Agenda and minutes

Councillor Liaqat Ali – non Council business

Councillor Cat Arnold – non Council business

Councillor Alex Ball – non Council business

Councillor Alan Clark – non Council business

Councillor Jon Collins – other Council business

Councillor Sue Johnson – non Council business

Councillor Mohammed Saghir – non Council business

Councillor Tim Spencer – non Council business

None.

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 6 June 2014.

No questions from citizens were received.

Councillor Neghat Khan submitted a petition on behalf of 56 signatories opposing a proposed parking area for 20 cars on Ashworth Close.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2014 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

Barry O’Dowd

On 7 May, Barry O’Dowd – aboxing coach from Bulwell – sadly passed away, aged 66 years. Barry founded Bulwell Hall Boxing Club out of a redundant community centre and went on to train hundreds of boxers over the years from the city.

Barry was selected as an Olympic City Ambassador in 2012 and handed over the torch to Torvill and Dean for the final leg of the relay into the city centre. A keen supporter of Sports, Culture and Parks throughout that year, Barry won the 2012 Coach of the Year at the City’s Sports Awards for his work coaching boxing to young people in the community. His funeral took place on 27 May.

Sidney Hill

Sidney Hill passed away on 30 May 2014 aged 81 years. Sid was a former Chief Environmental Health Officer at Nottingham City Council. He started work at the Council on 5 September 1977 and retired on 31 August 1991.

Lady Mayoresses Gapper and Parker

The deaths of two former Lady Mayoresses are reported, Mrs Lillian Gapper, who served as Lady Mayoress in 1994/95 to her husband, Councillor Vernon Gapper and Kathleen Parker, who served as Lady Mayoress to Councillor Barrie Parker in 1995/96.

Councillor John Hartshorne spoke in tribute to Barry O’Dowd and Sidney Hill. Councillor Georgina Culley spoke in tribute to Lady Mayoress Lillian Gapper and Lady Mayoress Kathleen Parker.

The Council stood in silent tribute to their memory.

Tram lines to Beeston and Clifton

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

Nottingham City Council’s ambitious transport project to bring 2 new tram lines to Beeston and Clifton will be an amazing opportunity for Nottingham when it is completed, but it has caused significant disruption for many residents living along the tram routes. Will the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation join me in recognising the hard work and effort that has so far gone into resolving issues when they arise on the route? Will she also reiterate her call for the tram company to ensure those who have been most affected by tram construction work are given special and the most preferential opportunities to secure maximum benefit from the new tram services when they open to the public?

Councillor Jane Urquhart replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and thank you Councillor Ferguson, I know this issue is one which is close to your heart and an issue on which you have been campaigning for some time. Significant progress is of course being made to build our two new tram lines and it is expected that much of the main, and much of the disruptive work, will be completed by the end of the summer.

There are many examples of the construction company taking extra care and responding to the needs of the local people, I’m sure that everyone was pleased, for example, to hear of the way contractors assisted a resident of Lower Road / Fletcher Road in Beeston to get to her wedding with music and an archway formed by JCBs and decorations on the road. Of course, there are other things in various areas like attention to detail once the rail and the track has gone into the road, making sure that the streets are looking great when those rails have gone in. There are regular local meetings, sometimes with groups of local people but sometimes with individual local householders to address particular and specific issues about the way that the tram interacts with people’s individual properties. There is, of course, the active support that the contractors have given to communities events and occasions in Beeston, Chilwell, Clifton and the Meadows.

I am also aware that the tram consortium will be sowing poppy seeds at appropriate places alongside the tram tracks as part of our wider World War I commemoration events across the centenary year. This huge level of construction has inevitably caused disruption for local people living and working along the route, but of course, it has already benefited Nottingham considerably through both job creation and contracts awarded to local firms. To date, around £42 million worth of contracts have been placed with businesses in Nottingham city, another £44 million with companies in Greater Nottingham and a further £44 million across the east midlands. A couple of examples here are Bulwell based Omega Red, a market leader in electrical earthing and lighting protection systems and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

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

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

Councillor David Liversidge submitted a report as set out on pages 25 to 36 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to approve the Crime and Drugs Partnership Plan for 2014/15.

“This Council welcomes the Heritage Lottery Fund’s announcement to award a grant towards the £24 million development of Nottingham castle. Along with the redevelopment of the Broadmarsh centre, the opening of the station interchange, developments in the Creative Quarter and our ambitious house building programme, this announcement marks a significant opportunity for local businesses and job creation. This Council therefore resolves to work with the private sector to develop the skills necessary in order to maximise the number of jobs for local people.”

Moved by Councillor Dave Trimble, seconded by Councillor Nick McDonald:

“This Council welcomes the Heritage Lottery Fund’s announcement to award a grant towards the £24 million development of Nottingham castle. Along with the redevelopment of the Broadmarsh centre, the opening of the station interchange, developments in the Creative Quarter and our ambitious house building programme, this announcement marks a significant opportunity for local businesses and job creation. This Council therefore resolves to work with the private sector to develop the skills necessary in order to maximise the number of jobs for local people.”

RESOLVED to carry the motion.