Minutes:
In making his announcements, the Leader informed Council that this week volunteers had been working on the Council’s flower beds. Their dedication has produced the excellent achievement of Melton in Bloom receiving the Gold Award for the first time, which occurred after the last Council meeting. This was a partnership effort between the Council’s environmental maintenance team and the brilliant volunteers and is a credit to all involved.
Members were informed that the Cabinet received a presentation from the National Counter Terrorism expert on Martyn’s Law, also known as the ‘Protect Duty’ which proposes a piece of legislation in the UK aimed at enhancing security measures at public venues and spaces to prevent and mitigate the impact of potential terrorist attacks. The bill was introduced to Parliament in September and, if passed, aims to enforce a legal duty on owners and operators of Public Accessible Locations (PLA) to implement suitable and proportionate safety measures. This is directly relevant to the Council and a range of partners and locations across the Borough. The Cabinet believed it was informative and that all Members might wish to have a similar opportunity in the future. It was explained that this was not in response to any immediate threat but the belief in being prepared.
The Leader explained that the Council have had some good news on the Police and Crime front. The Borough of Melton is experiencing a lower incidence of incidents. Comparing April to September this year and last year reductions for: criminal damage, which is down 11.4% from 210 to 186; public disorder, which is down 16.9% from 213 to 177; drug offences, which is down 22% from 53 to 41 and arson offences, which is down 68% from 22 to 7.
Council was informed that Safer Communities Team and Housing Team works closely with local police officers where anti-social behaviour impacts community safety and wellbeing. The Leader reported that the Council’s teams, in partnership with police, had secured a closure order on a property following persistent anti-social behaviour, despite advice and efforts from the Council’s teams and partners to de-escalate. Securing a closure order requires evidence, effort, collaboration and professionalism and the Leader read out some feedback from a victim in this case, which shows the impact of this action:
“I would like to give
a massive shout out to John Poole, he has made me feel so much better in the
neighbourhood. Mayfield Street is so quiet now, like it used to be. It feels
safe, it feels cleaner, everywhere is nicer and the whole street would like to
thank John Poole for doing a great job with PC Shane Sanderson and Mrs Vanessa
Leach. Thank you so much!”
The Leader took the opportunity to thank the teams for dealing with some very difficult and time consuming case work and his two colleagues, Councillors Sharon Butcher and Sarah Cox, for their relentless work on the ground as well as in meetings.
Council was informed that, after Christmas, the Leader would make public a report to Members on progress with the £23m joint development with Rutland County Council. The Leader and Councillor Sharon Butcher attend the joint Executive Board Council and board members periodically meet with the two MPs covering the area. Rutland County Council is the official “accountable body”, and the Board is jointly responsible for five projects of which the Council implement two.
a) Our first project on site D off Nottingham Road and parts of site E off Scalford Road the full planning application has been further delayed by additional enquiries and requirements from Leicestershire County Council Highways Department. Therefore, the Planning Committee would now consider it in January. For the second project a reserved matter application would be submitted to cover the changes to the trader hall for the additional multi-purpose event space on site E. This second project utilises the £1.9m turned down by Melton-Brooksby College.
b) From around mid-January 2025 some fencing would be erected on site D and from April 2025 the construction programme commences. It is currently due to complete in June 2026 with the trader hall works to be carried out in a phased approach to start in August 2025.
c) The project team are liaising with all interested parties, as appropriate, and managing normal procurement and contract arrangements. Everything is subject to audit and, so far, the projects have a clean bill of health.
d) The fifth project, which is being implemented by Rutland County Council is an improved public transport link between Oakham and Melton Mowbray. It complements the routine commercial bus route and together Saxby, Wymondham, Great and Little Dalby, Somerby, Knossington and Cold Overton would be covered by public transport.
Council was informed that, after Christmas, the Leader would make public a report to Members on progress of the UKSPF funding. The allocation of £1.5m across capital and revenue opportunities including community and business grants over two years is coming to an end. The Leader repeated his thanks to external members of the Local Area Board and Councillors for ensuring a fair procedure and balanced use of funding. The Leader wants to continue constructive links the voluntary sector, the Chamber of Commerce, the NFU and the Federation of Small Businesses. The UKSPF funding was due to finish March 2025, but following the Budget, the Government had decided to extend funding for one more year.
The Leader reported on the continuing success of the Rural Food Hub network now at nine venues. The Leader thanked staff, volunteers and the parish councils who have made the project work. The hubs are not just about immediate food for those in need but a pathway to deal with the causes and other problems facing individuals and families.
Following the successful external inspection of the Council as a housing landlord, the Leader welcomed four tenants to our Landlord Assurance Board. The theme of the Board is that Members and Officers listen to tenants, who steer the agenda onto the issues that matter most to them. Guided by the inspection team report and our tenants views, the Council would continue on the path of improvement.
The Leader informed Members that he continued to be very busy in two important areas. Working across political divides and geographical boundaries the Council are taking a full part in trying to shape the future for regional and local governance, its long-term funding, as well as advocating for fairer funding for the second GP practice and the full completion of the distributor road together with a range of housing, adequate schools and environmental enhancements.