Agenda and draft 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.

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 R H Adams, L M Broadley, F S Broadley, C S Gore, F S Ghattoraya, G G Hunt, P Joshi, R E R Morris and I K Ridley.

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 approve 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 10 December 2024 be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous extraordinary meeting held on 6 February 2025 at 6:30 pm be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous extraordinary meeting held on 6 February 2025 at 7:30 pm be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

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

There was no Action List(s) 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.

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 her recent work and meetings she has attended, the administration’s plans and an overview of recent decisions taken since the previous meeting of the Council, together with fielding questions in relation to her statement.

Report of the Chief Fnance Officer / 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 16 – 20 of the agenda reports pack), to set and approve the amount of Council Tax for its area for 2024/26 in accordance with section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011.

The recommendations were moved en bloc by the Leader of the Council, seconded by Deputy Leader of the Council and

RESOLVED THAT:

A.   It be noted that under powers delegated to the Chief Financial Officer, the Council has calculated the amount of 18,594.19 as its Council Tax base for the financial year 2025/26 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 2025/26 is £4,864,982.

C.    The following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2025/26 in accordance with sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended):

(i)       £43,324,879 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act.

(ii)      £38,459,897 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act.

(iii)    £4,864,982 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)    £261.64 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 2025/26

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 2025/26, 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 confirmed on 19 February 2025.

            Precepting Authorities - Valuation Bands 2025/26

Report of the Chief Fnance Officer / Section 151 Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 21 - 68 of the agenda reports pack), which asked it to approve the Treasury Management Policy and Strategies & Prudential Indicators for 2025/26.

It was moved by Councillor K J Loydall, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       That the Capital Strategy (2025/26) and Prudential Indicators (2024/25 – 2029/30) (as set out in Appendix 1) be approved;

(ii)      That the Treasury Management Policy (2025/26) and Treasury Management Strategy (2025/26) & Treasury Management Indicators (2025/26 – 2029/30) (as set out in Appendices 2 & 3) be approved;

(iii)    That the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement (2025/26) (as set out in Appendix 4) be approved;

(iv)    That the Investment Strategy (2025/26 – 2027/28) (as set out in Appendix 5) be approved; and

(v)      That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (2025/26) (as set out in Appendix 6) be approved.

For                  16

Against          1

Abstain          0

Report of the Chief Fnance Officer / Section 151 Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 3 – 44 of the agenda update reports pack), which asked it to approve the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2025/26, the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2025/26, the Capital Programmes and the MTFP 2025/26 to 2029/30.

It was moved by Councillor K J Loydall, seconded by the Leader of the Council and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       Council approves the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 1,

(ii)      Council approves to increase Council Tax by the maximum core referendum limit of 2.99% as announced in the Local Government Settlement,

(iii)    Council approves the HRA budget for 2025/26, as detailed in Table 4 and notes the HRA MTFP,

(iv)     Council approves the Scale of Fees and Charges as set out in Appendix 4,

(v)      Council approves the Capital Schemes of the General Fund and HRA,

(vi)    Council notes the MTFP for 2025/26 and 2029/30 as set out in Table 6 and

(vii)   Council notes the S151 Officer’s statement on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of reserves as set out in Section 13 of the report.

For                  12

Against          0

Abstain          5

Report of the Chief Fnance Officer / Section 151 Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 69 - 151 of the agenda reports pack), which asked it to note the External Auditors Progress Report 2023/24 Accounts.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The contents of the report and appendices be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive / Head of Paid Service

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 159 – 167 of the agenda reports pack), which asked it to approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26.

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

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

(ii)      Council approves the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/2026 (as set out at Appendix 1); and

(iii)    Council approves the continued commitment to paying the Real Living Wage for 2025/2026.