Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors R Ashman and N Rushton.

Under the Code of Conduct members are reminded that in declaring interests you should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest, registerable interest or other interest.

There were no interests declared.

No questions were received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2022

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2022.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2022 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Planning Portfolio Holder

The Planning Portfolio Holder presented the report to members. He noted that Leicester City did not have sufficient land to meet its housing and employment needs in full and that all Local Planning Authorities were under an obligation to work with neighbouring authorities to ensure all the needs in an area were met. He highlighted that the statement would be considered at the next Council meeting, which could result in an increase in the housing to be built figures to 686 per year from 372 per year. He outlined how the figures had been reached, that the employment need would be meet by Charnwood and advised Cabinet that to make the provision for the increased figure would require some difficult decisions. He stated that should the authority resist the new figure it would pose a significant risk to the Local Plan and therefore the statement should be supported.

Councillor R Blunt noted that planning did not follow political lines and was about where the demand and growth was, and for that reason the Council should follow the statement.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.      The Statement of Common Ground which addresses the issue of unmet housing and employment needs from Leicester City be noted

2.      The views of Cabinet on the Statement of Common Ground will be forwarded to Council for it to have regard to when determining this Council’s position; and

3.      The Council’s position on whether or not to support the Statement of Common Ground be formally agreed at a meeting of Council on 6 September 2022.

Reason for Decision: To determine Cabinet’s views on the proposed Statement of Common Ground for forwarding to Council.

Report of the Head of Finance and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Deputy Section 151 Officer presented the report to members. She highlighted two breaches of investment limits that had been reported to the Audit and Governance Committee, both of which had been dealt with correctly.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor A Woodman and

RESOLVED THAT:

The report be approved.

Reason for Decision: Informing Cabinet of the Council’s Treasury Management activity is a statutory requirement.

Report of the Head of Finance and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Deputy Section 151 Officer presented the report to members. She explained that the report provided Cabinet with the latest update on the financial plan outlook, which was, based on the latest data available, therefore any planned expenditure over the medium term had not been updated. It was also noted that the proposals for government reforms of the Fair Funding system were unlikely to be made in time for the financial year 2023/24 budget process and could be pushed back to 2025/26, which would result in the Council having additional resources and further time to develop the Council’s strategy.

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The revised Medium Term Financial Outlook, in particular the uncertainty surrounding the Council’s general fund position and the likely delay by a further one year of Local Government funding reforms from the position reported in February 2022, be noted.

2. The planned approach to budget setting the year be approved.

Reason for Decision: To approve the planned approach to budget setting for 2023/24.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to members. He was pleased to report that the Council had been successful in being awarded a grant from DEFRA to assist with a project to highlight the health impacts of burning solid fuels.

Members felt it was a great result for the Council as the DEFRA criteria was very strict, so it was pleasing the Council had met all of these.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor K Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

It be recommended to Council at its meeting on 6 September 2022 that the DEFRA air quality grant funding is added retrospectively to the Council’s capital programme for delivery of the air quality project.

Reason for Decision: For Cabinet to note the award of the DEFRA air quality grant funding; and considers and comments on the retrospective addition to the Council’s capital programme of £21,240 for delivery of the air quality project.

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

The Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to members. It was noted that the report presented an interim plan pending completion of a 5 year plan. It included the focus on the safety and endurance of existing stock along with the need to build for fuel efficient homes.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The contents of the report be noted; and

2. The 2022-2024 HRA Asset Management Plan be approved.

Reason for Decision: To seek approval from Cabinet for the 2022-2024 HRA Asset Management Plan

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to members. He noted the successes of year two and the proposed key activities for year three. He highlighted the requests for funding for LED lighting in public car parks and electrical charging point installations that would be drawn from the Zero Carbon reserve.

A member noted that the Council had brought eighty-six of the least performing energy efficiency homes from band E and below to band C, and that considerable focus was being put on improving the   energy efficiency of the Council’s housing stock.

Cabinet considered that our Zero Carbon targets remained very important  and action on measures within   the Council’s control should be supported.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor R Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The progress that has been made with year 2 of the Zero Carbon Roadmap be noted; and

2. The proposed actions and spend for year 3 of the Zero Carbon Roadmap be approved

3. It be recommended to Council that:

a)     £75,000 for LED lighting in public car parks; and

b)     £50,000 for electrical charging point installations

         be added to the Council’s capital programme.

Reason for Decision: To progress with the Zero Carbon Roadmap

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

The Leader presented the report to members. He noted that of the thirty-four actions in the delivery plan, nine had been achieved with twenty-four being progressed positively and one action not being achieved. He also noted that in relation to the performance indicators, twenty seven of the forty-four had been achieved, with ten not yet and the remaining seven being reported annually. He then invited Cabinet colleagues to make comments on their areas.

Councillor R Bayliss noted that the Council was intending to appoint contractors to help with the backlog of the housing improvement programme following the pandemic and hopefully by midnight 31 March 2023 the stock would be 100% decent homes. He advised that there were several sites for new builds and that the target for affordable homes had been exceeded. He added that there were still some concerns around Customer Services replies.

Councillor T Gillard noted that the Economic Development team had concluded the spend of the Omicron Discretionary grant programme, which meant officers had supported around one hundred additional businesses who had experienced hardship during the variant, and in total meant the Council had made £3.95m of funding available to business over the past 18 months.

Councillor A Woodman noted the increase in membership at the new Leisure Centre and that the Newmarket was improving but would not hit full potential until Marlborough Square was completed. In relation to litter, forty-four fixed penalty notices had been given out and the recycling target had not been met, but it was noted the figures were slowly returning to normal.

Councillor K Merrie noted that the Planning service was working well with the new team manager and a lot of work was being put into improving the Planning Enforcement team.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The progress against the corporate objectives and performance indicators for Quarter 4 2021/22 be noted.

Reason for Decision: To update Cabinet on the progress of the corporate objectives and performance indicators for Quarter 4 2021/22

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to members. He highlighted the continued work towards future events programme and was pleased that the working party continued to explore ways of bringing funding into the town, along with the review of the wall of London Road Cemetery and the trees within the area, with a view to saving any which were healthy.

Members were pleased with the continuing work of the group.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party at appendix 1 be noted.

Reason for Decision: So that the decisions of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party can be considered.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to members. He highlighted the current process for purchasing wheeled bins and recycling containers but noted that, due to the spend levels, it was deemed more suitable to use a contractual arrangement.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor R Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.      It be recommended to Council that £580,000 over a three-year period is added to the capital programme for supply of wheeled bins and recycling containers.

2.   A contract at the value of up to £800,000 be awarded to IPL global for the provision of food waste caddies and a three-year supply of wheeled bins and recycling containers subject to Council approval of the addition to the capital programme

Reason for Decision: To comply with the council’s contracts procedures, contracts that are valued at more than £250,000 in total is a financial key decision requiring Cabinet approval and to comply with EU Contract Procedure Rules (which the UK is still subject to), the council is required to follow these rules.

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.

It was moved by Councillor T Gillard, seconded by Councillor K Merrie 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 Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Leader

The Leader presented the report to members.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor A Woodman and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The comments made by the Community Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 29 June 2022 were considered.

2.     A report be brought back to Cabinet following work to develop a business case on a preferred method of supporting the development of a cinema in Coalville.

Reason for Decision:  To allow the council to continue to do further work to deliver objectives set out in the Council Delivery Plan

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Leader

The Leader presented the report to members.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor R Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    Powers be delegated to the Strategic Director in consultation with the Leader of the council to enter into a project agreement.

2.    50% of the costs of making a planning application for the extension of Linden Way be met.

Reason for Decision: The decision will enable progress to be made on the project to extend Linden Way, which will facilitate regeneration of the Wolsey Road area of Coalville

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

The Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to members.

It was moved by Councillor R Bayliss, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The acquisition of the property detailed in the report, as approved by the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council under the urgency power provisions of the HRA acquisitions policy at a cost as detailed in the report plus costs, be noted.

2.    The acquisition of the property detailed in the report, as approved by the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services and the Housing, Property & Customer Services Portfolio Holder under the urgency power provision of the HRA acquisitions policy for at a cost as detailed in the report plus costs, be noted.

3.    The disposal of four properties detailed in section 5 of the report, subject to updated valuations and NPV calculations being approved by the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer services and the Housing, Property & Customer Services Portfolio Holder in consultation with the Section 151 Officer, be approved.

Reason for decision: To ensure all governance requirements relating to the implementation of the HRA Asset Management Plan, active asset management approach, and the new affordable housing supply strategy are satisfied in relation to the acquisitions and disposals referred to in the body of this report.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder

The Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder presented the report to members.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The NWL UKSPF Investment Plan be reviewed and the comments  from the members briefing be noted.

2.    The submission of the NWL UKSPF Investment Plan to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, be approved.

3.    Authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Place) in consultation with the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder to review and amend the NWL Investment Plan project proposals set out in the report, to respond and adapt to the changing economic environment and local needs.

4.    It be recommended to Council at its meeting on 6 September that the amount as detailed in the report be added to the Council’s capital programme for delivery of the NWL UKSPF Investment Plan.

Reason for Decision: For Cabinet to provide feedback on, and approve the

submission of, the NWL UKSPF Investment Plan and for Cabinet to review and approve the recommended delegations to oversee the delivery of the NWL UKSPF Investment Plan.

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Housing and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

The Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to members.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The award of:

1.     The passive fire protection contract

2.    The cyclical painting and decorating contract.

be approved, both as direct awards to the contractor referred to in section 2.

Reason for decision: The level of expenditure on the proposed contract exceeds the authority level in the Scheme of Delegation.