Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWFpwBLs6MnUzG0WjejrQtQ

 

Mr Orson Duncan Lucas

 

It was with great sadness that the Chairman reported the passing of a former Chairman of the County Council, Mr Orson Duncan Lucas.

 

Mr Lucas had served on the County Council from 1985 to 2005 representing the Bushloe Electoral Division in Oadby and Wigston.  He had been Chairman of the County Council during the 1993 – 1994 municipal year.

 

He served on the Arts, Libraries and Museums Committee, the Agriculture Committee, the Environment Committee and the Resources Committee.

 

The Chairman reported that Mr Lucas’ funeral service would be held at Wigston Magna United Reformed Church on Long Street on Tuesday, 1^st March at 1pm.

 

Members of the Council joined the Chairman in standing in silent tribute to the memory of Mr Lucas.

 

Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

 

The Chairman welcomed Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant, Mr Mike Kapur OBE, to the meeting and thanked him for being his guest at lunchtime.

 

As Members were aware, her Majesty the Queen had now become the first British Monarch to celebrate seventy years on the throne and therefore celebrating her Platinum Jubilee.  The Chairman commented that this year was going to be very special.  To mark the occasion an extended bank holiday, Thursday 2^nd June to Sunday 5^th June, would provide an opportunity for communities and people to come together to celebrate this historic milestone.  There would also be a number of celebrations such as Street Parties, the Big Lunch, Beacon Lighting and national celebrations.

 

In addition to the national initiatives the Chairman reported that the Lord Lieutenant would be leading the celebrations in Leicestershire and Leicester City and that he had his own three initiatives which were launched earlier this month.  They were: -

 

·       An arts competition for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children;

 

·       A 70 at 70 garden party at Beaumanor Hall for seventy people who were born in 1952;

 

·       An award for 70 organisations whether that be a business, community or voluntary group, or a school that has done something exceptional and positive to develop community spirt.

 

The Chairman on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant encouraged all Members to promote these initiatives within their electoral divisions and communities and advised that further information could be found on the Lord Lieutenant’s Platinum Jubilee website.

 

The Chairman was also pleased to inform Members that the County Council would be supporting the Jubilee.  The Chairman, along with the Lord Lieutenant, would be planting a tree at County Hall on Friday, 11^th March as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy.  In addition, a beacon would be lit at Beacon Hill on Thursday 2^nd June, as well the lighting up of County Hall.

 

This Chairman commented that this would be a very special year and one which all Members should try and promote in their communities.

 

Paula Murray BEM

 

The Chairman asked Members to join him in congratulating Paula Murray, Group Support Manager in the Environment and Transport Department, who had been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours List. 

 

In addition, he congratulated everyone in Leicestershire who had also received a personal honour.

 

Mike Sandys

 

The Chairman was pleased to inform Members that the Lord Lieutenant had commissioned seven new Deputy Lieutenants in honour of their service to the local community.  One of the seven was Mike Sandys, Director of Public Health, and he called on Members to congratulate Mike on his appointment.

 

Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary Simon Cole QPM

 

The Chairman reported that Simon Cole, the Chief Constable for Leicestershire, would be retiring shortly.  Simon had taken up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

It was moved by the Chairman, seconded by Dr Feltham, the Vice-Chairman, and carried:-

 

“That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 1^st December 2021, 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.

 

All members who were members of District Councils declared a registrable interest in relation to the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2025/26 (minute 47(a) refers).

 

Mr B. L. Pain CC declared a non-registerable interest in relation to passenger transport issues referred to in the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2025/26 (minute 47(a) refers), as his family operated a taxi business.

 

Mr L. Phillimore CC also declared a non-registerable interest in relation to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) issues referred to in the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2025/26 (minute 47(a) refers), due to his wife’s employment.

 

 

(A)      Question by MR HUNT

 

“1.      “Many people, particularly those of a certain age or vulnerability, will have been struck by the interview on East Midlands BBC (13/2/22) with a gentleman from the County who could not obtain timely treatment due to rising waiting lists, worse than elsewhere in the East Midlands.  Could the Chair of Scrutiny Commission provide some reassurance that we are positively scrutinising these key rising waiting lists, not tinkering at the edges but identifying ways in which Leicestershire can improve against other areas, and publishing our findings, which can all too easily be buried in minutes?”

 

Reply by MR MULLANEY

 

“1.      Can I begin by thanking Max for his question.  The pandemic has had a significant impact on an already stretched health and social care service and this has been acknowledged by all.  It now appears that we may be over the worst of the large surge in cases that occurred as a result of Omicron and Christmas gatherings with Covid pressures easing on acute and community services.

 

Members of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee have been aware of the concerns and worry of people who have had delays in treatment which have been exacerbated as a result of the pandemic and it has raised these concerns with NHS colleagues.

 

On 10th November the Committee received very informative reports and presentations on (link to meeting below):

 

(i)              Current data access to primary care services, the challenges being faced by GP practices and initiatives being introduced to improve access;

(ii)             The Restoration and Recovery Plans of health care providers, particularly on dealing with the significant backlog that has built up in terms of diagnosis and elective care.

 

https://politics.leics.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1045&MId=6431&Ver=4

 

NHS managers who attended the meeting acknowledged the significant backlog that had built up and had prepared the plans so that there was transparency in the way in which they would seek to prioritise and deal with this.  They, along with the members of the Committee, were aware that the task ahead was monumental and would require significant investment of resources and staff, and even then it was unlikely that significant reductions in the backlog and waiting times could be achieved in the short term.

 

The Government has made promises of significant new resources as a result of raising National Insurance contributions.  Most of these resources are to be directed to the NHS with very little to support the social care sector.  This I believe is a mistake as the ability of the NHS to deliver will be dependent upon hospitals being able to discharge patients to a social care setting for after care and rehabilitation.  Without significant national investment in social care the social care market cannot develop and function on a sustainable level and this will impede the NHS in its delivery.  The Adults and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 1st November was advised of significant demand pressures.  The financial impact of the increased need and demand is such that the Department is forecasting a significant overspend against budget in this financial year and this is likely to grow in subsequent years.  As a consequence the Council is allocating £25m growth for social care within the MTFS for 2022/23 rising to £35m over the four year period.

 

Over the coming year the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be monitoring the position and members will be raising issues and concerns.  I am sure that the County Council as the social care authority will be working closely with NHS colleagues on this.

 

Finally, I think you make a valid point regarding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

It was moved by Mr Rushton, seconded by Mrs Taylor and carried:-

 

“That the changes to Standing Orders (the Meeting Procedure Rules), as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Constitution Committee, be approved.”

 

The Leader gave a position statement on the following matters:

·       County Deal

·       Net Zero and the Green Agenda

·       MTFS

·       Queens Platinum Jubilee

·       Storm Impacts and thanks to staff

 

The Lead Member for Highways and Transport gave a position statement on the following matters:-

 

·       Recent storm damage;

·       The Member Highway Fund;

·       The SEN School Transport Digital Application process;

·        Highways and Transportation recruitment event.

 Copies of the position statements are filed with these minutes.

 

It was moved by Mr Breckon and seconded by Mr Shepherd:-

 

“(a)     That the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the Scrutiny Commission as set out in Appendix Q to the report be noted;

(b)      That subject to the items below, approval be given to the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) which incorporates the recommended revenue budget for 2022/23 totalling £471.7m as set out in Appendices A, B and E of this report and includes the growth and savings for that year as set out in Appendix C;

(c)      That approval be given to the projected provisional revenue budgets for 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26, set out in Appendix B to the report, including the growth and savings for those years as set out in Appendix C, allowing the undertaking of preliminary work, including business case development, consultation, and equality and human rights impact assessments, as may be necessary towards achieving the savings specified for those years including savings under development set out in Appendix D;

(d)      That approval be given to the early achievement of savings that are included in the MTFS, as may be necessary, along with associated investment costs, subject to the Director of Corporate Resources agreeing to funding being available;

(e)      That the level of the general fund and earmarked funds as set out in Appendix K be noted and the use of those earmarked funds as indicated in that appendix be approved;

(f)       That the amounts of the County Council's Council Tax for each band of dwelling and the precept payable by each billing authority for 2022/23 be as set out in Appendix M (including 1% for the adult social care precept);

(g)      That the Chief Executive be authorised to issue the necessary precepts to billing authorities in accordance with the budget requirement above and the tax base notified by the District Councils, and to take any other action which may be necessary to give effect to the precepts;

(h)      That the 2022/23 to 2025/26 capital programme as set out in Appendix F be approved;

(i)       That the Director of Corporate Resources, following consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Resources, be authorised to approve new capital schemes, including revenue costs associated with their delivery, shown as future developments in the capital programme, to be funded from funding available;

(j)       That the financial indicators required under the Prudential Code included in Appendix N, Annex 2 be noted and that the following limits be approved:

	2022/23 £m	2023/24 £m	2024/25 £m	2025/26 £m
Operational boundary for external debt
i)  Borrowing	263	263	311	340
ii) Other long term liabilities	1	1	1	1
TOTAL	264	264	312	341
Authorised limit for external debt
i)   Borrowing	273	273	321	350
ii) Other long term liabilities	1	1	1	1
TOTAL	274	274	322	351

 

(k)      That the Director of Corporate Resources be authorised to effect movement within the authorised limit for external debt between borrowing and other long-term liabilities;

(l)       That the following borrowing limits be approved for the period 2022/23 to 2025/26:

           (i)       Upper limit on fixed interest exposures 100%;

           (ii)       Upper limit on variable rate exposures 50%;

           (iii)      Maturity of borrowing: -

 

	Upper Limit	Lower Limit
	%	%
Under 12 months	30	0
12 months and within 24 months	30	0
24 months and within 5 years	50	0
5 years and within 10 years	70	0
10 years and above	100	25

(iv)      An upper limit for principal sums invested for periods longer than 364 days is 10% of the portfolio.

(m)     That the Director of Corporate Resources be authorised to enter into  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47a

It was moved by Mrs Posnett, seconded by Mr Breckon and carried:-

 

“That Leicestershire County Council makes a clear commitment to becoming an anti-racist organisation.”