Agenda and minutes

Councillor Nadia Farhat – unwell

Councillor Sam Harris - personal

Councillor Helen Kalsi – personal

Councillor Farzanna Mahmood - personal

Councillor Salma Mumtaz - personal

Councillor Georgia Power - personal

Councillor Shuguftah Quddoos – leave

Councillor Naim Salim – unwell

Councillor Adele Williams - personal

Councillor Audra Wynter - leave

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Engaging with Government on challenges facing the Council

A citizen asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:

In the event of a Labour victory in the General Election on 4 July, will the Council Leader write to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to demand an urgent meeting and more importantly, immediate emergency funding for Nottingham City Council with the aim of achieving two important objectives: firstly, safeguarding all of the jobs and services put in jeopardy by the approval of the 2024/25 budget on 4 March; and secondly, resolution of the financial shortfall should lead to the removal of the three unelected Commissioners, and put political decision making and control back in the hands of the elected representatives, where it belongs.

Councillor Neghat Khan replied as follows:

Thank you, Lord-Mayor.  As we are all aware, there definitely was a Labour landslide victory in the General Election. We have a new Prime Minister and a new Labour Government, and we should all take a moment to appreciate what that means for our city and for our country. We have an end to fourteen years of Tory chaos, and we have hope for better times to come. One incredible result for our country.

I will indeed be writing to Sir Kier Starmer to congratulate him on becoming Prime Minister. Labour has policies that will make real, material differences to people here in Nottingham - a New Deal for Working People with rights from day one; 40,000 more operations, scans and appointments every week; free breakfast clubs in every primary school; reforms to our planning laws stopping developers ducking their obligations; green investment in every community via the new National Wealth Fund and Warm Homes plans; Young Future Hubs, with drop-in mental health support services for the under-25s; a fair deal for renters, stopping no-fault evictions; and delivering a National Care Service, a policy that will be transformative just like Labour’s National Health Service in 1948.  It is clear to me that Labour’s manifesto, as they deliver it, will make real improvements and savings for our city. As we return to the question of money, Sir Kier Starmer, in his visit to North Nottinghamshire earlier this year, committed to long-term funding settlements to councils, allowing us to better plan and budget for our services, and this will be a big help in our forecasting. I am also far more hopeful now of success in Levelling Up and Housing Infrastructure Fund bids put in by the Council than I ever was under the previous Government.  However, I will not be asking for emergency funding.  The citizen who asked this question is wrong to imagine there is a magic money tree. The Tories spent fourteen years thrashing this country and our economy. So much is now broken and in need of urgent repair. The new Labour Government does not have a quick fix, and throwing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Councillor Nick Raine submitted a petition on behalf of residents concerned about plans to charge for the use of public toilets on Greyhound Street, asking the Council to review the decision.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 May 2024 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

The Chief Executive made the following announcements:

I would like to thank all those colleagues across the Council who worked to deliver the General Election across the three constituencies in Nottingham on 4 July.  There were over 500 people working on the election directly either staffing polling stations or assisting in the counting of votes.  I would like to pay particular thanks to Sarah Wilson our Electoral Services Manager and her team for the high level of professionalism in which they have handled two major elections within weeks of each other, with the smooth and efficient operation being a credit to both them, the Council and the city.

We remember Bob White who sadly passed away recently. Bob played an important role in promoting Robin Hood and Nottingham at home and abroad. Through his establishment of the Worldwide Robin Hood Society, Bob made sure that Robin Hood always remained synonymous with the City.  The Society’s website is recognised internationally as one of the leading archives of information about Robin Hood and how his legend symbolises the fight against oppression and tyranny.  Bob was instrumental in Nottingham hosting the UK premier of the hugely successful movie ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’ starring Kevin Costner when it was launched in 1991.  Bob also led the Council’s communications team in the 1980s and 90s. We appreciate all his work and efforts to ensure the legacy of Robin Hood remains such a powerful one for Nottingham. 

Neghat Khan, Leader of the Council, noted that Mel Barrett, Chief Executive would be leaving the Council in August to take up the role of Chief Executive at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing.  She thanked him for his service to the Council over the past four years.

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Chief Executive Pay

Councillor Andrew Rule asked the following question of the Chair of the Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee:

Does the Chair of the Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee agree with me that pay increases for the new Chief Executive should be wholly contingent upon the meeting of performance metrics and depart from the existing system where increases in pay do not seem to be linked to performance?

In the absence of Councillor Helen Kalsi, Councillor Steve Battlemuch replied as follows:

Thank you Lord-Mayor, and I thank Councillor Rule for his question.  As he will know, we are currently going through the process of recruitment for a new Chief Executive at the moment and in doing so we advertise salary and terms and conditions in line with the rules of the Local Government Association and the position that is adopted nationally – we don’t change the rules in Nottingham to adapt to that situation. So I’m quite happy to read a statement out that explains how we’re doing that, and that’s as follows: “The Chief Executive, Corporate Directors and Strategic Directors are currently paid on an all-inclusive, fixed spot salary drawn from a predetermined band. The pay and conditions of employment for Local Government Chief Executives is determined by the joint negotiating committee for Chief Executives. This means that the annual pay awards for Chief Executives in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are currently a contractual entitlement and subject to a national pay review process and negotiated centrally between national employers and the trade unions.  The Council is committed, as part of its single status journey, to undertake a review to ensure that the grading structure for the Chief Executive and other senior roles is fit for purpose, with a recommendation to move away from fixed spot salaries to a performance assessment-led incremental-based structure. Recommendations regarding the broadening and enhancing of the Local Government Scheme employees, heads of service, and director pay grades were finalised over the summer of 2023 and were implemented through September and October 2023, which now include performance-related incremental progression. All employees of the Council are currently subject to annual individual performance reviews and further work will need to be undertaken to assess the cost implications and the options for the introduction of performance-related incremental progression for the Chief Executive, Corporate, and Strategic Directors.” 

Cleaning of the Council House Façade

Councillor Kevin Clarke asked the following question of the Executive Member for Skills, Growth and Economic Development:

Could the Executive Member confirm whether sourcing external funding to clean up the façade of the Council House remains a priority over this Council term?

Councillor Ethan Radford replied as follows:

Thank you Lord-Mayor, and thank you Councillor Clarke for your question.  Given the extent of the financial challenges this Council currently faces, while grappling with huge demand pressures on our services, I must admit looking for funding to spruce up the façade of this building is not high up on our list of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Report of the Leader of the Council

Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of the Council, proposed the report informing Council that, since the last report to Council in May 2024, there had been three decisions taken under the urgency provisions within the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules and no decisions taken under the special urgency provisions within the Access to Information Procedure Rules.  Councillor Ethan Radford seconded the report.

Resolved to note that:

(1)  the following decisions had been taken under the Call In and Urgency provisions of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules (Article 11) of the Constitution since the last report to Council;

(2)  no decisions had been taken under the special urgency provisions within the Access to Information Procedure Rules (Article 13) of the Constitution since the last report to Council.

Report of the Executive Member for Skills, Growth and Economic Development

Councillor Ethan Radford, Executive Member for Skills, Growth and Economic Development, proposed the report regarding a proposed new Accommodation Business Improvement District (BID) and seeking approval to delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Growth and City Development to receive and consider the BID proposals and enter into an operating agreement with the newly established Nottingham Accommodation BID Company in the event of a successful outcome of the BID Ballot.  The report was seconded by Councillor Steve Battlemuch.

Resolved to authorise the Corporate Director for Growth and City Development, in accordance with the requirements of The Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004 (“the Regulations”), to:

  i.  receive the Accommodation BID proposals from the Nottingham BID Company (“the BID Proposer”) on behalf of Nottingham City Council (“the Council”);

  ii.  consider the proposals to establish whether or not they are of the view that the proposals conflict with Council policy, and if so to notify the BID Proposer of any such conflict;

  iii.  approve the Accommodation BID 5 year business plan;

  iv.  instruct the Council’s Returning Officer as Ballot Holder to hold a BID ballot for the proposed Accommodation BID;

  v.  in the event of a vote in favour of the Accommodation BID proposals to consider whether any prescribed circumstances as defined in the Regulations apply and if so to decide whether or not to exercise a veto having regard to matters prescribed in the Regulations;

  vi.  in the event of a vote in favour of the Accommodation BID proposal and subject to any veto, to enter into an Operating Agreement under which the Council will collect the levy due on behalf of the BID.

Report of the Executive Member for Communities, Waste and Equalities

Councillor Corall Jenkins, Executive Member for Communities, Waste and Equalities, proposed the report asking Council to approve the Nottingham Community Safety Partnership Strategy 2024 to 2027.  The Strategy was approved by the Nottingham Community Safety Partnership Board in March 2024 and is in line with the findings of the Strategic Assessment 2023 and the priorities and targets agreed by the Board.  It sets out how the Council will work in partnership to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour over the next three years.  The report was seconded by Councillor Neghat Khan.

In response to a question for clarification asked by Councillor Andrew Rule, Councillor Corall Jenkins replied that it was unlikely that Vernon Coaker would be continuing as Chair of the Nottingham Community Safety Partnership Board following his recent appointment as Defence Secretary.

Resolved to approve and adopt the Nottingham Community Safety Partnership Strategy 2024 to 2027, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Report of the Chair of Licensing Committee

Councillor Audrey Dinnall, Chair of the Licensing Committee, proposed the report asking Council to approve a draft Statement of Gambling Policy 2025 - 2028 to go out for an eight week consultation starting on 9 July.  Consultation will take place with responsible authorities, local and national businesses and citizens.  She highlighted that the draft Policy includes the retention of a ‘no casino’ resolution.  Following consultation, the final Policy will be presented to Council in November 2024 for adoption and commencement from January 2025.  The report was seconded by Councillor Corall Jenkins.

Resolved:

(1)  to approve the draft Statement of Gambling Policy 2025 – 2028 attached at Appendix 1 for release for consultation purposes; and

(2)  to include the retention of a ‘no casino’ resolution as part of the public consultation.  

Report of the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board

Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, proposed the report recommending that Council amend the terms of reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board and update Article 9 Non-Executive Functions and Committees of the Constitution to reflect that amendment; and note that Article 10 Executive Arrangements of the Constitution had been amended to reflect a change made by the Leader of the Council to the terms of reference for the Companies Governance Executive Committee.  The report was seconded by Councillor Ethan Radford.

Resolved to:

(1)  amend the terms of reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board to:

a.  replace the Corporate Director for People and Director for Adult Health and Care with the Corporate Director for Children and Education (director of children’s services) and Corporate Director for Adult Social Care and Health (director of adult social services) as voting members of the Board; and

b.  change objective (f) to “agree and oversee delivery of the Better Care Fund, including discharge of all functions that are the responsibility of the Health and Wellbeing Board as set out in the Section 75 Agreement”;

(2)  amend Article 9 Non-Executive Functions and Committees of the Constitution to reflect these changes to the Health and Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference;

(3)  note that the Leader of the Council has amended the terms of reference for the Companies Governance Executive Committee to remove the requirement for a specific Executive Member to chair the Committee and appoint Councillor Ethan Radford to replace Councillor Linda Woodings as Chair; and that Article 10 Executive Arrangements of the Constitution has been amended to reflect this change.

To agree to hold an Extraordinary Council meeting on 5 August 2024 6pm to consider the appointment of Chief Executive/ Head of Paid Service; and the Council’s Improvement Plan.

Resolved to hold an Extraordinary Council meeting on 5 August 2024 at 6pm to consider the appointment of Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) and the Council’s Improvement Plan.