Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at http://council.webcast.vualto.com/leicestershire-county-council/home/?EventId=20275

Jennifer, Lady Gretton DCVO JP and Mrs Pam Posnett MBE CC

Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Lady Gretton, and County Councillor Pam Posnett, had been honoured in the Birthday 2017 Honours List.  Lady Gretton had been made a Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for her service to the Monarch and Pam had been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for Services to Local Government. 

The Chairman asked Members to join her in offering heartfelt congratulations to Lady Gretton and Pam Posnett for the awards which were richly deserved following years of loyal service to the County.

Visitors

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting all visitors and guests of Members and anyone who was viewing the meeting via the webcast.

It was moved by the Chairman, seconded by Mr O’Shea and carried:-

“That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 May 2017, copies of which have been circulated to members, be taken as read, confirmed and signed.”

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to make declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No such declarations were made.

(A)      Mrs Hack asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:-

“In the climate of reducing funding, what are the full cost implications for the County Council running a full library service at Braunstone Town Library from the date the first community libraries transferred in late 2015 to the proposed transfer to Fabula in September 2017?”

Mr Blunt replied as follows:-

“The cost of running Braunstone Library in 2015/16 was £42,253

The cost of running Braunstone Library in 2016/17 was £35,762

The Cabinet report originally proposed a transfer date for Braunstone Library of March 2017.  As this has been extended to September 2017 – the forecast cost for 2017/18 is approximately £16,781.”

(B)     Mr Galton asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:-

“As the Leader will be aware, legislation to allow local government to keep 100 per cent of its business rates has been shelved.  The former Local Government Finance Bill was making its way through parliament before the General Election but was not reintroduced in the Queen’s Speech.  According to Lord Porter, Local Government Association Chairman, Councils face an overall funding gap of £5.8 billion by 2020.  What assessment has been made of the implications for the County Council if the Local Government Finance Bill and the review of the funding formula are not taken forward?”

Mr Rhodes replied as follows:-

“I also understand the legislation to allow local government to keep 100% of business rates will not be taken forward in this parliament. In many respects the most important element of Local Government finance reform is the Fair Funding review. Although no mention has been made of this in the Queen’s Speech we understand there could be a consultation this summer as primary legislation is not required to change the funding formula.

In any event we will continue with enthusiasm our Fair Funding campaign and the pressure on Government to change the current distribution of funding as it is far from fair.

Our MTFS income forecasts are prudent and did not assume that the council would receive increased income from the Local Government Finance Bill. We still anticipate that we need to save £66m over the next four years.”

Mr Galton asked the following supplementary question:-

“In the light of recent events, does the Deputy Leader really think there will be an appetite for a change in the formula and would we not stand a better chance if we became the seventh county of Ulster?”

Mr Rhodes replied as follows:-

“Yes, I am very optimistic about this.  When we had meetings with the Secretary of State before the Election he was very positive about our approach.  We are the only Council in the country, as far as I am aware, to put forward a positive contribution and scheme for redistributing local government grant more fairly.  No-one else has done that, and it is a scheme which has been examined by many people in other Councils, including Councils who would not do well out of it, and no-one has found fault with it.  We will continue to press on with it and I am optimistic that it will succeed.  I hope that the Liberal Democrat Group will support us in that in the months ahead.”

(C)     Mr Kaufman asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:-

“Lately I have received a lot of complaints from families who have moved into Oadby and have been unable to get places for their children in local schools as they are all full.  This wasn’t the case just five years ago and has only recently become  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

The Leader presented a position statement on the following matters:-

• Grenfell Tower Fire and Terrorist Attacks;
• Elections;
• MTFS and Transformation;
• Rolls Royce Investment in Loughborough;
• Transport for the East Midlands and Midlands Connect;
• All Member Briefings.

The Lead Member for Health presented a position statement on health and care integration.

The Lead Member for Environment and Highways presented a position statement on the condition of roads in Leicestershire.

The Lead Member for Children and Family Services presented a position statement on Supporting Leicestershire Families and Youth Offending.

A copy of the position statements is filed with these minutes.

It was moved by Mr Galton, seconded by Mrs Page and carried:-

“That the information contained in the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2016/17, attached as Appendix 1 to this report, on its activities, be noted.”