The Council of Hinckley and Bosworth met on Tuesday 4 August 2026, discussing a wide range of achievements and financial matters. Key decisions included the approval of the financial outturn for 2025-26 and the appointment of Councillor KWP Lynch to the JCC Foundation Trust.

Leader of the Council's Position Statement

Councillor SL Bray, Leader of the Council, presented a comprehensive statement highlighting recent successes and ongoing initiatives. He announced that the council had received three awards: a silver award at the Local Government Chronicle awards for its Housing and Respiratory project, a Highly Commended at the East Midlands RTPI awards for Sullivan Archer in the Young Planner of the Year category, and the Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award from the Leicester Employment Hub. Councillor Bray also launched a new staff recognition scheme to acknowledge officers who go above and beyond in demonstrating the council's values.

He reaffirmed the council's commitment to tackling the climate emergency and supporting nature recovery, noting that this focus is now embedded across planning, green spaces, and environmental management activities. Initiatives such as Biodiversity Net Gain and the habitat bank at Burbage Common were highlighted as crucial for creating a greener and more resilient borough.

Councillor Bray updated members on the successful events season, including Feast Hinckley and the Snapdragon festival, which attracted thousands of visitors. He also reported on the positive engagement with young people through various initiatives and the safe celebration of the World Cup.

A significant portion of the statement addressed the government's asylum dispersal programme, with Councillor Bray expressing concern over the procurement of properties and the lack of responsiveness from Serco and the Home Office, despite the council's consultee role. He confirmed that two properties were being withdrawn following resident concerns.

Regarding community safety, Councillor Bray announced the successful acquisition of two closure orders to tackle anti-social behaviour, emphasising the council's commitment to using all available powers to ensure safe neighbourhoods. He also detailed recent Executive decisions, including positive tenant satisfaction scores and the adoption of new policies on fraud, risk management, homelessness, and community asset transfer.

A key announcement was the proposed borough-wide Article 4 Direction, aimed at giving the council more control over the location of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to ensure balanced and sustainable communities. This follows previous Article 4 Directions in parts of Hinckley town centre, Earl Shilton, and Barwell. Councillor Bray stressed that this is not about preventing development but about assessing the impact of HMOs on neighbourhoods and infrastructure.

The council's new community asset transfer policy was also highlighted, providing a framework for community organisations to manage council-owned buildings and land. Finally, Councillor Bray thanked officers and the public for their support during the recent heatwave and welcomed the upcoming opening of a new banking hub in Hinckley town centre, which will provide vital face-to-face banking services. The Green Flag awards for Hollycroft Park and Argents Mead were also celebrated.

Summary of Achievements to the Corporate Plan 2025-2026

The council presented a report detailing its achievements against the Corporate Plan for 2025-2026. The report, which was noted by the Council, showcased significant progress across various services, including improvements to housing stock, homelessness prevention, cost-of-living support, and employment programmes. Key achievements included the decarbonisation of sheltered housing schemes, the purchase of new affordable homes, and the commencement of the redevelopment of Peggs Close in Earl Shilton. The council also adopted a new Homelessness Prevention Policy and processed benefits support efficiently.

In terms of employment and skills, the Hinckley and Bosworth Employment and Skills Taskforce strengthened partnerships to improve opportunities, and the council continued to support young people through work experience and apprenticeships. The report also highlighted initiatives to support workplace health and deliver preventative health interventions, such as the ESCAPE-pain programme and the Steady Steps postural stability programme.

The council's commitment to tackling emerging community safety threats was evident in the development of a new three-year community safety strategy and action plans, alongside successful crime prevention campaigns and partnerships to reduce violence. The report also detailed efforts to develop the capacity of the local voluntary sector and leverage technology to improve customer access to services, with the council's website achieving top rankings for accessibility.

Under the Places theme, the council reported progress on the new Local Plan, meeting performance targets for planning applications, and adopting the new Open Space Strategy. Significant improvements were made to parks and green spaces, including new play areas and wildflower planting. The council successfully opposed the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange proposal and delivered campaigns on litter and fly-tipping. Recycling efforts were boosted with a new weekly food waste collection service, and progress was made on increasing access to electric vehicle charging points. Green Flag status was secured for Hollycroft Park and Argents Mead, and a refreshed Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy was promoted.

In the town centres, the council continued to market and promote these areas, with vacancy rates below the national average. Collaboration with Hinckley Business Improvement District (BID) supported litter picks and business services. The annual events programme brought over 50,000 visitors to Hinckley town centre. Improvements were made to street furniture, and shop front improvement grants were offered through UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) funding.

Under the Prosperity theme, the council allocated significant UKSPF funding to support various projects. The Economic Regeneration Strategy was refreshed, and efforts continued to promote inward investment and green energy infrastructure at MIRA Technology Park. The council also worked with partners to boost training, employment, and housing opportunities, and progress was made on the delivery of the Twycross National Science and Conservation Centre. Support services for local businesses were provided through newsletters and networking events.

Financial Outturn 2025-26

Councillor KWP Lynch, Executive member for finance, ICT & asset management, presented the financial outturn report for 2025-26. The council approved the draft financial outturn, which showed a net underspend of £485,000 against the revised budget. This underspend was largely due to increased income from various sources, including MIRA funding, and savings in refuse and recycling. The report detailed significant transfers to earmarked reserves, totalling £1.215 million, primarily to fund future pressures and contractual commitments.

New budgets for 2026-27 were approved, including £417,500 for additional grants and £108,000 related to asylum accommodation to cover increased demands on frontline services. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) reported a surplus of £138,374, with an additional £345,000 in HRA reserves, placing it in a stronger financial position than initially projected.

The capital programme saw £7.376 million spent against a budget of £10.307 million for the General Fund, with significant carry-forwards requested for temporary housing properties and upgrades to the Jubilee building. For the HRA, £14.671 million was spent against a budget of £15.716 million, with carry-forwards requested for the repairs programme, Peggs Close development, and affordable housing development.

Councillor Lynch thanked officers for their work in producing the report, and members noted the sound financial management and service delivery highlighted.

Appointment to Charitable Body: JCC Foundation Trust

The council appointed Councillor KWP Lynch as its representative to the JCC Foundation Trust for a term of three years, commencing in August 2026. This appointment followed the expiry of David Bill's term of office. The motion to appoint Councillor Lynch was moved by Councillor SL Bray and seconded by Councillor MC Bools, and was carried unanimously.