Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors C Allen, Bools, Boothby, Cope, Surtees and Williams.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 22 February and 14 May 2024.

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

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meetings held on 22 February and 14 May 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

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.

No interests were declared.

To receive such communications as the Mayor may decide to lay before the Council.

The Mayor presented a long service award to Derek Allsop, a member of staff who had served the Council for 39 years. He then provided an update on events attended and a visit to Twycross Zoo that he was arranging.

Welcome to our July meeting of Council.

The key report on the agenda tonight for consideration is the draft Regulation 18 Local Plan. I’m aware there has been good cross-party engagement in the development of the Plan and I look forward to the Council launching the consultation on this important plan following the outcomes of our debate tonight.

You will note we also have a report on political balance and representation on committees as a result of Cllr Charlotte Green joining the Liberal Democrat Group. I would like to formally take this opportunity of welcoming Charlotte and look forward to the positive contribution she can make going forward.

Some other brief updates to share with you tonight are as follows:

50 Year Anniversary Celebrations

I am thrilled to have seen so many residents join us for our 50^th Anniversary festival celebration in Hollycroft Park at the end of May. The festival included some great bands, had good food on offer and attracted an incredible range of community groups, who do such amazing work across the borough.

This event was followed by our annual Proms in the Park event in early June, which saw thousands of local residents flood to Hollycroft Park. The crowds were treated to fantastic performances from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Wind orchestra, an ensemble comprising more than 50 talented young musicians. The orchestra was also joined by singer Samantha Oxborough, a graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and who notably sang the National Anthem at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Summer events

Feast Hinckley
I am pleased to say our much-loved annual Feast Hinckley will return on 3-4 August to Argents Mead. The festival usually attracts people from across the Midlands and a whole host of incredible food stalls. There will be a range of cuisine on offer and you can expect live music and family friendly activities. The event will take place from 10am to 5pm, so I invite you all to come along and join in the fun.

Snap Dragon
Hot on the heels of Feast Hinckley is this year’s Snap Dragon Family Festival that takes place from Monday 5 August to Wednesday 7 August from 11am to 3pm each day.

The Festival is perfect for anyone struggling to keep little ones entertained this summer, with three fun filled days of activities for all the family. You can expect ‘have a go’ workshops, shows in the bandstand and much more. Each day will have its own theme, with Monday being ‘Flower Power’, celebrating 50 years of HBBC. Tuesday’s event is called ‘Go for Gold’ and will be themed around the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, while the festival will finish with ‘National Play Day’ to celebrate a child’s right to play.

I would like to express my thanks for all the staff at HBBC who not only help organise and support the great events programme we have but also those unsung heroes from Streetscene and Green Space services who ensure our venues  ...  view the full agenda text for item 49.

In his position statement, the leader referred to 50^th anniversary celebrations and community grants schemes, summer events, Leicester Animal Aid’s pet support scheme, the Planning service having won Planning Authority Team of the Year for the East Midlands, community swap shops, new grants for voluntary groups, and the recent sad passing of Muthar M’ahmoud Al-Salloum, Managing Director of MAS Architecture and long-standing tenant at the Atkins Building.

To receive for information only the minutes of the Scrutiny Commission meetings held on 14 March and 9 May 2024.

Councillor Lambert presented the minutes of the meetings of the Scrutiny Commission held on 14 March and 9 May 2024 for information.

To inform members of the draft financial outturn for 2023/24.

Members were informed of the financial outturn for 2023/24. It was moved by Councillor Lynch, seconded by Councillor Bray and unanimously

RESOLVED –

(i)            The general fund outturn for 2023/24 be approved;

(ii)          The transfers to earmarked reserves and balances be approved;

(iii)         The general fund revenue carry forwards into 2024/25 be approved;

(iv)         The housing revenue and housing repairs account outturn for 2023/24 and transfers to and from balances be approved;

(v)          The capital programme outturn for the general fund and housing revenue account for 2023/24 be approved;

(vi)         The housing revenue account carry forwards be approved;

(vii)        The capital carry forwards be approved;

(viii)       The additional budgets for UK SPF decarbonisation, mental health support and decarbonisation works to housing revenue account properties be approved;

(ix)         A £90,000 expenditure budget for the current year to carry out enforcement work on Tara House be approved.

To consider a further stage of consultation aimed at developing the new local plan.

Consideration was given to a further stage of consultation as part of the development of a new local plan for the borough. During discussion, members emphasised the importance of the community engaging with the consultation. They also felt it important that the public understood the constraints imposed by the government which limited the council’s scope for refusing development. Officers were thanked for their hard work on the local plan and the documents provided. It was moved by Councillor W Crooks, seconded by Councillor Bray and unanimously

RESOLVED –

(i)            An eight-week period of consultation on the regulation 18 draft local plan during July / August / September 2024 be approved;

(ii)          Authority be delegated to the Head of Planning in consultation with the relevant Executive Member to make minor drafting / presentational changes to the consultation documents.

To review the political balance and consider an amendment to the council’s constitution.

In moving the recommendations within the report, Councillor Bray will also move that pursuant to recommendations 2.3 and 2.4, Councillor Moore be removed from the Appeals Panel to achieve the reduction in the number of members of the body.

Council reviewed its political balance following a change in group membership and considered an amendment to the constitution to reduce the number of members on the Appeals Panel. It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Pendlebury and unanimously

RESOLVED –

(i)            The revised political balance be approved;

(ii)          The allocation of seats to political groups and non-aligned members be approved;

(iii)         Paragraph 2.1 of part 2b of the council’s constitution be amended to reduce the number of members of the Appeals Panel from 12 to 11;

(iv)         Pursuant to (iii) above, Councillor Moore be removed from the Appeals Panel.