Agenda and minutes

Councillors Bokor, Morgan and Rattray declared interests in respect of item 6 on the agenda (Loughborough BID Third Term) as Directors of Loughborough BID.  They would leave the meeting during consideration of the item.

No announcements were made.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10th December 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

The deadline for questions is noon on Wednesday, 6th January 2021.

No questions had been submitted.

Having declared interests, Councillors Bokor, Morgan and Rattray left the meeting prior to the consideration of the following item.

A report of the Head of Leisure and Culture.

Key Decision

This item was chaired by Councillor Barkley.

Considered, a report of the Head of Leisure and Culture setting out proposals to support the process towards a possible further five-year term of the Loughborough Business Improvement District (BID) (item 6 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 Head of Leisure and Culture assisted with consideration of the report. 

RESOLVED

1.      that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive to undertake the BID ballot;

2.      that up to £25,000 be allocated from reinvestment reserves to meet the cost of consultation prior to the BID ballot and the ballot itself;

3.      that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive to agree with the BID Company a baseline of Borough Council town centre services;

4.      that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director; Environmental and Corporate Services to agree with the BID Company, if required, an operating agreement to cover the collection of the BID levy;

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

Reasons 

1.      The Council must consider the respective roles that it may play in the process of developing the BID renewal process in line with BID legislation as a billing authority, as a landowner/occupier in the BID area and as a ballot holder.  The local authority ballot holder remains legally responsible for the ballot process as set out within Government regulations.

2.      To enable the Council and the BID Company to ensure that the ballot process follows a thorough research and consultation phase that focuses on the needs and requirements of the potential contributors within the area of the BID.

3.      It is a requirement of the BID Regulations that the BID proposals include a statement of the existing baseline services provided by the Council and any other public authority in the proposed BID area. This statement will form part of the BID proposals which demonstrate to businesses voting for the BID that the proposed BID services are additional to the baseline services provided by the public authorities.

4.      The Council is required is required to manage the collection and enforcement of the BID levy charges known as an Operating Agreement.

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

Councillors Bokor, Morgan and Rattray returned to the meeting.

A report of the Head of Financial Services, for recommendation to Council.

Considered, a report of the Head of Financial Services to review the Treasury Management Strategy and the Annual Investment Strategy, plus the various Prudential Borrowing and Treasury Indicators for the first six months of 2020/21 (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Financial Services assisted with consideration of the report.  She corrected the report title in that the mid-year review was for the six months ended 30th September 2020 (not 22nd December 2020) and stated that the Cabinet’s recommendation on this matter would be submitted to Council on 22nd February 2021 (not 18th January 2021).  Updates were given on the current position in respect of a number of items in the report.

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.

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.

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

Considered, a report of the Strategic Director; Environmental and Corporate Services setting out a proposed People Strategy 2021-2024 (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 Strategic Director: Environmental and Corporate Services and the Learning and Organisational Development Co-ordinator assisted with consideration of the report.

How well members of staff had adapted to the changes required to ways of working during 2020 was recognised.  The Cabinet Lead Member wished to thank the Learning and Organisational Development Co-ordinator for his work on the Strategy.

RESOLVED

1.      that the Charnwood Borough Council People Strategy 2021–2024, as appended to the report, be approved;

2.      that the Strategic Director; Environmental and Corporate Services is given delegated authority to make amendments to the specific actions outlined in the Strategy as they are incorporated into a People Development Plan;

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

Reasons

1.      So that the Council has a clear strategy in place for developing its workforce over the next four years to effectively deliver services and meet the objectives outlined in the Corporate Strategy.

2.      To allow adjustments to be made to specific actions as they are incorporated into the People Development Plan.  Possible changes are expected to be minor and may occur following consultation with staff and management groups or following evaluation feedback from the implementation of proceeding actions.

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

A report of the Chief Executive.

Considered, a report of the Chief Executive setting out an action taken by the Chief Executive and/or Strategic Directors and Heads of Service under urgency provisions (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Democratic Services Manager assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED that the action 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 action has been reported to the Cabinet in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution.

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 Manager confirmed that the meeting was no longer being livestreamed.

An exempt report of the Strategic Director; Commercial Development, Assets and Leisure circulated to members.

Notification was given on 16th December 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 Strategic Director; Commercial Development, Assets and Leisure proposing the sale of Council-owned land for a capital receipt (item 11 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Strategic Director; Commercial Development, Assets and Leisure and the Strategic Asset Manager assisted with consideration of the report.  They were thanked for their work in respect of the matter.

RESOLVED that decisions be made as detailed in the exempt minute (Cabinet Minute 79E 2020/21).

Reasons

As set out in the exempt minute (Cabinet Minute 79E 2020/21).