Agenda and minutes

AGREED      (unanimously) that minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 21 May 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

In addition to the Council undertaking a video recording of parts of the meeting, Councillor L Goff declared his intention to record parts of the meeting.

The Chief Executive advised the Council of the success of the Housing Options Team and partners in being highly commended in the Municipal Journal Achievement Awards 2019 in the Transforming Lives category. This was in recognition of the innovative and impactful delivery of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement program in Newark & Sherwood. The Chairman invited the following members to the front of the Chamber to be congratulated by the Council: Leanne Monger and Maria Brambles (Newark & Sherwood District Council); Carol Jennings (Citizens Advice); Adel Hamad (Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum); Tamsin Bradley (language tutor); Stacey Bradshaw, Sara Grant and Elaine Rossall (Home-Start, Newark); Michelle Hillary and Jane Geraghty (Support for Syrian Refugees); and Kate Ludlam (Barnbygate Surgery).

The Chairman announced that a cohort of runners were taking part in the Newark Half Marathon on 11 August 2019 to raise money for the Newark Home Start charity which he was supporting.

The Chairman also reminded Members that Floss Newman’s Memorial would take place on Saturday, 27 July 2019 at Newark Castle.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 15 the Council received six questions. Details of the questions submitted by Jane Olson, Paul Moore, Liz Lainé, Donna Bowyer & Max Crow (and Roger Bell), Elena Stardust, and Esther Cropper and the subsequent replies are detailed in Appendix A to the minutes.

‘Save the Park – Cedar / Chestnut Avenue’ – to be presented for debate by the Council by Lucy Howson in accordance with the Council’s Statutory Petitions Scheme.

‘Keep the Elm Avenue stadium as a sports ground for local people’ – to be presented for debate by the Council by Graham Gustard in accordance with the Council’s Statutory Petitions Scheme.

In accordance with the Council’s statutory petition scheme, Lucy Howson presented a petition to the Council in relation to saving the park at Cedar Avenue / Chestnut Avenue on behalf of the Winthorpe Estate Residents Group. 

The petition called upon the Council to save the park for the enjoyment of children and future generations by honouring the perpetuity status which had been granted by the Gilstrap family. It was reported that the written petition and online version had 1,506 signatures.

In opening the debate, the Leader of the Council highlighted a number of inaccuracies made by the lead petitioner and advised that the land did not belong to the District Council but to the Gilstrap Trust.  

Councillor D. Lloyd moved and Councillor K. Girling seconded that the petition be referred to the Planning Committee alongside any future planning application for the site. This proposal on being put to the meeting, was declared carried unanimously.

In addition the Chairman of the Council advised that a second petition ‘Keep the Elm Avenue stadium as a sports ground for local people’ which was due to be debated at this meeting, was to be deferred at the request of the petitioners given that the lead petitioner was unable to attend the meeting.  

The Council considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive/Director – Resources which sought to amend the current Contract Procedure Rules in order to reflect the current arrangements. Under the Council’s Constitution the delegation for adopting and amending Contract Procedure Rules falls to the Council. 

The Rules required updating to reflect that the Council’s procurement services were now being provided by Welland Procurement. There had also been minor amendments to give greater clarity. Appendix A to the report set out the proposed new Contract Procedure Rules with the proposed minor changes in wording highlighted.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the proposed Contract Procedure Rules, as set out at Appendix A to the report, be approved and the Council Constitution be updated accordingly.

(i)                              Climate Change

In accordance with Rule No 13.1, Councillor P. Peacock will move and Councillor Mrs D. Cumberlidge, will second a motion to the following effect:

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have warned that we have 12 years to make the necessary changes to limit a rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C. Failure to act will see a marked increase in sea levels and flooding, extreme and abrupt changes to weather patterns, crop failures, extinctions of plant, insect and animal species and global economic disruption and crisis.[1] The increased frequency and intensity of weather events that we have experienced locally highlight why this is such an important issue for Newark and Sherwood District Council to respond to.

At the Global Climate Talks in Poland last December the UK along with over 200 nations agreed action on climate change with a much greater role strongly implied for Local and Regional Authorities like Newark and Sherwood District Council in assisting Governments to achieve their carbon emission savings.

Newark and Sherwood District Council therefore:

·         Declares a Climate Emergency;

·         Notes that we need to develop measures and set targets to contribute to the challenge of keeping global temperature rises below 1.5°C; and

·         Will take the following measures:

(a) to establish a Newark and Sherwood District Climate Change working group to respond to this challenge, that meets in public with wide representation including from all party groups;

(b) set a target for Newark and Sherwood District to be carbon neutral and develop an action plan by the end of 2020 that will achieve this;

(c) to provide a Climate Change impact assessment on every decision the council makes, within every service review undertaken and every planning application considered;

(d) to work with other local authorities and public, private and voluntary sector partners on carbon reduction projects;

(e) to lobby the Government for the necessary resources and powers so that Newark and Sherwood District Council can make its contribution to the UK’s Carbon Reduction targets; and

(f) to provide and publish an annual review of measures taken by Newark and Sherwood District Council and their impact on the District’s carbon footprint.

(ii)             Disclosure and Barring Service Checks

In accordance with Rule No 13.1, Councillor L. Brazier will move, and Councillor P. Peacock will second a motion to the following effect:

All Councillors to undertake Disclosure and Barring Service Checks within 4 months of taking up office.

Newark and Sherwood District Council doesn’t currently have a policy of mandatory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for members. Whilst the role of Councillor doesn’t necessarily fall under the requirements that are laid out in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, we believe the changing role of Councillor places more demands and exposes Councillors to many more vulnerable situations.

We believe that this is one more step in making the work of councils and councillors more transparent and accountable and that Newark and Sherwood should follow the path taken  ...  view the full agenda text for item 23.

(i)                      Climate Change

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 13.1, Councillor P Peacock moved and Councillor Mrs D Cumberlidge seconded a motion to the following effect:

“The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have warned that we have 12 years to make the necessary changes to limit a rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C. Failure to act will see a marked increase in sea levels and flooding, extreme and abrupt changes to weather patterns, crop failures, extinctions of plant, insect and animal species and global economic disruption and crisis. The increased frequency and intensity of weather events that we have experienced locally highlight why this is such an important issue for Newark and Sherwood District Council to respond to.

At the Global Climate Talks in Poland last December the UK along with over 200 nations agreed action on climate change with a much greater role strongly implied for Local and Regional Authorities like Newark and Sherwood District Council in assisting Governments to achieve their carbon emission savings.

Newark and Sherwood District Council therefore;

·           Declares a Climate Emergency;

·           Notes that we need to develop measures and set targets to contribute to the challenge of keeping global temperature rises below 1.5°C; and

·           Will take the following measures:

(a)   to establish a Newark and Sherwood District Climate Change working group to respond to this challenge, that meets in public with wide representation including from all party groups;

(b)   set a target for Newark and Sherwood District to be carbon neutral and develop an action plan by the end of 2020 that will achieve this;

(c)   to provide a Climate Change impact assessment on every decision the council makes, within every service review undertaken and every planning application considered;

(d)   to work with other local authorities and public, private and voluntary sector partners on carbon reduction projects;

(e)   to lobby the Government for the necessary resources and powers so that Newark and Sherwood District Council can make its contribution to the UK’s Carbon Reduction targets; and

(f)    to provide and publish an annual review of measures taken by Newark and Sherwood District Council and their impact on the District’s carbon footprint.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 26.4, Councillor R Jackson moved and Councillor N Mison seconded an amendment to the motion to change the wording as follows:

“The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have warned that we have 12 years to make the necessary changes to limit a rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C. Failure to act will see a marked increase in sea levels and flooding, extreme and abrupt changes to weather patterns, crop failures, extinctions of plant, insect and animal species and global economic disruption and crisis. The increased frequency and intensity of weather events that we have experienced locally highlight why this is such an important issue for Newark and Sherwood District Council to respond to.

At the Global Climate Talks in Poland last December the UK along with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Details of the questions put forward from Councillor Mrs P Rainbow and Councillor P Harris and the replies given by the appropriate Members are attached as Appendix B to these minutes.