Agenda and draft 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.

Council is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held 11 December 2024 were confirmed as a correct record.

The Council is requested to note the Members chosen as the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of the political groups.

It was noted that Councillor M Radulovic MBE was the Leader of the Council in addition to being Leader of the Broxtowe Alliance and Councillor G Marshall was the Deputy Leader. Councillor P J Owen was Leader of the Conservative Group with Councillor D D Pringle as the Deputy Leader. Councillor P Bales was Leader of the Labour Group with Councillor H J Faccio as Deputy Leader. Councillor R D MacRae was Leader of the Broxtowe Independent Group with Councillor E Williamson as the Deputy Leader, and Councillor D K Watts was the Leader of the Liberal Democratic Group with Councillor H Land as the Deputy Leader.

 

To make appointments to Committees and Working Groups.

Members noted the appointments to the Cabinet and Committees of the Cabinet by the Leader in accordance with the schedule laid before the meeting.

 

CABINET

 

M Radulovic MBE (Chair) - Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Asset Management

G Marshall (Vice Chair) - Portfolio Holder for Resources and Personnel Policy

H E Skinner - Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change

V C Smith - Portfolio for Housing

T A Cullen - Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Health

G Bunn - Portfolio Holder for Community Safety & Deputy Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Asset Management

C Carr

J W McGrath

 

 

Policy Overview Working Group Membership

 

Broxtowe Alliance

 

P Smith (Chair)                          

G Bunn (Vice-Chair)                                       

H Skinner                                                       

R Bullock                                                       

J W McGrath                                                 

 

Conservatives

 

D D Pringle                                          

G S Hills

M Brown

 

Labour

                                       

D Bagshaw                                                                                  

S A Bagshaw                                                                                                                                                               

Broxtowe Independent Group

 

B C Carr                                              

D L MacRae

 

Liberal Democrat Group

 

D K Watts

 

Events, Arts, Culture and Heritage Working Group Membership

 

Broxtowe Alliance

 

T Cullen (Chair)

C Carr

P Smith

V Smith

J McGrath

S Paterson

 

Conservative

 

L A Ball BEM

H G Khaled MBE

S Kerry

 

Labour

 

S A Bagshaw

W Mee

 

Broxtowe Independent Group

 

B C Carr (Vice-Chair)

D L MacRae

 

 

Shared Prosperity Fund Members Advisory Panel (UKSPF Panel) Membership

 

Broxtowe Alliance

 

M Radulovic MBE (Chair)

G Marshall (Vice-Chair)

G Bunn

 

Conservative

 

P J Owen

 

Labour

 

H J Faccio

 

Broxtowe Independent Group

 

R D MacRae

 

 

 

 

APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS

 

Planning Committee

 

Broxtowe Alliance

 

S Jeremiah (Chair)                      Substitutes    1. R Bullock

P A Smith (Vice Chair)                                     2. S Webb

G Marshall                                                      3. K Woodhead

R E Bofinger                                                   4. V C Smith

H E Skinner                                                    5. S Paterson

G Bunn

                                                                                                   

Conservative

 

L A Ball BEM                              Substitutes    1. H G Khaled MBE

D D Pringle                                                     2. J M Owen

G S Hills                                                         3. P J Owen

 

Labour

 

D Bagshaw                                 Substitutes    1 A Cooper

P Bales                                                           2. W Mee

                                                                     

Broxtowe Independent Group

 

S J Carr                                      Substitute     1. E Williamson

                             

Liberal Democrat Group

 

D K Watts                                   Substitute     1. H Land

                             

 

Licensing & Appeals Committee

 

Broxtowe Alliance

 

R Bullock (Chair)

S Webb (Vice-Chair)

C M Tideswell

K Woodhead

S Jeremiah

 

Labour

 

A Cooper

E Winfield

 

Conservative

 

D D Pringle

G S Hills

S Kerry

 

Broxtowe Independent Group

 

B C Carr

E Williamson

 

Liberal Democrat Group

 

H Land

 

 

Overview & Scrutiny Committee

 

Broxtowe Alliance

 

S Dannheimer (Chair)                                                                             

S Webb (Vice Chair)

K A Harlow

C M Tideswell

K Woodhead

 

Labour

                                       

E Winfield

H J Faccio

 

Conservatives

 

J M Owen

A W G A Stockwell

H L Crosby                                                                        

 

Broxtowe Independent Group

 

E Williamson (Vice-Chair)

R D MacRae

                             

Liberal Democrat Group

 

H Land                                                                                        

 

 

Governance, Audit & Standards Committee

 

Broxtowe Alliance

 

K Woodhead(Vice Chair)                       Substitutes    1. P Smith

R Bullock                                                                  2. R Bofinger

S Dannheimer                                                           3. C M Tideswell

S Jeremiah                                                               4. S Paterson

K A Harlow                                                               5. S Webb

 

Conservative

 

M Brown                                               Substitute     1. P J Owen

J M Owen                                            

G S Hills      

 

Labour

 

A Cooper                                              Substitutes    1. H J Faccio

E Winfield                                                                 2. P Bales

W Mee                                                                     3. T  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

To approve the Pay Policy 2025/26.

The Council debated the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26, as required by the Localism Act 2011.

 

RESOLVED that the Pay Policy Statement 2025/26 be approved.

 

The recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel were debated, including the recommendation for a rise in allowances in line with the employee pay award.

         

RESOLVED that:

1.       Members allowances be increased for 2025/26 in line with the employee pay award (anticipated at 3%).

2.       An increase of £600 be applied to the basic allowance to decrease the gap between this Council and the Council with the next lowest allowances in Nottinghamshire.

3.       An allowance of £900 be awarded for the role of Deputy Portfolio Holder.

 

To approve the capital and revenue budget proposals together with the Capital Strategy, Prudential Indicators, Treasury Management Strategy, Investment Strategy and the General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy.

 

(Members should note that, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment Regulations 2014, there will be a recorded vote on this item).

 

The Council debated the capital and revenue budget proposals together with the Capital Strategy, Prudential Indicators, Treasury Management Strategy, Investment Strategy and General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy and Business Plans.

 

It was stated that there was a continuing serious economic context for local government but the Council had delivered another “no cuts to jobs and services” budget, which led the way in housing, house building and the environment. Next year’s budget would focus on a diverse programme of continued investment in Broxtowe’s town centre regeneration, council house delivery, parks and open spaces, and an exciting cultural offer, which continued to support financial sustainability, and improve the residents and tenants’ lives.

 

It was proposed by Councillor P J Owen and seconded by D D Pringle that the following amendment be made to the budget.

 

1.               “Re-instate free car parking across Broxtowe:

additional budget - £250,000

2.               Invest in improved street cleansing across Broxtowe:

additional budget - £100,000

 

Total additional budget                                              £350,000

Funding – Use of General Fund reserves                   £350,000”

 

Prior to debate on the amendment there was a brief adjournment. 

 

The debate on the amendment was had and included comments on car parking charges and the impact on local businesses. There was further debate on the balance of ensuring car parking charges were fair, but did not impact negatively on businesses.  On being put to the meeting the motion was defeated. The vote was recorded and the voting was as follows:

 

For	Against	Abstain
L A Ball BEM	P Bales
M Brown	R E Bofinger
B C Carr	R Bullock
S J Carr	G Bunn
G S Hills	C Carr
S J Kerry	A Cooper
H G Khaled MBE	T A Cullen
D L MacRae	S Dannheimer
R D MacRae	H J Faccio
J M Owen	S P Jeremiah
P J Owen	A Kingdon
D D Pringle	H Land
A W G A Stockwell	G Marshall
E Williamson	J W McGrath
	W Mee
	S Paterson
	M Radulovic MBE
	H E Skinner
	P A Smith
	V C Smith
	C M Tideswell
	D K Watts
	S Webb
	E Winfield
	K Woodhead

 

The debate progressed on to the original motion.  It was noted that the proposed budget included the work of the Community Safety Team and also work around health projects, including the CEDARS project and Bramcote Leisure Centre. There were concerns about weed killers, hosing repairs, the Council’s ICT system and telephone answering. Discussion progressed on to homelessness, the East Midlands Combined Authority, affordable housing and austerity.

 

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote was required. The voting was as follows:

 

For	Against	Abstain
P Bales	L A Ball BEM
R E Bofinger	M Brown
R Bullock	G S Hills
G Bunn	S Kerry
B C Carr	H G Khaled MBE
C Carr	J M Owen
S J Carr	P J Owen
A Cooper	D D Pringle
T A Cullen	A W G A Stockwell
S Dannheimer
H J Faccio
S P Jeremiah
A  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

The following item for urgent business was submitted by Councillor G Bunn:

 

“Council notes the Government’s decision in the recent budget to raise the single fare

cap on bus journeys in England from £2 to £3 from January 1st, 2025, this represents an increase of 50%.

 

Council notes that this will increase the cost of journeys during a cost of living crisis at the most expensive time of year. It will also encourage people to choose car travel over public transport, at a time when we should be encouraging and supporting greener travel alternatives.

 

This decision follows the Labour Government’s previous choices to remove the Winter Fuel Allowance from pensioners and their failure to scrap the Two-Child Benefit Cap, as yet another choice that will negatively impact many of the poorest and most vulnerable residents across Broxtowe.

 

Council resolves to:

 

·       request the Portfolio Holder for Environment to write to the Secretary of State for Transport to urgently review the decision to raise the cap by 50%.

·       In the absence of this reversal, call upon Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, and the mayor of the East Midlands to develop a local scheme, as other Mayoral Combined Authorities already have done, to maintain the capped fare at £2 to support the economy and people of the East Midlands. We also call upon Claire Ward, as Mayor of the East Midlands, to maintain her commitment to supporting public transport using the devolved funding, which includes over £40 million specifically to support and improve bus services across the area, to work with us to go beyond this basic commitment and find a way to make public transport free in future. This transformative step would demonstrate EMCCA's commitment to inclusive growth and a strategy that unlocks the economic potential of the region by increasing access to jobs, training and opportunities, while also ensuring that the authority maintains its commitment to combating climate change as net zero and transport are two of EMCCA's five core priorities.”

 

On being put to the meeting it was agreed that the item met the criteria for urgent business.

 

An amendment was proposed by Councillor W Mee as follows:

 

“Council notes the Government’s decision in the recent budget to raise the single fare cap on bus journeys in England. from £2 to £3 from January 1st, 2025, this funding is a subsidy of bus companies to lower fares, not a price ceiling, of which the subsidy was scheduled to run out. The way in which we improve our public transport is through integrated ticketing.

 

 

Council notes that through integrated ticketing fares will decrease the cost of journeys during a cost of living crisis at the most expensive time of year. It will also encourage people to choose all modes of public transport (Tram, Train, Bus) over car travel, at a time when we should be encouraging and supporting greener travel alternatives.

 

This decision follows 10 years prior to the bus cap in which the conservatives took no action and let  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.