Agenda and minutes

Councillor E Oldham declared an interest in the second motion on the Council agenda on Ocean Recovery given she had written a children’s book on a similar theme. Councillor Oldham advise that this was not a disclosable pecuniary interest as there was no direct link between the book and the motion.

There were no other declarations of interest from Members and Officers and the Council noted the interests previously declared by Members in Agenda Item No. 11 – Minutes for Noting.

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

AGREED      that the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2023 and the Extraordinary Meeting held on 20 September 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Council considered the report of the Business Manager - Financial Services which informed the Council of the activity undertaken by the Audit & Governance Committee during the 2022/23 financial year.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the Audit & Governance Committee Annual Report for 2022/23 be noted.

The Council considered the report of the Assistant Director - Legal & Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer which presented the final report and recommendations of the Members Allowance Independent Remuneration Panel which had been reconvened to review the current scheme given the increase in the number of Portfolio Holders.

During their review, the Panel also considered the special responsibility allowance made to the Leader of the Main Opposition Group, the current childcare and dependents carers’ allowance and the wording of the scheme in respect of the payment of allowances to Leaders of Minority Opposition Groups.

The Panel report was attached as Appendix A, and this had been considered at the Audit & Governance Committee meeting held on 27 September 2023. The points raised by the Committee and the response of the Panel were detailed in Section 2 of the report.

The panel report recommended that the existing SRA of £8,500 be paid to all Cabinet Members with portfolio (excluding Leader and Deputy Leader) with no changes to any other Special Responsibility Allowances. In addition, the report proposed changes to the wording of the scheme in respect to the limit on the number of special responsibility allowances payable and clarified the definition of Opposition Group Leaders. The report also recommended that the current rates payable for childcare and dependent carers’ allowances were increased from up to £10 per hour to a maximum level of the National Living Wage.

AGREED      (with 20 votes for and 14 against) that the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel on changes to the current scheme of Members Allowances as set out in their report, be approved.

In accordance with Rule 5.4 a recorded vote was requested and taken as follows:

1.             United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

In accordance with Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor K. Melton will move and Councillor M Spoors, will second a motion to the following effect:

This Council notes with concern the recent Special Report from the United Nations Secretary General – “Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals: towards a rescue plan for people and planet“-  published in July 2023 to mark the midpoint between 2015 and the delivery date of 2030.

The Secretary General finds that “… many of the Goals are moderately to severely off track and puts forward five major recommendations to rescue the Goals and accelerate implementation between now and 2030.”

In particular, this Council notes the third of those recommendations, calling upon Governments to “… strengthen national and subnational capacity, accountability and public institutions to deliver accelerated progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

To that end, Newark and Sherwood District Council resolves to adopt the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) as a framework for informing our local authority's policies, work programs, functions, and initiatives.

By doing so, we commit to aligning our strategies with the national and global agenda for sustainable development and working towards achieving these goals within our sphere of influence; thus recognising the significance of the UN SDGs as a comprehensive framework for sustainable development at the global level. We shall seek to apply the UN SDGs at the local level for the wellbeing of our residents.

The Council believes that:

1.        Adopting the UN SDGs will provide a clear direction for our local authority's policies, work programs, and initiatives, ensuring their alignment with the national and global agenda for sustainable development.

2.        Emphasising the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnerships will help in implementing the UN SDGs effectively.

3.        Committing to regular monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of our progress towards achieving the UN SDGs is vital to engage our community in the process.

4.        Encouraging cooperation and knowledge-sharing with other local authorities across the UK and world that have already adopted the UN SDGs, will help in promoting collective action and learning both locally and globally.

The Council therefore agrees to:

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.

2.             Ocean Recovery

In accordance with Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor E. Oldham will move and Councillor K. Melton will second a motion to the following effect:

Introduction:

What is the Motion  ...  view the full agenda text for item 42.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

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

“The Council agrees to:

A.   Adopt the United Nations  Sustainable Development Goals (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.”

The motion, on being put to the vote, was agreed with 21 vote for and 13 against.

Ocean Recovery

In accordance with rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor E Oldham moved and Councillor K Melton, seconded a motion to the following effect:

“The Council pledges to champion ocean recovery by:

1.     Working with responsible authorities and others with an interest in the River Trent to bring an action plan and to review the timetable to Cabinet within 12 months. Longer-term, we commit to making this report publicly available on the NSDC website and to subsequent bi-annual progress reporting at the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee.

2.     Embedding protection and recovery of the River Trent and its tributaries in decision making by the Council (particularly in planning, regeneration, waste, skills and economic policy), in line with our actions to mitigate the Climate and Ecological Emergencies and to consider nature-based solutions in our journey towards a carbon neutral and climate resilient future. 

3.     Working with Severn Trent, the Environment Agency, developers, and other agencies to explore ways to improve the water quality of our rivers and coastal waters in our district benefitting nature and residents alike.

4.   Updating the Council’s Climate Change plan to recognise how land and rivers connect to and impact the ocean and strive to support ocean recovery through a source-to-sea approach. Ensure any future relevant plans set out in our new Development Plan 2024 to 2029, also adopts this approach.

5.     Growing ocean literacy (where a person understands the ocean’s impact on them and their impact upon the ocean) and marine citizenship in Newark & Sherwood, including:

a)      Working with the responsible authorities with the aim of ensuring that all primary school-aged children in Newark and Sherwood have a first-hand experience of the ocean or River Trent- striving to engage home-schooled children.

b)      Promoting sustainable and equitable experience and awareness of the ocean or River Trent through physical and digital experiences for all residents; and

c)      Through these actions, embed understanding of the ‘source to sea’ approach and how all people, wherever they live, impact and are impacted by ocean health.

6.     Using our website and other communication channels to provide updates on the recovery of our rivers, and signpost to opportunities and guidance that enable residents to become more ocean literate and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.