Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies received.

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 24 July 2018

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2018.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution.

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 highlighted that the report sought Cabinet’s support to submit an application to become a one year pilot for 75% business rates retention in 2019/20 as part of a Leicestershire-wide bid and that the system would be implemented from April 2020 if successful. He advised Members that the deadline for the submission of the bid was 25 September and for that reason the approval of the Deputy Chairman of the Council had been given for exemption to the Council’s Scrutiny Procedure Rules in relation to Call-In, since any call-in would prevent submission by the required date.

He informed Members that Financial modelling undertaken by the Leicestershire Treasurer’s Association indicated that around £13.8m could be retained and shared across Leicestershire & Leicester Authorities along with the Fire and Police Authorities and that authority to delegate to the Head of Finance in consultation with himself to agree and submit the bid was sought.

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that he was delighted to second the recommendations so the authority could reap the benefits from growth that it was bringing to the area.

In response to a question from Councillor R Blunt, Councillor N J Rushton advised that the potential additional amount from the pilot had been reduced by the Government to encourage more areas to take part and that it would possibly bring an extra £0.5m income for the authority.

It was moved by Councillor N J Rushton, seconded by Councillor T J Pendleton and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. Subject to agreement with partner authorities, the authority will apply to become a business rates pilot for 2019/20 as part of a Leicestershire-wide Business Rates Pilot Bid;

2. Authority be delegated to the Head of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder (Corporate) to agree the detail of the Business Rates Pilot Bid (in conjunction with other Leicestershire local authorities) with respect to the financial aspects and overall governance of the pilot bid;

3. Authority be delegated to the Head of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder (Corporate) to submit a joint bid (in conjunction with other Leicestershire local authorities) and enter into a pilot agreement with MHCLG if that bid outcome is successful.

Reason for decision: Requirement of Financial Procedure Rules

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He advised that due to historic structural movement the Council had been unable to re-let the property following the passing of the longstanding tenant and that following an evaluation it was agreed that the property should be disposed of. He stated that following a closed-bid process an offer of £73,900 was received and accepted.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The decision of the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council to accept an offer of £73,900 for the freehold sale of 58 Ramscliffe Avenue, Donisthorpe be confirmed.

Reason for decision: The proposal to dispose of the property was in accordance with the HRA Disposal Policy, which was approved by Cabinet on 3 March 2015, to generate a capital receipt to meet the needs of the HRA Business Plan.

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He advised that the equipment that was currently used was old and too expensive to repair. He highlighted that  although the service charge per property was increasing,  if a tenant was in receipt of Housing Benefit the cost would be covered.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The award to JLA Limited of the contract to install and manage our sheltered scheme laundry equipment for a period of up to eight years be approved.

Reason for decision: The contract would improve the facilities and service delivery for tenants in sheltered housing schemes.

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 the majority of the Non-Domestic Rate debt write off amount related to one large assessment totalling £270k where the company was in a ‘company voluntary arrangement. He also highlighted that Cabinet was asked to note the delegated write offs and amounts of sundry debts previously written off under delegated powers in 2016/17 and 2017/18 which had not previously been reported to Cabinet.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The Non Domestic Rates and Sundry Debt write offs that were over £10,000 be approved;

2.    The amounts written off under delegated powers be noted; and

3.    The amounts of sundry debts previously written off under delegated powers in 2016/17 and 2017/18 be approved.

Reason for decision: To comply with proper accounting practices.