Agenda and minutes

Councillor Jim Armstrong – annual leave

Councillor Merlita Bryan – illness

Councillor Eunice Campbell – annual leave

Councillor Alan Clark – annual leave

Councillor Joshua Cook – other business

Councillor David Mellen – other Council business

Councillor Marcia Watson – illness

Councillors Brian Parbutt, Alex Norris and Coral Jenkins declared interests in agenda item 13, motion in the name of Councillor Rosemary Healy, as they are employed by Trade Unions. They left the chamber for consideration of this item.

Traffic outside Fernwood School

M.R. asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport:

The traffic on Arleston Drive outside Fernwood Schools at school drop off and pick up times is massively problematic. There are too many cars and too many children and no enforcement of yellow lines. How do the council propose to keep our children safe if the school increases in size, as is proposed?

Councillor Nick McDonald provided the following response:

Thank you Lord Mayor, the response is as follows Fernwood Primary and Nursery School is a large primary situated on Arleston Drive with approximately 870 pupils. Their secondary counterpart is in close proximity off Arleston Drive on Goodwood Road with approximately 1000 pupils. With the proposed increased size of these educational establishments we will have a capacity for 2050 plus pupils; inevitably there will be a large increase in vehicle usage at peak times, drop off times.

There are currently School Entrance Clearways, which to the untrained eye are school zig zags, on Arleston Drive and these are designated by Traffic Regulation Orders which means that they can be enforced at present. The impacts of changes will be monitored to ensure these remain appropriate for this location. In addition the Council works with Fernwood Primary and Nursery School and offers a full road safety education package and programmes to encourage alterative travel modes along with enforcement outside schools.

The dispersal time for school traffic is around 9 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoons. Although congestion can cause frustrations for motorists, and we do know this, it actually provides a natural traffic calming effect on the area. Slow moving traffic will not prevent accidents but the severity is significantly less, consequently there has not been any history of reported injury or accidents on this section of Arleston Drive.

Cycling Safety

S.B. asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport:

I am aware that Nottingham City Council has had a long term commitment to dissuading people from using their cars unnecessarily, through the raising of parking fees and improving our NCT service (which I feel is excellent), and other measures such as the tram/park and ride systems. Part of this commitment, alongside, no doubt a push to improve the health of citizens, is the more recent support in cycling and cyclist. May I say, I totally support these approaches and ideologies (though I did wonder about the tram system), but as a pedestrian and someone who chooses to exercise by walking, ideally in country parks and the embankment where I can enjoy the beauty of nature, I have  a problem with some cyclists.

Largely speaking, the offenders are those who, I would guess, may compete and use cycling as a hard form of exercise (almost like the most extreme forms of gym use), who see pedestrians as an obstacle to aggressively get round or move out of the way. These individuals never use a bell  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

Councillor Gul Khan presented a petition signed by 41 citizens, requesting a new bus stop near Nottingham Academy’s main entrance on Greenwood Road.

Councillor Pat Ferguson presented a petition signed by 300 citizens, requesting that the Council do not close Laura Chambers Lodge.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

The Deputy Chief Executive reported the following official communications:

The SCORE project won the Public Sector Environmental Initiative of the Year Award at the Nottingham Post Environment Awards. The SCORE project offers all schools and community groups across Nottingham the opportunity to receive expert support, advice and finance to deliver behavioural change and energy efficiency measures.

The school attendance gig competition – the Get In:volved campaign – also won a Gold Award for the Best Owner Media Idea (under £250K)at the Media Week Awards 2015 in London, adding to its Municipal Journal Award given in June this year. These are the leading awards for creative media.

None.

Robin Hood Energy

Councillor Georgina Culley asked the following question of the Deputy Leader:

What impact on this Council’s finances and future services will the introduction and continuance of Robin Hood Energy have?

Councillor Graham Chapman replied as follows:

Can I thank councillor Culley for her question. Executive Board on 17 March 2015 agreed a loan facility of up to £11,000,000 for Robin Hood Energy, to fund the set up and early running costs. The loan was on commercial terms, to be repaid within 10 years. The modelled loan repayments to the Council would mean repayments of £407,000 in 2016/17, and £1,630,000 per annum in subsequent years. This is a much higher rate than anything we would get on the open market, and it isn't because we're exploiting Robin Hood Energy, it is because it is a market rate which is dictated by the EU.

In addition to this, support staff are being provided to Robin Hood Energy by the Council, and they are being recharged. Robin Hood Energy is a not-for-profit company however, and the Council will not be receiving any dividends from the firm. In terms of liability, most of the loan is issued for the refurbishment of a City Council premises, for IT equipment, and for the purchase of energy, all of which are fairly easily redeemable in the unlikely event of liquidation. Perhaps less so for the IT equipment.

So I appreciate her concerns, and I know they are genuine, and I don't want to sound too optimistic, but at the moment my view is that this is a good deal for the city. It is a good deal for the Council tax payers because we're getting a rate of return, and it's an even better deal for the consumers of the city, and particularly as we have created a firm which has got a national reputation which is taking on the oligopoly of the big 6, which it is about time it should do, and is doing it for the benefit of Nottingham citizens and some of the least well off Nottingham citizens.

School Performance

Councillor Georgina Culley asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Schools:

Given the poor performance of our schools in the league tables, does the Portfolio Holder recognise the need for our junior and infant schools under this Council’s control to significantly improve their standards in order to improve their children’s chances in secondary school?

Councillor Sam Webster replied as follows:

Lord Mayor, can I thank Councillor Culley for her question. I must point out however that primary education in Nottingham City is no longer separated into infant and junior schools as she describes. All infant and junior schools in Nottingham have merged in recent years to become through primary schools. The last schools to go through this transition were Fernwood infant and junior schools, in her own ward, following the consultation, of which she was notified. I would have hoped that the opposition group leader would have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

The Leader submitted a report on decisions taken under urgency procedures, as set out on pages 19 to 24 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to note the urgent decisions taken:

The Leader submitted a report on amendments to the constitution, as set out on pages 25 to 40 of the agenda.

Councillors Jim Armstrong, Georgina Culley, and Andrew Rule voted against the recommendations.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  note the amendments to the financial limits relating to executive delegated decision making as outlined in paragraph 5.2 of the report;

(2)  approve the amendments to the financial limits relating to non-executive delegated decision making as outlined in paragraph 5.3 of the report;

(3)  approve revisions to the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, revising the decisions to which the Call-in Procedure applies as outlined in paragraph 5.4 of the report;

(4)  note that the Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee agreed changes to the senior officer structure in September 2015 and approve the replacement of the old senior management structure in Part Three of the Constitution with the current one;

(5)  note the changes to delegations relating to non-executive and executive delegated decision making to reflect the recently agreed senior officer structure and to approve changes to the constitution to reflect these, as outlined in paragraph 5.5 of the report;

(6)  approve changes to the terms of reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Planning Committee, as outlined in paragraphs 5.6 and 5.7 of the report;

(7)  note the changes to Executive Portfolio responsibilities, as outlined in paragraph 5.8 of the report;

(8)  approve amendments to Standing Orders to reflect the revised procedure and deadlines relating to council questions in Part Four of the Constitution, as outlined in paragraphs 5.9 and 5.10 of the report;

(9)  delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Resilience to agree the changes to the wording of the Constitution necessary to implement the above;

(10)  approve the revised Employment Procedure Rules as outlined in paragraph 5.11 and Appendix 1 of the report, and to replace the existing Employment Procedure Rules in Part Four of the Constitution.

The Leader submitted a report on the Nottingham City Council Plan 2015-19, as set out on pages 41 to 74 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to approve the Council Plan, as detailed in appendix 2 of the report.

The Chair of the Licensing Committee submitted a report on the review of Nottingham City Council statement of gambling policy, as set out on pages 75 to 136 of the agenda.

RESOLVED to

(1)  renew the Council’s previous “No Casino” resolution pursuant to Section 166 of the Act so, that with effect from 31 January 2016, no casino licences will be issued within the administrative area of the City of Nottingham;

(2)  adopt the Statement of Gambling Policy in Appendix 1;

(3)  authorise the Corporate Director of Commercial and Operations to comply with the relevant statutory requirements in respect of the advertisement and publication of the Statement.

This Council opposes the Governments attempts to undermine Public Sector industrial relations through the Trade Union bill. Nottingham City Council works closely with its recognised Trade Unions and has not seen strike action not linked to a national dispute in over a decade. Council therefore resolves to:

Lobby Central Government to challenge the Key elements of the bill that will undermine the relationship this council has with its staff and their recognised Trade Unions and work with the recognised Trade Unions to maintain subscriptions through salary, more commonly referred to as “Check off” or “DOCAS”, as an option for staff employed by Nottingham City Council for as long as possible.

Moved by Councillor Rosemary Healy, seconded by Councillor Steve Battlemuch:

“This Council opposes the Governments attempts to undermine Public Sector industrial relations through the Trade Union bill. Nottingham City Council works closely with its recognised Trade Unions and has not seen strike action not linked to a national dispute in over a decade. Council therefore resolves to:

Lobby Central Government to challenge the Key elements of the bill that will undermine the relationship this council has with its staff and their recognised Trade Unions and work with the recognised Trade Unions to maintain subscriptions through salary, more commonly referred to as “Check off” or “DOCAS”, as an option for staff employed by Nottingham City Council for as long as possible.”

RESOLVED to carry the motion.

This council believes it is in the best interests of business, residents and the whole city of Nottingham for the UK to continue its membership of the European Union, while seeking reform on a number of key issues.

Moved by Councillor Graham Chapman, seconded by Councillor Linda Woodings:

“This council believes it is in the best interests of business, residents and the whole city of Nottingham for the UK to continue its membership of the European Union, while seeking reform on a number of key issues.”

RESOLVED to carry the motion.

Councillor did not reach agreement during discussion to change the date of the January meeting to 25 January 2016. An alternate date of 18 January 2016 was suggested.

RESOLVED to agree a new date for the next meeting of Council, by agreement of the group whips, and to send an update to all attendees and interested parties.