Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Board Room, Council Offices, Coalville

Contact: Democratic Services  01530 454512

Items
No. Item

52.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T Gillard.

 

53.

Declaration of Interests

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.

Minutes:

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members declared the following interests:

 

Councillor R Blunt declared a pecuniary interest in item 9, Response of North West Leicestershire District Council to the Consultation in Respect of the HS2 Phase 2b Working Draft Environmental Statement, as a landowner affected by the proposed route.

 

Councillor T J Pendleton declared a pecuniary interest in item 9, Response of North West Leicestershire District Council to the Consultation in Respect of the HS2 Phase 2b Working Draft Environmental Statement, as his daughter was a property owner and resident of Measham who would be affected by the proposals.

54.

Public Question and Answer Session

Minutes:

No questions were received.

 

55.

Admission of Additional Item

Minutes:

RESOLVED THAT:

 

By reason of special circumstance in that an additional item of business needs to be considered before the next meeting of the Cabinet, the item entitled “Provision of Funding to Upgrade Fire Alarm and Door Entry System to the Council Office Building” be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4)(B) of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

Reason for decision: To enable the consideration of urgent business.

 

56.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 57 KB

Minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2018.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2018.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution.

57.

General Fund and Special Expenses Revenue Budget Proposals for 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

Councillor N J Rushton presented the report to members, highlighting the projected surplus which would be added to the self sufficiency reserve and the various uncertainties which meant that it was prudent to be forecasting an underspend.  He added that for the 10th year in a row, no increase in Council Tax was projected.  He highlighted the consultation process that would take place prior to approval of the budget.

 

Councillor R Blunt welcomed the funding allocated towards the costs of the recycling container pilot which would help residents recycle more.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

1.    The 2019/20 budget proposals be agreed for statutory consultation; and

 

2.    The assurance statement by the S151 Officer be noted

 

Reason for decision: Required to complete 2019/20 budget process

 

58.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget Proposals for 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

Councillor R D Bayliss presented the report to members, drawing their attention to the recommendations in respect of taking a more flexible approach to future debt redemption post 2022. 

 

Councillor N J Rushton welcomed the flexibility and noted that the level of revenue contribution to capital outlay had increased at a time when rent reductions had been imposed.  He added that this additional spending on Council housing from the revenue budget would boost the Council’s housing supply. 

 

In response to questions from Councillor R Blunt about the loan portfolio, the Section 151 Officer advised that the interest rates were set at the time the loan was taken out and varied depending upon the type of loan (annuity or maturity), repayment profile and loan period. 

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

1.    The assurance statement by the S151 Officer be noted; and

 

2.    The draft HRA budget proposal be approved, including the 1% rent decrease, as detailed in this report and associated appendices for consultation

 

Reason for decision: To enable the Council to set a balanced Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2019/20.

 

59.

2019/20 - 2023/24 Draft Capital Programmes pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor N J Rushton presented the report to members.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

A.    The estimated General Fund, Coalville Special Expenses and H.R.A. capital outturn for 2018/19 and planned financing be noted at Appendices A, B and C

 

B.    The draft capital programmes in 2019/20 be approved for consultation as detailed in:

·         Appendix A - General Fund capital schemes

·         Appendix C - H.R.A. capital schemes

And in 2020/21, these schemes only:

·         £1,150,000 for the vehicle replacement programme, as detailed in paragraphs 3.6 to 3.6.6

 

C.   The proposed procurement routes in respect of vehicles, equipment and plant be noted and authority to award these contracts and any associated agreements in furtherance of the project be delegated to the Strategic Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, subject to final approval of the capital programmes in February 2019.

 

Reason for decision: To enable projects to be included in the Programmes for consultation.

 

60.

2019 - 2024 Medium Term Financial Strategy pdf icon PDF 234 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

Councillor N J Rushton presented the report to members, highlighting the favourable movement in the 5 year savings target and emphasising the substantial risks to the budget going forward, with the local government finance settlement yet to be announced. 

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

  1. The revised Medium Term Financial Plan be noted

 

  1. The progress of the Journey to Self Sufficiency Programme be noted

 

Reason for decision: To keep members up to date in respect of the council’s financial projections.

61.

Response of North West Leicestershire District Council to the Consultation in Respect of the HS2 Phase 2b Working Draft Environmental Statement pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Having declared a pecuniary interest, Councillors R Blunt and T J Pendleton left the room during consideration of this item and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon. 

 

Councillors J G Coxon and S Sheahan also left the meeting during consideration of this item. 

 

Councillor A V Smith presented the report to members, referring to the consultation process and the sessions arranged by HS2 Limited in Measham and Kegworth.  She commended the parish councils for their time and effort and encouraged all stakeholders to respond directly to HS2 Limited in writing.  She advised that work on the proposals would commence soon after obtaining royal assent in 2023, and the council was therefore only able to influence the proposals up to that point.  She highlighted the significant impact on the district.  She added that the level of impact was being assessed and this would form the basis of the council’s consultation response.  She explained that the impact was particularly severe in Measham, which was one of the district’s most deprived communities.  She added that the effect on listed buildings was considerable.  She emphasised that there were also opportunities for benefits from the proposals, including enhancing transport links.  Officers were also looking at potential opportunities for the temporary depots that would be constructed.  She reminded members of the motion approved by Council which agreed that the council would review its support for HS2.  A further report would be brought to Council in 2019 to provide a further opportunity to form its view. 

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

1.    The consultation documents produced by HS2 Limited in respect of the proposed HS2 route and the deadline of 21 December 2018 for the response be noted.

 

2.    The comments made by Policy Development Group on 19 September 2018 be noted.

 

3.    Authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business to approve the council’s response to the current and future consultation on HS2 proposals.

 

Reason for decision: Consultation on the working draft environmental statement and equality impact assessment report from HS2 Limited provides the Council with an opportunity to seek to further mitigate the effects of the proposals and to maximise the benefits to the district.

 

62.

Council Tax Changes pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor N J Rushton presented the report to members, drawing their attention to the comments of Policy Development Group and highlighting the main changes as set out in the report. He pointed out that one of the proposals (to charge a 100% council tax premium on properties that had been empty for more than 3 years) could not be implemented until government legislation was enacted.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

1.    The responses received from Policy Development Group and residents who responded to the council’s consultation be noted; and

 

2.    The proposedrevised council tax discounts and premiums as contained within the report be approved.

 

Reason for decision:Cabinet approval is required to change the scheme.

 

63.

People Plan pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor R Blunt presented the report to members, outlining the purpose of the People Plan which was part of the wider programme of cultural change in the Council.  He highlighted the work which had been undertaken across the organisation in the early development of the plan and the development of a new set of core values.  He highlighted the five key themes in the plan as set out in the report and the detailed action plan at Appendix 1.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

The People Plan be received and noted.

 

Reason for decision: To provide Cabinet with the proposed approach to the development of the workforce.  

 

64.

2018/19 Quarter 2 Performance Management Report pdf icon PDF 262 KB

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor R Blunt presented the report to members, highlighting key areas of performance and drawing members’ attention to the intervention plans appended to the report and the comments from Policy Development Group.  He advised that there remained some issues with the management of absence, however good progress had been made in the last quarter with bringing long term absences to a conclusion. 

 

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor T J Pendleton and

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

The Quarter 2 performance report be noted.

 

Reason for Decision: To enable members to effectively monitor the performance of the organisation.

 

65.

Former Tenant Rent Arrears, Current Tenant Rent Arrears, Council Tax, Non Domestic Rates and Sundry Debtor Write Offs pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

Councillor N J Rushton presented the report to members, highlighting that there were no debts over £10,000 to be written off.

 

In response to a question from Councillor R Blunt, the Section 151 Officer advised that the amounts being written off had remained stable.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

The amounts written off under delegated powers be noted.

 

Reason for decision: To comply with proper accounting practices.

 

66.

Provision of funding to upgrade fire alarm and door entry system to the Council Office building pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

Councillor N J Rushton presented the report to members, outlining the issues that had occurred during a recent power cut.  He felt it was prudent to utilise underspends to bring the planned work (scheduled for 2019/20) forward, which would be beneficial to the operation of the building and safety of staff.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

The use of £78k from the forecast underspend in 2018/19 be approved to bring forward the installation of replacement fire alarm and door entry systems to the Council Offices to the current financial year.

 

Reason for decision: To ensure the office building is protected by resilient and modern security and fire alarm systems, and the risks associated with a failure of either existing system are mitigated.