Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor N Rushton.

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.

There were no interests declared.

There were no questions received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2024

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2024 were considered.

It was moved by Councillor T Saffell, seconded by Councillor A Woodman and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2024 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings.

The report of the Strategic Director of Communities

Presented by the Communities and Climate Change Portfolio Holder

The Communities and Climate Change Portfolio Holder presented the report.

A Member, and resident of Castle Donington, noted their support for the extension of the Order which had so far proved successful in combatting the issue of car cruises.

It was moved by Councillor M Wyatt, seconded by Councillor T Saffell, and

RESOLVED THAT:

1)    The introduction of the Public Space Protection Order as set out within Appendix 1 be approved.

2)    Authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Communities to vary the Order or discharge the Order at any point during the three year period of the Order.

3)    The financial level of fixed penalties issued by the Council for failing to comply with PSPO orders be set at £100, payable within 14 days of the service of the fixed penalty notice, with no option for reduced rate for early repayment.

4)    Authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Communities in consultation with the Section 151 Officer to amend the financial level of the fixed penalty for failing to comply with the PSPO.

Reason for decision: The affected areas have suffered significant nuisance from vehicles and people engaged in car cruising activities during the last eight years. An order will help to control anti-social behaviour caused by car cruising and associated activities which has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.

The report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

The Infrastructure Portfolio Holder presented the report. The areas he particularly highlighted were as follows. The improved performance in the process of planning applications in excess of Government targets. Within Communities and Housing he noted the reduction in non-compliant private landlord properties, and the achievement of the target that 80% of food businesses be rated as very good; within the Clean and Green priority he noted that the Waste Services Review was progressing and was on track to be completed by October 2024. In terms of being a Well Run Council, the target of living within our financial means was on track with the approval of the Transformation Plan and work on the budget options for 2025/26 underway; the Statement of Accounts for 2021/22 was also published during the quarter. The target for complaints was showing improvement but still needed more work. A complaints action plan had been developed to assist with further progress.

On behalf of the Corporate Portfolio Holder, the Chair set out the work Officers were doing to clear the accounts backlog, the resources mobilised to this end, and the communications carried out between the S151 Officer and the Audit and Governance Committee and the Corporate Scrutiny Committee. He reiterated the Council’s commitment to signing off the delayed accounts by the end of the financial year, with the expectation that the Council would be in a position to comply with statutory deadlines when auditing the 2024/25 accounts. Additionally, he set out the work being done, and the work envisaged moving forwards, including relevant consultations, so to achieve medium term financial sustainability in line with that KPI.

The Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder said that he had recently met with the Head of Housing to discuss complaints in the Housing Service. He set out the measures in place, including increased staffing resources and extra funding towards Housing Repairs, to address them, noting that Housing accounted for the greatest prevalence of complaints. He then set out the general measures that were being put in place to address all complaints and respond to feedback appropriately.

The Chair commended the increased focus on complaints.

The Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder was pleased to see the green KPI ratings for the Economic Regeneration Team and noted the upcoming regeneration projects in Kegworth, Moira, and Coalville.

It was moved by Councillor K Merrie, seconded by Councillor R Blunt, and

RESOLVED THAT:

The Monitoring Report be considered and the elements making positive progress and those where there is a need for early intervention be highlighted.

Reason for decision: To make Members aware of the early progress of the Plan.

The report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

The Infrastructure Portfolio Holder presented the report.

In response to the Chair, the Head of Human Resources and Organisation Development said that it was important for the Council to accommodate the needs of Care Leavers, a potentially disadvantaged group.

It was moved by Councillor K Merrie, seconded by Councillor R Blunt, and

RESOLVED THAT:

1)    Care leavers to be afforded the same protections as those groups having protection under the Equality Act 2010 insofar as the law allows, be approved.

2)    Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, as the Head of Paid Service, to make any necessary changes to related policies to recognise the above non-legal designation.

Reason for decision: The Council’s aim is to move beyond simply fulfilling legal obligations in relation to equalities and its legislation, and to determine where more can be done to continue to fulfil the Council’s duties under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) as stipulated by the Equality Act 2010.

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.

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

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.

The report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

The Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder presented the report.

A brief discussion was had.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor R Blunt, and

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendations within the report be approved.

Reason for decision: The Contract Procedure Rules require Cabinet to approve contracts that are of a value of £100,000 or more and outside of approved budget.

The intention is to fund the costs of the contract from the Business Rates Reserve and approval to release funds from this reserve is a Cabinet function.

The report of the Strategic Director of Resources

Presented by the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

The Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder presented the report.

Councillor K Merrie left the meeting at this point.

A brief discussion was had.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor R Blunt, and

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendations contained within the report be approved.

Reason for decision: To provide high quality housing to the district.