Councillor Merlita Bryan – personal

Councillor Jon Collins – other Council business

Councillor Pat Ferguson – unwell

Councillor Steve Young – unwell

None.

None.

Councillor Steve Battlemuch submitted a petition on behalf of 24 signatories, requesting the implementation of a residents parking scheme for Harrow Gardens and Abbots Way, Wollaton.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 May 2017 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chief Executive reported the following:

Ashden Award

Nottingham City Council’s pioneering scheme to transform the city by funding greener transport through a Workplace Parking Levy has jointly won the 2017 Ashden Award for Clean Air in Towns and Cities. Thanks to the scheme, public transport usage in the city has increased by almost five million journeys a year since April 2013.

The Ashden Awards are given to pioneers in sustainable energy and are a globally recognised measure of excellence. The award was presented by former Vice-President of the US Al Gore.

Nottingham City Council shares its award with Big Birmingham Bikes, a scheme to encourage cycling amongst residents living in deprived areas of Birmingham.

According to the Ashden judges: “Nottingham City Council is a UK sustainable transport exemplar and on a par with top European cities. It has achieved full public transport integration and brought in a unique Workplace Parking Levy and, in doing so, has succeeded in changing behaviour as well as transforming parts of the city into quieter, less polluted zones.”

Glen O’Connell

Today after 22 years’ service, Glen O’Connell, the Council’s Monitoring Officer, retires from Nottingham City Council. Glen joined the Council on 10 July 1995, exactly 22 years to the day and has had a distinguished career in Legal and Democratic Services. Throughout his tenure as Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Corporate Director for Resources and Monitoring Officer, Glen has helped guide the development and regeneration of many of Nottingham’s major projects, such as the National Ice Centre in 2000 and the first line of the Tram in 2004. I’m sure Council will join me in wishing him well in his retirement.

None.

Canning Circus Creative Hub

Councillor Georgina Culley asked the following question of the Deputy Leader:

Back in 2013, Canning Circus Creative Hub were threatened with eviction and mounted a successful media campaign which resulted in Nottingham City Council, the landlord, accepting that they should be allowed to stay and following a £50,000 grant to Nottingham City Council, the Hub were promised a much-needed refit to bring their long neglected buildings up to modern specifications.

Four years later, after waiting patiently for works to begin, they are now being threatened with eviction again while in the interim Nottingham City Council have been developing plans to sell off The Hub, along with all the other publicly owned buildings in the Grade 2 listed block for conversion to, “attractive rental accommodation”.

When will Nottingham City Council begin their meticulously planned and promised refit, to ensure The Canning Circus Creative Hub remains an asset to the 30+ businesses as well as to those in the broader creative community of Nottingham, who are mentored at The Hub?

Councillor Graham Chapman replied as follows:

It has already been publicly stated that the £50,000 which the Council committed to support the works to the building is still available. However, surveys done since suggest that bringing the building up to safe and acceptable standards, including fire standards, will cost many times more that amount. The amount being given is £700,000 to £750,000, and the Council can neither directly meet the costs, for reasons that we all understand, nor support the expenditure through subsidised rents.

Consequently, we are in direct discussion with Canning Circus Creative Hub to look at if, and how, it might be possible to allow them to remain in the existing premises. However, the more realistic solution is that we will find that we will have to look for alternative premises for the Creative Hub, and the Council have been working with them to identify suitable properties and locations. This will then enable them to move in to appropriate and fit for purpose accommodation, on similar and affordable lease terms to those that they benefit from now, and to continue to do their business.

I do understand the frustration, but there is no easy solution to this, if there had been then it would have been found. Finally, I have spoken to Councillor Collins who is responsible for this particular portfolio, the properties portfolio, and he is intending to meet the Canning Circus Creative Hub in order to discuss the issues in person.

Armed Forces Day

Councillor Georgina Culley asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture:

The Leader of the Council will recall that on Armed Forces Day last month this Council held no events for the Armed Forces but did, on that day, hold and pay for the Lord Mayor’s Parade. Can the Portfolio Holder explain the justification behind the shameful situation of Nottingham being the only major city in England to have no event held to celebrate and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Report of the Leader

In the absence of the Leader, the Deputy Leader submitted a report on Amendments to the Constitution, as set out on pages 15 to 21 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the amended Portfolio Holder/Executive Assistant appointments/remits and executive committee membership appointments, as detailed below:

Portfolio Holder and Executive Assistant Appointments and Remits

Report of the Leader

In the absence of the Leader, the Deputy Leader submitted a report on decisions taken under urgency procedures, as set out on pages 23 to 26 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the urgent decisions (exempt from call-in);

(2)  note that no key decisions were taken under special urgency procedures.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Community and Customer Services

The Portfolio Holder for Community and Customer Services submitted a report on the acceptance of a delegation from Leicester City Council in respect of bus lane enforcement and CCTV parking functions, as set out on pages 27 to 40 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to

(1)  formally accept the additional CCTV parking delegation given by Leicester’s City Mayor on 21 April 2017, as detailed in appendices 1 and 2 of the report;

(2)  note that further approval will be sought by the Portfolio Holder in respect of the discharge of the executive functions by the Executive, and in relation to the Partnership Agreement reflecting the extended functions.

Motion in the name of Councillor Jane Urquhart:

This Council calls on the new government to repeal the ‘spare room subsidy’, known as the bedroom tax.

The 'tax' affects approximately 6,000 households in Nottingham, the vast majority of whom are low income and many of whom are disabled.

This Council therefore resolves to write to the government and opposition parties calling for the immediate repeal of this element of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and in the meantime will continue to lobby our MPs for their support.

Moved by Councillor Jane Urquhart, seconded by Councillor Adele Williams:

“This Council calls on the new government to repeal the ‘spare room subsidy’, known as the bedroom tax.

The 'tax' affects approximately 6,000 households in Nottingham, the vast majority of whom are low income and many of whom are disabled.

This Council therefore resolves to write to the government and opposition parties calling for the immediate repeal of this element of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and in the meantime will continue to lobby our MPs for their support.”

RESOLVED to carry the motion.