To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2025 (enclosed).

The minutes of the meetings held on 18 November 2025, as circulated, were approved and signed as a correct record.

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

·         Attended a meeting with the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire to discuss the accomplishments made in 2025.

·         Attended Melton Borough Councils Christmas Carol Service on 4 December 2025.

·         Attended a concert with the Musical Village on 6 December 2025.

·         Hosted the Blaby District Council Chairmans Christmas Carol Concert on 11 December 2025.

·         Attended a Charity Quiz at Melton Mowbray.

The Chairman, Cllr. Roy Denney also made announcements in respect of the following upcoming events:

·         Charity Quiz Night to raise funds for LOROS on 6 February 2026.

The Vice-Chairman, Cllr. Janet Forey made her announcements in respect of the following:

·         Attended the Cosby Old People’s Welfare Association Christmas lunch with the Chairman of the Council, Cllr. Roy Denney on 29 November 2025.

·         Attended the Oadby & Wigston Borough Council’s Christmas Carol Service held at St Peter’s Church on 10 December 2025.

Cllr. Alex DeWinter arrived at the meeting during this item.

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

• Homelessness Support
• Christmas Charity Hampers
• White Ribbon Campaign
• Looking forward to Community Awards
• Armed Forces Covenant Re-signing
• Joint Taxi Inspections
• Launch of the Food Waste Service
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
• Budget Consultation 2026/27
• Number one for website accessibility
• Local Government Reorganisation update

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. Maggie Wright raised the following question to Cllr. Mike Shirley, Planning and Strategic Growth Portfolio Holder.

“Within my ward of Fosse Normanton, the village of Huncote is classed as a “medium sized” village within our Local Plan. This classification of villages exceeded their minimum numbers by 319 in March 2024.  The combined housing figure was set between 2006 to 2029, so the figures, acknowledging minimum and not capped, have been exceeded in advance. There are now 1,575 properties within the village of Huncote. Last year the planning committee passed three significant planning application relating to this parish. This has resulted in an extra 345 dwellings. With another application for 47 residential dwellings in the pipeline plus those listed in the 2020 Call for Sites.  With such a low land supply figure for the district it is highly likely these additional Call for Sites will also be included. The New Local Plan cannot therefore be termed as “the cavalry coming over the hill to save us”, with a solution. Already the village has taken 25% additional properties (if 47 passed), but the sustainability and facilities in the village have not changed. Indeed, in some villages we are losing community facilities due to the closure of community buildings.  Already these opportunistic developments have resulted in “bolted” on and not shaped developments. This is against the principal criteria of the NPPF which is sustainability. If action is not taken soon our rural villages will merge into each other and lose their individual identity. This loss cannot be justified by the veiled threat that the district will be put in special planning measures if development is refused. Once our countryside is gone it is gone for ever leaving no legacy for future generations.”

In light of the above could the portfolio holder clarify the following: 

“When does the applied “Tilted Balance” factor for determining current planning permissions, swing back in favour of communities?“

“What is the Council doing to support communities across the district who are experiencing large percentage increases to their settlement numbers, (several developments coming online at the same time making small villages construction sites for several years)?”

Cllr. Mike Shirley, Planning and Strategic Growth Portfolio Holder responded:

A)   “The Tilted balanced can be engaged by a number of factors,  

·         a lack of 5 year housing supply, 

·         a lack of delivery over the recent past approved sites 

·         Plan policies in an adopted plan being demonstrably out of date. 

The granting of planning permission for a notable number of speculative sites may give the Council a 5 year housing land supply in the relatively near term but the tilted balance could still be engaged by developers as a result of a lack of recent housing delivery.  The Adoption by Council of a new local plan is the remedy which will give communities the power to resist inappropriate or excessive development. 

B)   When considering sites for the emerging Local Plan our Development Strategy team take into account the scale or size of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Cllr. Luke Cousin raised the following question to Cllr. Ben Taylor, Leader of the Council:

"I was surprised to read recently that levels of reading for pleasure are at an all time low. National Year of Reading 2026 has been set up, a collaboration between the Department of Education and the National Literacy Trust, to help promote reading in children and adults alike. 

Some statistics from the national literacy trust in 2025 have found just 1 in 3 children enjoy reading. Fewer than 1 in 5 read daily. It should come as no surprise that young people who enjoy reading have statistically significant improved literacy scores, which directly links to school grades and comprehension in our increasingly feed focused online world.

As part of the initiative, individuals, businesses, and communities are being asked to get involved. I have signed up to become a National Year of Reading Champion. I, currently, coordinate with one of my local schools, Manorfield C of E Primary School, as a member of the Parent, Teacher and Friends Association (PTFA), to run a Literary Festival which is in its 4th year. We have had Masked Reader games, writing competitions, Library integration events, a Roving bookshop, and a Book Swap. which sees families donate unwanted books which are subsequently made freely available for other students to take, ensuring every child has book of their choice to read. The spine (pardon the pun) of the event is a read-a-thon, an optional participatory fundraising event to promote the students to raise money in exchange for reading books, or however parents and guardians want to encourage them to read, with suggestions and new themes each year.

I have been promoting reading of any type as beneficial, as long as the child enjoys it. This includes, but is not limited to; graphic novels, manuals, walk-through guides for games, fiction and non-fiction books, poetry and, even, community information boards.

I know we are not the education authority, however, we have a remit in the community and I would like to ask our community and youth focused cabinet members and champions what we will do for our communities to promote this worthy initiative for 2026? 

I also ask whether Blaby District Council, as an employer, and our councillors will sign up to be champions, like I have, and actively encouraged our residents to find the joy in reading, once again?"

Cllr. Ben Taylor, Leader of the Council responded:

“This is a great initiative and I fully support us encouraging children across Blaby District to read and enjoy reading.  If you are happy to co-ordinate I think we should all be encouraged to get involved in the book swap by giving you suitable books we might have.  In addition, I would encourage all Councillors to look at the champions roles and if they are interested encourage them to sign up.  I’d also advocate us to spread the word about this work through our community networks.  I would like to add that as part of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To consider the report of the HR Service Manager (enclosed).

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

To consider the report of the HR Service Manager (enclosed).

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

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 Transformation Portfolio Holder and Deputy Leader.

Councillors Ben Taylor, Terry Richardson, Nick Chapman, Richard Holdridge, Antony Mosely and Bob Waterton withdrew from the meeting for this item only, having earlier declared a disclosable pecuniary interest.

To consider the report of the Development Strategy Manager (enclosed).

Considered - Report of the Development Strategy Manager, presented by Cllr. Mike Shirley – Planning and Strategic Growth Portfolio Holder.