Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive

The Head of Legal and Support Services presented the report to Members, drawing Members attention to the new format to enhance the key points and for clarity of reading.

In response to a question from Councillor G Hoult, the Director of Housing explained that a local housing/trading company was being set up to allow the council to do a number of things that it could not currently do as a local authority, for example sell services to businesses outside of the council.

Councillor V Ricichi questioned the viability of the frontage grants for businesses in Coalville.  He gave an example of the Former Litton Tree Public House building which had received a grant but had made no improvements, as well as the bus station.  He suggested that all businesses in the town be given a business tax break instead so that all benefit.  The Head of Economic Development responded that she had been in contact with the owner of the Litton Tree Public House to encourage them to make improvements.  She added that the bus station had not received a grant for frontage improvements.  They had however received a business grant which would be returned if the regeneration project did not progress.

Regarding the task to give customers the ability to access transactions on line 24 hours a day, Councillor T Eynon was concerned that it would exclude people and suggested it was monitored.  However, she was pleased that a key task for 2018-19 was to develop a health and well-being strategy.  She also commented on whether the Good Design Guide for housing developments would address accessibility.

Councillor N Smith raised concerns on the number of very small properties that were being built with very small bedrooms and asked if there was anything that could be done to influence the developers to build family sized homes.  The Head of Planning and Regeneration stated that the Local Plan set out the range of housing needed and planning policy also backed it up.  He explained that it was easy to influence developers on larger developments.  He added that there was no longer a National Space Standard and it was the decision of the authority to set the minimum size of rooms.  This was not set at the moment but as the Local Plan was being reviewed it was something that could be investigated.  Councillor N Smith asked for this to be included in the review.

Regarding the task to ensure anti-social behaviour levels did not increase, even if crime increased in the next three years, Councillor N Clarke felt that the wording was contradictory.  The Head of Legal and Support Services agreed to take the comment back to officers.

Regarding the task to formally launch the Good Design Guide, Councillor A C Saffell commented that the designs in the past were poor and the officer had brought in some good improvements, however the designs in some areas had lost the rural feel of the villages.  He asked if the guide was based on the current Urban Designer’s work.  The Head of Planning Regeneration confirmed that it was.  Councillor A C Saffell felt that there should be a rural design officer to retain the character of these rural areas in new developments.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

RESOLVED THAT:

a)     The report be noted.

b)    The comments made be fed back to Cabinet when considering the report on 6           February 2018.