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 Deputy Mayor.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the late former Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police, Simon Cole.

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 N Alam, Lynda Eaton JP, L Kaufman, A Kaur, Ms C D Kozlowski & R E R Morris.

In the absence of Her Worship the Mayor, Councillor L Kaufman, by affirmation of the meeting it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor D M Carter be appointed Acting Vice-Chair for the duration of the meeting.

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'.

Councillor K J Loydall JP declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 12 of the agenda, insofar as he is acquainted with two members of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP).

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 Thursday, 24 February 2022 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting.

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting held on Thursday, 24 February 2022.

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

Proposed by Councillor M H Charlesworth and seconded by Councillor Mrs L M Broadley.

The Council gave consideration to the motion as set out on page 12 of the agenda, calling for the government to reject the use of first past the post for UK Parliamentary elections.

Following a debate, the motion was put to the vote and carried.

Votes For:                 16

Votes Against:          3

Abstentions:             0

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 Councillor M H Charlesworth

The Deputy Mayor confirmed that two questions had been received from Councillors under Rule 13.2 of Part 4 of the Constitution of the Council.

1.     Question from Cllr Michael H Charlesworth (Wigston All Saints Ward) to Councillor Garth (Bill) A Boulter, Chair of Service Delivery Committee:

Has the Council ended the practice of subsidising funerals/burials for residents whose faith is not catered for in the Borough?

Response:

The grant is available for a death occurring up to midnight on 31 March 2022. Generally, the notification of a death comes to OWBC via Leicester City Council and therefore there is a possibility of a grant request being made in early April for a death that occurred up to and including 31 March 2022. However, the availability of the grant was removed from the 2022-2023 Scale of Charges, a decision agreed by  Full Council on 21 December 2021. Advance notification of the grant ceasing has been communicated to Oadby Central Mosque, the Muslim Burial Council of Leicestershire and Leicester City Council.

2.     Question from Cllr Michael H Charlesworth (Wigston All Saints Ward) to Councillor Garth (Bill) A Boulter, Chair of Service Delivery Committee:

If a life-long resident of the Borough has to go into long-term care outside the Borough (sometimes for years) and then dies, will they be allowed to be buried in the Borough at residents' rates or will they be charged at non-resident rates?

Response:

It is common practice for Burial Authorities to charge additional interment fees (usually double) for non-residents. In some local authority areas this additional charge applies immediately once a person no longer resides within the administrative areas. In the case of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council (acting as the Burial Authority) the following definition of a resident applies and is published annually on the Council’s Scale of Charges:

For Interments a resident is defined as:

i) A person who had resided at a private address within the Borough for 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the date or death; OR

ii) A person who had at the time of death, resided in a residential or nursing home (or similar establishment) outside of the Borough for 3 years or less but had resided at an address within the Borough for the 5 consecutive years (or more) immediately preceding moving to the residential or nursing home; OR

iii) A person who had resided within the Borough for 5 consecutive years (or more) but had within the 6 months immediately preceding the date of death moved from the Borough.

Supplementary Question from Cllr Michael H Charlesworth:

In a case where people who lived in the Borough for over 50 years and developed a degenerative disease which meant they had to go into long-term care, and under rule number (ii) after 3 years they couldn’t come back to be buried at the resident rate. Can I ask Councillor Boulter and the Council to please look at those rules again?; they are rare cases but I don’t think you should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 145a.

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.

Report of the Chief Executive / Head of Paid Service

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 17 - 45 of the agenda, which asked it to note the findings of a recent Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Review and the next steps of preparing an Action Plan to implement the recommendations arising from the review.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs S Z Haq, seconded by Councillor G A Boulter and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)              The LGA’s Feedback report, as published on 18 March 2022 on the Council’s website and attached to the report at Appendix 1 be noted;

(ii)            The requirement for the publication of an Action Plan within 8 weeks of the date of the published report be noted, with the Action Plan setting out how the Council will deliver the Peer team recommendations; and

(iii)          The Action Plan to be reported to the first Council meeting in the 2022/23 municipal year is to include proposals for Members to develop a new long-term vision for the Borough with local stakeholders.

Report of the Communication & Marketing Manager

Cllr M L Darr left the Chamber at 7.44pm and did not return.

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 46-70 of the agenda, which asked it to approve the Council’s Communication Strategy and Action Plan for 2022-25.

The report was welcomed by Members, who acknowledged the importance of the Council maximising digital opportunities whilst also maintaining accessible channels of communication with vulnerable and harder to reach residents. It was requested that the Strategy be kept under regular review, with progress and achievements reported back to Members at an appropriate time.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs S B Morris, seconded by Councillor Mrs S Z Haq and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Communication Strategy and Action Plan for 2022-25 be approved.

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 71-79 of the agenda, which asked it to consider and adopt a Members’ Allowance Scheme for the municipal year 2022/23.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2022/23 as recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) be adopted.

Votes For                   17

Votes Against           0

Abstentions              1

Report of the Senior Strategic Development Manager

The Council gave consideration to the report as set out on pages 80-116 of the agenda, which asked it to approve and adopt the final proposed Statement of Gambling Policy 2022- 2025 for commencement on 9 May 2022.

It was noted that the Draft Policy had been presented to the meeting of Licensing & Regulatory Committee on 10 March 2022, at which a request was made that the Head of Law & Democracy write to the Gambling Commission on behalf of the Chair in relation to gambling advertisements and to the Transport Secretary in relation to e-scooters. A copy of the letter sent to the Gambling Commission and a copy of the reply subsequently received are attached to the minutes at Appendix 3 and 4. A copy of the letter sent to the Transport Secretary, currently awaiting a reply, is attached to the minutes at Appendix 5.

It was moved by Mrs L M Broadley, seconded by F Broadley and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The final proposed Statement of Gambling Policy 2022-25 be approved and adopted for commencement on 9 May 2022.

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 Presentation of the Senior Strategic Development Manager

The Committee gave consideration to the exempt presentation, delivered in closed session by the Senior Strategic Development Manager.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the presentation be noted.