Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@committeemeetingsatleicest9269/featured

Armistice Day

 

The County Council marked Armistice Day with a service and two minute silence on Monday 11^th November. The short and dignified service was very moving, and the Chairman thanked Leanne Plummer for her playing of the Last Post and Reveille. He was also pleased that County Hall had been illuminated in red for the duration of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. Finally, the Chairman thanked Members who were able to attend local services on Remembrance Sunday and lay a County Council wreath.

 

Green Apple Award

 

The Chairman had the great honour of going to Kensington Place on Monday 18^th November to represent the Council when King Industries were awarded a Green Apple Environment Award for their work to restore a reedbed at Donisthorpe Woodland Park. King Industries was appointed to carry out this work by the County Council as part of its commitment to improve the natural environment throughout Leicestershire.

 

Green Apple Awards were presented by the Green Organisation, who had been in existence for over thirty years with the aim of recognising and promoting environmental best practice around the world. The award was therefore testament to the work of King Industries the County Council’s behalf, and to the innovative partnership working which made the scheme a reality.

 

King’s Award for Voluntary Service

 

The Chairman reported that six local voluntary organisations had received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service as part of the annual awards announced on 14^th November to mark the King’s birthday. Five of the organisations were based in Leicestershire.

 

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service held the same value as an MBE and acknowledged the remarkable efforts of volunteer groups in their communities.

 

The winning organisations were:

• Young Leicestershire - who transformed the lives of society’s disadvantaged young people

 

• Quorn Library Volunteers – who had created a community hub by resurrecting an old library, offering much more than just books.

 

• Greater Wigston Historical Society and Heritage Centre - who had established and run an outstanding research and advice centre, which preserved Wigston's community heritage.

 

• Melton Community First Responders - who provided vital and lifesaving emergency aid and support to the local community and EMAS.

 

• SoundCafe Leicester - who supported those who were homeless, isolated and vulnerably housed in Leicester City.

 

• Harborough Morsbags - who made fabric bags and distributed them to the public to reduce the use of different plastics.

 

Members joined the Chairman in congratulating all the organisations for their award.

 

Market Harborough Football Club

 

The Chairman congratulated Market Harborough Football Club on reaching the second round of the FA Cup, where the team put up a brave fight, losing in a narrow 5-3 defeat after extra time to Reading Football Club.  This was a tremendous feat, particularly as it was the first time they had qualified for the FA Cup.  Market Harborough Football Club was currently a member of the Southern League Premier Division Central, whereas Reading Football Club was currently in sixth position in League 1.

 

It was moved by the Chairman, seconded by Mr Shepherd and carried:-

 

“That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 25 September 2024, 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.

 

The Chairman, Mr Orson, declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the Notice of Motion on the impact of the Labour Government’s 2024 Budget and increase to employers’ National Insurance contributions (minute 44(a) refers) due to his agricultural land holdings.  The Chairman undertook to leave the room during the item and confirmed that Mr Shepherd would take the chair in his place.

 

 

(A)      Mr Charlesworth asked the following question of the Leader or his nominee:

 

“There have been quite a few planning applications at both Oadby and Wigston Borough Council and at the County Council’s Development Control and Regulatory Board which involve a change of use from residential (C3) to a care home for one or more young people (C2).  Could the Leader please advise:

1.          Are all these homes and providers regulated?

 

2.          Do the staff in these homes require any qualifications or training?

 

3.          Are any LCC placements put in unregulated homes?

 

4.          How many young people require a placement by LCC?

 

5.          How many placements by LCC are outside Leicestershire?

 

6.          What is the average cost to LCC of placing a young person in a care home?”

 

Mrs Taylor replied as follows:

 

“1.    All children’s residential homes and supported accommodation for children are required to be registered with Ofsted. Once Ofsted registered, the home will be subject to Ofsted inspections. A useful document to understand the regulations is: Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards.

 

2.     The regulations set out that the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice, including ensuring staff are appropriately qualified, have the necessary experience and receive supervision. In relation to training, regulations set out that the staff should have, or have a date for completion of, the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare or equivalent.

 

3.     The County Council takes seriously its duties and responsibilities to ensure all children in care live in a safe home with suitably experienced and qualified carers. It maintains strong senior management oversight of this, and the Director is informed if we are struggling to identify a registered home for any young person. The Assistant Director reviews all options considered and only if the child has nowhere to live, and officers have not been able to source nationally a registered home, will the Director consider unregistered provision. This is used by the County Council on a very minimal basis and tends to be for a short period of time, pending a registered home becoming available.

 

4.     91.

 

5.     57 (residential placements).

 

6.     The average weekly cost of placing a child in residential care is £5553.”

 

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

 

“There have long been concerns about road safety at the junction of Normandy Way and Ashby Road in Hinckley. Concerns include the speed of traffic along the road and how difficult it can be to cross the road safely at the Ashby Road and Normandy Way junctions. These concerns have been highlighted again following the tragic deaths of Molly Snow and Jordan Hurst in October following a collision on the A47 Normandy Way.

I believe the County Council is proposing safety measures including introducing pedestrian crossings at the Ashby Road and Normandy Way junction. Can I urge the County Council to ensure these works are carried out as soon as is possible. Also, could consideration also be given to other safety improvements to the Normandy Way A47 as a whole, including the possibility of speed cameras but also other safety measures, to reduce the risks of future casualties on this road?”

 

Mr O’Shea replied as follows:

 

“As Mr Mullaney is aware, the improvements at this junction have been identified as mitigation for proposed developments in the area, most recently as mitigation to the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council planning application 23/00432/OUT.

 

Whilst it is appreciated that there have been a number of collisions at the junction, up to this point none had involved pedestrians. However, the Council is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

The Acting Leader gave a position statement on the following matters:

 

·       MTFS Position

·       Household Support Fund

·       Getting Ready for Winter

·       Bus Service Improvement Plan Funding

·       Leicestershire Business and Skills Partnership.

 

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

 

 

It was moved by Mr Breckon, seconded by Mr Poland and carried unanimously:

 

“That the Annual Delivery Report and Performance Compendium be approved.”

 

It was moved by Mr Breckon, seconded by Mr Bedford and carried unanimously:

 

“That the County Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2025/26, as set out in the Appendix to the report of the Employment Committee, be approved.”

 

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

 

Motion 1

 

(a)    That the proposed changes to the Constitution, as set out in the Appendix to this report, other than those which relate to Standing Orders (the Meeting Procedure Rules), be approved;

 

Motion 2 – Procedural Motion in accordance with Standing Order 36

 

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

 

Motion 1 was carried unanimously.  Motion 2 was carried with 40 members voting for the motion and 10 members voting against.

 

(NOTE: Standing Order 36 requires that this procedural motion, having been moved and seconded, stands adjourned until the next ordinary meeting of the Council.)

 

(a)  That this Council notes that:

 

(i)    the first Labour Budget since 2010 added £40bn additional taxation on hard working families and businesses;

 

(ii)  this is the largest increase in taxation in history, as independently reported by the Office for Budget Responsibility and Institute for Fiscal Studies;

 

(iii) the 1.2% increase in employers’ national insurance contributions to 15%, reduction in the NI threshold to £5,000 and 6.7% increase to the National Living Wage will add in the region of £20m to this Council’s costs;

 

(iv) cumulatively, these increases will also have a severe impact on our contractors, supply chain, our care providers and charities such as Age UK, to deliver their services locally, as much needed resources will be diverted to cover their additional costs;

 

(v)  the imposition of 20% Inheritance Tax duty on farm holdings over £1m will have devastating effects on many rural families, implications for food production, security and employment and what the National Farmers’ Union describes as a “Farmers Farm Tax”;

 

(vi) despite the government’s stated wish to drive upwards local and national economic growth, these Budget proposals will potentially have the opposite effect, dampening economic activity and increasing unemployment.

 

(b)  That this Council resolves to call on the government to:

 

(i)    reverse these massive increases in taxation and revert to their manifesto promise not to increase rates of national insurance contributions;

 

(ii)  reverse the Inheritance Tax changes on farms and farming families;

 

(iii) fully compensate local government for their additional costs;

 

(iv) provide adequate support to those charitable and third sector organisations mentioned in (a) (iv) above to continue to enable them to provide their essential services locally;

 

(c)  That this Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to inform her of its decision.

 

Mr. R. J. Shepherd CC (in the Chair)

 

It was moved by Mrs Taylor and seconded by Mr Breckon:

 

“(a)     That this Council notes that:

 

(i)    the first Labour Budget since 2010 added £40bn additional taxation on hard working families and businesses;

 

(ii)   this is the largest increase in taxation in history, as independently reported by the Office for Budget Responsibility and Institute for Fiscal Studies;

 

(iii) the 1.2% increase in employers’ national insurance contributions to 15%, reduction in the NI threshold to £5,000 and 6.7% increase to the National Living Wage will add in the region of £20m to this Council’s costs;

 

(iv) cumulatively, these increases will also have a severe impact on our contractors, supply chain, our care providers and charities such as Age UK, to deliver their services locally, as much needed resources will be diverted to cover their additional costs;

 

(v)  the imposition of 20% Inheritance Tax duty on farm holdings over £1m will have devastating effects on many rural families, implications for food production, security and employment and what the National Farmers’ Union describes as a “Farmers Farm Tax”;

 

(vi) despite the government’s stated wish to drive upwards local and national economic growth, these Budget proposals will potentially have the opposite effect, dampening economic activity and increasing unemployment.

 

(b)  That this Council resolves to call on the government to:

 

(i)    reverse these massive increases in taxation and revert to their manifesto promise not to increase rates of national insurance contributions;

 

(ii)   reverse the Inheritance Tax changes on farms and farming families;

 

(iii) fully compensate local government for their additional costs;

 

(iv) provide adequate support to those charitable and third sector organisations mentioned in (a) (iv) above to continue to enable them to provide their essential services locally;

 

(c)  That this Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to inform her of its decision.”

 

On the motion being put and before the vote was taken, five members rose asking that a named vote be recorded.

 

The vote was recorded as follows:

 

For the motion

 

Mr Allen, Mr Ashman, Mr Bannister, Mr Barkley, Mr Bedford, Mr Bill, Mr Boulter, Mr Bray, Mr Breckon, Mr Champion, Mr Chapman, Mr Coxon, Dr Feltham, Mrs Fryer, Mr Galton, Mr Ghattoraya, Mr Gillard, Mr Grimley, Mr Hadji-Nikolaou, Mr Harrison, Mr Harrison-Rushton, Mrs Jordan, Mr King, Mr Lovegrove, Mr Merrie, Mr Mullaney, Mr O’Shea, Mrs Page, Mr Pain, Mr Parton, Mr Pendleton, Mr Phillimore, Mr Poland, Mrs Posnett, Mr Richardson, Mrs Richardson, Mr Rushton, Mrs Seaton, Mr Shepherd, Mr Smith, Mrs Taylor, Mrs Wright.

 

Abstentions

 

Mrs Broadley, Mrs Hack, Mr Hunt, Mr Miah.

 

The motion was carried with 42 members voting for the motion and 4 members abstaining.