Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Popley.

Apologies for absence had also been 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 of interest were made.  

To confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held on 4th September 2023.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 4th September 2023 were confirmed and signed.

The Mayor highlighted that a response had been received from the Chairman of the Pensions Committee at Leicestershire County Council and that this response had been circulated to members.

To receive announcements from the Mayor (if any).

The Mayor made the following announcements.

Loughborough Street Fair Opening – Wednesday 8th November

As Mayor I will be formally opening the fair and reading the Charter from a fairground ride at 5.50 pm. All are welcome to come along for a fun evening!

Armistice Day Service – Saturday 11th November

There will be an Armistice Day Service in Queens Park, Loughborough on Saturday 11th November  .  All are welcome to attend from 10.50 a.m.

Remembrance Service and Parade – Sunday 12^th  November

It is a great personal honour for me to take part in this year’s Loughborough Remembrance Service and Parade on Sunday, 12th November. All are welcome and Councillors are requested to come along to John Storer House for 10.15 a.m. ready for the procession to the Carillon Tower.

Loughborough Christmas Lights Switch On – Sunday 26th November

The Christmas lights in the Town Centre will be switched on at 5 p.m. on Sunday 26^th November.  All are welcome to come along.

Community Carol Service-  Monday,18^th  December

I will be holding a community carol service at All Saint’s with Holy Trinity Parish Church on Monday 18^th December.  The service starts at 7p.m. and all are welcome to attend.

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.

Councillor S Forrest presented a petition submitted on behalf of residents in her ward regarding antisocial behaviour. The Mayor stated that the petition would be considered and responded to in accordance with the Council’s petition scheme.

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

A report of the Cabinet to consider recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of changes to the Constitution relating to procedures for dealing with planning applications and other planning matters, and to the composition of the Audit Committee.

A report of the Cabinet to consider recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of changes to the Constitution relating to procedures for dealing with planning applications and other planning matters, and to the composition of the Audit Committee, was submitted (item 6.1 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The motion was proposed by Councillor Ashcroft and seconded by Councillor Miah.

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor D Taylor and seconded by Councillor Seaton:

The Conservative Group would like all references to three minutes removed from Appendix A and all references to five minutes added back in.

Following a vote, the amendment was defeated.

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Seaton and seconded by Councillor D Taylor:

To remove the suggested sentence at the end of the paragraph:

“In addition, if, following a call-in which has not been withdrawn, officers believe that the issues raised by the ward councillor in his/her call-in have been addressed, officers will submit the recommendation report, which is prepared for each application, to the ward councillor. The report, which will contain a summary of the main issues regarding the application, will enable ward councillors to consider whether they wish to maintain or withdraw their call-in of an application. Ultimately, the Chair (or vice chair in their absence) will decide if the item will be added to the committee agenda.”

Following a vote, the amendment was defeated.

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Bokor and seconded by Councillor Baines:

The Conservative Group would like an addition to Appendix A:  “Single-member wards - if the councillor has a disclosable interest to allow them to nominate a fellow ward councillor to call in the planning application on their behalf.”

Following a vote, the amendment was defeated.

It was proposed by Councillor D Taylor and seconded by Councillor Seaton that a named vote be taken on the substantive motion.

For the motion – Councillors Ashcroft, Blackshaw, Bottomley, Bradshaw, Cory-Lowsley, Forde, C Forrest, S Forrest, Goode, A Gray, B Gray, Hamilton, Haynes, Infield, Jadeja, Jones, Lawrence, Lennie, Maynard, Miah, Needham, O’Neill, Palmer, Roberts, N Taylor, Tillotson, Woodward and Worrall.

Against the motion – Councillors Baines, Bokor, Braker, Brookes, Campsall, Charles, Harper-Davies, Dent, Fox, Fryer, Hadji-Nikolaou, Jackson, Knight, Lowe, Matthews, Monk, Northage, Rattray, Seaton, Smidowicz, Snartt, D Taylor and Westley.

H=The substantive motion was passed and it was

RESOLVED

1.    That the changes to the Constitution set out in Appendix A to the Cabinet report (attached as an Annex and revised in Appendix A to include an amendment agreed by Cabinet) be made with effect from 1st December 2023 and that the Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority to make any further consequential changes that arise elsewhere in the Constitution;

2.    That the composition of the Audit Committee, set out in section 12.3 of the Constitution, be changed from one independent person to two independent members of the Audit Committee..

Reasons

1.    To implement improvements to procedures for dealing with planning applications and other planning matters following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.1

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 motions on notice submitted under Full Council Procedure 9.12:

Motion submitted by Councillor Jones.

A Motion on Notice regarding the Declaration of a Climate Emergency  was submitted by Councillor Jones (item 9.1 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

In proposing the motion, Councillor Jones stated that tackling climate change was a global issue and that the global threat of climate change was manifesting in Charnwood. She stated that flooding and heat waves would continue and become more severe. She said that in declaring a climate emergency, the council would be formally acknowledging the work already done and also leading the way for more progress. Councillor Jones went on to say that climate impact was at the heart of the Council’s business. She said that by making this declaration, it would inspire organisations, businesses and individuals to do what they can to reduce their impact on the climate, just as the Council had been inspired by other local authorities that had declared a climate emergency. Councillor Jones asked Council to think about the generations to come and to support the declaration of a climate emergency.

Councillor Baines said that while he supported the motion, he felt that it was symbolic and that real initiatives to help reduce carbon emissions were needed. He suggested measures such as moving the Council offices, investing in solar and wind energy and making a shift towards electric vehicles.

Councillor Westley said that he supported the motion but that perspective was needed. He stated that the Council had little control over the world’s carbon emissions and that Charnwood’s contribution was very small. He said the motion put forward would have little impact on the climate and that resources should be focussed on real issues faced by residents. He said that the Council should be debating community funds and business grants instead of the motions being put forward. Councillor Westley finished by stating that there were real opportunities to help residents in Charnwood.

Councillor Hamilton highlighted that the motion was not a symbolic act but a statement of intent to put the climate emergency at the centre of the Council’s business. He said that the Council could work with stakeholders, businesses and other authorities to promote the reduction of carbon emissions.

Councillor Haynes recognised that Charnwood was a small area but stated that it was a small area with a larger impact on the climate than some other areas of the world. He said if all small areas decided their impact was insignificant and to do nothing, no change would be made longer term. Councillor Haynes recognised there were other issues in the Borough but stated that without addressing climate change, there would be no capacity to address the other issues. He went on to say that climate change was the most significant issue facing the world.

Councillor Rattray highlighted that the Council had declared an ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030 in June 2019 and approved a carbon neutral plan in September 2021. She said that the Council had been committed to reducing carbon emissions for a number of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.1

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 Hadji-Nikolaou.

Councillor Hadji-Nikolaou asked how the Labour Party’s position on development control aligns with the policies and values of the Green Party.

Councillor Jadeja replied by stating that her response had been provided in writing.  

Question submitted by Councillor Bokor.

Councillor Bokor asked whether the Leader felt that the projects included in the programmes were vanity projects and whether there was a recognition that the projects had made large contributions to communities within the Borough?

Councillor Tillotson responded by stating that the programmes and projects included had been inherited by the Labour Group and that it was in the best interests of the Borough to continue to deliver the projects.

Question submitted by Councillor Baines.

Councillor Baines did not wish to ask a supplementary question.

Question submitted by Councillor Bokor.

Councillor Bokor asked whether the Leader agreed that the Council should be educated in carbon literacy and that a cross-party project board should be established to promote renewable energy projects with ambitious targets?

Councillor Jones said that she would discuss these ideas with the Leader and the Cabinet and respond to Councillor Bokor in due course.

Question submitted by Councillor Needham.

Councillor Needham thanked the Lead Member for the response received and asked whether the Lead Member could look into the Social Housing Decarbonisation Scheme further and discuss this with her?

Councillor Jones thanked Councillor Needham for her question and stated that she would discuss the scheme with Councillor Needham outside of the meeting.

Question submitted by Councillor D Taylor.

Councillor D Taylor asked whether the Lead Member for Planning would attend more Plans Committee meetings? She also asked for more information on the applications that were outside of time-scales for decisions without agreed extension time?

Councillor Jadeja said that she would respond to Councillor D Taylor in writing. She also said that Plans Committee meetings often coincided with meetings of the Cabinet which made it difficult for her to attend Plans Committee meetings on a regular basis. Councillor Jadeja confirmed that she had regular updates on the work of the Plans Committee from Planning Officers and the Head of Planning and Growth and that she had confidence in the members of the Plans Committee to fulfil their role.

Question submitted by Councillor D Taylor.

Councillor D Taylor asked why Labour members had not participated in the Budget Scrutiny Panel?

Councillor Miah responded by stating that the Labour Group had a good insight on the Council’s budgets. He also stated that the Lead Member for Finance had attended Budget Scrutiny Panel.

Question submitted by Councillor Bottomley.

Councillor Bottomley said she was encouraged by the initiatives already offered by the Council and that she was looking forward to seeing the Council build on this to support residents in the future.

Councillor Blackshaw said that she had responded to the question.

Question submitted by Councillor Haynes.

Councillor Haynes thanked those involved in the flood response and asked that details on the application of the Flood Recovery Grant be circulated to members. He also asked that information on emergency flood response be available on the Council’s website?

Councillor Jones said that she would look into this and provide an update to Councillor Haynes.

There are no minute references.

There were no minute references.

There are no urgent decisions taken by Cabinet or urgent key decisions taken by an officer under delegated powers that were exempted from call-in in accordance with Scrutiny Committee Procedure 11.9.

There were no urgent decisions taken by the Cabinet or urgent key decisions taken by an officer under delegated powers that were exempted from call-in.

There are no changes to the delegation of Executive functions.

There were no changes to the delegation of Executive functions.

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

There were no proposals to consider.