Agenda and minutes

The following disclosures were made:

(i)         Councillor Rattray – a personal interest in item 13 on the agenda (Urgent Decisions Taken), Delegated Decision 174 2020 set out therein.  Councillor Rattray would leave the meeting during consideration of the item.

(ii)        Councillor Morgan – to note that in respect of item 7 on the agenda (Discretionary Private Sector Housing Licensing Scheme Proposals) he was a trustee of a trust property in Lemyngton ward.  Councillor Morgan stated that the interest was not pecuniary, he received no income from it and he was not landlord.  The interest was stated on his Disclosure of Interests form on the Council’s Website.

No announcements were made.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19th November 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

The deadline for questions is noon on Wednesday, 2nd December 2020.

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Scrutiny Commission.

Considered, a report of the Scrutiny Commission setting out its recommendation that the Parish Councils which have adopted Neighbourhood Plans are informed of the implications of the five year housing land supply update in relation to potential development applications in their areas, alongside an officer recommendation and advice in response (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Seaton, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, presented the recommendation of the Commission.

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

The Scrutiny Commission was thanked for its recommendation.

RESOLVED that it be noted that the Head of Planning and Regeneration will write to Parish Councils with ‘made’ neighbourhood plans, and those preparing plans, to explain the implications of the five year housing land supply on residential planning decisions in those areas in light of the fact the Council cannot demonstrate a five year supply of housing land at the current time.

Reason

To action the recommendation of the Scrutiny Commission in order to ensure that Parish Councils were kept informed of the implications of the housing land supply on existing Neighbourhood Plans.

A report of the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing. To follow.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing setting out proposals for the introduction of an Additional Licensing Scheme across the Borough and Selective Licensing Scheme in Hastings and Lemyngton wards (item 7, an agenda supplement filed with these minutes).

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

The Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing assisted with consideration of the report. 

Councillor Smidowicz was thanked for her work in progressing the proposals as former Cabinet Lead Member.

RESOLVED

1.      that the outcome of the Discretionary Private Sector Housing Licensing consultation exercise be noted;

2.      that the proposal to declare Charnwood Borough as an area for Additional Licensing to be implemented from April 2021 be approved;

3.      that the proposal to declare the two wards Hastings and Lemyngton an area for Selective Licensing to be implemented following approval from the Secretary of State be approved;

4.      that the proposed draft licence conditions for both schemes, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, and for a consultation exercise to be undertaken for a period of 6 weeks from the 18th January 2021 to the 26th February 2021 be approved;

5.      that an initial budget for £65k to set up the two schemes and commence recruitment of staff to deliver the two licensing schemes until the licence fees are received be approved;

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

Reasons 

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

2.      The scheme will cover all HMOs, irrespective of the number of storeys that are occupied by 3 or 4 unrelated persons and all Section 257 HMOs (buildings converted into self-contained flats) where the building is wholly occupied by tenants.

3.      The scheme will cover all Private Sector Rented properties in the two wards Hastings and Lemyngton other than those licensed through the Mandatory HMOs Licensing Scheme or the proposed Borough Wide Additional Licensing Scheme for HMOs.

4.      To allow feedback on the draft licence conditions.

5.      To allow the schemes to be set up and the recruitment of officers to implement the two proposed licensing schemes in advance of the licence fees being received.

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

A report of the Strategic Director; Environmental and Corporate Services.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Strategic Director; Environmental and Corporate Services setting out, following a period of public consultation, an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy 2020-2024 (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

The Corporate Improvement and Policy Officer assisted with consideration of the report.  She was thanked for her work for the Council and wished good luck for the future as she would shortly be leaving the Council to take up another role.

RESOLVED

1.         that the Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy (2020-2024) and associated Equality Action Plan (2020-2022), attached as an Annex to the report of the Strategic Director; Environmental and Corporate Services, be approved;

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

Reasons

1.         To enable the Strategy, which seeks to improve how the organisation promotes equality in all services delivered by Charnwood Borough Council and in how it employs and manages staff, and to assist the Council in meeting its corporate objective to meet its customers’ needs, to be approved following public consultation.

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

A report of the Head of Financial Services.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Financial Services setting out the projected base budget position for 2021/22 including the savings and growth proposals put forward for the year to provide the basis for the budget consultation (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Strategic Director; Environmental and Corporate Services and the Head of Financial Services assisted with consideration of the report.  Two minor corrections were stated to paragraph 25 in Part B of the report: Pressures listed for Street Trading and Carillon were one-off rather than ongoing (Loughborough Special Expenses).

The challenges faced in setting the draft budget were acknowledged and officers thanked for that work.

RESOLVED

1.      that the Cabinet endorses for consultation the draft General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets for 2021/22 as set out in Tables 1 and 2 in the report of the Head of Financial Services;

2.      that the Cabinet endorses for consultation the Loughborough Special Expense Budget and Levy for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 3 to the report of the Head of Financial Services.

Reason

1.&2.   To provide the opportunity for consultation on the General Fund and HRA budgets for the 2021/22 financial year.

A report of the Head of Financial Services.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Financial Services setting out proposed changes to the 2020/21-2022/23 Revised Capital Plan and its financing since Cabinet 15th October 2020 (Minute 43) (item 10 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED

1.      that the Revised Capital Plan for 2020/21-2022/23, as amended by the changes shown in Appendix 1 to the report, in the sum of £97,967,400 be approved;

2.      that a new scheme be added - Hybrid Camera and Audio Equipment used for virtual Council Meetings in Committee Room 2, £10k, to be funded from Capital Plan Reserve;

3.      that a new scheme be added - Performance Management System for £21.1k, to be funded from Capital Plan Reserve;

4.      that the Loughborough Festive Lights and Street Dressing scheme be reduced by £10k, the reason being the BID contribution will not be received towards this scheme;

5.      that the Replacement Hardware Programme be increased by £110k to be funded from COVID Emergency Grant as a Revenue Contribution to Capital for IT hardware costs;

6.      that a Virement of £75k be made from Planned Buildings Improvements Capital Budget to Granby Street Car Parks for essential culvert repairs;

7.      that a new scheme be added - NHS Vaccination Centre £250k to be set up at Southfields Offices to be fully funded externally by the NHS;

8.      that Bedford Square Gateway be increased by £700k to be fully funded by LLEP contribution.

9.      that additional decisions taken by Officers be noted in relation to new S106 schemes added to the Capital programme, also included in Appendix 1 to the report.

Reasons

1.      To enable the Revised Capital Plan to be the basis for capital spending by the Council and so that schemes may proceed.

2.      To enable the new Capital scheme budget to be available in 2020/21.

3.      To enable the new Capital scheme budget to be available in 2020/21.

4.      To confirm that the Loughborough Festive Lights and Street Dressing scheme be decreased by the external funded amount.

5.      To enable the new Capital scheme budget to be available in 2020/21.

6.      To enable the new Capital scheme budget to be available in 2020/21.

7.      To enable the new Capital scheme budget to be available in 2020/21.

8.      To enable the Capital scheme budget to be available in 2020/21.

9.      To note the new Capital Schemes as part of S106 Agreements implemented by Officers for 3rd Parties.

A report of the Strategic Director; Commercial Development, Assets and Leisure.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Strategic Director; Commercial Development, Assets and Leisure seeking approval for additions to the Annual Procurement Plan 2020/21 (item 11 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Strategic Director – Commercial Development, Assets and Leisure assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.      that the contracts, over £25,000 and up to £75,000, listed in Appendix A to the report, 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, be let in accordance with Contract Procedure Rules.

Reason

1&2.    To allow contracts of the Council to be let in accordance with contract procedure rules.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support, for recommendation to Council.

Considered, a report of the Head of Strategic Support presenting a submission for the first stage of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) electoral review, for recommendation to full Council (item 12 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED that it be recommended to Council:

1.      to approve the submission appended to the report as the Council’s submission to the LGBCE regarding Council Size, which supports the continuation of the current number of 52 councillors;

2.      to give delegated authority to the Chief Executive and the Head of Strategic Support, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make minor typographical amendments and corrections to the document prior to submission if required.

Reasons

1.      To agree a submission to the LGBCE as part of stage 1 of their review concerning council size.

2.      To allow for any minor errors to be corrected before the document is submitted.

Having declared an interest, Councillor Rattray left the meeting during consideration of the following item.

A report of the Chief Executive.

Considered, a report of the Chief Executive setting out actions taken by the Chief Executive and/or Strategic Directors and Heads of Service under urgency provisions (item 13 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

RESOLVED that the actions taken by the Chief Executive and/or Strategic Directors and Heads of Service under urgency provisions as set out in the report be noted.

Reason

To ensure that the actions have been reported to the Cabinet in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Rattray returned to the meeting.

It is recommended that members of the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item on the grounds that it will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED that members of the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Information Development Manager confirmed that the meeting was no longer being livestreamed.

An exempt report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration circulated to members.

Notification was given on 11th November 2020 that the public could potentially be excluded during this item since exempt or confidential information could be considered.  No representations regarding considering this item in exempt session have been received.

Key Decision

Considered, an exempt report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration in respect of the Bedford Square Gateway Project to consider approval of the final scheme design and proceed to the appointment of contractors to deliver the street works (item 15 on the agenda filed with these minutes), together with an exempt addendum to the report (copy filed with these minutes).

Councillor Seaton, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, presented an exempt report setting out 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 and the Regeneration and Economic Development Officer assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.         that decisions be made as detailed in the exempt minute (Cabinet Minute 69E 2020/21);

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

Reasons

1.         As set out in the exempt minute (Cabinet Minute 69E 2020/21).

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