Social Value Ideas for Oadby and Wigston Borough Council

External audit fee set at £145k

The external auditor set out the 2024/25 fee proposal for the council, which is based on the PSAA scale fee. Members challenged the increase and questioned whether fees should be payable only after co…

“Speaker 8: So I suppose on on the audit fee, as I as I alluded to the the the fee proposed here is the scale fee that's been set by public sector audi…”

Finance team temporary cover

The committee approved a £123,000 supplementary budget for temporary finance resources, including an interim finance manager and chief accountant cover. Officers said the posts are needed to manage on…

“Speaker 10: Section 2.11 of the report requests that committee approve a supplementary budget of 123 ks in relation to the additional spend in tempora…”

2025/26 council tax set

The council approved the 2025/26 council tax setting report, including a Band D council tax of £261.64 and a 2.99% increase for Oadby and Wigston. The report also noted the council tax base and precep…

“Thank you. So this report is the council tax setting report for Odebine Wigston to approve the council tax for the years 2526. Approval is sought for …”

Budget approach approved

The committee agreed the budget-setting approach for 2025/26, based on the revised 2024/25 budget and inflation assumptions for pay, utilities, fuel, contracts, interest rates and income reviews. Offi…

“So this report presents the budget setting approach that we're going to undertake for the years twenty five, twenty twenty six. The key approach will …”

Chief finance officer appointment confirmed

Full Council approved the formal appointment of Colleen Warren as the council’s chief finance officer / section 151 officer, effective from 2024-01-07. The constitution will be updated to reflect the …

“Thank you, your worship. So, I'm presenting this report on behalf of the chief executive, and the report is to obtain approval for the appointment of …”

Band D council tax set

The council approved the Band D council tax for 2024/25 at £254.04 as part of its statutory budget-setting responsibilities. This is a formal revenue decision affecting resident charges and overall fu…

“Evening members. So the purpose of this report is for the council to set and approve the amount of council tax for our area in accordance with statuto…”

Housing complaints policy adopted

The committee approved a standalone housing complaints policy to meet Housing Ombudsman code requirements after 14 recommendations were identified from the council's 2025 assessment. The policy has re…

“Speaker 8: Thank you, chair. So the purpose of the report is to seek approval to adopt a housing complaint policy. Members may recall that the housing…”

Alpha House nominations deal

The council has agreed a nominations agreement with a care provider for Alpha House, giving the council 100% nomination rights for five years to use the building as temporary accommodation for homeles…

“Speaker 10: I think we can comment a press release has been issued today in terms of Alpha House and future plans. Speaker 12: So, chair, Alpha House…”

Fixed-term housing support posts

Government funding is being used to bring in two temporary officers: one to work on landlord/property acquisition and another move-on officer. This is a direct staffing spend tied to homelessness redu…

“Speaker 4: Yes, Jack. Yeah. The funding is to, one of the statutory requirements that funding is to carry out an audit of all our home, people in tem…”

Social housing retrofit grant

The council secured £579,000 over two years from the Social Housing Decarbonization Fund to retrofit energy efficiency measures in council housing, especially sheltered bungalows. The council’s HRA ca…

“Speaker 1: Thank you, chair. The social housing decarbonization fund is an external funding source secured from the Department for Energy Security and…”

Council-owned extension approved

A separate application for a single-storey side extension at Autumn Drive was approved. It was brought to committee because the property is council-owned, and the extension is intended to improve acce…

“The application has been brought to committee because the proposal is for a council owned property. Otherwise, normally, this application would not ne…”

Reserved matters approved for 87 homes

The committee determined the reserved matters for 87 dwellings west of Welford Road, dealing with layout, scale, appearance and landscaping following the earlier outline consent. The officer advised t…

“The proposal being presented to committee today is reserve matters application covering appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale for the erection of…”

Housing need apportionment removed

The committee approved a statement of common ground that changes the allocation of Leicester’s unmet housing need from 52 dwellings per annum to zero for Oadby and Wigston. This supports the local pla…

“This report relates to an update to the statement of common ground that deals with the apportionment of Rasta City's unmet housing need. The previous …”

Planning permission revoked

Council approved a revocation order to cancel a planning permission granted in error for a garage extension at 117A Gartree Road. The report states the application failed to disclose that the applican…

“Speaker 7: Thank you, your worship. The purpose of this report is to seek council's approval to make a paling revocation order, under the 1990 act, to…”

Refuse 58 Station Road

The committee refused planning permission for the change of use of 58 Station Road to a children's care home. The refusal followed member concerns over parking, street scene, the unapproved fence and …

“Speaker 0: The application has been moved for refusal by myself, seconded by councillor Balta. All those in favor of refusal? That's unanimous. Okay.…”

Refuse 13 Hillway extension

The committee refused the application for internal alterations and roof enlargement at 13 Hillway due to the perceived over-dominant front gable and roof massing, with members concluding it would be o…

“Speaker 0: I think the application is not acceptable based on the information I've been given. I believe the applicant needs to come back with an alte…”