Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Harper-Davies.

Apologies for absence were also received from Honorary Aldermen Bush, Day, 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 Fryer – A registrable Interest in item 9.2 (Motion on Notice – Lightbulb Service) as a Member of Leicestershire County Council.

      ii.          By Councillor Miah – an registrable in item 9.2 (Motion on Notice – Lightbulb Service) as a Member of Leicestershire County Council.

    iii.          By Councillor D Taylor – a registrable Interest in item 9.2 Motion on Notice – Lightbulb Service) as a Member of Leicestershire County Council.

    iv.          By Councillor Rattray – a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Support for Care Experienced People) as a self-employed/independent foster carer for Leicestershire County Council. The Monitoring Officer had given a dispensation for this meeting only as it was considered in the public interest to allow Councillor Rattray to speak and vote on the Motion on Notice.

     v.          By Councillor Seaton - A registrable Interest in item 9.1 (Motion on Notice – Lightbulb Service) as a Member of Leicestershire County Council.

To confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held on 26th February 2024.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 26th February 2024 were confirmed and signed.

To receive announcements from the Mayor (if any).

The Mayor made the following announcements.

“Firstly, I would like to refer to the resignation of Councillor Louise Jones. Councillor Jones represented Loughborough East, after being first elected in May 2023. I want to thank Louise Jones for all her hard work and I am sure my fellow Councillors and colleagues wish her well for the future. There will be a by-election in the Loughborough East ward, which will coincide with the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, on 2nd May.”

“I would also like to inform members that a bench has been installed on Farnham Road park in Shelthorpe, to commemorate the life of Gill Bolton. Gill served as a Councillor for the Shelthorpe ward for over two years, after being elected in May 2019. Gill sadly passed away in October 2021.”

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

There were no Leader’s announcements.

“Madam Mayor,  I wish to put on record my thanks to Councillor Louise Jones who represented the Loughborough East ward and was the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Net Zero and Property and Assets.”

“The bench for Councillor Gill Bolton is very welcome. Gill Bolton may have only been a Councillor for two years but she had an impact on us all and her passing was untimely”.

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 amendments to the Constitution following the annual review.

A report of the Cabinet, to consider a recommendation of Cabinet in respect of the annual review of the Council’s Constitution, was submitted (item 6.1 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Snartt stated that the Conservative Group welcomed the changes made to the Plans Committee procedures.

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

RESOLVED that the changes to the Constitution set out in appendix 1 to the Cabinet report (attached as an Annex) be made, to be effective from the new Civic Year 2024/25, with two changes:

Item 2 – page 27 – Housing Management Advisory Board

Following further feedback from the Board (inc. tenant representatives) the name to remain as Housing Management Advisory Board.

Item 4 – page 31 - Plans Committee Procedures

That an additional sentence be added to the third paragraph to provide further clarity as follows:

“For clarity this provision also applies to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor or councillors who are ill and have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest who are in single member wards”.

Reason

To ensure the Constitution is kept up to date and fulfils its intended purposes.

To consider a recommendation of Cabinet in respect of the Assets Review (office accommodation).

A report of the Cabinet to consider a recommendation of Cabinet in respect of the Assets Review (office accommodation), was submitted (item 6.2 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

RESOLVED that a £500,000 budget be added to the Capital Plan to facilitate the development and planning of the programme of works to refurbish the Southfield offices.

Reason

So that Council may approve the new capital expenditure and allow the works to proceed.

A report of the Licensing Committee to considera revisedStatementofLicensingPolicy, in respect of the ‘Special Policy on Cumulative Impact ‘zone, madeundertheLicensingAct 2003,followingconsideration by the LicensingCommitteeandpublicconsultation.

A report of the Licensing Committee to consider a revised Statement of Licensing Policy, in respect of the ‘Special Policy on Cumulative Impact ‘zone, made under the Licensing Act 2003, following consideration by the Licensing Committee and public consultation, was submitted (item 6.3 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

It was proposed by Councillor B Gray, seconded by Councillor Lowe and

RESOLVED that the ‘Special Policy on Cumulative Impact’ be retained within the Statement of Licensing Policy made under the Licensing Act 2003, set out in Annex A to this report, be approved and adopted.

Reason

To ensure that the Council has an up- t o - d a t e Statement of Licensing Policy to adhere to which sets out the Council’s policy in respect of liquor licensing, including the Special Policy Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) (required to be reviewed on a three yearly basis), that meets the licensing objectives and complies with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003.

A report of the Monitoring Officer to enable the Council to make an appointment of a co-opted Independent member of the Audit Committee.

A report of the Monitoring Officer to enable the Council to make an appointment of a co-opted Independent member of the Audit Committee, was submitted (item 6.4 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

It was proposed by Councillor Ashcroft, seconded by Councillor Lennie and

RESOLVED that Lynne Alderson be appointed as a non-voting co-opted Independent Member of the Audit Committee until 21 April 2028 or until she ceases to be a co-opted Independent member, whichever is the sooner.

Reason

To appoint a second co-opted Independent member to the Council’s audit committee.

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 on Notice submitted by Councillor Deborah Taylor, Conservative Group, and Councillor Hamilton, Labour Group, in accordance with Full Council Procedure Rule 9.12.

A Motion on Notice regarding Support for Care Experienced People was submitted by the Conservative Group and the Labour Group (item 9.1 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The motion was proposed by Councillor D Taylor and seconded by Councillor Hamilton.

The motion was passed.

A Motion on Notice regarding the Lightbulb Service was submitted by the Conservative Group (item 9.2 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The motion was proposed by Councillor Snartt and seconded by Councillor Bokor.

The motion was defeated.

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 the Leader was comfortable that the matter was being taken forward over a five year period, given the amount?

Councillor Hamilton responded by stating that it was a rolling programme and that there was a need for prioritisation during the feasibility phase to maximise the asset value.  

Question submitted by Councillor D Taylor.

Councillor D Taylor asked about plans to improve sound quality at Council meetings and whether there were plans to introduce web casting? Councillor D Taylor also commented that as part of the Assets Review (Office Accommodation) that consideration be given to installing a Council Chamber at the Southfields Offices.

Councillor Miah responded by stating that there were plans to introduce a new sound system and web casting equipment.

Question submitted by Councillor D Taylor.

Councillor D Taylor asked that the Leader kept all members regularly updated on the reduction in voids numbers.

Councillor Hamilton responded by stating that information was regularly reported to the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee.

Question submitted by Councillor Woodward.

Councillor Woodward did not wish to ask a supplementary question.

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, 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.

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

There were no proposals to consider.