Agenda and minutes

The Chairman advised that Councillor N J Rushton would be late as he was attending a LLEP meeting in Leicester.

Under the Code of Conduct members are reminded that in declaring disclosable interests you should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is pecuniary or non-pecuniary.

There were no interests declared.

There were no questions received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2018

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2018.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor A V Smith and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2018 be approved by the Chairman as a correct record.

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Business Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to members. He highlighted that the report was very detailed and that, as with all the reports of the Tenants Scrutiny Panel, it was all of their own work. He stated that he was pleased with the whole report and drew attention to the first recommendation in relation to reviewing the Corporate Complaints Policy and Compensation Policy to make the assessment of cases clearer.

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that the report before them showed that the Council had listened and taken on board what had been said and that he was pleased to see target dates within the Action Plan that would be met. He commended the work.

It was moved by Councillor R D Bayliss, seconded by Councillor T J Pendleton and

RESOLVED THAT:

The action plan prepared in response to the recommendations from the Tenant Scrutiny Panel’s inspection of complaints be approved.

Reason for decision: The Tenant Scrutiny Panel has concluded their inspection of complaints.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to members. She highlighted that one of the key actions within the 2018/19 Council Delivery Plan was to work with health partners to develop a health and wellbeing strategy for North West Leicestershire and that the strategy would determine priorities for the delivery of health and wellbeing locally, identifying where and how the various agencies and partners involved could contribute to support it. She stated that it would consider, amongst other things, areas such as physical activity, mental health, substance misuse, smoking, teenage pregnancy, air pollution, breastfeeding initiation, diet and nutrition, road safety, and winter deaths, setting out a long term vision until 2023 which would be supported by a shorter term action plan.

She informed Members that as it was a district wide strategy not just a council one, it was imperative that engagement took place with a wide range of partners to help deliver against the priorities. Internally, it would include engagement with members and service areas including Planning, Environmental Health, Safer and Stronger Communities, Housing, Environmental Protection and Cultural Services. External partners who would be engaged would include-:

•           Public Health

•           Clinical Commissioning Group

•           Leicestershire County Council

•           County Sports Partnership

•           Sport England

•           Local Strategic Partnership

•           Parish and Town councils

•           NWL Staying Healthy Partnership

•           NWL Local Sports Alliance

•           Schools

•           Voluntary groups

She felt that Cabinet would agree that the health of the residents was of primary importance to give everyone the best opportunity for an improved quality of life and that it was important to remember as well that improving the health of people could also have significant impact upon other socio­economic benefits such as increasing confidence, reducing social isolation, improving educational attainment and increasing employment prospects, to name a few.

She highlighted that the report set out the methodology by which the strategy would be developed and that it also sought approval for the Council to formally adopt a number of supporting documents which would help to underpin the strategy, something which she urged Members to fully support. These were:-

•           North West Leicestershire Playing Pitch Strategy

•           North West Leicestershire Sports Facilities Framework Audit

•               Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport and Physical Activity and Sport         Strategy

•               Sport England Active Design Guidance

The Chairman invited Councillor T Eynon to speak on the item. She put the following question to Councillor A V Smith:

“I welcome this Council’s intention to develop a strategy that will “determine the clear vision and associated priorities for the future for facilitation and delivery of health and wellbeing locally”.

The principles of this Council’s constitution require that Cabinet decisions are clear in their aims and desired outcomes, taking account of professional advice from officers.

This Health and Wellbeing Strategy will be a guiding policy as this Council develops its facilities for the future. The interim outline strategy stage 5 asks the authority to consider its “Priorities; what should they be...and why”. It also suggests that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 118.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Business Portfolio Holder

The Business Portfolio Holder presented the report to members. He reminded Members that the local development order was first adopted in July 2015 and extended in July 2016, and to date £350,000 of funded had been granted to 16 properties. He ask Cabinet to endorse the renewal for a further 18 months.

Councillor R Blunt was happy to support the recommendations as it ensured the continued regeneration of Coalville.

It was moved by Councillor T Gillard, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The Coalville Conservation Area Local Development Order, at appendix 1, for a 28 day period of public consultation be endorsed.

2. The Portfolio Holder (Regeneration and Planning) be delegated to consider any responses to consultation.

3.    The Portfolio Holder (Regeneration and Planning) be delegated to adopt the Coalville Conservation Area Local Development Order for a period of 18 months from 1 June 2018.

Reason for decision: Policy approval needed for renewal of the Coalville Conservation Area Local Development Order and The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 provides for the local planning authority to formally adopt the Coalville Conservation Area Local Development Order.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

The Leader presented the report to members and highlighted the following:-

•           The in-house repairs team were on track to carry out £1m more work this year compared to last year. Over the next 5 years it was planned to undertake the majority of the Decent Homes works in-house - up to almost £20m worth of work over the next 5 years.

•           The Coalville Job Centre Plus went "full service" from 7 February 2018 for the implementation of universal credit. This represented a significant change for residents and that the Council had worked collaboratively with agencies to support those affected.

•           In Coalville; the principles of the Marlborough Square development were agreed in January; the Christmas in Coalville event was a success, with 16 shops decorating their windows and the Enterprising Town Centres Grant Scheme continued to be popular - 25 expressions of interest, 12 applications and 2 approved in Quarter 3.

•           The practical support to businesses continued where the Business Focus team had supported the Coalville jobs fair, retail workshops, a disability confident workshop and business funding workshop.

•           Both the general fund and HRA were being well managed.

•           The forecast surplus outturn was £1.863m compared to £934k.

•           Additional income was forecast from recycling (£122k), building control (£35k) and Council Tax / NNDR summons income (£34k). This would offset some additional costs on ICT equipment (£124k), the leisure centre deficit (£159k) and less income from planning fees of £300k.

•           2.42 days per Full Time Equivalent (employee) were lost in Quarter 3 due to sickness, which was comparable with the same quarter the previous year which was 2.21 days. It was unlikely that the Council target of 8.5 days / FTE would be met as there had been an increase in cold / flu absences since Christmas.

•           Managers and the HR team continued to work closely to manage sickness absences.

The Chairman invited colleagues to highlight the performance in their  portfolios.

Councillor T Gillard stated that he was pleased to advise that the Council had secured £9,000 in funding to provide digital training workshops to local businesses.

Councillor N J Rushton advised that the General Fund Forecast outturn of £1.863m compared to budget of £934k was as a result of a £1.2m increase in business rate income due to the reduction of appeals provision and release of funds back into retention system, £122k additional recycling income, £32k additional council tax/NNDR summons income which would be offset by a forecast decrease of £300k in planning fee income; additional expenditure on ICT of £124k and an increase in net deficit on leisure centres of £159k. He stated that the outturn surplus would be paid into the Self-Sufficiency reserve, forecast to take reserve to £2.76m and that the Special Expenses was on target. He highlighted that the HRA forecast surplus was £338k compared to budget of £142k which was largely as a result of increase in rental income due to improved empty homes performance and that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120.

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report to members. He advised that the report asked Cabinet to note the delegated write offs and approve three debts over £10,000. He informed Members that two NNDR debts amounting to £38k, which both cases were where the company/individual had become insolvent and one sundry debtor case for £18k where the company was in liquidation with no assets. He stated that writing off debts was only considered where all appropriate recovery and enforcement measures had been taken, or where the council were legally prohibited from pursuing the debt.

It was moved by Councillor N J Rushton, seconded by Councillor A V Smith and

RESOLVED THAT:

The Non Domestic Rates and Sundry Debt Write Offs that are over £10,000 be approved and the amounts written off under delegated powers be noted.

Reason for decision: To comply with proper accounting practices.

Councillor N J Rushton entered the meeting at 5.10pm.