Agenda and minutes

For information, disclosable pecuniary interests and registrable interests relate to entries that are included, or should be included, on a councillor’s register of interests. Non-registrable interests relate to any other matters. 

No disclosures were made.

No announcements were made.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7th April 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The deadline for questions is noon on Thursday, 26th May 2022.

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Head of Landlord Services.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Landlord Services to consider the Housing Customer Engagement Strategy 2022-2025 (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED

1.      that the Housing Customer Engagement Strategy 2022-2025 attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

2.      that delegated authority be given to the Head of Landlord Services in consultation with the Lead Member for Public Housing to make minor amendments to the Housing Customer Engagement Strategy 2022-2025. 

Reasons

1.      To update the strategy for the involvement and empowerment of customers in the delivery of housing services.

2.      To enable minor changes to be made to support the effective involvement and empowerment of customers in the delivery of housing services.

Councillor Poland, attending virtually, confirmed that he would have voted in favour of the above decision had he been physically present at the meeting and able to do so.

A report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration to consider the Statement of Common Ground on Housing and Employment Land Needs (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).  Also, a supplementary report setting out an amended paragraph 17 in Part B of the report (copy filed with these minutes).

The Head of Planning and Regeneration and the Group Leader, Plans, Policies, Placeassisted with consideration of the report.  A recommendation additional to that set out in the report was made, the reason for which was outlined.

It was confirmed that unmet need could currently be accommodated within the Borough’s existing site allocations (subject to inspection at hearings).

RESOLVED

1.         that the Borough Council sign the Statement of Common Ground set out in Appendix A to Part B of the report;

2.         that the Head of Planning and Regeneration, in conjunction with the Leader of the Council and the Lead Member, be given delegated authority to consider, agree, and sign-off further amendments to the Statement of Common Ground, subject to those being non-material to Charnwood.

Reasons

1.         To maintain progress and agreement on key strategic matters that support the Borough’s plan-making functions and to demonstrate to the Planning Inspectors presiding over the current Local Plan examination that the Borough Council is working positively with its neighbours to identify evidence-based solutions to strategic matters.

          Also, to provide an agreed position on housing and employment matters that can serve as the basis for a future review or update of the Borough Council’s planning policies that address the issue of unmet need from Leicester City.

2.         To ensure that, should the need arise, an amended Statement of Common Ground can be signed-off by the Borough Council without the need for it to be further considered by Cabinet, subject to any amendments not being material to the Borough.

Councillor Poland, attending virtually, confirmed that he would have voted in favour of the above decision had he been physically present at the meeting and able to do so.

A report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration to consider the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Planning and Regeneration and the Team Leader, Regeneration and Economic Development assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.      that the approach to the identification and prioritisation of projects as set out in Part B of the report be confirmed;

2.      that delegated authority be given to the Strategic Director; Communities, Planning and Housing, in consultation with the Leader, to set the priorities and scoring criteria to enable projects to be selected for the available funding;

3.      that delegated authority be given to the Leader, in consultation with the local MPs, to approve the final Investment Plan;

4.      that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and S151 officer, to submit the Investment Plan to DLUHC by the stated deadline in order to access Charnwood’s allocation of UKSPF;

5.      that the funding received be added to the council’s budget in each year of the programme according to the financial profile agreed with DLUHC.

Reasons

1.      To confirm the approach to project identification and their prioritisation for inclusion in the Investment Plan.

2.      To ensure priorities are clear and there are scoring criteria available to facilitate the selection of projects to be taken forward in the Investment Plan.

3.      To ensure that the timetable is met and to meet the requirements set out in the guidance.

4.      In order to access Charnwood’s allocation of UK SPF funding.

5.      To ensure that the funding is added to the Council’s budget as it is received from DLUHC.

Councillor Poland, attending virtually, confirmed that he would have voted in favour of the above decision had he been physically present at the meeting and able to do so.

A report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration.

Considered, a report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration to consider Biodiversity Planning Guidance (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

Having noted that the planning guidance would affect all development with only a few minor exceptions, the view was expressed that it was important to provide further assistance on the matter, in particular for those undertaking smaller developments who may not have experience of submitting planning applications.  Noted that this would be provided on the Council’s website, for example, a summary of guidance, process map, frequently asked questions, model examples, etc.

RESOLVED

1.      that the Planning Guidance for Biodiversity attached at Appendix A to the report be approved as informal planning guidance;

2.      that the approach to identifying receptor sites set out in part B of the report be approved and delegated authority is given to the Head of Planning and Regeneration to update the list as necessary;

3.      that the list of receptor sites at Appendix B to the report be maintained as a live document published on the Council’s website to inform off site contributions that are sought under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended);

4.      that a new charge be established to recover the costs involved in monitoring biodiversity mitigation.

Reasons 

1.      To ensure that the Borough Council provides guidance to applicants for planning permission on how adopted Core Strategy Local Plan Policy CS13 and emerging Local Plan Policy EV6 will be implemented.

2&3. To ensure that the Borough Council has an up-to-date list of suitable local receptor sites, so that there is transparency when seeking planning contributions for offsite contributions.

4.      To ensure the costs of monitoring activity are recovered from developers.

Councillor Poland, attending virtually, confirmed that he would have voted in favour of the above decision had he been physically present at the meeting and able to do so.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support.

Considered, a report of the Head of Strategic Support to consider appointments to outside bodies and charitable organisations 2022/23 (item 10 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Democratic Services Manager assisted with consideration of the report.  Amendments to Appendix 1 to the report were recommended as follows:

(i)        Charnwood Action for Fairtrade Steering Group – delete, no longer existed.

(ii)       Charnwood Health and Wellbeing Partnership – delete, no longer existed.

(iii)      Charnwood Talking News – also appoint Councillor Harper-Davies for 2022/23.

(iv)      Outwoods Management Committee – also appoint Councillor Smidowicz for 2022/23.

In response to a query, the Democratic Services Manager would investigate following the meeting whether the Local Government Association Mutual was still in existence.

RESOLVED

1.      that appointments be made to the outside bodies listed in Appendix 1 to the report, amended as outlined above, for the Council year 2022/23;

2.      that appointments be made to the charitable organisations listed in Appendix 2 to the report for the Council year 2022/23;

3.      that the Head of Strategic Support be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Lead Member for Strategic Support and the relevant Group Leader where appropriate:

(i)      to make appointments to any outside bodies and charitable organisations where nominations have not been received prior to or at the Cabinet meeting on 9th June 2022;

(ii)     to find an alternative nominee, where the original nominee does not accept the appointment;

(iii)    to make appointments to any outside bodies and charitable organisations for which the appointment was made in previous years for more than a year and the current appointee no longer wishes to continue in that role;

(iv)    to reinstate appointments to outside bodies and charitable organisations which restart meetings; and

(v)     to withdraw appointments to any outside bodies and charitable organisations where it is determined that the body or organisation is no longer meeting;

(vi)    to make appointments when new bodies are identified to which the Council can make appointments.

Reasons

1.      To ensure that the Council is represented appropriately on outside bodies.

2.      To ensure that the Council is represented appropriately on charitable organisations.

3.      To ensure that appointments can be made without unnecessary delay and to end appointments which are no longer required.

Councillor Poland, attending virtually, confirmed that he would have voted in favour of the above decision had he been physically present at the meeting and able to do so.

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 Democratic Services Officer stopped the sound recording of the meeting.

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

Notification was given on 23rd May 2022 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 to consider the Shepshed Town Centre Public Realm Improvement Project (item 12 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Ranson, Vice-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 pre-decision scrutiny of the report.

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 11E 2022/23);

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

Reasons

1.         As set out in the exempt minute (Cabinet Minute 11E 2022/23).

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

Councillor Poland, attending virtually, confirmed that he would have voted in favour of the above decision had he been physically present at the meeting and able to do so.