Agenda and minutes

Prior to the transaction of business, the Council stood in silence in memory of former District Councillor, David Payne.

The Chair advised the Council that the meeting was being recorded and streamed

online in accordance with usual practice.

Councillors R Jackson and S Michael declared an interest In Agenda Item No. 13 – Notice of Motion – Cross Party Support for Local Farmers and Protection Against the Impact of Recent Budget Changes – given their profession. However, they considered the motion content would not impact directly on their business and their knowledge would help inform the debate.

In the interest of transparency, Councillor J Hall declared an interest in Agenda Item No. 12 - Review of the Statement of Gambling Policy 2025-25 given her employment.

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

AGREED     that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair announced the winners of the ‘Serving People – Improving Lives’ Awards for staff in 2024. The winners were invited to the Full Council to have their awards re-presented by the Chair and to celebrate their success with Members.

Team of the Year – Financial Services

Manager of the Year – Jenny Walker

Colleague of the Year – Carina Tona

Apprentice of the Year – Emily Price

Chief Executive’s Award – Improvement and Enforcement Team

Members of the Council paid tribute to former Councillor David Payne.

The Leader of the Council referred to recent changes in Members’ positions with a change in the leadership of the Conservative Group and confirmed the appointment of Councillor S Forde as the new Portfolio Holder for Climate & the Environment.

The Leader of the Council also provided an update on the Government’s White Paper on Devolution which set out a clear direction of travel towards unitary authorities. He advised that further information would be available in the New Year.

In accordance with Rule No. 3.3.3 the following question was submitted to the Council from Councillor Rhona Holloway:

“On 17th October 2023 at Full Council the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change at the time, Councillor Melton put forward a motion that:

‘This Council would adopt all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for informing the Local Authorities, Policies, Work Programs, Functions and Initiatives’.

As part of that commitment the Council therefore agreed to the following:

A.  ‘Adopt the UN SDGs as a framework for informing our local authority's policies, work programs, and initiatives.

B.      Contribute to the achievement of the UN SDGs through delivery of the Community Plan.

C.    Actively engage and collaborates with other local authorities, organisations, and community groups to share best practices, experiences, and lessons learned in advancing the UN SDGs.

D.   Receive an annual report from the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change setting out the Council’s contributions to the global agenda for sustainable development.

 “By taking this step, we can also demonstrate our commitment to contribute to the global effort to achieve a more equitable, sustainable and resilient world for future generations’

Members are yet to receive any feedback on this motion or the annual report as outlined at D, and there is no mention on the Council’s website of any activities or outcomes of this work.

I would therefore like to ask the Portfolio Holder for Climate and the Environment the following:-

What impact or influence has this motion had on the decisions the Council has made over the last year, what have been the tangible outcomes of adopting this motion and when can we expect to receive the annual report?”

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

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 notice given by Councillors L Dales and R Holloway that they had left the Conservative Group on the Council. During the debate on this item, it was clarified that the ‘Global Goals Group’ was an informal one comprising the Green and Liberal Democrat Groups on the Council, but these two political groups remained separate.

AGREED      (unanimously) 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.

The Council considered the report of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Services which sought to approve the Schedule of Meetings for the period May 2025 to May 2026. It was noted that there was a more regular pattern of Cabinet meetings going forward, but there would still be a focus on performance elements each quarter.

In respect of the Audit & Governance Committee, the proposed schedule had this committee meeting on a Monday as there was no consensus on a preferred day of the week following a survey of current Members. It was requested that the Committee be given delegated authority to approve their own meeting schedule.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the proposed Schedule of Meetings for 2025-26, subject to the Audit & Governance Committee agreeing their own future meeting dates, be approved. The schedule is attached as Appendix D to the minutes.

The Council considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive, Director – Resources and Section 151 Officer, which sought to confirm the continuation of the Localised Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26 with minor changes in accordance with the annual uprating amounts applied by the Department for Works and Pensions. By applying the annual uprating the Council will continue to maintain the current level of support to all Council Tax Support claimants and ensure that the scheme continues to benefit the most vulnerable and low income households. The Cabinet considered the report at their meeting held on 4 November 2024 and had recommended approval.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the Council continues to adopt the existing Localised Council Tax Support Scheme for all potential claimants for the financial year 2025/26 and uprates the applicable amounts, premiums, state benefits and disregard criteria in accordance with the annual uprating amounts applied by the Departments for Works & Pensions.

The Council considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive, Director – Resources and Section 151 Officer, which provided an update on the Council’s treasury activity and prudential indicators for the first half of 2024/25.  This activity was reported to the Audit & Governance Committee at their meeting held on 11 December 2024.  

AGREED     (unanimously) that the Council note:

a)           the treasury management activity; and

b)          the Prudential Indicators detailed in Section 6 & 7 of the report.

The Council considered the report of the Director – Communities & Environment, which sought approval for the adoption of an amended Statement of Gambling Policy.  The current Policy was adopted in January 2022 and therefore required review. The purpose of the Statement of Gambling Policy was to assist the Licensing Authority in determining applications and to provide clarity for applicants, residents and members of the business community.  

The draft Statement was approved in September 2024 for a six-week consultation period. Responses were received from the Fire Service and Councillor K Roberts regarding the wording of parts of the Policy.  The proposed minor amendments were considered by the Licensing Committee at their meeting held on 12 December who recommended to the Council for adoption. The Policy was attached as an Appendix to the report.

AGREED     (with 33 votes for and 2 abstentions) that Full Council adopt the revised Statement of Gambling Policy 2025-2027 in order to allow licensing decisions to be made.

Cross-Party Support for Local Farmers and Protection Against the Impact of Recent Budget Changes

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor J. Lee will move and Councillor P. Farmer will second a motion to the following effect:

Context:

Following the recent Budget announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP, significant changes to inheritance tax have been introduced that directly impacts our district’s farming community. Changes, to cap agricultural property relief at £1 million for farms, are a threat to the viability of small to medium sized farms in our district.

This Council should note that the average UK farm size is 213 acres₍₁₎ and land values in Newark and Sherwood average £11,000 per acre_(2), depending on grade and area (source Savills) means the land value alone is £2.3 million and with other assets included most average farms in our area carry a IHT rating of over £3,000,000.  The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) puts the total farms affected in the UK at 70,000_{(3) .}

The resultant changes to the cap could force local farmers to sell portions of their holdings to pay for the inheritance tax burdens.

Selling holdings will impact farmers and the farming community’s ability to produce food and threatens national food security at a time when geopolitical tensions threaten to destabilise global food production capacity. Furthermore, it will also increase our district’s food supply chain in turn increasing the logistical CO2 footprint at a time when global carbon emissions are still on the increase.

Farming also supports environmental objectives such as increasing biodiversity through habitat creation and support for pollinators whilst simultaneously enhancing natural flood management like tree planting and creating and maintaining buffer zones to mitigate localised flooding.

Detail:

The Council recognises:

• The invaluable contribution of farmers to our district, our food security, enhancing the natural environment and the local economy.

• The immediate and long-term risks posed to local farmers and multi-generational farming families by the current Budget measures.

This Council resolves to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, on behalf of Newark and Sherwood District’s farming community and urge a reconsideration of the most recent budget decision to levy inheritance tax on agricultural land and protect family-owned farms from excessive tax burdens that threaten their operations and legacy.

1)Source DEFRA (Statics for agricultural land use in the UK at 1 June 2023. Accessed 4 Dec 2024)

2) Source Savills (ww.savills.com). Accessed 4 Dec 2024

3)Source CLA

Cross-Party Support for Local Farmers and Protection Against the Impact of Recent Budget Changes

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor J Lee moved and Councillor P Farmer seconded a motion to the following effect:

“Context:

Following the recent Budget announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP, significant changes to inheritance tax have been introduced that directly impacts our district’s farming community. Changes, to cap agricultural property relief at £1 million for farms, are a threat to the viability of small to medium sized farms in our district.

This Council should note that the average UK farm size is 213 acres₍₁₎ and land values in Newark and Sherwood average £11,000 per acre_(2), depending on grade and area (source Savills) means the land value alone is £2.3 million and with other assets included most average farms in our area carry a IHT rating of over £3,000,000.  The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) puts the total farms affected in the UK at 70,000_{(3) .}

The resultant changes to the cap could force local farmers to sell portions of their holdings to pay for the inheritance tax burdens.

Selling holdings will impact farmers and the farming community’s ability to produce food and threatens national food security at a time when geopolitical tensions threaten to destabilise global food production capacity. Furthermore, it will also increase our district’s food supply chain in turn increasing the logistical CO2 footprint at a time when global carbon emissions are still on the increase.

Farming also supports environmental objectives such as increasing biodiversity through habitat creation and support for pollinators whilst simultaneously enhancing natural flood management like tree planting and creating and maintaining buffer zones to mitigate localised flooding.

Detail:

The Council recognises:

• The invaluable contribution of farmers to our district, our food security, enhancing the natural environment and the local economy.

• The immediate and long-term risks posed to local farmers and multi-generational farming families by the current Budget measures.

This Council resolves to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, on behalf of Newark and Sherwood District’s farming community and urge a reconsideration of the most recent budget decision to levy inheritance tax onagricultural land and protect family-owned farms from excessive tax burdens that threaten their operations and legacy.”

1)Source DEFRA (Statics for agricultural land use in the UK at 1 June 2023. Accessed 4 Dec 2024)

2) Source Savills (ww.savills.com). Accessed 4 Dec 2024

3)Source CLA

The motion, on being put to the vote, was agreed with 18 votes for, 16 against.

In accordance with Rule No. 5.4 a recorded vote was taken as follows:

Minute No. 49 – Presentation by the Portfolio Hoder for Heritage, Culture & the Arts

Councillor P Rainbow stated that she had asked the Portfolio Holder some questions on the Destination Management Plan but was still to receive a response.

Councillor R Cozens agreed to supply a written response.

Minute No.16 – Arkwood Developments Performance Quarter 2

Councillor K Melton referred to the priority given to Biodiversity Net Gain and exemplar properties by Arkwood Developments but expressed frustration that he had been unable to bring forward a motion to the Council proposing that part of the Lowfield Lane site on which planning permission had been granted should be deallocated.

Councillor P Peacock referred to the balanced debate at the Planning Committee on the planning application and confirmed that the proposed motion was procedurally not permissible.