Agenda item

Report of the Interim Head of Communities

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 19 - 29) as delivered and summarised by the Interim Head of Community Services which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Committee was verbally updated regarding the latest financial statistics in respect of the ongoing commercialisation of the Pest Control Service. It was reported that currently the service was projected to lose £20k by the end of the financial year which represented a reduction of £4,000 on the original budget. However, it was said that, if the service was to be disbanded altogether, the savings would only amount to c. £15k as central overhead charges would have to be allocated elsewhere.

37 Newton Lane, Wigston

It was raised by the Committee and advised upon by Officers that should Members be minded to approve a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in respect of the above property, the costs to be incurred to the Council amounted to Officers’ time in preparing the CPO and the those arising from the sale of the property once the General Vesting Declaration had been made. The subsequent sale of the property by way of public auction was said to be the best method to establish the property’s true market value, the proceeds from which would be ring-fenced for any resulting compensation claim. The possibility of a challenge thereto was also to be noted. In considering the number of stages involved, it was acknowledged that, if resolved, the threat of CPO action could encourage the owner in the fullness of time to re-consider a more realistic approach whilst, at the same time, providing the Council with an initial footing to move forward with compulsory acquisition if necessary.

Private-Sector Empty Properties

A further discussion took place regarding what work was being undertaken to identify other empty properties in the Borough and whereby further properties and dealings therewith were mentioned by Members. The Committee was advised that a working group of Officers continued to assess empty properties by information supplied by the Council Tax section with the aim of bringing these properties back into use. To this end, the Committee requested that bids should be submitted under the Homes and Communities Agency’s Funding Programme to secure any available refurbishment allocations and that a more detailed, stand-alone report be brought to a subsequent Committee meeting. Members also considered it necessary for an advice note to be prepared in respect of what was and was not legally permissible to discuss at meetings held in open session regarding the same, particularly in instances when prosecutions may be brought and thus subject to the sub-judice rule.

Pest Control Services

In consideration of the report and the latest financials (as verbally reported) it was agreed that an up-to-date financial appraisal in respect of service should be brought back to the Committee after six-months so that a view could then be taken as to its commercial viability in terms of any significant capacity to generate additional income or to breakeven in the future. In taking such a view, some Members noted the importance of retaining in-house service provision wherever possible and, alternatively, suggested a 12-month review period in lieu in order to provide a more flexible and reasonable timeframe to explore the service’s continued viability.

Other Community Services

In respect of the Lightbulb Project and the administration of Disabled Facility Grants (DFG), the Committee again reiterated its concerns as mentioned in the foregoing minutes (at min. ref. 43) and, as such, requested that a report to be brought to the next Committee meeting confirming the legal position in respect of the statutory duties inherited and ring-fencing of allocations regarding the delivery of DFG’s. 

It was raised by Members and accepted by Officers that there had been a short delay in the commencement of work to the Council’s own temporary homelessness accommodation facility at 134 Station Road in Wigston. This was said to be the result of undergoing certain processes in terms of planning and public consultation, the drawing-up of detailed specifications and the tendering-out of the works contract itself. It was reported that works were now underway and were progressing well.

It was moved the Chair, seconded by Councillor Mrs L M Broadley and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

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

(ii)     Authority is given to seek a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in respect of 37 Newton Lane, Wigston; and

(iii)   The draft Capital Programme for 2018/19 (as set out at Appendix B to the report) be approved.