Minutes:
Devolution
Oadby & Wigston will be abolished within 18 months to 2 years as part of devolution, with three separate plans submitted to Central Government as to the future of local government in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The City plan focuses on expansion into parts of Blaby, Oadby and Wigston, and Harborough, but a second option within their plan sees the City take all of those areas as per the districts existing boundaries. The County Council would like to see the whole County under one authority, and the Districts and Boroughs are promoting a “North, City, South” plan with three authorities created. Plans must be submitted by the end of November, with Central Government making a decision on which plan proceeds in the spring. There is a large opposition in the County to seeing the City expand its control into the districts and boroughs. There will be shadow elections in May 2027 for the new authorities, with 70-90 councillors elected depending on which model of devolution is opted for, who will shadow existing councillors until April 2028. It is expected that the City Mayor role will be eliminated within all three devolution plans, with a strategic mayor elected for the entirety of LLR. There is a possibility that within some of the devolution plans a ‘town council’ for Oadby & Wigston may be setup.
Remembrance Services
Good turnout for all events across the Borough in the last week.
Speeding Traffic / Burglaries
No police attendance to address these topics.
Council Budget
The Council is currently setting its budgets for the coming year. At present there are over 1000 homeless people in temporary accommodation (not asylum seekers) that the Council is required to fund accommodation for. Approximately £1m is being spent by the Council on homelessness related costs, out of the Council’s £7m budget. This is a statutory duty that the Council has to provide. A planning application has been submitted for the conversion of a flat at Maromme Square into a HMO to reduce B&B costs for homeless individuals. The Council is also approaching landlords for long-term leases of properties in the Borough to ease the number of people on the Housing Register, the Council is also looking at purchasing properties for the same purposes. The Council owns roughly 1200 properties in the Borough which are mostly flats. A resident queried if it would be more cost effective to buy sites, such as the Nautical William, for the Council to develop itself into housing – this was costed out and it is more cost effective to buy suitable properties as it has a quicker turnaround.
The Government has setup a new Housing Regulator who will be visiting the Borough within 18 months to assess the Council’s properties. The rankings are 1, 2, and 3, with most authorities at present having properties rated at 3 which is a fail. The Council is hoping to achieve a 2 based on its current position. This looks at compliance around gas, electric, water and asbestos safety within properties.
Everyone the Council has placed in temporary accommodation, and has on their housing register, has a local connection to the Borough. There are a few exceptions for this where domestic violence is a concern.
A resident queried if it was true that a resident who has bought their home under the “right to buy” scheme and wants to sell within 5 years must offer it back to the Council for cost first – this is true.
The amount the Council is able to spend on the purchase of a property is capped by Government regulation.