Agenda and minutes

Venue: Parkside, Station Approach, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray LE13 1GH

Contact: Lena Shuttlewood 

Items
No. Item

CO43

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beaken, Bains, Greenow, and Hutchison.  Councillor Hurrell was not present.

 

[Councillor Holmes entered at this point in the meeting.]

CO44

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 121 KB

To confirm

 

(1)       the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 10 October 2018; and

(2)       the minutes of the extraordinary council meeting on 21 November 2018.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 10 October 2018 and 21 November 2018 were confirmed and authorised to be signed by the Chair.

CO45

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST pdf icon PDF 51 KB

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

Minutes:

Councillor Lumley declared a personal and pecuniary interest in the item relating to the Gambling Act 2015: Statement of Principles arising from his paid employment and indicated he would leave the room before the item was considered.  He requested the Mayor to consider a change to the order of business so that the item on the Mid Year Report on Treasury Management Activities be taken before the item on the Gambling Act 2015. There being no objection to the change in order of business, the Mayor agreed to Councillor Lumley’s request.

 

Councillor Rhodes declared a personal interest in any matters relating to the Leicestershire County Council due to his role as a County Councillor.  Councillor Rhodes referred to the item relating to the Strategic Growth Plan stating that as he had taken an active part in promoting the Plan as part of the County Council’s Members Advisory Group he would not take part in consideration of this item and would accordingly leave the room at that point.

 

Councillors Pearson and Posnett declared personal interests in any matters relating to the Leicestershire County Council due to their role as  County Councillors.

 

Councillor Posnett sought advice from the Director for Legal and Democratic Services on whether she had a personal interest to declare as, in her capacity as County Councillor, she had taken part in the voting on the Strategic Growth Plan at that authority.  The Director advised that if the Member did not hold a predetermined opinion of the  result, there was no requirement to leave the meeting.

CO46

MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

The Mayor

 

(a)       reported that since the Council meeting in October she had represented the authority at over 40 events, briefly highlighting the following:

 

·         The 100th Anniversary of the Armistice – events attended locally and in Leicester.  Revd Ashby was commended for the dignified manner in which he had conducted the Remembrance Sunday service at St Mary’s parish church, and the Beacons of Light event in the Play Close later that day;

·         Celebration of the 100th anniversary of Polish Independence and the 70th anniversary of the Polish Community in Melton.  The Mayor  mentioned some of the people she had met at this event who had been generous in their praise for the hospitality they had been shown by Melton people;

·         The National Farmers’ Union Centenary dinner at which Councillor Botterill was named as the longest living former chairman of the Branch;

·         The High Sheriff of Leicestershire’s Justices Service which had been held for the first time at St Mary’s parish church.  The service was preceded by a lunch at Parkside which had been cooked in a field tent outside the building;

·         Several school visits, including an enjoyable  visit to Parkside by the school council from Swallowdale Primary School during which some serious questions had been asked;

·         The Mayor’s Carols by Candlelight Service the previous week, an event which was made by the participating schools – St Francis RC primary school and Bottesford primary school

 

(b)       as a matter of clarification, confirmed that the Civic Service at Bottesford in early October had cost the Mayoral budget £815.  The Mayor regarded this as money well spent; Bottesford was the largest village in the Borough and, by its geographical location, could feel isolated.  St Mary the Virgin church was known to be one of the finest churches in Leicestershire and two visiting Civic heads were so impressed that they had made return visits to the village.  Feedback had been received that holding the service in Bottesford had made many locals feel part of a Borough they had little contact with on a day to day basis;

 

(c)        reported that a farewell lunch was being held for the 4 public convenience attendants who had been made redundant following the decision to provide new modern town centre public conveniences.  This was taking place at 12 noon on Friday 14 December and it was hoped that Members would make the effort to attend to show appreciation of the service given by these former members of staff;

 

(d)       reported that for the 2018/19 civic year, the nomination procedure for the Mayor’s Awards would be different.  All ward members were invited to submit nominations for worthy candidates directly to the Mayor who would then decide on the successful candidates.

 

CO47

LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

Before giving his report, the Leader referred to the Mayor’s announcement about the new format for this year’s Mayor’s Awards, stating he regarded this as an entirely appropriate approach which he supported.

 

The Leader then began his report, during which he

 

(a)       referred to the Council’s decision last month to adopt the Cabinet system of governance from May 2019.  This decision had been the culmination of a significant review and he thanked all members for the way in which they objectively and constructively engaged in the debate and considered the various options.  The Leader spoke on the benefits of moving to the Cabinet model in terms of greater community leadership and direction, more public accountability and speed of decision making to support the ambition of becoming a more commercial council.  A number of commercial appraisals of various council assets would be undertaken and these would be reviewed in the new year so that consideration could be given to the most appropriate options to take forward;

 

(b)       noted the recent positive coverage of the council’s investment in 7 King Street which had brought back an empty property back into use and facilitated job creation.  This new business venture to Melton along with the opening of the Brewery at the Cattle Market further strengthened the brand as the Rural Capital of Food.  Work alongside a range of partners and business stakeholders through the town and place partnership  was developing well and showed a real appetite to do more with the food heritage as well as building on other stories such as ‘Painting the Town Red’ connection with the town’s history and cultural legacy.  The partnership workshop meeting would be held on 8 January at 4pm and members were encouraged to participate in this discussion on what could be done to maximise the collective impact;

 

(c)        referred briefly to the Strategic Growth Plan which was to be considered later in the meeting;

 

(d)       reported on the council’s efforts and focus to deliver for residents, together with the commitment to work in partnership with other districts, the county and partners.  This sometimes meant challenging how things were done and the Leader stressed he was always open to explore more effective ways of working to build on the productive collaboration with other district leaders.  He noted that Nottinghamshire County Council had now withdrawn its proposals for a unitary council and was now talking to the districts about how they might work more effectively together.  Leicestershire County Council was continuing with its proposals for unitary status;

 

(e)       reported on his recent attendance at an induction meeting with new staff and the Chief Executive and would be part of ongoing opportunities for greater engagement with staff to help increase the connection between members and officers.  This would be built on and developed in the new year through discussion with the Joint Staff Working Group;

 

(f)        concluded by reminding members about the Strategic Planning Development Day on 16 January.  This would be a crucial meeting as the council  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO47

CO48

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

The Leader and Chairs of Policy Committees to answer any questions from the public of which notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 of the Constitution.

 

No questions were received by the deadline.

 

 

Minutes:

There were no public questions submitted for this meeting.

CO49

PETITIONS

In accordance with Procedure Rule 24.1, the Chief Executive shall report the receipt of a petition to the next meeting of the Council where there shall be no debate or comment thereon. 

 

No petitions were received. 

 

Minutes:

There were no petitions to report.

CO50

RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

PEOPLE COMMITTEE: 14 NOVEMBER 2018

 

(1)       COMMUNITY SAFETY UPDATE

 

RECOMMENDED: To approve the Community Safety Partnership Action Plan as submitted to the People Committee on 14 November 2018.

 

 

(2)       PHYSICAL AND SPORT STRATEGY

 

RECOMMENDED: To approve the Physical Activity and Sport Strategy as submitted to the People Committee on 14 November 2018 and the delegation to the Deputy Chief Executive to authorise minor, future amendments to the strategy based on identified developments, learning or trends.

 

The relevant reports to the People Committee on 14 November  2018 can be found at  this link:  People Committee 14 November 2018

 

Minutes:

People Committee – 14 November 2018:

 

(1)       COMMUNITY SAFETY UPDATE

 

Councillor Pearson presented the recommendation from the People Committee explaining that it was a statutory requirement that the Action Plan was approved on an annual basis.  Councillor Pearson expressed his thanks to Councillor Graham MBE for his work as chair of the Melton Safer Communities Partnership and referred to the importance of having a safe and productive community.  Having outlined the main strands of the Action Plan, he moved its formal endorsement.  The motion was seconded by Councillor de Burle.  After the Leader had also added his thanks to Councillor Graham MBE for his active involvement on the Police & Crime Panel, the Mayor moved to the vote following which the motion was carried.

 

RESOLVED: To approve the Community Safety Partnership Action Plan as submitted to the People Committee on 14 November 2018.

 

(2)       PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORT STRATEGY

 

Councillor Pearson presented the item to members and moved the recommendation contained in the order paper during which he outlined the key aims of the strategy and briefly referred to the potential consequences faced in the Borough as a result of the number of people who were overweight and physically inactive.  He reported on recent national statistics from Sport England that only 17.5% of children meet the required levels of physical activity.  Councillor Pearson also referred to issues around funding to address these problems but said Melton had used any funding received effectively.  Comment were made about the impact of digital technology on children’s decreasing physical activity levels.  Councillor de Burle seconded the motion.  Following a vote the motion was carried unanimously.

 

RESOLVED: To approve the Physical Activity and Sport Strategy as submitted to the People Committee on 14 November 2018 and the delegation to the Deputy Chief Executive to authorise minor, future amendments to the strategy based on identified developments, learning or trends.

CO51

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

In accordance with Procedure Rules 10.3 and 10.5, a Member may ask the Mayor, Leader or the Chairman of any committee or sub-committee, a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Melton Borough.

 

No questions were received by the deadline.

 

Minutes:

No questions from Members had been received.

CO52

MOTIONS ON NOTICE

There were no Motions  received in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.1

 

 

Minutes:

No motions were received in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.1

CO53

COUNCIL TAX DISCRETIONS

This item has been withdrawn

 

Minutes:

This item had been withdrawn.

 

[Councillor Rhodes left the meeting at 7pm]

CO54

STRATEGIC GROWTH PLAN pdf icon PDF 119 KB

The Assistant Director for Strategic Planning & Regulatory Services  to submit a report to enable Members to consider the revised Leicester & Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader presented the report prepared by the Assistant Director of Strategic Planning & Regulatory Services to enable members to consider and approve the revised Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan (SGP) which was appended.  In doing so he

 

(a)       advised that the SGP had been developed by a partnership of all the Leicestershire councils and the LLEP and put forward a plan for future development, including housing provision, needed to support population change, meet housing needs and support economic growth from now until 2050.  The document represented an exemplar of councils working together to address issues that would affect everyone.  Melton had played a key role in this by promoting its potential for growth and accepting additional housing to make this a reality.  The partners had joined together to formulate a long term plan for the county’s future;

 

(b)       reported that the plan would also help bids for more national funding, for infrastructure to help ease congestion and facilitate growth and prosperity.  The Plan contained key infrastructure that would transform Melton’s prospects, for example, the A46 expressway to bring access to the major road network within a 15 minute journey, and further support for the Melton distributor road.  Local Plans in the area, including the recently adopted Melton Local Plan, catered for development needs up to 2031; but a further estimated 90,500 dwellings and additional employment land was needed after that up to 2050.  Members were advised that the councils needed to start planning for that now because the next round of local plans and their reviews would start addressing this period.  The Melton Local Plan stretched to 2036.  Local Planning Authorities could not be done in isolation or individually because the needs extended beyond that which they could individually provide, and because there was a shared vision of growth based  on a central city and sustainability principles of sustainable development;

 

(c)        explained that  the SGP set out the overall strategy and Local Plans would deal with the detailed allocation of which sites.  Melton was identified as a growth point, reflecting the ambition contained in its Local Plan and extending it into the longer term.  It proposed 3800 houses from 2031 – 2050, though 1200 of these were already accommodated in the last 5 years of the Plan;

 

(d)       invited members to adopt the revised SGP as most of the partners had done to date, and specifically welcoming the identification of Melton as a ‘Key Centre for Growth and Regeneration’.  The Leader moved the recommendations as contained in the report.  The motion was seconded by the Deputy Leader who reserved his right to speak after the debate.

 

A member raised a question in relation to the potential impact of Brexit and a fall in net migration and asked if it would be possible to review the housing supply need if net migration fell.

 

[At this point in the debate, Councillor Holmes declared a pecuniary interest and left the meeting at 7.05pm]

 

The Leader stated he would be unable to provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO54

CO55

MID YEAR REPORT ON THE TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND PRUDENTIAL INDICATORS 2018-19 pdf icon PDF 69 KB

The Director for Corporate Services to submit a report which meets the requirement under the treasury management regulatory framework for the Council to receive a mid year treasury review in addition to the annual report and strategy on treasury management as reported to Council on 7 February 2018. This report also incorporates the needs of the Prudential Code to ensure adequate monitoring of capital expenditure and the Council’s prudential indicators (PI’s) and outlines any revisions required to the future years strategy.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members had before then a report prepared by the Director for Corporate Services which met the requirement under treasury management regulatory framework for the Council to receive a mid year treasury review in addition to the annual report and strategy on treasury management as reported to Council on 7 February.  The report also incorporated the needs of the Prudential Code to ensure adequate monitoring of capital expenditure and the Council’s prudential indicators (PI’s) and outlined and revisions to the future years strategy.

 

The Leader presented and commended the report to members.  He drew members’ attention in particular to para 3.7 of the Director’s explanatory report which concerned the implications of a new accounting standard, IFRS9, which came into effect on 1 April 2018.  The Leader moved the recommendations contained in the report.

 

In seconding the motion, the Deputy Leader referred to para 6 of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, highlighting that the Council’s gross budgeted investment return for 2018/19 was £181,800, and performance for the year was currently anticipated to be £70,000 above budget.  The Deputy Leader thanked all officers who had worked on achieving this.  A vote was then taken and the motion was carried unanimously.

 

RESOLVED: that

 

(1)       to note the mid-year position on treasury activity for 2018-19; and

 

(2)       to note and approve the mid-year position on prudential indicators.

 

[Councillor Lumley here left the meeting at 7.15pm]

CO56

GAMBLING ACT 2005 - STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES pdf icon PDF 81 KB

The Assistant Director for Strategic Planning & Regulatory Services to submit a report inviting Members to consider and approve the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Wyatt presented the report prepared by the Assistant Director for Strategic Planning & Regulatory Services which invited members to consider and approve the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles.  The Council was legally required to review its statement of principles, which governed how it exercised its various statutory responsibilities under the Act, every 3 years.  Councillor Wyatt moved the recommendations contained in the report and the motion was seconded by Councillor Baguley.

 

Before moving to the vote, a member pointed out that the reference to ‘Help the Aged’ in Appendix B, list of consultees should be amended to ‘Age UK’. A member expressed concern at the number of young people who spent considerable amounts of money on gambling and the risk of becoming addicted to gambling.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)  to  note the proposed revisions to the Gambling Statement of Principles at Appendix A, and responses resulting from public consultation between 13 September 2018 and 6 December 2018; and 

 

(2)  to approve the Gambling Act Statement of Principles at Appendix A to be effective from 31 January 2019.

Seasonal comments

Before formally closing the meeting, the Mayor wished all members and officers a Happy Christmas and New Year.  Two members reported that they had made a donation to the Mayor’s Appeal Fund in lieu of sending Christmas cards.  A member referred to the recent Mayor’s Carol Service and commended the civic officer for the organisation of the event and her contribution to its success.

 

A to Z of Council Services