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.

Councillors H E Skinner and C M Tideswell declared non-registrable interests in item 8.2 as members of the Toton and Chilwell Neighbourhod Forum, minute number 53.2 refers.

Councillor S Easom declared an other registrable interest in item 10.4, due to his position on the Liberty Leisure Board of Directors.  Minute number 56.4 refers.

The Council is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 12 October 2022 and 16 November 2022.

The minutes of the meetings held on 12 October 2022 and 16 November 2022 were confirmed as a correct record.

The Mayor gave a resume of his recent engagements, which included his attendance at a number of Christmas engagements. Furthermore, the Mayor welcomed the new Youth Mayor on her appointment.

It was proposed by Councillor M Radulovic MBE and seconded by Councillor M Brown that Standing Order 11.1 be suspended which requires seven working days to be given for a motion. On being put to the vote the proposal was carried.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor M Radulovic MBE and seconded by Councillor M Brown:

“This Council wishes to place on record our serious concerns about the history and future of the Matkin Tip site and the impact on the quality of life on local residents. This Council therefore resolves to call on the Secretary of State to instigate a formal public inquiry to examine the history and future of this contaminated site.”

A recorded vote was proposed by Councillor M Radulovic MBE and seconded by at least five other Councillors.

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

The Leader presented his report, which stated that the recent LGA peer review had goneextremely well. Gratitude was expressed to employees, partners and Councillors who participated in the review by being interviewed by the team during the week they were on site. The initial feedback was extremely positive, the peer team described the Council as a good council and said that much of what Broxtowe does is excellent. The team was impressed by the level of ambition and stated that they could see we were a council that delivered and was ‘punching above its weight’. There was care for and support vulnerable people in the community and positive comments were made about the quality of political and managerial leadership, relationships between officers and members and the enthusiasm and positive attitudes of employees. In respect of the approach to reducing the impact of climate change they said that they thought we were trailblazers, and many of the ideas and actions we were engaged with they intended to copy and take back to their own authorities. We will receive their full report in due course and this will be published and reported to the Cabinet with an action plan which will address some suggestions for improvement the team made during their time with us.

Members were aware people in our community are struggling with cost of living pressures and astonishingly high energy and fuel costs. The Council’s website contained information about sources of help and advice. The last edition of Broxtowe Matters contained a cost of living special. The Leader stated his gratitude for the work of voluntary sector agencies such as local food banks and food clubs, the CAB and also for the active way in which the financial inclusion officers were supporting Broxtowe tenants.

Responses to comments included:

·      Shared Prosperity Fund – this was good news for the Council.

·      Devolution – the Council would continue to work positively and constructively.

·      Peer review – the final comments would be received with interest but the initial feedback was very positive.

There were no public questions.

The Broxtowe Youth Mayor will update Council on issues regarding young people in Broxtowe.

The Youth Mayor stated that she would like to make a positive contribution for young people in the borough during her time in the role and wished Members a happy Christmas.

Governance, Audit and Standards Committee

28 November 2022

An interim review of polling districts and polling places was carried out between 1 August and 30 September 2022. No responses were received in respect of the proposed changes to polling districts arising out of the Community Governance Review completed earlier in the year.

The polling place for BCT2, Creo, Seven Oaks Crescent, Bramcote, were considered to be too small, with nowhere for voters to shelter if queuing outside in the rain. Whilst this was accepted, there are no other suitable places in the polling district at the present time.

In addition to the polling places included in the report to the Governance, Audit and Standards Committee, it is also recommended that the pavilion, Trent Vale Road replace the Boat and Horses Public House, Trent Road, as the polling place for the BER2 polling district.  The pavilion is fully accessible and there is ample on-road parking on Trent Vale Road.

RECOMMENDED to Council that the proposed changes to the polling districts in appendix 1 and the designation of polling places set out in appendix 2 to the report be approved.

An interim review of polling districts and polling places was carried out between 1 August and 30 September 2022.  No responses were received in respect of the proposed changes to polling districts arising out of the Community Governance Review completed earlier in the year. 

RESOLVED that the proposed changes to the polling districts in appendix 1 and the designation of polling places set out in appendix 2 to the report be approved.

Toton and Chetwynd Barracks Strategic Masterplan

Cabinet

8 December 2022

An update will be provided at the meeting of the recommendation from Cabinet on 8 December 2022.

At the Cabinet meeting held on 8 December 2022, it was resolved defer the item until the appropriate time in order for further consultation to be undertaken. Consequently, the reference to Council was not considered.

To seek approval of the Programme of meetings for May 2023 to April 2024.

Members considered the Programme of Meetings for May 2023 to April 2024. In accordance with the Member Development Charter criteria the Programme had taken account of school holidays, cultural and faith commitments and had been composed as to avoid any collision with significant dates.

RESOLVED that the Programme of Meetings for May 2023 to April 2024 be approved.

To receive reports from Cabinet Portfolio Holders and to receive questions and answers on the reports should there be any.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources and Personnel Policy presented his report.

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

·       Asset Management Strategy – the plans were ambitious and work would take place to ensure that future reports contained the necessary detail.

·       Markets – footfall information would be included in the next update to Council. The employees involved were hugely beneficial for the areas.

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

·       Ukrainian refugees – the situation in Ukraine was an horrific tragedy. The government would be urged to extend the current safe houses arrangements for a further six months.

·       Trowell – two empty houses in Trowell were thought to be part of planning development.

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

·       Liberty Leisure – the role of the Shareholder Committee was to keep members updated as to leisure plans in the Borough. Further information was scheduled to be submitted to Cabinet on 7 February 2023 which would include financial information.

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

·       Carbon Neutrality – this was an aspirational Council whose aim to be carbon neutral by 2027 suited the ambitions of the Council.

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

·       Anti-Social Behaviour – funding had been granted for specific areas but consultation could take place with members if there were concerns over specific parts of the Borough.

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

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee provided an update on current scrutiny matters.

There were no member questions.

There were no members’ speeches on ward issues.

There were no questions on outside bodies.

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. 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 14 December 2022 before which forfeiture applies.

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

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. 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 14 December 2022 before which forfeiture applies.

            RESOLVED that Councillor S A Bagshaw be granted a dispensation under 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 for the period of six months from 14 December 2022.

To make appointments to committees and working groups.

RESOLVED that:

1.     Councillor L Ellis replace Councillor J C Goold on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

2.     Councillor J C Goold replace Councillor E H Atherton on the Local Joint Consultative Committee.

3.     Councillor J C Goold be added to the Licensing and Appeals Committee.

4.     Councillor S J Carr be appointed to the Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London Committee as the Council’s representative on this Outside Body.