Agenda and minutes

Councillor Morgan declared a personal interest in respect of references in the agenda papers to the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (as a Director of the Partnership).

The Leader made the following announcements:

Gold Award – Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme

“Charnwood has been working closely with Rushcliffe and Melton Councils to support serving and former Armed Forces personnel in our boroughs.

As part of this work, I am proud to say that Charnwood and Rushcliffe are the first councils in the East Midlands to receive the Gold Award in the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme.

This Gold Award is the highest badge of honour for organisations which have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and shows our outstanding support for those who serve and have served.

As an employer we have introduced a guaranteed job interview scheme for veterans and raised awareness of issues facing former, Reservists and serving Armed Forces personnel and their families.  We have also encouraged other organisations to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.

With partners, we are leading the way in making society a more supportive place for members of the Armed Forces community. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in this project.”

Councillor Jane Hunt

“On behalf of the Cabinet, I wish to congratulate Councillor Jane Hunt on her election as Member of Parliament for the Loughborough constituency.  I hope that she finds her new role fulfilling and look forward to working with her as a Member of Parliament.” 

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14th November 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The deadline for questions is noon on Friday, 6th December 2019. 

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services to consider applications received for funding in round three of the Community Facilities and Community Development and Engagement Grants schemes for 2019/20.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services to consider applications received for funding in round three of the Community Facilities and Community Development and Engagement Grants schemes for 2019/20 (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Neighbourhood Services assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.      that the following Community Development and Engagement Grants be awarded:

·         £3,500 to Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland – Men/Women in Sheds – Greenhouse/Recycling project (to be funded through the Community Development and Engagement Environmental grant scheme);

·         Up to £7,000 to Shelthorpe Community Association towards the “Creative Gardener” project;

·         £5,400 to Loughborough Leggo Group towards running costs;

·         Up to £5,000 to Transition Loughborough towards the “Carbon Literate Loughborough” project;

·         £10,000 to Go-Getta CIC towards their overall youth diversion provision across Charnwood (£5,000 to be funded through the Community Development and Engagement grant scheme, and £5,000 to be funded through the Loughborough Community grants scheme);

2.      that the following Community Development and Engagement Grant application be deferred:

·         Without Walls Christian Fellowship - £7,822 requested – applied for funding towards the cost of a singing café;

3.      that the Head of Neighbourhood Services be given delegated authority to finalise the terms and conditions of the awarded Community Development and Engagement Grants;

4.      that approval be given to run a Round 4 in 2019/20 with a focus primarily on Environmental projects.

Reasons

1.      To provide financial support to organisations which meet the criteria of the Community Development and Engagement Grants and Environmental schemes in terms of community and organisational need and to use funding provided through the Loughborough Grants scheme to support projects in Loughborough.

2.      To enable further work to be undertaken with the applicant to see whether the application can be improved and strengthened.

3.      To enable the grants awarded to be finalised and appropriate information to be supplied to the Council about the outcomes of the project.

4.      To enable the monies received for grants for projects that deliver environmental outcomes to be spent.

A report of the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing to consider a Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Reduction Strategy 2019-2022 and Action Plan.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing to consider a Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Reduction Strategy 2019-2022 and Action Plan (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Draycott, Vice-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 of the matter.

The Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing assisted with consideration of the report.  In particular and at the request of the Leader, she responded to the concerns of the Scrutiny Commission relating to out of hours access and the number of children in homeless households.  Also, in response to a suggestion from a member of the Cabinet, the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing agreed to look into the possible provision of an external telephone which could be used to access the service in an emergency.    

RESOLVED

1.      that the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Reduction Strategy 2019-2022 and Action Plan, attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing, be approved;

2.      that delegated authority be given to the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Housing, to update the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Reduction Strategy Action Plan on an annual basis subject to there being no financial or human resource implications arising from the proposals;

3.      that in the event of there being financial implications outside the existing approved budgets or resource implications exceeding the existing approved establishment arising from proposed revisions to the Action Plan, a further report on the proposed Action Plan be brought to Cabinet at the appropriate time;

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

Reasons 

1.      To ensure that the Council can meet its obligations in respect of the strategic housing needs of the Borough.

2.      To ensure that the Action Plan remains relevant and responsive during the lifetime of the Strategy.

3.      To ensure appropriate approvals are sought before finalising changes to the Action Plan that have financial or human resource implications.

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

A report of the Head of Finance and Property Services to consider amendments to the Annual Procurement Plan 2019/20.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance and Property Services to consider amendments to the Annual Procurement Plan 2019/20 (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Procurement Manager assisted with consideration of the report.

On behalf of the Cabinet, the Leader thanked the Procurement Manager and wished him well for his forthcoming retirement.

RESOLVED

1.      thatthe contracts over £25,000 and up to£75,000, listed in Appendix A to the report of the Head of Finance and Property Services,be let in accordance with Contract Procedure Rules;

2.      that the contracts over £75,001 and up to £500,000, listed in Appendix B to the report of the Head of Finance and Property Services, be let in accordance withContract Procedure Rules.

Reason 

1&2. To allowcontractsof theCouncilto belet inaccordance withcontract procedure rules.

A report of the Head of Finance and Property Services to consider amendments to the 2019/20 Capital Plan and its financing.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance and Property Services to consider amendments to the 2019/20 Capital Plan and its financing (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Finance and Property Services assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.        thatthecurrentCapitalPlanfor2019/20 - 2021/22, as amended by the changesshownin Appendix 1 to the report of the Head of Finance and Property Services, in the sum of £37,836,800 be approved;

2.        that it be recommended to Council to add a new scheme Investment in Commercial Property for £10m to be funded as appropriate following a financing option appraisal split £5m in 2019/20 and £5m in 2020/21 approved by Cabinet on 19th September 2019, Minute 32;

3.        that amendments to the Capital Programme since Cabinet 19th September 2019, Minute 30, in Appendix 1 to the report of the Head of Finance and Property Services, be noted.

Reasons

1.        ToenabletheCapitalPlan tobethebasisforcapitalspendingbythe Councilandso thatschemesmayproceed.

2.        To enable the scheme budget to be available in 2019/20 and 2020/21 to allow the Investment in Commercial Property to be funded in a financially advantageous manner.

3.        To note the new Capital Scheme as part of S106 Agreements implemented by Officers.

A report of the Head of Finance and Property Services to consider the projected base budget position for 2020/21, to review the savings and growth proposals put forward for the year 2020/21 and to begin a period of consultation.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance and Property Services to consider the projected base budget position for 2020/21, to review the savings and growth proposals put forward for the year 2020/21 and to begin a period of consultation (item 10 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Finance and Property Services assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.         that the draft General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets for 2020/21, as set out in Tables 1 and 4 in the report of the Head of Finance and Property Services, be endorsed for consultation;

2.         that the Loughborough Special Expense Budget and Levy for 2020/21, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report of the Head of Finance and Property Services, be endorsed for consultation.

Reason

1&2. To provide the opportunity for consultation on the 2020/21 budgets as well as potential pressures and savings.

A report of the Head of Finance and Property Services to consider a draft Capital Plan 2020/21 to 2022/23 and possible sources of funding, and to begin a period of consultation.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance and Property Services to consider a draft Capital Plan 2020/21 to 2022/23 and possible sources of funding, and to begin a period of consultation (item 11 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Finance and Property Services assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED that the Draft Capital Plan for 2020/21 to 2022/23 for the recommended General Fund and HRA schemes in Appendix 1 to the report of the Head of Finance and Property Services be endorsed for consultation.

Reason         

To enable consultation on the Draft Capital Plan, so that it can become the basis for capital spending by the Council.