Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

Under the Code of Conduct members are reminded that in declaring interests you should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest, registerable interest or other interest.

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

Councillor R Blunt declared a disclosable interest in item 10 – Private Sector Housing Policies, as a private landlord. As the report did not directly relate or affect their interest and, following advice from the Monitoring Officer, they stated that they would remain in the meeting and take part in the consideration of the item.

Councillor N Rushton declared a registerable interest in item 9 – Business Rates Pooling, as a member of Leicestershire County Council and a disclosable interest in item 10 – Private Sector Housing Policies, as a private landlord. As item 10 did not directly relate or affect their interest and, following advice from the Monitoring Officer, they stated that they would remain in the meeting and take part in the consideration of the item.

Councillor M Wyatt declared disclosable interests in item 10 – Private Sector Housing Policies, as a private landlord and item 11 – Food Safety Service Delivery Plan 2023/24, as an owner of two businesses. As the reports did not directly relate or affect their interests and, following advice from the Monitoring Officer, they stated that they would remain in the meeting and take part in the consideration of the item.

No questions were received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 25 April 2023 were considered.

It was moved by Councillor Gillard, seconded by Councillor Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2023 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings.

Reason for decision: To comply with the constitution.

Report of the Director of Resources

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report.

It was moved by Councillor Rushton, seconded by Councillor Wyatt and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The 2022/23 provisional outturn position for General Fund Revenue, Special Expenses and Housing Revenue Account be noted.
2. The transfer of the unspent reserves to the Medium Term Financial Plan Reserve as detailed in section 3.7 and appendix 1 on General Fund be approved.

3.     The creation of the earmarked reserves detailed in appendix 2 on General Fund Revenue and Special Expenses be approved.

4.     The 2022/23 provisional outturn position for capital for General Fund and Housing Revenue Account be noted.

5.     The General Fund Capital Programme savings to be reallocated, detailed in table 2, are kept in the Capital Programme to deal with inflationary pressures as requested in section 3.5.6 with further detail in appendix 3 be approved.

6.     The carry forward of the underspent General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes to 2023/24 as detailed in table 3 and table 8 in the report with further detail on appendix 3 be approved.

7.       Any amendments to reserve movements and capital carry forwards be delegated to the S151 Officer in consultation with the Corporate Portfolio Holder following finalisation of the outturn position.

Reason for decision: It is a Requirement of Financial Procedure Rules.

Report of the Director of Resources

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report.

It was moved by Councillor Rushton, seconded by Councillor Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The Council’s approach to Treasury Management in 2022/23 be endorsed.

2.     A future report covering activities in 2023/24 be requested.

Reason for decision: Informing Cabinet of the Council’s Treasury Management Activity is a statutory requirement.

Report of the Director of Place

Presented by the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder

The Leader of the Council presented the report. They concluded by adding that there was broad public support for the project across the political spectrum.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.     The decision to proceed with the Marlborough Square Public Realm Project at an estimated remaining cost of £2,834,982 be approved.

2. The Vire Funding of £99,288 from the Coalville Regeneration Framework Budget line with the Capital 48 Development Pool to the Marlborough Square Public Realm Project within the Active Capital Programme be approved.
3. The Delegation of authority to the Strategic Director (in consultation with the portfolio holder) to award the construction contract within the agreed budget be approved.
4. The intention to bring a further report to the Cabinet as set out in paragraph 2.4 be noted.

Reason for decision: The decision on whether to enter into a contract of the size and nature set out in this paper is a matter for Cabinet.

Report of the Director of Community Services

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Services presented the report.

A member welcomed the news that the Council was ranked eight out of thirty-nine councils in the East Midlands region as set out in the report.

Members called for all-party support on the matter and emphasised the value of the all-party working group.

A member noted that recycling was certainly a valuable service, but it was also a particularly costly service, and they requested that the working party take that into consideration.

It was moved by Councillor Wyatt, seconded by Councillor Woodman and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. Comments on the progress achieved to date by Recycle More be noted.
2. The creation of an all member workshop be approved.
3. The addition of the Waste Services Review to the Community Scrutiny programme be approved.

Reason for decision: To provide an update on the progress being made in

recycling across the district and agree to commence a review of the service.

Report of the Director of Resources

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report. They did note when concluding the report that they felt the current solution benefitted urban areas rather than rural districts, and penalised more entrepreneurial councils such as NWLDC, adding that the Council would get some funding from it rather than nothing.

A member concurred that they had a duty to the public to manage the imperfect option as best they could.

It was moved by Councillor Rushton, seconded by Councillor Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.      The Council’s continued membership of the Leicester and Leicestershire Business Rates Pool be approved.

2. The proposed new distribution methodology for the Leicester and Leicestershire Business Rates Pool of Leicester City Council (one third), Leicestershire County Council (one third) and all district councils (one third) for the pooling balances in 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 And 2024/25 be agreed.
3. The proposed new distribution methodology for allocating the District Council’s share of the Business Rates Pool as set out in paragraphs 4.3 and 4.4 for the pooling balances in 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 be agreed.
4. The principle that the data underpinning the methodology for all allocation the district share is updated on an annual basis be endorsed.
5. The annual review from 2025/2026 of the Council’s participation in the Leicester and Leicestershire Business Pool be agreed.
6. The Delegation to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Leader of the Council, to approve any agreements necessary to give effect to the new distributive methodology be approved.

Reason for decision: To approve the revised distribution methodology for the Leicester and Leicestershire Business Rates Pool.

Report of the Director of Community Services

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Services presented the report.

It was moved by Councillor Wyatt, seconded by Councillor Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The comments from the Community Scrutiny Committee be noted.

2.    The Housing Enforcement Policy be approved.

3.    The following policies be approved:

a.    Updated General Enforcement Policy

b.    The Civil Penalty Policy

c.     The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Policy

d.    The Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms Policy

4.    The Electrical Safety Standards Process and overview procedure be noted.

5.    A reduction for early payment of fines be approved.

6.    The delegation of authority to the Head of Community Services to make any minor changes to the above policies be approved.

7.    The delegation to the Strategic Director responsible for private housing enforcement the option to grant an order of sale be approved.

Reason for decision: To continue housing related work to improve the properties people live in.

Report of the Director of Community Services

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Services presented the report.

A member commended the rigour with which the inspections had been carried out.

It was moved by Councillor Wyatt, seconded by Councillor Woodman and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    That the Environmental Health Food Safety Service Delivery Plan 2023/24 appended to this report be approved.

2.    That the performance and achievements in 2022/23 be noted.

Reason for decision: To approve the content of the Food Safety Service Delivery Plan 2023/24 as required by the Food Standards Agency.

Report of the Director of Place

Presented by the Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

The Infrastructure Portfolio Holder presented the report.

It was moved by Councillor Merrie, seconded by Councillor Wyatt and

RESOLVED THAT:

The response at appendix 1 of this report which was agreed with the portfolio holders for planning and infrastructure, and which has been submitted to Government be noted.

Reason for decision: To ensure that Cabinet is aware of the Council’s response.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

The Infrastructure Portfolio Holder presented the report.

A member discussed the following Early UKSPF project deliverables:

the launch of the district wide community grants programme, commitment of funding towards the implementation of the Heart of the National Forest Plan, and the development of a business start-up support programme that will launch in the summer of 2023. Furthermore, they added that in quarter 4 officers were notified they were successful in securing nearly £500,000 from DEFRA to deliver a rural business grants programme. They also noted the collaboration between the Economic Regeneration Service, Stephenson College, the Leicester Employment Hub and the local job centres in coordinating another successful Spring jobs fair in Coalville.

It was moved by Councillor Merrie, seconded by Councillor Gillard and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The progress against the Council Delivery Plan actions and performance indicators for Quarter 4 of 2022/23 be noted.
2. The close down of the previous Council Delivery Plan and the process and timeline for the production of the new plan and associated performance framework be approved.

Reason for decision: That Cabinet notes the progress against the corporate objectives and performance indicators for Quarter 4.

Report of the Director of Resources

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report.

It was moved by Councillor Rushton, seconded by Councillor Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

The non-domestic rates write offs that are over £10,000 be approved.

Reason for decision: To comply with proper accounting practices.

Report of the Director of Resources

Presented by the Leader

The Leader of the Council presented the report.

It was moved by Councillor Bunt, seconded by Councillor Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

The appointment of Councillors M Wyatt and A Woodman to serve on the Joint Committee be approved.

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution of the Leicestershire Partnership Revenues and Benefits Joint Committee.