The Cabinet of North West Leicestershire Council met on Tuesday 22 September 2026. The Cabinet noted the minutes of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party. The Cabinet reviewed the Ashby Business Improvement District proposals and delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder, to cast the Council's four votes in support of the bid. The Cabinet resolved to exempt the procurement for Planning Policy Consultancy Support from the Council's Contract Procedure Rules and approved the award of the contract to Hyas for Phase 2. The Cabinet noted the progress of the Marlborough Centre regeneration project and delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Monitoring Officer, and S151 Officer, to award the enabling works contract and the Fit Out Works contract for the Marlborough Centre Project, subject to costs being within the agreed budget, and to agree all other costs and payments required to deliver the project up to the limit of the agreed budget. The Cabinet noted the proposal to create two additional posts within the Property Services Team to support the Corporate Landlord function and approved the funding for these posts from the Contingency Budget for 2026/27, noting that future funding would be included in the 2027/28 budget proposals. Additionally, the Cabinet resolved to approve the recommendations in reports concerning an offer to purchase one of the Council's properties and housing contracts related to the HIP Support Contractor.

General Fund Finance Update - 2026/27 Quarter 1

Councillor Keith Merrie MBE, Finance and Corporate Portfolio Holder, presented the General Fund Finance Update for the first quarter of 2026/27. The report indicated a forecast balanced General Fund outturn for the year, with no significant revenue variances reported at this stage, apart from an investment income surplus of £0.638m. This surplus is attributed to prudent budgeting and investment in higher-yielding Money Market Funds, with the forecast surplus expected to be transferred to reserves. The report also detailed two virements totalling £0.139m from the contingency budget, one for planning to cover increased charges for external specialist advice (£0.077m) and another for maternity cover for the Financial Planning Team Manager (£0.062m). Savings proposals for the medium-term financial plan were reviewed, with £0.258m achieved, £0.674m on track, and £0.320m at risk of non-delivery. The capital programme showed a revised budget of £33.994m with a forecast outturn of £17.583m, with £16.412m reprofiled to 2027/28 due to delays in procurement and securing approvals. Treasury management performance remained favourable, with investment income forecast to exceed budget. Special Expenses areas showed minor variances, with Coalville and Whitwick forecasting pressures and Hugglescote a projected saving. The Cabinet noted the report.

Housing Revenue Account Finance Update - 2026/27 Quarter 1

Councillor Andrew Woodman, Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder, presented the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Finance Update for the first quarter of 2026/27. The report highlighted a forecast net operating expenditure pressure of £0.293m, primarily driven by increased costs in repairs and maintenance, including stock repairs, heating, asbestos, and grounds maintenance recharges. This pressure was partially offset by an income surplus, mainly due to higher-than-budgeted interest income on HRA funds and additional income from Ofcom renewable heating credits and an insurance claim. The overall forecast net operating surplus is £1.735m against a budget of £2.028m, with the surplus projected to be used towards debt repayment and increasing general HRA reserves. Measures to mitigate the operational pressure include reviewing the capitalisation of costs, monthly budget monitoring meetings, close monitoring of responsive repairs expenditure, ensuring Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund expenditure is correctly coded to capital, and continuing the review of the HRA Business Plan. The HRA is projected to hold usable reserves of £20.169m at 31 March 2027, with unrestricted reserves expected to increase to £2.307m. The HRA capital programme has a revised budget of £28.130m for 2026/27, with a forecast outturn of £22.992m and £5.139m reprofiled to 2027/28. The Cabinet noted the report.

Allocation of Resources for Corporate Landlord Function

Councillor Andrew Woodman, Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder, presented a report seeking approval for the allocation of additional staffing resources to the Property Services Team to support the implementation of the Corporate Landlord Model. The proposal included the creation of two new posts: a Facilities Officer and a Premises Officer. These posts are intended to strengthen governance, standardise processes, and ensure compliance across the Council's property portfolio, particularly for assets such as depots, pavilions, cemeteries, and parks. The estimated cost for 2026/27 is £42,773, to be funded from the Council's Contingency Budget, with future years' funding to be included in the 2027/28 budget proposals. The Cabinet noted the proposal to create the two additional posts and approved the funding for 2026/27 from the Contingency Budget, noting that future funding would be included in the 2027/28 budget proposals.

Minutes of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party - 18 August 2026

Councillor Tony Gillard, Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder, presented the minutes of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party meeting held on 18 August 2026. The minutes covered finance updates for 2025/26 provisional outturn and 2026/27 Quarter 1, as well as an events update for 2026/27. No specific recommendations were made by the Working Party to Cabinet. The Cabinet noted the minutes.

Ashby Business Improvement District

Councillor Tony Gillard, Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder, presented a report on the Ashby Business Improvement District (BID) re-ballot. The report outlined the BID's proposals for a second five-year term from April 2027 to March 2032, including investment in town centre regeneration, events, safety, and business support. The BID levy would be set at 2.5% of rateable value for properties with a rateable value of £12,000 and above, and a flat rate of £150 for those between £5,000 and £11,999. The Council, as a levy payer, would contribute an estimated £2,426.25 per annum. The report also detailed the ballot process, scheduled for October 2026, and the financial implications for the Council, including the costs of billing and administration, which would be fully reimbursed by the BID. The Cabinet reviewed the Ashby BID proposals and delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder, to cast the Council's four votes in support of the bid.

Consultancy Services for the Local Plan

Councillor Keith Merrie MBE, Acting Infrastructure Portfolio Holder, presented a report requesting an exemption from the Council's standard procurement rules for consultancy services for the Local Plan. The report explained that due to the retirement of the Planning Policy and Land Charges Manager and difficulties in recruitment, the Council had previously contracted with Hyas for Phase 1 support. To ensure the Local Plan could be submitted for examination by the December 2026 deadline, it was proposed to contract Hyas for Phase 2 services, bringing the total contract value to £156,000. This value, while under the Procurement Act 2023 threshold, would ordinarily require a competitive tender under the Council's Contract Procedure Rules. However, the report argued that special circumstances, including Hyas's existing knowledge and relationships, justified an exemption to achieve cost and efficiency savings and avoid significant risk to the Local Plan submission. The Cabinet resolved to exempt the procurement from the Council's Contract Procedure Rules and approved the award of the contract to Hyas for Phase 2.

Marlborough Centre Regeneration

Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of the Council, presented a report on the Marlborough Centre regeneration project, seeking delegated authority to award contracts for enabling and fit-out works. The project, part of the Coalville Regeneration Framework, has an approved budget of £6,464,627. Following a Pre-Construction Services Agreement with Lindum Group, detailed prices for enabling and fit-out works were awaited. The report proposed delegating authority to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Leader, Monitoring Officer, and S151 Officer, to award these contracts within the agreed budget. Members expressed strong support for the project, recognising its significance for Coalville town centre. The Cabinet noted the progress of the project and delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Place to award the enabling works contract and the Fit Out Works contract for the Marlborough Centre Project, subject to the cost being within the agreed budget, and to agree all other costs and payments required to deliver the project within the agreed budget.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The Cabinet resolved to exclude the press and public from the remainder of the meeting to consider exempt information relating to acquisitions and disposals, and housing contracts.

Acquisitions and Disposal - Offer for the Purchase of 17 Ashby Road Moira

The report was presented by Councillor Andrew Woodman, Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder. The Cabinet resolved to approve the recommendations in the report, which related to the Council responding to an offer to purchase one of its properties.

Housing Contracts - HIP Support Contractor

The report was presented by Councillor Andrew Woodman, Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder. The Cabinet resolved to approve the recommendations in the report, which related to complying with the Council's Contract Procedure Rules for housing contracts.