Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Clarke, R Johnson and P Purver.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the code of conduct.  In particular, members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non pecuniary'.

Councillor S Sheahan declared a non pecuniary interest item 10 - Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan – Strategic Growth Statement, as a member of Leicestershire County Council and due to the reference to HS2.

Councillor S Sheahan declared a non pecuniary interest in item 11 – North West Leicestershire Local Plan, due to property interests and potential references to HS2.

Councillor J G Coxon declared a non pecuniary interest in items 10 - Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan – Strategic Growth Statement, and 11 – North West Leicestershire Local Plan, due to the references to HS2.

Councillor N J Rushton declared a non pecuniary interest item 10 - Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan – Strategic Growth Statement, as the Leader of Leicestershire County Council and as a member of Midlands Connect and Midlands Engine.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

The Chairman referred to the numerous events he had attended since May; the most memorable of which being Picnic in the Park and Proms in the Park, which was a resounding success.  He thanked the officers involved for organising such a well attended event.  The Chairman announced that on Friday, 1 July he would be attending a service at Leicester Cathedral commemorating the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. 

The Chairman invited Councillor N J Rushton to speak. 

Councillor N J Rushton stated that at a previous meeting of Council during the debate he accused Councillor J Legrys of being the Labour leader when he knew he was not, and this comment had offended Councillor S McKendrick.  He assured Councillor S McKendrick that this comment was intended to be part of the political banter across the chamber.  Councillor S McKendrick approached him after the meeting to discuss matter and he now understood that he had made matters worse.  He apologised to Councillor S McKendrick for any offence he may have caused.

Councillor S McKendrick thanked Councillor N J Rushton for the apology and added that she considered the matter closed. 

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.

Councillor R Blunt made reference to the flooding which had badly affected the district on 15 and 16 June.  He thanked the staff for stepping in during an unprecedented emergency.  He also expressed thanks to partner organisations and volunteer flood wardens who had worked day and night to support the most vulnerable people.  He added that the Council had a responsibility to step in, and had done so by providing over 3,000 sandbags and offering advice and support to anyone whose home was at risk of flooding.  He reported that 60 urgent requests for sandbags were received on 15 June, following by a further 20 requests on 16 June.  He expressed personal thanks to everyone who had pulled together to help during this extremely challenging time.

Councillor D Everitt stated that the people of Thringstone and Whitwick were very much affected by the flooding and he thanked the officers involved.  He added that the Methodist Church, which was the highest point in Whitwick had been flooded for the first time.  He made reference to his comments at the Planning Committee prior to the flooding raising concerns about the flood risks relating to placing developments   on hills.  He added that he believed one of the reasons for this was that not enough notice was taken of ground cover and water absorption.

Councillor S McKendrick added thanks on behalf of the Labour Group to everyone who had been involved in all of the work relating to the flooding.  She added that it was evident that a lot of time and hard work went into making things as good as they could be under the circumstances.

Councillor D J Stevenson expressed sympathies to those people who had been flooded in Breedon on the Hill.  He thanked everybody for helping and highlighted the positive work that was now being done by Leicestershire County Council looking into prevention.

Councillor A V Smith announced that the Council had received a Municipal Journal award for its Dog Watch initiative, developed by the Street Environment team and based on the Neighbourhood Watch scheme.  She highlighted that the campaign had led to significant reductions in dog fouling hotspots and had received positive feedback from parish councils.  She added that the Municipal Journal awards were a national award recognising best practice across the country.  She expressed thanks to the staff involved.

Councillor M Specht welcomed this news.  He explained that Coleorton Parish Council had had an issue with dog fouling and had been issued with a stencilling kit.  He added that stencilling the road had eradicated the issue.  He highlighted the cost and impact of dog fouling.  He congratulated the staff on receiving the award, and added that this was a great credit to the team.

Councillor S McKendrick added thanks to the officers on behalf of the Labour Group.  She welcomed the award and commented that people did not realise the importance of this issue and how damaging dog fouling could be. 

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 Support 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 Support Services.

Councillor J Legrys put the following question to Councillor T J Pendleton:

Officers have been actively working with developer Barrett for Change of Use from neighbourhood equipped area for play (NEAP)/Multi-uses Games Area (MUGA) to informal public open space off Lillehammer Drive Coalville. To date the work has not been carried out. Can the Portfolio Holder please tell if the work will be completed before the start of the 2016 school holidays, and why it is taking so long to complete negotiations between developer and the Council?

Councillor T J Pendleton gave the following response:

Officers have indeed been actively working on this matter for a significant period of time and not for the want of trying progress has been slow.

The current position is that the Council are waiting for the developer Barratts to sign off a Deed of Variation to the S106 agreement.

This will facilitate the changes agreed by our planning committee on the 7 October 2014. These changes will see the current Multi Use Games Area replaced with informal open space for residents and local children to use and enjoy.

However, the area will be subject to our current opening and closing times for parks in order to prevent any use after dark and minimise late night Anti Social Behaviour issues for the immediate neighbours.

Barratts submitted proposals on 1 June for the informal open space landscaping scheme as required through a planning condition. Officers responded with some minor suggestions on 10 June 2016.

Barratts shared the proposals on 16 June with immediate neighbours, interested parties on the wider estate, the Council and the local Ward member for final comment.

The Council now expects to receive feedback from Barratts regarding this final consultation process (noting this was only sent out 12 days ago). Subject to broad agreement from residents it is expected the signing of the Deed of Variation will follow, planning permission granted and subsequent development will follow.

The Deed of Variation is currently drafted to include for the development of a Multi Use Games Area at Scotlands Playing Fields which is deemed a more suitable location.

However, the Council has recently received a proposal from Barratts which disappointingly does not include any resource to facilitate the development of a new Multi Use Games Area. Officers are currently seeking legal advice on this matter.

As the school holidays are now less than 4 weeks away it appears unlikely that Barratts will be able to complete the works to the Lillehammer site for use in the summer holidays, despite Officers consistently pushing for this outcome.

Barratts have advised they expect to be undertaking the removal of the Multi Use Games area during the school holidays and commence site preparation in order to be ready for the first available planting season thereafter.

I am reassured that matters are still progressing albeit I am disappointed with Barratts latest communication and that it has taken so long to get to this point.

I am happy to provide the Ward  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To consider any motions on notice under procedure rule no. 12.

No motions were received.

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 Tuesday, 17 May 2016.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2016.

It was moved by Councillor J Cotterill, seconded by Councillor V Richichi and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2016 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder

Councillor T J Pendleton presented the report to members and sought their agreement to the strategic growth plan statement for the purposes of consultation.  He reminded members that the Council was working in partnership with the city council, county council, district councils and the LLEP to prepare the strategic growth plan, and having the plan would mean that councils across Leicester and Leicestershire would be able to plan effectively for the future, preparing local plans within a consistent framework and be able to exercise control over the forecast growth for the area.  He added that without the strategic growth plan, growth would take place in an unsynchronised sporadic manner, leading to a lack of protection for important assets and also leaving authorities not to demonstrate that they had complied with the duty to cooperate.  He outlined the consultation process which would take place once the statement was agreed.

Councillor T J Pendleton moved the recommendations as set out in the report.  The motion was seconded by Councillor N J Rushton who reserved his comments.

Councillor S Sheahan commented that this was something of a test of new and emerging governance structures.  He expressed concern that the voice of North West Leicestershire was not being heard in this process, and the only issue of any substance for the district was the east midlands gateway.  He questioned whether the creation of yet more low wage unskilled jobs should be the sum total of the contribution for North West Leicestershire.  He stated that training and opportunities for young people should be promoted, and attempts made to attract businesses that offered this.  He commented that there were a lot of weaknesses and threats in the report, and the biggest threat to our prosperity was not even mentioned - Brexit.  He felt that the strategy for Leicester and Leicestershire was a weak offering for the district which had an important part to play in the future of Leicestershire.  He added that if North West Leicestershire was not given the support to play its part, Leicestershire as a whole would lose out.  He concluded that he would support sending the document out for consultation in the hope that it would improve as a result.

Councillor F Fenning noted that there were no resource implications highlighted in the report.  He suggested that it should be clarified that this was excluding officer time and funding for consultancy works.  He stated that all costs, including time, must be measured in some way.

Councillor N J Rushton stated that it was most important that this strategic growth plan was approved.  He commented that to suggest North West Leicestershire was involved was untrue, and assured members that the district had contributed as much as the other local authorities involved.  He commented that logistics was a growing industry and to suggest that such jobs were low value and low paid was appalling and he hoped these comments would be withdrawn.

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that he was very happy to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder

The Chairman reminded members that the usual rules of debate would apply to this item.

Councillor T J Pendleton presented the report to members, reiterating that the Local Plan was the culmination of years of hard work and was an inspirational strategy that would deliver genuinely sustainable growth across the district.  He reminded members that the Local Plan had been the subject of numerous rounds of informed scrutiny by members, carried out in public through the Local Plan Advisory Committee in public, with the aim of garnering cross party support.  He added that the Council had set out clear priorities for the district and the Local Plan would put these priorities into action.  He stated that the council was unashamedly determined that these priorities of jobs and growth would continue to be supported and would continue to support Coalville’s resurgence as an economic powerhouse, capitalising on its fantastic location, proximity to the motorway network, and wealth of talented people.  He made reference to the uniqueness of the place and stated that being open for business would not result in the loss of the uniqueness that made this a special place to live, work and thrive.  He added that the local distinctiveness and identity of places would be maintained including protecting the Whitwick green wedge and Coalville.  He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to the development of the South East Coalville sustainable urban extension which would provide more than 3,000 homes and more than £13 million investment in infrastructure to support those new homes.  He highlighted the progress made in the regeneration of Coalville town centre, which had been made possible by the South East Coalville sustainable urban extension.  He also made reference to the significant investment in infrastructure which had been secured along the A511 corridor and across the district.  He alluded to the risks in the process of preparing the Local Plan and the considerable advice taken about the position in which the Council found itself.  He commended the Local Plan to Council and moved the recommendations set out in the report.

The motion was seconded by Councillor D J Stevenson who reserved his comments.

Councillor M B Wyatt sought clarification in respect of the Bardon relief road and its status in the Local Plan.  Councillor T J Pendleton stated that this was enshrined within the local planning decision and this could not be reversed.

Councillor J Legrys thanked the officers for their succinct explanations throughout the process.  He also thanked Councillor J Bridges as Chairman of the Local Plan Advisory Committee.  He expressed disappointment that the Local Plan Advisory Committee had not been listened to or engaged with by many members.  He did not feel that the Local Plan was a visionary plan but he believed that the people of North West Leicestershire must be given the opportunity to present their concerns and opposition directly to the independent inspector.  He made reference to the explicit timescales set out by the current government.  He added that the government had moved  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.