Agenda and minutes

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Mrs. J. A. Dickinson CC, Dr. T. Eynon CC; Dr. R. K. A. Feltham CC; Mr. G. A. Hart CC; Mr. M. J. Hunt CC; Mr. S. J. Galton CC; Mr. P. G. Lewis CC; Mr. David Sprason CC.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2013 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

There were no urgent items for consideration.

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

Mr. R. Blunt CC, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 5 on the agenda (High Speed Rail (HS2) Phase 2: West Midlands to Leeds HS2 Consultation: Proposed Response on Implications for Leicestershire.) and undertook to leave the meeting whilst the item was considered (minute 89 below refers).

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources setting out the proposed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2014/15 to 2017/18, for consultation and scrutiny. A copy of the report, marked ‘4’, is filed with these minutes.

Members noted comments received from the Liberal Democrat Group, a copy of which, marked ‘4a’ is filed with these minutes.

Members also noted that with regard to Business Rates Pooling, referred to in paragraphs 21 and 22 of the report, the Chief Executive had taken action under his delegated powers in the case of urgency, following consultation with the Leader, to advise the Department of Communities and Local Government that the County Council did not wish to continue with the Leicester and Leicestershire Business Rates Pool for 2014/15. The deadline for this to be done was 14 January 2014 (not 15 January as stated in the report) and could not therefore be left to be determined at the meeting.

Mr Rhodes congratulated officers on their hard work in preparing the provisional MTFS.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the proposed MTFS including the 2014/15 revenue budget and capital programme be approved for consultation and referred for consideration to the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the Scrutiny Commission;

b)    That the County Council's response to the Government’s consultation on the 2014/15 Grant Settlement (as set out in Appendix B to the report) be approved;

c)    That the action taken by the Chief Executive regarding the issue of Business Rates Pooling, as now reported, be noted.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

1.    To enable the County Council to meet its statutory requirements with respect to setting a budget and Council Tax precept for 2014/15 and to provide a basis for the planning of services over the next four years.

2.    The County Council’s General Scheme of Delegation requires that any urgent action taken by the Chief Executive between meetings is reported to the next appropriate meeting of the body concerned.

[Mr. Blunt CC, having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, withdrew from the meeting for the duration of this item.]

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport which outlined the current position on High Speed Rail (HS2) in Leicestershire and which recommended a response to the Government’s HS2 Phase 2 route consultation. A copy of the report, marked ‘5’, is filed with these minutes.

Members noted comments received from Mr. D. A. Sprason CC, a copy of which, marked ‘5a’, is filed with these minutes.

The Leader, noting comments he had received from constituents, requested that the proposed response to Government include reference to the fact that Tonge was a conservation area. The Director undertook to include this.

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the proposed County Council response to the Government’s HS2 consultation as set out in the report, subject to the comment now made above, noting in particular paragraphs 22-25 thereto and the detailed responses contained in appendices E, F and G.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The Government has published proposals for a high speed railway (HS2) linking London, the East and West Midlands, and the north of England. The proposals for Phase 2, which passes through Leicestershire, are currently the subject of public consultation.

[Mr Blunt returned to the meeting.]

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive which detailed urgent action taken by the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader, to delegate authority to allow the Director of Public Health to authorise the Patient Group Directions (PGDs) for the use of Azithromycin in Chlamydia screening. A copy of the report, marked ‘6’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the urgent action taken by the Chief Executive, as now reported, be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The County Council’s General Scheme of Delegation requires that any urgent action taken by the Chief Executive between meetings is reported to the next appropriate meeting of the body concerned.

There were no items referred from Overview and Scrutiny.