This week in North West Leicestershire:

Council Cabinet Approves £339,000 Software Contract and Boosts Housing Policies

The Cabinet met on Tuesday 25 August 2026, making key decisions on essential software contracts and reviewing important housing policies. These decisions will impact how council services operate and how residents are supported.

Ensuring Smooth Operations with IDOX Software Renewal

A significant decision was the renewal of the contract for the Uniform IDOX software suite, costing £0.339 million over three years. This integrated system is the backbone for crucial services like Environmental Health, Licensing, Planning, and Building Control. Councillor Keith Merrie MBE, the Finance and Corporate Portfolio Holder, highlighted the necessity of this renewal, stating it's necessary to ensure the continuity of these essential services, particularly in anticipation of Local Government Reorganisation.

This contract ensures that council staff have the tools they need to process applications, manage data, and deliver services efficiently. For residents, this means continued access to these vital functions without disruption, especially as the council navigates upcoming structural changes. The renewal was approved to prevent any interruption to these services.

You can find more details about this decision in the Cabinet meeting documents.

Enhancing Housing Support with Updated Policies

The Cabinet also reviewed and approved updates to three key housing policies: the Reasonable Adjustments Policy, the No Access Policy, and the Aids and Adaptations Policy. Councillor Andrew Woodman, the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder, presented these changes, which followed extensive stakeholder consultation, including with tenants and Leicestershire County Council's Occupational Therapist Team.

These updated policies are designed to:

• Ensure Compliance: Reflect current legislative requirements and regulatory standards.
• Promote Best Practice: Incorporate up-to-date approaches to housing support.
• Increase Transparency: Make policies clearer for residents.
• Boost Tenant Engagement: Ensure tenant voices are heard in policy development.

These policy reviews are crucial for ensuring that vulnerable residents receive the appropriate support and adaptations they need to live safely and independently in their homes. The approval of these policies demonstrates the council's commitment to providing effective and responsive housing services.

You can find more details about these decisions in the Cabinet meeting documents.

Financial Boost for Asylum Seekers and Homelessness Support

The Cabinet also discussed proposals to add significant grants to the council's budget, directly impacting support for asylum seekers and those experiencing homelessness.

Asylum Dispersal Grant and Homelessness Support

A report presented by Councillor Keith Merrie MBE proposed adding an Asylum Dispersal Grant of £0.114 million to the General Fund budget. Additionally, a recommendation was made to Council to add the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant of £0.445 million to the budget.

These grants are vital for providing essential support to some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community. The Asylum Dispersal Grant will help in providing accommodation and support services for asylum seekers, while the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant will bolster efforts to assist those without a home, those at risk of homelessness, and victims of domestic abuse. This funding directly translates into practical help, such as shelter, advice, and access to support services, aiming to improve the lives of those in crisis.

You can find more details about these proposals in the Cabinet meeting documents.

Other Matters

Council Delivery Plan Performance Update

Allison Thomas, the Chief Executive, presented the performance report for the first quarter of the financial year 2026/27 against the Council Delivery Plan. The report highlighted progress in areas like housing satisfaction and efforts to reduce private sector housing failing Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. However, it also identified areas needing improvement, such as planning application determination times, with actions outlined to address these.

You can find more details about this report in the Cabinet meeting documents.

Minutes of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party

The minutes from the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party meetings held in February and June 2026 were presented by Councillor Tony Gillard, the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder. These minutes indicated that no specific recommendations were made by the Working Party regarding events or capital projects during these meetings.

You can find more details about these minutes in the Cabinet meeting documents.

Housing Contracts: Energy Performance Certificates

Councillor Andrew Woodman also presented a report seeking approval to procure an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Supplier. This is a statutory responsibility for the Council to maintain accurate EPC data for its housing stock. The report outlined the need for a new supplier and proposed an open tender process.

You can find more details about this proposal in the Cabinet meeting documents.

This week in North West Leicestershire:

Coalville Special Expenses: Financial Health and Future Events Under Review

The Coalville Special Expenses Working Party met on Tuesday 18 August 2026 to review the financial performance of special expenses for Coalville and discuss upcoming events. The meeting provided an update on the 2025/26 financial outturn and the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, highlighting areas of overspend and underspend.

Financial Performance: Balancing Budgets and Reserves

The provisional outturn for 2025/26 showed an overspend of £0.013m against a budget of £0.544m. This was largely due to reduced burial income and increased spending on repairs and maintenance at Coalville's parks and recreation grounds. Despite this, the Coalville Special Expenses Reserve increased, standing at £0.069m as of 31 March 2026.

Looking ahead to 2026/27, the first quarter monitoring forecasts a deficit of £0.029m against available funding. This is partly due to an anticipated increase in Parks and Recreation grounds repairs and maintenance costs. The report noted that the earmarked reserve is forecast to represent 8% of recurring expenditure by the end of March 2027, falling below the recommended 10% minimum level. This could impact the council's ability to fund essential services and respond to unforeseen costs in the future.

Events Programme: From Music to Christmas Cheer

The working party also received an update on the 2026/27 events programme. The Music and Picnic in the Park event, held in July 2026, was reported as a success with high attendance. Planning is underway for the Christmas in Coalville event on 28 November 2026, which will include late-night shopping and a Christmas Light Switch On. The town centre Christmas decorations programme for 2026/27 is also detailed, including lamp post decorations, bespoke decorations on the Memorial Clock Tower, and Christmas trees. The report also mentioned ongoing planning for Coalville 200, celebrating 200 years of cultural heritage in Coalville in 2028, and Coalville's entry into the UK Town of Culture Competition 2028.

These events are important for community engagement and local vibrancy, but their funding relies on careful financial management of the special expenses budget.

You can find more details about these discussions in the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party meeting documents.

Corporate Scrutiny Committee Meeting Cancelled

The Corporate Scrutiny Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday 20 August 2026 has been cancelled.

This week in North West Leicestershire:

Kegworth Residents Face Decisions on 150 New Homes

The Planning Committee met on Tuesday 11 August 2026 to consider a significant planning application for 150 new homes on land adjoining Ashby Road, Kegworth, Derbyshire. The proposal, which includes associated infrastructure, public open space, and landscaping, was recommended for approval by council officers, subject to a Section 106 agreement[^1].

The application was called in by Councillor Sutton due to concerns about design, environmental impact, traffic, sustainability, and the density of the proposed development. The report detailed how the development would be assessed against the council's planning policies, including its contribution to housing needs and the provision of affordable housing. The proposed mix includes 45 affordable dwellings, with 30 for social rent and 15 for discounted open market sale.

Concerns were raised about the impact on existing residents' amenities, including noise from nearby transport links like the M1 motorway, East Midlands Gateway, and East Midlands Airport. A Noise Mitigation Strategy was considered acceptable by the Council's Environmental Protection Team, subject to conditions.

The development is expected to deliver a biodiversity net gain, although a licence from Natural England will be required for badger setts. The Highways Authority raised no objections, subject to contributions towards travel packs and bus passes.

The council is seeking £1,183,280.55 in financial contributions from the developer to cover costs for education, libraries, transportation, health services, and local amenities. Archaeological assessments have also indicated potential for prehistoric and Roman remains, requiring conditions for mitigation.

This decision has the potential to significantly alter the landscape and community of Kegworth, impacting local infrastructure and services. The council's aim is to ensure that development is sustainable and benefits both new and existing residents.

You can find more details about these discussions in the Planning Committee meeting documents.

Coalville Special Expenses: Financial Health and Future Events Under Review

The Coalville Special Expenses Working Party met on Tuesday 18 August 2026 to review the financial performance of special expenses for Coalville and discuss upcoming events. The meeting provided an update on the 2025/26 financial outturn and the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, highlighting areas of overspend and underspend.

Financial Performance: Balancing Budgets and Reserves

The provisional outturn for 2025/26 showed an overspend of £0.013m against a budget of £0.544m. This was largely due to reduced burial income and increased spending on repairs and maintenance at Coalville's parks and recreation grounds. Despite this, the Coalville Special Expenses Reserve increased, standing at £0.069m as of 31 March 2026.

Looking ahead to 2026/27, the first quarter monitoring forecasts a deficit of £0.029m against available funding. This is partly due to an anticipated increase in Parks and Recreation grounds repairs and maintenance costs. The report noted that the earmarked reserve is forecast to represent 8% of recurring expenditure by the end of March 2027, falling below the recommended 10% minimum level. This could impact the council's ability to fund essential services and respond to unforeseen costs in the future.

Events Programme: From Music to Christmas Cheer

The working party also received an update on the 2026/27 events programme. The Music and Picnic in the Park event, held in July 2026, was reported as a success with high attendance. Planning is underway for the Christmas in Coalville event on 28 November 2026, which will include late-night shopping and a Christmas Light Switch On. The town centre Christmas decorations programme for 2026/27 is also detailed, including lamp post decorations, bespoke decorations on the Memorial Clock Tower, and Christmas trees. The report also mentioned ongoing planning for Coalville 200, celebrating 200 years of cultural heritage in Coalville in 2028, and Coalville's entry into the UK Town of Culture Competition 2028.

These events are important for community engagement and local vibrancy, but their funding relies on careful financial management of the special expenses budget.

You can find more details about these discussions in the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party meeting documents.

Other Matters

This week in North West Leicestershire:

Council Faces Scrutiny Over Audit Reports and Financial Statements

The Audit and Governance Committee met on Wednesday 05 August 2026, to tackle crucial financial oversight matters, including the external auditor's report on rebuilding assurance for council accounts, the draft statement of accounts for 2025/26, and an update on treasury management. The committee also reviewed the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's annual letter and considered proposed amendments to the Council's constitution.

Rebuilding Trust in Council Finances

A key focus was the external auditor's report on Building Back Assurance. Following several years where audit opinions were disclaimed due to a national backlog, this initiative aims to progressively rebuild confidence in the Council's financial statements. The report from Azets, the external auditors, outlines the strategy to return to a position where a full audit opinion can be issued. This is vital for transparency and ensuring that public funds are managed responsibly, offering reassurance to residents that their money is accounted for accurately. The statutory backstop date for issuing audit reports for the 2025/26 financial year is 31 January 2027.

Scrutinising the 2025/26 Financial Health

The committee was presented with the draft statement of accounts for the year ending 31 March 2026. These accounts provide a comprehensive overview of the Council's financial performance and position, prepared in line with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015. The draft accounts, which include core financial statements, notes, a narrative statement, and the Annual Governance Statement, are subject to external audit. The period for public inspection of these draft accounts was scheduled to run from 1 July 2026 to 11 August 2026, allowing residents to scrutinise the Council's financial dealings.

Treasury Management: A Stable Outlook

An update on the Council's treasury management activities for the first quarter of the financial year 2026/27 (April to June 2026) was also provided. This report details the Council's approach to managing its investments, with a strong emphasis on security and liquidity. The aim is to ensure that the Council's funds are managed prudently, safeguarding public money while generating returns. The report was expected to cover the economic context, market conditions, and compliance with the Council's treasury management strategy and prudential indicators.

Learning from Complaints: The Ombudsman's Review

The committee reviewed the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's (LGSCO) annual review letter for 2025/26. This letter summarises complaint statistics relating to the Council, highlighting the number of complaints investigated and upheld. It also assesses the Council's compliance with recommendations and the provision of satisfactory remedies. This review is crucial for identifying areas where service delivery can be improved, ensuring that residents' concerns are addressed effectively and that lessons are learned to prevent future issues, particularly for those who may be more vulnerable and reliant on council services.

Constitutional Changes for Planning Efficiency

Proposed amendments to the Council's Constitution were also considered. These changes are linked to the coming into force of the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026, which aim to increase the number of planning applications determined by officers. This could potentially speed up the planning process, but the committee was asked to review the specific changes required to the Constitution, particularly concerning call-in arrangements and committee referral criteria.

Internal Audit and Risk Management Updates

The committee received progress reports on internal audits for the first quarter of 2026/27 and an update on the Council's Corporate Risk Register. These reports are essential for monitoring the effectiveness of internal controls, identifying significant risks, and ensuring that the Council is operating efficiently and securely. The Corporate Risk Register update specifically highlighted any changes to risks, particularly concerning the Local Plan.

You can find more details about these discussions in the Audit and Governance Committee meeting documents.

Other Matters