Agenda and minutes

Venue: De Montfort Suite - Hub

Contact: Rebecca Owen  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

337.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Cook.

338.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 38 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2017.

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2017 be confirmed and signed by the chairman.

339.

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.

340.

Housing Allocations Policy Review pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Report informing the Executive of the changes to the council’s Housing Allocations policy, designed to ensure that people with the most housing need and with a local connection are given preference to join the Housing Register.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive was informed of proposed changes to the council’s Housing Allocations Policy, designed to ensure that people with the most housing need and with a local preference were given preference to join the housing register.

 

A member expressed concern about those tenants on low incomes and in response it was stated that they would usually be in receipt of housing or other benefits but that this policy would help to identify issues at an earlier stage to enable officers to support tenants with budget management or to refer them to the Citizens Advice Bureau for debt management support.

 

Some discussion ensued on the difference in the way benefits were paid and overpayments were recouped under the universal credit system. It was noted that a report on universal credit would be taken to the Scrutiny Commission in March for members’ information.

 

In relation to the proposed inclusion in the policy of those in “priority” and “high” banding groups having eight weeks to express a choice in their bidding, a member asked what would happen if we didn’t have a suitable property available within that period. In response it was noted that the timescale could be extended if the reason for not bidding or accepting a property was due to no suitable properties being available.

 

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

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)            The proposed changes be noted and the proposed Allocations Policy be approved for consultation;

 

(ii)           Authority be delegated to the Director (Community Services) and Executive member for Housing and Community Safety to make any amendments to the policy arising from the consultation and to agree an implementation date.

341.

Council house voids expenditure pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Report seeking approval for a supplementary budget to ensure sufficient funds to bring empty properties up to a lettable standard.

Minutes:

Members received a report which sought approval for a supplementary voids budget due to the pressure on the existing budget. It was noted that the pressure was mostly due to the number of high value voids. It was

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)            The increase in demand on the voids budget be noted;

 

(ii)           A supplementary budget of £45,000 be approved to ensure sufficient funds are available to continue bringing empty properties up to a lettable standard for the remainder of the financial year.

342.

Wheeled Bin and Container Policy pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Report seeking approval for proposed minor amendments to the council’s Wheeled Bin and Container policy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were informed of minor amendments to the council’s Wheeled Bin and Container policy. It was explained that matters including the removal of dry recycling credit payments by the disposal authority and the current recycling market conditions had been taken into account.

 

It was noted that the move to co-mingled dry recycling would take place on 1 April, which would remove the need for the inner caddy. The new recycling rounds and how these would be implemented were also highlighted. The communication strategy and arrangements for informing residents of the changes to the rounds were explained to help minimise any potential problems arising from the new service being introcuded.

 

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

343.

Venues for future meetings

Members are asked to note venues for future meetings and consider any changes they may wish to make to the standard agenda to maximise effectiveness of the meetings.

 

11 April 2018 – Bagworth Community Centre

6 June 2018 – Desford Church Centre

1 August 2018 – Hinckley Hub

26 September 2018 – Sheepy Magna Memorial Hall

21 November 2018 – Hinckley Hub.

Minutes:

Further to the request of the Executive to hold meetings throughout the borough, proposed venues were discussed. It was

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)            For the remainder of 2018, Executive meetings be held as follows:

 

11 April 2018 – Bagworth Community Centre

6 June 2018 – Desford Church Centre

1 August 2018 – Barlestone tbc

26 September 2018 – Sheepy Magna Memorial Hall

21 November 2018 – Hinckley Hub.

 

(ii)           A session for public questions be held at the close of the formal meeting on each of the above dates.