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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Council meeting held on 13 May 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

The Mayor gave a résumé of her time in office and expressed thanks to a number of residents, family and employees for their assistance.

There was no update on Broxtowe Youth Voice activities.

No petitions were presented.

The Leader gave an update to members which included information on the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, play areas, housing, VE Day and VJ Day, the reopening of shops and licensed premises, the Midlands Engine Development Corporation, support to businesses and council tax payers, economic recovery. The Leader wished for it to be placed on record the gratitude of the Council’s members for the work that they had done during this period. Furthermore, the Leader thanked all the NHS staff, the voluntary sector, community groups and individuals that had helped to make Broxtowe a much better place to live and work, and had made an immense contribution in ensuring that nobody has been left on their own in the community.

The following question was received by Lewis Bryan of Beeston:

 "Myself and my partner have seen an increase in begging and rough sleeping in the last few months - particularly in Beeston. How is Broxtowe Borough Council working with local partners to help people off the streets and address the root causes of their trauma?"

The Chair of the Housing Committee, Councillor T A Cullen responded by saying that in March the Council activated emergency measures to provide additional assistance to those at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping. Following government guidance, normal eligibility checks and other legislative restrictions were not applied. In total, since March, the Council has assisted 33 people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness by providing them with temporary accommodation. The Council had used a combination of our own accommodation and Bed and Breakfast accommodation when required.

Our Housing Options team have worked in partnership with Framework Street Outreach team. They visit rough sleepers to encourage them to engage with us and accept temporary accommodation that has been offered. On some occasions it took some time for people to engage, however we have offered temporary accommodation to every person known to be sleeping rough in the borough. Once people accept the offer of accommodation we work with them to encourage them to remain at the accommodation and engage with support agencies. One of the ways that we have done this is by providing food parcels and arranging for hot meals to be provided in partnership with local charities. Support needs are assessed and our Housing Options team worked with Public Health and Social Care to arrange testing and ongoing support.

The Council had supported people to move into permanent housing and had worked with local housing providers who have offered properties through our HomeSearch partnership and have also supported people to find suitable private sector tenancies. The Council had currently 15 people in temporary accommodation and continue to work with them to find permanent housing solutions.

A vote of thanks was proposed by Councillor M Radulovic MBE and seconded by Councillor S J Carr due to the efforts of Broxtowe Borough Council employees during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

On being put to the meeting the proposal was carried.

There were no questions from members.

Councillor D Pringle gave an update on issues in relation to Awsworth, Cossall and Trowell, whilst Councillor C M Tideswell update the Council on matters in relation to Chilwell West.

There were no questions on outside bodies.

“In line with RSPCA guidance this Council resolves:

1.               To require all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people. 

2.               To actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks. 

3.               To write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays. 

4.               To encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display.”

This Council resolves:

1.         To require all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people. 

2.         To actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks. 

3.          To write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays. 

4.         To encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor B C Carr and seconded by Councillor P Lally which was as follows.

 “In line with RSPCA guidance this Council resolves:

1.            To ask all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people.

2.            To actively promote a public awareness campaign via the Council’s media channels about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks.

3.            To write to the House of Commons Petitions Committee and the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Business Reform urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays.

4.            To encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display.”

Councillor L Fletcher accepted the amendment.

On being put to the meeting the motion was carried.

"Broxtowe Borough Council resolves to:

Place on record its support for the objectives of the Black Lives Matter movement and for all similar initiatives.

We will stand united against every form of discrimination, racism and injustice. The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has reminded us once again that we cannot and should not tolerate racism in any form or from any person.

As leaders in our neighbourhoods, we have an important role to play in challenging inequality by adopting an actively anti –racist outlook and by working with our communities to bring about meaningful change.  Given previous comments on Social Media by the Chair of Nottinghamshire’s Health & Wellbeing Board and the lack of a public apology for those comments, we also resolve to withdraw our representative on that Board for as long as the present Chairman holds that position.”

The following motion was proposed by Councillor B C Carr and seconded by Councillor R D MacRae:

"Broxtowe Borough Council resolves to:

Place on record its support for the objectives of the Black Lives Matter movement and for all similar initiatives.

We will stand united against every form of discrimination, racism and injustice. The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has reminded us once again that we cannot and should not tolerate racism in any form or from any person.

As leaders in our neighbourhoods, we have an important role to play in challenging inequality by adopting an actively anti-racist outlook and by working with our communities to bring about meaningful change.”

A recorded vote was called for and seconded by at least five councillors.

On being put to the meeting the motion was passed and the voting was as follows:

“Broxtowe Borough Council believes that the impact of Covid-19 has created the biggest crisis for our communities and economy since the Second World War. This Council believes that to overcome it all groups need to work together, and that the national government and County Council have a vital role to play in this.

This Council notes:

1.          That parliament’s Climate Change Committee, in their June 2020 report, recommended that Ministers ‘seize the opportunity to turn the Covid-19 crisis into a defining moment in the fight against climate change.’

2.          The decision by Nottinghamshire County Council to set up a new committee called the Covid-19 Resilience, Recovery and Renewal Committee.

3.          That within the terms of reference for this committee is the following:

        “Policy development in respect of the renewal and reform of local government services, including the future structure of local government in Nottinghamshire.”

4.          That Robert Jenrick MP, the Secretary of State for HCLG is on record as saying that he will not undertake reorganisation without the consent of all parties.

This Council welcomes the report by the Royal Town Planning Institute ‘Plan The World We Need’, published in June 2020, and endorses the principles of a planning led recovery identified in this document.

This Council regrets that rather than follow the advice of the Climate Change Committee the Prime Minister and his advisor have sought to use the situation to attack the planning system.  This Council also regrets that the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has sought to use the crisis to once again pursue her unwarranted and unwanted attempt to create a unitary authority for Nottinghamshire.

Broxtowe Borough Council therefore resolves:

1.       To instruct the Chief Executive to write on the Council’s behalf to Darren Henry MP and to the Prime Minister calling on them to abandon the governments stated wish to curtail many of the existing planning rules and to adopt the recommendations of the RPTI report;

2.       To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the leader of Nottinghamshire County Council to call on that council to focus its efforts on rebuilding the economy and communities of the area and to abandon any attempts to pursue a unitary authority; and

3.       That we will not consent to the abolition of Broxtowe Borough Council.”

The following motion was proposed by Councillor D K Watts and seconded by Councillor G Marshall:

 “Broxtowe Borough Council believes that the impact of Covid-19 has created the biggest crisis for our communities and economy since the Second World War. This council believes that to overcome it all groups need to work together, and that the national government and County Council have a vital role to play in this.

This council notes:

1.               That parliaments Climate Change Committee, in their June 2020 report, recommended that Ministers “seize the opportunity to turn the COVID-19 crisis into a defining moment in the fight against climate change.”

2.               The decision by Nottinghamshire County Council to set up a new committee called the Covid19 Resilience, Recovery and Renewal Committee.

3.               That within the terms of reference for this committee is the following: “Policy development in respect of the renewal and reform of local government services, including the future structure of local government in Nottinghamshire.”

4.               That Robert Jenrick MP, the Secretary of State for HCLG is on record as saying that he will not undertake reorganisation without the consent of all parties.

This council welcomes the report by the Royal Town Planning Institute “Plan The World We Need,” published in June 2020, and endorses the principles of a planning led recovery identified in this document.

This council regrets that rather than follow the advice of the Climate Change Committee the Prime Minister and his advisor have sought to use the situation to attack the planning system.  This council also regrets that the leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has sought to use the crisis to once again pursue her unwarranted and unwanted attempt to create a unitary authority for Nottinghamshire.

Broxtowe Borough Council therefore resolves:

1.               To instruct the Chief Executive to write on the Council’s behalf to Darren Henry MP and to the Prime Minister calling on them to abandon the governments stated wish to curtail many of the existing planning rules and to adopt the recommendations of the RPTI report;

2.               To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the leader of Nottinghamshire County Council to call on that council to focus its efforts on rebuilding the economy and communities of the area and to abandon any attempts to pursue a unitary authority; and

3.               That we will not consent to the abolition of Broxtowe Borough Council.”

A recorded vote was proposed by Councillor D K Watts and seconded by at least five councillors. On being put to the meeting the motion was carried. The voting was as follows:

To note the decisions made by the Council’s committees.

Members noted the decisions made at Committee meetings.

To receive the recommendation of an appointments panel regarding the appointment of a permanent Monitoring Officer for the Council.

RESOLVED that the appointment of Mrs Sachdev Khosa as the Council’s Monitoring Officer and continuation of Mr Simon Aley in the temporary role until Mrs Khosa takes up her appointment be approved.