Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber

Contact: Rebecca Owen, Democratic Services Officer on 01455255879 or email  rebecca.owen@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

357.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Allen, Boothby, Hodgkins, MacDonald, Richards, Roberts, Surtees and Taylor.

358.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 156 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2018.

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Nichols and

 

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November be confirmed and signed by the chairman.

359.

Declarations of interest

To receive verbally from Members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council's code of conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the Agenda.

Minutes:

No interests were declared at this stage.

360.

Mayor's Communications

To receive such communications as the Mayor may decide to lay before the Council.

Minutes:

The Mayor updated members on recent and forthcoming events, including events to raise money for her charities.

361.

Petitions

To deal with petitions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.

Minutes:

Councillor Bray submitted a petition on behalf of residents in objection to the proposed development on the site of the former leisure centre. It was noted that this petition would be considered in relation to the planning application.

362.

Leader of the Council's Position Statement

We have some important strategies on our agenda this evening and it is those that I shall concentrate on in this statement, although I do wish to comment on recent proposals for Junction 2 of the M69.

 

Our Volunteering Strategy comes at a time when Government has recently announced an expectation that the NHS will deliver an increase in social prescribing. Our borough will need a thriving voluntary and community sector for this to work well, and this is something that we have worked to improve over recent years. Our strategy reaches the heart of what Government is now encouraging, recognising that prescription medicines are not always the best way to treat some of our health and wellbeing problems and that community groups can provide solutions to improve mental health, reduce loneliness, and improve physical health.

 

Our strategy will ensure that groups have the support to establish themselves, to grow and to provide a wide range of services in our communities. We must also continue to seek ways to secure additional funding to commission programmes of work in our Borough. Our community houses, existing and new community groups, next generation, our flagship VCS programme and all volunteers and community groups can be supported.

 

Volunteering itself is often seen as having health benefits, and I am pleased that SLT has also agreed to increase the number of days which staff can take away from their day job to support community projects. This will provide alternative sources of inspiration for our staff to engage with residents, and I hope that it is an area where we can have flexibility and see further increases in the future.

 

Young People Strategy

We all want our young people to be safe, healthy and to enjoy their lives as they prepare for adulthood and the world of work. This strategy sets out our commitment to take on a much bigger role in the achievement of these aims in our borough.

 

We already have an excellent relationship with many schools and young people, but this strategy will ensure that we increase our efforts to engage with young people, addressing their needs, and making them feel even more a part of the community.

 

Resident Involvement Strategy

Ensuring our council tenants have improved service is one reason for involving residents in shaping our work, but this strategy is far more than that. Yes we need to ensure our homes are of a decent standard, maintained and decent for people to live in, but we also need to make sure that we tackle other issues, making sure that we strengthen our communities and remove the stigma often attached to living in a council house.

 

This strategy will ensure that we take the views of our tenants into account when shaping our services, and I have ensured that young people living with parents also have their views taken into account.

 

I would like to remind members of the HNRFI working party that we have a meeting tomorrow, and as many of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 362.

Minutes:

In his position statement, the Leader referred to the items on the agenda and the proposed rail freight interchange.

363.

Minutes of the Scrutiny Commission pdf icon PDF 102 KB

To receive for information only the minutes of the Scrutiny Commission meetings held on 8 November and 13 December 2018.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The chairman of the Scrutiny Commission presented the minutes of the previous two meetings for information.

364.

Young People's Strategy 2019-22 pdf icon PDF 193 KB

To present the Young People’s Strategy 2019-22 for adoption.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Young People’s Strategy which detailed the work the council would undertake in relation to young people was presented. It was moved by Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Morrell and

 

RESOLVED – the Young People’s Strategy be approved.

365.

Introduction of a Volunteering Strategy for the Borough pdf icon PDF 141 KB

To inform members of the volunteering strategy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the proposed Volunteering Strategy for the borough. It was moved by Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Cook and

 

RESOLVED – the Volunteering Strategy be approved.

366.

Resident Involvement Strategy for Council Housing 2019 - 2022 pdf icon PDF 141 KB

To present the Resident Involvement Strategy 2019 – 2022 for approval.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council was presented with the Resident Involvement Strategy 2019-22. Officers were commended for the support provided to tenants. Concern was expressed that tenants of housing associations did not receive such support and some experienced poor service. Officers were asked to contact the housing associations operating in the borough to discuss their housing management services.

 

It was moved by Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Nickerson and

 

RESOLVED – the Resident Involvement Strategy 2019-22 be approved.