Agenda

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2024.

To be advised of any additional items of business which the Mayor decides by reason of special circumstances shall be taken as matters of urgency at this meeting. Items will be considered at the end of the agenda.

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

In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor will lead this item, including presenting long service awards to two members of staff.

The Mayor, Councillor Webber-Jones, would like to offer his communications in writing on this occasion:

“Apologies I cannot be with you this evening. There are reasons beyond my control which relate to the change in meeting date.

It has been a very busy but enjoyable summer. I have attended a huge range of events since we last met and I want to thank everyone involved in organising them and making the school holiday period an exceptionally exciting one. I would also like to thank the Deputy Mayor for representing me at a number of events including a Prince’s Trust Team presentation, and at the anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth. This is always important in the borough and I attended a very poignant ceremony to mark the occasion earlier in the week at Leicester Cathedral, laying white rose petals and roses at significant parts of the Richard III legacy including the tomb and at the grave site.

Since we last met, I have to say I doubled in weight at Feast Hinckley – the range of stalls and food was superb and it was fantastic to see so many people in the town centre. There was just so much choice, I had to try everything. It is great to see the council doing lots to promote all these events in the town and across the borough and I enjoyed contributing to a podcast about this with Councillor Bray. Two days later I was at the opening of the award-winning Snap Dragon Festival. Again, it was great to see so many people there. I enjoyed dancing with Snappy but my back was less keen on the limbo we did. I got to be part of the Barwell Carnival, helping to judge floats as well as taking part in the parade. It is great to see such carnival traditions continuing. I also got to do some dancing and cheerleading at this one! (There is a theme emerging).

The Deputy Mayor and I attended a very interesting tour of the Hinckley Museum where we got to explore the exhibits, find out about future development and we had a go at stock making.

Over the bank holiday weekend – the weather on the Saturday did not stop us – I got to judge one of the categories at the Desford Scarecrow Festival as well as seeing all the scarecrows. There were over 70 households involved this year and with all the activities that took place it was, as it always is, brilliant. I visited Hinckley Pride and as well as doing a bit of dancing, got to see stall holders. The team putting it together had worked really hard and everyone I spoke to had a great time. I also got to present trophies at the annual  ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

To deal with questions under Council Procedure Rule number 14.

To deal with petitions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.

I hope members and officer colleagues have had an opportunity for a break over the summer period or have something planned this month before autumn arrives.

Tonight’s agenda has a key report on the housing revenue account, effectively the council’s budget for its housing stock and investment plans over the next 30 years. I know a substantial amount of work has gone into the plan, against the background of economic uncertainty and changing national financial landscape. This has direct impacts on the level of activity and investment that can be achieved within current forecasts.

There are also two motions on the agenda, one from Councillor Pendlebury on the Royal Mail and the second from Councillor Mullaney on winter fuel payments. I look forward to the debates on these in the chamber tonight.

In other news, I will briefly update on the following matters.

Peer review

I can confirm that we have invited the LGA to undertake a corporate peer challenge later this year. The confirmed dates are 3 to 5 December. This is considered timely given that the last review took place in 2016/17 and before the completion and opening of some major regeneration schemes. The peer challenge involves a team comprising a lead Chief Executive and politicians supported by an LGA Peer Manager and other key peer officers from councils across the country. This is a great opportunity to showcase the work that the council does with the support and commitment of members and our team of officers.

The corporate peer challenge (CPC) is a tried and trusted method of improvement; it provides councils with a robust and effective improvement tool which is owned and determined by the local government sector. CPC also contributes to local authorities’ assurance of their own performances and is part of the wider work the LGA is undertaking to develop an improvement and assurance framework for local government.

There are five core areas that will be combined as part of the CPC:

·         Local priorities and outcomes

·         Organisational and place leadership

·         Governance and culture

·         Finance planning to management

·         Capacity for improvement.

Within this, we have asked the LGA to include economic development and regeneration, recognising the recent and significant developments that the council has helped to secure.

Member and officer briefings will be programmed alongside regular corporate communications. The peer team will be expected to convene a range of stakeholder sessions, including externally with partners and internally with members and officers.

Our communications around this will be branded, politics aside, as an opportunity to demonstrate the great work districts do and, in particular, how HBBC delivers for its residents and businesses.

Summer events

As we move towards the end of the summer holiday period, I wanted to report back on some fantastic events that have taken place for families and residents from across the borough.

The annual Feast Hinckley event drew thousands of visitors over the two days in early August, attracting 50 vendors of which the majority were from within a 20-mile radius of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

To receive for information only the minutes of the Scrutiny Commission meeting held on 25 July 2024.

To present the HRA investment strategy 2024 – 2028 and associated financial information for approval.

To seek approval of the calendar of meetings for the remainder of the 2024/25 municipal year and for the 2025/26 year.

For information only: In accordance with part 2(f) paragraph 3.2 of the Council’s constitution, the Chief Executive has authorised the following in-year changes to membership of council bodies:

·         Councillor Bray to replace Councillor Hollick on Ethical Governance & Personnel Committee

·         Councillor Cope to replace Councillor Weightman on Planning Committee.

The Borough Council notes:

·         Reports from across the UK and in particular from local residents that Royal Mail is failing to deliver vital post, in a timely manner. Examples include missed medical appointments, late fines and important items from banks, solicitors as well as important personal letters and cards from family and friends

·         Many people still rely on mail deliveries and do not have access to email and other forms of communication

·         The hard work and long hours being undertaken by postal staff in an effort to deliver mail.

The Council further notes with concern:

·         The recent increases in prices of postage rates – the fourth increase in two years

·         Proposals being floated to reduce the frequency of postal deliveries.

Council resolves:

1.    To express thanks to our hard-working postal staff for their continued efforts

2.    To invite local Royal Mail managers to attend a meeting of the Council’s Scrutiny Commission to hear concerns from members about postal deliveries in their area

3.    To request the Chief Executive writes to the Chief Executive of Royal Mail to express the Council’s concerns about Royal Mail deliveries across the borough.

Council notes the recent announcement by the Labour government to end universal winter fuel payments and restrict eligibility to only those in receipt of pension credits and other benefits.

Though many agree that universal winter fuel payments are not necessary, Council is deeply concerned that many pensioners on lower and middle incomes will now not receive the payments. Across England and Wales the number of people eligible for winter fuel payments will fall by 10 million (from 11.4 million to only 1.5 million).

In Hinckley & Bosworth the number of pensioners affected by the change in eligibility criteria is 22,431. That means 92.5% of pensioners currently eligible for winter fuel payments will no longer be able to claim the payment from this winter onwards.

Council believes that the Labour government has set the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify for winter fuel payments too low. Only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a week for couples) are eligible for pension credits. This is significantly lower than the living wage rate.

Council is also concerned by the low take up of pension credit, with only 63% of those eligible nationwide receiving it – and over £880,000 pensioners not doing so. Council recognises the role we have to play to increase awareness of benefits such as pension credit to ensure people are aware of the support they are entitled to.

Council further notes that the energy price cap is due to rise by 10% in October, which combined with the removal of winter fuel payments will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty.

Council resolves to:

1.    Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the policy on linking winter fuel payments to pension credit receipt to be immediately paused and introduce a new threshold to determine eligibility for winter fuel payments

2.    Urgently commence a significant awareness campaign to maximise uptake of pension credits.