Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Bolton and C Harris, and Honorary Aldermen Bush, Shields, Stott and Tormey.

No disclosures of pecuniary or personal interests were made.

To confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held on 7th September 2020.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 7th September 2020 were confirmed and signed.

To receive announcements from the Mayor (if any).

The Mayor made the following announcements:

Loughborough Remembrance Service and Armistice Day

‘It was a great personal honour for me to take part in this year’s Loughborough Remembrance Service. If this was a normal year, we would have all come together to remember those who served and many who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

I was pleased we were able, albeit in limited numbers to honour all past, present serving members and their families within our armed services community. Especially the ones who have been involved in many conflicts around the world, making sure we have made a safer place for our children and future generations.

Tomorrow I will be involved in a service for Armistice Day which will be streamed on the 11th November. This marks 102 years since the end of the First World War when the guns fell silent on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.’

To consider significant, recent matters affecting the Council or the Borough (if any).

The Leader made the following announcement:

Disabilities Champion

‘Mr Mayor I would like to announce that Councillor Popley has been appointed Disabilities Champion for the Council.

As part of this role, Councillor Popley will be responsible for;

• Supporting the Council to achieve its Disability Confident accreditation, and to uphold all relevant policies and practices,

• Identifying areas where disabled provision could be improved within Loughborough and the wider Borough, particularly through the use of Equality Impact Assessments,

• Working with the Equalities Team to help promote disability awareness across the Council/Borough,

• Supporting celebration events such as International Day of People with Disabilities and other associated events throughout the calendar year,

• Ensuring Elected Members have appropriate disability equality awareness training.’

To receive announcements from the Chief Executive (if any).

The Chief Executive made no announcements.

To allow councillors to formally submit petitions for consideration under the Council’s petition scheme, as set out in Full Council Procedure 9.8.

No petitions were submitted.

To consider the following matters reserved to Council in accordance with Section 5 of the Constitution:

A report of the Cabinet to seek approval ofan updated Capital Strategy 2020/21, together with the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, the Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy.

A report of the Cabinet to seek approval of an updated Capital Strategy 2020/21, together with the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, the Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy (item 6.1 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

In considering the item, some concern was expressed regarding the sum of borrowing proposed and the lack of rationale, together with concerns regarding the forward funding for development of the Enterprise Zone. Clarification was sought on the financial returns and associated timelines.

The Leader advised that members had attended a briefing session providing information on how the Updated Capital Strategy 2020/21 would work, and provided an opportunity for members to ask questions of officers. He also highlighted that the Covid-19 pandemic and the Loughborough Town Deal award had meant that alterations to the original Capital Strategy were required.

The Deputy Leader stated that the documentation provided contained all the relevant information. He also highlighted that the Enterprise Zone was a positive attribute for the Borough, providing employment opportunities and improving the economy. Councillor Barkley was confident that financial challenges would be overcome.

It was proposed by Councillor Barkley, seconded by Councillor Morgan and

RESOLVED

1. That the Capital Strategy, as set out in Appendix A of the report of the Head of Financial Services (attached as an Annex), be approved.

2. That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy, as set out in Appendix B of the report of the Head of Financial Services (attached as an Annex), be approved.

3. That the Prudential and Treasury Indicators, also as set out in Appendix B of the report of the Head of Financial Services (attached as an Annex), be approved.

Reasons

1. To enable the Council to comply with the statutory code of practice issued by CIPFA: ‘The Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities, 2017 Edition’.

2. To ensure that the Council’s governance and management procedures for Treasury Management reflect best practice and comply with the CIPFA Treasury Management in the Public Services Code of Practice, Guidance Notes and Treasury Management Policy Statement.

3. To ensure 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 Cabinet to seek approval ofa revised General Fund Budget 2020/21 and updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2020-2023 given the material impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the Council’s financial position.

A report of the Cabinet to seek approval of a revised General Fund Budget 2020/21 and updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2020-2023 given the material impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the Council’s financial position (item 6.2 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillors were reminded that it was a legal requirement that all votes taken on this item, including votes on amendments must be recorded votes.

For the motion - Councillors Bailey, Baines, Barkley, Bentley, Bokor, S Bradshaw, Brookes, Campsall, Capleton, Charles, Fryer, Gerrard, Grimley, Hadji-Nikolaou, Harper-Davies, Howe, Lowe, Mercer, Morgan, Murphy, Needham, Pacey, Paling, Parsons, Parton, Poland, Popley, Radford, Ranson, Rattray, Rollings, Savage, Seaton, Shepherd, Smidowicz, Snartt, Tassell and Taylor.

Against the motion – Councillors Boldrin, J Bradshaw, Brennan, Draycott, Forrest, Goddard, Hamilton, K Harris, Miah, Tillotson and Ward.

It was proposed by Councillor Barkley, seconded by Councillor Rollings and

RESOLVED

1. That the revised Budget, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Head of Financial Services (attached as an Annex), be approved.

2. That the updated MTFS 2020-2023, as set out in Appendix B to the report of the Head of Financial Services (attached as an Annex), be approved.

Reasons

1. To ensure that the Budget for 2020/21 reflects the impact of the Covid19 outbreak and can be approved by Council.

2. To reconsider and update the financial issues affecting the Council and the Borough identified in the original version of the MTFS, and to inform the Council’s budget setting process for future years.

A report of the Cabinet to seek approval ofa revised Capital Plan 2020-2023 and its financing following a detailed review in the light of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Councillor Grimley left the meeting at approximately 7:32pm.

Councillor Hunt joined the meeting at approximately 7:35pm.

A report of the Cabinet to seek approval of a revised Capital Plan 2020-2023 and its financing following a detailed review in the light of the Covid-19 outbreak (item 6.3 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Concern was expressed by the Shadow Member for Climate Emergency and Carbon Management, that the Carbon Neutral Action fund budget had been reduced and asked when a revised budget for this could be expected. In addition, it was requested that a Labour member be allocated a seat on the Carbon Neutral Board.

The Lead Member for Transformation stated that the Council remained committed to achieving Carbon neutrality by 2030 and had reviewed plans to accommodate for a reduced budget. In addition, Councillor Rollings clarified that Councillor Needham as the Champion for Climate Change, was on the Carbon Action Board.

In considering this item it was also that Council should receive an update on the work of contractor Fortum.

It was proposed by Councillor Barkley, seconded by Councillor Harper-Davies and

RESOLVED

That the Revised Capital Plan for 2020-2023 for the General Fund and HRA schemes, set out in Appendix 2 to the report of the Head of Financial Services (attached as an Annex), is approved.

Reason

To enable approval of the revised Capital Plan which will become the basis for capital spending by the Council for the period ending 31st March 2023.

A report of the Cabinet to seek approval of a Member Development Strategy 2020-2024.

A report of the Cabinet to seek approval of a Member Development Strategy 2020-2024 (item 6.4 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Council acknowledged the high quality of training and development opportunities available to them both internally and externally. Councillors thanked officers for their work in organising and delivering training, for their support and for enabling them to fulfil their roles as Councillors as successfully as possible. Particular emphasis was made on the support of the Council’s ICS function.

It was proposed by Councillor Smidowicz, seconded by Councillor Popley and

RESOLVED

That the Member Development Strategy 2020-2024, set out in Appendix A to the report of the Head of Strategic Support (attached as an Annex), be approved.

Reason

To enable the Strategy, which sets out to ensure that there is support for all members to enable them to acquire enough knowledge and a full range of skills to maximise their ability and capacity, to be adopted and inform the Council’s member development activity.

Councillor Grimley joined the meeting at approximately 19:53pm.

Councillor Mercer left the meeting at approximately 20:08pm.

There are no references to Council following the call-in of a Cabinet decision under Scrutiny Committee Procedure 11.7.

There were no call-in references from Scrutiny.

No requests for position statements were received.

No position statements had been requested.

To consider the following motion on notice submitted under Full Council Procedure 9.12:

Motion submitted by the Conservative Group.

In accordance with Full Council Procedure 9.12, Councillor Fryer had given notice of a motion on Sky Lanterns and Helium Balloons (item 9.1 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

An amendment to point (ii) of the Motion was requested by Councillor Fryer, to read ‘refuse the sale of any sky lanterns at any Council event or property’. This amendment was deemed necessary to enable helium balloons to be sold at the annual Loughborough fair and at any Council owned premises where a tenant may sell helium balloons.

The motion was moved by Councillor Fryer and seconded by Councillor Needham, and it was

RESOLVED

1.    That permissions for the release of any sky lanterns or helium balloons is refused from any Council owned land regardless of thee purpose for the release.

2.    That the sale of any sky lanterns at any Council event or property be refused.

3.    That officers are required to introduce a condition of contract relating to outdoor events and organised functions on land or property owned and/or controlled by Charnwood Borough Council to prohibit the release of any sky lantern or helium balloon regardless of purpose.

4.    That information be provided on the website and parish and town councils with the Charnwood Borough Council boundary be written to drawing attention to the harmful effects of such lanterns and balloons on the environment and animals.

Reasons

1-4      To ensure the motion on notice supported by the Council be implemented.

To deal with the following questions on notice, submitted under Full Council Procedure 9.9(a):

The questions on notice and the responses of the Leader or his nominee were submitted (item 10 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Question submitted by Councillor Grimley.

Councillor Grimley asked whether a scaled back road network provision in the south of Leicestershire would help to evenly distribute housing across the County.

Councillor Bailey thanked Councillor Grimley for his question and stated that the Council did support any roadway which would help to distribute housing more evenly toward the south of the City.

Question submitted by Councillor Gerrard.

Councillor Gerrard asked the Lead Member whether a monthly jobs market would be endorsed, allowing businesses space to advertise opportunities, with a start date of 2021.

Councillor Bokor thanked Councillor Gerrard for her question and stated that the answer had previously been communicated.

Question submitted by Councillor Taylor.

Councillor Taylor thanked the Lead Member for the response and enquired about the time frame for a judicial review on planning conditions.

Councillor Bailey thanked Councillor Taylor for her question and confirmed that the time frame was six weeks from the decision date.

Question submitted by Councillor Draycott.

Councillor Draycott asked the Lead Member to confirm how the Council intended to overcome the barriers faced by members of the community over 65 years, unable to access information regarding the pandemic.

Councillor Morgan stated that this was an issue the Council was conscious of and would develop a strategy to address this.

Question submitted by Councillor Draycott.

Councillor Draycott did not have a supplementary question.

Question submitted by Councillor Forrest.

Councillor Forrest thanked the Lead Member for the response and asked for more information on the rationale for evicting residents.

Councillor Poland thanked Councillor Forrest for her question and stated that serious antisocial behaviour would result in the notice of eviction. He also emphasized that notice was given six months prior to eviction and that there had been no evictions during the initial lock down period.

Question submitted by Councillor Forrest.

Councillor Forrest asked that the information provided by the Lead Member be considered following the relaxing of current national restrictions.

Councillor Morgan stated that when information was available following the current national restrictions then this would be communicated thoroughly. He also stated that the Council would encourage the local media to distribute this information accurately.

There are no minute references.

There were no minute references.

A report of the Chief Executive to inform Council of changes to the delegation of Executive functions.

A report of the Chief Executive to inform Council of changes to the delegation of Executive functions (item 12 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

To note decisions which were exempted from call-in in accordance with Scrutiny Committee Procedure 11.9.

This report contains an exempt appendix (Appendix C) circulated to Councillors.

A report of the Chief Executive to note decisions which were exempted from call-in in accordance with Scrutiny Committee Procedure 11.9 (item 13 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Excluded?

To consider any changes to Committee membership for the current Council year (2020/21) (if any).

There were no proposals to consider.