Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Nichols, O’Shea, Richards and Williams.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2015.

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

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2015 be approved and signed by the Deputy Mayor.

No interests were declared at this stage.

Question received from Councillor Crooks:

In relation to the recent survey supposedly delivered to residents of the Borough asking whether they would wish to choose to pay extra for the Brown Bin collection, or pay for a rate rise to cover this service, and did not get delivered! - Were the company contracted to deliver the survey paid any monies at all by this Council?

Response from Councillor Hall:

Officers contracted a company in good faith to deliver a printed survey to every household in the borough. The company was selected following the submission of informal prices as it has significant experience of delivering for national companies and for other councils, it could deliver within the short timescale required and the price quoted was competitive.

Unfortunately, although a number of surveys were delivered and some 500 were returned, officers were not satisfied the delivery company completed the delivery to every household in the borough as required. This dissatisfaction was based on the council's own delivery back checks and a significant number of complaints of non-delivery from households.

In order to ensure that every household had the opportunity to take part, the deadline was extended and the survey was repeated in the winter 2015 edition of the Borough Bulletin. This ensured every household had the opportunity to take part by either clipping out the coupon and posting it back using the freepost address or by completing the survey online. As Members may be aware, the council directly employs its own deliverers to deliver the Bulletin. There was no additional cost to the council for including the survey in the Bulletin.

The survey attracted 2150 responses and attracted views from residents living in every ward of the borough, around 40% of which were submitted online.

I can confirm the delivery contractor has not been paid for the delivery. Officers notified the contractor of the council's dissatisfaction, informing them that the council does not intend to pay their invoice in November. The contactor has disputed the council's decision, citing delivery back checks completed by an independent company on the contractor's behalf. However, the council's position has not changed and we remain dissatisfied and unwilling to pay their invoice.

The following question was received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1:

Question from Councillor WJ Crooks

“In relation to the recent survey supposedly delivered to residents of the Borough asking whether they would wish to choose to pay extra for the Brown Bin collection, or pay for a rate rise to cover this service, and did not get delivered! - Were the company contracted to deliver the survey paid any monies at all by this Council?”

Response from Councillor M Hall, Council Leader

“Officers contracted a company in good faith to deliver a printed survey to every household in the borough. The company was selected following the submission of informal prices as it has significant experience of delivering for national companies and for other councils, it could deliver within the short timescale required and the price quoted was competitive.

Unfortunately, although a number of surveys were delivered and some 500 were returned, officers were not satisfied the delivery company completed the delivery to every household in the borough as required. This dissatisfaction was based on the council's own delivery back checks and a significant number of complaints of non-delivery from households.

In order to ensure that every household had the opportunity to take part, the deadline was extended and the survey was repeated in the winter 2015 edition of the Borough Bulletin. This ensured every household had the opportunity to take part by either clipping out the coupon and posting it back using the freepost address or by completing the survey online. As Members may be aware, the council directly employs its own deliverers to deliver the Bulletin. There was no additional cost to the council for including the survey in the Bulletin.

The survey attracted 2150 responses and attracted views from residents living in every ward of the borough, around 40% of which were submitted online.

I can confirm the delivery contractor has not been paid for the delivery. Officers notified the contractor of the council's dissatisfaction, informing them that the council does not intend to pay their invoice in November. The contactor has disputed the council's decision, citing delivery back checks completed by an independent company on the contractor's behalf. However, the council's position has not changed and we remain dissatisfied and unwilling to pay their invoice.”

As a supplementary question, Cllr Crooks referred to the very recent press release which had stated that there would now be no requirement to either hold a referendum for a council tax increase or impose a charge for garden waste during 2016/17 and asked if the consultation had, therefore, been a needless exercise. In response, the Leader highlighted that, at the time, they had been very likely options and would have been relevant, had the finance settlement been less positive for the council.

As we enter a new year I think it's worth taking a few minutes to reflect on some of our achievements of 2015.

2015 was an historic year that will be remembered for all time because it was the year in which King Richard III was finally laid to rest with the dignity befitting a Monarch. For some time our Borough appeared on news channels across the world, its citizens came out in their thousands to play their part in the ceremonies and pageantry, and to witness events that brought alive our history of 1485 .

It was a year in which we finally saw Hinckley's bus station redeveloped to become The Crescent and with the opening of Sainsbury's, Cineworld, and The Elbow Room we have seen the start of a new era for this town’s centre. We have also approved a town centres vision document to set out the next part of regeneration, not just for Hinckley but our other major towns as well.

We had our first Annual Rural Conference and launched a draft rural strategy, a new bus route connecting with Mira was launched after the A5 improvement, and was quickly extended to Witherley and Fenny Drayton.

Our Planning Committee introduced changes to bring regular updates to members with progress on major developments and updates on enforcement actions. We introduced the planning policy forum, allowing all members to contribute their views on policy much earlier than would otherwise have been the case.

Market Bosworth deserves a special mention because it had its neighbourhood development plan adopted.

We also published a revised health strategy, engaged positively with health partners and MP David Treddinick, and are influencing the CCG Community Health review.

As we start 2016 we already know there is much to look forward to. We will see continued regeneration in Hinckley, not least of which will be the opening of the new leisure centre in four months’ time.

Work with our partner councils in Leicestershire will continue to create a combined authority and through that to devolve further powers to local government.

We will be holding a developers’ forum at the end of this month, with local and national builders, to discuss better ways to meet future housing need, without destroying the communities that we value today. Part of this of course will be to outline how we plan to utilise some of our own land assets for future housing development.

There are of course challenges going forward, not least of which is Council’s budget.

Members will shortly be receiving papers for the scrutiny commission to be held on 21 January. This meeting is open for all members to attend to review the draft budget proposals for the coming year. Everyone will, I am sure, be pleased to know that these proposals do not require this council to hold a referendum on a council tax increase. With the increased funding from government, including the continuation of new homes bonus, increased business rates retention, further  ...  view the full agenda text for item 335.

In his position statement, the Leader referred to the achievements of 2015, including the Crescent development, the successful first Annual Rural Conference and the adoption of Market Bosworth Neighbourhood Plan. Looking forward, he spoke about the CCG Community Health review, the opening of the new leisure centre, and the emerging Leicester & Leicestershire Combined Authority. Reference was also made to the Strategic Growth Plan for Leicestershire and that the presentation to the cross-party planning working group was the first to be convened in Leicestershire, and the Developer Forum which was being convened at the end of January.

To receive for information only the minutes of the Scrutiny Commission meeting held on 29 October and 10 December 2015.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission presented the minutes of the meetings held on 29 October and 10 December 2015.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) seeking approval of the enforcement of the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015.

Council received a report which informed members of the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015 and proposed enforcement of the regulations. Members requested that the requirements and the ability of the authority to offer microchipping be well communicated, including through the Borough Bulletin. It was moved by Councillor Morrell, seconded by Councillor Hall and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The enforcement proposal of the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015 as contained within the report be approved;

(ii)           The necessary amendments be made to the Constitution to allow the enforcement of the regulations.

Council is asked to approve a supplementary capital budget to attract suitable tenants to retain / restaurant units in Block C, The Crescent.

Members received a report requesting a supplementary budget to attract suitable tenants to the units of Block C, The Crescent. It was moved by Councillor Surtees, seconded by Councillor Hall and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The request for a supplementary capital budget for the current 2015/16 year of £550,000 to attract suitable tenants to retail/restaurant units, financed from the Masterplan Reserve, be approved;

(ii)           The inclusion of the remaining tenant incentive of £650,000 in the 2016/17 capital budget, financed from the Masterplan Reserve, be approved;

(iii)          The Chief Executive/Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction) and the Executive Member for Finance be granted delegated authority to agree these incentives to a total level of £1.2m.

To appoint a panel of five members to the Statutory Officer Employment Panel in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2015: Councillors Bray, Hall, Lay, Nickerson and Sutton.

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

RESOLVED – Councillors Bray, Hall, Lay, Nickerson and Sutton be appointed to the Statutory Officer Employment Panel in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.