Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Board Room, Council Offices, Coalville

Contact: Democratic Services  01530 454512

Items
No. Item

106.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors N J Rushton and A V Smith.

107.

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:

There were no interests declared.

 

108.

Public Question and Answer Session

Minutes:

There were no questions received.

109.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2019

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2019.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2019 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution.

110.

Council Delivery Plan 2019/2020 pdf icon PDF 58 KB

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader presented the report to Members.

 

He reminded the Members that the Council Delivery Plan set out the Council's priority areas of work for the year ahead and the priorities were underpinned by a balanced budget, a focus on value for money and an increasing focus on commercialism and income generation. He advised that the priority work areas for the year ahead were detailed in the document attached as an appendix.

 

He informed the Members that the plan contained the details of how the authority would work towards the achievement of the priorities in the year ahead, and also considered the longer term actions required over a three year period.  He highlighted some key details from each of the priorities which included improvements to the leisure facilities across the District and to Coalville Town Centre, the on-going work to the housing stock and new Council homes, the on-going support to business and working towards a greener, cleaner District.

 

He advised that the Council Delivery Plan had been considered by the Policy Development Group and if agreed by Cabinet the report would then considered at Annual Council in May.

 

Councillor R D Bayliss stated that he was pleased to see the continuing work in providing more Council and affordable housing.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

1.    The proposed Council Delivery Plan for 2019/20 together with comments from Policy Development Group be considered.

 

2.    The plan’s content be endorsed and recommended to Council for approval on 21 May 2019.

 

3.    The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to make any final amendments to the plan prior to Council on 21 May 2019.

 

Reason for decision: To endorse the Council’s Delivery Plan for 2019/20 prior to Council’s Consideration.

111.

Discretionary Council Tax Discount Scheme pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services presented the report to Members.

 

He highlighted to Members that the Council had a discretionary discount scheme to support the most vulnerable members of the community in paying their Council Tax and that historically the scheme had been funded by both the District Council and several preceptors, however for the 2019/20 year the funding would not available. 

 

He advised them that the report recommended that the Council made up the shortfall in funding for 2019/20 by utilising the remaining New Burdens grant funding, to maintain the continuity of the scheme in assisting vulnerable residents. He informed Members that it was then proposed that the Council would consult on the future of the scheme in 2019/20 for subsequent financial years.

 

Councillor R Blunt expressed his support for the scheme and that the authority should be able to continue to offer help to those that needed it.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

1.    The removal of preceptor contributions for the discretionary discount fund for 2019/20 be noted.

 

2.    The budget from £5,828 to £40,000 for 2019/20 using the new burdens funding to address the resulting shortfall be increased.

 

3.    A public consultation in 2019/20 on funding arrangements for future financial years be commissioned.

 

Reason for decision: Preceptor funding has been withdrawn resulting in a diminished budget.

112.

North West Leicestershire Economic Growth Plan 2019-21 pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Business Portfolio Holder

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Business Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

 

He advised the Members that the plan before them was a draft version and that it was proposed that officers consult with key stakeholders before bringing the final version back to Cabinet in June. He highlighted that PDG had provided comments that would be incorporated into the final version and that the consultation process would ensure that the authority was coordinating with partners to maximise the effectiveness of the work and investment.

 

He informed Members that the district was home to 4,250 businesses of which 52 of were in the top 200 companies in Leicester and Leicestershire and that there had been a 20% growth in businesses since 2010. He updated the Cabinet on future proposals that included support for women in business and encouraging skills and employment training for young people and those furthest from the workplace. He advised that the plan reflected a number of national and local strategies, along with the need to make the most of the area’s strongest assets in terms of people, place and businesses. He added that one document would be updated regularly to help guide businesses to locations which were suitable for further business investment in the district.

 

Councillor R Blunt noted that some of the work would be to assist some of the unemployed find work that matched their skills sets.

 

Councillor R D Bayliss felt that it was a good piece of work that looked at best practice.

 

Councillor T J Pendleton advised that to be able to support the businesses the infrastructure still needed working on.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

1.    The working draft of the NWL Economic Growth Plan 19-21 and the associated evidence base be acknowledged.

 

2.    The undertaking of a stakeholder engagement be approved.

 

Reason for decision: Cabinet approval is sought to undertake stakeholder engagement before the final versions are presented back to Cabinet for approval in June 2019.

113.

Tenancy Agreement Changes pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

 

He advised that the work carried out on the document had been to amend and tidy it up and Cabinet were being asked to adopt the updated version.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

The proposed revisions to the tenancy conditions be approved.

 

Reason for decision: The tenancy agreement requires amendment in order to comply with GDPR changes.

114.

Recycle More... The Plan pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader presented the report to Members.

 

He reminded Members that it had been a priority in the 2018/19 Corporate Delivery Plan to develop a recycling strategy and therefore Recycle more… the Plan had been developed. He advised that the plan firmly reflected best practice in Government thinking through the Our Waste, Our Resources: A Strategy For England that was published in December 2018, and that the authority had consulted PDG, parish and town councils, residents and internal teams to embrace a range of ideas to increase household recycling in the district, whilst reducing waste sent to landfill. 

 

He highlighted that the vision was explained in the supporting documents included in the report and that they had created an engaging, approachable and clear plan which people could understand. He drew Member’s attention to the targets that had been set which included increasing recycling by 1% every year from the current 46.7% to at least 50% by 2023. He also outlined some highlights in year 1 which included a food waste collection trial, trials in stackable containers as well as a dedicated recycle more officer who would assist in delivering the communication and engagement element of Recycle more to a wide variety of residents and stakeholders.

 

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that he looked forward to seeing the results of the stackable container trial as it was difficult for residents to put out so many different containers.

 

Councillor R Blunt reminded Members that by sorting the waste into the different containers allowed more money to be made on the sale of the waste.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

The formal adoption of Recycle More… The Plan be approved.

 

Reason for decision: To seek the adoption of the plan

115.

Procurement of electricity supply pdf icon PDF 50 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Head of Finance presented the report to Members.

 

She advised that the report was seeking approval to commence the procurement of and subsequently award a contract for the supply of electricity from September 2020 to October 2024. She informed Members that it was being carried out in advance as ESPO required a contractual commitment from organisations in order to maximise their purchasing power and the resultant procurement savings that could be achieved. 

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

Authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services, in consultation with the Corporate Portfolio Holder, to award the contract for the provision of electricity.

 

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

116.

2018/19 Quarter 3 Performance Management Report pdf icon PDF 415 KB

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader presented the report to Members.

 

He reminded Members that the report provided Cabinet with information on the key Council Delivery Plan progress the third quarter of the financial year. He highlighted that of the actions in the Council Delivery Plan, twenty of the twenty three actions or 87% were on track or assessed as being green, two actions were under control and one was below target. He noted that progress against a number of indicators were detailed in the report, and they were drawn from across the Council's corporate priority areas. The progress was:-

 

·         30 or 73% of the indicators had been assessed as being "Green" meaning performance was on track or above target.

·         4 or 10% of the indicators were "Amber" which meant they were within agreed tolerances or otherwise under control.

·         7 or 17% of the indicators were "Red" which meant performance was below target. As such those were areas where performance needed to be examined in more detail, and to assist with that the relevant Heads of service had prepared "Intervention plans". Those were detailed in the appendices to outline the measures or explanations being undertaken to raise performance where possible.

 

He informed Members that the General Fund forecast surplus outturn at the end of the quarter was £1.09 m compared to a budget of £299K and that the self sufficiency reserve stood at £2.77m. In relation to the Business Rates, it was forecast to be £5.05m compared to a budget of £4.86m and the Housing Revenue Account was forecast to be £3.3m by the end of the financial year compared to £3.08m predicted in quarter two.

 

In relation to the sickness absence, the Leader advised Members that the rate in quarter three was 2.46 days lost per full time equivalent post (FTE) and that if the rate continued through quarter four the end of year rate would be a projected 9.45 days per FTE. He noted that there was a significant increase in the number of absences due to colds and flu during the period and that officers continued to manage long term absences carefully and the completion rate of return to work interviews had increased during the period.

 

He noted that the report had been considered by the Policy Development Group and their observations were appended to the report.

 

Councillor T Gillard noted that all five of the business and jobs actions were on target or within tolerance to deliver against the milestones, however two of the four performance indicators had fallen short of the quarter three target. He advised that they had fallen short because two key grant schemes had been on hold whilst they were reviewed and refreshed, and then they would be re-launched in June. He informed Members that planning was underway for regular business seminars, which would help us to share information and opportunities.

 

Councillor R D Bayliss noted that the number of empty properties target was not on track and the Strategic Director of Housing and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116.

117.

Exclusion of Press and Public

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.

Minutes:

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.

118.

Authority to procure remedial works contracts for housing stock

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

 

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

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

Authority to vary/award remedial works contracts for the housing stock as detailed in the report be delegated to the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services in consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder and Section 151 Officer, specifically;

 

1.    Note the revised budget requirement for the delivery of the 2019/20 home improvement programme of £3.376m, compared to the original £4.236m and virement of this released budget capacity (£860k) to fire risk assessments (£660k) and demolitions budgets (£200k)

 

2.    Award of contract for asbestos removal works to Woulds Court Sheltered Scheme

 

3.    Vary an existing contract to increase its value as detailed in the report in order to complete fire safety works to three sheltered housing schemes

 

4.    Award of contract for completion of fire safety works to additional sheltered housing schemes and low rise flats

 

5.    Award of contract for the provision of scaffolding services.

 

Reason for decision: The level of expenditure on current and proposed contracts exceeds the authority threshold in the Scheme of Delegation.

119.

HRA Stock Acquisitions and Disposals

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

 

It was moved by Councillor R D Bayliss, seconded by Councillor T Gillard and

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

1.    Approves the purchase of 76 and 76a Bishop Hall Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch from Bellway Homes for the combined price as detailed in the report.

 

2.    Approves the disposal of Cemetery Lodge, 67 Church Lane, Whitwick

 

3.    Approves the disposal of 26 The Pinfold, Newton Burgoland.

 

Reason for decision: To effectively manage the housing stock in accordance with the HRA Asset Management Strategy and Housing Capital Programme Budget, and to acquire the additional units of new housing to increase the housing options for home seekers on the Housing Register.