Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors C Allen, Cook, J Crooks, W Crooks, Lambert and Weightman.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 3 July and 8 July 2025.

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

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meetings held on 3 and 8 July be approved as a correct record.

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 provided an update on events attended.

Welcome to the first Council following the summer break.

On the agenda tonight I am proud to bring you our annual summary of achievements for the period 2024 to 2025, a year in which we had our corporate peer challenge and secured an outstanding result. This is a true credit to our officers and members for the work they have been rightly recognised for in terms of community engagement and support, our work to grow our local economy to provide jobs for our residents and our engagement and support to businesses. When we get to this item, I hope you will all join me in celebrating the incredible achievements and work undertaken by the council over the past year.

We also have our annual outturn report to consider. Members will be aware we are entering the budget process and await the government’s financial settlement following the autumn budget on 28 November. The government published its new funding formula earlier this summer and early signs are that we will not benefit from this, placing further strain on our budgets and services going forward.

As we continue to progress with our local plan to address the additional significant increase in housing targets that the government has set us, the report on the agenda includes the new regulation 18 draft local plan that we propose to consult on this autumn.

Community cohesion and misinformation

I’m proud to live in a borough where diversity is embraced and inclusion is part of everyday life. Our communities are made stronger by the people who live in them, people of different backgrounds, experiences, and stories, who contribute to the richness of our shared spaces. This spirit of welcome and unity is something we should all celebrate and protect.

Here in our borough, I want to be clear, misinformation suggesting that local hotels are housing asylum seekers is false. These claims create unnecessary fear and division at a time when our community needs clarity and trust. Also, claims that the council has a target for housing asylum seekers are incorrect. Responsibility for housing asylum seekers rests with Serco, a government appointed contractor. We also recognise that housing pressures are severe. Homelessness is rising, local housing registers are full, and too many families are living in temporary accommodation. Frustration with a broken housing system must not be redirected into hostility towards vulnerable people, nor fuelled by rumours online. Misinformation does nothing to solve homelessness or housing shortages, it only deepens mistrust.

Our national flags and local symbols should be sources of pride and belonging for everyone. When misused to stir division, they lose the meaning they ought to carry. Let’s continue to stand together as a community that values truth, fairness and inclusion and that welcomes everyone with dignity and respect.

I’m also pleased to share some fantastic updates that showcase the energy and spirit of our borough and reflect a community that continues to grow, adapt and support one another. Thank you to everyone who has contributed, participated  ...  view the full agenda text for item 184.

In presenting his position statement, the Leader referred to:

·         Community cohesion and misinformation including false claims that local hotels were housing asylum seekers and that the council had targets for housing asylum seekers

·         Richard III Sculpture Trail

·         Summer and autumn events

·         Reports considered at the recent meeting of the Executive including:

o   Achievements of the Warm Welcome project

o   The Heritage Strategy 2025-29

o   The Council house service rent policy

·         Increased participation at Hinckley Leisure Centre

·         The Making a Difference awards

·         Local government reorganisation.

To inform members of key corporate achievements made against the Corporate Plan 2024-2025.

Council was presented with key corporate achievements against the Corporate Plan 2024 – 2025. The successful corporate peer challenge which took place during this period was also highlighted. Members welcomed the report and extended thanks to officers. It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bools and

RESOLVED – the progress and achievements against the Corporate Plan be noted.

To inform members of the draft financial outturn for 2024/25.

Consideration was given to the financial outturn for 2024/25. It was moved by Councillor Lynch, seconded by Councillor Bray and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The general fund outturn for 2024/25 be approved;

(ii)          Transfers to earmarked reserves and balances be approved;

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

(iv)         The housing revenue account and housing repairs account outturn for 2024/25 and transfers to and from balances be approved;

(v)          The capital programme outturn for the general fund and housing revenue account from 2024/25 be approved;

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

(vii)        The capital carry forwards be approved;

(viii)       The following additional budget approvals which have no impact on council budgets be approved:

a.    Food waste

b.    UK Shared Prosperity Fund

c.    ICT Partnership

d.    UK Rural Prosperity (capital)

e.    HRA capital programme.

(ix)         The income and expenditure budgets totalling £75,000 for 2025/26 in respect of the local land charges migration be approved.

To consider a further stage of consultation to develop the new Local Plan.

Members received the Regulation 18 draft Local Plan which had been prepared for consultation. During discussion, the following concerns were raised by individual members about the content of the draft document:

·         The infrastructure improvements required to cope with the additional housing for which the government would not provide funding

·         Potential loss of farmland

·         The impact on the A444 corridor and on the Hollycroft and Wykin areas of Hinckley

·         The lack of transport links in some of the areas of planned housing growth.

Whilst acknowledging concerns in relation to the content of the plan, members were supportive of consulting on the document. It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bools and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The period of formal public consultation on the Regulation 18 draft Local Plan from 12pm on Friday, 17 October to 5pm on Friday, 28 November 2025 be agreed;

(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.