The Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council met on Tuesday 27 October 2026. Councillors discussed proposed changes to the council's constitution, largely driven by government reforms to the planning system. The meeting also addressed the final recommendations of a community governance review for Witherley parish.

Review of the Council's Constitution

Councillors debated proposed changes to the council's constitution. The most significant of these changes are a direct result of government reforms to the planning system, which will lead to fewer applications being considered by the Planning Committee due to a national scheme of delegation that introduces an overriding presumption in favour of officer delegation for many planning applications. A Gateway Test will be applied to certain applications before they can be referred to committee, assessing whether an application raises significant economic, social, or environmental issues, or other material planning considerations.

Councillor SL Bray, Leader of the Council, expressed personal concern about these reforms, stating, I'm personally really concerned about these reforms. It will mean that fewer applications come to committee and therefore have democratic oversight. I think it is a retrograde step, and I think it is very regrettable. He acknowledged that the council had no choice but to update its constitution to remain lawful, as the changes are now enshrined in legislation.

Councillor Richard Allen, Leader of the Conservative Group, echoed these sentiments, describing the situation as essentially the virtual removal of democratic oversight and stating, It's essentially been like turkeys that are given the choice. You either vote for Christmas or you'll be shot. Well, brilliant. What a choice. Despite these reservations, the motion to approve the changes to the constitution was resolved.

Community Governance Review - Witherley - Final Recommendations

The council resolved the final recommendations of the Community Governance Review for Witherley parish. This decision will lead to the abolition of the current Witherley Parish Council and the creation of three new entities:

• Fenny Drayton Parish: A new parish council will be created with a council size of five members.
• Witherley and Atterton Parish: This will be created with two parish wards, one for Witherley and one for Atterton, and a council size of five members (four for Witherley ward and one for Atterton ward).
• Ratcliffe Culey Parish: This will be created with a parish meeting style of governance.

Councillor SL Bray, Leader of the Council, moved the recommendations, noting that residents of Fenny Drayton, Ratcliffe Culey, and Atterton had petitioned for their own parish governance separate from Witherley. He explained that following extensive consultation, the outcome supported the creation of these new entities to better reflect the identities and interests of residents and facilitate more effective local government. Councillor Richard Allen, Leader of the Conservative Group, seconded the motion, highlighting the cross-party working group that had unanimously agreed on the recommendations and thanking officers for their significant work on the review.

Questions from Councillors

Question A: Illegal Waste Deposit on A47 Crematorium Site

Councillor C Harris asked the Executive Member for Finance about insurance cover for the costs associated with the illegal waste deposit on the council-owned crematorium site adjacent to the A47. Councillor SL Bray, Leader of the Council, responded that while the council is insured with Zurich, illegal waste dumping and fly-tipping create liabilities that are generally uninsurable, leaving landowners responsible for clean-up costs. He noted that the government is aware of this issue and is working with the insurance industry to explore potential solutions, and is also considering a rebate scheme for landfill tax. Councillor Bray reiterated that the site was secure at the time of the incident and corrected inaccurate reports online, explaining that the visible gate from the road was a shared access with Severn Trent Water, and a more substantial barrier existed further into the site. A review of the council's other sites is also underway.

Question B: Judicial Review Costs for Local Government Reorganisation

Councillor Richard Allen inquired about the costs incurred to date and the anticipated budget for challenging the government's decision on local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. Councillor SL Bray, Leader of the Council, confirmed that the council's share of costs to date is £1,178, with an estimated £15,000 required if the case proceeds to a hearing. He reiterated his view that local government in Leicestershire is not broken and that expanding Leicester's boundaries would lead to residents paying more for less local service.

Leader of the Council's Position Statement

Councillor SL Bray, Leader of the Council, delivered his position statement, covering several key areas:

• Changes to the Planning System: He expressed concern about government reforms that would reduce the number of applications considered by the Planning Committee, diminishing democratic oversight and the opportunity for public input.
• A47 Site: He addressed the illegal waste dump off the A47, clarifying that the site was deliberately breached by criminals using heavy-duty equipment, not left open. He confirmed that the council has written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding government support for clean-up costs.
• Local Government Reorganisation: He stated that all seven Leicestershire district and borough councils have filed a protective judicial review claim against the government's decision. He also mentioned a letter sent to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, concerning the financial impact of the pause on reorganisation and seeking financial support for councils facing additional costs.
• Banking Hub: The announcement of a new banking hub for the town centre at 50 Castle Street was welcomed as positive news for residents and businesses.
• Warm Welcome Grants: The launch of the Warm Welcome provision grant for voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations was highlighted, providing £600 grants to support local communities during the winter months.
• Free Tree Scheme: The council has achieved a milestone of distributing enough trees and hedge plants to equate to at least one tree per resident in the borough since 2022.
• Awards: Recognition was given to Market Bosworth in Bloom for winning national awards, the nomination of a sculpture on the Bosworth 1485 trail for a national award, and nominations for the Go Leicestershire awards for Feast Hinckley, the Snapdragon children and families festival, and the council's events team.