Agenda and minutes

Prayer was offered by Reverend John Whittaker.

1.         APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR

(a)        It will be proposed by Councillor K Nichols and seconded by Councillor DC Bill that Councillor JG Bannister be elected Mayor for the ensuing year.

            (At this juncture Cllr Bannister will remove his Deputy Mayor’s chain and place this on the table).

(b)        Councillor Bannister will make and sign the requisite declaration of acceptance of office and Councillor Hodgkins will invest him with the chain of office. Councillor Bannister will then take the Chair. (At this time Councillor Hodgkins will sit alongside Councillor Bannister).

(c)               The Mayor will invite Mr Hodgkins to remove his Consort chain. Mr Hodgkins will present Mrs Bannister (who will have removed her Deputy Mayoress’s chain) with the Mayoress’s chain.

(d)               Councillor Bannister will then address the meeting, including the introduction of his air and sea cadets.

2.         VOTE OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING MAYOR

A vote of thanks to Councillor Hodgkins will be proposed by Councillor K Nichols and seconded by Councillor SL Bray.

3.         RESPONSE BY COUNCILLOR HODGKINS

Cllr Hodgkins will respond to the vote of thanks, address the meeting and make presentations to her consorts.                    

The Past Mayor's commemorative medallion will be presented to Cllr Hodgkins by Cllr Bannister.

On the motion of Councillor Nichols, seconded by Councillor Bill it was

RESOLVED – Councillor Bannister be elected Mayor for the ensuing municipal year.

Cllr Bannister made the requisite declaration of acceptance of office and the retiring Mayor invested him with the Chain of Office.

The Mayor, Cllr Bannister, took the chair at this juncture.

The retiring Consort invested the new Mayoress with the Consort’s chain.

In addressing the meeting, Cllr Bannister announced that Reverend John Whittaker had agreed to be his Chaplain and he introduced his Air and Sea Cadets and presented them with the insignia. He indicated that he would be raising funds for two charities during his Mayoral year – St Mary’s Clock Repair Fund and Leicestershire Sailing Association. He also reported that he would be continuing his support for Emmaus.

It was then moved by Cllr Nichols, seconded by Cllr Bray and

RESOLVED – a vote of thanks be accorded to Cllr Hodgkins for service during her term of office as Mayor.

Councillor Hodgkins then addressed the meeting, thanking her Chaplain, Cadets, Consorts and officers, and also presenting medals to her Cadets.

It will be proposed by Councillor L Hodgkins and seconded by Councillor SL Bray that Councillor Nichols be appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year. Cllr Nichols will make and sign the declaration of acceptance of office, following which Cllr Bannister will invest Cllr Nichols with the Deputy Mayor’s chain of office and Mrs Nichols with the Deputy Mayoress’ chain. Cllr Nichols will then sit in the Deputy Mayor’s chair.

Cllr Hodgkins will then take Cllr Nichols’ former seat in the Chamber.

On the motion of Councillor Hodgkins, seconded by Councillor Bray, it was

RESOLVED – Councillor Nichols be appointed Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year.

Councillor Nichols then made the requisite declaration of acceptance of office and the Mayor invested him with the Deputy Mayor’s Chain of Office and the Deputy Mayoress with the Deputy Consort’s chain.

The Leader will present the Leader’s medal to Mr Hodgkins.

Councillor Bray presented Mr Hodgkins, past Consort, with the Leader’s medal.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors O’Shea and Smith.

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.

Councillor Hulbert declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 11 as an employee of the George Ward Centre.

The Leader will announce that the Deputy Leader and Executive and their areas of responsibility will be:-

Cllr Bray                -     (Leader of the Council & Chairman of the Executive) Executive Member for Communications, Strategic Leadership, Regeneration, Planning, Major Capital Projects, Town Centre Issues & Car Parks

Cllr Bill                   -     (Deputy Leader & Vice-Chairman of the Executive) Executive Member for Community Safety & Partnerships

Cllr Cope               -     Executive Member for Culture & Leisure (arts, tourism, sport, children & young people, town twinning)

Cllr Crooks            -     Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services (streetscene, parks, wardens, rural affairs)

Cllr Gould              -     Executive Member for Environment, Health & Climate Change (environmental health, licensing, climate change, fair trade)

Cllr Lynch              -     Executive Member for Finance, ICT & Asset Management

Cllr Mullaney          -     Executive Member for Housing (housing, housing repairs & council house building)

Cllr Witherford       -     Executive Member for Corporate Services, Equalities & Member Services.

The Leader announced his Executive as follows:

Cllr Bray                -     (Leader of the Council & Chairman of the Executive) Executive Member for Communications, Strategic Leadership, Regeneration, Planning, Major Capital Projects, Town Centre Issues & Car Parks

Cllr Bill                   -     (Deputy Leader & Vice-Chairman of the Executive) Executive Member for Community Safety & Partnerships

Cllr Cope               -     Executive Member for Culture & Leisure (arts, tourism, sport, children & young people, town twinning)

Cllr Crooks            -     Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services (streetscene, parks, wardens, rural affairs)

Cllr Gould              -     Executive Member for Environment, Health & Climate Change (environmental health, licensing, climate change, fair trade)

Cllr Lynch              -     Executive Member for Finance, ICT & Asset Management

Cllr Mullaney          -     Executive Member for Housing (housing, housing repairs & council house building)

Cllr Witherford       -     Executive Member for Corporate Services, Equalities & Member Services.

It will be proposed by Councillor SL Bray and seconded by Councillor DC Bill that appointments to committees be made as follows:

(1)        Planning Committee (17 Members)

            Cllr R Mayne (Chairman); Cllr JS Moore (Vice-Chairman); Cllr RG Allen; Cllr JG Bannister; Cllr CW Boothby; Cllr DS Cope; Cllr WA Hall; Cllr L Hodgkins; Cllr MS Hulbert; Cllr KWP Lynch; Cllr K Morrell; Cllr LJP O’Shea; Cllr H Smith; Cllr BE Sutton; Cllr DM Taylor; Cllr R Ward and Cllr BM Witherford.

(2)               Scrutiny Commission (12 Members)

            Cllr MR Lay (Chairman); Cllr C Ladkin (Vice-Chairman); Cllr DM Taylor (Vice-Chairman); Cllr PR Batty; Cllr PS Bessant; Cllr PAS Hall; Cllr L Hodgkins; Cllr MS Hulbert; Cllr DW Inman; Cllr JS Moore; Cllr K Morrell and Cllr K Nichols.

(3)        Hinckley Area Committee (10 Members)

            Cllr SL Bray (Chairman); Cllr L Hodgkins (Vice-Chairman); Cllr JG Bannister; Cllr DC Bill; Cllr DS Cope; Cllr KWP Lynch; Cllr MT Mullaney; Cllr K Nichols; Cllr DM Taylor and Cllr BM Witherford.

(4)        Licensing Committee (11 Members)

            Cllr K Nichols (Chairman); Cllr MS Hulbert (Vice-Chairman); Cllr PR Batty; Cllr MB Cartwright; Cllr DS Cope; Cllr JS Moore; Cllr LJP O’Shea; Cllr J Richards; Cllr H Smith; Cllr S Sprason and Cllr BM Witherford.

(5)        Licensing (Regulatory) Committee (11 Members)

            Cllr K Nichols (Chairman); Cllr MS Hulbert (Vice-Chairman); Cllr PR Batty; Cllr MB Cartwright; Cllr DS Cope; Cllr JS Moore; Cllr LJP O’Shea; Cllr J Richards; Cllr H Smith; Cllr S Sprason and Cllr BM Witherford.

(6)               Ethical Governance & Personnel Committee (9 Members)

            Cllr DW Inman (Chairman); Cllr WA Hall (Vice-Chairman); Cllr KWP Lynch; Cllr JS Moore; Cllr BM Witherford; 4 vacancies.

(7)        Finance, Audit & Performance Committee (7 Members)

            Cllr DM Taylor (Chairman); Cllr JS Moore (Vice-Chairman); Cllr PR Batty; Cllr R Camamile; Cllr PAS Hall; Cllr R Mayne and Cllr K Morrell.

(8)        Emergency Committee (7 Members)

            Cllr SL Bray (Chairman); Cllr PR Batty; Cllr DS Cope; Cllr MR Lay; Cllr K Morrell; Cllr MT Mullaney and Cllr BM Witherford.

(9)        Appeals Panel (12 Members, from which panels of three members will be drawn as and when required)

Cllr MB Cartwright (Chairman); Cllr WA Hall (Vice-Chairman); Cllr JG Bannister; Cllr R Camamile; Cllr PAS Hall; Cllr L Hodgkins; Cllr JS Moore; Cllr LJP O’Shea; Cllr J Richards; Cllr BE Sutton; Cllr R Ward and Cllr BM Witherford.

On the motion of Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bill, it was

RESOLVED – appointments to committees be made as follows:

(1)        Planning Committee

            Cllr R Mayne (Chairman); Cllr JS Moore (Vice-Chairman); Cllr RG Allen; Cllr JG Bannister; Cllr CW Boothby; Cllr DS Cope; Cllr WA Hall; Cllr L Hodgkins; Cllr MS Hulbert; Cllr KWP Lynch; Cllr K Morrell; Cllr LJP O’Shea; Cllr H Smith; Cllr BE Sutton; Cllr DM Taylor; Cllr R Ward and Cllr BM Witherford.

(2)               Scrutiny Commission

            Cllr MR Lay (Chairman); Cllr C Ladkin (Vice-Chairman); Cllr DM Taylor (Vice-Chairman); Cllr PR Batty; Cllr PS Bessant; Cllr PAS Hall; Cllr L Hodgkins; Cllr MS Hulbert; Cllr DW Inman; Cllr JS Moore; Cllr K Morrell and Cllr K Nichols.

(3)        Hinckley Area Committee

            Cllr SL Bray (Chairman); Cllr L Hodgkins (Vice-Chairman); Cllr JG Bannister; Cllr DC Bill; Cllr DS Cope; Cllr KWP Lynch; Cllr MT Mullaney; Cllr K Nichols; Cllr DM Taylor and Cllr BM Witherford.

(4)        Licensing Committee

            Cllr K Nichols (Chairman); Cllr MS Hulbert (Vice-Chairman); Cllr PR Batty; Cllr MB Cartwright; Cllr DS Cope; Cllr JS Moore; Cllr LJP O’Shea; Cllr J Richards; Cllr H Smith; Cllr S Sprason and Cllr BM Witherford.

(5)        Licensing (Regulatory) Committee

            Cllr K Nichols (Chairman); Cllr MS Hulbert (Vice-Chairman); Cllr PR Batty; Cllr MB Cartwright; Cllr DS Cope; Cllr JS Moore; Cllr LJP O’Shea; Cllr J Richards; Cllr H Smith; Cllr S Sprason and Cllr BM Witherford.

(6)               Ethical Governance & Personnel Committee

            Cllr DW Inman (Chairman); Cllr WA Hall (Vice-Chairman); Cllr KWP Lynch; Cllr JS Moore; Cllr BM Witherford; 4 vacancies.

(7)        Finance, Audit & Performance Committee

            Cllr DM Taylor (Chairman); Cllr JS Moore (Vice-Chairman); Cllr PR Batty; Cllr R Camamile; Cllr PAS Hall; Cllr R Mayne and Cllr K Morrell.

(8)        Emergency Committee

            Cllr SL Bray (Chairman); Cllr PR Batty; Cllr DS Cope; Cllr MR Lay; Cllr K Morrell; Cllr MT Mullaney and Cllr BM Witherford.

(9)        Appeals Panel

Cllr MB Cartwright (Chairman); Cllr WA Hall (Vice-Chairman); Cllr JG Bannister; Cllr R Camamile; Cllr PAS Hall; Cllr L Hodgkins; Cllr JS Moore; Cllr LJP O’Shea; Cllr J Richards; Cllr BE Sutton; Cllr R Ward and Cllr BM Witherford.

It will be proposed by Cllr SL Bray and seconded by Cllr DC Bill that the employer's representatives on the above mentioned panel be:-

Balance: 3, 1, 1

Cllr DC Bill; Cllr L Hodgkins; Cllr MR Lay; Cllr R Ward and Cllr BM Witherford.

On the motion of Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bill, it was

RESOLVED – the employer’s representatives on the Local Joint and Safety Panel be confirmed as follows:

Cllr DC Bill; Cllr L Hodgkins; Cllr MR Lay; Cllr R Ward and Cllr BM Witherford.

It will be proposed by Cllr SL Bray and seconded by Cllr DC Bill that the following be appointed as the Council's representatives on the bodies indicated. Unless indicated, one appointment is required.

It was proposed by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bill, and

RESOLVED – the following appointments be made to outside bodies:

It will be moved by Councillor SL Bray and seconded by Councillor DC Bill that the following appointments be made to Charitable Bodies:

(a)        Alderman Newton, Barwell

            It will be proposed that Eileen Hemsley be appointed for a three year term.

(b)        Dixie Educational Foundation

            It will be proposed that Mrs J Glennon, Cllr WJ Crooks, Cllr BE Sutton and Cllr R Ward be appointed for a three year term.

It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bill and

RESOLVED – the following appointments be made to charitable bodies:

(i)         Alderman Newton, Barwell

            Mrs E Hemsley (for a three year term).

(ii)        Dixie Educational Foundation

            Mrs J Glennon, Cllr WJ Crooks, Cllr BE Sutton and Cllr R Ward (for a three year term).

Following the granting of charitable status to the George Ward Centre Limited, Barwell, the Council has been asked to consider becoming a Statutory Authority Member (information attached). Members are asked to approve this request and to appoint a representative.

It will be proposed by Cllr SL Bray and seconded by Cllr DC Bill that Councillor BM Witherford be appointed as the Council’s representative.

It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bill, and

RESOLVED –

(i)         HBBC agrees to become a Statutory Authority Member of the George Ward Centre Ltd (registered charity);

(ii)        Councillor BM Witherford be appointed as the Council’s representative to attend meetings of the charity.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction).

Having already had the opportunity to fully debate this item at the Scrutiny Commission, members are asked to submit any outstanding questions by 4pm on 16 May so that they may be answered at the meeting or in writing.

Members gave consideration to the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2013/14 – 2016/17, which had been debated at length by the Scrutiny Commission the previous week. Whilst there was general support for the strategies and current/proposed actions of the Borough Council , disappointment was expressed at the effect that cuts in funding, particularly those made by the County Council eg libraries, were having on local communities, which would be further exacerbated should any funding streams to parish councils be removed. It was moved by Councillor Lynch, seconded by Councillor Bray and unanimously

RESOLVED –

(i)         the Medium Term Financial Strategy be approved;

(ii)        the targets set out in the report to ensure achievement of the “best case” financial scenario be noted.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction).

It was reported that this report had been withdrawn from the agenda to allow opportunity for debate by the Scrutiny Commission before coming before Council.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction).

Members were informed of an increase to the anticipated planning applications income budget for 2014-15. It was moved by Councillor Lynch, seconded by Councillor Bray and

RESOLVED –

(i)         the revised planning application income projection for 2014-15 be noted;

(ii)        the request for a £100,000 supplementary income budget be approved;

(iii)       the element of the additional forecast income of £100,000 be used to set up a planning capacity reserve to fund the costs of resource required in this area.