Agenda and minutes

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

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2019.

It was moved by Councillor Lay, seconded by Councillor Crooks and

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

No interests were declared.

To receive such communications as the Mayor may decide to lay before the Council. There will also be presentations during this item.

The Mayor reported on her recent charity events, civic service and visits to Dorothy Goodman School’s new site. She informed Council that she would be sending a letter to our twinned town of Grand Quevilly in France to express sympathy for the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral.

Members were informed of the recent deaths of former councillors Tony Howlett and Rob Frazer and asked that Council’s thoughts be with their families. It was also noted that former councillor Peter Batty was seriously ill in hospital and agreed that best wishes be sent to his family. The Mayor reported on the recent death of James Wall who many members would have known from Fosseway Radio and Oak FM and sympathies were expressed for his family.

The Mayor then presented a community award to Ben Yates who had recently saved a five year old girl from drowning at Foxton Locks. She then announced that she would be presenting two awards at the Jubilee building the following day – one for Paul Taylor, Waste Collection Loader, who provided CPR to a motorist suffering a heart attack, and another for Michael Ashby, Sean McBurney and Rob Smart who had dealt with a knife incident whilst on duty.

Long service awards were then presented to Councillors Mr Cope, Lay and Sutton who had each served as councillor for 24 years.

There is a small amount of business on our agenda tonight due to our rapidly approaching elections, and I shall not report anything here which could prevent Council from publishing this statement in a timely fashion.

I hope the two reports this evening will receive Council support, they are important technical reports but they demonstrate to the council’s customers and officers how the council is working for them and I know this will please members.

The updated Communications Strategy sets out how this council is changing its approach and the way that it interacts with customers. Changes in peoples use of technology means HBBC now has to respond to new ways of engaging with residents, and this sets out our latest changes which will be kept under review and may be amended before 2021 if the need arises.

The Pay Policy Statement is an annual report and shows Council’s commitment to its staff, something that I’m sure all members will continue to support. There are two key areas that I would like to draw members’ attention to: firstly, the pay multiple which dropped from 5.22 last year to 5.15 this year as a direct result of increases in pay for the council’s lowest paid employees. This measure continues to move in the right direction and officers should be commended for the detailed work necessary to implement the nationally agreed pay award.

As this is the last Council meeting before the 2 May election, I would like to say “thank you” to several groups and individuals.

Firstly, I would like to thank the four mayors during my term as Leader: Janice, Richard, Ozzy and Jan for the service they have given to the borough during their time in office, and to Peter for this past year as Deputy Mayor. They have all represented Hinckley & Bosworth as excellent first citizens and made a difference with their support of local charities.

As we reach the end of our term in office we shall be saying goodbye to several councillors who will not be seeking re-election and I would like to thank them for their time in office and the work they have done in their communities. These are Councillors Bessant, Mrs Cope, Richards, Taylor, Witherford and Ward. I know that Cllr Bray will have some words to add about his non-returning members, and I would like to add a few personal comments for retiring members.

Next, I would particularly like to mention some officers and teams who it has been my pleasure to work with over the past four years. Firstly, Rob Parkinson, our Director of Environment and Planning, who will be leaving the council after the election after 37 years’ (27 of these at HBBC) service as a council officer, including most recently as part of the Strategic Leadership Team. I suspect, with his retirement plans, that Rob will not miss the emails he gets dealing with planning infringements and that he will find plenty to do with his time away from  ...  view the full agenda text for item 460.

In his position statement, the Leader referred to highlights during the term of office and thanked those who had served as Mayor during that time, fellow councillors and officers. He paid tribute to Councillors Bessant, Mrs Cope, Richards, Taylor and Ward who were retiring as councillors shortly. A retiring member asked that his thanks be cascaded to all officers.

To seek approval for the revised Communications Strategy 2019 – 2021.

Consideration was given to the revised Communications Strategy 2019 – 2021. It was moved by Councillor Cook, seconded by Councillor Allen and

RESOLVED – the Communications Strategy 2019 – 2021 be approved.

To seek approval of the HBBC Pay Policy Statement for 2019/20.

Members received the Pay Policy Statement for 2019/20. It was moved by Councillor Ladkin, seconded by Councillor Hall and

RESOLVED – the Pay Policy Statement for 2019/20 be approved.

To consider the passing of a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the public from the undermentioned item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 10 of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act.

On the motion of Councillor Kirby seconded by Councillor Allen, 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 1, 2 and 10 of Part I of Schedule 12A of that Act.

To seek Council approval for the appointment to the post of Director (Environment & Planning).

Council gave consideration to the appointment of the new Director (Environment & Planning). It was moved by Councillor Bill, seconded by Councillor Crooks and

RESOLVED – the appointment as recommended by confirmed, subject to references and medical clearance.