The Scrutiny Committee of Melton Borough Council met on Thursday 22 October 2026. The meeting focused on reviewing the Corporate Property and Assets Service Performance and discussing the council's forward plan and work programme. A key discussion point was the council's stance on a Business Improvement District (BID) ballot, and the potential establishment of a town council.

Corporate Property and Assets Service Performance

The committee received a comprehensive report on the Corporate Property and Assets Service Performance, detailing significant improvements made over the past two years. The presentation highlighted the council's commercial property portfolio, which comprises 78 assets with a balance sheet value of approximately £53 million. The team has focused on strengthening estate management, governance, and performance, leading to a 69.5% reduction in outstanding debt, from £213,000 to £65,000. Improvements have also been made in lease management, compliance, and tenant engagement. The committee noted these improvements and acknowledged that the ongoing delivery of the programme will continue to be monitored by the Property and Assets Board.

Councillor Pip Allnatt commended the staff for their hard work in improving the situation, describing the previous state of affairs as a complete shambles. Councillor Sarah Cox raised concerns about the potential for large write-offs of debt in the future, emphasizing the need to prevent such situations from recurring. Councillor David Chubb inquired about the yield from the property portfolio, suggesting that income could be further improved through lease renewals and rent reviews. Councillor Cox also raised questions about the vacant properties at King Street and Snow Hill, seeking an update on their status and any plans for their redevelopment or re-letting. The committee was informed that progress is being made on securing funding for King Street through the Historic England buildings at risk fund.

Review of the Forward Plan and Scrutiny Work Programme

During the review of the Forward Plan, Councillor Pip Allnatt raised concerns about the process surrounding the upcoming Business Improvement District (BID) ballot. He highlighted that the Cabinet meeting to discuss the council's response to the ballot was scheduled just two days before the ballot closed, leaving insufficient time for proper scrutiny. Councillor Allnatt proposed that the committee communicate to the Cabinet a view that they should abstain from voting due to the lack of due process. This proposal was seconded by Councillor Sarah Cox, who argued that the BID decision is a major one for the town and should have been subject to more thorough discussion. The committee voted in favour of this proposal, with two members voting in favour and none against.

The committee also discussed the review of the Scrutiny Work Programme. It was noted that the Older Person's Housing Review is expected to be presented in February or March of the following year. A workshop is planned for November or December to discuss the Growth Strategy report. The issue of health provision in Melton was also raised, with plans to schedule a formal meeting in public to discuss this further.

Any Other Business: Town Council Discussion

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a discussion initiated by Councillor Pip Allnatt regarding the potential establishment of a town council. Councillor Allnatt expressed concern that the issue had been dropped without sufficient explanation or democratic debate, despite a previous council decision to undertake preliminary work, including a public survey. He argued that the matter should be on the work programme and that the Cabinet should not simply discard such a proposal due to inconvenience. The Chair, Councillor Mike Brown, agreed to raise the issue with the Cabinet and Chief Executive to seek clarification on the council's current stance. Councillor Marilyn Gordon raised concerns about the potential for a town council to not represent a true cross-section of the community, given Melton's size. Councillor Siggy Atherton provided clarification on the powers of town councils in the context of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The committee agreed to request clarification on the council's position regarding the town council proposal.

The meeting concluded with the Chair formally closing the meeting at 7:56 pm.