Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor Tillotson be appointed as Chair of the Committee for the 2020/21 Council year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Bolton be appointed as Vice-chair of the Committee for the 2020/21 Council year.

Apologies were received from Councillors Bailey, Campsall and K Harris.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6th January 2020.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6th January 2020 were confirmed as a correct record and will be signed.

The following disclosures were made:

i)             Councillor Miah disclosed a personal interest in item 7 – Loughborough Special Expense Draft Budget 2021/22, as the Council’s appointed representative to Fearon Hall Community Association.

ii)            Councillor C Harris disclosed a personal interest in item 7 – Loughborough Special Expense Draft Budget 2021/22, as an allotment holder.

iii)           Councillor Ward disclosed a personal interest in item 7 – Loughborough Special Expense Draft Budget 2021/22, as a trustee at Gorse Covet Community Association.  

No questions were submitted.

No questions were submitted.

A report of the Head of Finance to advise the Loughborough Area Committee of the draft Loughborough Special Expenses budget for 2021/22.

For information, further meetings of the group are scheduled as follows:

16th June 2021

15th December 2021

Councillor Smidowicz left the meeting at 6:25pm.

Councillor K Harris joined the meeting at 6:39pm.

A report of the Head of Finance to advise the Loughborough Area Committee on the draft Loughborough Special Expense Budget for 2021/22, was submitted (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Strategic Director for Environmental and Corporate Services, the Head of Finance, the Head of Cleansing and Open Spaces, the Head of Leisure and Culture, the Head of Neighbourhood Services and the Head of Strategic Support attended the meeting to provide assistance in consideration of this item and gave the following responses to questions raised:

i)             The loss of income due to cancellation of the Loughborough Fair in Autumn 2020 had been balanced off from the Council’s Covid Emergency Fund to avoid any impacts on the Rate or balances in the next financial year.

ii)            The quantity of CCTV charged to Loughborough Special Rate had remained unchanged, but this had increased as a proportion of costs due to less cameras being monitored overall. The costs charged to Loughborough had then increased due to annual increases in service charges.

iii)           A breakdown was provided for the Festive Decorations and Illuminations costs. It was explained that the proposed £7400 increase in funding for this area for 2021/22 was mainly due to more time being spent in this area by the Head of Leisure & Culture and the Markets and Fairs team in delivery within Government Covid-19 secure guidelines, whilst maintaining the present level of service.

iv)           The savings in the budget for Community Grants were taken from the Loughborough Grants budget following a service review. Ahead of the Community Development & Engagement and Loughborough Grants being amalgamated into a new scheme.

v)            The proposed increases in Support Service Recharges were due to increases in salary costs for all staff earning under £24,000 per annum, and the identified increases in time spent in individual areas was as a result of detailed service reviews undertaken by Heads of Service. It was agreed details of these reviews would be circulated to Members outside of the meeting.

vi)           Overall income gained from public toilets had continued to fall as consumer use moved towards toilets provided by retailers, leading to the decision to close Biggin Street toilets to allow funds and staff time to be allocated for maintenance of marketplace toilets in 2021/22. It was also explained that the relevant officer had advised an Equalities Impact Assessment was not required for this decision*.

vii)          Following queries on provision of bus shelters, it was explained that although the Council had an obligation to maintain several current shelters there was not capital funding presently available for provision of additional shelters. It was also clarified that there would be additional cleaning and maintenance costs arising from any new bus shelters and it would be unlikely for any advertising revenue to be sufficient to address this.

viii)        Covid-19, rather than a potential no-deal Brexit was the primary reason for anticipated reduced trader confidence and footfall  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.