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 S S Athwal and P Joshi.

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 Tuesday, 12 December 2023 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 Wednesday, 10 January 2024 be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

There was no Action List 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.

Question by Councillor Michael H Charlesworth

The Head of Law & Democracy, on behalf of the Leader of the Council, provided the response (as set out on page 3 of the first agenda update reports pack) to the Question on Notice (as set out on page 11 of the agenda reports pack) as posed by Councillor M H Charlesworth in relation the Jenno’s Coffee House expansion.

A supplementary question was asked by Councillor M H Charlesworth which sought an assurance that the £7,000 cost of the expansion would not be off-set against the profit sharing arrangement the Council has with Jenno’s Coffee House. An answer to the supplementary question would be provided to outside the meeting.

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, 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.

The Leader spoke upon unprecedented financial challenges the Council was facing due to continuing long-term cuts to funding in addition to more recent pressures around inflation, homelessness and national pay awards for staff, resulting in difficult decisions needing to made as featured elsewhere on the meeting’s agenda.

In relation to a question posed to the Leader of the Council by Councillor M H Charlesworth regarding gender-specific references made with the Council’s Constitution to the Offices of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Leader of the Council.

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

That all pronouns within the Council’s Constitution be made gender neutral.

Report of the Head of Finance / Acting CFO and S151 Officer

Report of the Interim Finance Manager

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 12 -17 of the agenda reports pack), which asked it to set and approve the Council Tax rates for the Borough for 2024/25.

The recommendations were moved en bloc by Councillor I K Ridley, seconded by Councillor F S Broadley and

RESOLVED THAT:

A.        Under powers delegated to the Chief Financial Officer, the Council has calculated the amount of £18,367.98 as its Council Tax base for the financial year 2024/25 in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012 be noted;

B.        It be noted that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2024/25 is £4,666,27;

C.        The following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2024/25 in accordance with sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended):

(i)       £40,841,345 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act;

(ii)      £36,175,069 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act;

(iii)    £4,666,276 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)    £254.04 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; and

(v)      Valuation Bands 2024/25 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 2024/25, 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 21 February 2024.

Precepting Authorities - Valuation Bands 2024/25

Report of the Head of Finance / Acting CFO and S151 Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 18 – 108 of the agenda reports pack and page 3 of the first agenda update reports pack), which asked it to approve the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2024/25, the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2024/25, the Capital Programmes and the MTFP 2024/25 to 2028/29.

The following amendment(s) were proposed by Councillor M H Charlesworth but were not seconded by any other Member and therefore did not proceed to a vote:

A.         Council notes it has a statutory duty to set a balanced budget.

B.         Council notes OWBC and many other local authorities are under increasing financial pressures. These include high inflation which has led to increasing costs and high pay awards, financial errors by the council (as seen in recent committee agenda papers) and a broken local government funding formula.

C.         Council resolves to:

(i)       Introduce a charge of £40 for refuse & recycling bins at new build dwellings (a similar scheme operates in Hinckley & Bosworth). Income £9,600 based on the local plan building requirement.

(ii)      Cancel the ‘Our Borough’ publication, saving £15,000.

(iii)     Not to implement the decision to raise the cost of the garden waste collection service by £10 per annum, -£110,000.

(iv)    Not to implement the decision to increase car parking permits and charges, -£259,000.

(v)     In order to set a balanced budget council will use the £175,000 from the 23/24 car park income that was under-estimated. Assumed £550,000, Actual £725,000.

(vi)    In addition, it will use the £150,000 under-estimation from the 24/25 car park income. Assumed £575,000, Actual £725,000.

(vii)   To meet the shortfall £19,400 will be taken from the £225,000 recently put into the NNDR equalisation reserve.

Officers advised that the figurework provided in Councillor M H Charlesworth’s would scrutinised and reported back to Members for information only, adding that should the financial position of the Council in the near future, that in-year supplementary budgets could be presented and considered by Members at future meetings and reviewed again as part of the budget setting process for 2025/26.

The recommendations were moved en bloc (and as amended) by Councillor I K Ridley, seconded by Councillor F S Broadley and

RESOLVED THAT:

A.        The General Fund Revenue Budget for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix 1 be approved, noting the budget position is based on no use of the general fund reserve and delivering the Service Delivery Changes – Financial Sustainability Plan as set out in Appendix 3, incorporating a change to the plan to achieve 50% of the Health and Wellbeing saving (emphasis added) and reduce the Service Transformation saving by the equivalent amount;

B.        The HRA budget for 2024/25, as detailed in Table 6 be approved, based on the rent increase of 7.7% for Housing rents, garages and service charges approved at the Full Council meeting on the 12 December 2023;

C.        The Scale of Fees and Charges as set out in Appendix 4 be approved;

D.        The Capital Schemes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

Report of the Senior Finance Business Partner

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 109 – 158 of the agenda reports pack), which asked it to approve the Treasury Management Policy and Strategies & Prudential Indicators for 2024/25.

It was moved by Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor L M Broadley and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

A.     That the Capital Strategy 2024/25 including the Prudential Indicators (as set out in Appendix 1) be approved;

B.     The Treasury Management Policy, Treasury Strategy and Plan 2024/25 (as set out in Appendices 2 & 3) be approved;

C.     The Minimum Revenue Provision Statement 2024/25 (as set out in Appendix 4) be approved;

D.    The Investment Strategy 2024/25 (as set out in Appendix 5) be approved; and

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

Councillor M L Darr left at 8.12pm and returned at 8:15pm. As the Councillor was not present for the duration of the debate, they were not entitled to vote on this item.

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 2024/25.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

A.     The contents of the report and appendices be noted;

B.     The Pay Policy Statement for 2024/2025 (as set out at Appendix 1) be approved; and

C.     The continued commitment to paying the Real Living Wage for 2024/2025 be approved.

Votes For                  17

Votes Against          5

Abstentions              0

Report of the Interim Strategic Director

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 168 – 211 of the agenda reports pack), which presented the External Auditors Interim Annual Report for 2022/23 and an Immediate Annual Report for 2023/24 Key Recommendation.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the report and appendices be noted.

Legal & Democratic Services Manager / Deputy Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 212 – 215 of the agenda reports pack), which asked it to approve the re-designation of the polling place for Polling District G2 to Beauchamp College on Ridge Way, Oadby.

It was moved by Councillor J Kaufman, seconded by Councillor M L Darr and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

A.     The content of the report and appendix be noted; and

B.     The re-designation of Beauchamp College on Ridge Way, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 5TP as the polling place for electors residing in Polling District G2 be approved.