Agenda and minutes

No disclosures were made.

No announcements were made.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19th September 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The deadline for questions is noon on Wednesday, 9th October 2019. 

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration to seek approval for the publication of the Draft Charnwood Local Plan (2019-36) and its supporting documents for public consultation.

Key Decision

Considered a report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration seeking approval for the publication of the Draft Charnwood Local Plan (2019-36) and its supporting documents for public consultation (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Rattray, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, presented a report detailing the Commission’s pre-decision scrutiny of the matter and recommendation (copy filed with these minutes).

The Cabinet Lead Member for Planning, Inward Investment and Tourism Strategy wished to thank both officers and the previous Cabinet Lead Member for their work on the Draft Plan.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration and the Plans, Policies and Place-Making Group Leader assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.      that the Draft Charnwood Local Plan (2019-36) and Policies Map contained in Appendix A to the report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration be approved for consultation as the Cabinet’s preferred planning strategy for Charnwood 2019-2036;

2.      that delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Members for Planning, Inward Investment and Tourism Strategy and Transformation, to make minor amendments to the final document prior to publication;

3.      that the Consultation Plan set out in Appendix B to the report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration be approved;

4.      that delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Planning, Inward Investment and Tourism Strategy, to revise the proposed dates for consultation set out in the consultation plan in Appendix B to the report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration;

5.      that the report of the Scrutiny Commission be noted.

Reasons 

1.      To ensure that the preferred development strategy, draft policies and policies map are subject to public consultation under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

2.      To allow minor corrections and amendments to be made in a timely manner prior to publication.

3.      To demonstrate compliance with the Statement of Community Involvement.

4.      To ensure that any changes required to the proposed dates for consultation are made when specific publicity restrictions on communications activity are in place.

5.      To acknowledge the work undertaken by and the views of the Scrutiny Commission.

A report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration to seek approval for the preparation of a bid to secure funding which would enable public realm improvements in the centre of Shepshed.

Key Decision

Considered a report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration seeking approval for the preparation of a bid to secure funding which would enable public realm improvements in the centre of Shepshed (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Rattray, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, presented a report detailing the Commission’s pre-decision scrutiny of the matter and recommendation (copy filed with these minutes).

The Head of Planning and Regeneration assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.         that the preparation and submission of a ‘business case’ bid to the LLEP (Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership) for funding of £600,000 be approved;

2.         that the report of the Scrutiny Commission be noted.

Reason 

1.         To comply with Section 8.3, Paragraph 7 of the Council’s Constitution which limits delegated officer authority for preparation of funding bids to a maximum of £200,000.

2.         To acknowledge the work undertaken by and the views of the Scrutiny Commission.

A report of the Chief Executive to request funding from the Reinvestment Reserve to facilitate the mobilisation of the Council’s Transformation Programme.

Key Decision 

Considered a report of the Chief Executive requesting funding from the Reinvestment Reserve to facilitate the mobilisation of the Council’s Transformation Programme (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Rattray, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, presented a report detailing the Commission’s pre-decision scrutiny of the matter and recommendation (copy filed with these minutes).

The Leader wished to thank the Scrutiny Commission for its invaluable scrutiny of matters considered at this meeting.

The Strategic Director of Corporate Services assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.         that £220,000 be made available from the Reinvestment Reserve to fund the initial phase of the Council’s Transformation Programme;

2.         that the report of the Scrutiny Commission be noted.

Reasons

1.         To ensure that ‘invest to save’ funding is available for the acquisition of the capacity, skills and technical support required for the development and implementation of the Council’s Transformation Programme, and thereby enabling the Programme to contribute to the financial challenges outlined in the extant Medium Term Financial Strategy.

2.      To acknowledge the work undertaken by and the views of the Scrutiny Commission.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support to consider a restructure within the Legal Services team.

Considered a report of the Head of Strategic Support proposing a restructure within the Legal Services team (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Strategic Support assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.      that the post of ‘Legal Services Manager’ (M205) be re-named as ‘Legal Services Manager (Solicitor to the Council)’;

2.      that the following posts/weekly hours be deleted from the establishment:

·         Legal Secretary (post L128): 37 hours (vacant);

·         Administrative Assistant (post M326): 17 hours (vacant);

·         Legal Assistant (post L122): 35½ hours (vacant);

3.      that the following amendments be made to the indicated posts:

·         Legal Assistant (post L122); 37 hours, currently grade SO1 – change of job title to ‘Legal Support Officer’ with revised job description and person specification and re-graded to grade E, to report to the Principal Solicitor (Planning, Property & Contracts);

·         Legal Secretary (post L128); 37 hours, currently grade C – change of job title to ‘Legal Administrator’ with revised job description and person specification and re-graded to grade B, to report to the Principal Solicitor (Housing & Litigation);  

·         Principal Solicitor (post M028); 37 hours – change of job title to ‘Principal Solicitor (Planning, Property & Contracts)’ with revised job description and person specification, with no change to current grade of PO3;  

·         Solicitor (post M182); 21 hours – increased to 31.5 hours and change of job title to ‘Solicitor (Property, Contracts & Planning)’ with revised job description and person specification, with no change to current grade of PO2;

·         Solicitor (post M343); 37 hours – change of job title to ‘Solicitor (Housing & Litigation)’ with revised job description and person specification, with no change to current grade of PO1;  

4.      that the following new post be established at the indicated salary grade:

·         Principal Solicitor (Housing & Litigation); 37 hours at grade PO3;

5.      that delegated authority be given to the Head of Strategic Support to agree implementation dates for resolutions 1 to 4 above. 

Reasons 

1- 5.  To implement the proposals of an organisational change review which are designed to ensure that staffing resources within the Legal Services team are aligned to service needs within the available budget.