Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Boldrin, Brookes, Forrest, Howe, Hunt, Lowe, Paling, Radford, Shepherd, Ward and Williams.

Apologies for absence were also received from Honorary Aldermen Bush, Stott and Tormey.

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.

No disclosures were made.

To confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held on 7th November 2022.

Councillor Draycott raised a point regarding the accuracy of the minutes of the previous meeting. With regards to minutes number 76, concerning the question on notice about the housing register, she stated that 52 properties required major works and 83 required standard works. She also asked if the multi contractors training had been a distraction to the day-to-day work of the Housing Officers.

Following these corrections, the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 7th November 2023 were confirmed and signed.

To receive announcements from the Mayor (if any).

The Mayor made the following announcements.

“Holocaust Memorial Day

You are welcome to join me at 12 noon on Friday, 27th January at the Bandstand in Queen’s Park, Loughborough.

Mayor’s Civic Service

You are welcome to join me on Sunday, 12th March at All Saints Trinity Parish Church, Loughborough. More details will follow from the Mayor’s Office in due course.”

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

The Leader made the following announcement.

“Late last week we heard that our bid for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund had been passed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), so I thought I would share some of the brilliant projects that are going to be funded from that £4m, over the next three years. They include four projects across Loughborough, including the refurbishment of the Carillon Tower. With the 100th anniversary this year, this is quite a significant project. Also, the installation of a living wall in the middle of the town, which we will start to see very soon. Funding towards Gorse Covert and Nanpantan Scouts, and then across the rest of the Borough, a significant investment in the public realm in Shepshed, Mountsorrel, Sileby and Birstall, with investment in better sports facilities and open spaces. In Anstey, there will be additional funding for the expansion of the community hall. There will be a particularly exciting project called ‘Generation Charnwood’, which is backed and supported by the Youth Sports Trust and will be to the benefit of the entire Borough. I have personally been campaigning for this project for quite a long time because I think it will make a significant difference to our up and coming generation of residents. I thought I would share this with Council because it is good news.”

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 review the Treasury Management Strategy and the Annual Investment Strategy, plus the various Prudential Borrowing and Treasury Indicators for the first six months of 2022/23.

A report of the Cabinet 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 2022/23, was submitted (item 6.1 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED that Council 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 (attached as an Annex).

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 Cabinet to consider a recommendation of the Cabinet in respect of an amendment to the Capital Plan.

A report of the Cabinet to consider a recommendation of the Cabinet in respect of an amendment to the Capital Plan was submitted (item 6.2 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Draycott highlighted that there was research suggesting that LED lighting may cause health issues in people exposed to them. She asked that the Lead Member ensured the LED lighting being installed in the Southfields building had been thoroughly assessed in terms of health and safety. The Lead Member stated that the lighting would be subject to health and safety measures. 

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

RESOLVED that HRA virements be approved: to increase Heating Scheme £250k, reduce Sheltered Housing Improvements £150k, increase Major Voids £140k, reduce Kitchens £70k, reduce Bathrooms £300k, increase Asbestos Removal £100k and increase Door Entry Systems £30k, to enable the programme to progress where work is being identified as part of Period 7 Capital Monitoring.

Reason

To enable the various HRA budgets to be available in 2022/23 to fund the virements.

A report of the Personnel Committee to consider a recommendation from the Personnel Committee that the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24 be approved and adopted was submitted (item 6.3 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

It was highlighted that the report contained a minor error on page 66 of the agenda. The pay and grading structure was for 2022, as opposed to 2021, as stated at the top of the table.

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

RESOLVED that the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24, as set out (with agreed amendments) in Annex A to the report considered by the Personnel Committee (attached as an appendix), be approved and adopted.

Reason

To ensure that the Council meets its obligations under Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011.

A report of the Chief Executive to approve scales of election fees and expenses payable to the Returning Officer for any local council elections during 2023/24.

A report of the Chief Executive to approve scales of election fees and expenses payable to the Returning Officer for any local council elections during 2023/24 was submitted(item 6.4 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED that the scale of election fees and expenses appended to this report be adopted for 2023/23.

Reason

To ensure an approved scale of fees can be applied in respect of any local council elections and by-elections which take place during 2023/24.

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 Anne Gray.

Councillor A Gray thanked the Lead Member and officers for the response. She asked if there was anyone internal that could undertake the survey and how much the survey would cost? She also asked that after the analysis of the survey results, Council be kept informed on any work undertaken.

Councillor Poland stated that he was unsure of the cost of the survey, but that he would provide this information to Councillor Gray following the meeting. He also confirmed that the type of survey being undertaken was ad hoc and specialist and so there was not a requirement for Council staff to be able to complete this work. He also stated that following the results of the survey, the Council would be in a better position to invest in properties.

Question submitted by Councillor Miah.

Councillor Miah thanked the Lead Member and officers for the response and asked if the Council tracked the demographics of the individuals in temporary accommodation to identify any trends?

Councillor Mercer stated that he was unsure what Councillor Miah was asking for and asked him to make contact outside of the meeting with a more defined explanation. He also stated the number of individuals in temporary accommodation was declining.

Question submitted by Councillor Miah.

Councillor Miah asked what the Council would do about the loss of rent income from void properties and the cost of temporary accommodation providers?

Councillor Mercer stated that the Council’s expenditure on temporary accommodation providers was declining. He also stated that this information relating to this question was already in the public domain.

Question submitted by Councillor Miah.

Councillor Miah asked why cases involving lengthily stays in emergency accommodation had not been highlighted to ward Councillors to enable them to help residents find permanent accommodation?

Councillor Mercer stated that the figures produced include the time period during the Covid-19 pandemic and that the figures were in decline. He also stated that many of the individuals in temporary accommodation had complex needs and that some were not included in the Council’s statutory duty to house. He confirmed that the ward Councillor for the specific cases was aware of the situation and the reasons for the lengthily stays in temporary accommodation.

There are no minute references.

There were no minute references.

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

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

To consider any changes to Committee membership for the current Council year (2022/23) (if any).

There were no proposals to consider.

In closing the meeting, the Mayor stated that there was no business to consider at the meeting of the Council scheduled for 20th March 2023 and confirmed that the meeting would be cancelled.