Agenda and minutes

Councillor Leslie Ayoola

Councillor Graham Chapman – Other Council business

Councillor Audrey Dinnall – Leave

Councillor Sue Johnson – Leave

Councillor Gul Khan

Councillor Jane Lakey – Other Council business

Councillor Dave Liversidge – Personal

Councillor Sajid Mohammed – Leave

Councillor Shuguftah Quddoos – Leave

Councillor Maria Watson - Unwell

None

Victoria Market

The following question was asked on behalf of NC of the Portfolio Holder for Skills, Growth and Economic Development:

How much has the Council paid Bruton Knowles for their consultancy services

regarding compensation for the Victoria Market traders, and would that have been better used to pay the said market traders?

Councillor Rebecca Langton replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor, and can I thank the member of the public for their question. The Council has paid £25,000 to Bruton Knowles for their services, who have largely now concluded their work. The Council has used an external contractor for this work as we don’t have the in-house resources to undertake this kind of negotiation, so we have had to rely on external resource.  Allocating this budget to others, as the questioner asks, would not have secured the primary objective, which was the procurement of an expert adviser to the Council. In responding to this question, I would like to acknowledge that this is a difficult time for traders at the Victoria Centre Market and provide my personal reassurance we are doing all we can as quickly as we can to make our final decision, and we will keep traders informed and provide an update in the coming days. Thank you.

Nottingham Castle

The following question was asked on behalf of TU of the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Planning:

Can you explain why Nottingham Castle remains closed and what you consider to be the public benefit of spending hundreds of thousands of pounds to keep it closed?  Further, can you tell the people of Nottingham when they will be able to enter the grounds of their Castle and view the displays, exhibitions, and artwork?

Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor. Since the site was handed back to the Council from Nottingham Castle Trust liquidators at the end of November 2022, our initial focus has been to ensure that both the site and the collections are safe, secure and appropriately managed. I want to thank our officers who are working really hard to achieve that outcome. Following the site handover, we have been reviewing the full range of options for the future of the Castle and how that we best open the site. In doing so it is vital this is done in a way which ensures the future of the Castle that will be viable without creating risks to the Council and to the local taxpayers. The work is still ongoing and it is progressing really well. We’re extremely keen to return public access to the site and to re-ignite its social and economic benefits, we are also aware that any proposals need to be agreed with our funders and partners who we are working to engage with and take advice from, to help ensure positive outcomes for our city. As previously stated seeking a resolution that enables the reopening of Nottingham Castle for Nottingham people and other visitors to our city remains  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

Councillor Andrew Rule submitted a petition on behalf of residents asking the Council to request that Avant Homes conduct a more thorough consultation exercise and hold a public meeting for residents of the Barton Green estate to outline their plans in detail, before submission of any planning application for a 265 housing development off Hawksley Gardens.

Councillor Sam Gardiner submitted a petition on behalf of residents asking the Council to put up cameras and lighting on the walkway between Rise Park Primary School and Park Vale Academy and install gated access on this walkway which is closed after school hours.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2023 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

The Chief Executive reported the following:

The Council has achieved Stonewall’s Silver Award, which recognises employers who are committed to supporting their LGBTQ+ staff and customers.  I would like to congratulate Councillor Angharad Roberts who was one of the recipients of their Changemaker of the Year award, as nominated by the Council’s LGBT+ Network.

Frank Jordan, Corporate Director for Communities, Environment and Resident Services, will leave his post at the end of March, having joined the Council in September 2021.  He has been in post as the Council implements a recovery and improvement plan to find fresh ways of delivering vital local services efficiently and effectively. Frank has played a vital role in the senior management team at the City Council at a time of significant change, challenge and improvement. He brought with him a wealth of experience of leading corporate transformational change programmes, which has been of enormous help in moving the Council forward. We wish him well in his new role in Cambridgeshire County Council.

Councillor David Mellen, Leader of the Council, spoke to acknowledge the contribution of those councillors not standing for re-election at local elections in May 2023.

None

Asset Management

Councillor Kevin Clarke asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Communications:

Could the Portfolio Holder explain to the residents of Nottingham just why they are selling the City's assets and land off?

Councillor David Mellen replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor, and can I thank Councillor Clarke for his question. In accordance with the Council’s Together for Nottingham Plan, we are implementing a corporate landlord model as part of our Transformation Programme. This involves a strategic review of all the Council’s assets to assess the contribution that they make to the achievements of the Council’s priorities. Where it is concluded that it is in the Council’s best interests to dispose of these assets, their sale will generate much needed capital receipts that we will use to further the delivery of the Council’s medium term plans. By developing a future pipeline of capital receipts from the sales of assets we are permitted to use them for three purposes: funding investment in transformation; and in accordance with regulations around the flexible use of capital receipts, we can use capital receipts in place of general fund revenue resources where our transformation projects deliver ongoing cost efficiencies and improve outcomes in future service delivery. We’ve prioritised the investment of £18million of existing capital receipts to fund the existing transformation programme over the period of 2022/2023 to 2026/2027, that will in turn yield in the region of £60million in savings over that term. In the budget papers which I’m sure Councillor Clarke will have read, it is clear that our 4 year budget plan relies heavily on transformation, that process by where we look to operate in a different more efficient way in a way that gives good or better offers to our citizens, giving them the best possible value whilst saving money as a result of investing in the service. Generating capital receipts by selling property and land that is not fulfilling a useful purpose is a way of making that happen. The generation of a further pipeline of capital receipts will enable consideration of funding future transformation initiatives over and above of those set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan. A second reason for generating capital receipts is the repayment of existing borrowing. In line with our voluntary debt reduction policy, we are committed to reducing the levels of the Council’s total debt at a sensible rate. A future pipeline of capital receipts will give us the opportunity to further accelerate the rate of reduction in our total levels of debt particularly those that are still subject to the level of borrowing from their purchase thereby reducing the annual revenue cost of borrowing in the future. Servicing debt is a significant part of our revenue budget, so reducing debt where we can will have a positive effect on that budget. The third reason why we have a considered programme of asset sales is to allow us to invest in new capital projects. The Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

Report of the Returning Officer

The Lord Mayor proposed the report of the Returning Officer recommending that the scheme of delegation is confirmed to clearly outline the powers of the Returning Officer to make changes to the scheme of polling places, in consultation with councillors, in between formal reviews of polling places.  It also outlined changes required now due to the unavailability of polling places, to reduce the use of portable units and due to changes in local circumstances.  Councillor Nicola Heaton seconded the report.

Resolved to:

(1)  amend the scheme of delegation to confirm arrangements for changes to the agreed scheme of polling places in between formal reviews, granting authority to the Returning Officer, in consultation with the leaders of all political groups and any ungrouped councillors, to approve all changes required because a polling place is no longer available and/or a more accessible polling place is available than a portable unit;

(2)  note the 17 changes required to the scheme of polling places for the following reasons:

a.  unavailability - original polling place is no longer available

b.  portable unit – a more accessible polling place is available

(3)  note the 6 further amendments recommended to polling places for the following reason:

a.  local circumstances – the circumstances surrounding the previous selection have changed

Report of the Leader of the Council

Councillor David Mellen, Leader of the Council, proposed the report updating Council on the statutory intervention currently in place to secure the Council’s compliance with its Best Value Duty, confirming the Government’s latest decision regarding intervention and confirming that Instructions have been received from the Improvement and Assurance Board which the Council must comply with.  Councillor Adele Williams seconded the report.  Council noted the information contained in the exempt appendix.

Resolved to:

(1)  note the latest position on statutory intervention and the Instructions issued by the Improvement and Assurance Board, as set out in Appendices 2 and 3 to the report; and

(2)  append the Instructions to the Together for Nottingham Plan.

Report of the Leader of the Council

Councillor David Mellen, Leader of the Council, proposed the report setting out a Strategic Council Plan for the period 2023 – 2027, to inform residents, partners and stakeholders of the Council’s priorities for the next four years.  The report was seconded by Councillor Adele Williams.

Resolved to approve the Strategic Council Plan 2023 – 2027.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance

Councillor Adele Williams, Portfolio Holder for Finance, proposed the report regarding the Council’s budget 2023/24 seeking approval of the Medium Term Financial Plan 2023/24 to 2026/27, Capital Programme and level of council tax for 2023/24.  The report was seconded by Councillor David Mellen.

Councillor Andrew Rule proposed the following amendment, which was seconded by Councillor Kevin Clarke:

In recommendation 2.1 add after “the revenue budget for 2023/24”

“subject to the following being undertaken, in parallel with the budget, within the next six months:-

Section 1

It is recommended that reviews of the following areas be undertaken:

·  Review of relocation from Loxley House to Council House and other council owned property in the community

·  Development of a strategy plan for the utilisation of the monies refunded to the Housing Revenue Account by the Council, with an emphasis on ensuring council tenants will benefit from the same

·  Review of the impact of purpose built student housing on City Council’s tax base and business rates base against demand on council services

·  Assessment of the economic impact on the City in the event the Tram Operator fails and any mitigations that can be put in place

·  Review of alternative financing methods to Work Place Parking Levy in light of falling spaces

·  Audit of availability payments made to operator to ensure they accurately reflect operational performance

·  Review of marketing on bus stops and permanent alternative methods when existing contract ceases at the end of financial year

·  Assessment of inefficiencies arising from Internal Charging within City Council

·  Urgent review of parking charges on economy of City Centre

·  Review of asset transfer and use of community trusts to safeguard community assets – specifically and immediately for Clifton Young People’s Centre in Clifton, in order to prevent the imminent threat of closure

·  Review of voluntary and third sector access to Youth Centres, across the City as a whole, to improve provision of activities for young people.

·  Review of membership of Companies Governance Committee

·  Review of commercialisation opportunities within Tree Services

·  Review of Area Capital allocation formula

·  Develop a strategy for increasing the mix of affordable homes as a means of increasing the City Council’s Council Tax Base

·  Identify and pursue commercialisation and joint service opportunities with other local authorities”

In recommendation 2.4 add after “the capital programme to 2026/27”

“subject to the following being undertaken, in parallel with the capital programme, within the next six months:

It is recommended that a review of the existing capital programme be undertaken to:

• Reprioritise resources to create additional funds to improve pavements. Councillors who use Area Capital Fund to improve pavements on main thoroughfares could seek match funding from this fund.
• Reprioritise to fund repairs to roads across the City”

The meeting was adjourned at 4:35pm to allow time for councillors to consider the proposed amendment.  The meeting resumed at 4:55pm.

Councillors debated and then voted on the proposed amendment.

Resolved to reject the amendment proposed by Councillor Rule.

Councillors debated the budget report.

Councillors voted on the recommendations in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance

Councillor Adele Williams, Portfolio Holder for Finance, proposed the report recommending approval of a series of strategies relating to treasury management and capital investment in 2023/24.  The report was seconded by Councillor David Mellen.

Resolved to:

(1)  approve the 2023/24 Treasury Management Strategy document, including the Borrowing Strategy, Debt Repayment Strategy (Minimum Revenue Provision Statement) and the Investment Strategy, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

(2)  approve the Prudential Indicators and limits from 2023/24 to 2025/26, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

(3)  adopt the current Treasury Management Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

(4)  approve the 2022/23 Capital Strategy document including the Voluntary Debt Reduction Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report and Appendix B of the Capital Strategy; and

(5)  approve the Flexible Use of Capital Receipt Policies for 2022/23 and 2023/24, as set out in Appendix 2 and Appendix C of the Capital Strategy.

Report of the Leader of the Council

Councillor David Mellen, Leader of the Council, presented the report detailing urgent decisions that the Council is required to note, which have been taken under provisions within the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules and Access to Information Rules.  The report was seconded by Councillor Adele Williams.

Resolved to note the following decision taken under the Call-in and Urgency provisions of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules:

Report of the Chair of the Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee

Councillor Sam Webster, Chair of the Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee, proposed the report setting out information on pay and conditions for Chief Officers in comparison to the bulk of the workforce employed on ‘Local Government Services’ terms and conditions.  The report was seconded by Councillor Adele Williams.

Resolved to approve the Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2023/24, as set out at Appendix A to the report.

This Council supports the Government’s stated aim to ‘level up’ in the UK.  However, it believes that the Government’s Levelling Up Strategy is:

1)  incoherent, as it has no defined view on what levelling up means;

2)  badly directed, as it spreads small amounts of finance over wide areas, on dubious criteria and with minimum impact, having deprived those same areas of years of mainstream funding; and

3)  procedurally divisive, short term and badly managed.

Despite this, Council has continued to build council houses, improved private rented housing through selective licensing, kept ownership of care homes, supported welfare rights services across the city, built a new Central Library and invested in affordable and reliable public transport through our bus and tram networks, including 78 new electric buses.

It therefore urges the Government to adopt a clear definition of what levelling up means, what the key factors are and what degree of funding, timescale and targeting is required to make a difference to the economies and prospects of areas such as Nottingham which are most in need.

Councillor Georgia Power proposed the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor Sam Webster:

This Council supports the Government’s stated aim to ‘level up’ in the UK.  However, it believes that the Government’s Levelling Up Strategy is:

1)  incoherent, as it has no defined view on what levelling up means;

2)  badly directed, as it spreads small amounts of finance over wide areas, on dubious criteria and with minimum impact, having deprived those same areas of years of mainstream funding; and

3)  procedurally divisive, short term and badly managed.

Despite this, Council has continued to build council houses, improved private rented housing through selective licensing, kept ownership of care homes, supported welfare rights services across the city, built a new Central Library and invested in affordable and reliable public transport through our bus and tram networks, including 78 new electric buses.

It therefore urges the Government to adopt a clear definition of what levelling up means, what the key factors are and what degree of funding, timescale and targeting is required to make a difference to the economies and prospects of areas such as Nottingham which are most in need.

Resolved to carry the motion.

1)  To agree to hold an Extraordinary Council meeting on 23 March 2023 at 6pm;

2)  To agree to hold the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2023 at 2pm;

3)  To note the proposal to meet at 2pm on the following Mondays:

·  10 July 2023

·  11 September 2023

·  13 November 2023

·  15 January 2024

·  4 March 2024

Resolved to:

(1)  hold an Extraordinary Council meeting on 23 March 2023 at 6pm;

(2)  hold the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2023 at 2pm; and

(3)  note the proposal to meet at 2pm on the following Mondays:

a.  10 July 2023

b.  11 September 2023

c.  13 November 2023

d.  15 January 2024

e.  4 March 2024