Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies received.

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

There were no interests declared.

There were no questions received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2023

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2023 were considered.

It was moved by Councillor T Gillard, seconded by Councillor K Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2023 be approved as an accurate record of proceedings.

The report of the Strategic Director of Resources

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1)    The calculation of the Council Tax base for each Parish and Special Expense Area for the Financial Year 2024/25, as detailed in appendix 2, be approved and recommended to Council for adoption at its meeting on 22 February 2024.

2)    It be noted that, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by North West Leicestershire District Council for the Financial Year 2024/25 shall be 37, 079.

3)    Authority be delegated to the S151 Officer to submit the calculations on Non-Domestic Rating Income and other amounts required by Government by 31 January 2024 for the forthcoming financial year.

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

The report of the Strategic Director of Resources

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report.

It was moved by Councillor N Rushton, seconded by Councillor K Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

The advice of the S151 Officer, as set out in section 7, be noted and carefully considered as part of proposing the Draft Budget for consultation.

Reason for decision: To ensure the Council meets its statutory requirements when considering its budget.

The report of the Strategic Director of Resources

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report.

It was moved by Councillor N Rushton, seconded by Councillor A Woodman and

RESOLVED THAT:

The draft 2024/25 Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Strategy and non-Investment Strategy, as set out in Appendices 1-4, be approved for statutory consultation.

Reason for decision: required as part of the 2024/25 budget setting process.

The report of the Strategic Director of Resources

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report. He noted that this was currently a draft budget, and he thus encouraged the people of North West Leicestershire to write in to register any issues or suggestions that they might have.

The Chair echoed the Portfolio Holder’s receptiveness to ideas from outside parties. The Portfolio Holder advised that he was meeting the opposition in in the coming days to discuss the draft budget and see whether there were points of agreement.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1)    The Draft General Fund Revenue, Capital and Special Expenses Budget, the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2024/25 to 2028/29 and the budget proposals contained within the report and the proposed fees and charges for 2024/25 be proposed for statutory consultation.

2)    The key risks to the Council’s budget be noted.

3)    Responsibility be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Strategic Director of Resources (S151 Officer) and the relevant Portfolio Holder to spend £500k from the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Reserve on the Transformation Programme.

Reason for decision: required as part of the 2024/25 budget setting process.

The report of the Strategic Director of Resources

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder presented the report.

The Chair emphasised that getting the Housing Portfolio in order was a key Alliance priority.

It was moved by Councillor N Rushton, seconded by Councillor A Woodman and

RESOLVED THAT:

The following be proposed for consultation:

• The Draft 2024/25 Housing Revenue Account Budget
• The rent increase
• The Draft MTFP for 2024/25 to 2028/29
• The Draft 2024/25 Budget Proposals
• The Draft 2024/25 Fees and Charges

As contained within the report.

Reason for decision: To allow Cabinet to consider the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2024/25.

The report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

The Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder presented the report.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor K Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

The grant of the lease detailed in Table 2.1 be approved.

Reason for decision: To enable the letting of a Council owned commercial property to proceed and rental income to be generated.

The report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder

The Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder presented the report.

The Chair reviewed the history of the project, why it had presented some challenges, and noted the value the project would bring. He commended Those who had worked on the project for resolving the issues and bringing the project to a conclusion.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1)    The progress on the Kegworth Project along with the proposed implementation method and anticipated costs be noted.

2)    Authority be delegated, to the Head of Property and Economic Regeneration, to spend the allocated budget on the Kegworth Project and to negotiate and enter into any necessary agreements with Leicestershire County Council (as the delivery body) to complete the works.

3)    The comments of the Community Scrutiny Committee (7 December 2023) particularly those relating to parking enforcement, be noted.

Reason for decision: To enter into an agreement with Leicestershire County Council for delivery of the Market Place public realm works and London Road accessibility improvements, to enable completion of the Kegworth Project.

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 R Blunt, seconded by Councillor T Gillard 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.

The report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Planning Portfolio Holder

The Planning Portfolio Holder presented the report.

A brief discussion was had.

It was moved by Councillor T Saffell, seconded by Councillor K Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendations within the report be approved.

Reason for decision: To note the exemption as required by the Constitution.

The report of the Strategic Director of Communities

Presented by the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

The Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder presented the report.

A brief discussion was had.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor K Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendations within the report be approved.

Reason for decision: to comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.