Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed here

Mrs P. Posnett MBE CC, Mrs M. Wright CC, Mr. R. Ashman CC, Mrs R. Page CC, Mrs A. Hack CC

Mr. L. Breckon JP CC

The minutes of this Cabinet meeting were not published in their entirety in the printed and pdf agenda documents for the April meeting (although published in full online).  For the avoidance of doubt the Cabinet is asked to reconfirm these minutes as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2023 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 April 2023 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 interests in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting. He declared an other registerable interest as a local member in respect of the reference to the Freeport in item 5 on the agenda (Provisional Revenue and Capital Outturn 2022/23).

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resource regarding the provisional revenue and capital outturn for 2022/23.  A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 5’, is filed with these minutes.

Members commented that the situation was satisfactory given the considerable pressure on the Authority.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the 2022/23 provisional revenue and capital outturn be noted;

b)    That the prudential indicators for 2022/23 as shown in Appendix E to the report be noted;

c)    That the net underspend be used for the additional commitments as specified in paragraph 69 the report;

d)    That in line with the County Council’s role as the accountable body for the East Midlands Freeport, a commercial cash flow loan of up to £4m to the East Midlands Freeport be agreed, and that the Director of Corporate Resources, following consultation with the Deputy Leader, be authorised to agree the conditions for further drawing down of the loan up to that limit.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To note the provisional revenue and capital outturn for 2022/23 and agree use of the underspend.

As the accountable body for Freeport, the Council’s role includes providing support to the Freeport in delivering the objectives set by the Government. The loan is at commercial rates to avoid any conflict with subsidy control and ensure the Council receives an appropriate return on investment.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport seeking approval to consult on the draft updated Leicestershire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and associated documents.  A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 6’, is filed with these minutes.

Responding to members’ comments, the Director said that although the Council was the Lead Local Flood Authority, this was largely a coordinating role and it had no power to require other organisations to take action.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the draft updated Leicestershire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LLFRMS) and associated documents be approved for public consultation;

b)    That it be noted that it is intended that a further report will be considered by the Cabinet on 24 November 2023, detailing the outcome of the consultation and seeking approval of the final LLFRMS and associated documents for publication.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To support the process of a full review and update of the LLFRMS, a public consultation should be undertaken for a minimum period of eight weeks.

The existing LLFRMS was published in 2015 and requires a full review and update. The draft document addresses the changes required to align with the current national strategy and associated guidance. It also incorporates the recommendations of a recent member Flooding Scrutiny Review Panel.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport regarding the new statutory duty that had been placed on local government in relation to Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) and the appointment of the County Council as the ‘responsible authority’ for the LNRS that would cover Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.  A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 7’, is filed with these minutes.

The Director said that formal confirmation of the Council’s appointment was expected shortly. 

Mr. Pain CC noted that further reports would be submitted to members regarding the development of an LNRS to improve biodiversity in the County and map out priorities for the area.

RESOLVED:

That it be noted that Leicestershire County Council has been appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as the ‘responsible authority’ for the Local Nature Recovery Strategies that will cover the area of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION:

To note that Leicestershire County Council has been appointed the ‘responsible authority’ for the LNRS that will cover the area of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland and the implications of this for the Council.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health regarding the outcome of consultation on the proposed new model for sexual health services across Leicestershire, and seeking approval of the final service model.  A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 8’, is filed with these minutes.

Mrs Richardson CC commended the proposals which would provide a more holistic, easily accessible service.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the outcome of the public consultation on the proposed new model for sexual health services across Leicestershire be noted;

b)    That the final model for sexual health services in relation to Leicestershire as detailed in paragraph 47 of the report, be approved;

c)    That the Director of Public Health, following consultation with the Director of Law and Governance, be authorised to enter into any contractual arrangements necessary to bring into effect the provision of sexual health services across Leicestershire with effect from 1 April 2024.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Council has a statutory responsibility to provide comprehensive open access sexual health services for the population. The current contracts for the provision of sexual health services across Leicestershire and Rutland end on 31 March 2024.  The revised delivery model offers a more consistent and localised approach to meet the needs of the population.  The consultation exercise showed good support for the proposed new model and enabled concerns to be addressed.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services regarding the proposal for Rutland Council to join the Leicestershire Safer Communities Strategy Board and Leicestershire Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 9’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

a)    That it be noted that Rutland Council will become a member of the Leicestershire Safer Communities Strategy Board, subject to agreement by that Board at its next meeting;

b)    That the addition of Rutland Council to the membership of the Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board, subject to agreement by that Board at its next meeting, be approved.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

There is already very close alignment of shared community safety priorities across Rutland and the Leicestershire Safer Communities Strategy Board (LSCSB) and the Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board (DALPB) partnership.

A more formalised arrangement will provide more effective and efficient partnership working, for example providing opportunities to share resources, expertise and/or intelligence.

The approach to the establishment of the DALPB was previously agreed by the Cabinet (in 2021) hence the request for approval of the change to its membership.

There were no items referred from the Overview and Scrutiny bodies.