Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Ball, D Cooper, E Parle, R Sutton and A Wilson.

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.

The Chair made the following announcements:

As well as the annual event celebrating success of staff, it was announced that a quarterly event would be introduced where Councillors could award excellence with a certificate from the Chair, for those who had gone above and beyond in their job.

The Chair referred to his previous announcement regarding the introduction of a coffee morning and following further thoughts, this would be changed to an afternoon tea to fit in with availability of Councillors.  Further information would follow.

The Chair’s chosen charity was announced as ‘Steps’.  The Chair invited Rosemary Conley, the patron and trustee of the charity to speak on the work undertaken to support families.  The Chair thanked Rosemary for giving her time to attend the meeting.

Finally, the Chair referred Members to the additional item as detailed within the additional papers which would be considered at the end of the agenda.  He also announced a change in the order of business, due the subject matter of the amended motion as detailed within the additional papers and the link to agenda item 10 – Community Governance Review Process, the motion item would now be considered immediately after item 10.

Members are reminded that under paragraph 11.1 of part 4 of the Constitution, questions can be asked of the Leader and Cabinet Members without notice about any matter contained in any address.  Questions shall be limited to five minutes in total for each announcement.

The Leader of the Council announced his aspirations for joint working between the Alliance Group and the Opposition Group, and invited the shadow portfolio holders to attend joint briefings, particularly on key projects.  He hoped an approach could be agreed to support continuity going forward should there be a change in administration.

The Labour Group Leader thanked the Leader of the Council for the invitation but as he still had several concerns, he was not prepared to move forward with anything at this time. 

The Communities Portfolio Holder announced the Council’s participation in the recent ‘Big Green Week’ which was the UK’s biggest celebration of community action taken to tackle climate change and protect nature.  He highlighted the actions taken to date to contribute to the Council’s carbon zero ambitions and to help create a greener district for everyone.

To receive questions from members of the public under procedure rule no.10.  The procedure rule provides that members of the public may ask members of the Cabinet any question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the District, provided that three clear days’ notice in writing has been given to the Head of Legal and Commercial Services.

There were no questions received.

To receive members’ questions under procedure rule no.11.  The procedure rule provides that any member may ask the Chairman of a board or group any question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the District, provided that three clear days’ notice in writing has been given to the Head of Legal and Commercial Services.

There were four questions asked which are set out below together with the responses.  Each Member who asked a question was invited by the Chair to ask one supplementary question which is also set out together with the response.

Question from Councillor T Eynon

‘Has the Coalville mobile NHS Breast Screening service, which formerly used the London Road NWLDC car park, been reinstated?’

Response by Councillor A Woodman

The Council has offered the NHS free usage of the London Road car park, as a site for the NHS Mobile Breast Screening unit.

Officers are currently discussing with NHS colleagues when they may want to bring the mobile unit to Coalville and checking to ensure that the site remains suitable for their needs.

Supplementary question and response

Councillor T Eynon stated that she would pursue the issues with the Leicestershire County Council and the NHS as she was concerned that women were not accessing the breast screening services.  Councillor A Woodman shared those concerns and asked to be kept informed if Councillor T Eynon any information was received.

Question from Councillor J Legrys

‘Part of the Right of Way has been closed to the public for some considerable time. Following advice from the Council’s Building Control Team, a closure Order was agreed with LCC as several brick-built boundary walls were unstable and a danger to pedestrians. 

The Right of Way forms a boundary between the Coalville West and Coalville East Wards.

As Ward Member I have been fully briefed and I have been working jointly with Cllr Smith CC on trying to get a resolution to reopen the Public Right of Way. 

I understand that due to the cost, complex legal responsibilities and required resources, neither LCC nor NWLDC want to take the lead on the re-opening of this Right of Way. 

Can the Portfolio Holder please inform me and the local community when and how this Council intends to require the owners of the unstable structures to take action so that the Right of Way can be re-opened?’

Response by Councillor A C Saffell

As you know, the footpath was closed by Leicestershire County Council early last year. At that time, following discussions between officers from NWL and LCC, it was agreed that LCC would exercise their powers under the Highways Act 1980, which are similar to those in the Building Act 1984, to serve notice to remove a ‘danger’, in this case to the footpath which is an LCC asset. As such, LCC should be taking such measures to contact the owners of the properties on Bakewell Street that run along the section of the footpath that remains closed with a view to getting any dangerous wall made safe by those owners or they will take such measures to undertake the work in default.

You will be aware that the Council took immediate action last year to take down the dangerous section of wall at the rear of Bakewell Court, a property that NWL own and erected  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

To receive petitions in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme. 

No petitions were received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23 May 2023.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2023.

It was moved by Councillor R Morris, seconded by Councillor J Legrys and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2023 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Leader of the Council presented the report to Members and put forward an amendment to the second recommendation

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

RESOLVED THAT:

a)        The process for carrying out the Community Governance Review be noted.

b)          It be noted that a report would be brought to a future meeting of Council to seek to commence a Community Governance Review and agree the terms of reference for that review, with a view to completing the CGR process no later than December 2026

To consider the following motion received from Councillor J Legrys:

Community Governance Review – Unparished Wards in the Coalville Area  

We: 

• Instruct the Chief Executive to commence preparation/initial work on a Community  Governance Review (CGR)

• Ask that a report, including the terms of reference of a proposed review, be submitted to Council to enable an informed decision to be made, and if agreed, to establish a CGR Cross Party Working Group to oversee the CGR;

• Following public consultation, a report comes to Council to decide. whether or not to establish a Town Council which will consist of the unparished area of the Broom Leys ward, Bardon ward, the unparished area of the Castle Rock ward, Coalville East ward, Coalville West ward, Greenhill ward, the unparished area of the Snibston North ward and Snibston South ward.

• The electoral ward of Thringstone to become a separate Parish area with its own Parish Council. 

The Chair referred Members to the amendment to the original motion as detailed within the additional papers and invited Councillor J Legrys, who submitted the motion, to speak to it.

Councillor J Legrys reported that the matter was something raised a lot by local people during the election period and therefore felt it should be addressed.  He felt that the third tier of governance was missing in the area to deal with many localised maters and as the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party was not fit for purpose, as well as a boundary review being long overdue, action was required.  Therefore, Councillor J Legrys moved the motion as amended in the additional papers.  This was seconded by Councillor M Blair-Park, who as a Member of Ashby Town Council, valued the impact a parish council could make for local engagement.

Following a full discussion on the advantages of having a Parish Council and pursuing a Community Governance Review, Councillor R Blunt concurred that the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party was not fit for purpose and having moved the recommendations on the previous item, which was seconded by Councillor Wyatt, he hoped that all colleagues would be in support of it.

A further debate was had on the timescales and some concerns were shared that without time boundaries the matter could drift and not be ready to elect members in the 2027 elections.

The Chair put the original motion to the vote and

RESOLVED THAT:

The Chief Executive: 

·        prepares to commence a Community Governance Review (CGR)  

o   after the completion of the current LGBCE review of electoral arrangements

o   and no later than November 2025 

·        the terms of reference of the review to include

o   a review the boundaries of all existing Parishes as necessary 

o   consideration of the most suitable way of representing people living in the unparished areas of  

§  Broom Leys 

§  Bardon ward 

§  Castle Rock 

§  Coalville East 

§  Coalville West 

§  Greenhill 

§  Snibston North 

§  Snibston South 

§  Thringstone 

o   to complete no later than December 2026 

o   so that elections to any proposed Town or Parish Councils can be held in May 2027 

·         and schedule the programme for the Electoral Review Working Party  accordingly.”

Report of the Chief Executive

The Infrastructure Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

a)        Councillor R Blunt be appointed to represent the Council on East Midlands Council.

b)        Councillor K Merrie be nominated to submit an expression of interest in being a member of the Regional Employer’s Board.

c)          Councillor A Woodman be nominated to submit an expression of interest in being a member of the Regional Migration Board.

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

It was moved by Councillor T Gillard, seconded by Councillor C Sewell and

RESOLVED THAT:

a)        Councillor C Sewell be appointed to the Planning Committee to replace Councillor S Lambeth for the remainder of the 2023/24 civic year.

b)       Councillor R Morris be appointed to the vacant substitute position on the Appointments Committee.