Apologies for absence were received from Councillors N Begy, K Corby, H Edwards and K Heckels.

The Chairman confirmed that since Annual Council he or the Vice-Chairman had attended the following engagements:

• Oakham School Speech Day
• Oakham Pride Event at Cutts Close, Oakham
• Armed Forces Flag Raising in grounds of Oakham Castle
• Visit of His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester in Ryhall
• HM Lord-Lieutenant’s Church Service & Party in the Park

Councillor G Waller, Leader of the Council, addressed Council and confirmed that a written copy of details of her recent engagements as Leader would be appended to the minutes.

The Leader also provided details of two matters covered at the Local Government Association conference the previous week, these being the delays to the Levelling Up Bill and subsequent delay to the redrafting of the National Planning Policy Framework, which would have implications for the Council regarding the development of a Local Plan. Details were also outlined regarding the establishment of the new Office for Local Government (Oflog) and its intended work.

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 248^th and 249^th meetings of the Rutland County Council District Council held on 27 March and 22 May 2023.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meetings held on 27 March and 22 May 2023.

A motion to approve the minutes was moved by the Chairman and seconded, and it was confirmed a separate vote would be undertaken on each set of minutes.

With 10 votes in favour and 13 abstentions, a motion to approve the minutes of the March meeting was carried, and with 13 votes in favour a motion to approve the minutes of the May meeting was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

a)    That the minutes of the meetings held on 27 March and 22 May 2023 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 or questions had been received.

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

One question had been received from Councillor S Harvey addressed to Councillor D Ellison as Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board. Councillor Harvey asked her question as set out in the agenda supplement.  A copy of Councillor Ellison’s response is appended to the minutes.

In exercising her right to a supplementary question, Councillor Harvey asked if the relevant delivery plan will address the needs of residents receiving care from outside of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and that the Health and Wellbeing Board would receive these matters with sufficient time to comment. In response, Councillor Ellison confirmed consideration and recognition would be given to these matters.

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 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 had been received.

To receive Report No. 84/2023 from the Cabinet on recommendations regarding the Grounds Maintenance Contract which have been referred to the Council for determination.

Appendix C to the report contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). Should Council wish to discuss the contents of the Appendix then a motion to Exclude the Press and Public will need to be considered.

The Chairman confirmed that although there was an exempt appendix to the report from Cabinet his view was that Council would be able to discuss the report in a public session as Cabinet had when it considered the matter, however it was confirmed that should any Member wish to discuss the exempt appendix then a motion to exclude the press and public should be moved and voted upon.

Report No. 84/2023 was received from Councillor C Wise, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and the Environment. The report sought Council approval for a decision following the outcome of the recently undertaken tender process for Rutland’s Grounds Maintenance Contract

A motion to approve the recommendations of Report No. 84/2023 was moved by Councillor C Wise and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 22 votes in favour and 1 abstention, the motion was carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

a)    APPROVED the award of the Grounds Maintenance Contract.

b)    AUTHORISED the Strategic Director for Places, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with Portfolio for Highways, Transport and the Environment, to award the contract to the highest scoring bidder resulting from this procurement in line with the Award Criteria.

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. Two reports have been received from the Constitution Commission.

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

Two reports had been received from the Constitution Commission.

To receive Report No. 85/2023 from the Constitution Commission.

Councillor G Waller, Chair of the Constitution Commission, confirmed the Officer-Member Protocol had been deferred to a later meeting to allow further consideration to take place.

To receive Report No. 86/2023 from the Constitution Commission.

Report No. 86/2023 was received from Councillor G Waller, Chair of the Constitution Commission, the report sought approval for the adoption of a moment of reflection in place of the current Council Prayer.

A motion was moved by Councillor G Waller to approve the recommendations of Report No. 86/2023. This was seconded and upon being put to the vote, with 21 votes in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention, the motion was carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

a)    Resolves that the Council Prayer be replaced at Council meetings with a moment of reflection as follows:

“Let us stand for a moment of quiet reflection or prayer as you wish.

As we are about to take Council together, on matters concerning this County, we should seek to faithfully discharge our duties of office, both in our debate and in our decisions, and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of those we serve.

Thank you, please be seated”

b)    APPROVED the inclusion of the exact wording of the moment of the reflection within the Council’s Constitution.

To receive Report No. 80/2023 - Annual Scrutiny Report and any other reports from the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee on any matters and to receive questions and answers on any of those reports.

Report No. 80/2023 was received from Councillor R Ross, Chair of the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the report presented the Committee’s Annual Report for the work undertaken at its meetings and by informal groups in the 2022-23 municipal year.

A motion to approve the recommendations of Report No. 80/2023 was moved by Councillor R Ross and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 23 votes in favour, the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

a)    NOTED the Scrutiny Annual Report 2022-23 at Appendix A and APPROVED its publication.

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

A Member wishing to make a report should advise the Democratic Services Manager as soon as possible but in any event no later than noon on the working day immediately before the meeting

Two reports had been received from Members, included in the agenda supplement:

• Councillor A Brown had provided a report regarding a meeting regarding the development of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. 
• Councillor S Harvey had provided a report regarding the Combined Fire Authority, and also confirmed she was seeking to arrange a visit to Oakham Fire Station open to all Members to learn about the work of the Fire and Rescue Service.

RESOLVED

a)    That the reports received from Members be NOTED.

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. 87/2023 from the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resources.

Report No. 87/2023 was received from Councillor A Johnson, Portfolio Holder for Resources, the report provided Council Annual Progress Report (APR) for the period April 2022 to March 2023.

A motion to approve the recommendations of Report No. 87/2023 was moved by Councillor A Johnson and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 23 votes in favour, the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

a)    NOTED the contents of the annual report and the performance of the Council over the last year.

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

There was no urgent business for consideration.

Monday, 4 September 2023

Monday, 4 September 2023.