Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Foster Avenue, Beeston NG9 1AB

Contact: Email: committees@broxtowe.gov.uk 

Media

Items
No. Item

13.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Minutes:

Councillors S Easom, D Grindell and S Paterson declared non-pecuniary interests in item 7 as they were on the board of Liberty Leisure minute item 18.4 refers.

14.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 150 KB

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2022.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2022 were confirmed as a correct record subject to a minor amendment that Councillor M Hannah was appointed to the Governance, Audit and Standards Committee and not Councillor J W McGrath.

15.

MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

Minutes:

The Mayor gave a résumé of his engagements since the last Council meeting, which included his attendance at numerous engagements and a variety of fundraising events.

16.

LEADER'S REPORT

To receive a report from the Leader and receive questions and answers on the report if any.

Minutes:

The Leader provided an update on the progress of EMDevco. The department of Transport would provide £1 million of grant funding to the EMDevco this financial year to enable the East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy to be refreshed. It was the expectation that the East Midlands Development Company would manage and coordinate the Growth Strategy refresh and would ensure that local master planning undertaken by station places including the emerging Supplementary Planning Document for Toton aligns with the overarching Growth Strategy.

 

Members were updated on the development of the County or devolution deal involving Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Positive discussions had taken place with the government around the themes of the deal in the hope that this would result in a significant amount of additional investment for Broxtowe. If negotiations were successful, a new combined authority with a directly elected Mayor could be in place from May 2024.

 

The Leader attended an HS2 executive board recently, six broadly defined tasks had been identified. They included agreement of post IRP train service options for intercity services on HS2, the Midland Main Line and the East Coast Main Line, identification of key infrastructure enhancements on the existing network, development of train service options, review of local transport priorities, review of EM Devco business case, and review of the wider East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy.  

 

The success of the Stapleford Towns Fund grants scheme was producing real benefits for local businesses in Stapleford.  The Leader thanked the Economic development team for the work to develop the levelling up bids for Eastwood and Kimberley.

17.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

To receive questions from, and provide answers to, the public in relation to matters which are relevant to the Council’s functions.

Minutes:

There were no public questions received.

18.

PORTFOLIO HOLDERS REPORTS

To receive reports from Cabinet Portfolio Holders and receive questions and answers on the reports.

18.1

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Personnel Policy

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Resources and Personnel Policy presented his report. He thanked the Revenues team for providing the administration for the £150 Energy rebate payment. The Customer Services performance had improved with the additional investment and resourcing.

18.2

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Asset Management

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Asset Management presented his report. Responses to comments included:

 

·         Markets- Communication for markets had been a success. Happy to provide figures for footfall on market days and non-market days. Traders were happy. Kimberley market was not as successful and was struggling due to residents not using it. A discussion was required to see if this market was viable.

·         Levelling Up Fund- Eastwood LUF, Wellbeing had been a core part of the bid and would address some of the issues related within the area Durban House was at the forefront of this. The Levelling Up Fund was not going to fix everything. Kimberley LUF Kimberley Town Council have been integrally involved in process.

·         Beeston Toilets- Work had started and was proving an engineering challenge, no date for completion was provided.

·         Kimberley Leisure Centre- Assurance was provided that the Eastwood pool as part of the bid was not replacing the Kimberley Leisure Centre.  There was uncertainty with the short term issue of the lease.  

·         Planning Policy- Confirmation was provided that the 2019 Policy was being used. Issues with joint planning including building on greenbelt land for housing.

18.3

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Housing presented his report. Responses to comments included:

·         Housing repairs- The Housing repairs team was undergoing a period of change to improve productivity and service delivery. Issues with properties in mining areas, too many voids and empty properties. 17 families were in bed and breakfast and 12 cases of being asked to vacate private landlord properties due to selling of property. The repairs service continued to be a busy area and poor performance of the service would not be continued.

·         Resident Involvement- Inham Nook and Great Hogget Drive. There would be a redesign of the properties for 15 quality homes delivering high quality design and energy efficient to deliver a good neighbourhood with gardens, parks and recreational space.

·         Private Sector Housing- There had been an issue with the lack of willingness for landlords to adapt properties in need of disabled facilities. There had been a slowdown of funding contractors and were not performing to high standards. The Disabled Facilities Grant Policy had been updated to bring consistency across the county. All seven district Councils and the County Council had amended their policies to align several discretionary grants to ensure residents were not disadvantaged depending where they resided.

18.4

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Health

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Health presented his report.  Responses to comments included:

·         Mental Health – A lot of time was dedicated to supporting Mental Health by the Council. Mental Health was not a Borough statutory responsibility; this was undertaken by the County Council. There was a major commitment to support mental health including the Durban House project. The Better Mental Health Prevention Concordat Action Plan had been merged recently with the Mental Health Action Plan, The Mental Health Support webpage had been refreshed and the Mayor currently supported Mental Health in the Community of Broxtowe as one of his chosen charities.

 

18.5

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change presented her report. Responses to comments included:

·         Air Quality - There was concern of the dust levels and response to the new monitoring system and feedback. An updated report on air quality would be presented to Cabinet in July.

·         Garden Waste – Concern had been raised that residents had not had their garden waste collected. It was agreed that some bins had been missed occasionally. The Portfolio holder happy to receive calls in there are problems that need reporting. 21,000 households had subscribed to the garden waste collection for 2022/23.

·         Carbon Neutral Target 2027 -  The Council would keep moving forward to meet the Carbon Neutral target by 2027. If a Council tax increase was required to meet environmental needs, then this should not be a problem.

18.6

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety presented his report. Responses to comments included:

 

·         Food Safety Checks –The programme of food interventions was continuing that included care homes, child minders and home caterers. A new project to inspect market traders to ensure they were compliant would be undertaken.  Cllr J C Goold would be updated with further information and percentage of food safety checks.

·         ASB, Off Street Motorbikes – Confirmed this was a Police issue. Portfolio holder happy to receive location concerns to raise with Police.

·         ASB, Beeston West- Councillor G Marshall thanked the Police for their response with the Anti-social behaviour in Beeston West. The Portfolio Holder agreed to invite Councillor G Marshall to future meetings with the Police, Officers and Police Crime Commissioner. Agreed to look at ideas for children to engage in sport and art groups and to encourage groups to apply for funding.

19.

REPORT ON SCRUTINY MATTERS

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to report to Full Council and answer questions on Scrutiny Matters.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee gave an update on scrutiny matters and the chosen topics currently being reviewed. The Chair thanked the Governance team in supporting the Committee.

20.

MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

To consider questions on notice.

Minutes:

There were no Members questions.

21.

MEMBERS' SPEECHES ON WARD MATTERS

To consider speeches on ward issues.

Minutes:

There were no Members speeches submitted on Ward Matters.

22.

QUESTIONS ON OUTSIDE BODIES

To receive questions from Councillors to those representing the Council on outside bodies.

Minutes:

There were no questions submitted on Outside Bodies.

23.

APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS

To make appointments to committees and working groups.

Minutes:

The Leader proposed that the Policy Advisory Working Group would have a flexible membership to allow as many Members to actively engage in the democratic process. He proposed that Councillor T A Cullen as Chair and Councillor R S Robinson as Vice-Chair.

The Leader also proposed a working group to be set up to discuss Member Allowances, disabled facilities and support to elected Members who have childcare responsibilities. This working group would report to the Independent Remuneration Panel.  Councillors were asked to lobby Government that standards relating to the dispensation should be in line with employees including maternity leave. Councillors wanted to feel valued in their role they undertook.

 

Councillor R I Jackson proposed Councillors JC Goold and P Roberts-Thompson to the Licensing and Appeals Committee.

 

            RESOLVED that the appointments to Committees were approved.

24.

ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS

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 Stephanie Kerry has recently had a baby and is currently unable to attend Council meetings.  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 13 July 2022 before which forfeiture applies.

 

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

Minutes:

This item was withdrawn as Councillor S Kerry was in attendance.

25.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

25.1

Licensing & Appeals/Cabinet

Under the new Executive system, a number of responsibilities that were previously functions of the Licensing & Appeals Committee relating to taxi licensing, are required by legislation to be transferred to Cabinet. The responsibilities include:

 

·         Private hire driver, vehicle and operator licence requirements and offences

·         Transfers in vehicle interests

·         The power to require regular inspections

·         Powers to create hackney carriage stands

·         Powers to fix hackney carriage fees

·         The use of hackney carriages for private hire work

·         The power of an authorised officer to inspect a hackney carriage

·         The power to set fees for vehicle and operator licences.

 

Council is asked to RESOLVE that the powers contained in the LG(MP)A 1976 in relation to hackney carriage and private hire licensing be transferred to Cabinet under the responsibility of the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety.

 

Minutes:

Members were updated with the changes that under the new Executive system, a number of responsibilities that were previously functions of the Licensing & Appeals Committee relating to taxi licensing, were required by legislation to be transferred to Cabinet. The responsibilities included:

 

.        Private hire driver, vehicle and operator licence requirements and offences

 

·         Transfers in vehicle interests

 

·         The power to require regular inspections

 

·         Powers to create hackney carriage stands

 

·         Powers to fix hackney carriage fees

 

·         The use of hackney carriages for private hire work

 

·         The power of an authorised officer to inspect a hackney carriage

 

·         The power to set fees for vehicle and operator licences.

 

 

 RESOLVED that the powers contained in the LG(MP)A 1976 in relation to hackney carriage and private hire licensing be transferred to Cabinet under the responsibility of the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety.

 

 

25.2

Local Joint Consultative Committee

At the previous meeting the Council was asked to name substitutes for the Local Joint Consultative Committee. This practice differed from previous years and Council is now being asked to remove the necessity for named substitute Members for this particular Committee in order to allow for a more flexible approach to substitutes.

 

Council is asked to RESOLVE that the requirement for named substitutes for Members be removed from the Local Joint Consultative Committee.

Minutes:

Members were asked to remove the necessity for named substitutes to the Local Joint Consultative Committee to allow for a more flexible approach to substitutes.

 

RESOLVED that the requirement for named substitutes for Members be removed from the Local Joint Consultative Committee.