Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

Councillor S Easom declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 11 due to being a board member of Liberty Leisure. Minute number 34 refers.

Councillors M Radulovic MBE, G Marshall and S J Carr declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 4 as being members on the board for Beeston Town Centre. Minute number 27 and 37 refers.

Councillors PJ Owen, SJ Carr, E Kerry declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 9 as they were Nottinghamshire County Councillors. Minute number 32 refers.

Councillor P J Owen declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 as he was on the Planning and Rights of Way Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council. Minute number 29 refers.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2021 were approved and signed as a correct record.

To update members on progress on The Square Phase 2 in Beeston.

Members were updated on progress on the Square Phase 2 in Beeston. Key updates included leases for units, 2,3 and 6 had now been completed and fitting-out works had commenced. Strong interest in unit 5, agents were undertaking negotiations and due diligence prior to making recommendations to the board. Tenders for the Argos Block upgrade would be advertised and a report would be going to Finance and Resources Committee on 9 December as the tendering costs had been significantly higher than anticipated. The project board would continue to provide governance over the additional work to bring the Argos Block up to a suitable standard now additional investment had been approved.

Queries were raised over what evidence the current footfall of Beeston was especially since the Cinema had opened and if the illuminated light sign that was approved at Planning Committee be an illuminated projector board instead. It was discussed that the sign was for an event in January 2022 and maybe too late to change the idea and evidence would be provided to the Committee on footfall figures within Beeston and Town Centres.

A further verbal update was provided in Exclusion of Public and Press.

1.            NOTED the report and any further verbal updated provided.

2.         RESOLVED to continue to delegate to the Deputy Chief Executive all key approvals, in consultation with the cross-party project Board, and subject to the overall project cost remaining within the financial limits already set or subsequently changed by the Finance and Resources Committee and/or Full Council as appropriate.

To seek approval for an Energy Procurement Strategy 2021 - 2025.

Councillors considered the Energy Procurement Strategy 2021-2025. The updated Energy Procurement Strategy aimed to establish the parameters for the Council’s gas and electricity procurement process for the next four years. The evaluation process was required to ensure the Council was achieving value for money in its procurement of energy supplies and also business continuity ensuring the continuation of the energy supply.

RESOLVED that the Strategy and the four strategic principles set out within be adopted.

To seek permission for an application to be made to dedicate green space land at Redwood Crescent as village green.

Members welcomed the application to be made to dedicate green space land at Redwood Crescent as Village Green.

The development consisting of four new homes were built and subsequently an application for a pocket park was made to Government by the residents. This was successful. As the legal owner of the land the Council had been approached to make an application to Nottinghamshire County Council to  register and dedicate the green space as village green in order that its status can be protected for the future.

RESOLVED that an application to the County Council be made to register the open space at Redwood Crescent identified in red on the plan in appendix 1 as village green.

To recommend that an additional Facilities Co-ordinator post be created in the Compliance team within Housing Repairs.

Members considered the additional Facilities Co-ordinator post to be created in the Compliance team within Housing Repairs. The additional post would support the need for ensuring the safety of the Council’s less vulnerable tenants located in the 180 general needs communal areas and the 28 non-fire panel schemes. It was recognised that post Grenfell to have clear accountability and record-keeping in relation to fire safety and emergency lighting checks. such checks.

RESOLVED that the creation of an additional Facilities Co-ordinator post be approved.

The Committee will receive a verbal update on the announcement regarding the Integrated Rail Plan.

The Committee received a verbal update on the announcement regarding the Integrated Rail Plan.

Discussions ensued around the disappointment of the announcement of the Eastern Leg of the HS2 not being built. However, with a £13 billion investment to the East Midlands there was hope and the need to remain positive. A motion would be presented by Councillor M Radulovic MBE at Full Council on 15 December with regards to the announcement.

To inform the committee of progress in creating a proposal for devolution for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire in the form of a County Deal.

Committee noted the progress in creating a proposal for devolution for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire in the form of a County Deal.

The Economic Prosperity Committee, Leaders of Districts, the City and Council Councils in Nottinghamshire agreed a proposition on 29 October to be forwarded to government for consideration that would form the basis of a County Deal for our area.

Opportunities for Broxtowe to benefit from a County Deal included creating a national skills academy to support areas in Broxtowe where skills levels are lower, Development of the Chetwynd barracks site and the Toton area of strategic growth that required significant investment in infrastructure, ambitions for carbon reduction and working collaboratively to engage local communities. Improvements to Town Centres to develop, diversify and thrive was more possible within structures which were collaborative and were more likely to be funded from government. Connectivity was important to achieve the ambition to ensure access to job opportunities and skill progression was available for residents living in the northern parts of Broxtowe.

 Collaborating in a County deal with a strong leadership model would hopefully attract the step change in government investment for Broxtowe and help realise the potential of the vison for job creation and next generation sustainable living.

To report progress against outcome targets linked to Corporate Plan priorities and objectives and to provide an update as to the latest financial performance as measured against the budget.

Committee was updated with the progress against outcome targets linked to Corporate Plan priorities and objectives and to provide an update as to the latest financial performance as measured against the budget.

This report updates members on the latest progress on the Bramcote site options and the latest position on negotiations with East Midlands Education Trust regarding the Kimberley school joint use agreement.

The Committee was updated with the latest progress on the Bramcote site options and the latest position on negotiations with East midlands Education trust regarding the Kimberley school joint use agreement. Members would be updated regularly on any further developments with negotiations.

To consider items for inclusion in the Work Programme for future meetings.

The Committee considered the work programme.

RESOLVED that the work programme was approved.

The Committee is asked to RESOLVE that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

The Committee is asked to RESOLVE that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1,2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

A further verbal update was provided in relation to Agenda item 4.