Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Farina, S Harvey, and C Wise.

The Chairman announced that since the last meeting of Council, he or the Vice-Chairman had attended the following events:

• Army Benevolent Fund Bagpipes & Highland Dancing Display in Market Square, Oakham.
• Battle of Britain Parade and the Chairman of SKDC’s Civic Service, both in Stamford.
• Civic Farm Tour & Afternoon Tea in Caldecott joined by many Members.
• Children Looked After Care Awards Event at Oakham School.
• High Sheriff of Rutland’s Justice Service.
• HM Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet Investiture at Casterton College
• Rocks by Rail Commemorative Event.
• Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance in De Montfort Hall Leicester.
• Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club at the Grainstore in Oakham.

Members were reminded of the events taking place over the upcoming weekend to commemorate Remembrance and were encouraged to attend as many events as possible.

The Chairman also informed Members that former Councillor Eddie Martin had recently passed away. Councillor Martin had represented Oakham East on Rutland District Council from 1987 to the creation of the unitary authority in 1997 for which Councillor Martin was a leading campaigner for, and had also been the County Council’s first Leader. After leaving Rutland Councillor Martin had gone on to become a long-serving Councillor in Cumbria including serving as Leader of Cumbria County Council.

Councillor G Waller, Leader of the Council, announced to Members that on behalf of the Council she had attended a number of meetings for which the details would be circulated and appended to the minutes.

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 251^st and 252^nd (Special) meetings of the Rutland County Council District Council held on 4 September 2023.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the ordinary and special meetings of Council held on Monday, 4 September.

It was moved by the Chairman and seconded that the minutes be approved. upon being put to the vote, with 23 votes in favour and 1 abstention the motion was carried.

RESOLVED

a)    That the minutes of the ordinary and special meetings held on 4 September 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 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.

Two questions had been received from Councillors and these were taken in the order in which they were received.

Councillor R Powell asked her question to Councillor P Browne, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Property, as set out in the agenda supplement.

Councillor Browne in response thanked Councillor Powell for her support of the proposed policy EN3 in the draft Local Plan, it was explained that the Council’s approach was for on-site offsetting in the first instance but could not guarantee off-site mitigation would always be within Rutland, as the Council did not hold land available for these purposes and so was reliant on sufficient landowners in Rutland being willing to submit sites for accreditation. It was confirmed that the Council’s aspiration was to accrue a number of approved sites within Rutland to then be made available to developers.

It was also set out that the Council was still awaiting comprehensive regulations and guidance from central government regarding upcoming policy changes relating to bio-diversity net gains and it was unknown if this would give Council’s further powers that might enable mandating of off-siting to be within the county. Reference was also made to the ongoing work with Leicestershire County Council on a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for which a project plan was expected in the new year and would include a statement of the area’s biodiversity net gain priorities. 

In response to Councillor Powell’s supplementary regarding how the Council was proactively encouraging landowners to submit sites, Councillor Browne set out that the methodology was not yet determined as this was reliant on the upcoming policy changes from central government, but confirmed the Council would be working proactively with landowners in due course.

Councillor K Payne asked her question to Councillor C Wise, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and the Environment, as set out in the agenda supplement.

As Councillor Wise had sent apologies for the meeting Councillor G Waller, Leader of the Council, responded upon her behalf. In response, Councillor Waller set out the main responsibilities of the Council in relation to flooding and those of other organisations and set out how these responsibilities had been specially undertaken across the county in relation to Storm Babet. It was confirmed a dedicated webpage had been established on the Council’s website with live information on incidents, current advice, and links to other services, and this page had been promoted through the Council’s various communications channels including social media. It was set a out a report on the impact of Storm Babet including all locations and the responses of all relevant bodies, it was confirmed this would include consultation with Parishes. It was noted that Storm Babet was not considered a significant flood incident for which funding from central government would not be available although further clarity was being sought from ministers. Parish Councils and residents were thanked for their local responses and it was noted that support for Parish Councils in preparation of local flood plans was available online: https://www.clearcouncils.co.uk/news/what-parish-and-town-councils-can-do-to-manage-flood-risk-in-their-community/

In response  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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. 158/2023 from the Cabinet containing recommendations referred to the Council for determination.

Report No. 158/2023 was introduced by Councillor A Johnson, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resources. The report sought approval to continue with the existing Local Council Tax Support Scheme and Discretionary Fund which supported working age households who on low incomes for the 2024/25 financial year.

In response to questions, it was confirmed that the intended review of the schemes for future years would be taking place in the following financial year and would include modelling of expected future demand in the context of an aging population. It was also confirmed the Council did take measures to promote the availability of these schemes to eligible residents.

It was moved by Councillor A Johnson and seconded that the recommendations of Report No. 158/2023 be approved. Upon being put to the vote, with 24 votes in favour the motion was unanimously approved.

RESOLVED

a)    APPROVED to continue with the existing Local Council Tax Support scheme and to continue to adjust it annually for inflation in line with Governments Adjudications and Operations Circulars from the 2024/25 financial year.

b)    APPROVED to continue with the existing Discretionary Fund Policy from the 2024/25 financial year.

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.

One report had been received from the Planning and Licensing Committee.

To receive Report No. 165/2023 from the Planning and Licensing Committee.

Report No. 165/2023 was introduced by Councillor N Begy, Chair of the Planning and Licensing Committee. The report sought Council approval for the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy following the recent policy development and public consultation exercise, and consideration by the Planning and Licensing Committee on 14 March and 24 October 2023. Members of the Committee spoke in support of the proposals citing the hard work undertaken to get to this juncture.

A motion to approve the recommendations of Report No. 165/2023 was moved by Councillor N Begy and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 24 votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

a)    APPROVED the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

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 had been received.

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.

Three reports had been received from Members and these were taken in the order they were received.

Councillor R Ross provided his written report as listed in the agenda on the meeting of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor T Carr provided Members with a verbal report regarding the Children in Care Awards she had attended as Champion for Looked after Children on 27 September, Councillor Carr thanked officers on the work that had gone into the event and highlighted the achievements of the event. Members were also encouraged to attend training on Corporate Parenting due to be held in January where they could learn more about the Council’s work with children in care.

Councillor L Stephenson provided a verbal report on the Rural Community Council and confirmed a written copy would be circulated with the minutes.

RESOLVED

a)    That the reports be RECEIVED and NOTED.

To consider 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.

A notice of motion had been received from Councillors R Ross and S McRobb.

Notice of motion signed by Councillors R Ross and S McRobb.

Councillor R Ross introduced and proposed the motion as set out in the agenda and this was seconded.

Members spoke in support of the motion citing the Council’s longstanding support for the Rural Services Network and the lobbying undertaken by previous administrations on fair funding for rural authorities to address the significant funding issues facing local authorities.

An amendment was moved by Councillor A West and seconded which sought to expand the third proposal to include asking the Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, HM Treasury and the Prime Minster’s Office. Members spoke in support of the amendment citing the importance of ensuring the message in the motion was heard as far as possible.

Upon being put to the vote, with 24 votes in favour the amendment was unanimously carried.

Councillor G Waller moved a further amendment to include that the Council would issue a press release following the writing of the proposed letters. This was seconded and supported by Members who cited the importance of highlighting the Council’s current record on living within its means.

The amendment was put to the vote and with 24 votes in favour was unanimously carried.

The motion as amended was then put to the vote. With 24 votes in favour the motion, as amended, was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

a)    ENDORSED the Rural Services Network campaign for a fair financial settlement for rural councils for 2024/25.

b)    CALLED Upon Government

i)               In recognition of the continued failure to conclude the 2016 review, to fund rural authorities in 2024/25 based upon their full formula allocations, a benefit that has been denied for nine years.

ii)              That this funding be based upon the £248m, adjusted for inflation, that the government identified in 2013/14 as being reflective of the increased cost of rural service provision.

iii)            To commit to concluding the Needs and Resources Review in the first 12 months of the next Spending Review period, with a view to implementation in 2026/27.

c)    REQUESTED that the Leader of the Council write to the Member of Parliament, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, HM Treasury and the Prime Minister to convey these messages to government.

d)    REQUESTED a press release be issued on the sending of these letters.

To receive Report No. 159/2023 from the Chief Executive.

Report No. 159/2023 was introduced by Councillor G Waller, Leader of the Council. The report sought Council approval of the recommendations of the Returning Officer within the report and to conclude the compulsory review of polling districts and polling places.

The recommendations of Report No. 159/2023 were moved by Councillor G Waller and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 24 votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

a)    NOTED the findings of the compulsory review of polling districts, polling places, and polling stations.

b)    APPROVED the changes of polling places and polling stations recommended by the Returning Officer at section 12 of this report.

To receive Report No. 160/2023 from the Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Health.

Report No. 160/2023 was introduced by Councillor D Ellison, Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Health. The report sought approval for the appointment of Mrs K Sorsky on a permanent basis into the post of Strategic Director for Adults and Health, having been appointed to this position on a temporary basis in February 2023. Mrs Sorsky was praised for her leadership and professionalism, both within her directorate and Council-wide as part of the Corporate Leadership Team.

The recommendations of Report No. 160/2023 were moved by Councillor D Ellison and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 24 votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Council:

a)    APPROVED the appointment of Mrs K Sorsky to the permanent position of Strategic Director Adults and Health

To receive Report No. 161/2023 from the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and the Environment.

Report No. 161/2023 was introduced by Councillor A Johnson, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resources. The report sought Council to decide on the award of Rutland’s Highway Term Maintenance Contract following a comprehensive procurement process.

Members spoke in support of the report, highlighting the work officers had undertaken over a notable period of time in order to undertake the procurement exercise and highlighted the Council’s overall success with highways in recent years. Assurances were given regarding the ability of the Council to ensure spending once awarded would be within acceptance limits and work undertaken being to the expected standards.

In order to address several questions regarding the report and exempt appendix, it was moved by the Chairman and seconded that the press and public be excluded. This was seconded and upon being put to the vote, with 24 votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

a)    That the press and public be EXCLUDED as the Appendix A to the report contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, namely commercially sensitive information.

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The meeting moved to an exempt session at 20:25 and was returned to a public session by the Chairman at 20:38

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A motion to approve the recommendations of Report No. 161/2023 had been moved by Councillor A Johnson and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 24 votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Council

AUTHORISED the award of the Highway Term Maintenance Contract to the highest scoring bidder resulting from the procurement in line with the Award Criteria and as required by the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

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

There was no urgent business for consideration.

Monday, 26 February 2024.

This was noted to now be the special meeting of Council due to be held on Wednesday, 6 December to consider conferring the title of Honorary Alderman.