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.

Councillor R D MacRae declared a Non-Registrable Interest in agenda item 8.1 as he knew the resident. Minute number 59.1 refers. Councillors R D MacRae and J W McGrath both declared Other Registerable Interests in agenda item 4.1 are they were both Stapleford Town Councillors. Minute number 53.1 refers.

The purpose of this report is to make members aware of matters proposed for and undergoing scrutiny.

An update was provided at the meeting of the current work programme of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and a report from the working group that was on the agenda for the next Overview and Scrutiny Committee on answering calls

It was proposed by the Chair to have a ten-minute adjournment due to the previous rescheduled Cabinet meeting from 13 September 2022 being rearranged to the earlier starting time of 17.00pm on 4 October 2022 and for the purpose of the live streaming.

            RESOLVED that the meeting be adjourned for ten minutes.

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

Cabinet considered requests for grant assistance in accordance with the protocol for the consideration of grant aid to parish and town councils. Three requests had been received for consideration. Nuthall Parish Council of up to £2,330 towards the cost of traffic management for its Remembrance Sunday Parade and a second request of up to £2,100 towards the net cost of maintaining its New Farm Lane Cemetery. A third request from Stapleford Town Council of up to £2,194 towards the cost of traffic management and related operations for its Remembrance Sunday Event.

RESOLVED that the following grant requests be approved accordingly:

            1.         Nuthall Parish Remembrance Parade Traffic Management –£2,330

            2.         Nuthall Parish New farm lane Cemetery –£2,100

            3.         Stapleford Town Council –£2,194. 

Reason

The Council is empowered to make grants to voluntary organisations by virtue of Section 48 Local Government Act 1985 (as well as other legislation). Having an approved process in accordance with legislation and the Councils grant Aid Policy would ensure the Councils compliance with its legal duties. The grant aid requests were in accordance with the current Corporate Plan aims for supporting people to live well and provide a safe place for everyone.

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

Cabinet considered a grant aid request in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Grant Aid Policy. Rushcliffe Community and Voluntary Service had requested grant aid to support running costs to provide volunteer brokerage and support, and network development support across Broxtowe.  There are currently 555 users of Rushcliffe Community and Voluntary Service direct services, with 199 volunteers supporting its services in the last year. In Broxtowe, 90 voluntary groups operated and 12 individuals access direct services.

Members requested further clarity on services being delivered in Broxtowe and how many residents were using the Service. As the grant request exceeded £5,000 it was noted that the Grant Aid Policy required that grant awards may be subject to a Service Level Agreement.

RESOLVED that grant aid request for Rushcliffe Community and Voluntary Service of £7,000 be approved.

Reason

Consideration for not awarding the grant may have a negative impact for the users and individuals relying on the service. The Council is empowered to make grants to voluntary organisations by virtue of Section 48 Local Government Act 1985 (as well as other Legislation). Having an approved process in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Grant Aid Policy would ensure the Council’s compliance with its legal duties.

This report presents an update on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy and highlights progress with the delivery of the Business Strategy.

Cabinet was updated on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy and the progress with the delivery of the Business Strategy. There were a number of significant issues concerning local government finance that would have a major impact upon the financial position of the Council. They included the current and ongoing economic impact of inflation on pay and prices, uncertainty on the outcome of the financial settlement from central government, and the delayed Fair Funding Review that intended to review the level of business rates retention.

It was stated that further impacts on the 2022/23 and 2023/24 budgets were pay awards although (not yet agreed by the Unions) and the significant inflationary cost of energy, fuel, construction, and property services.

The Council had developed a Business Strategy that was designed to ensure that it would be lean and fit in its assets, systems and processes, customer focused in all its activities, commercially minded and financially viable, and would make the best use of technology. A number of initiatives within the Business Strategy had been implemented and had resulted in either reduced costs or additional income and/or improved services for the Council.  Proposals for 2023/24 included Council Tax increases, staffing efficiencies, garden waste income and procurement savings amongst many.

RESOLVED that the updated Medium term Financial Strategy and the Business Strategy 2023/24 in the appendices of the report be approved.

Reason

To be accountable for all activities and actions and to ensure that the Council conforms to all financial regulations. The Medium Term Financial Strategy was the Council’s key financial planning document.

To advise on the budget consultation process for 2023/24 and to set out the proposed timetable and budget scrutiny process.

Cabinet considered the report on the budget timetable and budget consultation 2023/24. The budget consultation process proposed was similar to previous years, using a web-based survey that was publicised through social media. Promotional activity would include social media messages, ‘email me’ bulletins, press releases, website promotion and direct engagement with groups, organisations, and individuals on the Council’s stakeholder map.

RESOLVED that the budget-setting process for 2023/24 and the Budget Consultation questionnaire be approved.

Reason

Section 65 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 places a duty upon local authorities to consult representatives of non-domestic rate payers before setting the budget. There is no specific statutory requirement to consult with residents, local authorities were placed under a general duty to inform, consult and involve representatives of local people when exercising their functions by Local Democracy.

To provide analysis of the workforce for Broxtowe Borough Council in 2021/22.

Members were provided with an analysis of the workforce for Broxtowe Borough Council in 2021/22. The workforce profile was an annual report that covered topics such as recruitment, employment issues and health and safety. It provided an opportunity to compare with previous years to reflect on trends, progression areas for further consideration and improvement.

Discussions ensued with Health and Safety and the importance of reporting near misses. Concern had been raised with the gender pay gap increase from 3.59% to 6.06% in the last year. An increase of 2.47% Members would like to see benchmark figures from neighbouring authorities to compare turnover rates of staff. Members were pleased to note the success of internal staff achieving internal promotions and career progression within the Council and holding the Disability Confident standard for over 20 years. This demonstrated that the Council had a positive approach towards the recruitment of applicants with disabilities.

RESOLVED that the Workforce Profile 2021/22 be approved.

Reason

The Workforce Profile document met the requirements of the Council to publish information demonstrating compliance with the general duty to eliminate discrimination, advance equality and foster good relations in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. The report met the requirement to report annually on the gender pay gap under the Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017

To seek approval for the Serious Violence and Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.

Cabinet considered the Strategy for the Serious Violence and Violence Against Women and Girls. The Strategy had been produced to support the Nottinghamshire Serious Violence Reduction Strategy and the Violence Reduction Unit Some serious violence offences had been increasing since 2014-homicide, knife crime, and gun crime. These crimes, typically made up just 1% of crime recorded by the police. A large proportion of robbery offences (21%) involved the use or the threat of use of a knife and knife robberies accounted for 40% of all offences involving a knife or sharp instrument.  

In the 2018 Serious Violence Strategy, the government defined serious violence as specific types of crime such as homicide, knife crime, and gun crime, and areas of criminality where serious violence or its threat is inherent, such as in gangs and county lines drug dealing.

Members suggested putting the useful signposting information and contact numbers into the next Broxtowe Matters.

RESOLVED that that The Serious Violence and Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy be approved.  

Reason

Section 5 and 6 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 required the Council and other responsible authorities to formulate and implement strategies to reduce crime and disorder in the area: Section 1`7 places a duty on the Council to do it reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder in the area. Implementation of this strategy contributes towards the Council’s duties in this regard.

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 resolved that the work programme with the added items of a report on Tree’s and a Leisure centre update report to the 20 December Cabinet meeting, including key decisions, be approved.

            RESOLVED that the work programme, as amended, including key decisions, be approved.

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 paragraphs 1, 2, and 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 paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Councillor R D MacRae left the room before the item was debated as he declared a Non-Registerable Interest on this item.

RESOLVED that the aids and adaptations work outlined in the appendix of the report are approved.

RESOLVED that the arrears in excess of £1,200 on national non-domestic rates, council tax, rents, housing/council tax benefit overpayment and sundry debtors as set out in the report with the exception of item number 1.3 be written off and to note the exercise of the Deputy Chief Executive’s delegated authority under financial regulation 5.9