Agenda, decisions and minutes

Residents from Great Glen

The Chairman welcomed residents from Great Glen to the meeting, appreciating that they were in attendance to show the depth of feeling and concern from the village and its residents following the unprecedented flooding on 6 January.  He was sure they would be interested to hear about the proposal to set funding aside for flood improvement works in response to the recent flooding.

The Chairman reminded all members of the public of the ways in which they could engage with the democratic process to get their views heard, including submitting questions and petitions to scrutiny committee meetings.

Volunteers Award Evening

On Tuesday 11^th March the Chairman would be hosting a Volunteer Awards Evening at County Hall for those who carry out volunteering. He was sure it was going to be a wonderful evening, and he was looking forward to it.

Covid Day of Reflection

Sunday 9^th March would be the Covid Day of Reflection across the UK. This year marked five years since the pandemic began.

The Covid Day of Reflection would give us the opportunity to remember those who had lost their lives since the pandemic began and to honour the tireless work and acts of kindness shown during this unprecedented time.

The Chairman thanked all staff across the County Council, the NHS, the emergency services and in communities who supported people during the pandemic. It was a time where many staff and communities worked together in ways never seen before to protect, support and help Leicestershire residents.

County Council Election

As this would be the last meeting of the County Council before the election in May, the Chairman thanked those who were standing down for their service to the County Council and their constituents. The Chairman wished those who were standing for election on 1^st May.

It was moved by the Chairman, seconded by Dr Feltham and carried:-

“That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 4 December 2024, copies of which have been circulated to members, be taken as read, confirmed and signed.”

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

All members who were members of District Councils declared an other registrable interest in relation to the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2028/29 (minute 51(a) refers)

Mr Pain CC declared a non-registrable interest in the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2028/29 (minute 51(a) refers) in relation to passenger transport issues as his family operate a taxi business.

Mr Phillimore CC declared a non-registrable interest in the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2028/29 (minute 51(a) refers) in relation to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) issues due to his wife’s employment.

All members who were members of District Councils declared an other registrable interest in relation to the English Devolution White Paper: Local Government Reorganisation (minute 51(c) refers).

(A)      Mr Hunt asked the following question of the Acting Leader or her nominee:

“1.     The new Government is making an initial £3.4 billion investment over the next three years to improve home energy efficiency and switch to low carbon technologies; this includes a step change in the size and scope of the Warm Homes Local Grant which the County Council administers.  What plans have been prepared to ensure plenty of applications are made in relevant postcode areas to reduce fuel poverty in the county?

2.      The total grant for Warm Homes Local Grant will be £88,000 in 2025/6, and £206m subsequently; what proportion of that does the county expect to receive and how many homes in the county is that likely to cover?

3.      I understand that with only 51.2% of existing domestic properties having an EPC rating of C or greater, Leicestershire has fallen into the second quartile relative to other English authorities, can the Leader account for this comparative change?

4.      What proportion of domestic properties have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and how do we target those areas without an EPC which are in postcodes identified as at risk?”

Mrs Richardson replied as follows:

“1.       The County Council, with Green Living Leicestershire (Leicestershire Districts except for Oadby and Wigston, who are implementing this independently), has requested funding from the Government as part of the Warm Homes: Local Grant. The applications were submitted through the Midlands Net Zero Hub as part of a wider Midlands consortium. The County Council Warm Homes service will lead delivery on behalf of the Leicestershire consortium.

The Council has a history of delivering various energy efficiency government grants including Sustainable Warmth Competition and Home Upgrade Grant. In line with this, an online Tableau tool designed to map data across the county was developed, which includes areas identified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), EPC and fuel poverty data. Continuing to employ this targeted methodology aims to ensure that residents in these areas have a fair opportunity to submit their applications. The marketing strategy includes mailshots, social media advertisements, attending local events, and collaboration with internal and external partners. The Green Living Leicestershire group inputs local housing knowledge to help identify priority neighbourhoods based on housing archetype and relevant housing tenure.

Over the last year, the Warm Homes team has also been working on a separate government-funded demonstrator project known locally as the Home Energy Retrofit Offer (HERO) to reach at-risk residents, especially those living in hard-to-treat homes, to provide face-to-face advice on how to access energy efficiency schemes. Some eligible residents have received EPCs to enable them to access schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Those not eligible for the scheme can access telephone advice from the service.

2.         The Warm Homes: Local Grant will allocate funding to Local Authorities in line with past delivery. For Leicestershire, this will be linked to the successful delivery of the Sustainable Warmth Competition (named locally as the Green Living Leicestershire Home Energy Grant). At this time, the funding allocations nationally have not yet been confirmed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. As a result, the County Council is not yet able to determine the estimated number of homes that will benefit from this initiative.

3. & 4.   From data gathered in October 24, 56.2% of properties within Leicestershire had a valid EPC. There are many properties within Leicestershire with EPCs over 10 years that will not show in this data. This data fluctuates as EPCs expire. Please note that areas of new house building can impact localised EPC scores as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

“That the changes to Standing Orders (Meeting Procedure Rules), as set out in the Appendix to the report of the Constitution Committee, be approved.”

It was moved by Mrs Taylor and seconded by Mr Breckon:

“That the changes to Standing Orders (Meeting Procedure Rules), as set out in the Appendix to the report of the Constitution Committee, be approved.”

The motion was carried with 39 members voting for the amendment and 9 members voting against.

The Acting Leader gave a position statement on the following matters:

·       Medium Term Financial Strategy Position;

·       Local Government Reorganisation;

·       Flooding;

·       Zouch Bridge;

·       Invictus Games.

The Acting Leader gave a position statement on the following matters:

·       Medium Term Financial Strategy Position;

·       Local Government Reorganisation;

·       Flooding;

·       Zouch Bridge;

·       Invictus Games.

A copy of the position statement is filed with these minutes.

“(a)   That subject to the items below, and following changes arising from the final Local Government Finance Settlement and receipt of final Business Rates information from Leicestershire district councils, approval be given to the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) which incorporates the recommended net revenue budget for 2025/26 totalling £615.2m as set out in the revised Appendices A, B and E of this report and includes the growth and savings for that year as set out in the revised Appendix C;

(b)       That the revised Appendices A, B, C and E be approved to reflect the changes in Business Rates, grant income and a reduction in the growth contingency, which taken together have no impact on the use of reserves;

(c)        That approval be given to the projected provisional revenue budgets for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29, set out in the revised Appendix B to the report, including the growth and savings for those years as set out in the revised Appendix C, allowing the undertaking of preliminary work, including business case development, engagement and equality and human rights impact assessments, as may be necessary to achieve the savings specified for those years including savings under development, set out in Appendix D;

(d)       That approval be given to the early achievement of savings that are included in the MTFS, as may be necessary, along with associated investment costs, subject to the Director of Corporate Resources agreeing to funding being available;

(e)       That the level of the general fund and earmarked reserves as set out in Appendix K be noted and the planned use of those earmarked reserves as indicated in that appendix be approved;

(f)         That the amounts of the County Council's Council Tax for each band of dwelling and the precept payable by each billing authority for 2025/26 be as set out in Appendix M;

(g)       That the Chief Executive be authorised to issue the necessary precepts to billing authorities in accordance with the budget requirement above and the tax base notified by the District Councils, and to take any other action which may be necessary to give effect to the precepts;

(h)       That approval be given to the 2025/26 to 2028/29 capital programme, totalling £439m, as set out in Appendix F;

(i)         That the Director of Corporate Resources following consultation with the Lead Member for Resources be authorised to approve new capital schemes, including revenue costs associated with their delivery, shown as future developments in the capital programme, to be funded from funding available;

(j)         That the financial indicators required under the Prudential Code included in Appendix N, Annex 2 be noted and that the following limits be approved:

(k)        That the Director of Corporate Resources be authorised to effect movement within the authorised limit for external debt between borrowing and other long-term liabilities;

(l)         That the following borrowing limits be approved for the period 2025/26 to 2028/29:

(i) Maturity of borrowing:-

(ii)    An upper limit for principal sums invested for periods longer than   364 days is 20% of the  ...  view the full decision text for item 51a

“That the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health 2024 be noted with support”

It was moved by Mrs Richardson, seconded by Mrs Radford and carried unanimously:

“That the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health 2024 be noted with support”

“That the report and supplementary report on the English Devolution White Paper: Local Government Reorganisation including urgent action taken, considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 7 February, be noted.”

It was moved by Mrs Taylor and seconded by Mr Ashman:

“That the report and supplementary report on the English Devolution White Paper: Local Government Reorganisation including urgent action taken, considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 7 February, be noted.”

The motion was put and carried, with 36 members voting for the motion and 8 voting against.

“(a)   That the new Contract Procedure Rules, set out in the Appendix to this report, be approved;

(b)    That the Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to approve minor amendments to the Rules up to 24 February 2025.”

It was moved by Mr Barkley, seconded by Mr Richardson and carried unanimously:

“(a)   That the new Contract Procedure Rules, set out in the Appendix to this report, be approved;

(b)    That the Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to approve minor amendments to the Rules up to 24 February 2025.”

(a)      This Council notes:

(i)        That the NHS and social care system face multiple crises of access, staff retention, long waiting times, missed targets and poor outcomes;

(ii)       That people across Leicestershire are struggling to access health and care services;

(iii)      That despite this, primary care providers have not been given the funding to employ more GPs, leaving qualified doctors facing unemployment;

(iv)      That there is a national dentistry crisis as increasing numbers of practitioners leave the NHS;

(v)       That the Adult Social Care and Education and Children’s Care budgets face significant pressure to continue to deliver savings in 2025/26 in the context of increasing demand for services;

(vi)      That difficulty accessing services increases pressure on acute care such as Accident & Emergency as well as undermining overall population health;

(vii)    That both The King’s Fund and the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care have acknowledged the positive vision the Liberal Democrats have for social care reform and that cross-party working is the only way to achieve this.

(b)      This Council advocates for cross-party collaboration both locally through the Health and Wellbeing Board and nationally through a long-term agreement on funding and provision of social care.

(c)       This Council resolves to:

(i)        Call for the establishment of a cross-party commission to forge a long-term agreement on predictable, consistent funding for free personal care;

(ii)       Call for an Emergency Health and Care Budget to put this national crisis at the top of the government’s agenda.

(iii)      Request the Chief Executive to convey these calls to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

“(a)   This Council notes:

(i)         That the NHS and social care system face multiple crises of access, staff retention, long waiting times, missed targets and poor outcomes;

(ii)        That people across Leicestershire are struggling to access health and care services;

(iii)      That despite this, primary care providers have not been given the funding to employ more GPs, leaving qualified doctors facing unemployment;

(iv)      That there is a national dentistry crisis as increasing numbers of practitioners leave the NHS;

(v)       That the Adult Social Care and Education and Children’s Care budgets face significant pressure to continue to deliver savings in 2025/26 in the context of increasing demand for services;

(vi)      That difficulty accessing services increases pressure on acute care such as Accident & Emergency as well as undermining overall population health;

(vii)     That both The King’s Fund and the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care have acknowledged the positive vision the Liberal Democrats have for social care reform and that cross-party working is the only way to achieve this.

(b)       This Council advocates for cross-party collaboration both locally through the Health and Wellbeing Board and nationally through a long-term agreement on funding and provision of social care.

(c)        This Council resolves to:

(i)         Continue to work with local NHS commissioners and providers to ensure and equitable and consistent delivery of health and care funding aligned to national frameworks and policy for residents of Leicestershire;

(ii)    Request the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to reconsider his decision to delay critical and long-awaited investment in Leicester’s Hospitals, as work is now not expected to start on site until between 2030 and 2035.”

Mr Mullaney sought and obtained the consent of the Council to move an altered motion.

It was moved by Mr Mullaney and seconded by Mrs Taylor:

“(a)    This Council notes:

(i)        That the NHS and social care system face multiple crises of access, staff retention, long waiting times, missed targets and poor outcomes;

(ii)       That people across Leicestershire are struggling to access health and care services;

(iii)      That despite this, primary care providers have not been given the funding to employ more GPs, leaving qualified doctors facing unemployment;

(iv)      That there is a national dentistry crisis as increasing numbers of practitioners leave the NHS;

(v)       That the Adult Social Care and Education and Children’s Care budgets face significant pressure to continue to deliver savings in 2025/26 in the context of increasing demand for services;

(vi)      That difficulty accessing services increases pressure on acute care such as Accident & Emergency as well as undermining overall population health;

(vii)    That both The King’s Fund and the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care have acknowledged the positive vision the Liberal Democrats have for social care reform and that cross-party working is the only way to achieve this.

(b)      This Council advocates for cross-party collaboration both locally through the Health and Wellbeing Board and nationally through a long-term agreement on funding and provision of social care.

(c)       This Council resolves to:

(i)        Continue to work with local NHS commissioners and providers to ensure and equitable and consistent delivery of health and care funding aligned to national frameworks and policy for residents of Leicestershire;

(ii)     Request the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to reconsider his decision to delay critical and long-awaited investment in Leicester’s Hospitals, as work is now not expected to start on site until between 2030 and 2035.”

The motion was put and carried, with 40 members voting for the motion and no members voting against.