Agenda

To receive apologies.

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

Council is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 15 May 2024 and 23 May 2024.

To receive a report from the Leader and to receive questions and answers on the report should there be any.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee will give an update to full Council and answer questions on Scrutiny matters.

Cabinet

4 June 2024

Following the Borough Council election in May 2023, a Borough wide survey was launched seeking the views of local residents about which priorities the Council should pursue in its next corporate plan period. The results of public feedback and public support for the Council’s proposed plan priorities informed a report to Policy Overview Working Group in November 2023.

Cabinet considered the draft Corporate Plan 2024-2029 and it was agreed that future challenges should be included with wording on how the Council will meet those challenges. It was stressed that the Council would work with the new East Midlands Combined Authority at every opportunity. It was also stated that there would be further collaboration with the recently elected Police and Crime Commissioner.

RECOMMENDED to full Council that the Corporate Plan 2024-2029 be adopted following slight amendments to show future challenges and the methods by which they would be addressed.

Reason

This will ensure the Council’s vision remains current and up to date and its objectives are set out clearly in order to guide the prioritisation of activity and allocation of resources.

Governance, Audit and Standards Committee

20 May 2024

Members considered the draft amendments to the Constitution and in particular to the Council Procedure Rules and the Scheme of Delegation.

An annual review which included consulting the Member and Officer Task Group, inviting all Members and Senior Management team to input was carried out in 2023. The Governance, Audit and Standards Committees recommendations were adopted to ensure the Constitution remained fit for purpose. The Constitution has since continued to be regularly reviewed to ensure it is refreshed as considered necessary to ensure good governance arrangements are in place.

A further annual review of the Constitution had been undertaken again in 2024 in which Officers have been engaged and commented and a proportional Task & Finish group had met on two occasions, and all Members have been invited to input into the review. At the meetings, the Group considered amendments to the Council Procedure Rules, in particularly start times, duration and number of meetings, the role of Ex-Officio Members, reports on Outside Bodies, time allowed for public questions and considering supplementary questions by the public being permitted during Council meetings, the petition scheme, Call-In Process, revisions to the criteria for Extraordinary Council meetings, changes to allow for Budget Council meetings to consider items of urgency and amendments to the Scheme of delegation.

RECOMMENDED to Council that the amendments in to the Constitution, as detailed in the change table at Appendix 1, be approved.

Governance, Audit and Standards Committee

18 March 2024

The Committee updated from the Officer and Member Task and Finish Groups recommendations having considered the Local Government Association (LGA) ‘Debate Not Hate’ Campaign objectives in more detail.

On 11 October 2023 a Motion was brought to full Council by Councillor MacRae to sign up to the LGA ‘Debate Not Hate’ campaign.  Council referred the Motion to Governance, Audit and Standards Committee to work with Officers to get a better understanding of what signing up to the LGA  ‘Debate Not Hate’ Campaign would mean and to explore the range of support currently available to deal with Member abuse and intimidation and to consider what further support could be developed.

It was proposed by Councillor S J Carr and seconded by Councillor S Paterson that there be a recorded vote that the vote be recorded.  The votes were cast as follows:

RECOMMENDED to Council that

2. The Council commits to the following:

a. To signing up to the ‘Debate Not Hate’ campaign

b. To take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse to Councillors and Officers

c. To write to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of politicians and to legislate that Councillors can withhold their home addresses to ensure parity with MPs.

d. To work together, across the political groups to promote and uphold exemplary standards public and political debate

e. To improve the reporting mechanism to record and monitor incidents of harassment and abuse for Councillors facing intimidation and abuse

f. To regularly review the support available for Councillors and Officers who are experiencing intimidation and abuse

g. To work with the local police to ensure there is a clear and joined-up mechanism for reporting threats and other concerns about the safety of Councillors and their families

h. To include as part of the Member training programme support available and relevant training to Councillors in relation to abuse and intimidation and Councillor safety.

To consider motions

“Broxtowe Borough Council will work with Nottinghamshire Police towards setting up Community Speed Watch (CSW) schemes across Broxtowe Borough, if enough interest, and where enough volunteers come forward to form a scheme, in areas where Town and Parish Councils have not already set up schemes.

Community Speed Watch is a scheme which would allow trained volunteers to address speeding concerns in their communities, with a view to raising awareness and altering driver behaviour. Community Speed Watch will not be considered as enforcement. Volunteers report details of speeding vehicles to the Police who will in turn send out advisory letters to the registered keepers of vehicles recorded over the threshold speed limit.

Nottinghamshire Police will provide Employers Liability and Public Liability Insurance for the volunteers taking part. Any additional cover, for example, personal accident, is for individuals or the local speed watch group or Council to consider and provide.

Broxtowe Borough Council will help promote and support Community Speed Watch in our area.

Each scheme requires a minimum of 3 volunteers who must be aged 18 years or over. The volunteers would identify areas/streets of concern which would be risk assessed by Nottinghamshire Police and areas/streets would be risk assessed by Nottinghamshire Police. Volunteers should be prepared to commit to at least 1 hour a week to carry out the speed monitoring.

The minimum equipment kit list required is:

• 1 x Document folder with scheme paperwork and risk assessment.
• 1 x Hand Held Radar Gun in case.
• 2 x Portable folding signs in cases
• 1 x Hand held counting device.
• 1 x tuning fork
• 3 x Hi-Viz Jackets with CSW logo to the rear and front.
•  

The approximate costs of purchasing our own Community Speed Watch equipment as above would be in the region of £600 - £700. This cost is per scheme”.

To note appointments to the Cabinet and Committees of the Cabinet by the Leader in accordance with the schedule to be laid before the Meeting.

The Local Government Act 1972 states that when a Councillor fails to attend any meeting for six consecutive months from the date of their last attendance, then, subject to certain exceptions, they cease to be a Member of the authority, unless the Council accepts a reason for the failure to attend before the six months expires. Councillor S A Bagshaw is currently unable to attend Council meetings and in the circumstances, it is put before Members to consider a dispensation under Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 for the period of six months from 10 July 2024 before which forfeiture applies.

Council is asked to CONSIDER a dispensation for Councillor S A Bagshaw for a period of six months from the date of this meeting and RESOLVE accordingly.