The Scrutiny Commission of Hinckley and Bosworth Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday 7 May 2026. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on policies related to domestic abuse, council housing, and the Right to Buy scheme, as well as a review of the voluntary and community sector's commissioning outcomes and a community governance review for Hinckley.

Voluntary and Community Sector Commissioning Update

The commission is set to receive an update on the key achievements and outcomes from the voluntary and community sector (VCS) partnership arrangements and commissioning programme for the period April 2024 to March 2025. The report details how £70,000 was ring-fenced for direct support to VCS organisations, distributed via the VCS Commissioning Board. This funding is split between the Making a Difference Fund and the Community Volunteering Fund, offering grants to support new projects and grassroots activities. In the 2024-25 period, £67,933.03 was awarded across 49 projects, benefiting over 12,400 residents. The report also highlights a special one-off grant opportunity to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, distributing £9,885.42 to 40 applicants for events and initiatives. Additionally, the Warm Welcome project saw significant growth, assisting 3,974 households with hot meals, food parcels, and wellbeing advice, and received commendation at the ASCP 2025 Safety & Compliance Awards. The VCS partnership has also focused on expanding its reach to all 24 wards and strengthening community engagement through outreach hubs.

Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Policy and Procedure

A new Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Policy and Procedure for 2026-2029 is scheduled for presentation. This policy aims to provide a clear, consistent, and trauma-informed framework for responding to disclosures of abuse, ensuring early intervention, coordinated partnership working, and improved protection for those at risk. The policy is designed to meet the council's statutory responsibilities under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Equality Act 2010, and wider safeguarding legislation. It outlines procedures for staff across Housing, Community Safety, and other council services on how to identify, respond to, and support tenants and residents experiencing domestic abuse or VAWG. The development of this policy has involved consultation with various council teams, as well as tenants and residents with lived experience.

Council Housing Service HRA Estates Services Policy

The commission will consider the Council Housing Service HRA Estates Services Policy. This policy aims to establish a clear, consistent, and transparent framework for the delivery, management, and monitoring of estate-based services across the council's housing stock. These services include grounds maintenance, cleaning of communal areas, and management of shared facilities. The policy is intended to ensure clean, safe, and well-maintained environments, supporting resident wellbeing and legal compliance, including adherence to the Social Housing (Regulation) Act and revised Consumer Standards, as well as health and safety legislation and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The policy also supports biodiversity enhancements and aligns with wider HRA Land Strategy commitments. Tenant feedback from a workshop held on 24 February 2026 has been incorporated into the policy's development.

Right to Buy Policy

Endorsement is sought for the Right to Buy Policy, which is intended to manage the statutory Right to Buy scheme in a consistent, transparent, and legally compliant manner. The policy aims to ensure that only eligible tenants who meet the statutory criteria under the Housing Act 1985 can purchase their homes, thereby preventing fraud and protecting council assets. It details the council's statutory duties, including the publication of information about the scheme, and outlines procedures for verifying eligibility, applying exemptions, and calculating discounts in accordance with statutory provisions, including the regional cash cap of £24,000. The policy also identifies property exemptions, such as elderly persons' dwellings and properties scheduled for demolition, and sets out post-sale conditions, including the requirement to repay a proportion of the discount if the property is sold within five years and the Right of First Refusal for the council if the property is sold within 10 years.

Community Governance Review, Hinckley - Final Recommendations

The commission will consider the outcomes of the second stage of consultation and the final recommendations of the Community Governance Review Working Group regarding the unparished area of Hinckley. The review was initiated in response to the government's Devolution White Paper and aims to establish strong, clearly defined boundaries that reflect local identities and facilitate effective local government. The recommendations propose the creation of a local council for the unparished area of Hinckley, to be styled as a town council named Hinckley Town Council. The parish would be divided into four wards: Castle, Clarendon, De Montfort, and Trinity, with a total of 20 councillors. The first elections to the town council are proposed for May 2027, aligning with elections to the proposed unitary authority. The report also notes that work is underway to identify potential assets and services that could be transferred to a new Town Council.

Overview & Scrutiny Statutory Guidance - Action Plan

An action plan arising from the Scrutiny Commission's self-assessment against the overview and scrutiny statutory guidance will be presented. This plan was developed following a workshop involving members of the Scrutiny Commission and Finance & Performance Scrutiny. The action plan aims to enhance the effectiveness of the overview and scrutiny function, with proposed actions including awareness-raising for officers and members on democratic processes, improved communication between members and officers, and a review of the relationship between the Executive and scrutiny functions. The plan also outlines steps to improve resources allocated to scrutiny and enhance public awareness of scrutiny reviews. The action plan will be monitored by the chair and vice-chairs and reported back to the commission annually.