Agenda and minutes

Reverend John Whittaker offered prayer.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Cope, Lay, O’Shea, Smith and Ward.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2014.

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

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 23 September be confirmed and signed by the Mayor.

Council was informed that the Mayor had agreed to accept an item of urgent business ‘Appointment of Monitoring Officer’ due to the need to make the appointment prior to the next Council meeting. It was agreed that the report would be taken as item 13.

No interests were declared at this stage.

The Mayor reported on the recent visit to Hinckley by guests from Grand Quevilly and the links that had been created between the Concordia Theatre and the theatre in Grand Quevilly as a result.

Question received under Council Procedure Rule number 11.1 from Councillor Hulbert:

“Could the Executive Member for Cultural Services tell me how he envisages Leicestershire County Council's cuts to children and young people's services will impact in Hinckley and Bosworth?”

Response from Councillor Cope:

As reported in the public report to Leicestershire’s County Council’s Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday, 1 September 2014 the Children & Families Department needs to make savings of £3.6m, representing a 33% budgetary reduction.

Because of the significant cuts that need to be achieved by LCC this will involve whole service redesign. This includes a management re-structure at LCC. At present the Sure Start Children Centres, which we have 7, will remain operational. However, the service delivered from these Centres, which targets families in need, is likely to be reduced. It is highly likely that the delegated budget which HBBC administers for Sure Start programme along with locality based grant aid programmes will be cease.

The County Council is currently consulting the Local Authorities and voluntary sector on how it intends to make these significant savings this year and over the next 3 years.

The exact impact on services will not be known for some time. Following the consultation period, the County Council’s Cabinet is due to consider proposals in December 2014, with many of the changes commencing in April 2015.

To minimise the impact the Borough Council is working collaboratively with Senior Management representatives at LCC and is liaising with other Districts over the budgetary position.

It must be stressed that the Borough Councils commitment to providing all children from within the Borough the best possible start in life remains a key corporate aim.

Question from Councillor Hulbert:

“Could the Executive Member for Cultural Services tell me how he envisages Leicestershire County Council's cuts to children and young people's services will impact in Hinckley and Bosworth?”

Response from Councillor Cope:

“As reported in the public report to Leicestershire’s County Council’s Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday, 1 September 2014 the Children & Families Department needs to make savings of £3.6m, representing a 33% budgetary reduction.

Because of the significant cuts that need to be achieved by LCC this will involve whole service redesign. This includes a management re-structure at LCC. At present the Sure Start Children Centres, which we have 7, will remain operational. However, the service delivered from these Centres, which targets families in need, is likely to be reduced. It is highly likely that the delegated budget which HBBC administers for Sure Start programme along with locality based grant aid programmes will be cease.

The County Council is currently consulting the Local Authorities and voluntary sector on how it intends to make these significant savings this year and over the next 3 years.

The exact impact on services will not be known for some time. Following the consultation period, the County Council’s Cabinet is due to consider proposals in December 2014, with many of the changes commencing in April 2015.

To minimise the impact the Borough Council is working collaboratively with Senior Management representatives at LCC and is liaising with other Districts over the budgetary position.

It must be stressed that the Borough Councils commitment to providing all children from within the Borough the best possible start in life remains a key corporate aim.”

Mr Mayor, fellow Councillors, Officers, members of the public and media

Whilst tonight’s agenda is relatively short, there are two significant items – Housing Allocations and Waste Recycling – which will require much debate, although on the latter that may be more appropriate for the Scrutiny Commission; the Commission has considered already the implications of the former. Suffice to say at this juncture that we are being asked to consider charging for green waste as a direct consequence of decisions taken by the County Council to withdraw funding from Districts. So, this Council and our residents may have to pay the price! But at least we will give residents a choice – more than the County Council has done- to opt in or out.

On a very much more positive note, progress with the two major developments: the Crescent and the Leisure Centre is moving forward as programmed. The steel frameworks soon to be put in place at the bus station site will be clear evidence of that progress and be testament to the efforts and decisions made by this Administration for the benefit of the town and the wider area; looking to the future, not the past.

Although final decisions on the Council’s budget for 2015/16 are a few months’ away, the hard work of our officers continues to identify new/increased funding streams, as well as further efficiencies, and I am confident that, coupled with some hard decisions being taken by the Council, led by this Administration, we will continue to set a sound foundation not just for next year, but for the three years thereafter. So confident am I that I can state now that I will be recommending for 2015 an extension to the council tax freeze which our residents have enjoyed throughout the term of this Administration.

On the wider growth front, we continue to lead the work with our colleagues in Coventry and Warwickshire towards the adoption of an Economic Prosperity Board for the area, which will increase our ability to coordinate decision-making on regeneration over the wider area and give central government more confidence in agreeing to allocate funding to us for such work. That confidence is beginning to show, evidenced by the recent Pre-Adjournment debate in the House of Commons, which sought a commitment from the Transport Minister to support continued funding for work to significantly enhance the A5 trunk road between the M69 and M42; this was sponsored by Marcus Jones, MP for Nuneaton on 28 October, with a supporting Brief from Bill Cullen.

Whilst I am on the topic of the A5,  I would like to offer my thanks to the communities of Fenny Drayton and other surrounding villages in the west of the Borough for their patience and understanding arising from the inconvenience they will be experiencing from current works. This is a result of the major improvements currently underway as part of the RGF scheme that this Council successfully secured to part dual the A5 and improve the Redgate  ...  view the full agenda text for item 247.

In his position statement, the Leader highlighted the additional recommendation with regard to the Green Waste Consultation report, the progress made on the Bus Station and Leisure Centre and the likelihood of a sound budget for 2015/16 which would hopefully allow for a freeze in Council Tax. He also sent his thanks and best wishes to Louisa Horton who was leaving the authority. Members wished to congratulate everyone involved in Earl Shilton’s shortlisting for the Great British High Street Awards.

To receive for information only the minutes of the Scrutiny Commission meeting held on 2 October 2014.

The minutes of the Scrutiny Commission on 2 October were noted.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction).

A report was presented to members which sought approval of an Off-Street Parking Places Order for various car parks in the Hinckley area. It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bill and unanimously

RESOLVED –

(i)            The Off Street Parking Places (Hinckley and Bosworth) Order 2014 be approved;

(ii)           Authority be delegated to the Head of Street Scene Services to publish a notice of proposals in relation to the Order;

(iii)          Subject to there being no objections received within the relevant statutory period, authority be delegated to the Head of Street Scene Services to make the Order and publish the notice of making;

(iv)         Where objections are received, a written report be produced detailing the objections and authority be delegated to the Chief Officer (Environmental Health) and the Executive Member with responsibility for Car Parks in conjunction with the Legal Services Manager to consider such objections and consider whether the Order be confirmed.

An additional recommendation will be proposed as follows:

2.2       that the Scrutiny Commission be asked to consider the detailed questions at its next meeting on 13 November, along with any longer-term implications, and review the response prior to any final recommendations to Council.

Council was advised of the reduction in funding from Leicestershire County Council in relation to recycling credits for green waste collections from 2015/16. Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Taylor, moved an additional recommendation that the Scrutiny Commission be asked to consider the detailed questions at its next meeting, which was accepted without debate. It was agreed that the following points would be incorporated into the discussion at the Scrutiny Commission meeting:

·         Whether the Borough Council could take on the responsibility of the Waste Disposal Authority

·         Provision within the consultation to gauge the views of the elderly

·         The possibility of discounts for those in receipt of benefits

·         The options with regard to additional bins.

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

RESOLVED –

(i)            Council agrees to a consultation on the introduction of charges for green waste collections from 2015/16;

(ii)           The Scrutiny Commission be asked to consider the detailed questions at its next meeting on 13 November, along with any longer-term implications, and review the response prior to any final recommendations to Council.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction).

A report was presented to Council which sought agreement to consult on the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document (DPD) Pre-Submission Modification, Sustainability Appraisal Addendum and supporting documents, and also sought agreement for subsequent submission of the DPD to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public. Members mentioned the lengthy process and in response the Leader highlighted the significant national changes since the adoption of the Core Strategy which had impacted on speed of progress of the document, including the publication of the National Planning Policy Framework and abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies. The Leader thanked members for their comments and the time they had given to the process. It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bill and unanimously

RESOLVED –

(i)            Publication of the pre-submission modifications of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD and sustainability appraisal including addendum be approved;

(ii)           The submission of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD including modifications, sustainability appraisal including addendum, statement of consultation responses and supporting documents to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public following analysis of the representations received during the consultation period be approved.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction).

Council was advised of external funding received from Public Health to address the issue of excess winter deaths from cold through a countywide project which resulted in the need to appoint three Warm Home Officers plus additional part time bank staff to carry out temperature and humidity audits across the County.

A member emphasised the need to liaise with parish councils to aid communication, and it was agreed that this would be addressed.

It was moved by Councillor Gould, seconded by Councillor Mullaney and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The project to deliver strategically targeted advice and practical support to residents within the County in order to reduce the number of excess winter deaths be approved;

(ii)           The receipt of public health funding to support the project and to act as the lead authority on behalf of the other Leicestershire authorities for the recruitment of the Warm Homes Officers be approved;

(iii)          The creation of income and expenditure budgets totalling £59,033 be approved.

The Mayor has agreed to accept this as an urgent item. The reasons for urgency are contained within the report.

Following indication of the current Monitoring Officer of her intention to leave the authority, a report was presented to Council in accordance with Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 in order to designate a new Monitoring Officer. It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Witherford and

RESOLVED – Julie Kenny be appointed as the authority’s designated Monitoring Officer.

(a)  Received from Councillor Bill, seconded by Councillor Mullaney:

“This Council endorses the letter sent to the 3 national party leaders on the need for a genuine local voice in planning and agrees that this should also be sent to the DCLG, the Local Government Association and the Royal Town Planning Institute for their information and for a response. The letter is attached as an appendix”.

(b)  Urgent motion received from Councillor Gould, seconded by Councillor Hulbert:

“This Council deplores the notion that the Earl Shilton branch of NatWest should close, and requests that the Chief Executive writes to RBS raising the following points:

·         Limited opening during weekdays has undermined the business case; why has consideration not been given to weekend opening?

·         There is a strong community need for local banking services in Earl Shilton; NatWest now sits as the last branch

·         NatWest has constantly given reassurances that it will not close branches; why has the folly of City Bankers been used to punish customers?”

(a)        Motion received from Councillor Bill, seconded by Councillor Mullaney:

            “This Council endorses the letter sent to the three national party leaders on the need for a genuine local voice in planning and agrees that this should also be sent to the DCLG, the Local Government Association and the Royal Town Planning Institute for their information and for a response”. The letter was attached as an appendix.

RESOLVED – the motion be approved.

(b)        Urgent motion received from Councillor Gould, seconded by Councillor Hulbert:

            “This Council deplores the notion that the Earl Shilton branch of NatWest should close and requests that the Chief Executive write to RBS raising the following points:

·         Limited opening during weekdays has undermined the business case; why has consideration not been given to weekend opening

·         There is a strong community need for local banking services in Earl Shilton; NatWest now sits as the last branch

·         NatWest has constantly given reassurances that it will not close branches; why has the folly of City Bankers been used to punish customers?”

During discussion, members referred to the range of services that would now be available at the relocated Earl Shilton Post Office and the sound financial institution of the Earl Shilton Building Society.

It was unanimously

RESOLVED – the motion be approved.