Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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

Councillor K Merrie declared a registerable interest in item 12 – General Fund budget and Council Tax 2024/25 as the Chair of Ellistown and Battleflat Parish Council.

Councillor R Johnson declared a registerable interest in item 12 – General Fund budget and Council Tax 2024/25 as the Chair of Hugglescote and Donington Le Heath Parish Council.

Councillor R Morris declared a registerable interest in item 12 – General Fund budget and Council Tax 2024/25 as the Chair of Breedon Parish Parish Council.

Councillor P Moult declared a registerable interest in item 12 – General Fund budget and Council Tax 2024/25 as the Vice Chair of Whitwick Parish Council. 

Councillor R Sutton declared a registerable interest in item 12 – General Fund budget and Council Tax 2024/25 as the Vice Chair of Kegworth Parish Council.

Councillor A Wilson declared a registerable interest in item 12 – General Fund budget and Council Tax 2024/25 as the Chair of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council. 

The Chairman announced that to date he had raised £5,072 for his chosen charity ‘Steps’ and he was hoping to double the amount before the end of his term.

Members are reminded that under paragraph 11.1 of part 3 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 Community and Climate Change Portfolio Holder announced that North West Leicestershire District Council had been selected to take part in a 12 month national trial to pilot the collection of plastic bags and wrapping at the kerbside along with other normal recycling.  It was noted as an excellent opportunity to test the new collection and would be launched for selected streets in the Coalville and Greenhill areas, along with some rural households.

Several Members spoke in support of the initiative; however a request was made that in future, Members be briefed on matters such as this prior to being publicised in the press. 

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.

There was one question asked which is set out below with the responses.  Councillor R Sutton who asked the question was invited by the Chair to ask one supplementary question which is also set out together with the response.

Question from Councillor R Sutton

“The Strategic Growth Plan for Leicester and Leicestershire (SGPLL), approved by this Council on 13 November 2018, speaks with pride of the ‘Leicestershire International Gateway (LIG) focused around the northern parts of the A42 and the M1’ and ‘improvements to the A42, the M1, railway lines and services set out in the Midlands Connect Strategy’. This implied dependency is reiterated in the SGPLL under ‘Aligning Infrastructure and Growth’ as follows: ‘we will need the support from government if we are to achieve the step change in the amount and speed of housing and economic growth’.

Can the Council give details of all firm and significant investments by government, county and district since 2018 specifically for  infrastructure and growth at the North end of the District, to warrant and support the ambitious Draft Local Plan currently out for consultation, providing, at the same time, any other tangible evidence for members representing communities such as Diseworth, Breedon, Castle Donington, Hemington, Lockington and Kegworth that the cumulative impacts of the Local Plan will not be for them further exposure to relatively deregulated development which satisfies an iconic LIG Freeport’s ambition for urbanisation without prior investment in infrastructure, services, rural preservation and traditional village communities.”

Response from Councillor K Merrie

The Strategic Growth Plan is a non-statutory plan which sets out an agreed strategy to meet the future developments needs of Leicester and Leicestershire up to 2050. It has been jointly prepared by the ten partner organisations in Leicester & Leicestershire to provide a long-term shared vision for Local Plans to address both the challenges and the opportunities that growth presents. The Council’s draft Local Plan aligns with the Strategic Growth Plan in terms of its overall strategy.

The days of new infrastructure being paid for solely from the public purse are gone. Instead, there is a clear expectation from government that new development will make a significant contribution towards the cost of providing the new infrastructure which is required to make a development acceptable.

In recent years both the Kegworth bypass (which opened in November 2018) and the Castle Donington relief road (February 2020) were funded as part of new development (the East Midlands Gateway development and housing off Park Lane respectively). The East Midlands Gateway development also provided £300,000 to Castle Donington, Kegworth and Lockington & Hemlngton Parish Councils to improve community facilities. In addition, the Park Lane development also secured over £1million towards the cost of youth and adult leisure facilities in Castle Donington as well as significant contributions towards health (about £500,000) and education, including a new primary school. 

As part of the Council’s new Local Plan an Infrastructure Delivery Plan is being prepared. This will identify what new infrastructure is required to support the development proposed as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

To consider the following motion received from Councillor M Wyatt:

This Council notes:

Sky lanterns might look pretty but they are a serious danger to animals and the countryside, causing fires, injuring farm animals and creating significant litter problems.

Every year up to 200,000 sky lanterns are released in the UK.

In 2019, the NfU launched a campaign to urge people to email their council to ban sky lanterns on land it owns. To date 188 councils out of 333 have banned them in England and Wales. In January 2023, the NfU’s petition reached more than 100,000 signatures as more members of the public became concerned with the harmful impact of sky lanterns. The petition remains open and NWLDC has received a request asking that it consider supporting the campaign.

I would like to propose a motion that this Council resolves to:
 

a)     Refuse permission for the release of any sky lanterns from any Council owned public open space.

b)     Require officers to introduce a condition of contract relating to outdoor events and organised functions on land or property owned and/or controlled by the District Council to prohibit the release of any sky lantern.

c)     To provide information on its website drawing attention to the harmful effects of sky lanterns on the environment and animals.

The Chair referred Members to the motion as detailed within the agenda papers and invited Councillor M B Wyatt, who made the submission to speak.

Councillor M B Wyatt spoke to and then formally moved the motion as detailed within the agenda papers.  It was seconded by Councillor A Woodman.  The motion was then put to the vote.

The motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED THAT:

a)       Permission be refused for the release of any sky lanterns from any Council owned public open space.

b)       Officers be required to introduce a condition of contract relating to outdoor events and organised functions on land or property owned and/or controlled by the District Council to prohibit the release of any sky lantern.

c)       To provide information on its website drawing attention to the harmful effects of sky lanterns on the environment and animals.

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 30 January 2024.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2024.

It was moved by Councillor R Morris, seconded by Councillor K Horn and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2024 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Report of the Strategic Director (Resources)

Councillor N J Rushton, Corporate Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Members and moved the recommendations.  It was seconded by Councillor R Blunt. 

No comments were made.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Section 151 Officer’s advice set out in section 7 of the report be noted and the contents of the report be carefully considered as part of the approval of the General Fund Budget 2024/25 report, the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2024/25 report and the Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25 report.

Report of the Strategic Director (Resources)

Councillor N J Rushton, Corporate Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Members and moved the recommendations.  It was seconded by Councillor R Blunt.

No comments were made.

RESOLVED THAT:

1)       The financial indicators required under the prudential code detailed in section 3 of the report be noted and the following limits be approved:

a)       The authorised limit and operational boundary for external debt as detailed in table B of the Treasury Management Strategy 2024-25.

b)       The maturity structure of borrowing as detailed in paragraph 6.6 of the Treasury management Strategy 2024-25.

2)       The following be approved:

a)      Capital Strategy 2024-25 at appendix 1.

b)       Treasury management Strategy 2024-25 at appendix 2.

c)       Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement 2024-25 at

appendix 3.

d)      Non-Treasury Investment Strategy 2024-25 at appendix 4

3)       The authority to move a capital scheme from the development pool to the active programme as long as the scheme is within the approve budget, be delegated to cabinet.

4)       The authority to make any necessary changes to appendices 1-4 be delegated to the Section 151 Officer should any amendments be agreed to the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets at this meeting.

Report of the Strategic Director (Resources)

Councillor N J Rushton, Corporate Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Members.

The recommendations as detailed within the report were moved by Councillor N J Rushton and seconded by Councillor R Blunt.

The Chair referred to an amendment to the motion, which had been circulated in the additional papers.  He invited Councillor S Lambeth to put forward his amendment.

Councillor S Lambeth outlined the amendment to the budget as detailed in the additional papers and it was seconded by Councillor S Sheahan.

A full and lengthy debate was held both in support and against the proposed amendment before the Chair put it to the vote.  A recorded vote being required, the voting was as detailed below.

The amendment was declared LOST.

The Chair referred Members to the substantive motion as set out in the agenda.

A further debate was held which received support for the budget, however there was some opposition to the development of Stenson Square in 2024/25, the running costs for retaining the old Council Offices and the budget saving in relation to Age UK.  Following discussion on Land at Nottingham Road, Ashby identified in the report for potential workspace which caused some Members confusion, it was clarified that it was very early stages and had been identified for future development only.

The Chair put the substantive motion to the vote. A recorded vote being required, the voting was as detailed below.

The motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED THAT:

1)       The General Fund Revenue Budget for 2024/25 be approved as summarised in section 2 of the report.  Including the in increase of the District Council’s share of Council Tax in 2024/25 by 2.75 percent.

2)       The General Fund Revenue Indicative Budget for 2025/26 to 2028/29 at appendix 1 be noted.

3)       The General Fund Fees and Charges approved by cabinet on 31 January 2024 at appendix 3 be noted.

4)       The proposed General Fund Capital Programme for 2024/25 at appendix 4 and planned financing as set out in section 3 of the report be approved.

5)       The remaining elements of the General Fund Capital Programme 2025/26 – 2028/29 be noted.

6)       The Special Expenses Revenue Budget for 2024/25 at appendix 6 and summarised in section 4 of the report be approved.  Including setting the special expense Band D Council Tax at the levels detailed in table 4 of this report and the revised Special Expenses Policy as how in appendix 10.

7)       The continuation of NWLDC in the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) Business Rates Pool in 2024/25.

8)       The drawdown from reserves to fund the one-off budget proposals as detailed in the General Fund Budget Summary 2024/25 to 2028/29 at appendix 1 be approved.

9)       The contribution to reserves as detailed in the General Fund Budget summary 2024/25 to 2028/29 at appendix 1 be approved.

10)   The responsibility to spend £500,000 from the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) reserve on the Transformation Programme be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Director of Resources (Section  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

Report of the Strategic Director (Resources)

Councillor A Woodman, Corporate Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Members and thanked the Finance Team for their hard work during the budget setting process.

The recommendations as detailed within the report were moved by Councillor A Woodman and seconded by Councillor N J Rushton.

The Chair referred to an amendment to the motion, which had been circulated in the additional papers.  He invited Councillor D Bigby to put forward his amendment.

Councillor D Bigby outlined the amendment to the budget as detailed in the additional papers and it was seconded by Councillor S Sheahan.

A full and lengthy debate was held both in support and against the proposed amendment before the Chair put it to the vote.  A recorded vote being required, the voting was as detailed below.

The amendment was declared LOST.

The Chair referred Members to the substantive motion as set out within the agenda.

A further debate was held which received support for the budget, along with further discussions on the desire to build more council homes.  The proposed rent increase was acknowledged across the Chamber, as well as the current priority of bringing council homes up to standard.

The Chair put the substantive motion to the vote. A recorded vote being required, the voting was as detailed below.

The motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED THAT:

1)       The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2024/25 at appendix 1 and summarised in section 2 of the report, including the increase of rents by 7.7 percent be approved.

2)       The fees and charges approved by Cabinet on 31 January 2024 at appendix 3 be noted.

3)       The HRA Budget for 2025/26 to 2028/29 at appendix 1 be noted.

4)       The proposed HRA Capital Programme for 2024/25 at appendix 4 and planned financing as set out in section 3 of the report be approved.

5)       The HRA Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2028/29 at appendix 4 be noted.

Report of the Strategic Director (Resources)

Councillor N J Rushton, Corporate Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Members and moved the recommendations as amended in the additional papers.  It was seconded by Councillor R Blunt.

No comments were made.

The Chair put the motion to the vote. A recorded vote being required, the voting was as detailed below.

The motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Council Tax Resolution 2024/25 as set out in section 2 of the report as included in the additional papers be approved.

Report of the Strategic Director (Resources)

Councillor N J Rushton, Corporate Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Members and read out a prepared statement in relation to the ongoing process with the external auditors.  Members were also informed that following the publication of the report, a change in date of the next Audit and Governance Committee was required from March to April.

The recommendations as set out in the report were moved by Councillor N J Rushton and seconded by Councillor R Blunt.

During the discussion, concerns were raised in relation to further delays in the statement of accounts, and reference was made to the poor financial position of other Local Authorities as reported in recent years.  The current issues with External Auditors backlog were acknowledged and it was reported that the situation would continue to be monitored via the Audit and Governance Committee.

RESOLVED THAT:

1)        The proposed timetable for the completion and audit of the Statement of Accounts 2021/22 and 2022/23 be noted.

2)        The details of the Government’s proposals in addressing the audit backlogs in the sector be noted.

Report of the Monitoring Officer

Councillor N J Rushton, Corporate Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Members and moved the recommendations.  It was seconded by Councillor A C Saffell. 

Members spoke in support of the proposals and thanked the Legal Team for the work on the review.

RESOLVED THAT:

The proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution as set out in appendices A and B be adopted with effect from 7 May 2024.

Report of the Chief Executive

Councillor K Merrie, Infrastructure Portfolio Holder, presented the report to members and moved the recommendations.  It was seconded by Councillor R Blunt.

During discussion, it was suggested that future budgets forecast a higher percentage increase in staff pay as it generally turned out to be more than predicted each year.  It was acknowledged that forecasting for a three percent increase was good practice and therefore the advice was to continue with the current level.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2024/25 as attached at appendix 1 be approved.

Report of the Chief Executive

Councillor K Merrie, Infrastructure Portfolio Holder, presented the report to members and moved the recommendations.  It was seconded by Councillor R Blunt. 

Members spoke in favour and thanked officers for their work on this report.

RESOLVED THAT:

The report be noted and the relevant information as outlined in paragraph 1.2 be reported to Government.