Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor M Burke and J Page.

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 J Legrys declared a registerable interest in all items as a volunteer at Hermitage FM.

Councillor J Geary declared a registerable interest in all items as Director of the Springboard Centre and as the council’s representative for Coalville Town Football Club.

Councillor M Wyatt declared a registerable interest in all items as the owner of two businesses in Coalville.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2023.

It was moved by Councillor J Geary, seconded by Councillor M Wyatt and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2023 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings.

Report of the Finance Team Manager.

The Finance Team Manager presented the report.

In response to a question about the nature of the briefing set out in the report at 3.7, the Head of Finance confirmed that the briefing session would inform members on the current position and aid the Working Party in setting the budget for next year. It would also, she added, be aimed at clarifying any questions newly elected members of the Working Party may have.

The Head of Property and Regeneration added that information would be provided ahead of the briefing about the implications for the Working Party’s budget, with regards to maintaining land at the junction of Broomleys Road.

In response to a question about what appendix A represented, the Head of Finance advised that this was for the previous financial year, and represented significantly less coming from the reserves than originally envisaged, although anything at all coming from the reserves was undesirable. This year the position was even healthier than that, she added, and it was envisaged that a much smaller figure would be needed from the reserves. The Finance Team would also work to improve this further.

It was moved by Councillor J Legrys, seconded by Councillor J Geary and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.     The 2022/23 provisional outturn figures and Coalville Special Expense balances as at 31 March 2023 be noted.

2. The 2023/2024 Quarter 1 budget monitoring figures and forecasted outturn as at Quarter 1 for 2023/2024 be noted.
3. That a briefing take place with members of the Working Party during September to provide further details on the information contained within the report.

The report of the Head of Economic Regeneration.

The Head of Property and Regeneration presented the report.

In response to a question about how the £20,000 cost for Picnic in The Park was calculated, the Head of Finance advised that it was the net figure, and consequently included all income received for the event.  

The Chair requested that next year the incoming money for the event was explicitly noted – the Head of Finance was happy for to proceed with this suggestion going forwards.

Following on from this a member requested going forwards a balance sheet be produced for each future event for the Working Party to examine – the Chair concurred, and Officers were happy to proceed with this suggestion going forwards.

In response to a question about the time span for when the light columns would fail, the Head of Property and Regeneration advised that this year they would be fine, next year they would stress test again, and if failures continued at the current rate the light columns could well prove to be unviable.

In response to a question about Marlborough Square and the November deadline, the Head of Property and Regeneration advised that the contractor would suspend work a week before the Christmas celebrations, in a manner most conducive to public safety and leisure. He added that he was awaiting further clarification on certain matters from the contractors. It was unlikely that there would be a Christmas tree or lights in Marlborough Square this Christmas.

In response to a question about Christmas activities at Newmarket and how these would be impacted by the work on Marlborough Square, the Head of Property and Regeneration advised that they would have to assess this nearer to the time, with an emphasis when making that decision on public safety.

In response to a question about Needhams Walk car park and whether permission had been attained to close it, the Head of Property and Regeneration advised that they were working with the organisation who owns the car park.

In response to a question about contingencies should the Christmas event at Needhams Walk be cancelled, the Head of Property and Regeneration accepted the concerns, but advised that the Council was dependent on relations with third parties, which were subject to fluctuations over time. There could therefore be no guarantees, but contingency plans would be put in place. On a longer term basis, the Marlborough Square project would provide the organisation with a pedestrianised public space. He then illuminated the considerations behind event planning in the town when the available space was considered.

In response to a question about stress testing the light columns, the Head of Property and Regeneration set out how it worked and invited members to join him if they wanted to see this in greater detail.

Several Members commended Officers for the Coronation event and Picnic in the Park.

A couple of Members wondered about the feasibility of bussing the public into the town for celebrations. The Head of Property and Regeneration advised that Officers had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.