Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R D Bayliss.

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 10 December 2019

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2019.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2019 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution.

Report of the Head of Finance

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He advised that the report sought approval of the Council Tax Base for

2020/21, which, under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 required that the calculation of the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2020/21 be determined by no later than 31 January 2020. He drew Members’ attention to appendices 1 and 2 which showed the council tax base for the next year after applying a 2% non-collection rate and advised that for the third year, growth estimates in respect of the anticipated number of new homes for 2020/21 had been included in the council tax base at parish level.

He reminded Members that in January 2017 Cabinet agreed that Town and Parish councils would receive a 25% reduction in the Council Tax Support Grant and that this would be the final year that the grant would be payable.

He stated that following the Cabinet meeting in December there was a consultation in progress on reducing the Council Tax Support Grant to Special Expense areas over a four year period, which would commence in 2021/22; and that it would be considered again by Cabinet in February as part of the final budget.

Finally he advised Members that, in respect of Business Rates, the authority was required to provide details of estimated income for the following year to the Government by 31 January 2020 on a form called NNDR1. This required formal approval. He noted that the form was completed by the Revenues and Benefits Partnership shortly before the 31January deadline to ensure that the estimates were as up to date as possible and that the Section 151 Officer had delegated authority to approve and submit the form for 2020/21.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The calculation of the Council Tax Base for each Parish and Special Expense area for the financial year 2020/21, as shown in appendix 2 to the report, be approved and recommended to Council for adoption.

2.    In accordance with the Local Authorities (calculation of council tax base) (England) regulations 2012 si 2012/2914, the amount calculated by North West Leicestershire District Council as its council tax base for the financial year 2020/21 shall be 34,585 be noted.

3.    The amounts of Council Tax Support Grant for each Town and Parish Council detailed in appendix 3 be noted.

 4.   The Section 151 Officer has delegated authority to submit the    calculations of Non Domestic rating income and other amounts required by the Government by 31 January each year be noted.

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

Report of the Strategic Director

Presented by the Housing and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

The Strategic Director presented the report to Members.

He reminded Members that the Tenant Scrutiny Panel was formed in 2011 as a requirement of the Localism Act, and consisted of a group of volunteer tenants, to carry out reviews of the areas of the housing service they identify. This was their 8^th Report.

He advised Members that the inspections in relation to Right First Time had taken longer than some previous ones due a turnover in the membership of the Panel.

It was noted that the Panel had produced 7 recommendations, as detailed in the report, all of which have been accepted by the Housing Service and the action plan at Appendix B provided the framework through which implementation would be monitored and progress fed back to the Panel.

Councillor R Blunt stated that he was happy to support the recommendations. He advised that he had seen figures in relation to the state of the authority’s empty properties, which was 7%, and that the Council always strived to improve its performance.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The action plan prepared in response to the recommendations from the Tenant Scrutiny Panel Inspection of right first time housing repairs be approved.

Reason for decision: To allow the implementation of the of the Housing Services action plan in respect of Right First Time Housing Repairs.

Report of the Strategic Director

Presented by the Housing and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

The Strategic Director presented the report to Members.

He advised that back in March/May 2019 the authority was part of a successful cross County bid for grant funding from the rapid rehousing pathway programme to support rough sleepers and that the report was required to approve the payment of part of the grant received to Charnwood Borough Council, who delivered the service.

He informed Members that it had been intended to make two staged payments to Charnwood Borough Council, which would have been permissible under the scheme of delegation. However, during discussions with them over the detail of the agreement, they expressed a preference for one payment, as the value of the grant exceeded the level permitted by the scheme of delegation.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The payment of up to £177,600 to Charnwood Borough Council for the provision of a social lettings service be agreed.

2. Authority be delegated to the Head of Housing and Property in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Customer Services to award any additional funding received under the Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI) to appropriate delivery partners within the limitations agreed with MHCLG.

Reason for decision: The grant payment requires expenditure in excess of officer delegated limits.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

The Leader invited the Members of the Cabinet to comment on their   portfolio areas.

Councillor T Gillard was pleased to advise that the outline bid for the second round of the Future High Street Fund would be submitted the following dayand if successful would help with grant support towards a number of proposals in the town centre including a cinema. The full bid would be submitted by the end of April. He commented on the success of the Palitoy celebration event that had received extensive media coverage and the high turnout of visitors. He noted that the business Focus Team continued to support the local businesses particularly  the market traders, both those moving and not moving to the new market.

Councillor A Woodman advised that both the new indoor market and the new leisure centre had received approval at Planning Committee, and that the issues over the A511 access to the leisure centre needed addressing with LCC. He highlighted the continued improvements to Hood Park, with the new gym suite opened and work nearing completion on the spin room down stairs. He informed the Members that in relation to the Recycle More campaign, 250 new recycling trollies were out on trial across the District and that the trial of new food waste bins had seen 17 tonnes diverted from landfill. He noted the work of the Health and Wellbeing team that was ongoing and that the absence figures for the Waste Service was being managed.

Councillor N J Rushton noted that there was nothing further to update on.

Councillor R Ashman highlighted the ongoing work of the Planning department in relation to issues over HMOs, especially in Kegworth. He advised that work led by the Chief Executive continued on preparing the district for the impact of both Brexit & HS2 and noted that it had been proposed to continue with the Cross Party Planning Working Group to ensure that the Local Plan continued to be in date.

Councillor R Blunt was pleased to note that the average call wait time in relation to Customer Services had reduced again during the quarter to 44 seconds and that the number of customers hanging up before receiving an answer had also reduced.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor R Ashman

RESOLVED THAT:

The progress against the Corporate objectives and performance indicators

be noted and commented on.

Reason for decision: The report be provided for members to effectively monitor the performance of the organisation.