Agenda and minutes

Revd Martin Castle offered Prayer and led a minute’s silence in memory of the Battle of Britain.

In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor took the chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Bessant, Kirby, Nickerson, O’Shea and Richards.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2015.

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

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2015 be confirmed and signed by the Deputy Mayor.

No interests were declared at this stage.

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

The Deputy Mayor spoke about a recent event he had attended and also asked members that, following his recent wedding in Scotland, they make a donation to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal and if sufficient money was raised he would attend the next Council meeting in his kilt.

In his position statement, the Leader of the Council referred to work being undertaken within the council to support refugees, work undertaken with residents of Springfield Park and discussions with the Co-op following recent news of its intention to close its Hinckley Store. Following responses by other senior members, a member thanked the dog warden service for its hard work and achievement of the RSPCA Gold Footprint Award for the fourth year running.

To receive for information only the minutes of the Scrutiny Commission meeting held on 13 August 2015.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission presented the minutes of the previous meeting.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) seeking approval for the Resident Involvement Strategy 2015-18.

Council received the Resident Involvement Strategy 2015-18. It was moved by Councillor Boothby, seconded by Councillor Roberts and

RESOLVED – the Resident Involvement Strategy 2015-18 be approved.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) to inform Council of a successful funding bid to the Government’s Right to Buy Social Mobility Fund and seek approval for the associated supplementary budgets.

Council was advised of a successful funding bid to the Government’s Right to Buy Social Mobility Fund and the requirement to approve a supplementary budget to be able to utilise this funding. It was explained that this scheme was an alternative to the Right to Buy Scheme and would support tenants in buying a property on the open market, thereby retaining council stock to be re-let. Concern was expressed by some members who believed that the Government would require the Council to sell the void property rather than re-let it, and in response it was stated that there would be a meeting with CLG the following week, at which such questions would be raised. It was moved by Councillor Boothby, seconded by Councillor Williams and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The awarding of £16,000 and priorities for use be noted;

(ii)           A supplementary capital income budget of £160,000 be approved;

(iii)          A supplementary capital expenditure budget of £180,000, which will be treated as revenue expenditure funded from capital under statute (REFUS), financed from £160,000 from central government and £20,000 from the general fund through Revenue Contributions to Capital Outlay (RCCO) be approved.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction) seeking approval of the Statement of Accounts for the year 2014/2015.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Finance, Audit & Performance Committee on 7 September 2015 is attached.

Members received the Statement of Accounts and Annual Governance Statement for 2014/15. During debate, the following points were raised:

·         The need to bring options to the next meeting of Council, to ensure a balanced budget going forward

·         The potential reduction in rental income next year, which would affect paying off of the HRA buyout loan

·         Concern regarding the increase in cost of the dry recycling contract

·         The intention to bring a plan with regard to housing to a future meeting of Council, following referral to the Scrutiny Commission

·         The council having gained from the loan to the Tin Hat Partnership.

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

RESOLVED –

(i)            The Statement of Accounts for 2014/15 be approved;

(ii)           A report on options to address the funding gap be brought to the next meeting;

(iii)          A plan in relation to housing be brought to a future meeting, following referral to the Scrutiny Commission.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) presenting the revised Risk Management Strategy.

Council was presented with the revised Risk Management Strategy. It was moved by Councillor Surtees, seconded by Councillor Wright and

RESOLVED – the Risk Management Strategy be approved.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) presenting the revised Statement of Licencing Policy following consultation and support by the Licensing Committee.

Consideration was given to the Statement of Licensing Policy which, following consultation, had been endorsed by the Licensing Committee. It was moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Ladkin that the Statement be approved.

A member recalled the discussion of the Licensing Committee on 26 August with regard to implementing a Late Night Levy and that the committee had agreed to revisit that specific matter at a future meeting, and whilst it was acknowledged that this would not affect approval of the Statement of Licensing Policy, it was felt that a decision should not be made until consideration had been given to Late Night Levy. It was moved by Councillor Cartwright and seconded by Councillor Witherford that the report be deferred, which was supported by Councillor Hall as proposer of the original motion. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried and it was

RESOLVED – the Statement of Licensing Policy be deferred to the next ordinary meeting to allow for discussion by the Licensing Committee on the Late Night Levy.

Report of the Chief Executive seeking commitment to the intentions of the authority in respect of membership of a Combined Authority west of the A5.

Members received a report and supplementary document in relation to membership of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). Councillor Hall suggested an amendment to recommendation 2.1 which would require a report to be brought back to an extraordinary meeting of the Council by no later than 8 October, if a positive decision to join was being recommended. No meeting would be necessary if the recommendation was to stay outside the West Midlands Combined Authority. It was requested that Councillor Bill be kept updated on progress as he had been involved since the onset of discussions. The amended motion was seconded by Councillor Rooney and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The Leader and Chief Executive be authorised to continue negotiations in relation to membership of the West Midlands Combined Authority;

(ii)           A further report be brought to Council on or before 8 October for a final decision, if there was to be a recommendation to join the WMCA.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction) recommending an amendment to the Code of Conduct as endorsed by the Ethical Governance & Personnel Committee.

Consideration was given to a report which recommended amendments to the code of conduct for purposes of clarification. In response to a member’s question, it was noted that this wouldn’t affect parish councils as they were responsible for adopting their own code of conduct. It was moved by Councillor Wright, seconded by Councillor Camamile and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The deletion of paragraph 2.16(b)(ii) of the Code of Conduct be approved;

(ii)           The necessary amendment to paragraph 2.17 of the Code of Conduct to remove reference to paragraph 2.6.1 be approved.