Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Lynch.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2025.

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

                        RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March be                               approved as a correct record.

To update members on the Corporate Sundry Debtor Recovery Policy and the revised processes used for recovery.

Members received a report on the Corporate Debtor Recovery Policy and the processes used for recovery.

Comments were received from the Chair and Vice-Chair of Finance & Performance Scrutiny.

In response to comments made from members, officers confirmed that where the report specified no change, future reports would be clearer and state no significant change, where necessary.

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

                        RESOLVED – that the updated Sundry Debtor Recovery Policy                 be approved.

To seek approval to write off business rates in accordance with approval procedures.

Members received a report to write off business rates of £54,840.22 in accordance with approval procedures.

Comments were received from the Chair and Vice-Chair of Finance & Performance Scrutiny.

In response to a question from members in respect of limited companies, officers confirmed that they currently did not make representation to Companies House under their legislation but would look into this and report back to members.

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

                        RESOLVED – that £54,840.22 be approved and writen off by the                         Council due to insolvency.

To seek approval to replace the existing civil penalty policy.

Members received a report to seek approval to replace the existing Civil Penalty policy for certain Housing offences within the private rented sector due to case law and impending legislative changes.

In response to questions from members, officers confirmed that:

-        In response to poor energy efficiency ratings and the re-housing of tenants, private landlords had insurance in place and were encouraged to use this to deal with this issue.

-        Five penalties had been issued since the previous policy had been in place.

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

                    RESOLVED –

(i)              That members agreed to the replacement of the Council’s existing Civil Penalty Policy with ‘Justice for Tenants’ Civil Penalty Policy in the wake of sweeping legislative changes affecting the private rented sector.

(ii)             That members agreed for delegated authority be given to the Director of Community Services in consultation with the Executive Lead for Housing should changes to the policy be required.

To seek endorsement of the Hinckley Town Centre Strategic Vision.

Members received a report on the Hinckley Town Centre strategic vision.

The vision for Hinckley Town centre over the next 10 years is “Destination Hinckley: A place where people wished to spend more time”. To achieve the vision a set of objectives have been identified:

-        Creating an attractive and active town centre

-        Delivering arrange of attractions and events

-        Providing a range of facilities and

-        Allowing for easy town centre access and movement.

Members thanked officers for their excellent work on this report.

It was recognised that some of the work detailed in the Vision could be devolved to the Hinckley Town Council when it had been established.

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

                    RESOLVED – that members endorsed the Hinckley Town Centre

                    strategic vision and the development and delivery of the actions              be taken forward.

To provide the results and analysis of the second year of tenant satisfaction measures.

Members were provided with the results and analysis of the second year of tenant satisfaction measures.

The report noted the positive results, with overall satisfaction of tenants in the housing service at 80.1% and that the majority of tenant satisfaction measures were above average when benchmarked against national and peer group results.

Members asked for all officers to be thanked within the housing team for these excellent results.

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

                        RESOLVED – that members noted the positive results of the                      tenant satisfaction measures and work underway responding to                    tenant feedback.

To provide an update on compliance with the decent homes standard.

Members were provided with an update on compliance with the Decent Homes standard statutory safety regulations and the current position of the responsive repairs backlog.

The report noted the positive position regarding 100% decent homes compliance in the housing stock and that performance against key statutory compliance areas including gas, electrical safety, fire safety, asbestos, lifts and legionella was also to a consistently high standard.

Members commented that they were pleased to see the repairs backlog which had built up during Covid reduced to a normal level of outstanding repairs.

Members requested that their thanks be extended to all staff within the housing team for their appreciation of work carried out including the trade persons that carried out very skilled jobs with professionalism.

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

                        RESOLVED – that members noted and endorsed the current                      performance against key housing compliance indicators and the                   progress made in reducing the responsive repairs backlog.

To update on work to support the cost of living crisis.

Members received a report on the work undertaken by the welfare support team, including the key achievements, workstreams and performance trends in response to the cost of living crisis.

Members thanked officers for their work on this supporting hardship within the Borough.

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

                    RESOLVED –

(i)              That members acknowledged and endorsed the extensive work undertaken by the team supporting residents of the Borough affected by the cost of living crisis.

(ii)             That members acknowledged the increase in demand upon services due to the cost of living crisis.

(iii)           That members recognised the importance of the service to residents in any future Local Government reorganisation structure.

To update members on the domestic abuse outreach service.

Members were updated on current trends, demand and work undertaken within the Council’s Domestic Abuse Outreach Service.

Members confirmed they hugely supported the intervention of this work and thanked all officers for their work in supporting members of the Borough.

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

                    RESOLVED –

(i)              That members acknowledged and endorsed the contents of the report.

(ii)             That members acknowledged the demand for the Domestic Abuse Outreach Service and relevant service offers that provided support to residents of the Borough.

(iii)           That members recognised the importance of the service to residents in any future Local Government reorganisation structure.

To update members on the work of the safeguarding team.

Members were presented with this report advising on the work of the safeguarding team ensuring the council meets its statutory safeguarding duty as a local authority.

Members thanked all officers for the work undertaken on this.

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

                        RESOLVED –

(i)            That members acknowledged and endorsed the contents of the report.

(ii)          That members acknowledged the continued significant increase in the number of referrals being received by the safeguarding team.

(iii)         That members recognised the contribution of all the Designated Safeguarding Officers across the authority who have ensured that appropriate action has been taken to safeguard children and adults.