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

There were no interests declared.

To appoint the Chair of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

Councillor P Lees said a few words regarding his year as Chair of the Council.

Nominations were sought for the Chair of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

It was moved by Councillor R Bluntthat Councillor P Lees be appointed as Chair of the Council for 2026/27.  The motion was seconded by Councillor M B Wyatt.

It was also moved by Councillor J Legrys that Councillor T Eynon be appointed as Chair of the Council for 2026/27.  The motion was seconded by Councillor A Morley.

As two nominations had been received, a vote was taken for each nominee in turn, the result of which was tied.  Therefore, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Chair of the Council exercised his casting vote.  It was

RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor P Lees be appointed as Chair of the Council for 2026/27.

Councillor P Lees remained in the chair and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

To appoint the Deputy Chair of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

Nominations were sought for the Deputy Chair of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

It was moved by Councillor R Bluntthat Councillor J Simmons be appointed as Deputy Chair of the Council for 2026/27.  The motion was seconded by Councillor M Wyatt.

It was also moved by Councillor J Legrys that Councillor A Barker be appointed as Deputy Chair of the Council for 2026/27.  The motion was seconded by Councillor A Morley.

As two nominations had been received, a vote was taken for each nominee in turn, the result of which was tied.  Therefore, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Chair of the Council exercised his casting vote.  It was

RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor J Simmons be appointed as Deputy Chair of the Council for 2026/27.

Councillor J Simmons took the Deputy Chair seat and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

All present were invited to join the Chair of the Council in observing a minute silence in memory of Frank Straw, a former district councillor who was elected when the Council was first created in 1973 and served until May 2007 representing the Snibston Ward.  Frank also served as Leader of the Council from May 1995 until May 2007.  Several Members shared tributes highlighting his contributions and legacy during his time in office.

The Chair of the Council announced his chosen charity for the year as Canine Partners.

To appoint the Leader of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

Nominations were sought for the Leader of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

It was moved by Councillor T Gillardthat Councillor R Blunt be appointed as Leader of the Council for 2026/27.  The motion was seconded by Councillor A Woodman.

It was also moved by Councillor A Morley that Councillor J Legrys be appointed as Leader of the Council for 2026/27.  The motion was seconded by Councillor D Bigby.

As two nominations had been received, a vote was taken for each nominee in turn, the result of which was tied.  Therefore, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Chair of the Council exercised his casting vote.  It was

RESOLVED THAT:

Councillor R Blunt be appointed as Leader of the Council for 2026/27.

Councillor R Blunt thanked Members for his appointment and said a few words regarding his plans for the forthcoming year.

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 Leader of the Council, Councillor R Blunt, announced his appointments and delegations of executive functions for the forthcoming year as follows:

Leader – Councillor R Blunt

Deputy Leader and Community, Environment and Climate Change Portfolio – Councillor M Wyatt

Infrastructure Portfolio – Councillor N Rushton

Planning Portfolio – Councillor A Saffell

Finance and Corporate Portfolio – Councillor K Merrie

Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio – Councillor A Woodman

Business and Regeneration Portfolio – Councillor T Gillard

As in previous years, the executive responsibilities were to be delegated to the Cabinet to take decisions collectively.

Councillor J Legrys, Leader of the Labour Group, announced the shadow Portfolio Holders as follows:

Leader and Planning – Councillor J Legrys

Deputy Leader and Housing – Councillor A Morley

Finance and Climate Change – Councillor D Bigby

Property – Councillor S Lambeth

Regeneration and Property – Councillors S Lambeth and G Rogers

Freeport and Infrastructure – Councillor C Sewell

Customer Services and Communication – Councillor C Beck

Community Services and Waste Services – Councillor P Moult

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.

One question was asked which is set out below with the response.  The Member was invited by the Chair of the Council to ask a supplementary question which is also set out together with the response.

Question from Councillor R Sutton

The government ran a formal public consultation from February 12th to March 26th, 2026, on proposed Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) areas covering the whole of England. The period was just short of and, coincidentally, in parallel with the quite separate public consultation on the three LGR proposals for Leicestershire.

How were elected members and residents of North West Leicestershire informed of their right to contribute to the separate and unconnected SDS area consultation on whether Leicestershire-wide continues to be the most appropriate and effective geography for spatial planning to 2050 and beyond, or whether a wider East Midlands area might better facilitate growth and development. [Note: the Council website and local media carried full details of the LGR consultation]

Response from Councillor N Rushton

With regards to the Government Consultation on “Areas for producing spatial development strategies” the government website “Consultation on SDS geographies” reads:

“Please note that this is not a formal consultation and is instead intended to inform discussions with the sector, to determine whether and how to take these proposals forward.”

As with all Government consultations, however, it is a matter for the Government to ensure that its consultations are publicised.  The Council’s constitution delegates   responses to government consultations, formal or otherwise, to officers in liaison with the relevant cabinet member.  In this case that was the Leader of the Council. 

As members will be aware, there has been a long-standing agreement that Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) is a sensible geography for a strategic authority as expressed in the LGR North, South, City submission which was considered by the Council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet.   On that understanding when Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and Rutland County Council were invited by government to express an interest in developing a Spatial Development Strategy and a Foundation Strategic Authority (FSA) the Leicestershire district council leaders at their meeting on 18 March agreed to support  Leicestershire County Council and Rutland County Council expressing an interest in establishing an FSA on the LLR footprint. 

Once confirmed, strategic planning authorities will not be able to commence work formally on an SDS until the legislation is commenced, which is currently expected to be summer 2026.

Whichever final boundaries are used to prepare SDSs, there will always be some issues, development needs, infrastructure or specific projects which cross them.  It will be essential that strategic planning authorities engage and cooperate effectively across those boundaries. This is required by the National Planning Policy Framework and can be expected to be tested at the examination of an SDS.

Once further information on strategic planning authorities is available, members will be updated further.

Supplementary question and response

Councillor R Sutton asked if it was agreed that the community did not have the opportunity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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 19 February 2026.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2026.

It was moved by Councillor P Lees, seconded by Councillor J Simmons and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2026 be approved and signed by the Chair of the Council as a correct record.

Report of the Interim Head of Legal and Support Services

Councillor T Gillard, the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder, presented the report and directed Members to the updated recommendation and nominations as circulated in the additional papers.  The recommendations were moved by Councillor T Gillard and seconded by Councillor N Rushton.

During discussion some concerns were raised regarding governance processes, including the appointment of an independent Chair for the Audit and Governance Committee.  Officers clarified that decisions taken were lawful and in accordance with the constitutional framework.

Points were raised around missing information, regarding the Staffing Committee in appendix B of the report, the Interim Monitoring Officer agreed to review and provide a response outside of the meeting.

A brief discussion was had about the actions of the new Independent Chair of Audit and Governance Committee following the recruitment process.  Officers agreed to investigate the matter.

The ability to vote on each recommendation separately was questioned and the Chair used his discretion to continue to vote on all recommendations together.

A recorded vote being requested, the vote is detailed below.

RESOLVED THAT:

1)    The terms of reference of the committees and groups as detailed in    appendix A be endorsed.

2)    The appointments to the committees and groups as circulated in the additional papers be agreed.

3)    The appointment of Mr Phil Helm be as the Independent Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee for a four-year term be agreed.

4)    The Chairs and Deputy Chairs for the committees and groups as        detailed in the additional papers be agreed.

Report of the Interim Head of Legal and Support Services

Councillor R Blunt, Leader of the Council, presented the report to Members and moved the recommendations.  It was seconded by Councillor N Rushton.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Scheme of Delegation in Part 2, Section G of the Council’s Constitution be agreed.

Report of the Interim Head of Legal and Support Services

Councillor T Gillard, the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder, presented the report and directed Members to the nominations as circulated in the additional papers.  The recommendations were moved by Councillor T Gillard and seconded by Councillor J Legrys.

Regarding the MSV Donington Park Consultative Forum, frustrations were shared that the group was inactive even though appointments made to it each year.  Officers confirmed attempts to re-establish meetings and committed to continue efforts.

Advice was sought on the process for providing feedback to Council on outside body matters.  Officers agreed to provide information outside of the meeting.  Some Members felt that accountability and information sharing on the bodies should be improved.

RESOLVED THAT:

The representatives be appointed to serve on the Outside Bodies as circulated in the additional papers.

Report of the Interim Head of Legal and Support Services

Councillor R Blunt, Leader of the Council, presented the report and directed Members to the revised schedule as circulated in the additional papers.  The recommendations were moved by Councillor R Blunt and seconded by Councillor M Wyatt.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Schedule of Meetings for 2026-2027 as circulated in the additional papers be agreed.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

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

Members broadly supported the recommendations; however, some concerns were raised regarding imposed housing numbers, infrastructure capacity and community impact.  The necessity of having a local plan to avoid uncontrolled development was acknowledged.

Members across the Chamber formally thanked officers for their hard work to date during this lengthy process.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Leicester and Leicestershire Authorities Statement of Common Ground – Housing Distribution Under the New Standard Method (December 2025) be agreed.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Councillor N Rushton, Infrastructure Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Members and moved the recommendations.  It was seconded by Councillor K Merrie.

During discussion Members raised concerns about transport infrastructure, particularly congestion at junction 24 of the M1 and regional capacity.  Additional concerns included lack of cross-boundary coordination and future risks to infrastructure.  However, Members agreed that the document was necessary to maintain a sound local plan.

RESOLVED THAT:

The Leicester and Leicestershire Authorities Statement of Common Ground relating to strategic warehousing need (March 2026) be agreed.

Report of the Chief Executive

Councillor R Blunt, Leader of the Council, presented the report to Members.

The report was noted.

The officers consider that the press and public should be excluded during consideration of the following items in accordance with Section 100A(4) 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 P Lees, seconded by Councillor J Simmons 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.

Report of the Head of Finance

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendation within the report be approved.