Agenda and minutes

The Chair advised the Council that the meeting was being recorded and streamed online in accordance with usual practice.

Councillors J Lee and P Taylor notified the Council that they would be recording parts of the meeting.

Those Members on Newark Town Council declared other registerable interests in relation to Agenda Item No. 12 – Community Governance Review.

The Council noted the interests previously declared by Members in Agenda Item No. 14 – Minutes for Noting.

AGREED     that the minutes from the meeting held on 20 May 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair opened the meeting with her ‘moment of reflection’ referring to her recent stay in hospital and the devastating flooding in Texas. The Chair then invited Councillor P Rainbow to read a prayer.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate & the Environment advised the Council that Sherwood Avenue Park had become the Council’s sixth park to achieve Green Flag Award. 

The Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture & the Arts updated the Council on the Castle Gatehouse project which was now a reality and thanked officers and the former Portfolio Holder for their work on this long-term project.  The Portfolio Holder also informed Members that the unveiling of the Kiddey Stones sculptures and Trail was taking place later in the week.

In accordance with Rule No. 3.3.3 the following question has been submitted to the Council from Councillor Johno Lee:

Potential Impact of Boundary Changes on Health, Wellbeing, and Leisure Services in Nottinghamshire

“As Nottinghamshire considers transitioning to a unitary authority, concerns have arisen regarding the potential impact of boundary changes on essential services, particularly those under your portfolio of Health, Wellbeing, and Leisure. Given your extensive involvement in community health initiatives, including your role as Chair of the Friends of Newark Cemetery and your advocacy for improved healthcare access, your insights on this matter are invaluable.

Nottingham City Council has faced significant financial challenges in recent years. In November 2023, the Council issued a Section 114 notice due to a £23 million overspend for the 2023-24 financial year, primarily attributed to rising social care costs, increased homelessness, and inflationary pressures. The collapse of Robin Hood Energy in 2020 further exacerbated the Council’s financial position, resulting in a loss of £38 million.

In contrast, Nottinghamshire County Council has demonstrated prudent financial management. The 2024/25 budget reflects an increase in overall spending of over £47 million, with more than £160 million invested in capital projects across the county. However, the Council is projected to spend an additional £31 million on adult social care, highlighting the existing pressures on essential services.

Given your commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles and ensuring residents have access to affordable, nutritious food, as evidenced by your participation in initiatives like the Crop Drop scheme and cookery classes for young people, there is a valid concern that any division of the current County Council area could lead to reduced funding for Nottinghamshire’s unitary authority. This reduction could, in turn, impair the delivery of health, wellbeing, and leisure services, with detrimental effects on our residents.

In light of these potential risks, do you agree that maintaining the integrity of the Nottinghamshire County Council area during the transition to a unitary authority is essential to safeguard the funding and effectiveness of our health, wellbeing, and leisure services?”

In accordance with Rule No. 3.3.3, one question had been submitted by Councillor J Lee to the Council.  Details of the question put forward and the response given by Councillor S Crosby are attached as Appendix A to the Minutes.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive, which provided an update on the Government’s requirement for Local Government Reorganisation, including the work undertaken to determine which option to develop as a final proposal for submission to the Government in November 2025.

At the Extraordinary Meeting held on 19 March 2025, the Council agreed to endorse the Interim Plan for submission to the Government. Feedback on the Interim Plan reiterated encouragement for areas to work together to submit a single proposal, whilst acknowledging the opportunity for individual Councils to submit their own proposals. One key theme that emerged more prominently was the need to demonstrate how new unitary structures would enable neighbourhood empowerment, with local areas being invited to come forward with proposals to create local area committees or other local engagement and decision-making forums.

The interim plan contained three options for unitary structures in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – 1b as Nottingham City conurbation to include Broxtowe and Gedling, and the rest of Nottinghamshire; 1e as Nottingham City conurbation to include Broxtowe and Rushcliffe, and the rest of Nottinghamshire; and 2 as Nottingham City to remain the same and the rest of Nottinghamshire. The option appraisal work undertaken by PWC had concluded that option 2 demonstrated the weakest alignment with the Government’s criteria and it was therefore anticipated that this option would be rejected by all Nottinghamshire Councils.

The PWC independent appraisal concluded that options 1b and 1e both met the Government’s criteria and the differences between each were marginal. The report gave an officer steer as to a recommended option having regard to the options appraisal. The focus was on the operational, service delivery implications in relation to options 1b and 1e. The differences in geography and land area covered by the two options were also an area of consideration.

As part of the recommendation to progress the development of option 1e as the Council’s preferred option, there was a further recommendation to register, as part of the Council’s submission to amend the boundary so the whole of the Newark Parliamentary Constituency would form part of the ‘north Notts’ unitary authority. The rationale for this being that this would strengthen community identity and provide for more “sensible” geography with the whole of the Newark Parliamentary Constituency being covered by a single unitary authority. 

Councillor P Peacock proposed, and Councillor R Cozens seconded the report recommendations.

In accordance with Rule No. 4.6.1, Councillor J Kellas moved and Councillor T Wendels seconded an amendment to the report recommendations as follows:

The Full Council endorses the following recommendations to Cabinet for formal approval:

a)       to consider the options appraisal and summary document provided by PwC UK (Appendices 1 and 2 to the report);

b)       to recommend to Cabinet the development of Option 1B as this Council’s preferred option for submission as a final proposal to Government by 28 November 2025;

c)       to ensure the involvement of Town and Parish Councils and other local community and business organisations in the development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

The Council considered the report of the Assistant Director Legal & Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer, which sought to adopt the terms of reference and membership for the two new committees – Audit & Accounts Committee and Governance, General Purposes & Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Committee.

Further to the resolution of the Full Council at the last meeting, the Audit & Governance Committee had considered draft terms of reference for the two new Committees at its meeting held on 2 July 2025. The terms of reference for the two new committees were set out in the appendix to the report, and these had been recommended for approval by the Audit & Governance Committee.

The report also proposed a schedule of meetings for the two new committees for the remainder of the municipal year and proposed arrangements for convening the Independent Remuneration Panel to consider Special Responsibility Allowances.

AGREED     (unanimously) that:

a)           the Terms of Reference for the two new Committees as set out in the Appendix Bto the report be approved;

b)          the proposed meeting schedule for the two new Committees as set out in paragraphs 2.5 and 2.6 of the report be approved;

c)           the arrangements to convene an Independent Remuneration Panel to undertake a full review of Members’ Special Responsibility Allowances as set out in the report, be noted; and

d)          a cost envelope of £2,200 for the Independent Remuneration Panel is confirmed.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive, which sought to reconsider the allocation of seats to political groups in accordance with the political balance rules, following the changes made to the Council’s Committees.

The political composition of the Council and allocation of seats to committees was considered at the Annual Meeting held on 20 May 2025. Whilst the political composition of the Council remained unchanged from the last meeting, the changes in the structure of committees had impacted on the number of seats on committees, which had decreased from 77 to 71. The matrix at Appendix A to the report set out the proposed allocation of seats to political groups on committees reflecting this change.

AGREED     (unanimously) that the allocation of seats to Political Groups (as set out at Appendix B to these minutes) be approved.

The Council were circulated with a proposed schedule of appointments to the Council’s Committees following the changes made to the structure of the Committees. The resolution of the Annual Meeting of the Council had confirmed the appointments of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees. 

AGREED     (unanimously) that the appointments of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs on Committees be noted, and the appointment of other Members to Committees etc. as set out in the schedule attached as Appendix C to these minutes, be approved.

The Council considered the report of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Services, which sought to approve the Final Recommendations following the Community Government Review of Newark Town Council which had been undertaken by the General Purposes Committee. 

In accordance with the Local Government & Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, the Council had the responsibility for undertaking community governance reviews. The context for the review was the housing development that was being delivered in the south of the town and the anticipated development that was not being delivered in the east. The review also sought to ensure that Member representation was equitable across the Town Council.

The Final Recommendations, as set out in Appendix B to the report, contained minimal changes to existing arrangements, but it was considered that these would ensure appropriate electoral arrangements ahead of the next full Town Council election scheduled to be held in May 2027.

AGREED     (unanimously) that:

a)           the Final Recommendations as set out at Appendix B to the report be approved and published  on the Council’s website; and

b)          the appropriate Community Governance Order be made following notification to interested parties of the outcome of the review.

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, the following motions are to be considered

Motion One – Mandating Swift Bricks in New Developments

Motion Two – Protecting Areas of Significance for Nature

Motion One – Mandating Swift Bricks in New Developments

In accordance with Rule No. 3.4.3 Councillor E Oldham moved and Councillor C Penny seconded a motion to the following effect:

“This Council acknowledges the significant and ongoing decline in swift and other cavity-nesting bird populations across the UK, with four species known to use swift bricks now on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. These species, including swifts and house martins, rely entirely on buildings for breeding and are rapidly losing nesting sites due to modern construction practices and insulation schemes that seal off access to traditional cavities.

Council therefore resolves to:

1.          Formally support the call to mandate swift bricks through an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and/or via changes to Building Regulations.

2.          Write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the two local MP’s for Newark and Sherwood Forest, and relevant Ministers at DEFRA, urging the UK Government to:

-         Accept or table an amendment to the Bill requiring mandatory installation of swift bricks in all suitable new housing developments

-         Commit to updating Building Regulations to incorporate integral nest bricks for cavity-nesting birds as standard.

3.          Ask officers to explore the implications of mandating swift bricksacross all new HRA suitable properties and NSDC commercial buildings and report to Cabinet as soon as practicable.

4.          Ask Arkwood to consider committing to installing swift bricks across all suitable properties,complementing those planned for Lowfield Lane.

5.          Encourage developers within Newark and Sherwood District to install swift bricks in all suitable new residential developments and publish guidance on best practice placement.

6.          Support the Planning Policy team to continue exploring opportunitiesto embed swift bricks within local planning policy or supplementary planning guidance—such as in future iterations of the Newark Town Centre Design Code—and report back with options for their inclusion in upcoming Local Plan updates and biodiversity net gain assessments.”

The motion, on being put to the vote, was agreed unanimously.

Motion Two – Protecting Areas of Significance for Nature

In accordance with Rule No. 3.4.3 Councillor K Melton moved and Councillor M Spoors seconded a motion to the following effect:

“Newark and Sherwood District Council calls upon the Government to amend Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill before it becomes an Act of Parliament.

Developers must be required to demonstrate that their projects will not harm biodiversity or reduce the resilience of natural ecosystems, with financial offsets only used as a supplementary measure under strict regulatory oversight.

Furthermore, NSDC resolves to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to express our concerns regarding these changes in the following terms:

Re: Concerns Over the Nature Restoration Fund in Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

I am writing on behalf of Newark and Sherwood District Council expressing our serious concerns regarding Part 3 of the Government’s Planning & Infrastructure Bill that involves proposals that will allow some developments to make payments into  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Minute No. 278 – Review of the Council’s Carbon Net Neutral Target (Key Decision)

Councillor K Melton expressed his concern over the decision taken by the Cabinet to retain the current carbon net neutral target and to defer any decision on the housing stock and sought reassurance that this issue is kept under review.

Councillor S Forde confirmed that any well-costed and viable ideas would be considered.

Councillor M Spoors added that ‘cooler homes’ was also an issue that needed to be addressed. Councillor L Brazier confirmed this was being considered.