Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2HitGH4

Dr. R. K. A. Feltham CC, Mr. T. J. Pendleton CC, Mrs. C. M. Radford CC, Mr. D. Jennings CC, Mrs. R. Page CC, Mr. S. J. Galton CC, Dr. T.Eynon CC.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 April 2018 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. J. Shepherd CC declared a Personal Interest leading to bias in item 5 (Proposed Developments at Quorn – Solar Farm and Light Industrial Units) as a member of Charnwood Borough Council and undertook to leave the room during consideration of the item.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive seeking approval for the Enabling Growth Plan 2018/19 which set out the Council’s economic priorities for the financial year. A copy of the report, marked ‘4’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the Enabling Growth Plan 2018/19, attached as the Appendix to the report, be approved.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Since the Cabinet approved the EGP 2015-18 in March 2015, there have been a number of significant national, regional and local policy developments including the decision for the UK to leave the EU and the launch of the UK’s Industrial Strategy in November 2017.

To take account of these changes and ensure the Council has a relevant economic plan for 2018/19; the Enabling Growth Board has undertaken a light-touch refresh of the EGP 2015-18 and produced a revised Plan for 2018-19. A more robust and longer term review of the Council’s economic plan and priorities will be undertaken alongside the development of the Local Industrial Strategy (LIS) with a view to the LIS and an Enabling Growth Plan for 2019 onwards being produced early in 2019.

The Council’s Strategic Plan 2018-2022: Working together for the benefit of everyone, which identifies a ‘Strong Economy’ as one of its five strategic outcomes.

(Mr. R. J. Shepherd CC, having declared a Personal Interest leading to bias in the matter, left the meeting whilst this item was considered).

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources which sought approval to the necessary preparatory work required to enable the submission of a planning application for the commercial development of light industrial units and a solar farm in Quorn.  A copy of the report, marked ‘5’, is filed with these minutes.

The Cabinet noted comments received from the local member Mrs. H. Fryer CC, a copy of which is filed with these minutes.

The Director said that paragraphs 29-35 of the report consisted of advice from the Council’s strategic property officers following preliminary talks with planning colleagues, and were included for background.  Should the Cabinet support the proposals, planning officers would provide formal advice during the planning application process.  

RESOLVED:

a)    That the continuation of works to progress the proposed commercial development of light industrial units and a new solar farm, as detailed in paragraphs 17 to 23 of the report, on land located to the North of the A6 and the town of Quorn and which are shown on the plans attached, be approved;

b)    That the Director of Corporate Resources, following consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member, be authorised to undertake all necessary preparatory work to enable the submission of a planning application for the proposed development;

c)    That further financial analysis be undertaken with a particular focus on the solar farm, and that the outcome of that analysis and the planning application be presented to the Cabinet for further consideration.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The development of Council owned land will provide the Authority with future revenue income and support environmental objectives.

To confirm the Cabinet’s support for the proposed development and enable the Director, in exercise of his existing delegated powers, to submit a planning application for the proposed development and to continue to undertake further financial testing in respect of the proposals.

(Mr. R. J. Shepherd CC then returned to the meeting)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive which detailed concerns raised by the pressure group Women Against State Pensions Inequality (WASPI) who argued that women born in the 1950s had been disproportionately affected by changes to their state pension age. A copy of the report, marked ‘6’, is filed with these minutes.

Mrs P. Posnett CC said that she sympathised with the pressure group and had met with representatives to discuss the issue. She believed that the approach taken by the All Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality, to produce a report supporting the aims of the group with a view to the introduction of legislative change through a Private Members Bill, was the correct way forward.  

RESOLVED:

a)    That the position as outlined in the report, in particular the consideration of this matter in Parliament and by the Government be noted;

b)    That the position statement made to the County Council meeting in March by Mrs Posnett CC which outlines the discussions she has had with representatives of the local WASPI group and the practical support that the County Council has provided to the Group and women in the Local Government Pension scheme to gain a better understanding of pensions and pension taxation, be noted;

c)    That, as a practical and constructive way forward, the County Council informs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality of its support for the reconsideration of transitional arrangements and compensation for women born in the 1950s affected by changes to the state pension age, and of its support for the All-Party Group in bringing about legislative change to that effect.

(REASON FOR DECISION)

State Pensions is a matter for national Government and local authorities have no locus in such matters. However, decisions on state pensions affect local people and their wellbeing. The decisions recognise the grievance of WASPI women as a result of the failure of the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) to provide timely information on changes to aid pension planning.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive which sought the Cabinet’s approval for the County Council’s response to the Government’s National Housing Delivery Policy Framework (NPPF) and Supporting Housing Delivery through Developer Contributions. A copy of the report marked ‘7’ is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the key comments as set out in the report be approved as the Council’s response to the Government consultations on

      i.        the National Planning Policy Framework (paragraphs 17 to 58),

    ii.        “Supporting housing delivery through developer contributions” (paragraphs 59 to 63),

subject to the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, being authorised to make minor amendments and adding detail to the above responses prior to their submission to Government by 10 May 2018.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To respond to the Government consultation seeking views on the draft text of the NPPF and proposed reforms to the system of developer contributions.

The County Council is working with Local Planning Authorities across Leicester and Leicestershire to develop a Strategic Growth Plan which will guide housing and infrastructure requirements across the Housing Market Area. The response has been written to ensure that the robust and collaborative work already undertaken is not undermined, but benefits from any changes to a NPPF.

It is imperative that any reforms to the system of developer contributions ensures that developers are clear about their commitments, that local authorities are empowered to hold them to account, and communities needs are met.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive seeking approval of the proposed enforcement programmes for underage sales of tobacco products and aerosol paint products for 2018/19.  A copy of the report, marked ‘8’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the 2018/2019 Enforcement Programmes for Underage Sales of Tobacco Products  and Aerosol Paint Products set out in Appendices A and B of the report be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To enable the County Council to meet its statutory obligation under Section 5(1) of the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 (as amended) and Section 54A of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities  which set out urgent action taken by the Chief Executive to approve an exception to the County Council’s Contract Procedure Rules to enable the award of a contract to the Carers’ Trust which would provide a discharge response and home care bridging service to the Council. A copy of the report, marked ‘9’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the urgent action taken by the Chief Executive to award a contract to the Carers’ Trust for the provision of a discharge response and home care bridging service in line with Contract Procedure Rule 6 (b) (ii) (Exceptions), be noted.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Urgent action was taken on the 29 March 2018 by the Chief Executive to ensure that the contract was in place by 2 April 2018.

The discharge response and home care bridging service enables the timely discharge from hospital for Leicestershire residents by providing additional capacity in the event of short-term delays in starting packages of home care on discharge from hospital.

There were no items referred from Overview and Scrutiny.