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 16th December 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The deadline for questions is noon on Wednesday, 8th January 2020. 

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support setting out the recommendation of the Audit Committee in respect of the resources available to complete the Council’s Internal Audit Plan.

Considered, a report of the Head of Strategic Support to consider a recommendation of the Audit Committee in respect of the resources available to complete the Council’s Internal Audit Plan, alongside an officer recommendation and advice in that respect (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Mr Angell, Independent Chair of the Audit Committee, presented the recommendation of the Audit Committee.

The Head of Strategic Support assisted with consideration of the report.  Further to the report, he updated the Cabinet on the recruitment position.

Mr Angell and the Audit Committee were thanked for the recommendation in respect of the matter.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the actions that have been taken to address the resourcing issues with the Internal Audit team and that the proposed shared Internal Audit service is designed to address the ongoing issues that have been experienced over the last 18 months to two years, and that there are no other steps they wish officers to take to address the concerns of the Audit Committee.

Reason

To acknowledge the actions that have been taken in response to the ongoing resourcing issues for Internal Audit and to determine if Cabinet wish officers to take any further steps.

A report of the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing to consider proposals for Private Sector Licensing and the resources required to complete a public consultation exercise.

Key Decision 

Considered, a report of the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing to consider proposals for Private Sector Licensing and the resources required to complete a public consultation exercise (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 Strategic Director of Housing, Planning, Regeneration and Regulatory Services assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.      that the proposals for Private Sector Licensing be noted;

2.      that the supporting evidence and risks be noted;

3.      that the proposal for a consultation exercise be approved, as required by Section 56(3) of the Housing Act 2004 for Additional Licensing and Section 80(9) of the Housing Act 2004 for Selective Licensing;

4.      that a one-off budget of up to £30,000 be approved to be funded from the Reinvestment Reserve in 2019/20 to undertake the consultation exercise;

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

Reasons 

1&2.    To enable the Cabinet to consider the information and evidence gathered.

3&4.    To use the Reinvestment Reserve to fund the statutory consultation to support the implementation of an Additional and Selective Licensing Scheme in consultation with the respective Lead Members.

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

A report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services to considerproposalsfor theStrategicPartnerGrantSchemefundingfor 2020/21 and 2021/22.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services to consider proposals for the Strategic Partner Grant Scheme funding for 2020/21 and 2021/22 (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 Neighbourhoods and Partnerships Manager assisted with consideration of the report.

The Leader wished to thank officers for the considerable work undertaken with Strategic Partners and also Strategic Partners for working with the Council.

RESOLVED

1.         thatthefollowingStrategic PartnerGrantsbe approved, subject to budget approval:

*Charnwood CAB funding includes £62,428 for the CAB element and up to £28,500 for Specialist Money Management and Debt Advice (SMMDA) element

**Funding approved in principle for Syston Volunteer Centre – see resolution 3 below;

2.         that the Head of Neighbourhood Services be given delegated authority to finalisethetermsandconditionsoftheStrategicPartner Grants awardedandService Level Agreements and agree a final grant award amount with Charnwood Citizens Advice Bureau, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member;

3.      that a Strategic Partner Grant be awarded in principle to Syston Volunteer Centre, subject to them continuing to work with the Council and receipt of evidence demonstrating that they have revisited their business plan and are moving towards further community engagement/volunteering activities, by the end of March 2021 (end of Year 1) and that the Head of Neighbourhood Services be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member, to determine the most appropriate way forward;

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

Reasons

1.         To provide appropri  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

A report of the Chief Executive to consider the final version of the Corporate Plan 2020 – 2024, for recommendation to Council.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Chief Executive to consider the final version of the Corporate Plan 2020 – 2024, for recommendation to Council (item 9 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 Improvement and Organisational Development Manager assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.         that it be recommended to Council that:

a)        the new Corporate Plan 2020-2024, attached to the report of the Chief Executive, be approved;

b)        delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to make minor amendments to the Plan;

c)         delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to design the final document for publication;

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

Reasons

1.      a)      To enable the draft Corporate Plan to set out the direction for the Council for the period 2020-2024.

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

c)      To ensure that a designed version of the Corporate Plan can be developed for public circulation.

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

A report of the Strategic Director of Corporate Services to consider a proposed Modern Slavery Statement, including the associated commitments to practical action.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Strategic Director of Corporate Services to consider a Modern Slavery Statement, including the associated commitments to practical action (item 10 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Corporate Improvement and Policy Officer assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.      that the 2019/20 Modern Slavery Statement, appended to the report of the Strategic Director of Corporate Services, be approved;

2.      that delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to annually review and approve the Council’s Modern Slavery Statement.

Reasons

1.      To identify all potential modern slavery risks related to the business of the Council and to put in place steps that are aimed at ensuring there is no slavery or human trafficking within the Council’s own business or supply chains.

2.      To allow the annual review and publication of a Modern Slavery Statement, as specified within legislative requirements.

A report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration to consider the adoption of the Design Supplementary Planning Document, which has been prepared to support and provide guidance on the Local Plan Core Strategy policies.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration to consider the adoption of the Design Supplementary Planning Document, prepared to support and provide guidance on the Local Plan Core Strategy policies (item 11 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 Scrutiny Commission was thanked for its useful pre-decision scrutiny work, both in respect of this item and items considered earlier in the meeting.

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

The Leader wished to thank officers for the work undertaken to produce a robust and useful document.

RESOLVED

1.         that the Design Supplementary Planning Document, set out in Appendix 1 to the report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration, be adopted;

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

Reasons

1.         To provide supplementary guidance on Local Plan Core Strategy Policies CS2: ‘High Quality Design’, CS15: ‘Open Spaces, Sport and Recreation’, CS16 ‘Sustainable Construction and Energy’ and Borough of Charnwood Local Plan policies: EV/1 ‘Design’ and H/17 ‘House Extensions’.

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

A report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration to consider approval for the Sileby Neighbourhood Plan to be ‘made’ as part of the statutory development plan for the Neighbourhood Area.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration to consider approval for the Sileby Neighbourhood Plan to be ‘made’ as part of the statutory development plan for the Neighbourhood Area (item 12 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED that the Sileby Neighbourhood Plan, attached as an appendix to the report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration, is ‘made’ part of the statutory development plan for Charnwood, in accordance with the provisions of Section 38(A) (4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Reason 

To fulfil the legal duty to make the Sileby Neighbourhood Plan part of the development plan for Charnwood.

A report of the Head of Customer Experience to consider the write off of irrecoverable debts in line with Financial Procedure Rules.

Considered, a report of the Head of Customer Experience to consider the write off of irrecoverable debts in line with Financial Procedure Rules (item 13 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Strategic Director of Corporate Services assisted with consideration of the report.  In response to a suggestion that the director information now included in the report should list all directors involved at the time a company started to experience difficulties, he confirmed that that information could be included in future reports subject to it being available in the public record at Companies House.  The information would assist awareness of others where there was a history of irrecoverable debt.

RESOLVED that the following debts be written off:

1)        £23,849.60 owed by JPH Sports Ltd;

2)        £33,086.38 owed by Phoenix Pub Group Ltd; and

3)        £20,495.66 owed by CMJ Brothers Ltd.

Reason

The normal enforcement/recovery and tracing of these debts have been exhausted and write off is now the only alternative. The Council’s financial procedures require any debt over £20,000 be approved by Cabinet.