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 Blackshaw declared:

(i)      a non-registrable interest in item 6 on the agenda (Charnwood Grants) as her daughter was a member of Starlight Youth Theatre;

(ii)     a registrable interest in item 6 on the agenda (Charnwood Grants) as a member of Mountsorrel Parish Council, the parish council having previously supported Friends of Mountsorrel Castle Gardens.

She 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 12th October 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The deadline for questions is noon on Monday, 6th November 2023.

No questions had been submitted.

Having declared interests, Councillor Blackshaw left the meeting during the consideration of the following item.

A report of the Director Housing and Wellbeing.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Director Housing and Wellbeing to consider applications received for funding in round two of the Community Facilities and Community Grants programme for 2023/24 (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

RESOLVED

1.         that the following Community Facilities Grants be awarded:

•           £9,291 to 1st Nanpantan Scout Group towards completion of internal and external new build works;

•           £3,600 to Bishop Beveridge Club towards installation of solar panels;

•           £8,250 to Shepshed Cricket Club towards improving the toilet facilities and disability access;

2.         that the following Community Grants be awarded:

•           £2,000 to Age UK - Men & Women in Sheds (Charnwood Shed) towards general running costs. Awarded from Loughborough Grant;

•           £2,888 to B-Buddies towards purchase of outdoor ramps for cycling activities;

•           £1,128 to Communities Food and Wellbeing Hub towards providing Health & Wellbeing Events. Awarded from Loughborough Grant;

•           £3,750 to Falcon Support Services E.M. Ltd towards the Charnwood Drop-In Service. Awarded from Loughborough Grant;

•           £970 to Friends of Mountsorrel Castle Gardens towards improvements to the Castle Park in Mountsorrel;

•           £1,750 to Golf in Society towards purchase two golf buggies to enable wider access to the golfing facilities;

•           £1,000 to Grow Give Live towards street side planters for edible and flowering plants providing free of charge access to fresh produce to people in Syston;

•           £1,425 to Leslie Edwards Trust towards lipreading & communication skills classes in Loughborough & Birstall;

•           £2,044 to Menphys towards the start-up of Saturday Clubs in Charnwood £1,022 awarded through Community Grants and £1,022 from Loughborough Grant;

•           £1,500 to Modern Painters New Decorators towards work with disadvantaged communities in Charnwood through art, £500 awarded through Community Grants and £1,000 from Loughborough Grant;

•           £1,545 to Sileby Tennis and Pickleball Club towards the repurpose of a tennis court to create three dedicated Pickleball and kids mini tennis courts;

•           £1,500 to Without Walls towards to general running costs of Singing Cafes in Shepshed & Loughborough;

3.         The following application be declined as it did not score high enough:

•           Starlight Youth Theatre request for 6 headset microphones;

The following applications were ineligible and did not meet the grants criteria:

•           Ice Age Insights did not meet our criteria for wider-community benefit;

•           Leicester Childrens Holidays did not provide sufficient information;

•           Rotary Club of Loughborough Beacon did not meet our criteria for financial need for a grant;

•           Spectrum Sensory Sports did not provide sufficient evidence of need;

4.         that the Director of Housing and Wellbeing be given delegated authority to finalise the terms and conditions of the awarded Community Grants.

Reasons

1.         To provide financial support to organisations which meet the criteria of the Community Facilities Grants programme.

2.         To provide financial support to organisations which meet the criteria of the Community Grants programme.

3.         To decline to provide financial support to organisations which did not score high enough or not meet the criteria for the award of a grant under the Community Grants programme.

4.         To  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

A report of the Director Housing and Wellbeing.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Director Housing and Wellbeing to consider an amended tenancy policy (landlord services) (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

RESOLVED that the amended tenancy policy attached as appendix A to the report be approved.

Reason

To provide a consistent tenancy management service in accordance with regulation and legislation, and to avoid the risks associated with flexible tenancies, including that of not being able to recover possession of a dwelling during its fixed term where a serious breach of tenancy has occurred.

A report of the Director Housing and Wellbeing.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Director Housing and Wellbeing to consider the updated Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan 2023-2053 and Capacity Review (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).  Councillor Seaton highlighted the importance of annual review, this was noted.  The Scrutiny Commission was thanked for its scrutiny of the matter.

RESOLVED

1.         that the HRA Business Plan 2023-2053 and Capacity Review at Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

2.         that a further review of the HRA Business Plan be undertaken in 2024/2025.

Reasons

1.         To set out the revised financial framework for how the Council intends to meet the investment requirements necessary to deliver the landlord service and maintain its HRA properties over the next 30 years.

2.         To closely monitor projections considering sensitivities at the national level including inflation and government rent policy, and local service pressures.

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

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance to consider the Treasury Management Strategy and the Annual Investment Strategy, plus the various Prudential Borrowing and Treasury Indicators for the first six months of 2023/24, for recommendation to Council (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

RESOLVED that it be recommended to Council to note this 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.