Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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 declarations of interest.

No public questions were received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2020

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2020.

It was moved by Councillor N Rushton, seconded by Councillor R Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2020 be confirmed as an accurate record of the proceedings.

Reason for decision: To comply with the constitution.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder

Councillor T Gillard presented the report to Cabinet. Having received input from all services areas, the Recovery Members Advisory Group and the Community Scrutiny Committee, the Economic Recovery Plan set out the immediate support measures to address the impact of COVID-19 on residents, businesses and communities; whilst maintaining flexibility in the longer term to adapt the plan in response to changes in circumstances and new regional and national recovery strategies as they emerged.

Members spoke in favour of the directed support to tenants and prompt payment to council suppliers. Discussion also referred to the Members’ ambassadorial role and the importance of promoting sustainable transport in the district.

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

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

1)    Reviews and approves the North West Leicestershire Economic Recovery Plan.

2)    Reallocates £62,000 from the business grants earmarked reserve towards supporting businesses in our towns and local centres to improve their digital footprint.

3)    Delegates authority to the Strategic Director of Place in consultation with the Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder and the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder to review and update the plan, to respond to the changing economic environment and to reflect the emerging regional and national recovery strategies to be published in 2021.

Reason for decision: To seek Cabinet approval for the recommendations set out within the report.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

Councillor R Ashman presented the report to Cabinet alongside the addendum circulated to Cabinet in advance of the meeting. The report and addendum set out the proposal for five local authorities to create an Interim Vehicle as means of progressing towards a statutory ‘locally led’ development corporation to capitalise on opportunities for regional growth.

Following consideration of the proposals by the Community Scrutiny Committee on 28 October 2020, Councillor Ashman set out that the report and addendum, in particular the High Level Issues and Risk Log, addressed the concerns raised by Scrutiny.

Members spoke in support of the proposals, in particular as a method of working collectively to address the imbalances in investment and infrastructure spending between the East Midlands and the West Midlands.

It was moved by Councillor R Ashman, seconded by Councillor A Woodman and

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

1)    Notes the work that has been done to date on this project and the comments which were made by the Community Scrutiny Committee at its  meeting on 28 October 2020 as detailed in Appendix D.

2)    Recommends that Full Council approves making a financial contribution of £500,000 to support the Interim Vehicle over the next 3 years, with the additional funding required to be allocated through the reallocation of existing economic development earmarked reserves no longer required and subject to the agreed funding contributions from other affected local authorities and government funding being secured;

3)    Recommends that Full Council approves the Council  joining the Interim Vehicle and participating in the incorporation of it;

4)    Recommends that Full Council approves in principle to the Council entering into the Members’ Agreement and participating in the incorporation of the Interim Vehicle CLG and delegates authority for agreeing the final form of the Members’ Agreement and Articles of Association to the Strategic Director (Place) in consultation with the Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder;

5)    Appoints the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure as Director of the Interim Vehicle subject to the approval of the Full Council, and recommends that the Full Council approve that appointment.

Reason for decision: To determine Cabinet’s recommendation to Full Council in respect of the proposal to create an Interim Vehicle.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

Councillor R Ashman presented the report to Cabinet alongside the addendum circulated to Cabinet in advance of the meeting. These set out the proposal to transfer delivery of the Council’s Building Control function to Charnwood Borough Council, as a new and collaborative way to deliver a high quality service whilst responding to staffing pressures and competition from Approved Inspectors in the private sector.

It was noted that in the addendum to the report, reference had been made to ‘jobs in the system’ dating back over the last three years, when this should in fact be from the last five years.

Members were supportive of the proposal as a pragmatic and forward-thinking way to deliver statutory services.

It was moved by Councillor R Ashman, seconded by Councillor N Rushton and

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

1)    Note the work which has been done on the Building Control project with Charnwood Borough Council to date and the comments from the Community Scrutiny Committee on 28 October 2020.

2)    Agrees that the delivery of the Building Control function be transferred to Charnwood Borough Council.

3)    Agrees that, under section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972, sections 19 and 9ea of the Local Government Act 2000 and regulation 5(2)(a) of the Local Authorities (arrangements for the discharge of functions) (England) Regulations 2012 that delegated authority be granted to Charnwood Borough Council to deliver Building Control services on behalf of North West Leicestershire District Council and in accordance with the terms of a delegation agreement which is to be agreed by both authorities.

4)    Grants delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Place to negotiate and finalise the terms of delegation agreement with Charnwood Borough Council.

5)    Notes that the Head of Paid Service has, in accordance with powers vested in her at paragraph 4.1.1 (a)of the scheme of delegation within the Constitution and subject to Cabinet approval of the delegation of the function, made a decision to transfer staff to Charnwood Borough Council in accordance with the provisions of the transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) (TUPE) regulations.

6)    Approves the transfer from reserves to cover the projected deficit on the fee earning account for the period April 2020 – 3 January 2021.

7)    Delegates approval for any additional payment to Charnwood Borough Council for “jobs in the system”, identified by the Building Control Management Board, to the Strategic Director of Place in consultation with the Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder to be met from reserves for the 2020/21 financial year and budgeted within the general fund for future years.

Reason for decision: To seek Cabinet approval for the delivery of the Councils Building Control function to be transferred to Charnwood Borough Council.

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor R Bayliss presented the report to Cabinet, setting out the proposed changes in approach to managing rent arrears in order to improve the support offered to tenants during the current pressures caused by COVID-19. Therefore, taking the humane approach of better supporting those in need to prevent the risk of child poverty and homelessness, whilst also protecting the Council’s HRA income in the long term.

Members were supportive of the proposals, especially the reference to  ensuring that tenants in arrears received a direct personal contact and offer of assistance from an officer in the first instance rather than a less personal approach by letter.

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

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

Approves the proposed changes to the approach to managing rent

arrears, noting the comments from Community Scrutiny and that the funding is subject to Council approval.

Reason for decision: To enable the Housing Service to implement changes to maximise support and rental income.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor A Woodman presented the report to Cabinet, consisting of the minutes of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party from its meeting on 13 October 2020 and setting out the recommendations made to Cabinet at that meeting. Councillor Woodman also updated Cabinet on the work of the Friends of Coalville Park, having attended a recent meeting of the group.

Councillor Michael Wyatt, Chairman of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party was invited to speak on the item by the Chairman and spoke in support of the proposals in the minutes and report. Councillor Wyatt highlighted the proposal to look into the feasibility of installing solar panels and a wind turbine at Scotland Bowls Pavilion, in order to reduce the carbon footprint and make the building cost neutral. Councillor Woodman agreed that it could be a beneficial use of funds should it be found to be feasible.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

Notes the minutes of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party and approves the recommendations detailed within the minutes and summarised  in the report.

Reason for decision: So that the recommendations of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party can be considered.

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Councillor N Rushton presented the report to Cabinet, setting out the proposal to accept a delegation of function from Harborough District Council in order to deliver a HR and Payroll system on their behalf. It was noted that a waiver from call-in on this decision had been agreed by the Chairman of the Council in order for the delegation scheme to be signed immediately ahead of an April 2021 start date for the provision of the service.

Members spoke in support of the proposal as a collaborative and forward thinking use of expertise, and a way to achieve economies of scale.

It was moved by Councillor N Rushton, seconded by Councillor R Ashman and

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

1)    Notes the work that has been undertaken by the Finance and HR  teams on this project.

2)    Agrees to accept the delegation of the provision of a HR and Payroll system and support from Harborough District Council, as detailed in the report.

3)    Grants delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services to negotiate and finalise the terms of the delegation agreement with Harborough District Council and enter into the agreement.

Reason for decision: Legislation requires Cabinet authority to receive a delegated Function from another Local Authority

The officers consider that the press and public should be excluded during consideration of the following items in accordance with Section 100(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 as publicity would be likely to result in disclosure of exempt or confidential information.  Members are reminded that they must have regard to the public interest test and must consider, for each item, whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption from disclosure outweighs the public interest in making the item available.

It was moved by Councillor T Gillard, seconded by Councillor N Rushton and

RESOLVED THAT:

In pursuance of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that the business to be transacted involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Reason for decision: To enable the consideration of exempt information.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor A Woodman presented the report to Cabinet, setting out the need for a consistent approach to CCTV across all Council services whilst adhering to legislative requirements. The proposed policy achieved these aims whilst also providing a robust approach to storage of information and responses to complaints where applicable.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor R Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

Approves the Combined CCTV Policy as set out in Annex A.

Reason for decision: To comply with GDPR (2018) and CCTV Code of Practice 92014).

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor A Woodman presented the report to Cabinet requesting approval to go to tender for a contract to manage the Council’s CCTV, in accordance with all relevant legislative and policy requirements, including the new Combined CCTV Policy agreed by Cabinet earlier in the meeting.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor R Ashman and

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

1)    Approves officers to tender for a new contract to manage the Council’s CCTV

2)    Delegates authority for awarding of the contract to the Head of Community Services in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder.

Reason for decision: The existing contract has expired and the new contract is likely to exceed £100,000 in value.