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 R I Jackson, Councillor R D MacRae and Councillor J W McGrath declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 4. Stapleford Towns Deal Fund, as all were members of the Stapleford Town Board.  Minute number 33 refers. 

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2020.

Subject to a minor amendment the minutes of the meeting on 19 November 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

To seek approval for the Stapleford Town Investment Plan.

The Committee discussed the Stapleford Town Investment Plan, and voiced concern that it did not adequately deal with the issues of job creation, resilience or vision.  It was noted that there was much to be commended about the plan, in particular the level of detail about employment in the Stapleford area.  There was also discussion about the uncertainty about HS2. 

Debate progressed, and it was noted that the people of Stapleford had been key in driving the plan in the direction of cycling, town centre improvement and an enhanced recreational offer.  It was stated that skills needed investment to attract highly skilled jobs to the area.  There followed a discussion about future engagement and consultation.  It was considered that some changes could be made to make the document more likely in succeeding to get funding from the Towns Deal Fund. 

RESOLVED that the Stapleford Town Investment Plan be APPROVED.

To decide when the Article 4 Direction concerning Houses in Multiple Occupation in Beeston should come into force.

The Committee had been asked to considered when the Article 4 Direction concerning Housing in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Beeston should come into force.  It was noted that once the Committee had made a decision regarding the implementation date of the Direction, a six week consultation would need to take place and an extraordinary meeting of the Committee would take place to consider responses. 

During the debate it was stated that if twelve months had not passed between the confirmation of the Order and the Direction coming into force, then the Council could be liable for substantial amounts of compensation.  There was concern, however, that a number of developments would take place during the twelve month waiting period and that this would irrecoverably change the character of the areas where HMOs were becoming more commonplace.  

It was proposed by Councillor P Lally and seconded by Councillor D A Elliott that the Direction should come into force nine months from the confirmation of the Order and that the Council should proceed to the consultation stage as outlined in appendix 1.

A counter proposal was made by Councillor R I Jackson and seconded by Councillor D D Pringle that the Direction should come into force twelve months from the confirmation of the Order and that the Council should proceed to the consultation stage as outlined in appendix 1.  On being put to the meeting, the motion was passed.

RESOLVED that the Direction should come into force twelve months from confirmation of the Order and that the Council should proceed to the consultation stage as outlined in appendix 1.

To seek Committee approval to adopt the revised Town Centre Trading Policy for the use of all Council owned squares.

The Committee considered the revised Town Centre Trading Policy for the use of all Council owned squares.

There was a discussion about the wording of item 3.1 which concerned market stalls and existing businesses.   There was a minor change to the wording, though it was noted that applications from market traders could not be turned down based on the presence of similar businesses in town centres.  The benefits of competition in town centres were noted. 

RESOLVED that the amendments to the Town Centre Trading policy and the revised policy be APPROVED and implemented with immediate effect.

The following report is for noting by the Committee:

·      Broxtowe Infrastructure Funding Statement

The Committee noted the Broxtowe Infrastructure Funding Statement.

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

The Committee considered the Work Programme.  The title of the Update on the Article 4 Direction/HMO Policy was changed to Determination on the Article 4 Direction/HMO Policy following Consultation, the meeting of the 26 June was corrected to read 24 June 2021, and an item on the Jobs Club in Stapleford was added to the programme.

RESOLVED that the Work Programme, as amended, be approved.