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 as a member of Leicestershire County Council in respect of item 7 on the agenda (Draft General Fund and HRA 2024-25 Budgets).

No announcements were made.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16th November 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Councillor Jones arrived at the meeting at 6.05pm as she had been attending Plans Committee.

The deadline for questions is noon on Monday, 4th December 2023.

Note: Questions A-C related to changes made to Council Constitution in respect of Plans Committee at Council on 6th November 2023/the FAQs sent out to all members in that respect. 

A.        Councillor D. Taylor - Changes in Length of Time for Speakers at Plans Committee

“At the July 26th 2023 briefing, it was largely felt by all Councillors present that the 5-minute slot should remain in the interests of democracy.

Would the Leader confirm, in the interests of democracy who decided to recommend the change to the constitution to 3 minutes without bringing this item back for further discussion at a later Councillor briefing?”

The following response had been published prior to the meeting:

The recommendations of POSe, including those for public speaking, were first presented to members on 26 June 2023. The change to the time limit for public speaking was discussed in the all-member technical briefing on 7 September 2023 and Group Leaders were also briefed on 21 August 2023. The proposal was considered by Scrutiny Committee on 9 October 2023 and they resolved to support the recommendations to Cabinet (minute 51 23/24 refers). Cabinet considered the proposals on 12 October 2023 and resolved to refer the changes to Council on 6 November 2023 where the changes were approved by members (minutes 37 and 66.1 23/24 refer).

Councillor D. Taylor asked the following supplementary question:

“The Leader has failed to address in his reply that the majority of councillors present at the briefing on 26th July wanted the 5-minute slot to remain.

There was obviously a change of view between the 26th July briefing and the following meetings held on 21st August and 7th September, before the change was presented to the Scrutiny Commission and the Cabinet.

So I will ask the question again and I hope for a clear answer.  Who decided to recommend the change to the Constitution to 3 minutes without bringing this item back for further discussion at a later councillor briefing?”

In response, the Leader stated that councillors had had the opportunity to consider the 3 minutes proposal at Scrutiny Commission and at Full Council.  Since the Full Council meeting, no other councillors had queried the matter further.

B.        Councillor D. Taylor – Call In Process (Plans Committee)

“Would the Leader explain where in the Planning Officers’ Society Enterprises (POSe) representations it recommends changing the Constitution to ‘Ultimately the Chair (or Vice Chair in their absence) will decide if the item will be added to the committee agenda’?

It is stated in the FAQs the change responds to concerns raised repeatedly by members of the Plans committee that items are being brought to committee by Ward Councillors that should be dealt with under delegated authority.

Would the Leader list the dates and planning applications over the past year that have repeatedly been raised by members of the Plans committee?

If concerns are repeatedly raised by members of the Plans Committee. Would the Leader explain why the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

A report of the Director Commercial and Economic Development.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Director Commercial and Economic Development: Asset Management Strategy 2024 to 2030 (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Rattray, 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 Commission was thanked for its scrutiny of the matter.

RESOLVED that the Asset Management Strategy be approved to:

1.      generate income from the operational, commercial, and investment portfolio;

2.      identify and support delivery of corporate and service-related fixed asset projects;

3.      support the corporate objective for a Net Zero Council by 2030;

4.      continue the transformation journey toward an agile workforce that is well equipped;

5.      delegate authority to the Strategic Director/Head of Service to make minor amendments to the strategy in consultation with the Lead Member.

Reasons

1.      Generating additional income and operational savings will reduce the tax burden on residents.

2.      Delivery/support of corporate projects that are in the corporate or service plans will ensure the fixed assets remain for purpose and meet or exceed operational requirements and add value to the estate.

3.      Delivery/support of projects that reduce carbon emissions to meet the Council’s Net Zero commitment for 2030 will ensure fixed assets perform at the best possible levels of efficacy and deliver carbon and financial savings.

4.      Rationalising the fixed assets to meet the new agile workforce occupancy needs will reduce operational costs and where underused assets become apparent, they may be repurposed and utilised for income generation or capital receipt as may be appropriate.

5.      The Asset Management Strategy is very much an iterative document that needs to react in a timely fashion as a result of other policy or business model changes. Delegation to the Director/Service Head to make and record minor changes in consultation with the Lead Member will ensure actions are taken under delegation without undue delay or use of valuable committee time.

A report of the Head of Finance.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance: Draft General Fund and HRA 2024-25 Budgets (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

RESOLVED

1.         that the draft General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets for 2024/25 as set out in Tables 2A, 2B and 4 in Part B of the report be endorsed for consultation;

2.         that the Loughborough Special Expense Budget and Levy for 2024/25 as set out at Appendix 2 to the report be endorsed for consultation.

Reason

1&2.      To provide the opportunity for consultation on the General Fund and HRA budgets for the 2024/25 financial year.

A report of the Head of Finance.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance: Draft Capital Plan (2024-25 to 2026-27) (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

RESOLVED that the Draft Capital Plan for 2024/25 to 2026/27 for the recommended General Fund and HRA schemes as set out at Appendix 1 to the report be endorsed for consultation.

Reason

To enable consultation on the Draft Capital Plan, so that it can become the basis for capital spending by the Council.

A report of the Head of Finance.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Finance: Capital Plan Amendment Report (current 2023/24-2025/26 Capital Plan) (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

RESOLVED

1.         that the current Capital Plan for 2023/24-2025/26, as amended by the changes shown in Appendix 1 to the report, in the budgeted sum of £52,742,400 be approved;

2.      approve a virement of £15k from Town Hall additional seating to Loughborough Town Hall – new website commissioning in 2023/24, to enable the budget to be available for the new scheme;

3.      increase the budget for Disabled Facilities Grants by £98.3k in 2023/24, due to additional funding received from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities;

4.      add a new scheme – Carillon Tower – Re-imaging Loughborough’s Iconic Tower totalling £249.3k, for the redevelopment of the Carillon Tower War Memorial Museum – funded by UK Share Prosperity Fund;

5.      reduce Carbon Monoxide Alarms by £149.8k and Electrical Upgrades by £405.3k in 2024/25, due to a review of budgets in the new three year Capital Plan 2024-2027;

6.      that it be recommended to Council to increase the budget for Bedford Square Gateway by £700k in 2024/25, due to increasing costs of completion, funded by capital receipts;

7.      that it be recommended to Council to re-profile £1.6m from 2023/24 to 2024/25 for the Redevelopment Sheltered Accommodation – St Michael’s Court, Thurmaston scheme, due to works expected to start early 2024;

8.      note additional decisions taken by Officers, in relation to new S106 schemes added to the Capital Programme, also included in Appendix 1 to the report;

9.      note amendments to the Capital Programme since 14th September 2023 minute 28.

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 Loughborough Town Hall – new website commissioning budget to be available in 2023/24.

3.         To confirm that the Disabled Facilities Grants be increased by £98.3k in 2023/24, funded by grant.

4.         To enable the Carillon Tower – Re-imaging Loughborough’s Iconic Tower budget to be available in 2023/24, funded by UK Share Prosperity Fund.

5.         To confirm that the Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Electrical Upgrades schemes be reduced.

6.         To confirm that the Bedford Square Gateway be increased by £700k so that the scheme may be completed.

7.         To enable the Redevelopment Sheltered Accommodation – St Michael’s Court, Thurmaston budget to be available in 2024/25.

8.         To ensure members are aware of additional decisions taken by Officers, in relation to new S106 schemes added to the Capital Programme, also included in Appendix 1.

9.         To ensure members are aware of amendments to the Capital Programme since Cabinet 14th September 2023 minute 28.

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 Head of Economic Development and Regeneration, circulated to councillors.

Notification was given on 15th November 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 Head of Economic Development and Regeneration: Regeneration Prospectus (item 11 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Rattray, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, presented an exempt report setting out the Commission’s pre-decision scrutiny of the matter and recommendation (copy filed with these minutes).  The Commission was thanked for its scrutiny of the matter.  The Cabinet agreed with the Commission’s view that the document was currently Loughborough centric, but it provided a starting point and the intention was to grow it and look at the wider Borough.

The consultants were also thanked for their work on the matter.

RESOLVED

1.      that the Regeneration Prospectus be approved;

2.      that authority be delegated to the Head of Economic Development and Regeneration to make future updates to the Prospectus in consultation with the Lead Member for Economic Development, Regeneration and Town Centres.

Reasons

1.         To ensure that regeneration is an integral part of this Council’s work to continually improve Charnwood for its residents and businesses, giving a focus and direction for future action.

2.         To enable the document to remain ‘live’ and relevant when being used to engage with potential regeneration partners.