Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies received.

Councillor R Blunt declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 7 – High Speed Rail (HS2) Phase 2: Consultation in respect of proposed route from West Midlands to Leeds – Response of North West Leicestershire District Council, as a landowner who could be affected by the proposed route of HS2.

Councillor S Sheahan, who was in attendance as an observer, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 7 - High Speed Rail (HS2) Phase 2: Consultation in respect of proposed route from West Midlands to Leeds – Response of North West Leicestershire District Council, as an owner of property which could be affected by the proposed route of HS2 and left the meeting during the consideration of the item.

None received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2013.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2013.

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2013 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 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:

a)    Subject to the approval of revisions to the Local Council Tax Support Scheme by Council on 21 January 2014, the calculation of the Council Tax Base for each Parish and Special Expense area for the financial year 2014/2015, as shown in appendix 2 to the report, be approved and adopted.

b)    Subject to the approval of variations to the Local Council Tax Support Scheme by Council on 21 January 2014, in accordance with the Local Authorities (calculation of Council Tax Base) (England)  regulations 2012 si 2012/2914, the amount calculated by North West Leicestershire District Council as its Council Tax Base for the financial year 2014/2015 shall be 29,074.

c)    Subject to the approval of variations to the Local Council Tax Support Scheme by Council on 21 January 2014, the amounts of Council Tax Support Grant for each Town and Parish Council detailed in appendix 3 be approved for the financial year 2014/2015.

d)    Delegated authority be given to the Head of Finance to submit the calculations of Non-Domestic Rating Income and other amounts required by the Government by 31 January each year for the forthcoming financial year.

Reason for decision: To determine the Council Tax Base for the 2014-2015 Financial Year.

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:

Cabinet approves the revised policies and guidelines, those being:

Appendix 1 – Non Domestic Rates Discretionary Relief Guidelines

Appendix 2 – Non Domestic Rate Hardship Relief Policy

Reason for decision: To meet audit recommendations to standardise policies and procedures across the Partnership and to comply with the Constitution, and to enable staff to follow one application and approval process thereby ensuring that decision making is consistent and efficiencies are made in regard to staff training and the use of resources.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder

Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, Councillor R Blunt left the Chair and the meeting, and the Deputy Chairman, Councillor A V Smith took the Chair.

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

He reminded Members that at the meeting on the 26 February 2013 Council agreed the motion that North West Leicestershire District Council objects to the proposed HS2 route on the basis that there is no positive impact on the district, its residents and businesses and we urge the Secretary of State to reconsider the proposals and look again at following a route along the A38 to Derby, and that the Council’s overall position to the proposed route had not changed.

He informed Members that in responding to this formal consultation it was important that the Council raised specific concerns about the impact of the route and how the Council would expect HS2 and the Government to mitigate against the impacts if the line was to be constructed.

He added that in addition to impacts such as noise, impact upon landscape, impact on road network and compensation for local residents, land owners, developers and businesses, the Council also wanted to raise with the Government the following issues that specifically would impact upon the District.

Measham Regeneration The proposed route would have a major impact upon the Council’s ongoing regeneration efforts and growth proposals for Measham.  It would therefore request that the Government consider how the impact upon housing growth and regeneration projects such as the restoration of the Ashby canal and new wharf for Measham could be protected and even accelerated.

Re-opening Ivanhoe Passenger Line HS2 is focused on increasing capacity of the rail network. Unfortunately there are no passenger stations in NWL. It had been a long term aspiration of the Council to re-open the former passenger rail routes such as that between Leicester and Burton-upon-Trent – the “Ivanhoe line”. This would help to improve the connectivity of the District, support growth and would, in the event that the route goes through North West Leicestershire, help to offset some of the negative impacts that results for the communities of the District.

National Forest The proposed route cuts through the National Forest which is a tourism and recreation destination of vital importance to the economy of the District.  The Council would urge the Government to consider how significant additional planting and landscaping could be undertaken in advance of constructing the line to ensure that the impact on the National Forest was minimised.

He also drew Members’ attention the consultation response that had been circulated at the meeting from the Packington Nook Resident’s Association for Member’s information.

It was moved by Councillor T J Pendleton, seconded by Councillor A V Smith and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet agrees the Council’s response to the consultation having regard to the comments set out in section 6 of this report and asks Council to endorse the response at its meeting on the 21 January 2014.

Reason for decision:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

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 by signing the covenant any community groups within the District would be able to apply for funding to help deliver projects for the Armed Forces Community.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

a)    Cabinet implements the Armed Forces Community Covenant pledge within North West Leicestershire.

b)    Cabinet establishes a Task and Finish Group from Policy Development Group to develop measures for furthering the covenant in partnership with Key Armed forces representatives.

c)    Cabinet supports any grant applications for any identified measures within the covenant.

d)    Cabinet delegates authority to the Leader and the Chief Executive to sign the covenant on behalf of the Authority.

Reason for decision: To provide a statement of mutual support between the civilian community and the local Armed Forces community in North West Leicestershire building on existing initiatives and partnerships.

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.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

a)    Cabinet notes the Charnwood Memorandum of Understanding and;

b)    Delegates authority to the Director of Services to sign the Memorandum of Understanding.

Reason for decision: To agree the Council’s position.

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.

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 Paragraphs 1 & 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 Chief Executive

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 T J Pendleton and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet delegates the award of the Virtual Desktop and Mobile Device Management Contract to the Chief Executive following consultation with the Corporate Portfolio Holder.

Reason for decision: To provide a cost effective,more standardised and more secure method of providing software and servicesto the employee desktop and enable the secure use of mobile devices.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members. He advised Members that the difference total in table 3.2.1 should have read £3,402.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet awards the lifts contract to Kone PLC and the fire detection and emergency lighting contract to Tec Serv UK Ltd.

Reason for decision: To ensure the continued delivery of the service provision.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

It was moved by Councillor A V Smith, seconded by Councillor T Gillard and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet notes the granting of two exemptions to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rule 5.8 to allow direct award of a contract with Change Agents UK for the continued employment of a North West Leicestershire Warm Homes Officer.

Reason for decision:To ensure continuity of service delivery through the Council’s continued hosting of a Warm Homes Officer by contracting with Change Agents UK.

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 advised Members that the Consultant would assist with the revised Core Strategy and also provide assistance with other key planning issues.

It was moved by Councillor T J Pendleton, seconded by Councillor A V Smith and

RESOLVED THAT:

a)    Cabinet grants a waiver to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules pursuant to rule 3.2 in order to engage the services of a consultant to assist with the preparation of the revised Core Strategy and other key planning issues (see 2.1); and

b)    Notes the Chief Executive’s decision to consult with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Planning on the termination or extension of the proposed contract.

Reason for decision: To provide strategic advice to officers, including the Chief Executive, in relation to the Council’s Core Strategy.