Minutes:
The
Leader began his announcements by thanking the previous Member of Parliament
(MP), Alicia Kearns, who has moved on to become MP for Rutland and Stamford. He
welcomed the new MP for Melton and Syston, Edward Argar.
The Leader welcomed the new interim Director for Growth and
Regeneration, Caroline Bruce and the new Waste and Environmental Services
Manager, Ryan Finnegan who is due to start in September.
Members were informed that the Council have submitted its
productivity plan and it awaits the new Government’s
response.
The Leader thanked the Lions Club and Councillor Cox in
bringing back the allotments into use. The allotments have had under-used plots
and a long waiting list. The Leader outlined the benefits of using allotments
including providing opportunities for increased health and mental wellbeing.
Planning Officers were thanked for the recent training and
discussion session and for their efforts in improving reporting and analysis.
The Leader informed Members that the Housing Regulatory
Inspection has been completed and that the judgement has been embargoed until
August, at which point all Members and the public
would be able to read it.
Council was informed that on 18 July, the Safer Melton
Partnership unveiled the skate park graffiti art to the public, with the aim of
creating a more vibrant and inviting space for young people and park users. The
design was chosen after a competition was run between February and April, with
a judging panel in May selecting the winner.
The Leader informed Council that since the General Election,
he had been busy attending meetings of Councillors through the Local Government
Association, meeting Ministers and writing to Ministers on a variety of issues
that affect the Borough of Melton.
Members were informed that 2023/24 see the Council Chair
meetings of the Leicestershire District Council Leaders. This provides the
Council with an opportunity to steer the discussion and agenda on issues of
mutual interest.
The Leader informed Members that August will see the first
meetings of the Rural Area Liaison Forms. The North meeting would take place at
Long Clawson on 5 August and the South meeting will take place at Edmondthorpe on 12 August. An issue which would be
discussed is flooding. The Leader announced that Cabinet would be considering a
year-on-year funding for modest programmes of flood resilience working in
partnership with the Parishes.
The Leader informed Council that the Cabinet would be
considering increasing car parking charges in the town of Melton. The last
Cabinet decision on car parking charges was January 2020 and since then
inflation has been approximately 30%. At the current rate of inflation, the
cost of running and maintaining existing car parks may eventually outstrip
revenue and would become a burden on the general fund. The Leader assured
Members that a balance would be struck but that charge might have to be
increased.
The Leader outlined the Levelling Up Fund and reminded
Members of the £1.9m which had been allocated to theatre enhancements. Due to
the Further Education Commissioner intervention into the college, they had
confirmed that they were no longer able to deliver the improvements that were
originally envisaged. The choice for the council was therefore to either divert
the money to another project or hand it back to government. To safeguard the
funding and keep it in Melton, it will be reallocated, potentially to the
trader hall at the cattle market. The trader hall was identified as part of a
potential phase two development by the previous administration. Now that the
theatre enhancements are no longer proceeding, the trader hall could be
renovated but the council continues to work to support the college.