Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Mr WJ Crooks.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 12 September 2012 and 18 December 2012 attached.

On the motion of Ms Witherford, seconded by Mr Cope, it was

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meetings held on 12 September 2012 and 18 December 2012 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

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 at this stage.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) attached.

The proposed approach for an establishment of a locality based Hinckley & Bosworth Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Hub was presented to Members.  Representatives from both Next Generation and Community Action outlined their commitment to working in partnership with Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council to give a more robust and effective service to the community.

On the motion of Mr Bill, seconded by Mr Lynch it was

RESOLVED –

A          Executive support the establishment of the Hinckley and Bosworth VCS Hub from April 2013, as follows:

(i)         Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council support Next Generation Community Connects (NGCC) to lead and deliver the VCS infrastructure work within the locality.  NG Community Connects to retain their existing charitable status and Trustee Board;

(ii)        Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council continue to support Community Action Hinckley & Bosworth (CAHB) to lead and deliver the community development/cohesion work within the locality.  CAHB to retain their existing charitable status and Trustee Board;

(iii)       Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council support both organisations working in partnership through the VCS Hub to develop and delivery the VCS Forum (the Locality Forum for the VCS), that is properly supported by both NGCC and CAHB, with a new Locality Commissioning/Board made up of representative organisations;

(iv)       a proposal be submitted by both NGCC and CAHB to demonstrate their fitness for purpose for the delivery of the work streams outlined in the report, and subsequently, both organisations to present this model and supporting arrangements to Executive Committee; and

B          Executive support the proposal to allocate the current Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council annual VCS Grant funding of £27,670 to support the delivery of work streams to be commissioned via the VCS Hub for 2013/14, subject to requirements outlined under financial implications in the report.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) attached.

Members were updated on the current arrangements for delivery of neighbourhood management provision via our community houses.  Support was requested for growth funds to support the ongoing delivery and development of all three community houses.  Councillor Cope added his support and thanks for the work of this project.

On the motion of Mr Bill, seconded by Mr Mullaney, it was

RESOLVED –

(i)         the proposal be adopted;

(ii)        the growth be funded from the HRA with £32,000 ring fenced for delivery of services for Wykin Community House; and

(iii)       the development fund arising from savings in the General Fund be ringfenced as a community development fund and transferred to Hinckley and Bosworth VCS Community Hub Commissioning Board.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction) attached.

Mr Gould entered the meeting at 6.10pm

Members were presented with an update on performance of the Atkins Building and to agree a request of £6,000 to be set off against additional income generated of £23,500.

On the motion of Mr Lynch, seconded by Mr Cope, it was

RESOLVED – the increase in income budget for Atkins building by £23,500 and the expenditure budget by £6,000 be approved.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction) attached.

Members were presented with the proposed rent levels for 2013/14.

On the motion of Mr Lynch, seconded by Mr Gould, it was

RESOLVED – Executive endorse the proposed rent increase of 5.49% for 2013/14.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction) attached.

Members were presented with the new requirements for the National Non Domestic Rates (NNDR) baseline and approval was sought for the NNDR1 form for 2013/14.

On the motion of Mr Lynch, seconded by Mr Bill, it was

RESOLVED –

(i)         Executive note the new requirements for approval of the NNDR1 form; and

(ii)        Executive agree the proposed NNDR1 return for 2013/14.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction) attached.

Members were presented with the calculation of the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2013/14 in line with the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

On the motion of Mr Lynch, seconded by Mr Bill, it was

RESOLVED – the calculations for the council tax base for the whole and parts of the area for the year 2013/14 be approved.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) attached.

The framework for a Tenant Scrutiny Panel was presented to Members.  Representatives from the Tenants Advisory Panel (TAP) gave their views and were supportive of the proposal, highlighting the need for it to remain independent, but acknowledging the clarification from the Leader and the Chief Executive of the need for the Executive to control the use of the limited staff resource, whilst making every effort to address the priorities of the Tenant Scrutiny Panel.  Members gave their thanks to TAP for the valuable contribution made in the production of this framework.

On the motion of Mr Mullaney, seconded by Ms Witherford, it was

RESOLVED –

(i)         Executive support the proposed framework for introduction of a Tenant Scrutiny Panel; and

(ii)        agreement be given to the changes to the framework detailed in section 5 of the report, relating to Panel membership. 

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) attached.

Approval was sought for the adoption of a new Charter for Children’s Play.  Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council would be the first authority in Leicestershire to adopt a charter.   It was suggested that the charter be laminated and displayed at parks around the borough.

On the motion of Mr Cope, seconded by Mr Gould, it was

RESOLVED –

(i)         approval be given to the adoption of the Charter for Children’s Play; and

(ii)        Executive acknowledges the value of Play and supports the local delivery initiatives as detailed in the report.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) attached.

Approval was sought to the Memorandum of Understanding linked to protocols and action in respect of A-board advertising in Hinckley town centre.

On the motion of Mr Bray, seconded by Mr Cope, it was

RESOLVED – the Memorandum of Understanding on A-board advertising be approved.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) attached.

Approval was sought to the Community, Cultural and Tourism Facilities Review.

On the motion of Mr Bray, seconded by Mr Mullaney, it was

RESOLVED – the report be approved.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) attached.

Members were asked to agree a supplementary budget to fund the research, drafting and completion of the section 106 Agreement for the determination of the Barwell sustainable Urban Extension major planning application.

On the motion of Mr Bray, seconded by Mr Bill, it was

RESOLVED – approval be given for the provision of a supplementary budget of £45k to support the appointment of a legal consultant to fulfil the legal process.

On the motion of Mr Bray seconded by Ms Witherford , it was

RESOLVED – in accordance with section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs ? and 10 of Part I of Schedule 12A of that Act.

Agreement was sought for a supplementary budget, to support work by an independent external consultant to validate the revised budget in respect of phasing of the delivery of the bus station site development, following the agreement of Council in November 2012. The matter was urgent, as the work needed to be commenced immediately and had been agreed in advance of the meeting by the Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission, as required by the relevant regulations.

The budget required totalled £36,000 for two tranches of work, of which approximately £8,250 would be paid by this Council, with the rest being committed by the Tin Hat Partnership – the developer. 

On the motion of Mr Bray, seconded by Mr Lynch, it was

RESOLVED – Executive agree the request.