Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Leader advised that the proceedings were being audio recorded and live streamed by the Council.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes from the meeting held on 1 April 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

That Cabinet:

a)       note the successes to date and the income generated from the Careline Service; and

b)       approve a proposed budget for marketing of 10% of the income generated in year 24/25.

The Careline Team Leader presented a report which highlighted to Cabinet the success of the Careline Service and provided an insight into the vision for the future of the service and how it could be marketed. The vision for the future of the service was to be the largest provider of choice in the County.

The report provided statistics in terms of the growth of the service, including expansion into neighbouring districts and income generation, and detailed the proposal to develop a brand and marketing strategy going forward.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)       note the successes to date and the income generated from the Careline Service; and

b)       approve a proposed budget for marketing of 10% of the income generated in year 2024/25.

Reasons for Decision:

To support the continued business growth and promotion of the Careline Service aligns with the Community Plan ambition 7 “Be a top performing, modern, accessible Council that get its everyday services right for the residents and businesses that it serves”.

Options Considered:

Standing still is an option, but continued business growth and external recognition of excellent, consistent service delivery places the Council in a good starting position through the optics of Local Government Reform.

That Cabinet approve the Good Neighbourhood Management Policy.

The Director – Housing, Health & Wellbeing presented a report which sought approval for the Good Neighbourhood Management Policy which outlined the Council’s approach to managing complaints relating to noise nuisance or disruption where the situation was not defined as anti-social behaviour. The draft policy was attached as an appendix to the report. The Cabinet noted that the policy had had several revisions in tone, content, wording and style in response to tenant feedback.

AGREED (unanimously) that the Good Neighbourhood Management Policy be approved.

Reasons for Decision:

The Regulator for Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman recommend the introduction of a Good Neighbourhood Management Policy which aligns with the Community Plan ambition 7 “Be a top performing, modern, accessible Council that get its everyday services right for the residents and businesses that it serves.”

Options Considered:

The Council has the option to rely on the ASB Policy for dealing with noise and nuisance between neighbours, but good practice and alignment with both the Regulator for Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman is to manage these relationships in a more mediatory way.

That Cabinet approve:

a)         the addition of £267,369 within the 2025-2026 capital programme, funded by incoming Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) grant, as detailed in paragraph 1.3 of the report; and 

b)         the proposed approach to managing the REPF and UKSPF grant schemes in 2025-2026, including the application, appraisal and award process as detailed in paragraph 1.9 of the report (Table 1), with delegated authority being given to the S151 Officer to approve individual grant allocations.

The Programmes Manager presented a report which provided an update on the proposed grants throughout 2025 to 2026 funded by the Rural England Prosperity (REPF) and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The selected list of local UKSPF projects, as approved by Cabinet on 18 February 2025, for delivery throughout 2025/26 was provided in Appendix A to the report. In addition, it was reported that the funding commitment to the area had now been formalised through a grant award to the Council from the East Midlands County Combined Authority (EMCCA).

The report also advised that in March 2025, the Government confirmed an additional 12-month extension to the REPF, known as the ‘top-up’ to UKSPF, for eligible rural areas. This would provide a further £267,369 of capital funding for the district this financial year, in addition to the £1.34m of UKSPF previously reported. The additional funding would also be passported by EMCCA to the Council and incorporated within the existing grant funding agreement, with a requirement to spend by 31 March 2026.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet approve:

a)         the addition of £267,369 within the 2025-2026 capital programme, funded by incoming Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) grant, as detailed in paragraph 1.3 of the report; and 

b)         the proposed approach to managing the REPF and UKSPF grant schemes in 2025-2026, including the application, appraisal and award process as detailed in paragraph 1.9 of the report (Table 1), with delegated authority being given to the S151 Officer to approve individual grant allocations.

Reasons for Decision:

The proposed processes set out within the report facilitates prompt and flexible delivery of grants, considering the requirement for any unspent funds after 31 March 2026, to be returned to Government. In addition, the process established is objective, open and transparent, avoiding any conflicts of interest, as set out as a clear requirement within the Governments Grants Functional Standard, demonstrating a best practice approach to managing grants.

Options Considered:

There is the opportunity not to accept future REPF grant funding allocated to the district and to decline participation in the scheme. This approach has been discounted from the proposals outlined within the report as it would re-present a missed opportunity to invest in local rural communities, supporting the Council’s Economic Growth Strategy and Community Plan objectives.

Agreed that Cabinet:

a)         note the report, including the announcement of the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme, and the award of up to £19.5m to Newark over a 10-year period, in accordance with paragraph 1.2 of the report, subject to the development of a Local Regeneration Plan, and subsequent Government approvals;

b)         approve the addition of a £200,000 revenue budget in 2025-26 funded by programme capacity grant, to be allocated by Newark Town Executive Board, in accordance with paragraph 1.10 of the report; and

c)          note that a future update report will be presented to Cabinet regarding local programme plans, prior to submission of the Regeneration Plan in 2025, in accordance with paragraph 1.11 of the report.

The Programmes Manager presented a report concerning the ‘Plan for Neighborhoods’ (PfN) scheme. The scheme followed the former Long-Term Plans for Towns (LTPT) initiative. Up to £19.5m over a 10-year period would be available to Newark through the scheme’. The new programme offered a revised fixed funding profile with core delivery funding set to commence in April 2026. Details of the new funding profile through the PfN were set out in Appendix A to the report. Given the interdependencies between the PfN scheme, Towns Deal and former LTPT, the Newark Town Executive Board would act as the ‘Neighbourhood Board’ for the purpose of the PfN scheme.

To facilitate the development of local plans, and support the costs associated with scheme delivery, £200,000 revenue capacity funding was announced for PfN in 2025/26, and a further £150,000 revenue capacity funding was expected to follow in 2026/27.  The first £200,000 was to be received by each Local Authority in the coming weeks. It remained the responsibility of the Neighbourhood Board to decide the most appropriate uses of future capacity funding, depending on local context and planning. Example uses included resourcing, capacity, marketing, business case development, communications, engagement and feasibility to support local strategy/project development. To facilitate flexible and responsive formation of plans, the revenue budget of £200,000 capacity funding was required to be established in 2025/26.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)        note the report, including the announcement of the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme, and the award of up to £19.5m to Newark over a 10-year period, in accordance with paragraph 1.2 of the report, subject to the development of a Local Regeneration Plan, and subsequent Government approvals;

b)        approve the addition of a £200,000 revenue budget in 2025-26 funded by programme capacity grant, to be allocated by Newark Town Executive Board, in accordance with paragraph 1.10 of the report; and

c)        note that a future update report will be presented to Cabinet regarding local programme plans, prior to submission of the Regeneration Plan in 2025, in accordance with paragraph 1.11 of the report.

Reasons for Decision:

The recommendations are provided on the basis of the next steps in the delivery of the Plan for Neighbourhoods Programme with Newark Town Board.  The opportunity provided through this programme will assist in achieving shared objectives over the next 10 years for Newark.

Options Considered:

There is an option to choose to inform Government that Newark does not wish to retain the offer of the Plan for Neighbourhoods Programme. This option has been discounted as the resource would achieve shared goals identified by the Community Plan and the Newark Town Board.

That Cabinet approve:

a)      the Council’s responses within the Consultation responses document at Appendix A to the report; and

b)      the adoption of the Solar Energy SPD as attached at Appendix B to the report.

The Business Manager – Planning Policy & Infrastructure presented a report which sought endorsement for the draft Solar Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which had been amended in response to comments received during the consultation process. The SPD addressed issues around major solar energy developments. The comments received and the actions taken were set out in Appendix A to the report – the Consultation Responses Document. The amendments following the consultation had been endorsed by the Planning Policy Board. The amended SPD was set out in Appendix B to the report.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet approve:

a)       the Council’s responses within the Consultation responses document at Appendix A to the report; and

b)       the adoption of the Solar Energy SPD as attached at Appendix B to the report.

Reasons for Decision:

To allow the District Council to adopt the Solar Energy SPD.

Options Considered:

Cabinet has already approved the production of the Solar Energy SPD therefore no alternative options have been considered.

That Cabinet approve:

a)       the proposed consultation responses as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

b)       the proposed final Methodology Document as set out at Appendix 2 to the report; and

c)      a ‘Call of Sites’ exercise to be undertaken in the Summer 2025.

The Business Manager – Planning Policy & Infrastructure presented a report which sought approval for the proposed Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) Methodology prior to carrying out a ‘Call for Sites’ exercise. The draft SHELAA Methodology was consulted on between 7 April and 19 May 2025 and the responses received were set out in Appendix 1 to the report, the SHELAA Methodology Post Consultation Statement. Several minor amendments were made to the draft document in response to representations, and these were set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

The ‘call for sites’ exercise was where the Local Planning Authority invited landowners, developers and the public to put sites forward for consideration in the new Local Plan to meet the future needs of the area. The sites submitted would then be assessed using the SHELAA Methodology.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet approve:

a)       the proposed consultation responses as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

b)       the proposed final Methodology Document as set out at Appendix 2 to the report; and

c)        a ‘Call of Sites’ exercise to be undertaken in the Summer 2025.

Reasons for Decision:

To allow the District Council to approve the SHELAA Methodology and undertake a ‘Call for Sites’ exercise.

Options Considered:

Cabinet has already approved the production of a new SHELAA Methodology therefore no alternative options have been considered. 

That Cabinet approve:

a)      a Capital budget of £1,304,750 financed by the £1,093,049 Capital Grant received in 2024/25 and the remaining £211,701 Revenue Contribution to Capital from the Revenue Grant received for the purchase of 8 food waste collection vehicles and 55,071 bins;

b)      the allocation of the remaining Revenue Grant of £1,215,299 (of the £1,427,000) to the Residential Food Waste Reserve in the event of additional costs; and

c)       the Revenue Budget increase from 2027/28 where possible, funded from Food Waste Reserve, in anticipation of an increase in the establishment by 18 new employees from 2027/28.

The Waste & Recycling Manager presented a report which set out the vehicle requirements to prepare for the domestic food waste collections which were to start from October 2027. The report set out notable changes and timescales for how authorities were to collect waste and recycling with October 2027 being the date by which all households would be able to access food waste collections from the kerbside.

The report referred to the plans that had already been drafted to determine round sizes, vehicle numbers, disposal points, bin colours, staff requirements, and depot requirements. The current disposal option put forward by Nottinghamshire County Council was an Anaerobic Digestion facility in Colwick which was a 44-mile round trip from the depot. To maximise efficiency and to have as much operating time as possible, it was planned to make this journey one a day, therefore 11 tonne vehicles would be required to ensure that all food waste collected from one round each day could be confined to one load. It was proposed to purchase 7 waste vehicles and one spare, based on property numbers and anticipated participation levels.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet approve:

a)       a Capital budget of £1,304,750 financed by the £1,093,049 Capital Grant received in 2024/25 and the remaining £211,701 Revenue Contribution to Capital from the Revenue Grant received for the purchase of 8 food waste collection vehicles and 55,071 bins;

b)       the allocation of the remaining Revenue Grant of £1,215,299 (of the £1,427,000) to the Residential Food Waste Reserve in the event of additional costs; and

c)        the Revenue Budget increase from 2027/28 where possible, funded from Food Waste Reserve, in anticipation of an increase in the establishment by 18 new employees from 2027/28.

Reasons for Decision:

The proposal aligns to Objective 5 of the Community Plan as we develop plans for a weekly food waste collection. There is a statutory requirement to provide a kerbside food waste collection service from October 2027.

Options Considered:

Consideration was given to collect food waste using alternative collection methodology. Collection modelling was carried out to assess the viability of collecting using an entirely new fleet of split bodied vehicles or collecting alongside source separated recycling materials from the kerbside each week in a new fleet of recycling vehicles.

These options were both discounted due to the significant capital expenditure required (estimated to be around £3m and £4m respectively) and the issue of needing to re-establish the 7-year fleet replacement schedule as an entire new fleet that is the same age would otherwise need replacing at the same time.

That:

a)      the proposed consultation response at Appendix B be approved; and 

b)      the Portfolio Holder for Climate and the Environment, in consultation with the Planning Policy Board, be given delegated authority to comment at the next stage as set out in paragraph 2.7 of the report.

The Business Manager – Planning Policy & Infrastructure presented a report informing the Cabinet of the production and consultation on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) by Nottinghamshire County Council and sought approval of the District Council’s response. The Environment Act 2021 established a requirement to produce a LNRS with the purpose of helping to reverse the ongoing decline of nature and biodiversity in England through coordinated, practical and focused action.

The County Council was appointed as the Responsible Authority for the LNRS for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and carried out the requisite consultation in March and April 2025. The District Council raised a number of issues, but it was considered that the matters raised could be addressed as part of any updates to the Strategy and therefore did not object. The Council’s letter and a summary of those issues were attached as Appendix A to the report.

The next stage was for the County Council to undertake a public consultation on the LNRS for six weeks which runs to 16 June 2025. The Council’s proposed response to this consultation was attached as Appendix B to the report. Both the Planning Policy Board and the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee had endorsed the proposed the draft response. The publication of the final LNRS for consideration would be undertaken in September 2025.

AGREED (unanimously) that:

a)       the proposed consultation response at Appendix B be approved; and 

b)       the Portfolio Holder for Climate and the Environment, in consultation with the Planning Policy Board, be given delegated authority to comment at the next stage as set out in paragraph 2.7 of the report.

Reasons for Decision:

To allow the District Council as a supporting authority to respond to consultations on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Options considered:

None, as a supporting authority it is considered important to respond to the consultation to assist the County Council in preparing the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

That:

a)       the 2035 carbon net neutral target within the current scope is retained; and

b)       Members note the potential to set a 2050 target for housing, but that this is not progressed pending a review by the new local authority entity covering Newark & Sherwood following Local Government Reorganisation in 2028.

The Director – Communities and Environment presented a report which reviewed the Council’s carbon footprint and made recommendations for next steps within the climate strategy action plan. After being appointed in May 2023, the incoming Climate Change Portfolio Holder expressed a desire to reassess the Council’s carbon neutrality target. In the interests of consistency and best practice the ‘Carbon Trust’ were again commissioned to calculate the Council’s existing baseline and to develop an options analysis for both the feasibility of bringing the 2035 target forward to 2030 and the feasibility of integrating the Council’s housing stock into the existing 2035 target.

The Carbon Trust had completed their review, and the findings were set out in Appendix A to the report. The report of the Carbon Trust had been endorsed by a working group of Members in March 2025. The report recommendation was to maintain the current baseline for carbon emissions for 2035 and to defer any target for housing stock given the likely transition to a new unitary authority in 2028.

AGREED (unanimously) that:

a)       the 2035 carbon net neutral target within the current scope is retained; and

b)       Members note the potential to set a 2050 target for housing, but that this is not progressed pending a review by the new local authority entity covering Newark & Sherwood following Local Government Reorganisation in 2028.

Reasons for Decision:

This work aligns with the Council’s Community Plan ambition to “reduce the impact of climate change and protect and enhance green spaces”.

There is a specific activity under this ambition to ‘Further develop and deliver a Council-wide decarbonisation plan for our built assets/deliver a programme of prioritised decarbonisation actions, in response to the Carbon Trust report 2025, following engagement with stakeholders.’

Options Considered:

To maintain the 2035 target but include housing; and to advance the Council’s net zero target to 2030 (corporate emissions only).