Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Ashcroft, Brookes, Hadji-Nikolaou, Infield, Popley and Seaton.

Apologies for absence had also been received from Honorary Aldermen Bush, Shields, 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.

The following disclosures of pecuniary and personal interests were made:

      i.        By Councillor Bradshaw, a non-registrable interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investment), as she has a deferred benefit in the Leicestershire Pension Fund.

    ii.        By Councillor Jadeja, a non-registrable interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investment), as she has a small historical pension with Leicestershire County Council.

   iii.        By Councillor Lawrence, a non-registrable interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investment), as a member and beneficiary of the Leicestershire Local Government Pension Scheme.

   iv.        By Councillor Miah, a non-registrable interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investment), as a member of Leicestershire County Council Pension Scheme (deferred).

    v.        By Councillor Roberts, a non-registrable interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investment), as a member of the Leicestershire County Council Pension Scheme.

   vi.        By Councillor Smidowicz, a non-registrable interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investment), as a beneficiary of the Leicestershire Pension Scheme.

  vii.        By Councillor D Taylor, a registrable interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investment), as a member of Leicestershire County Council.

 viii.        By Councillor D Taylor, a non-registrable interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investment), as her spouse was in receipt of a Leicestershire County Council pension.

   ix.        By Councillor Tillotson, a non-registrable interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investment), as a recipient of a Leicestershire County Council pension.

    x.        By Councillor Woodward, a non-registrable interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investment), as she has a Leicestershire County Council pension.

To confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held on 19th June 2023.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 19th June 2023 were confirmed and signed.

To receive announcements from the Mayor (if any).

The Mayor made the following announcements.

Adrian Ward – Head of Governance & HR

After 16 years at Charnwood Borough Council (and 13 years as the Monitoring Officer) I wish to say a heartfelt thank you to Adrian Ward who has recently accepted a position with another local authority. Adrian is due to finish early November, and so this will be his last Council meeting at Charnwood. On behalf of the Council, we all wish you well in your new role.

Bell Festival -10 September

There is a festival on 10th September to commemorate Loughborough’s long history with bells. The festival will focus on a 7 ft tall willow bell which represents Great Paul, the largest bell ever cast in Britain. This was made by Taylor’s Bell Foundry in Loughborough and delivered to St Paul’s Cathedral in 1882 and  taken to London on a trailer pulled by a steam engine.

Our willow bell will be blessed at All Saints Church at 1.30 pm and will leave the churchyard to a peal of bells at approx. 2 pm. The procession will make its way to Granby Street, at approximately 2.30 pm.

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 to consider recommendations in respect of expenditure on the Capital Plan for the year 2022/23, the schemes that required carry forward of budget to 2023/24 and the financing of the Capital Plan.

A report of the Cabinet to consider recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of expenditure on the Capital Plan for the year 2022/23, the schemes that required carry forward of budget to 2023/24 and the financing of the Capital Plan, was submitted (item 6.1 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED

1.    That the outturn position for 2022/23 and that slippage of capital budgets totalling £9,755,421 being General Fund £6,080,121 and Housing Revenue Account £3,675,300 be carried forward into 2023/24 and added to the Capital Plan;

2.    That the financing of the Plan set out in Table 2 to the report.

Reasons

1.    To enable projects to be completed.

2.    To indicate how the Plan is to be financed.

A report of the Cabinet to consider a recommendation of the Cabinet in respect of the procurement of an additional contractor to work on void properties (HRA revenue budget increase).

A report of the Cabinet to consider a recommendation of the Cabinet in respect of the procurement of an additional contractor to work on void properties (HRA revenue budget increase), was submitted (item 6.2 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED that the HRA revenue budgets be increased by £858.1k on an ongoing basis to fund the estimated cost of the works delivered through the void repairs contract and the officer resource needed to support the effective management of the contract and void repairs generally.

Reason

To provide sufficient budget to meet the estimated cost of works delivered through the void repairs contract, and to provide an appropriate level of resource to support effective contract management and clearance of a backlog of voids and re-let properties faster.

A report of the Monitoring Officer to appoint a new representative to the Independent Remuneration Panel for a four year term of office.

A report of the Monitoring Officer to appoint a new representative to the Independent Remuneration Panel for a four year term of office, was submitted (item 6.3 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED that Mr Elliot Harris be appointed to the Independent Remuneration Panel until the end of the 2026/27 civic year.

Reason

To fill a vacancy on the Independent Remuneration Panel.

A report of the Monitoring Officer to make Members aware of the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman’s (LGSCO) review letter for 2022/23 and six cases of complaints that were upheld by the LGSCO during the year, in accordance with the LGSCO’s guidance which is that the Monitoring Officer should make a periodic report to councillors summarising any upheld complaints.

The report also summarises one complaint that was upheld by the Housing Ombudsman Scheme during 2022/23.

A report of the Monitoring Officer to make Members aware of the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman’s (LGSCO) review letter for 2022/23 and six cases of complaints that were upheld by the LGSCO during the year, in accordance with the LGSCO’s guidance which is that the Monitoring Officer should make a periodic report to councillors summarising any upheld complaints, was submitted (item 6.4 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED that the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman’s appended review letter for 2022/23, and the summary of upheld complaints as set out in Part B of this report, be noted.

Reason

To comply with the guidance from the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman that the Monitoring Officer should make Members aware of upheld complaints on a periodic basis.

A report of the Chief Executive to present a proposal to undertake a formal review of polling districts, polling places and polling stations within the Borough as required under the Electoral Registration & Administration Act 2013.

A report of the Chief Executive to present a proposal to undertake a formal review of polling districts, polling places and polling stations within the Borough as required under the Electoral Registration & Administration Act 2013, was submitted (item 6.5 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

It was proposed by Councillor Jones, seconded by Councillor Bokor, and

RESOLVED that a review of polling districts, polling places and polling stations within the Borough be undertaken to commence in October 2023, with final proposals being reported for approval at the January 2024 Council meeting.

Reason

To comply with the requirements of the Electoral Registration & Administration Act 2013.

A report of the Scrutiny Commission to consider the Annual Scrutiny Report for 2022-23.

A report of the Scrutiny Commission to consider the Annual Scrutiny Report 2022-23 (item 6.6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

It was proposed by Councillor Needham, seconded by Councillor Maynard, and

RESOLVED that the work of scrutiny during 2022-23, as set out in the Annual Scrutiny Report 2022-23 attached as an Annex to this report, be noted.

Reason

To report annually to Council on the workings of scrutiny bodies and the operation of the scrutiny function generally, in accordance with Scrutiny Committee Procedure 6.3(e) of the Council’s Constitution.

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 Councillor Lawrence.

Motion on Notice regarding Leicestershire Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Investments was submitted by Councillor Lawrence (item 9.1 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

In proposing the motion, Councillor Lawrence highlighted that the motion had been amended slightly, following advice from the Monitoring Officer. He confirmed that the amended version of the motion required the funds officers at Leicestershire County Council to calculate and publish the carbon footprint of the investments made in fossil fuels as part of the pensions fund. A copy of the amended Motion on Notice was circulated at the meeting for Councillors to read.

He went on to state that in 2022-23, the Council had made more than £1.7m employer pension contributions to the Leicestershire pensions fund. He recognised that the Council was committed to reducing the carbon footprint of internal operations and that by 2023, the Council hoped to be net zero on carbon emissions.

Councillor Lawrence stated that in March 2021, the pension fund’s investments in companies associated with fossil fuels was estimated to be more than £154m and said that he believed as the Council’s pension contributions towards the fund were significant, these fossil fuel investments should be included in the Council’s carbon footprint calculations.

In order for the world to meet the UN Paris Agreement commitments to limit the global temperature increase to under 2 degrees, scientists believe that the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy should be accelerated. He stated that some energy companies were opening up new fossil fuel reserves.

Councillor Lawrence stated that there was a significant financial risk to the future sustainability of pension funds. He said that some leading financial investment managers were advising divestment from fossil fuel companies, and investments in renewable energy. Councillor Lawrence said that this would ensure the Leicestershire Pensions Fund met its duty to earn sufficient returns on their investments to ensure pension benefits could be paid. 

He concluded by stating that without divestment from fossil fuels, the investments of the pension fund associated with fossil fuels could become worthless, resulting in a shortfall of investment returns, and this may require the Council to increase its employer contributions. He said he believed the pension fund’s continued investment in fossil fuels had an environmental impact which contributes to the carbon footprint of the Council and could prevent the Council in achieving its aim of becoming net zero by 2030. He asked for the Leicestershire pension fund to publicly commit to divest from fossil fuel companies by 2027.

Councillor Baines stated that the Council was concerned about the carbon footprint of the Council and as a result, produced the carbon neutral 2030 plan. The plan was focussed on reducing emissions of the Council’s buildings and transport and adopting carbon positive activities, such as planting trees and investing in renewable energy. All of the actions in the plan were within the Council’s direct control. He highlighted that the Leicestershire pensions fund was independent of the Council and had its own expert investment managers making  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.1

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 Rattray.

Councillor Rattray did not wish to ask a supplementary question.

Question submitted by Councillor Woodward.

Councillor Woodward stated that the petition reference in her original question now had 58,000 signatures. She said there was hope that planners and developers looked at alternative options, avoiding the felling of the oak.

Councillor Jadeja stated that a response and explanation had been provided.

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.

One of the appendices to this item contains exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The exempt appendix will be circulated to members.

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

A report of the Chief Executive to inform Council of changes to the delegation of Executive functions to the Director of Commercial & Economic Development and the Head of Assets & Property.

A report of the Chief Executive to inform Council of changes to the delegation of Executive functions to the Director of Commercial and Economic Development and the Head of Property and Assets, was submitted (item 13 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

To consider any changes to Committee membership for the current Council year (2023/24) (if any).

It was proposed by Councillor Miah, seconded by Councillor S Forrest, and

RESOLVED that Councillor Lennie be appointed to the Audit Committee.

Reason

To fill a Labour vacancy on the Audit Committee.