Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at -

http://council.webcast.vualto.com/leicestershire-county-council/home?EventId=22842

Mr. L. Breckon CC, Mrs C. M. Radford CC, Mrs D. Taylor CC, Mr. D. Jennings CC, Mrs R. Page CC, Mr. T. Pendleton CC

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 1 May 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.  No declarations were made.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources concerning the provisional revenue and capital outturn for 2016/17 and sought the Cabinet’s approval for additional commitments and carry forwards.  A copy of the report, marked ‘4’, is filed with these minutes.

Mr. Rhodes CC said that services had contained their costs well in spite of pressures, including rising demand, and he was pleased with the report. He noted that the financial situation continued to become more challenging.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the 2017/18 provisional revenue and capital outturn be noted;

(b)      That the additional commitments as set out in paragraph 52 of the report be approved;

(c)      That an additional investment of £5m for highways maintenance, funded from returns generated by the Corporate Asset Investment Fund, as detailed in paragraph 57 of the report, be approved;

(d)      That the expected increase in 2018/19 business rates income of £1.2m be allocated to the future developments fund, as detailed in paragraph 59 of the report;

(e)      That the prudential indicators for 2017/18 as shown in Appendix E be noted.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To note the provisional revenue and capital outturn for 2017/18, to set aside funding for additional commitments, to approve carry forwards into later years, and to make revisions to the 2018/19 revenue budget.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport regarding UK100, a network of UK local authorities in towns, cities, and rural areas committed to 100% clean energy, which it was recommended the County Council should join.  A copy of the report, marked ‘5’, is filed with these minutes.

Mr. Pain CC commended the proposal, noting the Council’s plans and strategies aimed at reducing its carbon footprint and work carried out to date such as LED street lighting across the County, and the installation of solar panels and a biomass boiler at County Hall.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the County Council becomes a signatory to UK100;

(b)      That it be noted that the County Council’s Strategic Plan commits the Council to make a positive contribution to the environment and that the 100% clean energy target should feature in the Strategic Plan Performance Framework, the emerging Environment Strategy, and other appropriate corporate and departmental plans;

(c)      That the Director of Environment and Transport be requested to begin Council-wide discussions and commence a review of existing strategies to ensure that the Authority has in place the necessary plans to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050;

(d)      That the Council commits to work with local businesses and communities to promote the benefits of clean energy and thereby help to deliver the climate change commitments made by the UK at the Paris Summit in 2015.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Climate change is a global challenge and the County Council has a key leadership role in working with businesses and their local communities to ensure that Leicestershire transitions to a low carbon economy.  Signing the UK100 pledge will provide greater impetus as well as enabling the County Council to work with other authorities to share best practice and lobby the Government to adopt appropriate policies and provide the necessary investment to ensure the UK delivers on its climate change commitments.

There were no items referred from Overview and Scrutiny.