Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor N J Rushton.

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 declarations of interest.

There were no questions received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2015

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2015.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 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 Leader

The Leader presented the report to Members.

He advised Members that the report sought the support to bring forward the first stage to enable the Leicestershire to demonstrate that they could work as a combined authority and that all nine Councils needed to agree.

He highlighted to Members the three areas that were to be proposed which were transport, planning and skills. He stated that as the district grew all nine authorities would need to work together to ensure that the transport infrastructure was in place, that there was the opportunity for local residents to continue to improve on their skills for a better quality of life and that the neighbouring authorities talked to and co-operated with each other as to where housing and development would take place.

He informed Members that there were a number of proposals across the Country, but he was committed to the Leicestershire model, adding that should the proposal go ahead it would almost certainly provide a financial injection to the district and that following recent consultations there was strong support for a combined authority, but it did not mean that each authority would lose its own sovereignty.

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that Leicestershire didn't have an option as both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire were already attempting to combine.

Councillor R D Bayliss agreed with Councillor T J Pendleton adding that there was no reason not to.

Councillor A V Smith stated that she was happy with the proposals and that it was the way forward.

The Chief Executive advised Members that the Government required a governance review and scheme to be drawn up and that the proposals would benefit the district post 2028 in locating were future development should go. She informed Members that this was due to the urban areas of the County being unable to take any further housing, adding that it would allow the authority some control on the volume, speed and area of growth. She highlighted to Members that they were being asked to recommend the delegation of authority to herself in consultation with the Leader to make minor amendments to the submission. She assured that anything that was more substantial would go back to Members. She also assured Members that a joint scrutiny committee would be established with one non executive member from each authority nominated to ensure that appropriate scrutiny of decisions.

 
Councillor R Blunt advised Members that the recommendations were identical to those going to Council.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor A V Smith and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet recommend to Council that it:

1.    Approves the scheme for the Combined Authority;

2.    Approves the Governance Review;

3.    Authorises the publication of the Scheme and its submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government;

4.    Authorises the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader, to make any final amendments to the Scheme and Governance Review prior to their submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government in December 2015 or January  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

Report of the Director of Housing

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He reminded Members that the Council had gone from a poor no star rated authority to a fully decent authority with robust finances that were in order, which would allow the authority to look to start building new Council Housing. He advised that three sites had been identified as set out in the report and that the cost would be met from existing finances.

Councillor T Gillard stated that it was a good report and he was excited about the prospect of building new homes.

Councillor T J Pendleton expressed that he was bowled over by the detail, thought and consideration, and was very excited by the plans.

Councillor A V Smith stated that it was an excellent report and congratulated the officers for all the work that had been put into the project so far.

Councillor R Blunt stated that he welcomed the position.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The investigatory preparation work undertaken to date be noted;

2.    Subject to positive land, utility searches and confirmation from the external health check, the proposal to include the following 3 schemes in the initial new build programme be approved:

·              Willesley estate sites x 2 (Ashby);

·                     Greenacres, Coalville; and

·                     The Brownfield site, Coalville (if successfully acquired);

3.    At the appropriate time, a further report from the Director of Housing recommending the most appropriate method of delivering the new build units be received.

Reason for decision:To seek Member approval to progress the proposed schemes included in the recommendations.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

The Leader opened the floor for Members to comment on their portfolio areas.

Councillor T Gillard thanked all staff that had been involved with arranging the celebration to mark the 40^th anniversary of Coalville market and that it was pleasing to see that the investments that had been made helped to increase the footfall along with many traders using social media to advertise their stalls.

Councillor R Blunt stated that he had fully supported the investment and that it was making a difference and hoped that future investments would allow it to continue.

Councillor R D Bayliss highlighted that there the target for average re-let time was still not being met, but assured Members that it was being worked on and highlighted that the service was carrying out more work to the void properties before they were handed over which contributed to the delay in time.

 
Councillor T J Pendleton stated that he was happy with the way Development Control was performing and that it was well above the national standard.

Councillor A V Smith highlighted that the Leisure Centres continued to exceed their targets and were going from strength to strength. She advised Members that the recycling material technology was now fully operational and drew Members’ attention to the compliment that Environmental Health had received from Iceland Air on the service that the team had provided in assisting them to import fish through East Midlands Airport.

The Chief Executive drew Members’ attention to paragraph 2.4 and advised that the Portfolio Holder was working with Officers to look at the future options should the County decide to review the dry recycling credit payments and advised that a report would be brought to a future meeting.

Councillor R Blunt advised that the budgets were being managed effectively and that it was projected that there would be additional income by the end of the year and took the opportunity to welcome the newly appointed interim Director of Resources to the meeting. He highlighted that there had been an increase in sickness during quarter two however the human resources team were looking at options to improve the management of absence.

The Chief Executive added that the authority had an excellent record in sickness management and it was very supportive to short term illnesses, providing assistance and counselling if required, however it was more difficult to manage long term illness as it often required the support of external health providers that often hindered the support that could be given and that the Council was working on options to improve the management.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The Quarter 2 Performance Report (July – Sept 2015) be received and noted.

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

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

She advised Members that she was delighted to present the minutes of the working party and highlighted how hard the party worked to bring forward the projects.

Councillor A V Smith provided Members with updates on the opening of the new peace garden at Coalville Park and urged anyone who had not visited to do so, that the Owen Street changing rooms were now under construction and that the Annual Christmas lights switch on would be held on Saturday, 21 November and that Sheena McHugh would be switching the lights on. She informed Members that there was one recommendation from the meeting that was to reinstate the Christmas tree in Memorial Square, which she fully supported as there was now CCTV in the area.

Councillor R Blunt took the opportunity to advise Members that following a request from Councillor M B Wyatt for a new flagpole in front of Stenson House, the pole was now in position and that the flag would be raised at 11.30am the next day following the service in Memorial Square. He highlighted that it had been agreed to raise the flag on a very poignant day.

It was moved by Councillor A V Smith, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendations made by the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party as detailed within the minutes be noted and the recommendations as summarised at 3.0 be approved.

Reason for decision:To progress Coalville Special Expenses projects and programmes.