Agenda and minutes

The Proper Officer will seek nominations.

The Monitoring Officer sought nominations for the Chairman for the meeting

It was moved by Councillor T J Pendleton seconded by Councillor T Gillard and

RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor N J Rushton take the chair for the remainder of the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor R Blunt and A V Smith.

There were no interests declared.

There were no public questions received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2015.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2015.

It was moved by Councillor T J Pendleton, seconded by Councillor T Gillard and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2015 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Chairman of the meeting

The Chief Executive presented the report to Members.

She advised Members that officers were seeking endorsement of the draft Council Delivery Plan before it was considered by Full Council on the 24 March. She highlighted that the plan outlined the key priorities of the authority post May, which would remain the same as the current civic year, but added that should the leadership of the authority was to change following the election than the priorities of the authority may change. She informed Members that the key priorities had been developed alongside both Portfolio Holders and officers.

Councillor R D Bayliss highlighted the work that the Council had done through the decent homes programme and ensuring the redevelopment of the Pick and Shovel site in Coalville to develop for affordable housing.

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that the Council would continue to assist with reducing crime and supporting local families in need.

Councillor T Gillard stated that Business Focus Team would continue to provide support to the business of the district.

It was moved by Councillor N J Rushton, seconded by Councillor T J Pendleton and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The proposed Council Delivery Plan for 2015/16 be received and noted.

2.    The Plan’s content is endorsed and recommended to Council for approval on 24 March 2015 and

3.    The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, is authorised to make any final amendments to the Plan prior to Council on 24 March 2015.

Reason for decision: To endorse the Council’s Delivery Plan for 2015/16 prior to Council’s consideration.

Report of the Director of Housing

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He advised Members that the report should be considered in the context of the Acquisitions Policy that Cabinet had considered at its last meeting. He highlighted to Members that the report outlined the circumstances and criteria for disposals and stated that safe guards had been built in to the policy which authorised delegation to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Leader to accept offers.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The draft HRA Disposal Policy be approved; and

2.    Cabinet recommends to Council the necessary future changes that will need to be made to the scheme of delegation within the Council’s Constitution.

Reason for decision: To provide a framework that enables the disposal of surplus HRA land, property or any other assets after a rigorous assessment of their suitability in meeting the current and future housing needs of the District.

Report of the Director of Housing

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He stressed to Members that the report at appendix 2 was the work of the Tenant Scrutiny Panel (and not officers) and that such inspection reports formed a large part of the work that the panel did. He stated that a number of recommendations had been made and that he was happy to support them.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The action plan prepared in response to the recommendations from the Tenant Scrutiny Panel’s inspection of Housing’s performance monitoring arrangements be approved.

Reason for decision: The Tenant Scrutiny Panel has concluded their inspection of performance monitoring and access to performance information.

Report of the Head of Finance

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The write offs over£10,000 detailed in the report be approved.

2.    The amounts written off under delegated powers be noted.

Reason for decision: To comply with proper accounting practices.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Chairman of the meeting

The Chief Executive presented the report to Members.

She highlighted to Members that Leisure Centres continued to be very positive in relation to their green economy, the Revenues and Benefits service had maintained its level of service despite the recent review and restructure, that following a recent survey refuse and recycling satisfaction rates had increased and that Environmental Health continued to work with local business to offer support to ensure that they remained compliant with the law. She advised Members that there were no surprises in relation to financial management and that the absence management was very pleasing.

Councillor R D Bayliss stated that even though the actual number of days to re-let properties was above target for the year to date, the stand alone performance for December had dropped to 39 days so performance was now improving. He added that the customer satisfaction percentages exceeded targets and highlighted that the figures for decent homes works relate to satisfaction with the finished product after the work was completed, not whilst the work was ongoing.

Councillor T J Pendleton highlighted the satisfaction of customers’ percentage was on target and that the performance for determining major applications was also well above target. He advised Members that the additional income that was received would be re-invested in additional support to the team and changes to the River Mease legal issues would have a knock on effect to ensure all the targets were met.

Councillor T Gillard informed Members that the breakfast meetings were very well attended and that small local businesses appreciated the support that could be provided at the meetings.

Councillor N J Rushton requested that the recommendation be changed to state that Cabinet welcomed the report.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The Quarter 3 Performance Report (October – December 2014) be welcomed.

Reason for decision: The report is provided for members to effectively monitor the organisation’s performance.

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.

It was moved by Councillor N J Rushton, seconded by Councillor T Gillard 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.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder

The Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He advised Members that the report before them was to inform Cabinet that officers had granted an exemption to the Contract Procedure Rules to allow the appointment of a consultant to lead a workshop for all the Housing Member authorities and partner agencies achieve a collaborative approach in the negotiation of Section 106 Agreements.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The grant of an exemption to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rule 5.8 to allow the direct award of a contract for specialist consultancy services be noted.

Reason for decision: The CPR requires that the exercise of the Statutory Officers’ discretion to grant exemptions is reported to Cabinet.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder

The Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members on behalf of the Community Services Portfolio Holder.

He reminded Members that Cabinet had considered previous reports and that the report in front of them outlined clarification from Leicestershire County Council (LCC) on their direction regarding Green Waste. He advised that LCC had lawfully served the direction and therefore could also lawfully remove the recycling credits which were attributed to the waste subject to the direction. He highlighted that it was calculated that the Council would be £223,378 worse off in the following year compared to the current year, however the financial impact had been taken into account in the next year’s budget.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The clarification provided by Leicestershire County Council on 22 January 2015 following the green waste direction served on the Council on  21 November 2014 be noted;

2.    The need for no further action in relation to clarification or challenge of the direction is necessary be agreed; and

3.    A budget adjustment of £223,378 has been made to the waste budget as part of the 2015/16 budget process to take account of the loss of waste recycling credits in 2015/16 be noted.

Reason for decision: For Cabinet to note the potential financial impact of the withdrawal of recycling credits from 15/16 onwards.