Agenda and minutes

It was acknowledged that Councillors Boothby and Wright would be delayed.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2015.

An error in minute 238 was identified whereby the resolution read ‘Police’ rather than ‘Policy’. It was moved by Councillor Surtees, seconded by Councillor Roberts and

RESOLVED – the minutes be approved and signed by the Leader, subject to the abovementioned amendment.

Approval is sought for budget changes for income not realised in respect of replacement wheelie bins, in accordance with financial procedure rules.

The Executive received a report which sought approval for budget changes for income not realised in respect of replacement wheeled containers. It was moved by Councillor Nickerson, seconded by Councillor Surtees and

RESOLVED –

(i)            A virement of £35,000 in 2015/16 be approved;

(ii)           A virement of £35,000 in 2016/17 be approved.

The Executive are asked to consider the criteria for awarding discretionary housing payments.

Members received a report on possible amendments to the criteria for awarding Discretionary Housing Payments. It was moved by Councillor Surtees, seconded by Councillor Nickerson and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The continued support of those claimants whose properties had been adapted to meet their disability needs be approved;

(ii)           The implementation of Option 2 for any renewal claims from claimants who had received support for 39 weeks within the current financial year be approved;

(iii)          The paying of 100% of the shortfall for any new claims up to a maximum of 26 weeks or until the end of the current financial year (whichever is the sooner) be approved;

(iv)         The setting of the maximum award at the lesser of (1) the difference between their income and permitted expenditure or (2) the shortfall in benefit entitlement be approved;

(v)          The payment of new claims (excluding adapted properties) from 1 April 2016 be based at 100% of the shortfall for 26 weeks and then a maximum of 50% for 13 weeks be approved. If at the expiry of the 39 week period, there are reasonable grounds for granting further support, this can be done for a maximum of 13 weeks at 50%.

Councillor Boothby entered the meeting at 6.36pm.

Report of the Chief Executive seeking agreement on the local application of Discretionary Business Rates Relief in Hinckley Town Centre.

The Executive gave consideration to the local application of Discretionary Business Rates Relief on Hinckley Town Centre. It was moved by Councillor Ladkin and seconded by Councillor Hall that recommendation ii) be extended to include the Crescent. This amendment was accepted without debate. It was requested that further consultation be undertaken with charity shops. It was moved by Councillor Ladkin, seconded by Councillor Hall and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The existing designated area in Hinckley Town Centre (Castle Street) where the 20% Discretionary Business Rate Relief is not applied be continued;

(ii)           The abovementioned designated area be extended to include Upper Castle Street, Regent Street, Market Square, Station Road and the Crescent;

(iii)          Appropriate officers undertake regular formal / recorded inspections of charity shops in the town to identify if they meet and continue to meet the criteria for mandatory (80%) Business Rate Relief, using the percentage of floor space utilised as the qualifying criteria for ‘wholly or mainly’ (ie ‘more than half’);

(iv)         The arrangements for addressing any challenges from the Chamber of Trade to the inspections as to the registration with the Charity Commission be agreed as set out in paragraph 3.3c)v) in the report;

(v)          A landlord incentive period beyond three months’ exemption for empty properties be considered on a case by case basis if properties remain empty after two months;

(vi)         Further brief consultation be undertaken with charity shops trading in the proposed extended designated area before implementing the agreed changes.

On the motion of Councillor Surtees seconded by Councillor Roberts, it was

RESOLVED – in accordance with section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 10 of Part I of Schedule 12A of that Act.

Report attached seeking support for a supplementary capital budget. This report is marked ‘restricted’ due to the commercial sensitivity of the contents.

The Executive was requested to support the drawing down of £160,000 of allocated monies for incentives to attract suitable tenants to the units in Block C of The Crescent. It was noted that the Scrutiny Commission had also given its support.

Councillor Wright arrived at 6.45pm.

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

RESOLVED –

(i)            The drawing down of £160,000 to pay incentives required before the meeting of the Council in January be supported;

(ii)           Council be RECOMMENDED to:

(a)  Approve a request for a supplementary capital budget for the current 2015/16 year of £550,000 to attract suitable tenants to retail / restaurant units, to be financed from the Masterplan Reserve;

(b)  Approve the inclusion of the remaining tenant incentive of £650,000 in the 2016/17 capital budget, to be financed from the Masterplan Reserve;

(c)  Grant delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction) and the Executive Lead for Finance to agree these incentives to a total level of £1.2m.