Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Blanksby, G Brown, J Dale, S Webb, and R Wilson.

It was noted the list of engagements attended by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman had previously been circulated as follows:

• Service of Dedication for Armistice Day, grounds of Oakham Castle
• Lord-Lieutenant’s Festival of Remembrance in aid of the RBL, Uppingham School
• RBL Service of Remembrance, All Saints’ Church
• Celebration of Roof Replacement, St John’s Church, Ryhall
• Investiture Ceremony for M Pocock BEM, Oakham Castle
• Mayor of Melton’s Carol Service, St Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray
• Stocken Prison Carol Service
• Presentation of Horseshoe to the Lord of the Manor by The Rt Hon Lord Garnier, Oakham Castle

Councillor L Stephenson, Leader of the Council, announced to Members that following the recent announcement of a successful Levelling Up Fund bid for Rutland and Melton, the next steps for progressing the bid were underway including working with central government in assessments of the risk profiles of each project, and the Minister for Local Government and Building Safety had visited the Council the previous week to meet with the Leader, senior officers, and the local member of Parliament, it was explained discussions had focused on Rutland’s success and financial challenges.

Councillor R Powell, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Planning, Highways and Transport, announced to Members that a new, calculation of the Rutland's 5-year housing land supply has been undertaken and showed a 6 year housing supply, up from 4.6 years in September, which meant that the National Planning Policy Framework para 11d would not have to be applied in decisions on planning applications. It was noted although this meant the Council had a stronger case for resisting applications for inappropriate sites and proposals, there was still a need to be mindful that the Council must maintain a five-year supply going forward over the next few years. It was also explained priority had been given to reducing the time between planning approval and the date by which sites could be included in the land supply calculations. It was also announced a well-attended Bus Users Forum had taken place the previous week, it was confirmed responses to various questions raised at the Forum would be publicised in due course. The elements of the successful Levelling Up Fund bid relating to transport were also welcomed as a way to address areas for the issues with travel faced by the county.

Councillor K Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation, reiterated to Members that following Cabinet approval the draft budget for 2023/24 had gone out for public consultation during which time in-person consultation events would be taking place and the budget would be presented for consideration for the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee, following these steps the final budget would be going to Cabinet followed by Council in February 2023.

Councillor M Oxley, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Environment and Climate Change, highlighted to Members the success of the Levelling Up Fund bid and the opportunity to invest in the County Museum following recent historical discoveries in the County. It was also noted the county’s recycling figures were low which was being seen by other Councils and believed to be related to the recent dry summer. Reference was also made to recent public campaigns by the Council regarding food waste, disposal of seating materials and batteries.

Councillor S Harvey, Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Care, announced to Members that she had recently represented the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board at a national workshop, and provided an update on the most recent meeting of the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the Minutes of the 244^th meeting of the Rutland County Council District Council held on 7 November 2022.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2022.

It was moved by Councillor L Stephenson and seconded that the minutes be approved. Upon being put to the vote, with 19 votes in favour and 3 abstentions, the motion was carried.

RESOLVED

a)     That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2022 be APPROVED.

To receive any petitions, deputations or questions received from members of the public in accordance with the provisions of Procedures Rule 25 and 26. The total time allowed for this is 30 minutes.  Petitions, deputations and questions will be dealt with in the order in which they are received and any which are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting.

No petitions, deputations and questions had been received from members of the public.

To receive any questions submitted from Members of the Council in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules 27 and 28.

No questions from Members of the Council had been received.

To determine matters where a decision taken by a Committee has been referred to the Council in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 89.

No referrals of Committee decisions had been received.

To determine matters where a decision taken by the Cabinet has been referred to Council by the call-in procedure of the Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules 149 and 150. As a result of the decision being deemed to be outside the Council’s policy framework by the Monitoring Officer or not wholly in accordance with the budget by the Section 151 Officer, or otherwise not in accordance with Article 12.

No call-ins of decisions from Cabinet Meetings

To receive reports from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to the Council for determination.

No reports from the Cabinet had been received.

1)    To receive reports from Committees on matters which require Council approval because the Committee does not have the delegated authority to act on the Council’s behalf.

2)    To receive reports from Council Committees on any other matters and to receive questions and answers on any of those reports.

No reports from Committees of the Council had been received.

To receive reports from the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee on any matters and to receive questions and answers on any of those reports.

No reports from Scrutiny had been received.

To receive reports about and receive questions and answers on the business of any joint arrangements or external organisations.

Councillor K Bool announced to Members that the Combined Fire Authority would soon be considering its budget and it was currently expected there would be a small increase in the Authority’s precept of 7%. It was noted this figure could be seen as high it should be considered in relation to the authority’s prudent financial management in previous years and the increase equated to an increase of approximately £3 a year for a Band A household. It was confirmed this would be subject to consideration and a decision by a meeting of the Combined Fire Authority in February 2023 and Councillor Bool confirmed he would provide a further update to Members in due course.

Councillor K Payne presented Members with a report to be appended to the minutes regarding two recent positive meetings with Hanson Cement including a meeting of their Liaison Committee. It was set out that work was ongoing with regard to restoring disused areas of the quarry, and Hanson were beginning to look at extending their quarry working as reserves were at less than 10 years. It was confirmed the quarry continued to undertake surveys in ecological matters, water monitoring, noise and quality and archaeology, it was also set out a small Iron Age or Roman Enclosure and ditches had been discovered and were being examined by Leicestershire County Council archaeologists.

To consider any Notices of Motion submitted by Members of the Council in accordance with Procedure Rule 31 in the order in which they are recorded as having been received.

No notices of motion had been received.

To receive Report No. 14/2022 from the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation.

Report No. 14/2023 was presented by Councillor L Stephenson, Leader of the Council. The report presented the report of the Welland Partnership Remuneration Panel on Members’ Allowances with a number of recommendations for consideration, it was noted officers had recommended that the Council recognise the gap between its allowances and those of comparator authorities, but only make several small changes at this juncture, including the restoration of index-linked rises in allowances, and undertake further considerations on closing of the gap after elections to the authority in May 2023.

It was confirmed that the motion as moved by Councillor L Stephenson included the following amendment put forward by Councillor G Waller, taking the form of additional text to the second recommendation as follows:

“, and to consider members’ expenses, including travel expenses for ward related work, as part of its considerations on closing the gap.”

The report and recommendations were welcomed by Members overall although some Members felt that the recommendation to wait until after the upcoming elections before making a final decision on Members’ Allowances would only further delay the issue of the Council’s relatively low allowances which could be seen as deterring potential candidates to stand for election when it was important to attract Councillors from all walks of life. Many Members noted the requirement for Councillors to approve their own allowance levels meant it was a complicated and unenviable decision to take at any juncture. The ability for individual Members to renounce any allowances they were entitled to was also noted.

A motion to approve the recommendations of Report No. 14/2023, with the addition of the amendment, was moved by Councillor L Stephenson and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 18 votes in favour, 3 against and 1 abstention, the motion was carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

1)     RECEIVED the report of the Welland Partnership Remuneration Panel at Appendix 1 and thanked the Panel for its review.

2)     RECOGNISED there is a gap between the Council’s Member Allowances and those at comparator authorities as set out in Appendix 1a, and that following elections to the authority the Council should consider how to close this gap, and will consider members’ expenses, including travel expenses for ward related work, as part of its considerations on closing the gap.

3)     APPROVED the proposed Member Allowances Scheme for 2023/24 at Appendix 2 incorporating the recommendations of officers as set out in Section 4, including index linked rises in allowances based on Pay Awards for Chief Officers as negotiated by the Joint Negotiating Committee.

4)     APPROVED that the new scheme is effective from 9 May 2023, which any index-linked rise arising from the JNC 2023-24 Pay Award will be back-dated to.

To receive items of urgent business which have been previously notified to the person presiding.

There was no urgent business for consideration.

21 February 2023 (Special Council).

This was noted as the Special Meeting on 21 February 2022.