Agenda and minutes

Councillor Dave Liversidge (unwell)

Councillor Nick McDonald (work commitments)

Councillor Jane Urquhart (work commitments)

None.

Last meeting held on 19 September 2017 (for confirmation)

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2017 were agreed as a true record and they were signed by the Chair.

Report of Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration

The Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration introduced the report, seeking approval to procure replacement vehicles for Nottingham City Council’s fleet. The scope of the Vehicle Replacement Programme will now also cover essential plant equipment.

RESOLVED to

(1)  provide approval to procure vehicles and plant from the Vehicle Replacement Programme (VRP) (approved capital spend of £3.5 million per annum);

(2)  approve the addition of all Council vehicles to the scope of the VRP, resulting in all replacement vehicles being purchased through the VRP;

(3)  delegate authority to the Director of Neighbourhood Services to award contracts for the purchase of replacement vehicles at Appendix A to the report and plant on an ongoing basis for as long as the VRP funding is approved as part of the Capital Programme,  enabling Fleet Services to maintain Nottingham City Council's continually improving fleet of vehicles. These purchases would be subject to:

·  the VRP budget being agreed as part of the Capital Programme;

·  in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations and Contract Procedure Rules in respect of any procurement exercises.

Reasons for decisions

Delegation of authority to purchase vehicles under the VRP will ensure the ongoing, cost-effective procurement of vehicles to support the Council’s front-line services and contribute to the wider low emissions targets being developed for the city.

To enable Fleet Services to continue buying and maintaining the most efficient and suitable vehicles, it is necessary to ensure that the plant equipment within Fleet Services' workshops is fit for purpose and adapts to the changing vehicle specifications and standards.

Making changes to vehicle lifespan will ensure the VRP has sufficient funding to replace all current Council vehicles.

Other options considered

Not procuring vehicles and plant equipment from the VRP was rejected because:

(a)  not replacing Nottingham City Council’s fleet of vehicles would result in a false economy as capital savings realised in the first few years would be outweighed by the negatives; higher vehicle purchase costs when the current vehicles reach the end of life; and

(b)  not updating plant equipment in the workshops would result in Health and Safety issues and increased costs resulting from the need to outsource works or using ineffective practices.

Not delegating authority to Director of Neighbourhood Services to approve the procurement of vehicles was rejected because it would result in ongoing inefficiencies and delays in providing vehicles and plant.

Updating the plant equipment using Fleet Services' revenue budget was rejected because:

(a)  it would not be appropriate to pay for plant equipment from Fleet Services' revenue budget as these items are long term investments which cannot be sustained from an annual budget;

(b)  the effective replacement of vehicles is inextricably linked to ensuring Fleet Services have the appropriate equipment to maintain them.

Report of Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage

The Leader of the Council introduced a report on behalf of the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage, proposing a suite of works to deliver enhanced fire safety measures in high rise blocks, providing reassurance to existing and prospective residents in the wake of the tragic events in West London in June 2017.

The Leader of the Council made the following points:

(a)  in the wake of the Grenfell high rise block fire, the City Council has from a very early stage been fully committed to working closely with Nottingham City Homes and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to compile and deliver a suite of fire safety works, with full engagement and consultation with tenants in high rise blocks;

(b)  the City Council is surprised and disappointed that early expressions of support from Government ministers for fire safety improvement works have not been followed up by central government financial support for local authorities to carry out this work;

(c)  The City Council remains committed to delivering the works identified in a timely and sensitive manner, but the funding must now come from the existing capital programme, and this will have a knock-on effect on other Council priorities.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  agree the recommended suite of works detailed in paragraph 2.5 of the report to enhance fire safety measures already in place, and to provide further public reassurance across all 13 high rise blocks within the Council’s housing stock;

(2)  authorise the expenditure of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital funds of an estimated £8.4m to carry out the work programme and note the associated revenue costs, and note the necessary amendment to the HRA capital programme, detailed in paragraphs 4.1-4.6 of the report;

(3)  delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/Corporate Director for Development and Growth to procure and award contracts for the work, making full use of the existing partnership framework, and make any necessary amendments to the proposals, subject to the works being completed within the specified £8.4m budget;

(4)  enter into consultation with leaseholders within the blocks about the work to be carried out and seek contributions (where appropriate and in line with the Council’s policy) within the terms of Section 20 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 (as amended by Section 151 of the Commonhold & Leasehold Reform Act 2002);

(5)  note the letter sent to the Prime Minister highlighting the need for financial support from Government in order to address fire safety in high rise blocks and the subsequent reply from the Secretary of State for Communities;

(6)  continue to lobby central government for the necessary resources to carry out this type of work.

Reasons for decisions

To enhance the measures already in place to prevent the occurrence of a serious fire in the Council’s high rise blocks.

To provide reassurance to the residents within high rise blocks that their homes are as safe as they can be, and that the most appropriate means of alert and communication in the event of a fire or other emergency within a block is delivered.

Other options considered

The option to do nothing has been rejected because the current level of safety and protection can be significantly enhanced through the works proposed, thus offering current and future tenants of the Council’s high rise homes far greater assurance and confidence that they are as safe as they can be in their homes.

Report of Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture

The call-in procedure does not apply to this decision.  Councillor Brian Parbutt, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed both that the decision proposed is reasonable in all circumstances and that it should be treated as a matter of urgency because of the deadline imposed to submit the pre-selection application.

The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture introduced the report, seeking approval to adopt the new Strategic Cultural Framework, and to submit a pre-selection application to central government to be considered as the designated UK European Capital of Culture (ECoC) for 2023.

The Executive Board acknowledged the strong support for the bid from Nottingham’s universities, creative businesses and citizens, and fully supported the proposals.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  adopt the Strategic Cultural Framework, detailed at Appendix 1 to the report;

(2)  endorse Nottingham City submitting a pre-selection application to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to be UK European Capital of Culture in 2023;

(3)  delegate authority to the Chief Executive to sign the declaration of Honour for Nottingham City Council, as required as part of the pre-selection submission process;

(4)  approve establishment of an earmarked reserve, as detailed in exempt Appendix 3 to the report, to hold resources for Nottingham’s European Capital of Culture 2023 bid.

Reasons for decisions

The adoption of the Strategic Cultural Framework and the pre-application bid to become ECoC 2023 are both intended to be important milestones in shaping Nottingham’s future cultural offer and to enhance the city’s reputation internationally, nationally and regionally.

The development of the Strategic Cultural Framework marks a significant step change in the confidence of the city’s leading cultural and creative organisations and networks around their willingness to play a role in helping contribute towards the future development of Nottingham.  Alongside the production of this new strategy, the SCP have also led on the development of the pre-selection application for Nottingham in respect of European Capital of Culture status for 2023, brokering funding agreements and relationships between Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham City Council to enable the submission of an application alongside the Cultural Framework to make such an application possible.

The ECoC pre-selection application offers a unique opportunity to shine a light on the city and will provide an important boost helping to deliver many of the ambitions stated in the Strategic Cultural Framework. 

Nottingham is going through a period of significant change and through this transition is aiming to becoming a more confident and strong multicultural city, moving away from its previous manufacturing economy.  This work will focus culture as a key contributor towards making positive impacts for the city. 

Other options considered

Strategic Cultural Framework is not a definitive document but a shared starting point which will be used as a pathway to the future co-creating around an ambitious 10 year delivery plan for Nottingham in which culture plays an enhanced role.

The pre-selection submission to be considered UK ECoC 2023 has both been identified in the Strategic Cultural Framework as a positive delivery tool for helping to deliver the vision, themes and objectives of the framework, as well as being an opportunity to help shape Nottingham’s future cultural offer and to enhance the city’s reputation internationally, nationally and regionally.  This decision follows on from the considerations previously given to be the UK City of Culture for 2017 which in 2013 was not pursued on that occasion. 

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining item(s) in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs in the public interest in disclosing the information

RESOLVED to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining item(s) in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED to note the information in the exempt appendix of the report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage.

Reasons for decisions

As detailed in minute 46.

Other options considered

As detailed in minute 46.

RESOLVED to note the information in the exempt appendix to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture.

Reasons for Decision

As detailed in minute 47.

Other options considered

As detailed in minute 47.