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 Councillors R H Adams, L M Broadley, F S Broadley, M L Darr and R E R Morris.

Councillors G G Hunt, P Joshi and R V Joshi attended the meeting remotely, so were not considered present for voting purposes according to the 1972 Act.

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'.

Councillors C S Gore and M H Charlesworth declared non-pecuniary interests with regard to item 13 of the agenda, insofar as they both rented allotment plots in the Borough.

To read, confirm and approve 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 9 December 2025 be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

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

None.

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.

Question by Councillor M H Charlesworth

The Chief Finance Officer / Section 151 Officer, on behalf of the Leader of the Council, provided the response (as set out on page 10 of the agenda reports pack) to the Question on Notice (as set out on page 9 of the agenda reports pack) as posed by Councillor M H Charlesworth in relation to the Council’s profit share agreement with Jenno’s café.

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 Licensing Enforcement Team Leader

Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 15 – 52 of the agenda reports pack) which sought approval of the Statement of Licensing Policy (2025-2030).

It was moved by Councillor C D Kozlowski, seconded by Councillor J Kaufman and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

i)            The Statement of Licensing Policy (2025-2030) be approved and adopted; and

ii)           Delegated authority be granted to the Chief Finance Officer / Section 151 Officer to add updates during the policy with regards to new terrorism legislation expected to come into force during the period.

Report of the Chief Finance Officer / Section 151 Officer and the Finance Manager / Deputy Section 151 Officer

Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 53 – 102 of the agenda reports pack) which sought approval of the Treasury Management Policy and Strategies and Prudential Indicators.

It was moved by Councillor G A Boulter, seconded by Councillor L A Bentley and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

i)            The Capital Strategy 2026/27 including the Prudential Indicators (as set out in Appendix 1) be approved;

ii)           The Treasury Management Policy, Treasury Strategy and Plan 2026/27 (as set out in Appendices 2 & 3) be approved;

iii)         The Minimum Revenue Provision Statement 2026/27 (as set out in Appendix 4) be approved;

iv)         The Investment Strategy 2026/27 (as set out in Appendix 5) be approved; and

v)           The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (as set out in Appendix 6) be approved.

Report of the Chief Finance Officer / Section 151 Officer and the Finance Manager / Deputy 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.

Council gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 103 – 107 of the agenda reports pack) to set and approve the amount of Council Tax for its area for 2026/27 in accordance with section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011.

It was moved by Councillor I K Ridley, seconded by the 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 19,004.95 as its Council Tax base for the financial year 2026/27 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 2026/27 is £5,096,747;

C.           The following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2026/27 in accordance with sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended):

(i)          £45,742,064 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act.

(ii)        £40,645,317 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act.

(iii)       £5,096,747 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)       £268.18 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 2026/27

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 2026/27, 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 in February 2026.

Precepting Authorities - Valuation Bands 2026/27

Report of the Chief Finance Officer / Section 151 Officer and the Finance Manager / Deputy Section 151 Officer

Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 108 – 146 of the agenda reports pack) which sought approval of the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2026/27, the Housing Revenue Account revenue budget for 2026/27 and Capital Programme and the MTFP for 2026/27 to 2030/31.

It was moved by Councillor I K Ridley, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council and

RESOLVED THAT:

i)            The General Fund Revenue Budget for 2026/27 as set out in Appendix 1 be approved;

ii)           An increase to Council Tax by 2.5% be approved;

iii)         A housing rent and service charge increase of 4.8% be approved;

iv)         The HRA budget for 2026/27, as detailed in Table 4 be approved and the HRA MTFP be noted;

v)           The adoption of rent convergence at up to £3 per week when legislation allows be approved;

vi)         The Scale of Fees and Charges as set out in Appendix 4 be approved and an ongoing annual increase by the September CPI rate be approved, with the exception of Car Parking and Garden Waste;

vii)        The Capital Schemes of the General Fund and HRA as set out in Appendix 5 be approved;

viii)       The MTFP for 2026/27 to 2030/31 as set out in Table 7 be noted; and

ix)         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 be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive / Head of Paid Service

Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 147 – 160 of the agenda reports pack) which sought approval of the Pay Policy Statement (2026/27).

It was moved by Councillor K J Loydall, seconded by C J R Martin and

RESOLVED THAT:

i)            The Pay Policy Statement for 2026/2027 (as set out at Appendix 1) be approved; and

ii)           The cessation of paying the Real Living Wage for the reasons set out at Paragraph 2.5 be approved and revert back to paying the National Living Wage for 2026/2027.