Agenda and decisions

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed here.

“That Mrs Linda Danks be elected Chairman for the period until the next Annual Meeting of the Council.”

“That Mrs Linda Broadley be elected Vice Chairman for the period until the next Annual Meeting of the Council.”

The Leader gave a position statement on the following matters:

·       Review of the 2025-26 Municipal Year.

·       Priorities for 2026-27.

·       Additional Investment.

·       Road Improvement.

·       Foster Care Fortnight 2026.

“That the Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2026 – 2027 be approved.”

“That Council meetings in 2026/27 and 2027/28 be held on the following dates:

• Wednesday 1 July 2026 
• Wednesday 23 September 2026 
• Wednesday 2 December 2026 
• Wednesday 17 February 2027 (to consider the budget) 
• Wednesday 12 May 2027 (Annual meeting)
• Wednesday 7 July 2027
• Wednesday 29 September 2027
• Wednesday 1 December 2027
• Wednesday 16 February 2028 (to consider the budget)
• Wednesday 17 May 2028 (Annual Meeting)
• Wednesday 5 July 2028
• Wednesday 27 September 2028
• Wednesday 6 December 2028.”

Motion 1

“(a)   That the proposed changes to the Constitution excluding the proposed change to Article 6.05, as set out in the Appendix to this report, be approved;

Motion 2

(b)    That the proposed changes to Article 6.05 of the Constitution, as set out in the Appendix to this report, be approved.”

Motion 1

“That Mr Dan Harrison be appointed Leader of the Council for the period until the next Annual Meeting of the Council.”

Motion 2

“That it be noted that the Leader proposes to appoint the members named on List ‘1’ attached to the Order Paper as members of the Cabinet.”

No Cabinet Support Members were appointed.

“(a)   That the Council’s political balance following the results of the by election held on 16 April 2026 be noted;

(b)    That the allocation of seats on those committees subject to political balance arrangements be approved, subject to the Chief Executive being authorised to make any amendments in accordance with the wishes of the Political Groups to whom the seat in question has been allocated.”

Motion 1

“That the membership of the Scrutiny Commission, Boards and Committees as set out in List ‘2’ attached to the Order Paper be approved.”

Motion 2

“That the Chairmen and Spokespersons named in List ‘3A’ attached to the Order Paper be approved.”

Motion 3

“That the Chief Executive be authorised to make and terminate appointments to the Commission, committees, boards and other County Council bodies (not including the Cabinet) in accordance with the wishes of the Political Groups to whom the seat in question has been allocated, subject in the case of those bodies set out in List ‘2’ to the Group giving one day’s notice to the Chief Executive of its wishes.”

(a)  This Council notes that:

1.    The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 was enacted to address the legacy of the Troubles but was subsequently found by the courts to be incompatible with Convention rights under the Human Rights Act 1998, particularly in relation to its conditional immunity provisions and restrictions on access to justice.

2.    In response to those judgments, Parliament has approved the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025, which removes the conditional immunity scheme from statute and lifts the statutory bar on new Troubles‑related civil claims.

3.    The UK Government has introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which is currently before Parliament, to repeal and replace the 2023 Act in full and to establish a reformed framework for addressing legacy matters, including new investigatory and information‑recovery arrangements.

4.    Ministers have indicated that the Bill will be subject to substantial amendment during its Parliamentary passage, including amendments intended to strengthen safeguards for Operation Banner veterans who engage with legacy processes.

(b)  This Council further believes that:

1.    Legal certainty and fairness are essential to maintaining public confidence in the handling of legacy issues arising from the Troubles.

2.    It is vital that any new legacy framework both:

o    protects the rights of victims and survivors to truth, information, and accountability, and

o    avoids the creation of renewed uncertainty, repeated investigations, or disproportionate adversarial processes for veterans and their families many decades after events occurred.

3.    A durable and credible approach to legacy can command public confidence only if it is rights‑compliant, proportionate, and developed with the meaningful involvement of victims’ groups, Northern Ireland political parties, and representatives of the Armed Forces community.

(c)  This Council therefore resolves to:

1.    Write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland urging that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, as it proceeds through Parliament, delivers:

o    a balanced and rights‑compliant legacy framework,

o    clear, statutory safeguards for veterans engaging with legacy mechanisms, and

o    non‑adversarial processes that prioritise truth‑recovery and information where criminal prosecution is neither realistic nor proportionate.

2.    Write to the leaders of the main political parties represented in the House of Lords emphasising the importance of careful scrutiny of the Bill and its proposed amendments, particularly in relation to human rights compliance, veterans’ protections, and long‑term legal certainty.

3.    Reaffirm this Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, including its responsibility to support those who have served and their families.

“(a)     This Council notes that:

1.    The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 was enacted to address the legacy of the Troubles but was subsequently found by the courts to be incompatible with Convention rights under the Human Rights Act 1998, particularly in relation to its conditional immunity provisions and restrictions on access to justice.

2.    In response to those judgments, Parliament has approved the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025, which removes the conditional immunity scheme from statute and lifts the statutory bar on new Troubles‑related civil claims.

3.    The UK Government has introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which is currently before Parliament, to repeal and replace the 2023 Act in full and to establish a reformed framework for addressing legacy matters, including new investigatory and information‑recovery arrangements.

4.    Ministers have indicated that the Bill will be subject to substantial amendment during its Parliamentary passage, including amendments intended to strengthen safeguards for Operation Banner veterans who engage with legacy processes.

(b)  This Council further believes that:

1.    Legal certainty and fairness are essential to maintaining public confidence in the handling of legacy issues arising from the Troubles.

2.     It is vital that any new legacy framework both:

o   protects the rights of victims and survivors to truth, information, and accountability, and

o   avoids the creation of renewed uncertainty, repeated investigations, or disproportionate adversarial processes for veterans and their families many decades after events occurred.

3.     A durable and credible approach to legacy can command public confidence only if it is rights‑compliant, proportionate, and developed with the meaningful involvement of victims’ groups, Northern Ireland political parties, and representatives of the Armed Forces community.

(c)  This Council therefore resolves to:

1.    Write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland urging that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, as it proceeds through Parliament, delivers:

o   a balanced and rights‑compliant legacy framework,

o   clear, statutory safeguards for veterans engaging with legacy mechanisms, and

o   non‑adversarial processes that prioritise truth‑recovery and information where criminal prosecution is neither realistic nor proportionate.

2.    Write to the leaders of the main political parties represented in the House of Lords emphasising the importance of careful scrutiny of the Bill and its proposed amendments, particularly in relation to human rights compliance, veterans’ protections, and long‑term legal certainty.

3.    Reaffirm this Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, including its responsibility to support those who have served and their families.”

(a)  This Council notes that:

1.    Arriva’s Service 12 has operated along Church Lane, Whitwick since August 2025 as part of its commercial bus network.

2.    While the service provides connectivity and is used by a number of passengers, some local residents have raised concerns regarding the operation of the service along Church Lane.

3.    The Council has previously engaged with residents and the operator in relation to the routing and operation of the service.

(b)  This Council believes that it is appropriate, where residents have raised ongoing concerns, for the Council to keep matters under review and ensure that engagement with the bus operator remains constructive and informed by evidence.

(c)  This Council resolves to request the Director of Environment and Transport to provide a written report to the Growth, Highways, Transport and Waste Overview and Scrutiny Committee within six months, setting out:

·         Engagement undertaken with the bus operator in relation to the operation of Service 12 on Church Lane;

·         A review of the operation of the service, including consideration of relevant factors such as safety, punctuality and passenger usage; and

·         Any observations or recommendations arising from that review, within the Council’s powers.

“(a)     This Council notes that:

1.    Arriva’s Service 12 has operated along Church Lane, Whitwick since August 2025 as part of its commercial bus network.

2.    While the service provides connectivity and is used by a number of passengers, some local residents have raised concerns regarding the operation of the service along Church Lane.

3.    The Council has previously engaged with residents and the operator in relation to the routing and operation of the service.

(b)     This Council believes that it is appropriate, where residents have raised ongoing concerns, for the Council to keep matters under review and ensure that engagement with the bus operator remains constructive and informed by evidence.

(c)     This Council resolves to request the Director of Environment and Transport to provide a written report to the Growth, Highways, Transport and Waste Overview and Scrutiny Committee within six months, setting out:

·       Engagement undertaken with the bus operator in relation to the operation of Service 12 on Church Lane;

·       A review of the operation of the service, including consideration of relevant factors such as safety, punctuality and passenger usage; and

·       Any observations or recommendations arising from that review, within the Council’s powers.”