Due to the timing of the recent election, we had to cancel our last planned meeting and this has resulted in many items on the agenda this evening. We will deal with those as we get to them, but they do show the range of issues that we, as members and council officers, deal with on a daily basis.
Our reports cover helping the homeless to building economic growth, prosperity and new homes for the future, from a strategy to protect our borough heritage to a debate about protecting one part of that heritage.
We will be discussing pay proposals for our officers and the independent report on members’ allowances. Members, and I hope most officers present, will appreciate that members will do all of this in a civilised manner.
At our last meeting of Council we approved a People Strategy for the period 2017-2021. This strategy set out some of the employment challenges facing the council over the coming years and the priorities we have for supporting and equipping our workforce to meet those challenges and opportunities that our corporate vision presents.
In adopting this strategy, members agreed that this council should be:
- Nurturing and attracting talent
- Building an agile and flexible workforce
- Encouraging innovation and enterprise
- Promoting health and wellbeing.
As part of these proposals, we agreed to undertake a complete review of our pay structure in light of the living wage requirements and to improve the flexibility of the existing pay structure in order to meet the future needs of the organisation.
The commitment of members of this Council to its officers cannot be questioned and we will carry out this review in addition to any nationally agreed changes.
Members also work extremely hard for this council and the residents and customers it serves, and yet there is always concern about accepting recommendations of an independent review body on members’ allowances. I do not have the opportunity to discuss the report with the panel and I do not agree with all of their recommendations, but I do think it right that we make some changes. I also know that most members are uncomfortable with this process and some are concerned about it being used politically, and that is why I shall include a proposal to link member allowance increases to the pay reviews of staff, with only one review by the independent panel each four years, with changes to be adopted after an election.
I would also like to advise members that I have recently, along with the leader of Blaby District Council, been appointed as one of the two representatives of district councils to the board of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.
Finally, I want to thank our officers for what they have done to make Hinckley the best market town in Leicestershire and to congratulate Denise Larrad on her regional Unsung Hero award and to wish her well in the final on 17 December.
Cllr Mike Hall
Leader, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council
Minutes:
In presenting his position statement, the Leader referred to the items on the agenda, his commitment to officers of the council and his recent appointment to the board of the Leicester and Leicestershire Economic Partnership. He also congratulated Denise Larrad on her regional Unsung Hero award and wished her well in the national final on 17 December. Councillors Bray and Lay echoed these sentiments. Councillor Cartwright asked that the Mayor write to Denise to congratulate her and wish her luck for the finals.