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 M Radulovic MBE, S J Carr and G Marshall declared non-pecuniary interests in item 6.3 as they were Members on the Beeston Town Centre Board, minute number 5.3 refers. Councillors T Hallam, J W McGrath and R D MacRae declared non-pecuniary interests in item 5.3 as they were elected Members of Stapleford Town Council, minute number 4.3 refers. Councillor R D MacRae declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 5.1 as he was a committee member at New Stapleford Community Association, minute number 4.1 refers. Councillor B C Carr declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 5.1 as she was a volunteer at the Citizen Advice Bureau, minute number 4.1 refers.

The Committee is asked to confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the following Committees:

·       Leisure and Health, 19 January 2022

·       Community Safety, 20 January 2022

·       Environment and Climate Change, 31 January 2022

·       Housing, 9 February 2022

·       Finance and Resources, 10 February 2022

·       Personnel, 22 March 2022

·       Policy and Performance, 24 March 2022

·       Jobs and Economy, 31 March 2022.

The minutes of the meetings as detailed below were noted.

·         Leisure and Health, 19 January 2022

·         Community Safety, 20 January 2022

·         Environment and Climate Change, 31 January 2022

·         Housing, 9 February 2022

·         Finance and Resources, 10 February 2022

·         Personnel, 22 March 2022

·         Policy and Performance, 24 March 2022

·         Jobs and Economy, 31 March 2022

The Cabinet will be informed of matters proposed for and undergoing scrutiny.

Members were informed that this would be a standing item on the Cabinet agenda and a timetable would be received from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following its first meeting.

To consider requests for grant aid in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Grant Aid Policy.

Cabinet considered two requests for grant aid in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Grant Aid Policy.

RESOLVED that the applications be dealt with as follows:

Reason

The grant aid will assist in achieving the Council’s corporate value of having a strong, caring focus on the needs of all communities.

To consider a request for capital grant aid in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Grant Aid Policy.

The Royal British Legion Social Club, Beeston had requested a capital grant of up to £6,000 to enable the completion of its refurbishment project in order to bring the premises systems up to current fire and safety standards. Members stated that the Royal British Legion Social Club had played an essential role in supporting Broxtowe’s veterans for over 70 years and was an important venue in the Borough.

RESOLVED that the grant funding request of £6,000 for The Royal British Legion (Beeston) Social Club be approved.

Reason

Consideration of not approving the grant would have negative financial implications for the Royal British Legion Social Club and the building would not have been safe for community use.

To consider a request for grant assistance in accordance with the protocol for the consideration of grant aid to parish and town councils.

RESOLVED that the item be deferred.

Reason

The deferral would allow for discussions to take place with the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to discover further information in relation to the Youth Centre and Arthur Mee Centre. 

To update Cabinet on the activity of East Midlands Development Company throughout 2021/22 and the company’s outline Business Plan 2022/23 and confirm the authority’s grant funding contribution to the EM DevCo for 2022/23.

The Cabinet was updated on the activity of East Midlands Development Company (EM DevCO) throughout 2021/22, the company’s outline Business Plan 2022/23 and to confirm the authority’s grant funding contribution to the EM DevCo for 2022/23.

EM DevCo had been set up to focus on plans for the co-ordinated delivery of development and infrastructure at Toton and Chetwynd, Ratcliffe Power Station and East Midlands Airport area. The interim vehicle had been established to drive forward the proposition whilst the parliamentary processes required to establish the proposed model of Locally Led Urban Development Corporation.

Discussions ensued regarding connectivity, the environment and opportunities to support the Toton plan. A query relating to funding of the train station at Toton was raised and Members expressed disappointment in relation to the decision around HS2. Without the contribution the business case from EM DevCo would not be as ambitious as planned and opportunities could be missed.

RESOLVED that the year 2 contributions of £167,000 be approved.

Reason

This was an opportunity to provide greening within the Erewash valley and ensure builds are carried out within the right areas to prepare for future generations.

To update Cabinet on the progress of devolution deal discussions in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Cabinet considered the continuing involvement of the Council in discussions to secure a devolution deal for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

It was stated that development of the Chetwynd Barracks site and the Toton area of strategic growth required significant investment in infrastructure to unlock the land for housing development. This opportunity would be more likely to be deliverable through a County deal. Furthermore, large scale deals across Nottinghamshire could help to secure investment from government to tackle problems relating to land and housing. Acting alone, the Council would find this difficult to achieve.

Environmental initiatives such as engagement of local communities, large scale tree planning, solar panel installation, electric vehicle infrastructure would be more efficiently achieved collaboratively.  A joint approach to collecting food waste in Nottinghamshire was being pursued.  Members further considered the risks included in relation to local democracy and the future of Districts and Borough.

RESOLVED to endorse the continuing involvement of the Council in discussions to secure a devolution deal for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Reason

There were greater opportunities for Broxtowe to benefit from a County deal to secure government investments. Levelling up investment would be more likely to be received if the Council participated in a County deal this would support areas in Broxtowe where skills levels were lower and support investment to create a national skills academy.  As part of the devolution deal, City, District and Borough Councils would be at the heart of determining the local priorities for the UKSPF investment plans.

Cabinet will receive and update from the Deputy Chief Executive on the progress of development in Beeston Town Centre.

The Cabinet noted the progress of development in Beeston Town Centre and were informed that the Italian restaurant, ‘Ottimo’ had opened for business. The Beeston Social was in its final stages of fitting-out units and planned to open during the week commencing 6 June 2022. Planning permission had been granted for external alterations and to the shopfronts to the former Argos block. Construction works for the Changing Places toilet had been scheduled to commence on site in July.

To consider the proposal for the Council to acquire 26 rented and shared ownership homes from the developer of the allocated housing site off Field Farm, Stapleford.  The acquisition of these units will assist the Council in meeting its housing targets set out in the approved Housing Delivery Plan.

Members considered the proposal for the Council to acquire 22 rented and four shared ownership homes from the developer of the allocated housing site off Field farm, Stapleford.  The acquisition of these units would assist the Council in meeting its housing targets as set out in the approved Housing Delivery Plan. All the affordable homes would be built in three phases between 2023 and 2026.

The current waiting list for family accommodation was high and there was a need to provide housing across the Borough. The housing targets as set out in the approved Housing Delivery Plan would not be met without this allocation of funding and ongoing programme of approvals relating to the purchase, acquisition, financing and construction of new homes.

RESOLVED that:

1.    Up to £3.5 million be allocated in the HRA capital programme for 2022/23 to 2025/26 for the construction of 26 rented and shared ownership homes at the site,

2.    A delegation be made to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Members for all approvals relating to the purchase, acquisition, financing and construction of the homes,

3.    An exemption to the Council’s standing orders be provided to allow a building contract be entered into with the developer of the Field Farm site.

Reason

This will assist with the Council’s corporate priority of Housing and the aim of providing a good quality home for everyone.

To seek approval for additional funds to be allocated within the 2022/23 budget cycle to support with the transition to Biofuel.

Cabinet considered a report which requested that additional funds be allocated within the 2022/23 budget cycle to support with the transition to Biofuel. Members were informed that a reduction in fleet emissions could be achieved in the shorter-term through the use of alternative fuels that required no capital or infrastructure investment.

Hydro treated vegetable oil (HVO) was a premium high quality vehicle fuel made from renewable, sustainable raw material and was an alternative fuel to diesel. HVO was compatible with all diesel vehicles from 2019 and included all refuse collection vehicles. The Council would no longer use Gas Oil (Red Diesel) within its grounds maintenance feet but would use diesel instead. Alternatives such as electrification and hydrogen fuel were considered a long-term concept.

Consideration was given to continuing with the diesel for all vehicles as HVO was 15p per litre more expensive to purchase than diesel and the increased cost of old vehicles being replaced with newer vehicles. Continuing with diesel would increase emissions across the borough generated by the Council’s refuse collection vehicles. 

RESOLVED that a budget of £42,000 for the transition to biofuel be approved within the 2022/23 budget cycle.

Reason

This will assist with the Council’s corporate priority of the Environment and the aim of protecting the environment for the future.

To inform Cabinet of the current funding position for Domestic Homicide Review and request approval for additional funding to be allocated.

Members noted the current financial position for the delivery of Domestic Homicide reviews and were informed that was a legal requirement for Local Authorities in England and Wales to participate in Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) on behalf of the Secretary of State. A Domestic Homicide Review was a statutory process under Section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Adults Act 2004. The reviews were held with a view to identify lessons to be learnt from the death and it was the responsibility of the Local Community Safer Partnership that covers Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe to fund equally.

The Act states that a DHR should be a multi-agency review of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged over 16 had, or appeared to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect.

Discussions ensued with support groups and campaigns highlighted including Equation/Cut it Out, White Ribbon Campaign and Broxtowe Women’s Project. It was stated that should Cabinet Members not support the additional funding and put a provision in place within the revenue budget for the additional cost of Domestic Homicide Reviews the funding may become unavailable.

RESOLVED that additional funding of £5,000, allocated from Revenue Contingencies 2022/23 be approved.

Reason

This will assist with the Council’s corporate priority of Community Safety and the aim of making Broxtowe a safe place for everyone.

Cabinet is asked to approve its Work Programme, including potential key decisions that will help to achieve the Council’s key priorities and associated objectives.

Cabinet considered the Work Programme, including potential key decisions that would help to achieve the Council’s key priorities and associated objectives.

RESOLVED that the Work Programme be approved, subject to the addition of Kimberley Leisure Centre – Licence to Occupy Agreement and the removal of Domestic Homicide Review and Evening Car Parking Charges.

Reason

The items included in the work programme will help to achieve the Council’s key priorities and associated objectives.

The Committee is asked to RESOLVE that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

The Cabinet noted the appendix from agenda item 7.1

The Cabinet noted the use of the Chief Executive’s urgency powers.