Agenda for City Council on Monday, 11th September, 2017, 2.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council House, Old Market Square

Contact: Laura Wilson, Senior Governance Officer  Email: laura.wilson@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

28.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Councillor Steve Battlemuch – personal reasons

Councillor Merlita Bryan – personal reasons

Councillor Azad Choudhry – leave

Councillor Jon Collins – other Council business

Councillor Sue Johnson – unwell

Councillor Carole Jones – leave

Councillor Chris Tansley – personal reasons

Councillor Marcia Watson – leave

Councillor Sam Webster – other Council business

Councillor Steve Young – personal reasons

29.

Declarations of interests

Minutes:

None.

30.

Questions from citizens

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Displaced Parking from Wollaton Hall

 

Mr C S asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Local Transport:

 

Could the Portfolio Holder comment on residents’ views that increasing the parking charges at Wollaton Park has created displaced parking on residential streets in Wollaton which they believe has led to health and safety issues, particularly with emergency service vehicles accessing properties where there are parked cars on both sides of the road. Do you agree that it should not be acceptable to prioritise generating income at the expense of increasing public health and safety risks on some roads and pavements in Nottingham City?

 

Councillor Longford replied as follows:

 

Thank you, Lord Mayor. Thank you for the question regarding parking on residential streets around Wollaton Park.

 

Parking charges at Wollaton Park have been in place for many years and, whilst we acknowledge that the charges have recently increased, it is the first increase in over six years. Prices have risen by £1.00, to £3.00 for up to 3 hours and £5.00 for the day. Season tickets are available for regular visitors, at £60. The income generated is vital during these times of harsh government cuts to Council budgets, to support the upkeep and improvement of Wollaton and other parks.

 

It is very unusual these days, to be able to visit a major attraction such as Wollaton Hall and Deer Park without some charge. A quick trawl through other attractions nearby shows that parking charges are set at a reasonable level. Entrance  to Kedleston Hall grounds for example is £5.90 per person, plus Clumber Park is £5.25 for a family ticket, and our own Newstead Abbey is £6.00 per car.

 

It is very difficult to establish if parking on nearby streets is purely displaced parking due to increase in fees or simply a result of higher visitor numbers to this extremely popular park. I’ve lived nearby for most of my life, and I know that parking in the streets is a perennial problem.

 

The Council takes its health and safety responsibilities very seriously and, in order to help reduce the impact of displaced parking, the Council has for many years put in place traffic orders for all major events and at weekends when we know it is likely to be busy. With the support of local Councillors, the Traffic Management section of Nottingham City Council has been exploring ways to address parking issues in the streets around Wollaton Park for some time. For many years, residents have raised concerns about on-street parking increasing at certain times, such as weekends, bank holidays, event days, and at key times of the day, when visitors arrive to walk dogs. I know that my colleague, Councillor Battlemuch, has been working hard to resolve these concerns since elected.

 

Prior to the increase in charges, Council officers were already working with local Councillors in order to consult residents on the introduction of a residents’ parking scheme, which would prevent Wollaton Park visitors from parking on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

Petitions from Councillors on behalf of citizens

Minutes:

Councillor Gul Khan presented a petition on behalf of 12 signatories asking for the Council to refuse permission to the owner of a property on Sneinton Dale to have access to Durham Avenue from the rear/side of the property, and that the owner close off the opening made in the boundary.

32.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of Council held on 10 July 2017 pdf icon PDF 404 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2017 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

33.

To receive official communications and announcements from the Leader of the Council and/or the Chief Executive

Minutes:

The Deputy Chief Executive/Corporate Director for Development and Growth reported the following:

 

Motion on Adult Social Care

 

At its meeting in March 2017 Council agreed a motion in the name of Councillor Alex Norris regarding Adult Social Care. A response to the motion has been received from the Department for Communities and Local Government which states “At the Budget earlier this year, the Government announced an additional £2 billion of funding for local authorities to help reduce short-term pressures and improve the stability of the social care system. £1 billion of this funding has been provided this year, ensuring that councils can start to fund more care packages immediately.

 

The Government recognises that this is not a long-term solution and we know that further reform is necessary to ensure that social care is sustainable. That is why the Government has committed to working with partners and bringing forward proposals for consultation.”

 

Motion on bedroom tax

 

In July, this Council called on the government to repeal the spare room subsidy and wrote to the government and local MPs for their support. We are still awaiting a reply.

 

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club

 

I would like to offer our congratulations to Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club who at the weekend secured a one-day trophy double this season. They beat the Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston on Saturday to win the Natwest T20 Blast and also won the Royal London One Day Cup in July after defeating Surrey at Lords. They are also top of Division 2 of the County Championship and look like firm favourites to win this which would top off an incredible season.  

 

Councillor Alan Clark

 

It is with great sadness that I inform Council that Councillor Alan Clark passed away on 26 July. Councillor Clark was elected as a Labour Councillor in 1988 representing the Byron Ward until 2003, and the Bulwell Forest Ward from 2003, and held a number of senior positions during his 29 years of service to Nottingham City Council including the role as Portfolio Holder for Energy and Sustainability since 2011. He took a leading role in making Nottingham one of the UK's greenest cities, including developing the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, fitting thousands of homes with solar panels and connecting thousands of homes and businesses to the district heating system, as well as setting up Robin Hood Energy, the UK's first council-owned  energy company.

 

Councillors’ Brian Parbutt, Georgina Culley and Eunice Campbell spoke in tribute to Councillor Alan Clark and a minutes’ silence was held.

Former Councillor Dick Benson

 

It is also with sadness that I inform Council that former Councillor Dick Benson passed away on 25 August. He was elected as a Conservative councillor to represent the Wollaton West ward on 3 May 2007 and represented the ward until May 2011. His funeral will be held on 22 September.

 

Councillors’ Georgina Culley and Brian Parbutt spoke in tribute to Dick Benson and a minutes’ silence was held.

 

34.

Questions from Councillors - to the City Council's lead Councillor on the Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire and Rescue Authority

Minutes:

None.

35.

Questions from Councillors - to a member of Executive Board, the Chair of a Committee and the Chair of any other City Council body

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Citizen questions to Council

 

Councillor Culley asked the following question of the Leader:

 

How many questions from citizens have been rejected by the Council in the past 12 months and what were the reasons given for those questions being rejected? How many citizens’ questions were subsequently never asked of the relevant Executive Council members?

 

In the absence of Councillor Collins’, Councillor Chapman replied as follows:

 

Can I thank Councillor Culley for the question. Since September 2016, 11 citizen questions have been received. 5 of these were general queries rather than specific questions for the Council and were therefore forwarded to the relevant department for response. 3 were answered orally at meetings, and 3 received written responses from the relevant Portfolio Holders due to the complex nature of the questions.

 

Now, you may ask, why were the ones which were rejected actually rejected? They were refused either on the basis that they were outside the Council’s remit, or they were an issue specific to the citizen and it wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss these in a public domain. Those are the particular reasons.

 

I would also add, that in accordance with Standing Order 3(a), it is the Lord Mayor’s discretion, in case you may have thought it was the Leader’s discretion, on whether questions are answered or not.

 

Robin Hood Energy Funding

 

Councillor Rule asked the following question of the Deputy Leader:

 

Could the Deputy Leader comment on the pressure that Robin Hood Energy’s funding requirements have placed on the City Councils budget?

 

Councillor Chapman replied as follows:

 

This is a very delicate issue because, as you will appreciate, it has to do with commercial confidentiality. So the answer you’re going to get is probably quite restricted, and I’ve had to take legal advice on this. The answer is that the City Council has provided financial support to Robin Hood Energy based on a commercial basis, at an interest rate which is financially beneficial to the City Council and also complies with State Aid. This support has been subject to both due diligence undertaken on the Company and the provision of monthly management reporting to the City Council.

 

However, the City Council will be reviewing, as it does in all circumstances, the overall financing of the company to ensure optimum financial structure is in place to suit both the company, and the City Council.

 

First choice school places

 

Councillor Culley asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Business, Education and Skills:

 

Can the Portfolio Holder please tell us how many children in Nottingham have been unable to attain their parents first choice of nursery place, primary school place or secondary school place in this current academic year?

 

In the absence of Councillor Webster, Councillor Mellen replied as follows:

 

Thank you Lord Mayor, and I thank Councillor Culley for her question. I am pleased that she’s asked this question, and given me the opportunity to share with Council the good news that this September there has been a substantial increase  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

36.

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 203 KB

Report of the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, submitted a report on the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2016/17, as set out on pages 25 to 36 of the agenda.

 

RESOLVED to accept the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2016/17.

 

Councillors Jim Armstrong, Georgina Culley and Andrew Rule requested that their vote against the above decision was recorded.

 

37.

Nottingham City Council response to the LGBCE Consultation on Warding Patterns in the City of Nottingham pdf icon PDF 259 KB

Report of the Leader

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In the absence of the Leader, the Deputy Leader submitted a report on the Nottingham City Council response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) Consultation on Warding Patterns in the City of Nottingham, as set out on pages 37 to 94 of the agenda.

 

RESOLVED to endorse the proposal for submission to the LGBCE.

 

Councillors Jim Armstrong, Georgina Culley and Andrew Rule requested that their vote against the above decision was recorded.

 

 

 

38.

Amendments to the Constitution pdf icon PDF 208 KB

Report of the Leader

Minutes:

In the absence of the Leader, the Deputy Leader submitted a report on the Amendments to the Constitution, as set out on pages 95 to 96 of the agenda.

 

RESOLVED to

 

(1)  make the quorum for all Area Committees 3 members;

 

(2)  disestablish the City Centre Forum;

 

(3)  amend Standing Orders to reflect that substitutes are permitted for Standards Committee;

 

(4)  note the following changes to the Standards Committee membership:

·  replacing Councillor Sally Longford with Councillor Leslie Ayoola;

·  replacing Councillor Graham Chapman with Councillor Neghat Khan;

·  replacing Councillor Leslie Ayoola and Councillor Neghat Khan as substitutes with Councillor Linda Woodings and Councillor Mohammed Saghir;

·  the addition of two further substitutes – Councillor David Mellen and Councillor Nicola Heaton;

 

(5)  approve the amendments to the Constitution required by the above changes.

 

Councillors Jim Armstrong and Andrew Rule requested that their decision not to vote on the above decision was recorded.

 

 

39.

Decisions taken under Urgency Procedures pdf icon PDF 210 KB

Report of the Leader

Minutes:

In the absence of the Leader, the Deputy Leader submitted a report on Decisions taken under Urgency Procedures, as set out on pages 97 to 100 of the agenda.

 

RESOLVED to

 

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

 

Ref no

Date of decision

Subject

Value of decision

Reasons for urgency

 

2870

04/07/17

Property Investment Acquisition – Project Everest

Exempt

The terms of the sale have been agreed

2878

18/07/17

Property Investment Acquisition – Sherwood Park

Exempt

The call-in period would seriously prejudice the Council’s ability to meet timescales proposed by the vendor. This could result in the loss of the investment and result in abortive costs

2887

19/07/17

RHE Loan Facility

Exempt

The urgent need to secure gas and electricity supplies

 

(2)  note the key decision that was taken under special urgency procedures:

 

Date of decision

Subject

Value of decision

Decision taker

Reasons for special urgency

 

19/07/17

RHE Loan Facility

Exempt

Leader of the Council

The loan is required by RHE to support the introduction of a revised winter tariff by the company. This supports the delivery of their business plan. The company need to buy the utilities now to enable them to de-risk the price offered for the winter tariff

 

Councillors Jim Armstrong and Andrew Rule requested that their decision not to vote on the above decision was recorded.

 

40.

The Crime and Drugs Partnership Plan 2015 to 2020 (2017/18 refresh) pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Community and Customer Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Community and Customer Services submitted a report on the Crime and Drugs Partnership Plan 2015 to 2020 (2017/18 Refresh), as set out on pages 101 to 114 of the agenda.

 

RESOLVED to approve the Partnership Plan 2015 to 2020 (2017/18 refresh), as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

 

Councillors Jim Armstrong and Andrew Rule requested that their decision not to vote on the above decision was recorded.

 

 

41.

Motion

Motion in the name of Councillor Brian Parbutt:

 

The Council profoundly regrets the Conservative government’s decision to scrap the electrification of the Midlands Mainline, two years after agreeing the scheme, and in the same week as announcing £30 billion of funding for Cross Rail 2.

 

This Council believes these announcements highlight the unfairness of government transport funding, which prioritises London and the South East against all other areas. London currently receives £2,595.68 per person of transport infrastructure funding, compared to just £218.94 in the East Midlands.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

·  write to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling urging the Government to reverse their decision to cancel the electrification of the Midlands Mainline;

·  write to the Department of Transport asking for an explanation as to why this scheme has been scrapped, when there was clear evidence of the economic benefits it would bring;

·  campaign alongside other local authorities in the East Midlands for further investment in transport infrastructure in the region;

·  lobby Members of Parliament to push this issue in Parliament.

Minutes:

Moved by Councillor Brian Parbutt, seconded by Councillor Sally Longford:

 

The Council profoundly regrets the Conservative government’s decision

to scrap the electrification of the Midlands Mainline, two years after agreeing the scheme, and in the same week as announcing £30 billion of funding for Cross Rail 2.

 

This Council believes these announcements highlight the unfairness of government transport funding, which prioritises London and the South East against all other areas. London currently receives £2,595.68 per person of transport infrastructure funding, compared to just £218.94 in the East Midlands.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

·   write to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling urging the Government

  to reverse their decision to cancel the electrification of the Midlands

  Mainline;

·   write to the Department of Transport asking for an explanation as to

  why this scheme has been scrapped, when there was clear

  evidence of the economic benefits it would bring;

·   campaign alongside other local authorities in the East Midlands for

  further investment in transport infrastructure in the region;

·   lobby Members of Parliament to push this issue in Parliament.

 

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Andrew Rule, seconded by Councillor Jim Armstrong:

 

Replace: The Council profoundly regrets the Conservative government’s decision to scrap the electrification of the Midlands Mainline, two years after agreeing the scheme, and in the same week as announcing £30 billion of funding for Cross Rail 2.

 

With: This Council recognises the £760 million of investment in local transport projects provided by both Central Government and Local Enterprise Partnerships since 2010 which have benefited both the City and the wider region.

 

Replace: This Council believes these announcements highlight the unfairness of government transport funding, which prioritises London and the South East against all other areas. London currently receives £2,595.68 per person of transport infrastructure funding, compared to just £218.94 in the East Midlands.

 

With: This Council further notes the Government’s commitment to HS2 and acknowledges the important role it will play in improving transport links in the North of the county.

 

Insert: This Council nevertheless profoundly regrets the decision to scrap the electrification of the Midland Mainline and Council resolves to…..

 

Amended motion to read:

 

This Council recognises the £760 million of investment in local transport projects provided by both Central Government and Local Enterprise Partnerships since 2010 which have benefited both the City and the wider region.

 

This Council further notes the Government’s commitment to HS2 and acknowledges the important role it will play in improving transport links in the North of the county.

 

This Council nevertheless profoundly regrets the decision to scrap the electrification of the Midland Mainline and Council resolves to:

·   write to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling urging the Government to reverse their decision to cancel the electrification of the Midlands

  Mainline;

·   write to the Department of Transport asking for an explanation as to why this scheme has been scrapped, when there was clear evidence of the economic benefits it would bring;

·   campaign alongside other local authorities in the East Midlands for further investment in transport infrastructure in the region;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

42.

Motion

Motion in the name of Councillor Nick McDonald:

 

This Council recognises the Adult Social Care is facing an enormous challenge to cope with the rising level of demand and that in order to provide a sustainable system of care, reform is needed.

 

In order to provide this reform, this Council and its partners require the necessary transitional funding available to ensure current levels of care can be maintained during this period of change.

 

This Council therefore calls on the Government to provide the maximum amount of transitional grant funding available for Nottingham City Council to help ensure the best situation possible for those currently in need of care.

Minutes:

Moved by Councillor Nick McDonald, seconded by Councillor Ginny Klein:

 

This Council recognises the Adult Social Care is facing an enormous challenge to cope with the rising level of demand and that in order to provide a sustainable system of care, reform is needed.

 

In order to provide this reform, this Council and its partners require the necessary transitional funding available to ensure current levels of care can be maintained during this period of change.

 

This Council therefore calls on the Government to provide the maximum amount of transitional grant funding available for Nottingham City Council to help ensure the best situation possible for those currently in need of care.

 

RESOLVED to carry the motion.

 

Councillors Jim Armstrong, Georgina Culley and Andrew Rule requested that their decision not to vote on the above decision was recorded.

 

 

43.

Extraordinary meeting

To agree to hold an Extraordinary Council meeting at 5.00 pm on Monday 13 November 2017 to consider the installation of Sir David Greenaway as an Honorary Freeman of the City

Minutes:

RESOLVED to hold an Extraordinary Council meeting at 5.00 pm on

Monday 13 November 2017 to consider the installation of Sir David

Greenaway as an Honorary Freeman of the City.