Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Suite, Castle House, Great North Road, Newark, Notts NG24 1BY

Contact: Nigel Hill  Email: nigel.hill@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

18.

Declarations of Interest by Members and Officers and as to the Party Whip

Minutes:

Councillor K Girling declared a personal interest in respect of Agenda Item No. 6 – Housing Management Review - as a Director on the Board of Newark and Sherwood Homes.

 

Councillor D Lloyd declared a personal interest in respect of Agenda Item No. 12 – Newark Town Museum Delegation – as a Member of Newark Town Council.

19.

Declarations of Intention to Record the Meeting

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that the proceedings were being recorded by the Council, with part of the meeting being broadcast live on social media.

 

A member of the public also declared their intention to record the meeting.

20.

Withdrawal of Agenda Item

Minutes:

Councillor D Lloyd proposed that Exempt Agenda Item No. 28 – London Road Car Park Extension Options Appraisal be withdrawn from the agenda given the recent announcement of the availability of significant funding through the Government’s towns fund initiative and the need to undertake a wider strategic review of car parking in Newark. 

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that this item be withdrawn from the agenda. 

21.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 273 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

AGREED      that the minutes from the meeting held on 27 June 2019 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

22.

Forward Plan of Policy & Finance Items pdf icon PDF 251 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the Forward Plan items to be considered by the Committee over the next 12 months.

23.

Housing Management Review pdf icon PDF 286 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director – Governance & Organisational Development presented a report which detailed the outcome of the tenant and leaseholder consultation to enable a decision to be taken on the Council’s proposal to bring the housing management services back in-house. On 4 April 2019, the Committee approved, in principle, to bring the housing management services back in-house for direct service provision by the Council. This decision was subject to tenants being consulted on the proposal and their views being reported back to the Committee for consideration and a final decision being made.

 

The results from the tenant consultation were summarised in the report and set out in full in appendix B to the report. There was overwhelming support for the proposal to bring the housing service back in-house at just over 80%. There had been a high response rate of over 20% of tenants and leaseholders engaging in the consultation, which was seen as very positive.

 

The report advised that since the in principle decision taken in April 2019, a number of staff roadshows had been held to keep staff informed about the process and an officer project team had been working on a detailed project plan. One of the main objectives for the project team was to ensure that there was minimal disruption to the service during the transition back to the Council. The Committee recognised the professionalism of the Newark & Sherwood Homes staff during this period of consultation.

 

It was further reported, that if the decision was taken to bring the service back in-house, a revised organisational structure for the Council would be required to incorporate the housing landlord and associated support services. In order to ensure that there was sufficient leadership capacity within the Council, it was proposed to create a new additional director post within the Council’s Senior Leadership Team.

 

As well as reviewing the organisational structure of the Council to accommodate the housing services, there would be a need to review the remit of relevant committees to provide for appropriate member decision-making and officer delegations. It was proposed that work on this be undertaken by the Councillors’ Commission before being submitted to the Full Council for final consideration and approval. It was considered that, as part of this work, it was important that strong tenant consultation and engagement mechanisms were maintained and improved to ensure that tenants had an opportunity to be involved in the service that provides their homes.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

a)            having regard to the results of the tenant and leaseholder consultation and the previous ‘in principle’ decision, the housing management services be brought in-house for direct service provision by the Council;

 

b)            a letter be sent to all tenants and leaseholders and to the Involved Tenant Forum,  thanking them for engaging with the consultation and informing them of the outcome;

 

c)             following resolution (a) above:

 

                                                     i.         that the Council’s contract with its housing management company, Newark and Sherwood Homes Ltd be terminated, the effective date of termination to be agreed with the Company,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

Estate Regeneration - Yorke Drive Estate and Lincoln Road Playing Fields pdf icon PDF 930 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Business Manager – Housing Strategy & Development presented a report which detailed the progress on the Yorke Drive estate and Lincoln Road playing fields regeneration proposals, and sought approval for the project to move onto the next phase of delivery. The report provided updates in respect of planning, demolition and compensation for home loss, resident involvement and a ‘Design Guide’ for the new affordable housing contained within the proposals.

 

With reference to securing a development partner, soft market testing had indicated an appetite amongst developers to be involved in the delivery of this project, and in accordance with the project plan, external legal advice was sought on alternative delivery models. These included a joint venture; full OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) procedure; and OJEU compliant procurement frameworks. Following officer consideration, the preferred model for delivery was to utilise Homes England’s Delivery Partner Panel 3 (DPP3) to procure a development partner.

 

It was reported that during October it was planned to undertake a ‘Resident Needs Survey’ with every household impacted by the demolition proposals. In addition, a Decant Policy was being drafted to set out how the Council intended to manage the process of moving residents from their homes in order to facilitate the regeneration proposals. This policy would include how and when alternative accommodation would be made available to those residents requiring a move, the support to be offered to enable a move and the mechanisms available to assist current homeowners who wished to remain on the estate.

 

The delivery of the Yorke Drive Regeneration project relied on the demolition of 130 properties to facilitate new development, infrastructure and the physical opening of the estate to Lincoln Road providing a new frontage. The Council had already began to consider the re-housing of existing tenants and the acquisition of privately owned homes within the area marked for demolition. The Council could only purchase the privately owned properties either with agreement from the homeowner or through a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). Officers would support home owners to facilitate a voluntary move to meet their needs. However, to ensure that the project could be delivered, and to mitigate identified risks, consideration needed to be given to the Council applying for a CPO that would run alongside the voluntary negotiation process. However, CPO was seen very much as a last resort. In accordance with CPO powers there was a need to identify the area of land that an order would apply to. This was identified in a revised Appendix B to the report.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

a)            the Council’s financial commitment to the scheme and capital budget for 2019/20, the details of which were set out in the exempt report, be approved;

 

b)            subject to the financial commitment being agreed as indicated in a) above, to approve that a procurement exercise be undertaken through Homes England’s Delivery Partner Panel (DPP3) to identify a suitable development partner for the delivery of the Yorke Drive estates and Lincoln Road playing fields regeneration proposals,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

25.

Armed Forces Covenant Update pdf icon PDF 292 KB

Minutes:

The Policy & Projects Officer presented a report which updated the Committee about Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) at the Council. The report demonstrated the additional ways in which the Council would support the AFC and sought approval for the approval of sharing information via the full Council meeting in order to raise further awareness of the armed forces community in the District and about AFC working.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

(a)     the enhanced Armed Forces Covenant working outlined in proposals 3.1 - 3.8 of the report be noted;

 

(b)     raising awareness of Armed Forces Covenant working be supported through:

i.     induction training for Members;

ii.    a review of Armed Forces Covenant working at Full Council in 2019;

iii.   a launch event for the Buddy Scheme; and

 

(c)     advocacy for the Armed Forces Covenant and the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme outside the Council as required, be supported.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To guarantee that members of the Armed Forces community in the District experience no disadvantage and to enhance Newark & Sherwood District Council’s Armed Forces Covenant working.

 

26.

General Dispensations pdf icon PDF 330 KB

Minutes:

The Director – Governance & Organisational Development presented a report which sought to issue all Members of the Council with a blanket dispensation for the remainder of the Council’s four year term. This was required in order to provide an additional safeguard to enable all Members to speak and vote, where they would otherwise have a disclosable pecuniary interest, where the interest is one, which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts, would not reasonably regard as so significant that it was likely to prejudice the Member’s judgement. The blanket dispensation would include housing where the Member was a tenant of the Council, provided that the functions did not relate particularly to the Member’s tenancy or lease, and setting the Council Tax where the Member held property interests within the District.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that a general dispensation be granted to all Members of Newark & Sherwood District Council on the grounds set out in the report for the remainder of the current administration of the Council.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To enable Members to speak and vote on matters where they would otherwise have a disclosable pecuniary interest but that interest is remote, trivial or insignificant and would not influence their judgement of the public interest.

 

27.

Community Plan - Quarter 1 2019/20 Performance Report pdf icon PDF 586 KB

Minutes:

The Chief Executive presented a report which informed Members of the position against actions and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the Council’s Community Plan 2019/23 at the end of quarter 1 for 2019/20. The Community Plan 2019/23 was adopted on 7 March 2019 and set out the Council’s purpose, values and objectives along with improvement/development actions above and beyond normal day to day service related activities. 

 

There were a total of 138 actions within the plan, as well as 85 KPIs used to measure progress against the plan.  Of the KPIs, 37 were collected quarterly, 1 on a six monthly basis, 46 annually and 1 every four years. The report is for quarter 1 focused on the 37 quarterly KPIs.

 

The Business Manager – Human Resources & Organisational Development gave a short presentation to the Committee which advised of objectives; the KPIs; actions; and a flavour of what the Council had been doing and new and or developing emphasis.

 

The Committee welcomed the stretched targets within the Community Plan and referred to the positive reaction the Plan had received in the community.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the summary of position against actions and Key Performance Indicators in the Community Plan as at the end of quarter one be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To enable Members to proactively monitor and manage achievement of the Council’s objectives as set out in the Community Plan.

 

28.

Information Requests, Complaints and RIPA Update pdf icon PDF 280 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director – Governance & Organisational Development presented a report which detailed the activity in relation to requests made to the Council during 2018/19 under the General Data Protection Regulation, Data Protection Act 2018, Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The report also advised of the complaints made to the Local Government Ombudsman and the use by the Council of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) during 2018/19.

 

In respect of RIPA, the Director – Governance & Organisational Development advised that the opportunity had been taken to update the Council’s Policy to make it more user friendly and include more guidance for officers to follow. In addition, there had been some changes to senior Director posts since the current version of the Policy was adopted and these had also been updated.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted, and the amended RIPA Policy, as attached at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To update the Council’s RIPA Policy and inform Members of activities in relation to information requests, complaints made to the Local Government Ombudsman and the use of RIPA in 2018/19.

 

29.

Newark Town Museum Delegation pdf icon PDF 251 KB

Minutes:

The Director – Growth & Regeneration presented a report which detailed a request from Newark Town Council that the District Council delegates to it the exercise of the powers set out in Section 12 of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, to allow it to continue to provide and maintain a museum and art gallery.

 

Newark Town Council had recently discovered that they did not possess an ability to run an accredited Museum and Gallery, notwithstanding that they had done so since 1997. Section 206 of the Local Government Act defined local authorities for the purposes of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 in England. However, this did not include town and parish councils. Under the Localism Act 2011 and Local Authorities: General Power of Competence 2012 a town or parish council may incur expenditure for museum provision. However, Newark Town Council did not currently fulfil the requirements laid out in the General Power of Competence, meaning it could not officially run an accredited museum.

 

Such an ‘oversight’ had only recently been identified elsewhere, and other authorities had taken the precautionary measure of formally delegating this function to a relevant town or parish Council. It was therefore proposed that the District Council formally delegates to Newark Town Council an ability to continue to operate a museum. It was also recommended that such delegation be conditional upon the museum continuing to maintain its accredited status and any significant changes to the existing demise or content being firstly agreed with the District Council.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

(a)     the Director – Growth & Regeneration be given delegated authority to formally delegate to Newark Town Council (for as long as it remains a Town Council), subject to Arts Council England Museum Accreditation Status being maintained, those powers under Section 12 of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to provide and maintain a museum and art gallery at the Town Council’s current extent of demise of the ‘Newark Town Hall Museum and Art Gallery’ under a legal agreement which also sets out the standards and policy aims of museum service to be provided;

 

(b)     the Director – Growth & Regeneration be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Business Manager - Legal Services and the Business Manager - Heritage, Culture & Visitors to finalise negotiations on the standards and policy aims of the museum service to be provided by the Town Council at the ‘Newark Town Hall Museum and Art Gallery’; and

 

(c)     the Director – Growth & Regeneration be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Business Manager - Heritage, Culture & Visitors, to negotiate and amend any future revisions to the demise, standards, and policy aims of the ‘Newark Town Hall Museum and Art Gallery’.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To allow Newark Town Council to continue to deliver a Museum and Art Gallery.

 

30.

Proposed Plan of Action in response to the Council's Declaration of a Climate Emergency pdf icon PDF 371 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Policy & Projects Officer presented a report which proposed a plan of action and indicative timetable in response to the Climate Change Emergency which was declared by the Full Council at their meeting held on16 July 2019. In response to the declaration a project group had been established to examine how the Council should most appropriately respond. The appendix to the report summarised the current activities undertaken by the Council which could be described as having a positive impact in terms of reducing the Council’s carbon footprint and set out how further interventions could reduce this further.

 

However, it was noted that whilst data was available at a district level in terms of carbon emissions it was not possible to describe the District Council’s contribution to the footprint. Therefore, establishing a baseline would enable the Council to understand its current performance and be able to consider the interventions and resources required in order to reduce its footprint further.

 

The recommendations from the project group in order to deliver the requirements set out in the declaration and indicative milestones were detailed in the report. The Policy & Projects Officer confirmed that the Leisure & Environment Committee had endorsed these recommendations and timetable at their meeting held on 24 September 2019.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

(a)     the course of action and indicative timetable as set out in the report be approved;

 

(b)     a Climate Change Working Group be established under the direction of this Committee, to comprise the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Opposition Spokespersons on the Policy & Finance, Leisure & Environment, Economic Development and Homes & Communities Committees; and

 

(c)     the proposed budget, to be considered as part of the later Reallocation of Resources report, in relation to the production of the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To respond to the Climate Emergency declared by the Council.

31.

YMCA Community and Activity Village pdf icon PDF 291 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Business Manager – Housing, Health & Community Relations presented a report, which provided a progress update on the YMCA Community & Activity Village project, and sought approval for the District Council’s funding contribution to enable the delivery of Phase 2 of the project.

 

The report detailed the successful completion of Phase 1 of the project and advised that Phase 2 works were on track to commence in the autumn 2019, which would see the construction of the main village building and its immediate surrounds. Phase 2 works had been delayed in order to realise additional funding resources and to provide additional time to secure agreements with substantial stakeholders.

 

A summary of the District Council ongoing financial support towards the project via Section 106 spend was provided in the report. In addition, it was noted that the Council had recently committed a £15,000 contribution to the YMCA Tall Ships Adventure under the Council’s delegation arrangements for dealing with matters of urgency.

 

In respect of the Elm Avenue site the Director – Growth & Regeneration reported that the sale of the land had yet to be concluded, but the YMCA had requested the District Council forward fund £150,000 of its anticipated capital receipt to support the delivery of Phase 2. In addition, he advised that discussions were still ongoing with Tarmac in relation to additional land to allow an improved cycle track and boating offer but it was not proposed to contribute any additional monies to any lease which may be agreed. Rather, the District Council would take a head lease with the YMCA absorbing a sub-lease.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

a)            Members note the decision made by the Leader of the Council and Leader of the Main Opposition Group to contribute £15,000 to the YMCA Tall Ships Adventure, as detailed at paragraphs 3.4 - 3.6 of the report;

 

b)            Members authorise the forward funding of £150,000 of the overall 50% of capital receipt (minus reasonable fees) from the sale of the Elm Avenue site to the YMCA;

 

c)             Members authorise the allocation of £71,422.32 from the Hoval Section 106 monies, as detailed at paragraph 3.3 of the report to the YMCA Community and Activity Village; and

 

d)            the Director Resources/Deputy Chief Executive be given delegated authority to enter into a lease agreement with Tarmac to secure additional land, as identified on the plan at Annex 1 of the report, for a term of up to 2063 (with the ability to renew up to 2113), subject to terms also being agreed with the YMCA for the overall costs of this lease to be met solely by the YMCA for the lifetime of the lease between NSDC and Tarmac.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To provide an update on the progress of this development and seek approval for the required funding and land assembly to complete Phase 2 of the YMCA Sports and Activity Village.

32.

Ollerton & Boughton Neighbourhood Study pdf icon PDF 921 KB

Minutes:

The Business Manager – Housing Strategy & Development presented a report which, following completion of the Ollerton & Boughton Neighbourhood Study, sought budget approval to enable the submission of a planning application for the allocated site (OB/MU/2) between the Stepnall Heights and Hallam Road estates, subject to a viable development option.

 

At their meeting held on 11 September 2019, the Economic Development endorsed the final draft of the Ollerton & Boughton Neighbourhood Study. The agreed master plan options included the potential opportunity of utilising additional land currently within the boundaries of the Dukeries Academy in order to enhance the recreational and amenity offer to local residents, which was a key theme from the Study. 

 

The report also proposed that a budget of £300,000 be allocated to undertake the necessary detailed feasibility stages leading to the submission of a planning application in respect of the allocated site (OB/MU/2). This would be subject to the identification of a viable development option, informed by undertaking detailed feasibility work.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

(a)          a budget of £70,000 be added to the Capital Programme, financed by the Capital Provision in order to purchase the land in front of the Dukeries Leisure Centre; and

 

(b)          approval be given to the allocation of £300,000 from the Change Management Reserve to enable the submission of a planning application for the allocated site (OB/MU/2), between the Stepnall Heights and Hallam Road estates, subject to the comments of the Economic Development Committee detailed at paragraph 4.1 of the report, and detailed feasibility work and identification of a viable development option.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To develop a Neighbourhood Study approach, in accordance with the Community Plan, so to inform current and future policy development for a study area, to the benefit and prosperity of its residential and business community.

 

33.

General Fund & Capital Projected Outturn Report to 31 March 2020 as at 30 June 2019 pdf icon PDF 299 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director – Resources presented a report which compared the Revised Budgets with the Projected Outturn forecast for the period to 31 March 2020. The forecast to the year end was based on three months performance information on the Council’s revenue and capital budgets including the General Fund Revenue and Capital Programme. The accounts showed a projected unfavourable variance against the revised budget of £0.147m on service budgets, with an overall unfavourable variance of £0.161m. Appendix A to the report detailed the variances in service areas and other budgets.

 

The report also summarised the position for the Capital Programme up to the end of June 2019. Additions and amendments to the Programme were detailed in Appendix B to the report. The reported variations totalled -£1.076m which if approved would reduce the budget to £37.343m. Details of how this would be financed were set out in the report.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

(a)          the General Fund projected unfavourable outturn variance of £0.161m be noted;

 

(b)          the variations to the Capital Programme at Appendix B to the report be approved; and

 

(c)          the Capital Programme projected outturn and financing of £37.343m be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To update Members with the forecast outturn position for 2019/20 financial year.

34.

Resourcing the Delivery of the Community Plan 2019 - 2023 pdf icon PDF 506 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director – Resources presented a report which informed the Committee of the progress in re-alignment of the financial resources to fund the delivery of the Council’s Community Plan priorities. This required the allocation of funding from the Change Management Reserve to fund one off expenditure to support the delivery of the objectives of the Community Plan. The report also sought approval for proposed changes to the base budget that would be presented to the Council’s committees as part of setting the 2020/21 general fund base budget.

 

It was reported that around £400,000 of the current base budget had been identified as being able to be re-allocated to support the delivery of the Community Plan objectives. In addition to base line changes to the budget, £480,000 had been identified, as being required as one off expenditure to be funded from use of the Change Management Reserve and the Cleaner, Safer, Greener (CSG) reserve.

 

The report identified the following areas where additional resourcing in line with the Community Plan would be required: Housing, Health and Community Relations; Waste, Trade Waste and Grounds Maintenance; Growth and Regeneration; Corporate Capital Projects; land at Lowfield Lane; Lorry Park Security; Apprenticeships; Information Technology; and Commercialisation and Major Projects.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

(a)          the Committee support the work done to re-allocate the Councils general fund revenue budgets to fund the corporate objectives set out in the Community Plan;

 

(b)     the transfer of £374,056 from the Change Management Reserve and £17,000 from the Cleaner, Safer, Greener (CSG) reserve be noted;

 

(c)     the in-year change to the revenue budget of £88,160 funded from the Change Management Reserve for 2019/20 be approved and be presented to the relevant Committees of the Council as part of the budget proposals for 2020/21; and

 

(d)     the proposed changes, totalling £326,352, to the budgets for 2020/21, that will be presented to the relevant Committees of the Council as part of the budget proposals for 2020/21 be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To allocate financial resources that will underpin the delivery of the Community Plan objectives.

35.

Newark Lorry Park pdf icon PDF 306 KB

Minutes:

The Director – Resources presented a report which updated Members on the completed Newark Lorry Park Extension Project, the Lorry Park 5 Year Business Plan (exempt Appendix to the report) and the Lorry Park Café.

 

It was reported that the extension of the lorry park had been a successful project. It had delivered the requisite 167 lorry parking spaces within budget and with a contribution back to the Council’s Capital Programme of £68,095. Furthermore, the installation of the fuel bunker which would be operational from September 2019, together with the proposed increase in the tariff to £16.50, from April 2020, would increase the income to the Council, thereby reducing the payback period below the 4 year period that was predicted when the project was given initial approval. In addition, in order to further improve the offer to the users of the lorry park, proposals were included in the business case to renovate and modernise the café at the lorry park. It was considered that these proposed changes would enhance the experience of the customers and potentially further increase revenue to the Council.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

a)            Members note the exempt Newark Lorry Park 5 Year Business Plan as approved by the Economic Development Committee; and

 

b)      Members note the saving of £68,095 and approve that this sum be added to the available funding of future projects in the Council’s Capital Programme.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To generate additional revenue for the Council and to provide secure, high quality parking for Lorries, HGVs and coaches as well as provide for the wellbeing of drivers through the provision of quality facilities.

 

36.

Parish and Town Council Initiative Fund 2020 - 2023 pdf icon PDF 264 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Business Manager – Housing, Health & Community Relations presented a report which sought approval for the criteria for the new Parish & Town Council Initiative Fund 2020 – 2023. The fund was a year 1 priority for delivery as part of objective 10 in the Council’s Community Plan to ‘increase participation with the Council and within local communities’.  This was aligned to the delivery of the Cleaner, Safer, Greener (CSG) priorities. The proposed criteria for the Fund had been developed in order to support projects and initiatives from parish and town councils which contribute to the CSG objectives.

 

The fund proposed that potential grants would be allocated over a three-year cycle, consisting of two grant panels per year.  In year one it was proposed that the focus would be applications that supported the ‘greener’ principle, year two the ‘safer’ principle and year three the ‘cleaner’ principle. It was proposed that the awarding panel would consist of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Policy & Finance, Homes & Communities and Leisure & Environment Committees along with the Leaders of the Labour, Independent and Liberal Democrat Groups, creating a panel consisting of nine Members.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

(a)          the Parish and Town Council Initiative Fund criteria for 2020 – 2023 be approved; and

 

(b)          the composition of the Member Panel, as set out in the report, be approved.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To enable the Council to deliver key objectives within the Community Plan 2019 - 2023.

37.

European Union Exit Preparedness Report pdf icon PDF 262 KB

Minutes:

The Director – Communities & Environment presented a report which provided the Committee with an update in respect of the preparations being made by the Council relating to EU exit preparedness. It was noted that the preparations being taken were in line with advice received from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and other Government departments.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

(a)          Members note the Council preparations and sign-post their ward constituents, if required, to the available resources via the Council web site and Customer Services advice; and

 

(b)          Members seek any further advice required from the Brexit Lead Officer, Matthew Finch.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To actively manage the EU Exit, achieving a smooth transition for all in the District.

38.

Equalities Update pdf icon PDF 668 KB

Minutes:

The Director – Governance & Organisational Development presented a report which provided Members with an update on the progress made over the last year towards the Council’s corporate equalities objectives and the gender pay gap. The report also gave an overview of activities planned for the future.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

 

a)            the report and the progress made against the Council’s equality and diversity objectives be noted; and

 

b)            the Committee note the outcomes and findings of the Gender Equality Pay Gap report and in particular the positive reduction of 5.26% compared to the  2017 outturn.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To keep Members informed of progress made against the objectives included within the Council’s adopted Equality and Diversity Strategy and the Gender Pay Gap Report.

39.

Urgency Item - Joseph Whitaker School Community Facilities Improvements pdf icon PDF 260 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the decision to allocate a community facilities contribution of £50,294, held under the Section 106 Agreement AG859, to Joseph Whitaker School as a contribution towards improvements to the community leisure facilities and that the appropriate provision be made in the Council’s Capital Programme for the scheme. 

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the Urgency Item be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To improve the community infrastructure in Rainworth.

40.

Urgency Item - New Swimming Pool at Dukeries Leisure Centre pdf icon PDF 254 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the decision that an instruction to proceed to RIBA Stage 3 and 4 had been issued to Total Swimming, the project developer.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the Urgency Item be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To ensure that the project proceeds without unnecessary delay.

41.

Urgency Item - Budget Re-profile required to enhance the Garden Waste Software System pdf icon PDF 261 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the decision to redirect £20,000 of funding to Information Technology Investment to enhance the garden waste software provision and to use the remaining £6,000 to purchase garden waste bins for new customers.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the Urgency Item be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To enhance the software in order to meet the garden waste renewal schedule.

42.

Urgency Item - Use of Section 106 Funds for Vicar Water Play Area Refurbishment pdf icon PDF 266 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the decision to set up a £64,000 capital budget which would be used to refurbish the play area at Vicar Water Country Park.

 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the Urgency Item be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To ensure the project to improve the play area proceeded without unnecessary delay.

43.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

To consider resolving that, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public 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 Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Minutes:

AGREED      (unanimously) that, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

44.

Estate Regeneration - Yorke Drive and Lincoln Road Playing Fields

Minutes:

The Committee considered the exempt report of the Director – Governance & Organisational Development concerning the Yorke Drive Estate and Lincoln Road Playing fields Estate Regeneration.

 

(Summary provided in accordance with Section 100C(2) of the Local Government Act 1972).

 

 

 

 

45.

London Road Car Park Extension Options Appraisal

Minutes:

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

46.

Newark Lorry Park (confidential appendix only)

Minutes:

The Committee considered the exempt Business Plan for the Newark Lorry Park.

 

(Summary provided in accordance with Section 100C(2) of the Local Government Act 1972).