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.

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2020

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2020.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 December be confirmed as an accurate record of the proceedings.

Reason for decision: To comply with the constitution.

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Councillor N Rushton presented the report, which sought approval of the Council Tax Base for 2021/22 as required by the Local Government Act 1992, and for delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer to submit the calculations for the estimate of Non-Domestic Rating Income. It was noted that there was expected to be a small increase in the non-collection rate from 2% to 2.5% due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19.

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

RESOLVED:

1)    That the calculation of the Council Tax Base for each Parish and Special Expense area for the financial year 2021/22. As shown in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved and recommended to Council for adoption.

2)    That Cabinet note that, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) regulations 2012 SI 2012/2914, the amount calculated by North West Leicestershire District Council as its Council Tax Base for the financial year 2021/22 shall be 34,841.

3)    That Cabinet note that this is the first year that no Council Tax Support Grant will be paid to each Town and Parish Council as detailed in Appendix 3.

4)    That Cabinet note that the Section 151 Officer has delegated authority to submit the calculations of non domestic rating income and other amounts required by the government by 31 January each year.

Reason for decision: Statutory requirement to facilitate the setting of Council Tax for the forthcoming Financial Year.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Councillor N Rushton presented the report, which informed Cabinet of exemptions from the Contract Procedure Rules made by Statutory Officers in Quarter 2 of 2020/21 as required by the constitution.

The three cases detailed in the report were in relation to Agile ICT to enable staff to work from home, Payroll software to extend the arrangement with the current supplier, and the installation of virtual meeting equipment in the Council Chamber. In all three cases, a robust procedure had been followed including a clear case made by the lead officer, legal and procurement advice being sought prior to consideration by the Section 151 Officer, Head of Paid Service and Monitoring Officer.

It was noted by Cabinet that the areas in which exemptions had been sought were essential to the smooth running of the Council and the report correctly set out the reasons why these had been urgent. 

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

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet notes the exemptions made by Statutory Officers to the Contract

Procedure Rules.

Reason for decision: To note the exemptions as required by the constitution.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

Councillor R Ashman presented the report, seeking Cabinet approval for the Diseworth Village Design Statement to be recommended to the Local Plan Committee for adoption as a Supplementary Planning Document. This was following consideration by Cabinet on 9 June 2020 and the Local Plan Committee on 29 July 2020. Public consultation had then been undertaken following which officers had liaised with the Parish Council to agree some amendments taking account of the responses received.  

Members spoke in support of the proposals, highlighting that it was a key way for local residents to take ownership of their local area’s character and avoid feeling dictated to by Councils and other bodies. Thanks were also expressed to the hard work of residents and the Clerk and Members of Long Whatton and Diseworth Parish Council on the document.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet recommend to the Local Plan Committee that the revised Diseworth Village Design Statement be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document subject to the changes highlighted at Appendix A of the report.

Reason for decision: The preparation of a Supplementary Planning Document is a Cabinet function.

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, which sought Cabinet approval for the procurement of asbestos surveys and removal contractor services for the next four years. This was a specialised area where the Council needed to appoint contractors for which several quotations had been received, the details of which were set out in the appendix to the report.

It was moved by Councillor R Bayliss, seconded by Councillor R Ashman and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet approves the procurement of an asbestos surveys contractor and an asbestos removal contractor to the two companies referred to in 2.3 as a direct award. Both contracts are for 4-year periods in support of housing operations subject to Council approval of funding in February 2021.

Reason for decision: The level of expenditure on the proposed contract exceeds the authority level in the Scheme of Delegation.

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 R Blunt 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 Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor R Bayliss presented the report, updating Cabinet regarding property acquisition and disposals activities relating to the Housing Revenue Account. The report and its content were welcomed by Members.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendations, as set out on page 44 of the agenda, be agreed.

Reason for decision: To ensure all governance requirements relating to the implementation of the HRA Asset Management Strategy active asset management approach, and the new affordable housing supply strategy are satisfied in relation to the acquisitions and disposals referred to in the body of the report.