The Chair, Cllr. Roy Denney invited Members and Officers to hold a minute silence for Geoff Welsh who sadly passed away on 9 April 2026.

Geoff Welsh, was one of the Council’s longest serving Councillors, having served as a Member of the Council from May 1995 until his departure on 7 November 2023. He represented the Ward of Glen Parva and was a longstanding Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group. He also served as Chairman and Commissioner of the Scrutiny Commission since its inception in May 2000. He was appointed as Honoray Aldermen at an extraordinary council meeting in 2024 as a Member who had served his community and District with distinction.

Members and Officers shared their memories of Geoff and sent their condolences to his wife Bev Welsh.

No disclosures were received.

Under Part 4, Section 1, Paragraph 13 of the Council’s Constitution, the Chairman, Cllr. Roy Denney, moved that Agenda Item 17, Youth Council Update be considered before Item 3.

Members will receive a presentation from the Blaby District Youth Council.

Cllr. Shabbir Aslam arrived at the meeting during this item.

Members received a presentation from Members of Blaby District Council Youth Council.

The presentation covered the following:

·         2025/26 priorities including: Discrimination, Vaping and Climate Change

• Team Building trip to Beaumanor Hall
• 2026 Youth Conference
• Votes at 16
• Warning Zone
• Meet the Councillor event
• 2026/27 priorities including: Habits that harm, Sexism, Anti-Social Behaviour & Crime
• Trip to Parliament
• Primary School Youth Conference

Youth Council members invited Councillors to attend their 2026/27 Priorities workshop being held on 8 June 2026.

Cllr. Royston Bayliss, Cllr Adrian Cifford and Cllr. Stuart Coar left and returned to the meeting during this item.

The Chairman, Roy Denney made announcements in respect of the following:

• On 8 May 2026, attended the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to represent Blaby District Council.

• The Chairman thanked members that have attended his events over the year and also expressed thanks to both his wife and the Vice Chairman Cllr. Janet Forey for their support over the year.

• The Chairman thanked the Senior PA, and colleagues for their support in managing the Chairman’s events, and announced that £3,300 was raised on behalf of his nominated charity, LOROS.

The Leader, Cllr. Ben Taylor, thanked the Chairman for his service to the Council and his fundraising effort for LOROS.

The outgoing Chairman Cllr. Roy Denney invited nominations for the election of Chairman of Blaby District Council for the ensuing year.

Cllr. Janet Forey read out the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Cllr. Janet Forey was invested with the Chain of Office for the Chairman of the Council.

The new Chair announced that her nominated Charity would be Rainbows Hospice and that her consort would be Honorary Alderman Iain Hewson.

Cllr. Janet Forey presented Cllr. Roy Denney with the Past Chairman’s Badge.

The Chair of the Council invited nominations for the Vice- Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Cllr. Roger Stead was duly nominated.

Cllr. Roger Stead read out the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, and thanked Members for being elected as Vice-Chairman of the Council.

Cllr. Roger Stead was invested with the Chain of Office for the Vice-Chairman of the Council.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2026 (enclosed).

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2026, as circulated, were approved and signed as a correct record.

To consider the Leader’s Annual Statement (To follow).

Cllr. Hannah Gill and Cllr. Maggie Wright left and returned to the meeting during this item.

Cllr. Ben Taylor, Leader of the Council, presented his Statement and highlighted that he was proud of this year’s achievements, in particular:

·         Providing affordable housing for the vulnerable and removing residents from temporary accommodation.

·         Successful rollout of food waste collections.

·         Bringing ICT infrastructure in-house.

·         Progressing with Local Government Reorganisation.

Cllr. Ben Taylor was particularly proud of the Council’s achievement in hosting the Armed Forces Coffee Mornings which showed the Council’s determination to support local armed forces veterans.

Cllr. Ben Taylor thanked Blaby District Council officers, Councillors, volunteers, business partners and resident’s by staying focused on what matters most and remaining firmly committed by making Blaby District a thriving place to live, work and visit.

To consider the report of the Scrutiny Commissioners (To follow).

Cllr. Stuart Coar left the meeting during consideration of this item and did not return.

The Scrutiny Commission Chairman, Cllr Nick Brown presented the Scrutiny Statement.

The Scrutiny Commission Chairman, Cllr Nick Brown invited all non-executive members to attend the Scrutiny Work Programme Workshop taking place on 2 June 2026.

The Scrutiny Commission Vice-Chairman, Cllr. Neil Wright thanked Democratic Services, Officers and Scrutiny Members for their hard work and support over the last 12 months

The Leader, Cllr. Ben Taylor thanked Scrutiny Commissioners and Scrutiny Members for being a supportive critical friend over the last year.

To consider the report of the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee Chairman (To follow).

The Audit & Corporate Governance Committee Chairman, Cllr. Mark Jackson presented the Annual Report.

Cllr. Mark Jackson thanked the Finance Team, Democratic Services and Independent Internal Auditors for their support.

Cllr. Mark Jackson also thanked Audit & Corporate Governance Committee Members and the Independent Member for their work at Committee meetings.

Cllr. Cheryl Cashmore- Deputy Leader & Finance, People & Transformation Portfolio Holder thanked Audit and Corporate Governance Committee Members and Officers for their hard work and contributions over the last year.

Under Part 4, Section 1, Paragraph 13 of the Council’s Constitution, the Chairman, Cllr. Janet Forey, moved that Agenda Item 13, Appointments of Chairman and Vice-Chairman to Committees 2026/27 be considered before Item 12.

To consider the report of the Senior Democratic Services and Scrutiny Officer (enclosed). 

Considered – Report of the Senior Democratic Services & Scrutiny Officer.

As 2 nominations had been received for the role of Chairman of Scrutiny Commission, the Chairman took the vote by a show of hands. 

Cllr. Nick Brown was duly elected. 

As 3 nominations had been received for the role of Vice-Chairman of Scrutiny Commission, the Chairman took the vote by a show of hands. 

Cllr. Neil Wright was duly elected.

To consider the report of the Senior Democratic Services and Scrutiny Officer (enclosed). 

Considered – Report of the Senior Democratic Services & Scrutiny Officer.

The Chairman proposed the remaining reports listed under Section 2 of the agenda, including the supplemental reports received, to be moved without debate unless any Members requested otherwise. 

To consider the report of the Senior Democratic Services and Scrutiny Officer (enclosed). 

Considered – Report of the Senior Democratic Services & Scrutiny Officer.

To consider the report of the Senior Democratic Services and Scrutiny Officer (enclosed).

Considered – Report of the Senior Democratic Services & Scrutiny Officer.

To consider the report of the Senior Democratic Services and Scrutiny Officer (enclosed).

Considered – Report of the Senior Democratic Services & Scrutiny Officer.

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.

No questions were received.

To consider the report of the Business Systems & Information Manager (enclosed).

Considered – Report of the Business Systems, Performance & Information Manager, presented by Cllr. Ben Taylor – Leader of the Council.