Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Glancy.

To confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held on 18 December 2019.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 December were confirmed and authorised to be signed by the Mayor.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

Councillors Orson, Pearson and Posnett each declared a personal interest in any matters relating to the Leicestershire County Council due to their roles as County Councillors.

Councillor Orson also declared a personal interest in relation to Item 8 as Chairman of LLR Police and Crime Panel where the precept for the Police and Crime Commissioner was approved. 

Councillor Carter declared a pecuniary interest in relation to Item 7, Recommendation 2.3 as a council tenant.  He would leave the meeting during debate and decision on this item.

Councillor Illingworth declared an interest pursuant to S.106 of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992.  He would leave the meeting during debate and decision on this item.

The Mayor had been pleased to present a cheque for £27,668 to his Charity – Rainbows Children’s Hospice.  This money had been raised by the “Jumping Grahams” a charity parachute jump that Councillor Graham and his family had organised and partaken in.

The Mayor reminded Members of the Charity Race Night which he had organised with the assistance of Councillor Child.  This event would take place on 19th March and Councillor Graham reminded members to indicate if they were attending as soon as possible so that arrangements could be finalised.

The Leader provided the following announcement:

The last Council meeting took place just before Christmas, shortly after the General Election, and early in the New Year I had the pleasure of welcoming our new MP Alicia Kearns to Parkside for a very productive first meeting. We have already identified a number of significant areas where we will be working together and have already taken significant steps forward in one of our key commitments. Our aspiration to deliver a second surgery for Melton has been strongly supported by our new MP, so much so that she has already gained the support of the Prime Minister. We are due to be meeting with the CCG again shortly and will continue to make the case for choice and improved health services for our residents. We also look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to Melton following his agreement to take up our MPs invitation.

On tonight’s agenda we present our Corporate Strategy; an ambitious plan to help reshape our community and ensure our council is sustainable and fit for the coming decade. Our strategy proposes unprecedented investment in council housing services a greater focus on customer services and a commitment for this council to become carbon neutral by 2030. It puts resources into further increasing our ability to tackle anti-social behaviour, whilst also strengthening our corporate assets team so we can build more homes, support more jobs and help regenerate our town centre; as well as secure the income we need to ensure our financial sustainability. It is a bold plan, but any aspirations must be supported with the right resources and tonight we also present our Council Tax and budget proposals, which for the first time in 5 years will deliver a surplus against ongoing expenditure. At a time which the finances continue to be a challenge and the future funding settlement remain unclear, this is a fantastic achievement, particularly when you consider all we are seeking to do through our strategy. I was grateful for the extensive and robust discussions we had at Scrutiny in relation to our proposals and thank the Chair of Scrutiny for her diligence in leading such an effective process.

Our focus on council homes remains our top priority. Tonight we seek approval for rent setting, a new set of service charges and our Interim HRA Business Plan; the financial basis of our Housing Improvement Plan. We are committed to undertaking a full stock condition survey over the next two years and this will form the basis of a new 30 year business plan which will be produced in 2022. Our rent proposals seek to ensure the sustainability of our investment proposals and HRA; as do our service charge proposals which represent a first step towards a more comprehensive policy which we will bring back later in the year. We continue to actively monitor progress on bridging the gaps in compliance we identified last year and only today I chaired the latest Housing Improvement Board meeting where  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO62

In accordance with the Constitution, Members of the Council may answer questions from the public of which notice has been given.

No questions were received by the deadline for this meeting.

No questions had been received from members of the public.

To receive a report from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to the Council for determination and on Key Decisions made since the publication of the agenda for the previous Council meeting held on 18 December 2019:

1. New Corporate Strategy 2020-2024
2. Interim Housing Revenue Account Business Plan
3. Housing Revenue Account Revenue Budget Proposals 2020/21 (updated version)
4. Capital Programme and Capital Strategy 2020/21
5. General Fund Revenue Budget 2020/21 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020/21 to 2023/24
6. Prudential Indicators and Treasury Management Strategy 2020/21
7. Cabinet Report to Council

1)    A NEW CORPORATE STRATEGY 2020-2024

The Leader moved the recommendations in the report and provided the following introduction:

Following the District Council elections in May 2019, the council had taken the opportunity to consider what the focus should be over the next 4 years. Working with all members, officers and the community the Cabinet were proud to have developed an ambitious new strategy which makes commitments to significantly invest in our housing services, environmental enforcement, improving customer services and delivering the homes, jobs and infrastructure the Borough requires. It also directly responded to the issues heard on doorsteps, during the election campaign, as well as those highlighted in the extensive 2019 residents’ survey.

At a time of significant financial pressures, there was a need to prioritise and redirect resources to different areas. With this in mind, the new strategy sought to find a balance between affordability and ambition, a balance between investing in core services and in new initiatives.

The strategy would be underpinned by the vision to “become a first-class council; on the side of our communities and providing great service, where the customer comes first. We want to help people reach their potential, support the most vulnerable, and protect our rural environment. We want to provide more and better homes, create better jobs and regenerate the town. We want to ensure Melton prospers, benefiting those who live here and attracting others to visit and invest.”

As well as drawing upon the residents’ survey, the Council had consulted on the proposals during December 2019 and received positive feedback on our new priorities and key investment decisions.

These aspirations had been built into the budget and medium term financial strategy also before members on the agenda.

The Leader was very proud of the strategy and of what it would seek to achieve for residents and was delighted to recommend it to council for adoption.

The recommendation was seconded by Councillor Higgins.

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Councillor Illingworth left the meeting.

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During debate of the recommendations points raised included:

                      i.        Councillor Browne thanked those that had worked to develop the Corporate Plan and noted its ambition to deliver to residents and communities with Council Housing being a key priority. Delivery of growth  and regeneration was welcomed.  The vision to increase employment opportunities and improve skills would be a challenge but was a positive aspiration.  Focusing on early years and focused intervention was key to ensuring that young people had the opportunity to learn and develop. Schemes such as Me and My Learning would be key to this.  Working towards an environment where intervention services would help to tackle social issues and promote inclusivity and contribute to this key priority.

                    ii.        Councillor Child welcomed the proposals to invest in commercial property to achieve long term growth and regeneration.  Such investments would require case by case analysis.

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Councillor Holmes left the meeting.

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                   iii.        Councillor Posnett commended some of the schemes that had contributed to increasing opportunities and support for young people such  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO64

The Council to calculate and set the Council Tax for 2020/21 as required under the Local Government Finance Act 1992. The Leicestershire County Council figures are subject to approval at their meeting on 19 February 2020.

The Leader moved the recommendations and provided a brief introduction of the report which enabled the Council to calculate and set the Council Tax for 2020/21.  The Leader highlighted that the proposed average Council Tax increase for Melton Borough Council was 2.47%.

Councillor Higgins seconded the recommendation in the report.

During debate of the recommendations points raised included:

1. Councillor Evans noted that the reduction in local government funding had led to consistent increases in the level of council tax in order to ensure the council could continue to deliver services.  This had an impact on residents who struggled to pay council tax.
2. Councillor Pearson highlighted that the government was being lobbied for fairer funding.
3. Councillor Higgins supported the increase in order to provide additional funds to unlock the potential of the Town and the Borough and to ensure that essential services could be delivered.

RESOLVED

To NOTE the calculations and APPROVE setting of the Council Tax for the year 2020/21 made in accordance with regulations set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The above resolution was voted as follows:

FOR THE MOTION (26)

Bains, Bindloss, Browne, Carter, Chandler, Child, Cumbers, de Burle, Evans, Douglas, Faulkner, Fisher, Freer-Jones, Graham, Hewson, Higgins, Holmes, Lumley, Orson, Pearson, Posnett, Pritchett,  Smedley, Steadman, Wilkinson, Wood.

AGAINST THE MOTION (0)

ABSTAINING FROM THE MOTION (0)

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Councillor Illingworth returned to the meeting.

Councillor Browne left the meeting.

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To gain approval for the 2020/21 Annual Pay Policy Statement so that it can be published in line with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Resources moved the recommendation in the report and provided a brief summary of the report, setting out that it was a requirement under the Localism Act 2011.

Councillor Orson seconded the recommendation in the report.

RESOLVED

To APPROVE and publish the Pay Policy Statement for 2020/21 at Appendix A.

The above resolution was voted as follows:

FOR THE MOTION (26)

Bains, Bindloss, Carter, Chandler, Child, Cumbers, de Burle, Evans, Douglas, Faulkner, Fisher, Freer-Jones, Graham, Hewson, Higgins, Holmes, Illingworth, Lumley, Orson, Pearson, Posnett, Pritchett,  Smedley, Steadman, Wilkinson, Wood.

AGAINST THE MOTION (0)

ABSTAINING FROM THE MOTION (0)

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Councillor Browne returned to the meeting

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In accordance with the Constitution, a Member may ask the Leader, the Chair of the Council or a Committee Chair, a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Borough.

The following question was received from Councillor Evans :

Does the Leader of the Council agree with me that the way Leicestershire County Council has recently decided to drastically cut the sponsored rural bus services throughout Melton Mowbray Borough is appalling and that the Council should communicate our concern in the strongest terms possible?

The Leader to respond.

In accordance with procedure rule 13.2, the following question was received from Councillor Evans :

Does the Leader of the Council agree with me that the way Leicestershire County Council has recently decided to drastically cut the sponsored rural bus services throughout Melton Mowbray Borough is appalling and that the Council should communicate our concern in the strongest terms possible?

The Leader responded as follows :

The changes to the subsidised bus services follow quite extensive consultation by the County Council, firstly on its overall Passenger Transport Policy And Strategy in 2018, and more recently the specific changes to subsidised routes in the course 2019. This included activity in Melton including a drop in session held here in these offices.

Leicestershire County Council explained that the motivations for making changes are many and various, but made no secret that financial pressures were a significant part of the consideration. ‘Cutting one’s cloth’ to respond to financial pressures is of course familiar to us and we know first-hand how it means you have to face up to difficult decisions.

Whilst he agreed that the reductions to bus services  would ideally be avoided, he noted in the detail that they were based on a detailed analysis of  the use and cost of the services and this was not a wholesale stripping out of services. Whilst reduced in frequency , in the main services would be retained. In Councillor Evans’ area for example, there would remain a 2 hourly service from Melton to Bottesford but a direct link to Bingham would be lost.

Therefore whilst he had sympathy for the concerns raised in the question, he also had sympathy for the County Council who like Melton faced difficult challenges balancing their budget. The County Council had committed to review the services annually and Melton would therefore have the opportunity to try to influence the position in the future.

Councillor Evans asked the following supplementary question:

I take it from the Leader’s response that he is endorsing this cut?  I have to say I am appalled as I know people who have lost jobs, also there are old people who can no longer get to their GP Surgery.  The consultation on the changes was insufficient.

The Leader responded that Councillor Evans had been misinformed regarding the consultation and that a full consultation had been conducted in 2016.

In accordance with the Constitution, motions on notice must be signed by at least two Members and be about matters for which the Council has a responsibility or which affect the Melton Borough.

The following motion was received from the Leader of the Council:

Following the Government’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition in 2017, Government has been encouraging Councils  to formally adopt the definition as a clear message that antisemitic behaviour will not be tolerated. The Secretary of State wrote to all Council Leaders on 15 October 2019 to explain the need to take urgent action.  I therefore encourage  the Council to respond positively to this motion as this also fits with our recently adopted Equality Scheme and the Council’s aspirations to champion diversity across the Borough.

Hatred, and particularly religious hatred, in all forms, is not something that should be tolerated in our society. Whilst there have been instances of hatred appallingly directed at several religions, worryingly there is an upward national trend in antisemitic hatred that must not be tolerated.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief recently released a report which agreed that the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism can offer valuable guidance for identifying antisemitism in its various forms.

The IHRA definition is as follows:

‘Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.  Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities’.

This definition is encouraged in its use in ‘education, awareness-raising and for monitoring and responding to manifestations of antisemitism’.

I therefore move that

(1)  Melton Borough Council agrees  with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-semitism:

‘Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities’;

(2)  Council notes that :

We have both a legal and a moral duty to show fairness and equality to our residents, our service users and our employees.  We currently have systems in place to ensure that antisemitism is not tolerated within our District.  These include our commitment to hate incident/crime reporting and also our Equality Plan, whilst these are not specific to antisemitism they both ensure that antisemitism is not tolerated.  Through either of these channels  we would expect any antisemitism to be identified and challenged appropriately. Antisemitism is covered under the characteristic ‘religion and belief’ in both hate incident/crime reporting and the Equality Act 2010;

(3)  Subject to approval of recommendation (1) that as per the request from the Secretary of State the Council’s Democratic Services Manager be authorised to inform him of the Council decision.

In accordance with the Constitution, motions on notice must be signed by at least two Members and be about matters for which the Council has a responsibility or which affect the Melton Borough.

The following motion was received from the Leader of the Council and Councillor Faulkner:

Following the Government’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition in 2017, Government has been encouraging Councils  to formally adopt the definition as a clear message that antisemitic behaviour will not be tolerated. The Secretary of State wrote to all Council Leaders on 15 October 2019 to explain the need to take urgent action.  I therefore encourage  the Council to respond positively to this motion as this also fits with our recently adopted Equality Scheme and the Council’s aspirations to champion diversity across the Borough.

Hatred, and particularly religious hatred, in all forms, is not something that should be tolerated in our society. Whilst there have been instances of hatred appallingly directed at several religions, worryingly there is an upward national trend in antisemitic hatred that must not be tolerated.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief recently released a report which agreed that the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism can offer valuable guidance for identifying antisemitism in its various forms.

The IHRA definition is as follows:

‘Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.  Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities’.

This definition is encouraged in its use in ‘education, awareness-raising and for monitoring and responding to manifestations of antisemitism’.

Therefore the following motion was proposed by Councillor Orson, seconded by Councillor Faulkner and carried at the vote:

(1)  Melton Borough Council agrees  with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-semitism:

‘Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities’;

(2)  Council notes that :

We have both a legal and a moral duty to show fairness and equality to our residents, our service users and our employees.  We currently have systems in place to ensure that antisemitism is not tolerated within our District.  These include our commitment to hate incident/crime reporting and also our Equality Plan, whilst these are not specific to antisemitism they both ensure that antisemitism is not tolerated.  Through either of these channels  we would expect any antisemitism to be identified and challenged appropriately. Antisemitism is covered under the characteristic ‘religion and belief’ in both hate incident/crime reporting and the Equality Act 2010;

(3)  Subject to approval of recommendation (1) that as per the request from the Secretary of State the Council’s Democratic Services Manager be authorised to inform him of the Council decision.

The above resolution was voted as follows:

FOR THE MOTION (27)

Bains,  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO68

There are no recommendations or reports from committees.

There were no recommendations or reports from Committees.

The Mayor confirmed that the meeting would remain in public session unless detailed debate on the exempt appendix to Item 13 was required.

To consider an upgrade and extension of the contract for the Housing  Management IT System to enable the ambitious and comprehensive aims and objectives of the recently approved Housing Improvement Plan to be most effectively achieved.

To follow.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities moved the recommendations and provided a brief introduction to the report.  The Portfolio Holder confirmed that the current Housing Management IT system was no longer fit for purpose and that an improved system was crucial in achieving the ambitions set out in the Housing Improvement Plan. 

The Portfolio Holder noted that the Recommendation 2.5 should read:

Delegates authority to the Chief Executive to call off and award the Contract

Councillor Orson seconded the recommendations in the report.

During debate of the recommendations points raised included:

1. Councillor Evans was in support of the proposals and noted that it was important to ensure that relevant information about individual properties could be accessed so that the council had a complete picture.
2.  Councillor Orson congratulated all those members that had voted to prioritise council housing through the Housing Improvement Plan.

RESOLVED

a)  To APPROVE the use of the CCS Framework for a Housing Management System subject to the solution offered by Northgate Public Services meeting the Council’s requirements;

b)  To APPROVE the addition of £237k to the 2020-21 capital programmes (£143k to be funded from the HRA Regeneration & Development reserve and £94k from Capital Receipts);

c)  To APPROVE £7,500 one off revenue costs to be added to the 2020-21 revenue budgets (£4,470 to be funded from the HRA Regeneration & Development reserve and £3,030 from the Flexible Homelessness Support grant;

d)  To APPROVE ongoing annual revenue costs of £93,822 for the new contract from 2020-21 be added into the revenue budget. £74,492 to be funded from the HRA Regeneration & Development Reserve and the remaining general fund element to be funded by the Homelessness Support Grant with virements to be  completed in line with the Financial Procedure Rules;

e)  DELEGATED authority to the Chief Executive to call off and award the Contract.

The above resolution was voted as follows:

FOR THE MOTION (27)

Bains, Bindloss, Carter, Chandler, Child, Cumbers, Browne, de Burle, Evans, Douglas, Faulkner, Fisher, Freer-Jones, Graham, Hewson, Higgins, Holmes, Illingworth, Lumley, Orson, Pearson, Posnett, Pritchett,  Smedley, Steadman, Wilkinson, Wood.

AGAINST THE MOTION (0)

ABSTAINING FROM THE MOTION (0)