Decisions

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 Management activity and Prudential Indicators for 2021/2022. The report had been considered by the Audit & Accounts Committee at their meeting held on 27 July 2022 and recommended to the Council for approval. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

(a)          the Treasury Management outturn report be approved; and

(b)          the Council compliance with the 2021/22 Prudential Indicators, which were approved by Full Council on 9 March 2022, be noted.

The Council considered the report of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Services concerning the allocation of seats on Committees to Political Groups, following the by-election for the vacancy on the Edwinstowe & Clipstone Ward held on 29 September 2022. The proposed allocation of seats was set out in Appendix A to the report.

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

(a)          the allocation of seats to Political Groups in accordance with Appendix A to the report be approved; and

(b)          the following changes be made in Committee memberships:-

         Licensing and General Purposes Committees – Councillor A Freeman replacing Councillor S Carlton.

         Planning Committee – Councillor A Freeman replacing Councillor P Peacock.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive, regarding the devolution agreement that had been reached in principle between the Government and the four upper tier authorities across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The East Midlands Devolution Deal was the first of a new type of combined authority, designed for two-tier areas, which would be established through new legislation by central government.  The legislation would enable the formation of an East Midlands Mayoral Combined County Authority (EMMCCA).

The Devolution Deal was a ‘level 3 deal’, offering the most local powers and funding in return for a new elected mayor.  Elections for the mayor were currently expected to take place in the Spring, 2024. The headlines for the deal were detailed in the report.

AGREED      (with 29 votes for and 3 abstentions) that the East Midlands Devolution deal, to be agreed by the four upper tier authorities across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, be endorsed by the Council.

To present an overview of the impact of the increase of energy costs on prepayment customers and propose establishing a fuel bank to offer support to residents in fuel crisis.

AGREED

a)      As part of the Council’s Cost of Living Response, to support the creation of Fuel Bank in the district through partnership with the Fuel Bank Foundation in line with the proposed referral mechanism

b)      To support £30k of funding to establish the fuel bank split equally from the HRA and General Fund

AGREED that Cabinet:

(a)    consider the objections to the proposed land sale and development of the land at The Greenaway, Rolleston; and

(b)   given on balance no issues are raised of sufficient significance to change the Cabinet’s previous decision, that the disposal to Arkwood Developments Ltd proceed, subject to full planning permission being granted.

AGREED that the adoption and wider communication of the Cyber Security Strategy be approved.

AGREED that Cabinet:

a)        formally approves the Activity Plan, Investment Principles Plan and Budget for year 1; and

b)        agrees that in years 2 and 3, responsibility for considering the Plans will sit with the National Portfolio Organisation Board, with authority for approval being delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development & Visitors who will also be a member of the Board.

AGREED that Cabinet recommend to Council at its meeting on 7 February 2023:

a)          the HRA budget for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix A1 to this report be approved;

b)         an increase of 5% in the 2022/23 rents of all properties in the HRA as at 31 March 2023 be applied from 1 April 2023;

c)         a rent increase for all relets of 11.1%;

d)         the 2023/24 service charges, as set out in Appendix C, to this report be approved; and

e)         that a fund of £300,000 be created, funded by the Newark and Sherwood Homes Transfer Reserve to fund initiatives to support tenants impacted by the increased charges including a tenant welfare fund.

Exempt Item.

AGREED that:

(a)    final approval be given for the Council to procure environmental enforcement services in relation to the management of fixed penalty notices for littering and dog fouling for a 3-year period;

(b)   delegated authority be given, following oversight by the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee, to the Director Communities & Environment to agree terms for the contractual arrangement in consultation with the Assistant Director Legal & Democratic Services; and

(c)    the current pilot be extended for a further five months to allow procurement of a suitable contractor.

To highlight the success of the Green Rewards App and request a Portfolio Holder decision for the continuation of the Councils involvement in the Green Regards App.

To approve a one year contract extension for  Green Rewards.

To provide detail on affordable housing delivery across the district for the financial year 21/22, including future anticipateddelivery and progress on the 5 year Housing Revenue Account Development Programme.

That the affordable housing delivery and progress with the Council’s five-year HRA development Programme is noted, making any observations as appropriate.