Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members declared the following interests:

Councillor N Rushton declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 7 as the Leader of Leicestershire County Counci.

There were no questions received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2021

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2021.

It was moved by Councillor T Gillard, seconded by Councillor K Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2021 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution.

Report of the Strategic Director

Presented by the Housing and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

The Housing and Customer Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to members, highlighting the recommendations from the Community Scrutiny Committee.

Members were happy with Recommendation 1, however had concerns with regards to Recommendation 2. The Portfolio Holder felt that the recommended target of 199 new homes per year may be difficult to achieve every year as the council control build out rates. Therefore he proposed the target be revised to 1,000 houses over a  5 year period.

Members felt that the wording of Recommendation 2b was unclear and that after the words “waiting list” the following text should be added to clarify – “with the purpose of informing applicants of their likely wait”. This would give more of an indication as to how long that wait would be.

The recommendations as amended were moved by Councillor R Bayliss and seconded by Councillor T Gillard.

RESOLVED THAT:

1)    The council write to government encouraging a reform of the Land Compensation Act.

2)    A target level of 1,000 new affordable homes over a 5 year period (rented and low cost home ownership) be included in the new housing strategy for new affordable housing development in the district subject to:

a)    An enhanced joint working partnership with other housing providers, including increasing the frequency of meetings with registered providers active in the district.

b)    Officers looking into waiting times targets for the various housing need bands on the housing waiting list with the purpose of informing applicants of their likely wait.

Reason for Decision: To inform the production of the updated Housing Strategy.

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.

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 Strategic Director

Presented by the Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

The Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder presented the report to members, highlighting that the outline business case includes a ‘no detriment’ arrangement in respect to participating local authorities.

Members were informed that a further report would be submitted to cabinet in the coming months.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The progress in respect of development of the East Midlands Freeport be noted and its commitment to the development of the Freeport be reaffirmed.

Reason for decision: No substantive decisions are required by Cabinet at this time, however Officers considered that it was important to keep Cabinet appraised of developments.