Agenda and minutes

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 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. Ould CC declared a personal interest in item 5, ‘Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Provision – High Needs Block Development Plan’, as a life member of the National Association of Head Teachers.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources concerning the proposed Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2019/20 to 2022/23 (MTFS).  A copy of the report, marked ‘4’, and a supplementary report with the detailed proposals (circulated separately) are filed with these minutes.

Members noted that following the publication of the Cabinet reports, the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2019/20 had been announced which included additional SEND funding for the Council of £1.5m for the next two years. It was expected that the Authority would also benefit from an extra £7m as a result of being part of the business rates pilot. However the additional funding did not change the core funding assumptions as set out in the report.

Mr. Rhodes CC welcomed the additional funding but highlighted the financial challenges ahead in order for the Council to meet its £74m savings target over the next four years. He added that there also remained concern as to the level of local government funding post April 2020 following the end of the current four year cycle. 

RESOLVED:

a)    That the proposed Medium Term Financial Strategy, including the 2019/20 revenue budget and capital programme, be approved for consultation and referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the Scrutiny Commission for consideration;

b)    That the Director of Corporate Resources, following consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Resources, be authorised to –

                          i.    agree a response to the draft Local Government Finance Settlement;

                         ii.    decide on the appropriate course of action for the potential Leicester and Leicestershire 75% Business Rates Retention Pilot in 2019/20,and subject to the acceptance of the submission made to the Government and the subsequent agreement by all member authorities to implement this;

                       iii.    decide on the appropriate course of action for the Leicester and

Leicestershire Business Rates Pool in 2019/20 and subject to

agreement by all member authorities to implement this;

                       iv.    approve expenditure relating to preparatory and investment costs for the High Needs Block Development Plan, to be funded by underspends in the 2018/19 revenue budget.

c)    That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet on 8 February 2019.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To enable the County Council to meet its statutory requirements with respect to setting a budget and Council Tax precept for 2019/20 and to provide a basis for the planning of services over the next four years.

To ensure that the County Council’s views on the Local Government Finance Settlement are made known to the Government.

To enable the County Council (alongside the pooling partners) to respond to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in respect of the 75% Business Rates Pilot (if successful) or Business Rates Pool within 28 days from the draft Local Government Finance Settlement.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services which detailed work being undertaken by the Council to produce a High Needs Block Development Plan and sought permission to begin a consultation on the potential development of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision within the County.  A copy of the report, marked ‘5’, is filed with these minutes.

Mr. Ould CC welcomed the Council’s proposals which would help to address the problems the Authority currently faced as a result of inadequate funding and the increased responsibilities placed on it by the Government.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the current overspend and forecast deficit for the High Needs Block budget be noted;

b)    That the Director of Children and Family Services be authorised to consult on the proposed High Needs Block Development Plan, specifically the development of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision;

c)    That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet in early summer 2019 regarding the outcome of the consultation exercise and presenting the final proposals for consideration. 

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The High Needs Block, part of the Dedicated Schools Grant, funds SEND provision and is currently overspent.  There are now insufficient reserves to offset the 2018/19 overspend and an overall DSG deficit is forecast.

The proposals, which would provide the basis for planning, commissioning, and delivering SEND services, seek to improve the quality and sufficiency of provision and address the overspend.  They would ensure that the growth in demand for places could be met and that best use is made of the resources available.

The Council is required to keep under review the special educational and social care provision made in its area for children and young people with SEN or a disability and the provision made outside of its area for such children and young people for whom the Council is responsible. In meeting this duty the Council is required to have regard to sufficiency and must consult those likely to be affected and this will enable the final proposals to be informed by the views of parents/carers, schools’ governing bodies and Trustees, school staff and pupils and other stakeholders having an interest in SEND provision.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport which detailed the Council’s intention to pursue two Housing Infrastructure Fund bids in relation to the southern section of the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road and the South West Leicestershire Growth Area. A copy of the report, marked ‘6’, is filed with these minutes.

Members noted the comments of the Scrutiny Commission and Mr D. C. Bill CC, a copy of both are filed with these minutes.

The Director of Environment and Transport advised that the plan at Appendix B illustrated market interest and potential areas of growth in the South West Leicestershire Growth Area but should not be construed as showing firm proposals. In response to comments and to avoid any future confusion, this plan would be removed from the appendix.

Mr. Pain CC said the report showed the Council’s commitment to securing the necessary infrastructure funding needed, and helped support district authorities’ local plans.

Mr. Rhodes CC said that the funding for the southern section of the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road would bring forward its development and he added that a successful South West Leicestershire Growth Area bid would fulfil a great need for development of housing and commercial activity in the area. 

RESOLVED:

a)    That the comments of the Scrutiny Commission be noted;

b)    That the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) bids relating to the southern section of the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road and the South West Leicestershire Growth Area be pursued, for the reasons set out in paragraphs 27 to 39 of this report;

c)    That the Director of Environment and Transport, in consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources and the Director of Law and Governance, and following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead Members, be authorised to:-

                        i.     Undertake all further work necessary to prepare the HIF business cases and to complete the final bids ready for submission;

                      ii.       Submit HIF bids relating to the southern section of the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road and the South West Leicestershire Growth Area by the deadline of 1 March 2019;

d)    That, should one or both of the HIF bids be successful, a further report be submitted to the Cabinet prior to acceptance of funding by the Council.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The County Council is working to an extremely tight timescale which has been set by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. In order to be able to apply for HIF monies the absolute deadline for HIF bid submissions is 1 March 2019.

Considerable further work is still required to develop and complete the final bids’ content. It is therefore necessary that authorise Chief Officers to progress matters and submit the final bids on the basis that, should the bids be successful a report will be made to the Cabinet prior to acceptance.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport concerning a proposed developer funded traffic calming scheme as part of the New Lubbesthorpe Sustainable Urban Extension in Blaby. A copy of the report, marked ‘7’, is filed with these minutes.

With the agreement of the Chairman, Mr Blunt CC and Mr Breckon CC addressed the Cabinet as the local members for Glenfields, Kirby Muxloe and Leicester Forests division.

Mr. Blunt said that there had been extensive engagement and consultation with the communities involved and the majority of respondents did not support the proposed scheme. He noted that the proposal put forward by local residents was not supported by the Council Highways Authority on safety grounds.

Mr. Breckon hoped that the Cabinet would agree not to implement the original proposals detailed in the report, and said that he and Mr. Blunt would welcome the opportunity to work with all parties to find a satisfactory solution.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the proposed traffic calming scheme for the Warren Lane area, Leicester Forest East and the Barry Drive/Maytree Drive area, Kirby Muxloe, as detailed at Appendix A and B of the report, not be implemented in accordance with the results of the consultation;

b)    That it be noted that the Council has received a petition proposing an alternative traffic calming scheme (as set out in Appendix C) which it cannot support based on safety concerns identified at paragraph 31 of the report;

c)    That every effort be made by the County Council as the Highways Authority to work with Blaby District Council, the developers and Parish Councils to agree on and deliver an alternative scheme that satisfies the planning requirements and timescales as set out in the Section 106 planning agreement.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The developers of the New Lubbesthorpe SUE development have a Section 106 planning obligation to deliver a traffic calming scheme (speed tables) which will help to prevent additional through traffic using the adjacent Leicester Forest East (Warren Lane) and Kirby Muxloe (Barry Drive/Maytree Drive) estates.

During the consultation, a petition of 111 signatures (and a number of separate responses) was received opposing the proposed traffic calming scheme and requesting an alternative scheme publicly attributed to Kirby Muxloe Parish Council, banning certain turning movements at the junction of Maytree Drive and the A47 Hinckley Road in order to discourage through traffic.

The two local members for the Glenfields, Kirby Muxloe and Leicester Forests division, Mr. Blunt and Mr. Breckon do not support the original proposals.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health seeking approval of the Good Food Leicestershire Charter. A copy of the report, marked ‘8’ is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the Good Food Leicestershire Charter be approved.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The County Council has a statutory responsibility to take appropriate steps to improve the health of people who live in Leicestershire.

The importance of food for Leicestershire’s health, economy and sustainability is recognised through a number of County Council policies including the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Strategic Economic Plan, Environment Strategy and Leicestershire Municipal Waste Management Strategy. The Good Food Leicestershire Charter and Leicestershire Food Plan will build on these policies towards an improved food system across the County.

There were no items referred from Overview and Scrutiny.