The Chair, Cllr. Roy Denney invited Members and Officers to hold a minute silence for Trevor Matthews.

Trevor Matthews, a former Conservative District Councillor, who served the Narborough and Littlethorpe Ward from 2015 – 2023 sadly passed away on 29 June 2025.

No disclosures were received.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Council meetings held on 20 May 2025 (To Follow).

The Chairman announced that the minutes from the meetings held on 20 May 2025 will be considered at the next Council meeting.

The Chair, Cllr. Roy Denney made announcements in respect of the following events he attended:

• Fundraising concert at De Montfort Hall in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund.
• Meet and Greet event alongside the Chairman of Leicestershie County Council and Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire
• Blaby Tourism Summit at Stanton Lakes
• Armed Forces Coffee Morning with local Veterans at the Blaby District Council Offices
• Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Nature Recovery Strategy meeting
• Retirement presentation of Ian Davies, Development Services Team Leader

The Chairman invited Members to the following upcoming events:

• VJ Day Event being held at Blaby District Council Offices on 15 August 2025
• Chairman at Home Event, featuring a Jazz Band to raise funds for LOROS on 19 September 2025
• Civic Carol Service being held at St Peters Church in Glenfield on 11 December 2025

The Leader, Cllr. Ben Taylor presented his statement in respect of the following:

• Local Government Reorganisation
• Tourism takes centre stage for student placements
• Job and Skills Fair
• Send off for Daz
• Members Advisory Group
• Air Quality Improves
• Flag raising ceremony
• In-house ICT transition
• A Place to Grow open day

Requests received by the Protocol deadline to be reported by the Monitoring Officer with details of the Agenda Item to which they relate. (Such persons entitled to use the Protocol attend for the purpose of making representations, answering questions or giving evidence relating to the business of the meeting and the time allocated to each person is a maximum of three minutes unless extended at the discretion of the Chairman).

No requests were received.

Any Members wishing to submit questions must do so to the Monitoring Officer no later than 5 working days before the meeting.

The Monitoring Officer will report if any questions have been submitted.

Cllr. Paul Hartshorn to raise the following question to Cllr. Cheryl Cashmore – Finance, People and Transformation Portfolio Holder (Deputy Leader).

“Can the relevant Portfolio Holder confirm whether Blaby District Council is actively exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve service delivery, efficiency, or internal operations, and if so, what areas are currently being considered or trialled?”

Question to Cllr. Cheryl Cashmore (Finance, People & Transformation Portfolio Holder and Deputy Leader) from Cllr. Paul Hartshorn.

“Can the relevant Portfolio Holder confirm whether Blaby District Council is actively exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve service delivery, efficiency or internal operations, and if so, what areas are currently being considered or trialled?”

Cllr. Cheryl Cashmore responded:

“The Council is exploring the use of AI to improve our internal operations and service delivery. AI presents a significant opportunity to improve efficiency and modernise operations. When used responsibly, AI can help us reduce costs, and deliver more responsive, accessible and consistent services. Before introducing AI, it is vital that we use it responsibly and that appropriate governance is in place. Currently our Officers are drafting an AI Policy and Procedure.”

Cllr. Maggie Wright to raise the following question to Cllr. Mike Shirley – Planning, Transformation and ICT Portfolio Holder: 

I was pleased to read an article in the July 2025 addition of the Local Government Association magazine, “first” that the Government will impose powers on developers to reclaim sites if they are not built and delivered within specific timeframes. The article goes on to say that Housebuilders will have to commit to delivery timeframes before they get planning permission and must submit annual reports to councils showing their progress, this is under new rules to ensure homes with planning permission are built out.

As a Ward Councillor I am concerned that because Blaby District Council no longer has a five-year land supply and the “Tilted Balance” is being applied when determining planning applications. Developers are taking advantage of this situation leading to excessive growth numbers sitting in the planning system and continually being added to. The cumulative impact of adding the housing numbers from the new Local Plan could potentially mean our villages and district will be saturated by development because of these legacy numbers. Houses are not being built but applications are still being approved.

My question(s) to the portfolio holder is how many houses have been approved within the last 3 years and are sitting in the system but not built?

Will these be added to the number expected to be delivered by the Local Plan or will they be accounted for?

What is your strategy to deal with this situation?

 Question to Cllr. Mike Shirley – Planning, Transformation and ICT Portfolio Holder, from Cllr. Maggie Wright.

“I was pleased to read an article in the July 2025 addition of the Local Government Association magazine, “first” that the Government will impose powers on developers to reclaim sites if they are not built and delivered within specific timeframes. The article goes on to say that Housebuilders will have to commit to delivery timeframes before they get planning permission and must submit annual reports to councils showing their progress, this is under new rules to ensure homes with planning permission are built out.

As a Ward Councillor I am concerned that because Blaby District Council no longer has a five-year land supply and the “Tilted Balance” is being applied when determining planning applications. Developers are taking advantage of this situation leading to excessive growth numbers sitting in the planning system and continually being added to. The cumulative impact of adding the housing numbers from the new Local Plan could potentially mean our villages and district will be saturated by development because of these legacy numbers. Houses are not being built but applications are still being approved.

My question(s) to the portfolio holder is how many houses have been approved within the last 3 years and are sitting in the system but not built?“

Cllr. Mike Shirley responded:

“I thank Cllr Wright for her question, and I can advise that the number of dwellings that Blaby District Council have permitted on sites over ten dwellings (large sites) between April 2021-March 2024 is 828.  During this same period 1061 houses were completed. This includes planning permissions granted before 2021. April 2024 to March 2025 figures will be available in the coming weeks. For context these are the dwellings which have received either a Full planning permission or a Reserved Matters approval and therefore can legally commence on site.” 

Cllr. Maggie Wright asked the following question:

“The average build time for a typical house in Blaby is between 8-12 months and this follows the England average. As Cllr Wright will appreciate there is a period of time from receiving planning permission to a developer starting on site.  Will these be added to the number expected to be delivered by the Local Plan or will they be accounted for?”

Cllr. Mike Shirley responded:

“These dwellings will count towards the relevant time period in the emerging Local Plan and are therefore already be accounted for.”

Cllr. Maggie Wright asked the following question:

“What is your strategy to deal with this situation?”

Cllr. Mike Shirley responded:

“There are several factors that contribute to the length of time sites take to be delivered.  These include whether sites are developed by a land agent, or an actual house builder, as well considerations regarding preparatory work a developer needs to undertake ahead of commencement on site. 

At present the Council, like all Local Planning Authorities, has limited power to ensure that developers commence or complete a development site. The exception being where  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

To consider the report of the Customer Insight, Experience and Engagement Service Manager (enclosed).

Considered - Report of the Customer Insight, Experience and Engagement Service Manager, presented by Cllr. Ben Taylor – Leader of the Council.

To consider the report of the Finance Group Manager (enclosed).

Considered - Report of the Finance Group Manager, presented by Cllr. Cheryl Cashmore – Finance, People and Performance Portfolio Holder and Deputy Leader.

To consider the report of the Housing Services Manager (enclosed).

Considered - Report of the Housing Services Manager, presented by Cllr. Les Phillimore – Housing, Community Safety and Environmental Services Portfolio Holder.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that the item involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act.

Exemption Category: 3

Reason for Exemption: The minutes contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Public Interest Test: The public interest test has been considered and, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption is considered to outweigh the public interest in disclosing the information.”

The Chairman withdrew this item to allow the restricted minutes to be considered at the next meeting.

To approve and sign the restricted minutes from the meeting held on 20 May 2025. (To Follow).

The Chairman announced that the restricted minutes from the meetings held on 20 May 2025 will be considered at the next Council meeting.