Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies received.

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 M Wyatt declared a registerable interest as the owner of two businesses within the town.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2023

Consideration was given to the meeting held on 20 December 2023.

A Member inquired about some information which Officers had offered to provide at the last meeting, but had not yet provided, and the Head of Property and Economic Regeneration said that this information would soon be forthcoming.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2023 be approved as an accurate record of proceedings.

The report of the Leisure Services Team Manager

The Leisure Services Team Manager presented the report.

The Chairman raised the possibility of additional tree planting within Coalville, in response the Leisure Services Team Manager said that he was meeting the Member soon, in the Member’s capacity as Community Services Portfolio Holder, and would discuss the capacity of the Parks and Recreation Team further at that meeting.

In response to a Member, the Leisure Services Team Manager set out for Members the budget breakdown for both proactive and reactive maintenance work at Scotlands Recreation Ground, Coalville Park and Broomleys Cemetery.

A Member was concerned that the Special Expenses budget had seemingly been used to maintain Leicestershire County Council land. The Member was happy to propose relinquishing control of High Street and Broomleys Corner, but retain control and increase funding for the maintenance of Memorial Square in order to be able to plant flowers.

The Chairman opposed relinquishing these areas as he argued that they would go into disrepair and the public would be aggrieved. They should be retained, and sponsorship should be sought for planting flower beds. The land at Broomleys Corner was an important entrance into the town, its maintenance should not be skimped on. Ownership of the open space at the junction of Broomleys Road and London Road should also be clarified.

A Member suggested that it was important that Memorial Square was diligently maintained. He was also concerned with and sought clarity on the land ownership questions. He was pleased to see that work on tree maintenance had begun at Broomleys Cemetery.

The Leisure Services Team Manager advised that the work on tree maintenance which had begun at Broomleys Cemetery had been hampered by recent bad weather. Meanwhile, some of these issues around land ownership predated his tenure but he would seek clarification for the Working Party.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED THAT:

1)    The progress updates on the 2023/24 Capital Projects and the projects included within the 2024/25 Asset Management Plan be noted.

2)    Officers are to provide clarification on land ownership at the junction of London Road and Broomleys Road.

RECOMMENDED THAT:

Funding for the maintenance of Memorial Square, High Street and Broomleys Corner be approved by Cabinet

The report of the Head of Property and Economic Regeneration

The Head of Property and Economic Regeneration presented the report.

The Chairman asked whether charges for the stalls were under review and could they be increased. In response, the Head of Property and Economic Regeneration advised that it would be sensible to maintain the current rate of charges so to remain competitive, especially in the current economic climate.

The Chairman asked about the potential to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the founding of Whitwick Pit, an important civic event in his view. In response, the Head of Property and Economic Regeneration advised that there was a proliferation of potential events to celebrate, and the Working Party must pick which ones to celebrate carefully. It was preferable to do events well rather than to simply do lots of events. It was also possible that remnants of British Coal might contribute to celebrating that anniversary.

A discussion was had between Members about the event to celebrate the 125 year anniversary of Coalville Park, whether this was being funded entirely by the Special Expenses budget and whether the budget breakdown was suitably detailed.

Officers clarified that the time capsule, art installation and community engagement was not coming out of the Special Expenses budget; if the external grant funding was not received, this aspect of the event would not proceed. The Head of Property and Economic Regeneration suggested that Officers were working vigorously to secure this external funding. The Principal Economic Development Officer added that Members must approve this aspect of the project at the meeting.

A Member then raised a point of order, and a discussion was had on the constitutional powers of the Working Party. Officers clarified for Members that the Working Party was not a decision making body, and the Head of Property and Economic Regeneration then emphasised that the Working Party would be voting to recommend the Events Programme for approval by the Cabinet at their meeting on 26 March.

Following this discussion, the Head of Property and Economic Regeneration added that, as a more general point, there was often a time lag when procuring quotes for goods and services which meant they could not always be speedily reported to the Working Party, but this information was later reflected in the end of year Outturn.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

1)    The budget available in 2024/25 for Coalville events be noted.

2)    The proposed Member engagement for 2024/25 events be noted.

RECOMMENDED THAT:

Cabinet approve the Events Programme at their meeting on 26 March.