Agenda and minutes

Councillor Eunice Campbell – non-council business

Councillor Carole McCulloch – non-council business

Councillor Thulani Molife – non-Council business

None.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2014 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

Honorary Alderman Roy Greensmith

It is with sadness that I report to Council the death of Alderman Roy Greensmith, who passed away on Monday 25 August. Born in the Meadows in 1929, Roy joined the army in 1947, serving in Egypt before returning to work for British Rail, where he remained for 47 years. An active member of both the trade union movement and the Labour Party, Roy was elected to the City Council in October 1992, representing Clifton East. Roy was appointed Sheriff of Nottingham in 1995 and served as Lord Mayor in 1997/98 and 2001/02. His funeral will take place on Friday 19^th September at 2pm at Holy Trinity Church in Clifton.

The Lord Mayor, Councillors Georgina Culley, Michael Edwards and Chris Gibson spoke in tribute to Honorary Alderman Roy Greensmith.

Findings of the Rotherham report

Councillor Roger Steel asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services:

In the light of the findings of the Rotherham report, can the Portfolio Holder assure the Council that all appropriate steps have been taken to avoid similar circumstances within Nottingham, and what action has been taken following these terrible findings to make sure all of Nottingham’s children have been safeguarded from abuse of this nature?

Councillor David Mellen replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and can I thank Councillor Steel for his question. The report on the findings of the Jay Independent Inquiry highlights terrible abuse and shocking failing of children and young people by officers at Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire Police. Since the publication of the report last week I have sought reassurances from officers that our current arrangements protect Nottingham’s young people from child sexual exploitation and that there are no uninvestigated incidents of this kind in the past.

In Nottingham we have a tradition of taking allegations of child abuse very seriously and investigate any historical concerns fully. Councillors will be aware that we have been undertaking an inquiry jointly with Nottinghamshire County Council Nottinghamshire Police into historical allegations of abuse in care homes, dating back beyond the 1970’s in some cases. Whilst these alleged incidents  occurred  when the law and frameworks far care were very different, abuse is never acceptable and we will always endeavour to bring to justice any perpetrators.

In terms of child sexual exploitation I am please to report that we have robust arrangements in place and that we have very strong links to Nottinghamshire Police’s Sexual Exploitation Investigation Unit. Partners share relevant intelligence that enables us to work jointly to protect vulnerable young people from crimes of this nature. Where concerns have been identified in Nottingham City we have acted promptly and proactively to safeguard the young women involved and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, which has an independent chair, ha a dedicated sub-group which brings together  partners to look at issues around child sexual exploitation in the city. There is a strong strategy in place to ensure that all partners are aware of their responsibilities and we have multi-agency training available to all practitioners to held them identify the signs of child sexual exploitation and the appropriate steps to take the protect children who may be at risk. One hundred and seventeen city based staff have so far undertaken this training.

It has been identified nationally that children who are in care and who go missing from care are particularly vulnerable. Nottingham City has invested in a specialist Children in Care Police Officer who works proactively with our children in care to identify any potential issues of this nature. She also chairs a Child Sexual Exploitation Concerns Forum for front-line practitioners across partner agencies to ensure that they are able to access specialist advice and guidance if they have concerns that a child may be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

The Leader submitted a report on the Policy on recording and reporting on public meetings, as set out on pages 25 to 32 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to adopt the policy recording and reporting on public meetings.

The Leader submitted a report on general amendments to the constitution, as set out pages 33 to 50 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to agree and note the constitutional amendments as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Leader submitted a report on decisions taken under the urgency procedures, as set out on pages 51 to 56 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to note the urgent decisions taken, as follows:

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

(2)  Key decisions (special urgency procedure)

Councillor Jane Urquhart submitted a report on the Broxtowe Borough, Gedling Borough and Nottingham City Aligned Core Strategy Adoption, as set out on pages 57 to 84 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to

(1)  adopt the Broxtowe Borough, Gedling Borough and Nottingham City Aligned Core Strategy;

(2)  delete the policies in the Adopted Local Plan identified in Appendix E of the Core Strategy;

(3)  delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation to make any final minor changes required to correct typographical or other errors.

“This Council understands the impact of smoking in our communities.

This Council believes that reducing smoking in our communities will improve health outcomes, help households tackle the cost of living crisis and benefit our local economy.

This Council recognises that illicit and counterfeit tobacco trade funds serious organised crime and increases children’s access to tobacco.

This Council will:

• Endorse and support the principles set out in the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control
• Call on partners and other relevant organisations in the city to sign up to the Declaration
• Maximise the powers held by the Council to tackle illicit and counterfeit cigarettes
• Work with local traders to explore a way to ensure under-age sales are prevented – such as implementing a Challenge 25 scheme
• Continue to work in partnership with colleagues and citizens to reduce smoking prevalence and prevent the uptake of smoking amongst children and young people
• Build on the successful prohibition of smoking at playgrounds, and, where local people want it, use new legislation to designate further smoke-free public places.

• Lobby government to:

Following a vote, Council agreed to vary the order of business under Part 4 of the Constitution, Standing Order 5, to consider the motion as item 11 on the agenda.

Moved by Councillor Alex Norris, seconded by Councillor Ginny Klein:

“This Council understands the impact of smoking in our communities.

This Council believes that reducing smoking in our communities will improve health outcomes, help households tackle the cost of living crisis and benefit our local economy.

This Council recognises that illicit and counterfeit tobacco trade funds serious organised crime and increases children’s access to tobacco.

This Council will:

• Endorse and support the principles set out in the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control
• Call on partners and other relevant organisations in the city to sign up to the Declaration.
• Maximise the powers held by the Council to tackle illicit and counterfeit cigarettes
• Work with local traders to explore a way to ensure under-age sales are prevented – such as implementing a Challenge 25 scheme.
• Continue to work in partnership with colleagues and citizens to reduce smoking prevalence and prevent the uptake of smoking amongst children and young people
• Build on the successful prohibition of smoking at playgrounds, and, where local people want it, use new legislation to designate further smoke-free public places.

• Lobby government to:

RESOLVED to carry the motion.

Councillor Alex Norris submitted a report on the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control, as set out on pages 85 to 90 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to become a signatory to the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control.