Agenda and minutes

Prior to the transaction of business, the Council stood in silence in memory of Neil Tift who worked in Housing Income & Leaseholder Management.

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

NOTED       the interests previously declared by Members in Agenda Item No. 12 – Minutes for Noting.

AGREED     that that minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair informed Members that she had invited two students, Elizabeth Woods and Jaya Kalia, from The Minster School, Southwell, to speak to the Council about their personal aspirations for the future and their thoughts on how the Council may help to improve their community.  Elizabeth and Jaya addressed the Council.

The students were thanked for their attendance by Members.

The Chair also informed Members of recent events both herself and the Vice-Chair had attended on behalf of the Council, including the Boots & Berets Awards Ceremony, the Nottinghamshire Day Flag Raising Ceremony, hosting the Merchant Navy Day Flag Raising, the Tour of Britain, the 84^th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the Council’s own Community & Sports Award. 

The Chair also extended her congratulations to Officers at the National Civil War Centre – Newark Museum who had been awarded the prestigious accolade of winning a ‘Family Friendly Museum of the Year’ award. 

The Chair also announced her charities as Newark Women’s Aid; Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust; and Nottinghamshire Mind (Newark).

The Portfolio Holder for Climate & the Environment thanked the Street Scene Team for their efforts to open the Sherwood Avenue Park. 

The Portfolio Holder for Housing advised that the Council had been shortlisted for the Best Development Team – Rural/Suburban at the Inside Housing Awards.  He also advised that Alexander Lodge was being considered for another award as was Dale Lane, Blidworth.  He also referred to the recently adopted Garden Tidy Scheme which offered one-off support to residents, thanking the Tenant Engagement Board for their support of this initiative.  

In accordance with Rule No. 3.3.3 the following question has been submitted to the Council.

Question from Councillor Roger Jackson to Councillor Paul Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection & Community Relations:

"In light of the recent disclosure that some food outlets in parts of the country are not displaying the correct food hygiene score for their premises, has Newark & Sherwood District Council come across this problem?"

In accordance with Rule No. 3.3.3, one question had been submitted by Councillor R. Jackson to the Council.  Details of the question put forward and the response given by Councillor P. Taylor are attached as Appendix A to the minutes.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive which detailed changes to the appointments made by the Executive Leader of the Council for Portfolio Holders and the Cabinet and also set out new Portfolio Holder remits following the changes. 

AGREED      to note the appointments of the Cabinet Members and Portfolio Holders and the revised remits of Portfolio Holders.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive which sought to approve the allocation of seats to Political Groups in accordance with Appendix A to the report and to the changes to appointments to Committees as detailed in Appendix B to the report. 

The changes were required following the formation of a Green Party Group on the Council.

AGREED      with 34 votes for and 2 abstentions that:

a)            the allocation of seats to Political Groups (as set out in Appendix B to the Minutes) be approved; and

b)            the changes to appointments to Committees (as set out in the Schedule attached as Appendix C to the Minutes) be approved.

NOTED        the record of the urgent decision taken in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Constitution.

Building Regulations

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor R Jackson will move and Councillor R Holloway, will second a motion to the following effect:

“There continues to be pressure for renewable energy solutions such as solar to address our moves towards achieving net zero. A simple way we could help and reduce pressure for solar farms taking up valuable agricultural land would be to require all new housing and warehouses to incorporate solar panels. I know that Part L of the Building Regulations goes some way towards this but I think we can and should go further. I would ask that the Council considers how it could introduce such a policy in the future and that it writes to Angela Rayner, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ask that Building Regulations are strengthened in order to require solar panels on all new developments as standard.”

Winter Fuel Allowance

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor R Holloway will move and Councillor T Smith, will second a motion to the following effect:

“The Labour Government has chosen to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as recently announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

We know that the Winter Fuel Payments play a significant role in helping older residents of Newark and Sherwood and across the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.

It is nationally acknowledged that this Winter Fuel payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the UK and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship, this will have a direct impact on 23,970 Pensioners across the Newark and Sherwood District.

Many of those Pensioners will have been relying on this payment to see them through the coldest winter months and now have no time to set money aside to meet the rising cost of keeping warm.

The decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments, especially with such short notice and without adequate compensatory measures, is deeply unfair and will disproportionately affect the health and well-being of our poorest older residents.

This Council resolves to:

•      Request that the Council Leader write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, and asking the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.

•      Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Newark and Sherwood are supported in claiming their entitlement.”

Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor P Taylor will move and Councillor M Shakeshaft, will second a motion to the following effect:

“The aim of the motion is to express the seriousness  ...  view the full agenda text for item 31.

Building Regulations

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor R Jackson moved and Councillor R Holloway, seconded a motion to the following effect:

“There continues to be pressure for renewable energy solutions such as solar to address our moves towards achieving net zero. A simple way we could help and reduce pressure for solar farms taking up valuable agricultural land would be to require all new housing and warehouses to incorporate solar panels. I know that Part L of the Building Regulations goes some way towards this but I think we can and should go further. I would ask that the Council considers how it could introduce such a policy in the future and that it writes to Angela Rayner, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ask that Building Regulations are strengthened in order to require solar panels on all new appropriate developments as standard.”

The motion, on being put to the vote, was declared lost with 14 votes for, 19 against and 3 abstentions.

Winter Fuel Allowance

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor R Holloway moved and Councillor T Smith, seconded a motion to the following effect:

“The Labour Government has chosen to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as recently announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

We know that the Winter Fuel Payments play a significant role in helping older residents of Newark and Sherwood and across the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.

It is nationally acknowledged that this Winter Fuel payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the UK and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship, this will have a direct impact on 23,970 Pensioners across the Newark and Sherwood District.

Many of those Pensioners will have been relying on this payment to see them through the coldest winter months and now have no time to set money aside to meet the rising cost of keeping warm.

The decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments, especially with such short notice and without adequate compensatory measures, is deeply unfair and will disproportionately affect the health and well-being of our poorest older residents.

This Council resolves to:

•         Request that the Council Leader write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, and asking the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.

•         Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Newark and Sherwood are supported in claiming their entitlement.”

In accordance with Rule No. 4.6.1, Councillor P Peacock moved and Councillor L Brazier seconded an amendment to the motion as follows:

“The Labour Government has chosen to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

In accordance with Rule No. 2.7.2, a Motion to continue the meeting for a further hour was agreed.

Minute No. 159 – Long Term Plan for Towns – Town Plan Investment Plan 2024/2027 (Key Decision)

Councillor P Harris queried why there was no mention of other towns, only Newark, in the Long Term Plan for Towns item.

Councillor P Peacock advised that this was specifically a Long Term Plan for Newark.

Minute No. 182 – Proposal o Adopt the Land and Ongoing Maintenance of the Middlebeck Phase One Development (Key Decision)

Councillor P Harris expressed concern as to the apparent preferred option of appointing a management company to undertake land maintenance. 

Councillor P Peacock advised that it was not possible for the District Council to impose such a condition on a developer, but this was not the position in respect of this site where a management company would not be undertaking the maintenance.

Minute No. 4 – Arkwood Developments Performance Report Quarter 4

Councillor P Harris queried as to why Arkwood Developments were only proposing to fit minimal solar panels on developments whereas they should be leading on this.

Councillor P Peacock advised that he would arrange for Councillor Harris to meet with Arkwood Developments to discuss this further.