Agenda and minutes

AGREED      that that minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2018 beapproved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

NOTED       the interests declared as shown in the schedule circulated at the meeting.

Other than the Council recording in accordance with usual practice, there were no declarations of intention to record the meeting.

The Chairman of the Council advised Members that his Civic Service would be held on the 28 April 2019 at 10.30am at All Saints Church, Elston.

The Chief Executive advised Members of the candidates and agents briefing session ahead of the District and Parish elections.  This would be held on Monday, 4 March 2019 at 5.00pm, in the Civic Suite, Castle House, Newark. 

The Council considered the joint report of the Director of Governance & Organisational Development and Deputy Chief Executive/Director - Resources concerning the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2019/2020.  Under the Council’s Constitution the Housing Revenue Account Self Financing Business Plan would be formulated and reviewed by the Policy & Finance Committee and recommended to Council for approval.  A major element of the Business Plan comprised the annual Housing Revenue Account budget.

The annual Housing Revenue Account budget for 2019/20 and financial plan to 2022/23, including proposals for rent levels for 2019/20, was considered by the Policy & Finance Committee at their meeting held on 24 January 2019. 

The report considered by the Policy & Finance Committee on 24 January 2019 was attached as an appendix to the report.  This provided the actual outturn of the HRA for 2017/18; examined the proposed income and expenditure on the HRA for 2019/20 in accordance with Section 76 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, to avoid a deficit on the Housing Revenue Account; provided the indicative figures of income and expenditure for the financial years 2020/21 to 2022/23; set rent levels and service charges for Council housing properties with effect from 1 April 2019; set charges for garage rents, plots and garage ports with effect from 1 April 2019; set housing support service charges and all other service charges with effect from 1 April 2019; set rent levels for the Councils temporary accommodationwith effect from 1 April 2019; detailed the annual management fee payable to Newark and Sherwood Homes, in accordance with the Management Agreement. 

In respect of the annual management fee payable to Newark and Sherwood Homes it was reported that this was still to be formally agreed with the Council.  Therefore delegated authority had been given to the Director of Governance and Organisational Development to agree this with Newark and Sherwood Homes which would inform an updated HRA Budget once finalised

In the report to the Policy & Finance Committee it was also noted that in 2019/20, 53 Mondays fell in the financial year, which had created an issue with rent collection when a tenant was in receipt of Universal Credit and whilst these matters were being considered the HRA budget had been prepared on a 52 week rent basis.

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

(a)          the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix A to the Policy & Finance report, noting the delegation to the Director of Governance and Organisational Development to agree the 2019/20 Management Fee with Newark and Sherwood Homes, be approved;

(b)          additional payments for the management of Gladstone House be made to Newark and Sherwood Homes, subject to the Homes & Communities Committee approval;

(c)          the rent of all properties in the Housing Revenue Account, as at 31 March 2019, be decreased by 1% in accordance with Welfare Reform and Works Act with effect from 1 April 2019;

(d)          the rent on temporary accommodation be increased by CPI plus 1% (3.4%) with effect from 1 April 2019;

(e)          all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

The Council considered the report of Deputy Chief Executive/Director – Resources which provided an update on the Council’s treasury activity and prudential indicators for the first half of 2018/19.  It was reported that none of the Prudential Indicators had been breached and a prudent approach had been taken in relation to the investment activity, with priority given to security and liquidity over yield.

Following consultation in 2017, CIPFA published new versions of the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities (Prudential Code) and the Treasury Management Code of Practice but had yet to publish the local authority specific Guidance Notes to the latter.  In England revised Investment Guidance came into effect from April 2018.  The updated Prudential Code included a new requirement for local authorities to provide a Capital Strategy, which was a summary document approved by Full Council covering capital expenditure and financing, treasury management and non-treasury investments.

The Code also recommended that Members were informed of Treasury Management activities at least twice a year.  The report provided a number of regulatory updates on Treasury Management, Investment and Borrowing Strategies.

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

(a)     the new Prudential Indicator for Interest Rate Exposure contained within the Treasury Management Strategy, as detailed in Section 5 of the report, be approved;

(b)     the treasury activity be noted;

(c)     the Prudential Indicators, as detailed in Section 10 of the report, be noted;

(d)     the business model applied to all current investment relating to IFRS9 (Sections 4.5 and 9.2 of the report refer) was to ‘achieve objectives by collecting contractual cash flows’; and

(e)     the Lloyds Set Off agreement, as detailed at Section 12.1 and 12.2 of the report, be noted and approved.

The Council considered the report of Chief Executive which sought approval of amendments to the Nottinghamshire Economic Prosperity Committee’s Terms of Reference.  The Terms of Reference could only be amended by resolution of each of the constituent authorities and given the joint committee had delegated powers this required approval by the Council.

The proposed amendments were designed to reflect changes in the operating environment since the Economic Prosperity Committee was established in 2013.  The main substantive addition would enable discussion of issues that cut across local authority boundaries and to agree to align activity where this would benefit local authorities and citizens.  A copy of the revised constitution for the committee was attached as appendix A to the report.

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

(a)     the proposed amended Terms of Reference for the Joint Economic Prosperity Committee be approved; and

(b)     the Director – Governance & Organisational Development be given delegated authority to carry out the necessary amendments to the Council’s Constitution.

The Council considered the report of the Director – Growth & Regeneration which advised Members of the result of the Kings Clipstone Neighbourhood Plan Referendum and sought approval to formally adopt the Plan.

The Referendum was held on 31 January 2019 with the question ‘Do you want Newark and Sherwood District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Kings Clipstone to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’  The result was 97 yes and 16 no.  In order for the neighbourhood plan to be ‘made’ it required formal adoption by the Council.

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

(a)     the report be noted; and

(b)          the Council ‘make’ the referendum version of the Kings Clipstone Neighbourhood Plan confirming that it forms part of the Development Plan for Newark & Sherwood District.

In accordance with Rule No 13.1, Councillor K. Girling will move and Councillor D. Staples will second a motion to the following effect:

Motion to Council on Modern Slavery:

•     Though it’s approaching 200 years since the abolition of the slave trade, it is estimated that there are more slaves today than ever before.  Figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggest that there are more than 40 million people in modern slavery across the world, with nearly 25 million in forced labour.

•     There were 5145 victims of modern slavery submitted to the National Referral Mechanism in 2017, a 35% increase on 2016.  A rising number but still well below the 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims estimated by the Home Office.

•     Modern slavery is happening nationwide and within Nottinghamshire, traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.  This can include sexual and criminal exploitation.

Newark & Sherwood District Council resolves to:

•     Raise public awareness about modern slavery, working with the media and local partners to highlight the prevalence of modern slavery.

•     Regularly train our staff to identify victims of slavery and to ensure they are referred for suitable support.

•     Work proactively with Nottinghamshire Police and other enforcement agencies to prevent and disrupt modern slavery, taking a robust response against perpetrators.

•     Investigate how best to ensure that the Council’s procurement arrangements minimise the risk of modern slavery within its own supply chain.

Proposed by: Councillor Keith Girling

Seconded by: Councillor David Staples

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 13.1 Councillor K. Girling moved and Councillor D. Staples seconded a motion to the following effect:

“Though it’s approaching 200 years since the abolition of the slave trade, it is estimated that there are more slaves today than ever before.  Figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggest that there are more than 40 million people in modern slavery across the world, with nearly 25 million in forced labour.

There were 5145 victims of modern slavery submitted to the National Referral Mechanism in 2017, a 35% increase on 2016. A rising number but still well below the 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims estimated by the Home Office.

Modern slavery is happening nationwide and within Nottinghamshire, traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment. This can include sexual and criminal exploitation.

Newark & Sherwood District Council resolves to:

•     Raise public awareness about modern slavery, working with the media and local partners to highlight the prevalence of modern slavery.

•     Regularly train our staff to identify victims of slavery and to ensure they are referred for suitable support.

•     Work proactively with Nottinghamshire Police and other enforcement agencies to prevent and disrupt modern slavery, taking a robust response against perpetrators.

•     Investigate how best to ensure that the Council’s procurement arrangements minimise the risk of modern slavery within its own supply chain.”

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

60a      POLICY & FINANCE COMMITTEE – 24 JANUARY 2019

60b      ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – 16 JANUARY 2019

            Minute No. 48 – LDF Update

Councillor R Blaney informed the Council of the ongoing delay in respect of the receipt of the Amended Core Strategy report from the Planning Inspector for fact-checking.  He advised that the ongoing delay would impact upon the Local Development Scheme timetable given the now close proximity of the District Council elections and start of the purdah period.  He confirmed that the LDF Task and Finish Group had requested the Director of Growth & Regeneration to write to the Planning Inspectorate to complain about the delay.

Councillor K. Girling agreed that the Director of Growth & Regeneration should write to the Planning Inspectorate in the strongest possible terms.

60c      HOMES & COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE – 14 JANUARY 2019

60d      LEISURE & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE – 22 JANUARY 2019

60e      AUDIT & ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE – 6 FEBRUARY 2019

60f       SHAREHOLDER COMMITTEE – 17 DECEMBER 2019

60g      PLANNING COMMITTEE – 15 JANUARY 2019

60h      PLANNING COMMITTEE – 5 FEBRUARY 2019