Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor T J Pendleton.

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 18 September 2018

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2018.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 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 Place

Presented by the Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder

The Leader presented the report to Members.

He reminded Cabinet that the Council had been working with other local authorities and the LLEP to prepare a Strategic Growth Plan for Leicester and Leicestershire, and that various consultations had been undertaken since 2015. He advised that following the most recent consultation the Member Advisory Group, who had been overseeing the preparation, had approved a final version for sign off by all partners.

He stated that the Growth Plan would set out the collective ambitions for future growth across the area up to 2050 and was one of the first collaborative approaches to planning in the country, adding that the Plan was not just about providing enough homes and employment but ensuring the correct infrastructure was provided.

Councillor R Blunt stated that he was very proud of the Plan and as North West Leicestershire was an area of immense growth a plan was needed.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor R D Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT:

Council be recommended to:

1.    Approve the revised Strategic Growth Plan (SGP) “Leicester and Leicestershire 2050: our Vision For Growth”; and

2.    Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive (or equivalent)of each SGP Partner Authority, following consultation with the Leader of that Authority and the Joint Strategic Planning Manager for the SGP, to agree, prior to publication, any final minor amendments to the SGP which would not significantly change the overall content or purpose of the document. 

Reason for decision: To enable Cabinet to form a view.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He advised Members that following consideration by the Policy Development Group at its last meeting, some minor changes had been made to the Strategy which Cabinet had been asked to note which included the amendment of the forecast future deficit which had been amended from £6.5m to £6.1m.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The Council’s Commercial Strategy be approved

2.    Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive to make minor amendments to the Strategy.

Reason for decision: For Cabinet to review and formally adopt the new Commercial Strategy which sets out how the Council’s approach to the delivery of its functions will evolve so as to take full advantage of a wide range of opportunities that may arise.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

The Leader presented the report to Members.

He advised Members that a review was being undertaken on the current performance measures and the information in the report to ensure that it continued to be fit for purpose.

He informed Cabinet that 60 indicators were detailed in the report drawn from the Council’s priorities of which 65% were on track or above target, 20% were within agreed tolerances or under control and 15% were below target. He stated that the areas where performance was below target are now examined in more detail and the relevant Heads of Service prepare interventions plans to accompany the report to outline measures or explanations to raise the performance.

In relation to finance, The Leader highlighted that the General Fund forecast surplus outturn was £576K (against the budgeted figure of £299k),  the self-sufficiency reserve stood at £2.76m, and the business rates income forecast was £4.96m (£100k more than budgeted). He stated that there were a number of positive financial movements including additional taxi licencing income, reduction in business rates payable on car parks and commercial properties and additional income from trade refuse and recycling. However there were some adverse movements that included the Leisure Centres deficit, salary increases in refuse and recycling, software licence increases and increased costs in the benefits service.

He informed Members that the sickness absence rate in Q1 was 2.39 days against a target of 2.12 days and that 73% of the absence was a result of long term absences and all cases were being managed with support of the Senior HR advisors.

Councillor A V Smith highlighted that the Leisure Centres income was down, which was mainly a result of loss of membership and that the sickness absence in waste management was high due the manual nature of the work.

Councillor N J Rushton reiterated the financial performance as outlined by the Leader and that he was looking forward to seeing how the self-sufficiency reserves would be invested. He expressed concerns over the number of the days that had been lost due to sickness.

Councillor R Bayliss highlighted that the performance in relation to new affordable homes was below target due to the delay in the handover from developers and utility issues on the Linford & Verdon Crescent site. He noted the good performance in relation to repairs and rent income.

Councillor T Gillard stated that the report was very positive for the business focus team, highlighting that support to a number of market traders to help expand to retail units was continuing and that following the success of the start-up and digital workshops, the business focus team would be redelivering the events for local business. He advised Cabinet that prior to the start of the meeting he had attended the district’s Jobs and Skills Fair at Stephenson’s College which had over 35 local organisations showcasing thousands of local jobs.

In response to questions from Councillor N J Rushton, the Deputy Chief Executive advised Members that, in relation to customer satisfaction,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

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.

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

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

She highlighted to Members the process that had been taken to evaluate the bids and informed Members of the outcome following the receipt of the bids and the next stage of the process. She advised that the update had been considered by the Policy Development Group at its last meeting and there were no issues raised.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The progress made to date in the procurement process in order to secure a Leisure Partner be noted.

2.    The next stage of procurement; and the fact that the shortlisted bidders, as outlined within annex A, had been invited to submit final tenders, be noted.

Reason for decision: To ensure that Members are informed about the progress being made on this highly confidential procurement exercise involving the bidding organisations.