Allotment Association, in relation to ‘Support for Existing Allotments (as set out at page 13 of the agenda reports pack).

The question was put by Mrs Lynette Wright, on behalf of Aylestone Lane Allotment Association, to which the following response was provided by Councillor G A Boulter:

The provision of allotments is a discretionary service offered by the Council. The allotments are currently administered by 1 full-time officer who also is responsible for supporting the Council’s cemetery function. In terms of funding, as a discretionary service, the allotments should be cost neutral to the Council, a position which they have not yet currently achieved.

The Council has recently adopted a new charging strategy which going forward will make the allotments self-sufficient and ensure that the Council remains in a position to continue to provide a source of pride within the Borough, playing  it’s part in helping the Council secure the East Midlands in Bloom competition results for many years to come.

A supplementary question was put by Mrs Wright as follows:

Is the Council looking reduce its commitment to maintaining and improving the allotment site in favour of selling the land or can an improved service be relied on?

The following supplementary response was provided by Head of Law & Democracy:

Officers are grateful for the support that they have received from the Allotment Association over recent months, and accepts there has been a recent breakdown in that relationship. Going forward, the Council’s intention is to commit to the allotments and is currently in the process of recruiting a new Officer which, it is hoped, will improve that working relationship. The Allotment Association can be assured that there is no intention to sell the allotment site.

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 and the administration’s plans. He also provided an overview of recent decisions taken and on certain developments, including the Local Finance Government Settlement and the East Midlands D2N2 Devolution Deal, since the previous meeting of the Council.

The Leader of the Council announced he would not be standing at the Borough Council elections in May 2023 for personal reasons. He reflect on the administration’s achievements and confirmed that he would remain as Leader until April 2023.

Report of the Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 16 - 67 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it to approve the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue budget proposals and the Draft Capital Programmes for consultation.

In relation to recently published literature purporting that the Borough charged the highest rate of Council Tax in Leicestershire, Councillor M H Charlesworth specifically requested the following parish precept figures to be included with these minutes:

·         Melton B. C. (Belvior Parish) - £ 2,130.97

·         Blaby D. C. (Blaby Parish) - £2,122.63

·         Charnwood B. C.  (Mountsorrel Parish) - £2,094.58

·         North West Leics D. C.  (Castle Donington Parish) - £2,092.18

·         Harborough D. C.  (Shearsby Parish) - £ 2,073.74

·         Hinckley & Bosworth B. C. (Bagworth Parish) - £2,032.06

·         Oadby & Wigston B. C. (No Parish) - £2,024.98

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

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       A recommendation to increase Council Tax by the core referendum limit of 2.99%, from the options as set out in Table 4 be approved;

(ii)      A recommendation to increase Rents by the maximum social rent level of 7%, from the options as set out in Table 5 be approved;

(iii)    Having approved the recommendations as set out above, to recommend the draft revenue budgets for 2023/24 and Draft Capital Programmes 2023/24 – 2025/26 for statutory consultation; and

(iv)    Note the indicative assurance statement provided by the Section 151 Officer.

Votes For                  17

Votes Against          1

Abstentions             0

Report of the Housing Manager

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 68 – 132 of the agenda reports pack) which provided Members which assurance in respect of the condition of properties in the Council’s role as a landlord.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       Members note the content of the report.

(ii)      Members note that the Council will respond to the request for information by the Regulator of Social Housing as set out in Section 4 of this report.

(iii)    Members note the letter to the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP regarding housing standards in private rented properties in the Borough as set out in Section 6 of this report.

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 paragraph(s) 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 item(s) below on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph 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.

Exempt Report of the Economic Regeneration Manager

The Council gave consideration to the exempt report and appendices (as set out at pages 133 – 147 of the private agenda reports pack) in relation to the Former Oadby Pool Site in Oadby.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       Recommendation A be approved;

(ii)      Recommendation B be noted;

(iii)    Recommendation C(a) be approved;

(iv)    Recommendation D be noted;

(v)      Recommendation E be approved; and

(vi)    Recommendation F be approved.

Votes For                  17

Votes Against          1

Abstentions             0