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.

Disclosures were made as follows:

(i)        by Councillor Morgan – an interest in respect of item 8 on the agenda (Treasury Management Strategy, Annual Investment Strategy and MRP Policy – Mid-year Review).  An investment held by the Council with Santander was listed.  Councillor Morgan’s wife held the paid position of director at Santander UK, this was a disclosable pecuniary interest and Councillor Morgan would leave the meeting during consideration of the item.

(ii)       by Councillor Poland – an interest in respect of item 7 on the agenda (Authority to Enter into an Electricity Supply Contract).  Councillor Poland was a member of the ESPO Management Committee.  This was not a paid position, but Councillor Poland would leave the meeting during consideration of the item.

(iii)      by Councillors Bailey and Morgan – interests in respect of item 6 on the agenda (Charnwood Grants).  Both councillors were members of the Outwoods Management Committee.  There was no direct connection between that Committee and the grant application relating to the Outwoods listed in the report, but both councillors wished to disclose for clarity and came to the meeting with an open mind.

The Leader welcomed Councillor Baines to his first meeting as a member of the Cabinet.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13th October 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The deadline for questions is noon on Monday, 7th November 2022.

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Director Housing and Wellbeing.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Director Housing and Wellbeing setting out applications received for funding in round two of the Community Facilities and Community Grants Schemes for 2022/23 (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Director Housing and Wellbeing and the Neighbourhoods and Partnerships Manager assisted with consideration of the report.  A correction was made to paragraph 145 in Part B of the report (agenda page 38), the paragraph was incomplete and should have stated that the application was for support with increased energy costs.

The Grants Panel was thanked for its work in respect of this matter.

RESOLVED

1.         that the following Community Grants be awarded:

•   £5,000 to Passion towards a drop-in and other activities;

•   £3,248 to Quetzal towards counselling sessions;

•   £3,000 to Falcon Support Services towards a drop-in service (and refer the balance requested for consideration in Cost of Living fund);

•   £2,000 to MADS Group towards running costs and activities;

•   £2,000 to Artspace Loughborough towards Into the Outwoods Tree People Trail 2023;

•   £2,500 to Shepshed Dolphins Swimming Group towards pool hire costs;

•   £1,000 to Menphys towards Charnwood Mini Menphys;

•   £2,550 to Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland towards the Charnwood Men and Women in Sheds project;

•   £1,652 to Second Time Around CIC towards Second Time Around Re-launch;

•   £2,000 to Sacred Heart Church Loughborough towards a warm hubs project, with the balance to be considered for support through the Cost of Living fund;

•   £500 to Thurcaston and Cropston Gardening Club towards the Thurcaston and Cropston Annual Craft and Produce Show 2023;

•   £1,500 to The Coffee Shop – Birstall Methodist Church towards a warm spaces project, with the balance to be considered for support through the Cost of Living fund;

2.         that the following Community Grant applications be declined:

•   Upstarts Gymnastics Club - £4,000 requested – applied for funding towards gym raised pits with soft landing areas;

•   New Life Community Church - £2,000 requested – applied for funding towards a family worker to support foodbank clients, with the application to be considered for support through the in Cost of Living fund;

•   Nanpantan Ward Residents Group - £560 requested – applied for funding towards running costs and the maintenance and enhancement of rose-beds;

•   Steps Conductive Education Centre - £5,000 requested – applied for funding towards Centre Manager Salary;

•   Act One Youth Theatre - £3,000 requested – applied for funding towards a Musical Show in 2023;

•   Mind For You Ltd - £4,960 requested – applied for funding towards a dementia activity directory;

•   Loughborough Town Cricket Club - £1,500 requested – applied for funding towards core running costs and utilities, with the application to be considered for support through the Cost of Living fund;

•   The Mason Foundation - £3,000 requested – applied for funding towards “The Community Mile” project;

•   Twenty Twenty - £5,000 requested – applied for funding towards the Love4Life project;

3.         that the following Community Facilities Grants  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

A report of the Director Commercial and Economic Development.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Director Commercial and Economic Development requesting approval to enter into an electricity supply contract with the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) for the period set out (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Director Commercial and Economic Development assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.      that Cabinet approve entry into an Electricity Supply Contract with ESPO for the period of October 2024 to September 2028;

2.      that authority be delegated to the Director Commercial and Economic Development  to finalise the agreement and formally enter the Council into Contract.

Reasons

1.      To continue to obtain favourable pricing for electricity supply for the Council’s estate in light of a volatile energy market.

2.      To allow for the timely completion of contract to avoid contract lapse.

Councillor Poland returned to the meeting.

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

A report of the Head of Finance, for recommendation to Council.

This item was chaired by Councillor Barkley.

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance reviewing the Treasury Management Strategy and the Annual Investment Strategy, plus the various Prudential Borrowing and Treasury Indicators for the first six months of 2022/23, for recommendation to Council (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Chief Executive and the Head of Finance assisted with consideration of the report.  It was confirmed that the error on agenda page 68 would be corrected prior to consideration of the report by Council (delete wording “OR insert any changes to the criteria you wish to make, with supporting criteria.”).

Following discussion, it was agreed that officers would consider whether the historical information included in the report might be better provided as an appendix, also whether elements of the report might be condensed.  It was also confirmed that the Council received daily and weekly information to assist it from its appointed treasury advisors.

RESOLVED that it be recommended to Council to note the mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Prudential Borrowing and Treasury Indicators plus the Annual Investment Strategy, as set out in Part B of the report and with the correction outlined above.

Reason

To ensure that the Council’s governance and management  procedures for Treasury Management reflect best practice and comply with the Revised CIPFA Treasury Management in the Public Services Code of Practice, Guidance Notes and Treasury Management Policy Statement, that funding of capital expenditure is taken within the totality of the Council’s financial position, and that borrowing and investment is only carried out with proper regard to the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities.