Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Boldrin, S Bradshaw, J Bradshaw, Gerrard, B Gray, Hunt, Lowe, Needham, Parton, Popley, Radford, Tillotson and Ward.

Apologies for absence had been received from Honorary Aldermen Bush, Stott and Tormey.

Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 requires that a Councillor who owes arrears of Council Tax which have been outstanding for more than two months must declare this at any Council meeting which considers the setting of a budget and the Council Tax, and that they should not vote on those matters. Failing to comply with those requirements if they apply is an offence. If this applies to any Councillors at this meeting, they are therefore advised to make the required declaration and to leave the meeting during consideration of item 6.1.

It is a requirement of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members that the existence and nature of all personal interests must be disclosed. Therefore, in the case of item 6.1 on the agenda, 2022-23  General Fund, HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax and Medium Financial Strategy 2022/25 , it is suggested that members of precepting authorities declare such interests. (For example, this would relate to members of Leicestershire County Council, the Combined Fire Authority and Parish and Town Councils).

The Mayor drew Councillors’ attention to Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 required that a Councillor who owed arrears of Council Tax which had been outstanding for more than two months must declare that at any Council meeting which considered the setting of a budget and the Council Tax, and that they should not vote on those matters. In addition it was noted that it is a requirement of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members that the existence and nature of all personal interests must be disclosed. Therefore, in the case of item 6.1 on the agenda, 2022/23 Special Expenses and General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets, it is suggested that members of precepting authorities declare such interests. (For example, this would relate to members of Leicestershire County Council, the Combined Fire Authority and Parish and Town Councils).

The following disclosures of pecuniary and personal interests were made:

      i.        by Councillor Barkley - a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23) as a member of Leicestershire County Council and Syston Town Council.

    ii.        by Councillor Brookes – a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23)  as a member of Thurmaston Parish Council.

   iii.        by Councillor Charles – a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23) as a member of Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council.

   iv.        by Councillor Fryer – a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23) as a member of Leicestershire County Council.

    v.        By Councillor Forrest – a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23) as Chair of Barrow upon Soar Parish Council.

   vi.        By Councillor Grimley – a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23) as a member of Leicestershire County Council and the Combined Fire Authority.

  vii.        By Councillor Hadji-Nikolaou – a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23) as a member of Leicestershire County Council.

 viii.        by Councillor Howe – a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23) as a member of Birstall Parish Council.

   ix.        by Councillor Miah – a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23) as a member of Leicestershire County Council.

    x.        by Councillor Morgan – a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23) as a member of Leicestershire County Council.

   xi.        by Councillor Pacey – a personal interest in item 6.1 on the agenda (General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax 2022-23) as a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 124.

To confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held on 17th January 2022.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 17th January 2022 were confirmed and signed.

To receive announcements from the Mayor (if any).

The Mayor made the following announcements.

“Firstly, I would like to welcome two new Councillors to the Council. Councillors Anne Gray and Beverley Gray who were both elected to represent the Shelthorpe ward at the By-election held on 20th January 2022. Congratulations Councillors, and welcome.

I now wish to offer my condolences to the family and friends of former Councillor Brian Henman, who served the Borough as Mayor between May 1988 and May 1989, and who recently passed away. Brian was very active in the community and served as a Councillor between 1980 and 1999 and a Parish Councillor in Barrow-Upon-Soar for more than 25 years. Brian’s funeral service was held on Friday, 18th February.

I also wish to offer my condolences to the family and friends of former Councillor Janet Harris who represented the Sileby Ward from 1991 to 1995.

“As a mark of respect, I now ask that we all stand to observe a 1-minute’s silence to remember both Brian Henman, a former Mayor and Janet Harris a former Borough Councillor”

Council then observed one minute’s silence to remember former Mayor Brian Henman and former Councillor Janet Harris.

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

There were no Leader’s announcements.

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, setting out the proposed General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets for 2022/23 along with the proposed Council Tax Levy, and the 2022/23 proposals to increase rent and service charges within the ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account. To follow.

The full Council Tax Recommendations, which the Council must consider in order to set a Council Tax Levy and General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets for 2022/23, will be circulated once the major preceptors have confirmed their precepts.

A report of the Cabinet, setting out the proposed General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets for 2022/23 along with the proposed Council Tax Levy, and the 2022/23 proposals to increase rent and service charges within the ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account (item 6.1 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Due to the timings of the Borough Council and County Council budget meetings it was necessary to defer approval of the Council Tax levy calculations for 2022/23 to ensure that approvals were in line with legislative requirements.

A supplementary report required Council to make the substantive decisions in respect of its own budgets for 2022/23. 

An Extraordinary Council meeting scheduled for 1st March 2022 had been called so that the levy calculations for 2022/23 could be approved. The levy calculations were an arithmetic exercise to aggregate the total council tax billings based on the approved precepts of the County Council, the Police, the Combined Fire Authority and town and parish councils, as well as the Borough Council

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

It was proposed by Councillor Barkley and seconded by Councillor Rollings that recommendations 1 to 15 outlined in the supplementary report of the Cabinet be approved for reasons 1 to 15 in that report.

For the motion – Councillors Bailey, Baines, Barkley, Bentley, Bokor, Brookes, Campsall, Capleton, Charles, Fryer, Grimley, Hadji-Nikolaou, Harper-Davies, Howe, Mercer, Morgan, Murphy, Pacey, Paling, Parsons, Poland, Ranson, Rattray, Rollings, Savage, Seaton, Shepherd, Smidowicz, Snartt, Taylor, Williams.

Against the motion – Councillors Draycott, A Gray, Forrest, Goddard, Hamilton, C Harris, K Harris, Miah.

There were no abstentions.

RESOLVED that the Council adopts recommendations 1-15 as set out in the supplementary report of the Cabinet.

Reasons

For the reasons set out in the supplementary report of the Cabinet.

A report of the Cabinet, setting out the Capital Strategy, the Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy for 2022/23, together with the changes to the Council’s financial regulations, and other elements of the Constitution necessary to enable delivery of the Investment Strategy, is attached.

A report of the Cabinet, setting out the Capital Strategy, the Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy for 2022/23, together with the changes to the Council’s financial regulations, and other elements of the Constitution necessary to enable delivery of the Investment Strategy (item 6.2 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED

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

2.    That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy as shown at Appendix B of the report (attached as an Annex), be approved.

3.    That the Prudential and Treasury Indicators, also set out in Appendix B of the report (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 setting out a new Capital Plan 2022/23 to 2024/25 and sources of funding for consideration and approval, is attached.

A report of the Cabinet to seek approval of a new Capital Plan 2022/23 to 2024/25 and sources of funding (item 6.3 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED that the Final 3 Year Capital Plan for 2022/23 to 2024/25 for the General Fund and HRA schemes in Appendix 1 of the report (attached as an Annex) be endorsed.

Reason

So that the Final 3 Year Capital Plan becomes the basis for Capital spending by the Council for 2022/23 to 2024/25.

A report of the Chief Executive, enabling the Council to consider the findings and the recommendations of the IRP in respect of allowances paid to Members of the Council and the scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2022/23, is attached.

A report of the Chief Executive to consider the findings and the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel in respect of allowances paid to members of Charnwood Borough Council and the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2022/23 (item 6.4 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED

1.    that amendments in allowances should be linked to an index based on officer pay awards as follows: amendments in basic allowances be linked to any pay awards for officer salary grade PO1 (Principal Officer) and any amendments to special responsibility allowances be linked to any pay awards for officer salary grade JNC E (Strategic Director);

2.     that any agreed pay awards for those officer salary grades be applied to the corresponding basic and special responsibility allowances as from the same effective date;

3.    that delegated authority be given to the Head of Strategic Support to implement any adjustments in basic and special responsibility allowances once the relevant officers’ pay awards are finalised, including updating the Scheme of Members’ Allowances as required and back-dating any such adjustments to the relevant effective dates, and that where the only change made to the Scheme during that period is that arising from an adjustment in accordance with this delegated authority that the Scheme shall be deemed not to have been amended;

4.    that the link to the index of officer pay awards as set out above should apply for a period of two years (ie financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24) before it should be reviewed again;

5.    that during the period referred to in (4) an annual report to Council to approve a Scheme of Members’ Allowances will be submitted in advance of each civic year, as required by the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, together with a Agenda Item 6.4 report from the Independent Remuneration Panel making recommendations on any other elements of the Scheme, or if the relevant officer grades are awarded a non-consolidated (one-off) pay award, or anything other than a standard percentage pay award; 

6.    to adopt the proposed Scheme of Members’ Allowances for the 2022/23 civic year as set out at Appendix B, noting that travel expenses for attending council and committee meetings will no longer be claimable by Members.

Reason

1-6      To ensure compliance with the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003.

A report of the Audit Committee to consider a recommendation of the Audit Committee that the Council opts into the appointing person arrangements made by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA) for the appointment of external auditors and that authority is delegated to the Strategic Director of Environmental & Corporate Services to submit the formal notice of acceptance and provision of information to PSAA as required.

A report of the Audit Committee to consider a recommendation that the Council opts into the appointing person arrangements made by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA) for the appointment of external auditors and that authority is delegated to the Strategic Director of Environmental & Corporate Services to submit the formal notice of acceptance and provision of information to PSAA as required (item 6.5 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

It was proposed by Councillor Parsons, second by Councillor Barkley, and

RESOLVED

1.    That the Council opts into the appointing person arrangements made by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA) for the appointment of external auditors.

2.    That authority is delegated to the Strategic Director of Environmental & Corporate Services to submit the formal notice of acceptance and provision of information to PSAA as required.

Reasons

1.    To enable the Council to participate in the PSAA appointing arrangements.

2.    To allow the engagement process to be carried out efficiently.

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.

No motions on notice have been received.

No motions on notice had been submitted.

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 Snartt.

Councillor Snartt asked if there had been cost benefit analysis undertaken to justify use of the Council’s financial resources for refurbishing garages? He also asked to have sight of the garage and parking review so that he could better understand the reasons for decisions made regarding the use of garages.

Councillor Poland thanked Councillor Snartt for his supplementary question and stated that he would liaise with officers to provide a written response to Councillor Snartt.

There are no minute references.

There were no minute references.

A report of the Chief Executive to note decisions which were exempted from call-in in accordance with Scrutiny Committee Procedure 11.9.

A report of the Chief Executive to note decisions which were exempted from call-in in accordance with Scrutiny Committee Procedure 11.9. (item 12 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

A report of the Chief Executive to inform Council of a delegation of an Executive function to the Leader and Deputy Leader.

A report of the Chief Executive to inform Council of a delegation of an Executive function to the Leader and Deputy Leader (item 13 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

To consider changes to Committee membership for the current Council year (2021/22).

A report of the Chief Executive to seek confirmation of changes to the membership of committees (item 14 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

It was proposed by Councillor Miah, seconded by Councillor Hamilton, and

RESOLVED that the appointments be made as set out in the report.

Reason

To reflect the wishes of the Labour group in making appointments to committees and to comply with sections 11.2(d) and 12.4(a) and (b) of the Council’s Constitution.