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.

Councillor Miah declared an interest in respect of item 6 on the agenda (Partnership Arrangement with Leicestershire County Council for Strategic Human Resources Services) as a member of Leicestershire County Council.

The Leader welcomed the new Cabinet members to their posts following the Borough Council elections in May.  He also wished to record his thanks to the Chief Executive as returning officer and the election staff for a good set of elections with no issues, so well done.  The Chief Executive agreed to feed that back to all involved.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13th April 2023 were noted.

No questions were submitted. 

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources to consider entering into a further period of partnership arrangement with Leicestershire County Council in relation to strategic human resources services, including corporate health and safety support (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Governance and Human Resources assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED that delegated authority be given to the Head of Governance and Human Resources to enter into a ‘public-to-public’ agreement with Leicestershire County Council for strategic human resources services, including corporate health and safety support, to commence on 1st November 2023 for a period of five years, extendable by mutual agreement for a further period of up to five more years.

Reason

To ensure that the current arrangements can continue for a further period to ensure continuity and ongoing service provision.

A report of the Director Housing and Wellbeing, for recommendation to Council.

Considered, a report of the Director Housing and Wellbeing to consider increasing the housing revenue account budgets relating to the staffing establishment to continue to improve services to tenants, for recommendation to Council (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Chief Executive assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED

1.         that it be recommended to Council the HRA salary revenue budget be increased by £102.8k on an ongoing basis to fund a new Head of Landlord Services post;

2.         that it be recommended to Council that delegated authority be given to the Director of Housing and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Lead Member for Public and Private Sector Housing and the Council’s Section 151 Officer or Head of Finance, to draw down from the HRA Financing Fund a sum of up to £500k each year to fund initiatives to meet the challenges arising from a complex operating environment and improve services provided to tenants.

Reasons

1.         To provide an appropriate level of senior officer capacity to manage the risks associated with the delivery of landlord services in light of an enhanced regulatory regime; and support delivery of a progressive agenda around asset management including decarbonisation of the Council’s Housing Stock and the improvement of sheltered accommodation.

2.         To provide timely access to a flexible financial resource which can be deployed on a targeted basis to improve performance around (for example) voids and repairs, and to provide a governance mechanism by which the fund can be spent.  

A report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources.

Considered, a report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources to make appointments to Outside Bodies for 2023-24 and Charitable Bodies where appropriate (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Democratic Services Manager assisted with consideration of the report. An amendment to Appendix 1 to the report was recommended as follows:

Holocaust Memorial Day Organising Committee – appoint Councillor Fryer to the stated 1 Conservative vacancy.

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 2023/24;

2.         that appointments be made to the charitable organisations listed in Appendix 2 to the report for the Council year 2023/24;

3.         that the Head of Governance & HR be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Lead Member 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 1st June 2023;

(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.

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 Chief Executive, circulated to councillors.

Notification was given on 3rd May 2023 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.

Considered, an exempt report of the Chief Executive to inform of action taken by the Director Commercial and Economic Development under urgency provisions in respect of the provision of procurement support services (item 10 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Democratic Services Manager assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED that the action taken be noted.