Agenda item

Members are reminded that under paragraph 11.1 of part 4 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 the appointments and delegations of executive functions for the forthcoming municipal year as follows:

Deputy Leader and Community Services Portfolio Holder - Councillor Alison Smith

Housing Portfolio Holder - Councillor Roger Bayliss

Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder - Councillor Trevor Pendleton

Corporate Portfolio Holder - Councillor Nick Rushton

Business Portfolio Holder - Councillor Tony Gillard

As in previous years the Executive responsibilities are to be delegated to the Cabinet to take decisions collectively.

Councillor R Blunt referred to the Coalville Project and outlined progress made to date.  He explained that the management team had now been expanded to provide additional capacity for the Coalville project, and the appropriate money had been allocated within the budget to make a difference in Coalville.  He added that work had started on connecting with focus groups, Councillors, and also with small businesses, interest groups and volunteer groups.  He stated that it had to be accepted that the Council could not solve all of Coalville’s problems by itself, and the hearts and minds of those with interest in Coalville had to be engaged.  He reiterated the importance of talking to businesses with an interest in Coalville.  He hoped that some meaningful progress would be made over the coming year in reversing 100 years of decline.

Councillor T Gillard referred to the £500,000 grant scheme launched in April 2015 to support economic growth in the district.  He added that Enterprising North West Leicestershire was a truly unique grant fund, providing grants to small and medium sized businesses based in or relocating to the district.  He commented that no other council offered a similar scheme.  He advised that grants between £5,000 and £25,000 had been given to businesses across the district from various industries.  He listed some of the businesses which had benefitted from the scheme and advised that to date, £203,568 had been awarded to 13 businesses, creating a total of 41 jobs.  He added that these grants had attracted £1.25 million in private sector investment.  He concluded that this was a unique and highly successful programme and because of its success, consideration was being given to investing in a similar scheme in the future.  He commented that supporting local growth and business was fundamental to the future of this district and was worth investing in.

Councillor S McKendrick thanked Councillor J Bridges for his work as Chairman of the Council over the last year, and welcomed Councillor J Cotterill as the incoming Chairman.  She announced the Shadow Cabinet as follows:

Leader – Councillor S McKendrick

Housing - Councillor R Adams

Community Services – Councillor N Clarke

Community Services Support – Councillor D Everitt

Business – Councillor S Sheahan

Coalville Project Lead – J Geary

Deputy Leader and Regeneration and Planning - Councillor J Legrys

Corporate – Councillor F Fenning

Scrutiny Lead – Councillor J Geary

Councillor S McKendrick stated that the role of the opposition was to ensure that the work of the Council was scrutinised, and she felt that the new role of Scrutiny Lead would enable a fuller understanding of the decisions made by the Council and would ensure transparency.

Councillor S Sheahan felt it was important to use grants to encourage businesses with good employment practices and that provided skills training for their employees and promote business innovation.  He hoped that the Council would support a diversifying and growing economy that broke away from a low skilled, low wage economy.

Councillor J Legrys welcomed the update on the Coalville Project and the proactive work that was being undertaken. However he stated that in the past year, £4.5 million of income generated by the Snibston Museum had disappeared and the site had been cleared.  He added that promises were made that the collections would be retained and he stated that he would hold the Administration’s feet to the fire to ensure that this issue did not go away and that the precious exhibits remained open to future generations.

Councillor M Specht made reference to the former semi derelict state of Coalville and asked members to bear in mind that the Administration were doing an excellent job and this was clearly visible in the town.