Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Under the Code of Conduct members are reminded that in declaring disclosable interests you should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is pecuniary or non-pecuniary.

Councillor M Wyatt declared non-pecuniary interests in all items should reference be made to Coalville town, as the owner of two town centre businesses. 

Councillor J Geary declared non-pecuniary interests in all items as a director of the Springboard Centre, founder member of Mantle Community Arts, and supporter of Coalville Town Football Club should any reference to them arise at the meeting.

Councillor J Legrys declared non-pecuniary interests in all items as a volunteer at Hermitage FM, should reference be made to Coalville town.  

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2021

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2021.

It was moved by Councillor J Legrys, seconded by Councillor A Black and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2021 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Report of the Cultural Services Team Manager

The Cultural Services Team Manager presented the report to members with specific reference made to Christmas in Coalville. She advised that the budget allocated to miscellaneous events would be moved to the Christmas budget to allow more to be delivered at this year’s main event on 27^th November but also other Christmas events throughout the festive period.

Reference was made to the proposed events programme and the associated budget for 2022/23 and she advised that the Christmas lights had been ordered and are due to be installed shortly in time for the ‘switch on’ event on 27 November. She asked the Group to promote and invite applications for funding from community groups as there was still a healthy amount of funding available having taken into account the number of applications and approvals to date.

The Chairman invited comments and questions.

Councillor M Wyatt advised that he had received some very positive feedback in respect of the drive in cinema and looked forward to seeing this continue in coming years. Disappointment was expressed that the Steampunk event did not go ahead and hoped this would be remedied going forward. Councillor Wyatt asked why the date of 27 November had been selected for the Christmas ‘switch on’ event as it had been earlier in previous years. He was advised that the Steampunk event had been affected by a number of factors not least Covid and the availability of a suitable location; but that this was very much still a consideration for a future event going forward. Councillor Wyatt was further advised that the date of 27 November for the Christmas event was not discordant with previous years as the event is held on the fourth Saturday of the month with attempts also made not to clash with the event in Ashby. This date is not negotiable at this late stage as the performers and external providers have been booked. Councillor Wyatt expressed his disappointment that the Ashby event took precedence over the Coalville events but he was advised that this was not the case. The dates had been arranged so as not have a clash of events.

Councillor J Legrys referenced the ‘Coalville by the Sea’ event and the disappointment felt by many over the pricing and quality of the event and that he understood that alternative providers would be sourced in the future. He considered it inappropriate for the current provider to have left the sand to be collected by council officers and not to have processes in place to clear it up themselves. The Cultural Services Team Manager acknowledged that the event delivered by the third party was not to the standard that would have been strived for had the Council delivered it and his concerns were noted; but it was acknowledged that in order to achieve this, there is a subsidy from the Coalville Specials fund in the sum of £4,000 which negates the need to charge entry or make some commercial decisions that a third party would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Report of the Leisure Services Team Manager

The Leisure Services Team Manager presented the report which provided an update on existing projects that already have approved budget or funding in place. An additional update was provided verbally on the successful bid to

the Local Authority Treescapes fund, which gives 100% funding for the planting of trees along with a 3-year maintenance contribution. The report included a number of issues on which a preference and /or a decision of members was being sought.

On the issue of the solar lights, an update was provided by the Cultural Services Team Manager who advised that had she made some assumptions due to the lack of further information which had not been forthcoming from the Coalville Community Action Group, who submitted the request. Discussions with providers suggested that there was no product which could be recommended for use in public areas due to issues around the longevity of the product; and the lack of light in the winter months to provide sufficient solar charge. There are also issues around the positioning of the lights to take into account mitigation against anti-social behaviour which would impact on the overall visual effect. Further complications were around the power source given the location; and with batteries proving to be expensive and prone to theft.

The Chairman invited comments and questions.

Councillor M Wyatt made some observations. In relation to the consultation on the park improvement options, it was clear that option one was preferred by local residents and he considered this the most practical option. He asked that a task and finish group be set up to look at the play equipment in play areas to determine if equipment needed to be replaced or if a saving could be effected to Coalville Special Expenses by removing equipment and using the area in a different way.  On the decision as to whether the trees be replaced, he considered this essential and that we should not give in to vandalism and he welcomed the continuation of Coalville in Bloom.  He was pleased to see that the application was to be submitted in respect of solar panels for the bowls club and hoped for its success; and he agreed with the views of officers that the solar lights in the trees was not feasible and felt that having permanent lights in situ detracted from the effect of having Christmas lights.

Coalville J Geary supported the comments in relation to Coalville in Bloom adding that it was in the gift of members to agree the level of funding and he urged caution about the planting of trees on verges where there may be an adverse effect on the infrastructure beneath. He sought clarification on the height of the cemetery wall as he considered it higher than the reported 1.2 metres. He was advised that the cemetery wall was 2 metres high and the 1.2 metres was one of the replacement options; there was a further option of a ‘like for like’ replacement. Councillor Geary advised therefore that his  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

Report of the Finance Team Manager

The Finance Team Manager presented the report to members.

It was moved by Councillor Legrys, seconded by Councillor A Black and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The 2020/21 final outturn figures and Coalville Special Expense balances as at 31 March 2021 be noted.
2. The 2021/22 period 3 budget monitoring figures and forecasted outturn for 2021/22 be noted.
3. Future meetings have the Finance Update as the first item on the agenda.

ACTION:  Democratic Service to ensure that future meetings have the Finance Update as the first item on the agenda.

The meeting closed at  8.20pm