Decisions

That:

a)      the contents of the report are noted;

b)      the proposed timetable at paragraph 3.5 to the report is adopted;

c)      delegated authority be given to the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development to amend the adopted timetable to reflect any regulatory requirements which emerge from the publication of plan making regulations;

d)      in line with the timetable the notice of intention to commence plan making is undertaken in March 2026; and

e)      Supplementary Planning Documents in relation to Affordable Housing and Developer Contributions & Planning Obligations are prepared before the 30 June 2026.

That Cabinet:

a)      note the contents of the report; and

b)      approve the proposed consultation response to the National Planning Policy Framework as set out in Appendix B to the report.

That Cabinet recommend the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27 to Full Council for approval.

That Cabinet recommends the 2026/27 to 2029/30 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for approval by the Full Council at their meeting to be held on 5 March 2026.

That Cabinet recommend to Full Council on 5 March 2026 the General Fund schemes set out at Appendix A to the report as committed expenditure in the Capital Programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30.

That Cabinet recommends to Full Council at its meeting on 5 March 2026 that:

i. the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the 2026/27 financial year, in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011:

1.         £57,909,340    being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for items set out in Section 31A(2)(a) to (f) of the Act, as the District Council’s gross expenditure for 2026/27);

2.         £37,209,230    being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3)(a) to (d) of the Act, as the District Council’s gross income for 2026/27); and

3.         £20,700,110    being the amount by which the aggregate at (b)(i) above exceeds the aggregate at (b)(ii) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Net Budget Requirement for the year;

ii. the figures shown as i.1. and i.3. above to be increased only by the amount of Parish Precepts for 2026/27;

iii. the budget amounts included in the report be the Council’s budget for 2026/27; and

iv. the fees and charges shown in Appendices C1-C23 be implemented with effect from 1 April 2026.

That Cabinet:

a)      note the two bids being developed by towns within the district;

b)      approve a net expenditure budget of up to £10,000 (up to £5,000 per town) to be added in 2025/26 to support and facilitate towns in Newark and Sherwood in the development of their Expressions of Interest, with the allocation of funding to be subject to a lead organisation being formally identified through a partnership and subject to proof of expenditure;

c)      subject to either or both bids being shortlisted, Newark & Sherwood District Council to be the accountable body if required as a partner organisation in any bid developed within the district for the 2028 UK Town of Culture; and

d)      subject to c above, the net expenditure budget and income budget of up to £120,000 be added in the respective financial year, should either or both towns from within Newark and Sherwood be shortlisted at the Expression of Interest stage for the £60,000 grant.

That Cabinet:

a)      note the project and funding updates as detailed throughout this report;

b)       

c)       

d)       

(Recommendations b, c and d are commercially sensitive and appear only in the exempt minute)

Newark Cultural Heart Market Place (Local Regeneration Fund)

e)      agree to delegate the approval of the Newark Cultural Heart Market Place Improvement Scheme Full Business Case (FBC) to the Council’s Section 151 Officer, in consultation with Newark Town Council, as noted in 2.9 of the report;

f)       note that the agreed Newark Cultural Heart Market Place Improvement Scheme capital budget of £3.61m will be available upon approval of the FBC and financed in full by UK Government Local Regeneration Fund grant;

20 Minute Cycle Town (Local Regeneration Fund)

g)      note the completion of the 20-minute cycle town project and agree to de-commit remaining Section 106 match contributions, with future reallocation to be dealt with via the Council’s Developer Contributions Group, as set out in 2.12 of the report;

Ollerton Regeneration Scheme (Local Regeneration Fund)

h)      agree to accelerate £200,000 of capital funding (fully funded by LRF grant monies) within the approved programme and add this to the proposed capital budget for 2026/27, to progress essential works associated with the Ollerton regeneration scheme ahead of completion of legal agreements and confirmation of planning consent, as set out in section 2.15 of the report;

i)        delegate authority to the Council’s Section 151 Officer to enter into a Grant Funding Agreement with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), up to the value of £750,000 to unlock additional investment towards the Ollerton project, as noted in 2.16 of the report;

j)        approve the addition of £750,000 within the Council’s Capital Programme to facilitate recommendation i) above, fully funded by EMCCA grant monies;

Yorke Drive

k)      delegate authority to the Council’s Section 151 Officer to enter into a Grant Funding Agreement with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), up to the value of £1,000,000 to unlock additional investment towards the Yorke Drive project, as noted in 2.17 of the report;

l)        approve the addition of £1,000,000 within the Council’s Capital Programme to facilitate recommendation k) above, fully funded by EMCCA grant monies;

St Marks Place

m)   note the completion of the related feasibility and due diligence work for St Marks Place, acknowledge the options and associated costs and risks as noted in 2.19 of the report and agree to pause any further feasibility activity at this stage, with future progression contingent upon securing external funding or a material change in market conditions; and

Fund Governance

n)      delegated authority be given to the Section 151 Officer to approve any future  amendments to the Newark Town Board’s Local Assurance Framework, as may be required to reflect updated guidance and policy changes set by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government.

That Cabinet:

a)       approve the Council entering into arrangements with Barratt David Wilson Homes (BDW) to purchase (for the consideration of £1) and maintain the Public Open Space within the Fernwood North development, subject to the Council securing:

i)     an appropriate contribution towards ongoing maintenance costs from BDW, subject to BDW successfully securing and legally executing an agreement with the Council, as the Local Planning Authority, a S106 Deed of Variation as detailed at paragraph 2.4 of the report and within Exempt Appendix A; and

ii)    completion of satisfactory due diligence by the Director - Communities & Environment, in consultation with the Street Scene Manager and Principal Legal Officer, on the Public Open Space extent, type, and phasing including in relation to the legal title to the land;

b)       approve the Council covering future maintenance revenue requirements, supplemented by and subject to the required ‘appropriate contribution’ details at a) i) above, as detailed in the Financial Implications section in Exempt Appendix A; and

c)        approve that delegated authority be given to the Council’s Director - Communities & Environment, in consultation with the Street Scene Manager, to secure the land transfer from BDW, including appropriate phasing and onboarding of the Public Open Space.

That Cabinet:

a)      note the update provided in relation to the Newark Town Centre Masterplan;

b)      adopt the Newark Town Centre Masterplan as planning guidance from 1 April 2026;

c)    allow for a review of not less than 6 months of the implementation of the Town Centre Masterplan, with delegated authority for any necessary amendments being delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development in consultation with the Chair of Planning Committee and Director – Planning & Growth; and

d)    note the update provided in relation to the Newark Town Centre Design Code and endorse its adoption as guidance as part of an updated Newark Conservation Area Management Plan the publication of which is already delegated to the Council’s Director of Planning & Growth.

To seek approval to bring the upper floor of the Buttermarket into use, reflected in the wider aspirations to revitalise Newark Town Centre.