Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Boothby.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2015.

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

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December be approved and signed by the Leader.

Report seeking approval of an updated planning enforcement protocol.

The updated Planning Enforcement Protocol was presented to the Executive. Members welcomed the report and updated protocol. It was moved by Councillor Morrell, seconded by Councillor Hall and

RESOLVED – the Planning Enforcement Protocol be approved.

Approval is sought for a virement of £30,000 from the minor works to major works budgets.

Members received a report requesting a virement from the Private Sector Housing minor works budget to the major works budget. A member asked if the reason for the virement was because the cost of minor works had increased to push them over the £5,000 threshold to be classed as major, or if most minor works had been completed and more major works were now being identified. In response it was noted that both of these were the case. It was moved by Councillor Morrell, seconded by Councillor Surtees and

RESOLVED – the virement of £30,000 from the minor works to major works budgets be approved.

Report seeking approval for the amended Wheeled Bin and Container Policy.

The Executive received a report proposing amendments to the council’s Wheeled Bin and Container Policy. It was moved by Councillor Morrell, seconded by Councillor Nickerson and

RESOLVED – the revised Wheeled Bin and Container Policy be approved.

Report recommending write-offs of debts in relation to business rates.

A report was presented which sought approval for write-off of debts over £10,000 in respect of outstanding business rates. A member felt that, had they been given more information, they could have assisted in locating the debtors. In response it was explained that, aside from the data protection reasons for not providing the information, these were not debts due to being unable to trace the debtors, but were those that could not be recovered, for example due to the business being in liquidation.

A member asked whether attempts were made to recover debts before they reached a crucial stage, and in response it was explained that a strict process was followed and attempts were made as soon as the debt was accrued.

It was moved by Councillor Ladkin, seconded by Councillor Wright and

RESOLVED – the six business rate write-offs detailed in the report be approved.

Report presenting the draft Records Management and Freedom of Information Polices, alongside the Information Governance Framework.

Members received the draft Records Management and Freedom of Information policies, alongside the overarching Information Governance Framework. It was moved by Councillor Morrell, seconded by Councillor Wright and

RESOLVED – the Records Management Policy, Freedom of Information Policy and Information Governance Framework be approved.

Report providing an update on Hinckley Markets, proposing a series of interventions to improve performance of the Market and requesting a supplementary budget is attached.

The Executive gave consideration to a report which proposed ways to improve the Hinckley markets and requested a supplementary budget. Members emphasised the importance of linking with other council services and priorities, for example youth work. It was acknowledged that it was disappointing to have to request a supplementary budget but members hoped that the national trend of diminishing markets could be reversed in Hinckley. It was moved by Councillor Wright, seconded by Councillor Ladkin and

RESOLVED –

(i)            Proposals for interventions aimed at driving the market forward be acknowledged;

(ii)           All options for improvement / development, including undertaking soft market discussions in relation to what the private sector may be able to offer, be explored within the next three months;

(iii)          A further report be brought to the Executive following the abovementioned discussions and exploration;

(iv)         The supplementary budget of £47,235 be approved.