Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Bill, Boothby, Camamile, O’Shea, Surtees, Witherford and Wright.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 June.

On the motion of Councillor Allen, seconded by Councillor Hall, it was

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2018 be confirmed and signed by the Mayor.

No interests were declared at this stage.

The Mayor referred to the recent death of a well-liked former councillor, Geoffrey Chapman, the sad passing of Isla Tansey and the #islastones events. She congratulated officers on an excellent Snapdragon festival and for the range of events throughout the borough, and on achieving the green flags for Hollycroft Park and Argents’ Mead.

The Mayor announced her forthcoming charity sleep-out towards the end of September and informed Council of a letter from Twycross Zoo asking the Council to consider plastic pollution and reducing use of products containing palm oil. In relation to the latter, a member suggested inviting the zoo to speak at the annual rural conference.

In my position statement tonight I’m going to acknowledge some of the hard work and dedication of our officers and to share some examples of what they do on a daily basis on behalf of the people of this Borough.

I want to start with my view of how officers dealt with the events surrounding the sad death of Isla Tansey. As you know Isla and her family, Simon, Katherine and Harrison, were awarded a special Making a Difference award earlier this year for bringing #islastones to us all.

When news of her death reached people they chose to use the Argents Mead bandstand as a memorial. HBBC officers were quick to sympathise with this coming together of the community. They removed council banners, brought water for floral tributes and let events take their course.

But our officers didn’t stop there. They continued to work with Isla’s family in support of the day of celebration, setting up the exhibition which opened today in the Atkins Gallery, and working towards providing a lasting tribute to Isla.

Our Environmental Health team have had to work alongside the police in dealing with two fatalities in the borough under health and safety regulations, one of which led to a police prosecution and conviction, the other led to a health and safety prosecution with a fine and costs awarded.

This same team protect our residents on a daily basis, making sure that when we visit local restaurants the food hygiene standards are as high as they can be, making food safe to eat. Also they help businesses with advice and inspections to improve health and safety in the workplace.

Thirdly I want to mention our Children and Young People’s service and events staff, who have just served up the best snapdragon festival ever. Ratby, Witherley, Bagworth and Dadlington were able to experience snapdragon this year, whilst the week in Hinckley, in sometimes scorching hot weather, was again an outstanding success.

The work and preparation which goes into these events should not be under-estimated, and I know that officers put everything into running them for our community.

When other councils are saying that HBBC should be scrapped, I know they are wrong, I know that bigger will not be better, I know that local communities need local people working in local councils and caring for the people they serve.

Our officers care about the community they work in, often it’s also the community they live in, and without their commitment our role as councillors would be made much harder

That is what we have in Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and that is why tonight I have brought a motion to seek Council’s support to work with other local authorities to deliver a better alternative to the re-organisation model being proposed by Leicestershire County Council.

We have a short agenda this evening and together with the constitutional update and motion from Cllr Witherford I hope they will all receive very good support by members  ...  view the full agenda text for item 145.

In his position statement, the Leader referred to the events around the death of Isla Tansey, the work of the Environmental Health Service, the Snapdragon festival, and Leicestershire County Council’s proposals in relation to the future of local government in the county and the East Midlands.

To receive for information only the minutes of the Scrutiny Commission meeting held on 24 May and 10 July.

The chairman of the Scrutiny Commission presented the minutes of the meetings on 24 May and 10 July, for information.

To present the annual review of the Council’s constitution.

Correction to appendix 1 (incorrect wording copied over):

Consideration was given to the annual review of the constitution and recommended amendments, including changes to the financial procedure rules. In moving the report, the Executive member stated that he supported the comments of the Scrutiny Commission relating to consulting ward members on disposals, which was seconded by Councillor Hall.

In response to a member’s concern about the change to disposal limits, it was noted that the financial procedure rules referred to only taking action in accordance with the Asset Management Strategy, which allayed that concern. Members were also reassured that decisions made by the Executive under the financial procedure rules would be subject to the same call-in procedures as any other Executive decision.

In relation to consultation on variations to section 106 agreements (part 2(f) paragraph 8.2 of the constitution), an amendment was moved by Councillor Crooks and seconded by Councillor Bray that consultation take place with the chairman of the Planning Committee and relevant ward councillor(s). This amendment was accepted by the mover and seconder of the original motion.

It was also requested that the reference in the Asset Strategy and Regeneration Group to consulting ward councillors be amended from “may also take place” to “will also take place”. This was agreed.

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

RESOLVED – The updated constitution be agreed with the following amendments:

(i)            The Asset Strategy and Regeneration Group terms of reference be amended to include the wording “Further consultation will also take place with relevant ward members as appropriate”;

(ii)           Paragraph 8.2 of part 2(f) of the constitution be amended to include consultation with the chairman of the Planning Committee and relevant ward councillor(s) in relation to variations of section 106 agreements.

“Upskirting is an intrusive, vile crime against women and girls.

Members are asked to show support for an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act to make upskirting a specific offence that will allow police to prosecute those who commit this vile crime. A Private Member’s Bill is being debated in Parliament and hopefully once the technicalities have been resolved, this will be incorporated into the Act.

Whilst I am aware that since the obstruction to this amendment on 15 June and the subsequent presentation on 6 July, this proposal will have moved on and could, hopefully, have received approval, however this is the first opportunity we have for this Council to show its support.”

Councillor Witherford had provided notice of the following motion, but in her absence it was moved by Councillor Hodgkins and seconded by Councillor Mrs Cope that:

“Upskirting is an intrusive, vile crime against women and girls.

Members are asked to show support for an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act to make upskirting a specific offence that will allow police to prosecute those who commit this vile crime. A Private Member’s Bill is being debated in Parliament and hopefully once the technicalities have been resolved, this will be incorporated into the Act.

Whilst I am aware that since the obstruction to this amendment on 15 June and the subsequent presentation on 6 July, this proposal will have moved on and could, hopefully, have received approval, however this is the first opportunity we have for this Council to show its support.”

Councillor Hodgkins provided an update on action since the motion was submitted.

Councillor MacDonald proposed that the wording should be more inclusive and not refer only to women and girls. This amendment was agreed by the mover and seconder of the motion and it was subsequently

RESOLVED – the following motion be agreed:

“Upskirting is an intrusive, vile crime.

Council supports an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act to make upskirting a specific offence that will allow police to prosecute those who commit this vile crime.”

“On 29 June Leicestershire County Council’s Leader issued a statement in which he asserted that:

‘The time has come to explore having a new council for Leicestershire’

On 6 July 2018 Leicestershire County Council Cabinet met to consider a report on local government reform in Leicestershire. The Cabinet endorsed LCC undertaking work to develop a Strategic Alliance for the East Midlands (involving County and City Councils), and to develop a unitary structure for local government in Leicestershire. I understand that similar proposals have also been made in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Following the announcement to the press on 29 June I issued the following statement:

‘The proposals for a single unitary Council for Leicestershire by Leicestershire County Councillors are a County Council view of how to improve local government. This proposal will however be of concern to HBBC employees as well as residents of Hinckley and Bosworth and I believe this is the wrong option for our area. HBBC employs local people, providing local services to their own communities, and they take pride in what they do. If we lose that local interest then we also lose that commitment to better services.

Councillors are also proud to work with their local communities and know that they can try to resolve residents’ issues with a small and dedicated team, who know their area and want to help. It will be a concern to some that this local provision of services could be lost.

As Leader at HBBC I have worked hard with all Councillors, officers and partner agencies to balance the needs of the community with the ability of the Council to deliver. We have done a fantastic job, improving services, investing in our communities, and reducing costs. We are planning thoughtfully for economic growth, for housing, and to support the most vulnerable in our communities.

Council Leaders across Leicestershire will have their own views on how best to improve local government, but for me a strong borough council should continue to be at the heart of delivering and improving the services we provide, and I will do my best to deliver that for local people.’

Leicestershire County Council Cabinet has produced a timetable for bringing forward their plans, including a time allocation for this authority, and others, to be consulted on their proposals. It is clear from their plans that LCC have a view that this Council, along with others, should be scrapped, and that we should not be included in any strategic alliance.

There have been statements pointing out that residents of this borough would not benefit from such a unitary authority, due to our current low level of council tax. Also having a county based unitary would make Leicestershire one of the largest unitary councils in the country and arguably even more remote from our communities.

Part of the proposal by LCC would be for Leicestershire’s towns, including Hinckley, to have their own town councils, with parish councils taking on more responsibilities. This is a matter for our residents  ...  view the full agenda text for item 149.

Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Morrell, proposed the following motion (as amended in the supplementary agenda):

“On 29 June Leicestershire County Council’s Leader issued a statement in which he asserted that:

‘The time has come to explore having a new council for Leicestershire’

On 6 July 2018 Leicestershire County Council Cabinet met to consider a report on local government reform in Leicestershire. The Cabinet endorsed LCC undertaking work to develop a Strategic Alliance for the East Midlands (involving County and City Councils), and to develop a unitary structure for local government in Leicestershire. I understand that similar proposals have also been made in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Following the announcement to the press on 29 June I issued the following statement:

‘The proposals for a single unitary Council for Leicestershire by Leicestershire County Councillors are a County Council view of how to improve local government. This proposal will however be of concern to HBBC employees as well as residents of Hinckley and Bosworth and I believe this is the wrong option for our area. HBBC employs local people, providing local services to their own communities, and they take pride in what they do. If we lose that local interest then we also lose that commitment to better services.

Councillors are also proud to work with their local communities and know that they can try to resolve residents’ issues with a small and dedicated team, who know their area and want to help. It will be a concern to some that this local provision of services could be lost.

As Leader at HBBC I have worked hard with all Councillors, officers and partner agencies to balance the needs of the community with the ability of the Council to deliver. We have done a fantastic job, improving services, investing in our communities, and reducing costs. We are planning thoughtfully for economic growth, for housing, and to support the most vulnerable in our communities.

Council Leaders across Leicestershire will have their own views on how best to improve local government, but for me a strong borough council should continue to be at the heart of delivering and improving the services we provide, and I will do my best to deliver that for local people.’

Leicestershire County Council Cabinet has produced a timetable for bringing forward their plans, including a time allocation for this authority, and others, to be consulted on their proposals. It is clear from their plans that LCC have a view that this Council, along with others, should be scrapped, and that we should not be included in any strategic alliance.

There have been statements pointing out that residents of this borough would not benefit from such a unitary authority, due to our current low level of council tax. Also having a county based unitary would make Leicestershire one of the largest unitary councils in the country and arguably even more remote from our communities.

Part of the proposal by LCC would be for Leicestershire’s towns, including Hinckley, to have their own  ...  view the full minutes text for item 149.