The Cabinet of Melton Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 17 June 2026 to discuss a range of important topics. Key among these will be an update on the ongoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process, a review of the council's corporate performance for the 2025/26 financial year, and feedback from the Scrutiny Committee on housing regulatory compliance, the Landlord Assurance Board, and the Stockyard Project.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Update

A significant portion of the meeting is expected to focus on the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process affecting Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR). The report pack indicates that a ministerial decision on the reorganisation is anticipated in July 2026. In preparation for this, the council is proposing the establishment of an informal joint committee to oversee preparatory and transitional work before any formal committees are established. Additionally, a cross-party LGR Members Reference Group is proposed to ensure collaborative oversight of the transition process. This group would meet regularly to receive updates and maintain oversight. The council has already submitted its proposal for reorganisation and has been involved in 'no regrets' workstreams coordinated across the LLR authorities. An internal LGR Transition Board has also been established at Melton Borough Council, with an initial allocation of £250,000 to support transition activities, including project management capacity, backfill resources, external strategic advice, and contributions to the LLR Programme Management Office. Further financial provision of £500,000 is provisionally allocated in the Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2027/28. The council's Corporate Strategy will be reviewed and reprioritised in light of LGR, with workshops planned for members in July and September to discuss these changes.

Corporate Performance, Risk and Feedback Report 2025/26, Quarter 4

The Cabinet will receive the Corporate Performance, Risk and Feedback Report for the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. This report provides an update on the council's progress against its Vision 36 and Corporate Delivery Plan, covering performance and risk commentary for each of the council's corporate priorities, alongside a summary of feedback received through complaints and compliments. The report indicates that as of the end of Quarter 4, 65.1% of targeted performance indicators were on track, with 9.3% within tolerance and 25.6% not meeting targets. The report details performance across six corporate priority themes: Helping People (covering healthy communities and neighbourhoods, and high-quality homes and landlord services), Shaping Places (including tourism, town centre regeneration, and sustainable growth and infrastructure), Great Council (focusing on the right conditions to support delivery and being an engaging and connected council). Specific areas for improvement highlighted include the recycling rate, which stands at 39.22%, and the average re-let time for council homes, which has increased to 83 days. The report also details strategic risks identified for each theme, such as the implementation of food waste collection arrangements and the potential failure of key suppliers.

Matters Referred from Scrutiny Committee

The Cabinet is scheduled to receive feedback reports from the Scrutiny Committee on three key areas.

Housing Regulatory Compliance Annual Update

The Scrutiny Committee's feedback on the Housing Regulatory Compliance Annual Update will be presented. This report provides an overview of the council's current position regarding regulatory compliance in its housing landlord services. The Scrutiny Committee noted comments regarding the handling of anti-social behaviour and complaints, with feedback suggesting that tenant satisfaction in these areas is generally lower across the sector. The report also discusses the robustness of the council's self-assessment process and the need to better understand tenants' needs. Concerns regarding mould in tenant properties were also addressed, with the Asset Management Plan enabling preventative work such as insulation and improved heating systems.

Landlord Assurance Board Annual Report

Feedback on the Landlord Assurance Board Annual Report will also be considered. This report reviews the board's work over its second year. The Scrutiny Committee discussed the recruitment process for tenant members of the board, which involves formal advertising and role profiles. The significant role the Landlord Assurance Board is expected to play during Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), particularly in overseeing the transition from managing approximately 2,000 properties to an anticipated 15,000, was highlighted.

Stockyard Project Update

Finally, the Scrutiny Committee's feedback on the Stockyard Project Update will be presented. The Scrutiny Committee reviewed the current position of the Stockyard programme, including progress, risks, and governance arrangements. The report notes the project has benefited from significant support across various internal council teams, including Regeneration, Procurement, Finance, and Legal. A comprehensive risk register has been developed, and the project has moved into its on-site phase following planning permission approval. The report also addresses concerns about potential cost increases in the current economic climate, with mitigation strategies including fixed-price arrangements where possible. The project aims to strengthen the town's identity as a food and drink destination and is being delivered through strong partnership working with stakeholders such as the Town Estate and the Business Improvement District (BID).

Cabinet Priorities, Progress Update

This report provides an overview and initial progress update on the early priorities identified by the new Cabinet following a change in political leadership in April 2026. The guiding principles for the Cabinet include managing finances well, looking after the most vulnerable, ensuring a strong position for LGR, and focusing on key priorities. Specific early priorities include managing LGR transition effectively, a tidy-up and refresh of Melton Town Centre, the delivery of the Stockyard Project, improving the resourcing and effectiveness of the Planning Service, reviewing council assets, promoting economic growth and inward investment, maintaining progress on key projects, and fostering strategic partnerships. The report details progress on these areas, including the approval of a targeted environmental improvement plan for Melton Town Centre, the ongoing procurement for the Stockyard Project, and the implementation of an improvement programme for the Planning Service. Updates on asset disposals, economic growth strategies, and the progress of various projects such as the replacement of car parking machines and the country park bridge repair are also provided.

The meeting is open to the public.