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 Councillors Barkley, Morgan and Poland – interests in respect of item 8 on the agenda (Draft General Fund and HRA 2023-24 Budgets) as members of Leicestershire County Council;

(ii)       by Councillor Barkley – an interest in respect of item 8 on the agenda (Draft General Fund and HRA 2023-24 Budgets) as a member of Syston Town Council.

No announcements were made.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17th November 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The deadline for questions is noon on Monday, 5th December 2022.

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources (MO).

Considered, a report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources (MO) to consider the recommendations of the Waste Management Scrutiny Panel (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Ward, Chair of the Waste Management Scrutiny Panel, presented the recommendations of the Panel.

The Head of Contracts, Leisure, Waste and Environment assisted with consideration of the report.

The Waste Management Scrutiny Panel was thanked for its scrutiny of the matter, also all who had contributed to its work.

RESOLVED that officers draft an action plan to provide details on how and when the officer recommendations arising from the Waste Management Scrutiny Panel will be delivered.

Reason

To acknowledge the work undertaken by and the recommendations of the Waste Management Scrutiny Panel.

A report of the Head of Finance.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance setting out the projected base budget position for 2023/24 including service pressures and savings put forward for the year and providing the basis for the budget consultation (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Director Finance, Governance and Contracts and the Head of Finance assisted with consideration of the report.

A typographical error was noted, agenda page 61, Table 1, first column, mid table, £000 Actual 22/22 should read £000 Actual 21/22.

Officers were thanked for their work in producing the draft budgets.  

RESOLVED

1.      that the Cabinet endorses for consultation the draft General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets for 2023/24 as set out in Tables 1 and 2 in the report;

2.      that the Cabinet endorses for consultation the Loughborough Special Expense Budget and Levy for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reason

1.&2.   To provide the opportunity for consultation on the General Fund and HRA budgets for the 2023/24 financial year.

A report of the Head of Finance.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance setting out changes to the 2022-2025 Capital Plan and its financing (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Finance assisted with consideration of the report.  Noted that all reporting on the Capital Plan needed to differentiate clearly between live schemes, provisional schemes and schemes that were not within the Council’s control.   

RESOLVED

1.      that the current Capital Plan for 2022/23 - 2024/25, as amended by the changes shown in Appendix 1 to the report, in the budgeted sum of £72,451,500 be approved;

2.      a virement of £15k from Phone System Teams migration to Replacement Hardware Programme to enable the purchase of additional laptops and 2 in1 devices be approved;

3.      increasing Northgate Single Use System by £52k funded from a virement of £19k from Cloud Implementation and £33k from Reinvestment Reserve to enable the extension of the project to November 2022 be approved;

4.      adding a new HRA scheme for Digital Filing System – HRA Software £33.2k, funded from HRA Major Repair Allowance be approved;

5.      that HRA virements be recommended to Council: to increase Heating Scheme £250k, reduce Sheltered Housing Improvements £150k, increase Major Voids £140k, reduce Kitchens £70k, reduce Bathrooms £300k,  increase Asbestos Removal £100k and increase Door Entry Systems £30k, to enable the programme to progress where work is being identified as part of Period 7 Capital Monitoring;

6.      that replacement of Southfields Offices main building with LED lighting as part of a cost saving scheme, £85k from the Carbon Neutral Action Fund capital scheme, be noted;

7.      that amendments be noted to the Capital Programme since the Leader Executive Decision published 20th September 2022.

Reasons

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

2.      To enable the Replacement Hardware Programme budget to be available in 2022/23.

3.      To enable the Northgate Single Use System budget to be available in 2022/23.

4.      To enable the Digital Filing System – HRA Software budget to be available in 2022/23 from Major Repair reserve budget.

5.      To enable the various HRA budgets to be available in 2022/23 to fund the virements.

6.      To enable the LED project to be procured and implemented as per the Carbon Neutral Action Plan.

7.      To note amendments to the Capital Programme since the Leader Executive Decision published 20th September 2022.

A report of the Head of Planning and Growth.

Considered, a report of the Head of Planning and Growth seeking approval for the Sileby Review Neighbourhood Plan to be ‘made’ as part of the statutory development plan for the Sileby Neighbourhood Area (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED

1.      that the Sileby Review Neighbourhood Plan is ‘made’ to confirm its status as 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;

2.      that any minor amendments to the Sileby Review Neighbourhood Plan can be made under delegated authority by the Head of Planning and Growth.

Reasons 

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

2.      To enable minor amendments such as typographical errors or factual corrections to be made efficiently.