Agenda and minutes

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

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 public questions received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2015.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2015.

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2015 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution.

Report of the Head of Finance

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Leader presented the report to Members on behalf of the Corporate Portfolio Holder.

He highlighted that the General Fund was provisionally £1.6million under spent, subject to external audit, mostly as a result of additional income.  The additional income included an extra £0.8million from planning fee income, approximately £0.4million from locally retained business rates and £131,000 extra from recycling.  Also the £160,000 budget contingencies were not needed and the Council benefited from over £100,000 in reductions in business rates expenditure.  He also reported that the under spend would be transferred to the General Fund Reserve, which would then total £3million.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The Provisional Financial Outturn Position for 2014/15 be noted.

Reason for decision: Requirement for Financial Procedure Rules.

Report of the Head of Finance

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Leader presented the report to Members on behalf of the Corporate Portfolio Holder.

He reported that it was a straight forward procurement in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules but as the amount exceeded the £100,000 threshold the decision had been referred to Cabinet.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The award of the contract for Microsoft software be delegated to the Head of Finance in Consultation with the Corporate Portfolio Holder.

Reason for decision: To ensure the ICT service is delivered in an effective and efficient manner.

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 highlighted that the Order was intended to encourage affected building owners to invest in their properties and was specifically designed to support the Council’s Shopfronts Improvement Programme.  A public consultation was carried out in accordance with the applicable regulations and two responses were received seeking clarification regarding whether the Order would compel building owners to carry out the work specified by it.  Responses were sent confirming that the Order enabled some or all of the specified works to be carried out without the need for planning permission.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The Hotel Street and High Street, Coalville Local Development Order be adopted without modification.

Reason for decision: The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 provides for the local planning authority to formally adopt the Local Development Order.

Report of the Director of Housing

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He updated Members on the responses of the Tenants and Leaseholders Consultation Forum, and the Performance and Finance Working Group as referred to within the report.  He reported that the only comments from both of the groups was the importance of getting the correct balance of cost and quality, and to take the lifetime costs of the properties into consideration.

He referred Members to the eight pillars of the strategy as detailed in paragraph three of the report and ensured that the working groups would be scrutinising the service, outcomes and the savings made.

Councillor R Blunt commented that the role of the tenant groups was very important and he was very impressed with the work they undertake.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The Value for Money Strategy for the Housing Service be approved.

Reason for decision: To enable the Housing Service to deliver its proposals in respect of Value for Money.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder

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

He highlighted that the river restoration project to the south of Measham which formed part of the River Mease SAC Developer Contribution Scheme was being delivered by the Environment Agency as the lead organisation with the Trent Rivers Trust undertaking the works.  Due to the technical nature, an exemption to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules was granted by Statutory Officers on 8 April 2015 to allow direct award of the contract to the Trent Rivers Trust.  

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The grant of exemptions to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rule 5.8 be noted as follows:

(1)     The direct award of a contract for specialist consultancy services.

(2)     Trent Rivers Trust to undertake the River Restoration Project.

Reason for decision: The Council Procedure Rules require that the exercise of the Statutory Officers’ discretion to grant exemptions is reported to Cabinet.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

The Leader presented the report to Members.

He reported that it was not a requirement to provide the end of year report but he felt that it was important to do so.  He informed Members of the new format of the report which was easier to follow and a good snapshot of how the Council was performing.  The Leader then went through the report highlighting the facts and figures of each service.

Councillor R D Bayliss highlighted the Housing Service successes and that 100 percent of Council properties were now Decent Homes.  He also informed Members that the average time to re-let empty homes had already improved since the report was drafted.

Councillor T J Pendleton referred Members to the Planning and Development successes within the report, and expressed his delight at the improvements within the department.

Councillor T Gillard asked if the £100,000 investment in superfast broadband was included within the figures detailed within report.  The Chief Executive clarified that it was not included as the money had been committed but not yet spent, it was agreed that it would be added before publication.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The End of Year Report 2014/15 be approved for publication.

Reason for decision: To approve the publication of the end of year summary.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He explained that the Lightbulb project was a major programme across the seven District Councils along with the County Council which would integrate a range of housing support services to include Disabled Facilities Grants.  Blaby District Council would be administering the pilot project which would run from 13 July 2015 to 31 March 2016.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The transfer of administration of Disabled Facilities Grants into the Lightbulb Project Pilot with Blaby District Council be noted.

Reason for decision: To ensure Cabinet are aware of service delivery changes for Disabled Facilities Grants.