Agenda and minutes

Venue: De Montfort Suite, Hinckley Hub

Contact: Tan Ashraf, Democratic Services Officer, tel 01455 255834 

Items
No. Item

497.

Apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

There were no apologies.

498.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Minutes:

It was noted that there was repetition at 456 and it was moved by Councillor P Williams, seconded by Councillor Webber-Jones and

 

                   RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2020 be confirmed as a correct record, subject to the above amendment.

 

 

 

499.

Declarations of interest

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.

Minutes:

No interests were declared.

500.

Frontline Service Review: Planning pdf icon PDF 421 KB

To provide an update on the performance of the planning service.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received an update on the performance of the planning service and it was reported that there had been an increase in income levels as the number of planning and pre-planning applications had increased.

 

The following responses were given to questions from members:

 

•With regards to the Sustainable Urban Extensions (SUEs) at Barwell and Earl

Shilton planning applications were expected from Persimmon Homes for the northern part of the SUE before the end of the year and from the Barwood, Bloor and Jelson consortium early next year

•Planning permission had been issued for the redevelopment of the old leisure centre site

•The calculation for the criteria for the five year housing land supply was robust but would need to be maintained for future years

•There should be no outstanding appeals for major applications (of ten dwellings or more) from the period before 31 March 2020 but there may be in the next rolling period up to 31 March 2021. Any appeals would be published in the report in Planning Committees

•No recognition had been given when HBBC delivered 20% above target on the delivery test last year

•The career graduate programme had been successful and positive feedback had been received. The risks highlighted were linked to recruiting officers with five or more years experience and to senior roles

•A full report on the Local Plan Review would be provided to members before it went to public consultation

•It was clarified that the total funding for the Heritage Action Zone was £1.8m

Councillor LJ Mullaney left the meeting at 6.50pm

 

Members noted the report and thanked officers.

501.

Performance and Risk Management Framework end of year summary for 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 384 KB

To provide the end of year 2019/20 outturn position for performance indicators, service improvement plans, corporate risks and service area risks.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were provided with the end of year 2019/20 outturn position for performance indicators, service improvement plans, corporate risks and service area risks. It was highlighted that at 4.1.2 at page 18 the target for sickness reduction had not been met for last year however sickness rates were already significantly lower this year and the target for 2021 should be met.

 

It was noted that working from home could be helping with improving mental health as well as helping to reduce sickness rates and HBBC would be looking at how to operate going forward.

 

It was reported that the indicators at 4.1.3 (page 20) had not been updated as Defra do not publish these until November. It was also noted that any service improvement plans that were not completed would be rolled over to the following year.

 

Members highlighted that figures were very good especially for website visitors which were higher than the group average and these reflected an excellent result for officers.

 

The report was noted by members.

502.

Financial Outturn - June 2020 pdf icon PDF 425 KB

To present the financial outturn position as at June 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The financial outturn position as at June 2020 was presented to members. It was reported that this had changed quite significantly since the pessimistic view of June primarily because more detail had been provided of the Government compensation scheme. In June it had been thought that HBBC would have a loss of over £1m on the budget and the biggest issues were the loss of revenue from the car parks and the leisure centre.

 

However, the compensation scheme had been more generous and would help to reduce these losses and HBBC would also receive some new burdens funding of about £130,000. This meant that instead of a loss of £1m it could be around £300,000 which would be more manageable.

 

The impact of the national pay award would also affect the budget as it had increased by 2.75% and not the expected increase of 2%.

 

The medium to longer term view had improved but there were still many unknowns as the winter and potential lockdown could affect losses if, for example rents were reduced as commercial tenants suffered and also depending on what happened with Cineworld. However the overall view was more optimistic with a note of caution.

In response to a member’s question it was noted that the crematorium would be delayed by about a year.

 

Members noted the report.