Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor T Gillard.

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.

There were no questions received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2025

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2025.

It was moved by Councillor K Merrie, seconded by Councillor N Rushton and

RESOLVED THAT:
 

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2025 be approved and signed by the Chair as an accurate record of proceedings.

Reason for decision: The Cabinet (Executive) Procedure Rules required that the minutes of the previous meeting are considered and confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Strategic Director of Resources
Presented by the Finance and Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Finance and Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report.

A member commented that the report showed ‘good growth’.

It was moved by Councillor K Merrie, seconded by Councillor N Rushton and

RESOLVED THAT:

1) The calculation of the Council tax base for each parish and special expense area for the financial year 2026/2027 was reviewed and recommended to Council for adoption at its meeting on 19 February 2026.

2) It was noted that, in accordance with the Local Authorities (calculation of Council tax base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by North West Leicestershire district council for the financial year 2026/27 was 37,927.

3) Authority was delegated to the S151 Officer to submit the calculations on non-domestic rating income and other amounts required by government by the 31 January 2026 for the forthcoming financial year.

Reason for decision: Required as part of the budget setting process for 2026/27 to ensure compliance with the Budget Framework as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place
Presented by the Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

The Leader presented the report.

It was moved by Councillor N Rushton, seconded by Cllr K Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendations were noted and will be considered when making budget recommendations.

Reason for decision: To comply with the Cabinet/Scrutiny Protocol for Cabinet to formally consider scrutiny recommendations

Report of the Strategic Director of Communities
Presented by the Community and Climate Change Portfolio Holder

The Community and Climate Change Portfolio Holder presented the report.

A member commented that Compulsory Purchase Orders could be a slow, drawn-out process as it can be difficult to acquire a property this way. They encouraged the Portfolio Holder to challenge officers to move through the process at the earliest opportunity.  

It was moved by Councillor M Wyatt, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

1) The value of the offer to be made to the owner of a long-term empty property 65 Station Road in Kegworth, was agreed.

2) The Head of Legal Services was authorised to take all necessary steps to secure the making, sealing, confirmation and implementation of the CPOs, including but not limited to the publication of all statutory notices, securing the confirmation of the order by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (as appropriate) including (but not limited to) the negotiation and completion of any necessary agreement and undertaking in order to secure the removal of objections to the CPO; the presentation of the council’s case at any public inquiry or via written representations and all other associated procedural steps and vesting of the land in the district council.

3) The Head of Legal Services was authorised to acquire interests in the land within the order either by agreement or compulsorily, the payment of compensation and statutory interest and the instituting or defending of proceedings where necessary, together with the properties’ subsequent disposal.

Reason for decision: On this occasion due to the nature of the case, Cabinet is requested to review and confirm the value of the offer. They are also requested to review and confirm that should the offer not be accepted, the formal process of the Compulsory Purchase Order can commence.

Officers have delegated powers to carry out enforcement action under the Empty Homes Policy. In the Constitution, Section E sets out that where Executive Functions have been delegated, it does not prevent the Cabinet from reviewing decisions made in the discharge of those functions in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. 

Report of the Strategic Director of Communities

Presented by the Community and Climate Change Portfolio Holder

The Community and Climate Change Portfolio Holder presented the report.

Comments from Corporate Scrutiny Committee on the Environmental Policy report were considered and acknowledged in turn.

In response to C1, a member commented that the Council approach was  good practise and maintains a ‘top level’ that is in line with other industries and UKPLC.

In response to C2, the Chief Executive commented that Unipart, known to be exemplary in environmental sustainability, having achieved ISO 14001, offered their expertise during a site visit. Advice and insight from them was followed in the report.

It was moved by Councillor M Wyatt, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

1) The comments and recommendation made by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 4 December 2025 were considered.

2) The draft Environmental Policy was approved.

3) Authority was delegated to the Strategic Director of Housing and Communities to make any minor amendments to the policy.

Reason for decision: To approve the draft Environmental Policy, as required under the constitution.

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 Section 100(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 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 Communities
Presented by the Housing, Property, and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

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

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendations in the report be approved.

Reason for decision: To comply with the constitution of the Council.

Report of the Strategic Director of Communities
Presented by the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder

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

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendations in the report be approved.

Reason for decision: To comply with the constitution of the Council.