Agenda and minutes

Councillor Azad Choudhry – leave

Councillor Eileen Morley – non-Council business

Councillor Jackie Morris – non-Council business

Councillor Marcia Watson – non-Council business

Councillor Parbutt declared a prejudicial interest in item 8, the report of the Deputy Leader on the Pay Policy Statement 2014/15, as an employee of a local government trade union and withdrew from the meeting for the duration of the item.

Councillor Webster declared a discloseable interest in item 10, the report of the Deputy Leader on the Budget 2014/15, as an employee of Nottinghamshire Futures. Councillor Webster would not be involved in any discussion or vote specifically relating to this organisation therefore remained in the Chamber for the duration of this item.

Please note that questions to Council are received after the agenda has been published. Questions will be uploaded to this agenda by 5pm on Friday 28 February 2014

Councillor W Smith submitted a petition on behalf of 760 signatories supporting the development of a discount supermarket in Bilborough.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2014, copies of which had been circulated, be confirmed and signed by the Lord Mayor.

The Chief Executive reported the following communications:

LGC Awards

Nottingham City Council has been shortlisted for a Local Government Chronicle Award for its work on ‘Innovation in Commissioning.’ The winner will be announced on 12 March in London.

Jim Taylor

It is with sadness that I have to report the death of Jim Taylor, who passed away on 21 February, aged 65. Jim joined the Authority in the late 1960’s as a Town Planner, rising through the ranks to become Director of Development.

During his time as Director, Jim led the department through some of the largest regeneration projects the city has seen, such as the NET scheme, the redevelopment of Old Market Square and the renaissance of the Lace Market. More recently he led the Forest Recreation Masterplan redevelopment.

Although Jim retired aged 49, he continued to be active in the community helping set up Nottingham Ambassadors, promoting Nottingham nationally and internationally, particularly with out twin city of Karlsruhe. His funeral will take place on Wednesday 5 March at St Mary’s Church at 2pm.

The Lord Mayor and Councillors Trimble, Malcolm and Culley spoke in tribute to Jim Taylor. The Council stood in silent tribute to Jim Taylor.

Free or discount tram travel

Councillor Steel asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation:

What discussions, negotiations and agreements have been made with Tramlink regarding free or discounted travel for people affected by tram works?

Councillor Urquhart replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and thank you Councillor Steel for your question. In previous Council meetings I know that some on our benches have sometimes indicated that we think that Conservative questions come perhaps from the Nottingham Post – something is a headline one week then a question the next. Now, of course in the case of this question that pattern is followed again, but with a bit of a twist and that twist of course is that it was the Labour candidate in the Clifton bi-election who has pledged to campaign for concessions to be offered to people affected tram works.

It was the current Labour councillor, our Sheriff, Councillor Ian Malcolm who, at the tram briefing in late January made clear that he was already taking practical steps to try and secure such concessions. These things were picked up by the Nottingham Post who reported the candidate, Pat Ferguson’s pledge and reported on that meeting so it is really good to see that the Conservatives are catching up, following where positive Labour politics has led. It is a very sensible pledge to make to people not only in Clifton but in other areas affected by tram works, to campaign, to do our best and to secure something for those people in terms of their use of the tram once it is built.

That is why I support the idea and why Councillor Malcolm, standing up for his residents and taking practical steps in suggesting that he might use some of his ward budget to match with any offers from Tramlink, is a person who is making real progress here. That is an example of a councillor working positively in his ward and being willing to use his ward budget to achieve something very worthwhile. In Councillor Malcolm, I know I have a staunch supporter of the whole tram project.

Councillor Steel was also at the tram briefing in January and will recall Councillor Malcolm’s question about offers for local people and the very positive response which was given by Tramlink at that meeting and that response of course, is the one that is important, because, and again I’m sure that Councillor Steel is aware of this, the NET contract passes operational risk to Tramlink who are responsible for setting of fares and marketing the tram system. Tramlink of course, will be keen to ensure that people in areas served by the new lines and have experienced disruption while the works have been taking place will be able to recognise the benefits the tram will bring to their area and I’m sure Tramlink will want to incentivise them to use this new high quality transport system in their area.

It is fully anticipated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

The Leader submitted a report, as set out on pages 21 to 24 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to note the urgent decisions taken, as follows:

(1)  Urgent decisions (exempt from call-in)

The Deputy Leader submitted a report, as set out on pages 25 to 86 of the agenda. The Deputy Leader reported that, since the publication of the agenda, Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee agreed to increase the Living Wage supplement to £7.65 per hour.

RESOLVED to

(1)  approve and endorse the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2014/15, subject to the increase in the Living Wage supplement to £7.65per hour for all employees on grade GLPC A and spinal column points 8, 9 and 10 of grade GLPC B;

(2)  note that the statement may need to be amended in-year for any necessary changes the Council may wish to adopt;

(3)  present any such changes to Council for approval.

The Deputy Leader submitted a report, as set out on pages 87 to 120 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to

(1)  approve the 2014/15 Treasury Management Strategy document, including the strategy for debt repayment and the investment strategy, as detailed in Appendix 1 (Annex 1);

(2)  approve the Prudential Indicators and limits from 2013/14 to 2016/17, as detailed in Appendix 1 (Annex 1).

The Deputy Leader submitted a report, as set out on pages 121 to 141 of the agenda.

Moved by Councillor Culley by way of an amendment and seconded by Councillor Steel that:

In recommendation 2.1 (1) add after “the revenue budget for 2014/15”

“subject to the following:-

And amend the following recommendations as indicated:

· In recommendation 2.1 (3) (a) substitute £949,726,369 for £950,524,607;

· In recommendation 2.1 (3) (b) substitute £865,532,795 for £864,689,330;

· In recommendation 2.1 (3) (c) substitute £84,193,574 for £85,835,277;

· In recommendation 2.1 (4) substitute £1,404.42 for £1,431.80

· In recommendation 2.1 (6) amend Members’ Allowance Scheme for 2014/15 by removing the Special Responsibility Allowance for Executive Assistants

And amend the following sections as indicated:

· In section 5.2 substitute £84,193,574 for £85,835,277 and £1,404.42 for £1,431.80

· In section 5.3 and 5.6 substitute the following basic amounts of council tax for the ones shown in the report:

· In section 5.6 substitute the following aggregate council taxes for those shown in the report:

After a discussion, the amendment was put to a recorded vote, as detailed below and not carried: