Agenda for City Council on Monday, 26th April, 2021, 2.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Remote - To be held remotely via Zoom - https://www.youtube.com/user/NottCityCouncil. View directions

Contact: Jane Garrard, Senior Governance Officer  Email: jane.garrard@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Councillor Sue Johnson - unwell

Councillor Jawaid Khalil – unwell

Councillor Rebecca Langton – work commitments

Councillor Lauren O’Grady – work commitments

Councillor Shuguftah Quddoos - personal

2.

Declarations of interests

Minutes:

None

3.

To elect a Lord Mayor and appoint a Sheriff

Minutes:

Resolved to

 

(1)  elect Councillor Dave Trimble as the Lord Mayor until the next annual meeting of Council, as nominated by Councillor Rebecca Langton and seconded by Councillor Graham Chapman; and

 

(2)  appoint Councillor Merlita Bryan as the Sheriff until the next annual meeting of Council, as nominated by Councillor Leslie Ayoola and seconded by Councillor Audra Wynter.

4.

To note the appointment of the Lord Mayor's Chaplain

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor will notify Council of his appointment of Lord Mayor’s Chaplain at the Council meeting on 12 July 2021.

5.

Questions from citizens pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Minutes:

DC asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:

 

The decision to close John Carroll Leisure Centre is a major blow to the public health needs of local residents in Radford and surrounding areas. Was the Director of Public Health and the associated public health department at Nottingham City Council involved in the decision-making process and if not why not; and were the Area and Neighbourhood Officers adequately consulted regarding the likely negative impacts of this proposal in terms of community cohesion and mental and physical wellbeing? Nottingham City’s Health and Wellbeing Board published a declaration in 2018 along with Public Health England and the UK Health Forum regarding Physical Activity and Nutrition. Item 3.7 of the declaration acknowledges “the physical, social and cultural environment in which we live plays an important role in individuals’ physical activity levels and has the power to encourage or discourage sedentary lifestyles.” Has Nottingham City Council abandoned this positive joint health promotion declaration agreed with the NHS? Furthermore, in the City Council’s own recently published ‘Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2020 – 2023’ the four priority areas listed under section 3 for ‘Inclusive and Accessible Services’ are as follows:

  1. Prevention: promoting healthy lifestyles and intervening early when people’s wellbeing is at risk to avoid crisis and loss of independence
  2. Community Connections: ensuring citizens can connect to the resources and support in their local neighbourhoods ensuring no-one is socially isolated and lonely
  3. Independent Lives: supporting personal and community resilience, strengths and resources, reducing dependence on council funded support where possible
  4. Choice and Control: seeing the citizen in the driving seat, shaping solutions around the outcomes that matter for individuals.

How will the closure of John Carroll Leisure Centre contribute to this important citywide strategy?

 

 

DT asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:

 

According to the 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation Radford is one of the most deprived places in the UK. Also, using census data to analyse the composition of areas within a 1km radius of each leisure centre in Nottingham we found that John Carroll has the largest number of people in ‘bad health’ or ‘very bad health’, as well as the largest number of people (including those aged over 65) who suffer from a condition that limits their ability to carry out their daily activities, and the largest number of single households with a lone pensioner. Furthermore, it has one of the most diverse groups within its catchment area, including the largest number of black people and second largest number of Indians and Pakistanis within 1km. Given this data if the Council proceeds to close John Carroll Leisure Centre then ethnic minorities will disproportionately suffer; pensioners who use the centre for social interaction will suffer; people who are already too ill to carry out their daily activities - never mind walk an extra 20 minutes to Djanogly as this Council suggests - will suffer. Given these facts, it seems astonishing that Nottingham City Council would close a facility that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Petitions from Councillors on behalf of citizens

Minutes:

None

7.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of Council held on 8 March 2021 pdf icon PDF 649 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2021 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

8.

To receive official communications and announcements from the Leader of the Council and/or the Chief Executive

Minutes:

The Chief Executive reported the following:

 

Edie Awards

Nottingham City Council’s Energy Services team won a national award in February 2021 for efforts to address fuel poverty and increase the use of green energy during the Covid crisis.  The Team implemented a range of measures as soon as the first lockdown was announced last March, to support vulnerable people who were self-isolating and spending more time at home. They had over 10,000 interactions with customers through the first six months of the pandemic, and have saved an average of £1,176 per household.  Their achievements were recognised by the Edie Awards – one of the leading national awards for sustainability – where they won the Green Recovery Initiative of the Year award.

 

Departure of Corporate Director for Growth and City Development

Chris Henning, Corporate Director for Growth and City Development, leaves the Council on 7 May, having joined Nottingham City Council as Director of Economic Innovation and Employment in October 2013. In that time, Chris has overseen much of the transformation and development across our city, including the new £58m City Hub campus, the BioCity development and the regeneration of Clifton and Bulwell town centres. I would like to thank Chris on behalf of the Council for the contribution he has made over that time and his dedication to Nottingham.  I wish Chris all the very best in his future endeavours and, on behalf of the Council and the people of Nottingham, I thank him for his service and commitment to our City.

 

Departure of Director of Public Health

Alison Challenger, Director of Public Health left Nottingham City Council on 23 April, having joined the Council in 2016. Throughout the Covid pandemic, Alison has led an incredible effort, working together with her Public Health colleagues at the Council and partner organisations to keep Nottingham people safe and informed. But her work in Nottingham goes much further than Covid, having pushed forward with changes in a number of areas and has been a respected voice on Nottingham’s Health and Wellbeing Board. On behalf of the Council and the people of our city, I would like to thank Alison for her service and commitment to our City.

 

Re-opening of Nottingham Castle

I am very pleased with the recent announcement that Nottingham Castle will reopen on 21 June, following a £30m development with partners including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and the Nottingham Castle Trust to transform the visitor experience. 

 

Death of the HRH Prince Philip

I would like to take this opportunity to mark the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip on 9 April.  The Prince has given long and faithful service to this country and years of devotion to the Queen.  Among his many achievements, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme stands as a lasting legacy which has helped many thousands of young people to gain confidence in themselves and find their way in life.  His contribution to public life will not be forgotten.  An online  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Questions from Councillors - to the City Council's lead Councillor on the Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire and Rescue Authority

Minutes:

None

10.

Questions from Councillors - to a member of Executive Board, the Chair of a Committee and the Chair of any other City Council body pdf icon PDF 118 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Central Library

 

Councillor Andrew Rule asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:

 

Could the Leader of the Council confirm the total anticipated cost for relocating the stock from the Central Library on Angel Row whilst the new Central Library is completed?

 

Councillor David Mellen replied as follows:

 

Thank you Lord Mayor and can I thank Councillor Rule for this question.  Firstly, I want to recognise the important roles that libraries play in our communities.  Access to quality local library provision makes a massive difference to many peoples’ lives and their future life chances.  I am proud of the continued commitment that we have been able to make over the last decade to improve library provision in Nottingham.  This has included new library provision as part of the Joint Service Centres in Bulwell, St Anns and Hyson Green and, more recently, we have opened replacement facilities in Strelley Road and in the Dales. As well as this, we have refurbished many libraries across the City including those in Clifton and Bilborough and soon the work will commence to build a replacement library in Sherwood.  In terms of re-locating stock, a range of cost allowances have been built into the overall new Central Library project scheme to deal with the suitable relocation, storage and retention of stock from Angel Row prior to completion of the new Central Library on Collin Street.  The cost of this exercise is estimated currently at £205,000.  This figure includes undertaking necessary repairs and adaptations for the stock to be housed in a presently vacant City Council-owned industrial warehouse; improving the necessary security and fire systems at the industrial unit to meet insurance compliance; purchasing all necessary packing and storage materials to keep the stock safe and conserved; transportation costs of the stock from Angel Row to the main storage site and other locations where redistribution can place and an allowance for returning all stocks when required to the new Central Library; the safe disposal of equipment from Angel Row not now required to be retained for the new Central Library; necessary specialist staff and contractor costs for relocation of IT and specialist library systems required; facilities maintenance costs for additional staff support and the removal for bulky items; purchase of any necessary equipment to enable the suitable moving and storing of equipment on racking proposed to be used; and decommissioning of IT and other services at Angel Row.  In addition to the above costs, £138,000 has been estimated for 19 months occupation of the industrial unit.  These are operational costs which include payment of business rates; utility costs for heating, lighting and water; related cleaning and security costs; installation of IT connections and data lines; necessary annual safety checks; and maintenance repairs on the site whilst in occupation.  All these costs have been factored into the overall project budget for the scheme, which are not additional or new.  The delivery of a new Central Library remains a key priority for the Council and I  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Appointments, remits and first meetings of Committees and Joint Bodies 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 200 KB

Report of the Lord Mayor/ Chairman of Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor and Chair of Council, Councillor Dave Trimble, presented the report setting out proposed terms of reference, first meeting dates and memberships of Council committees for 2021/22.  The report was seconded by Councillor Merlita Bryan.

 

Resolved to:

 

(1)  agree the terms of reference for Council committees and joint bodies for 2021/22, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

 

(2)  agree the first meeting dates for Council committees and joint bodies for 2021/22, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

 

(3)  agree the membership and substitutes, where applicable, for Council committees and the City Council membership and substitutes, where applicable, for joint bodies for 2021/22, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report;

 

(4)  appoint the committee chairs and vice chairs for 2021/22 for committees that Council is responsible for appointing, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report; and

 

(5)  amend the Constitution to reflect the agreed terms of reference and membership of Council committees and joint bodies for 2021/22.

 

 

12.

Executive Appointments, Responsibilities and Remits and First Meetings pdf icon PDF 200 KB

Report of the Leader of the Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor David Mellen, presented a report setting out his appointment of Portfolio Holders and Executive Assistants, and establishment of Executive committees for 2021/22.  The report was seconded by Councillor Sally Longford.

 

Resolved to note

 

(1)  the appointment of Portfolio Holders and their areas of responsibility as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

 

(2)  the appointment of Executive Assistants as set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

 

(3)  the terms of reference and first meeting dates for the following Executive committees: Executive Board, Commissioning and Procurement Sub Committee, Companies Governance Sub Committee, East Midlands Shared Services Joint Committee and City of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Economic Prosperity Committee as set out in Appendix 3 to the report;

 

(4)  the appointments, including substitutions, to, and chairing arrangements of the following Executive committees: Executive Board, Commissioning and Procurement Sub Committee, Companies Governance Sub Committee, East Midlands Shared Services Joint Committee and City of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Economic Prosperity Committee as set out in Appendix 4 to the report;

 

(5)  that the Constitution will be amended to reflect these appointments, delegation of responsibility and roles; and

 

(6)  that other executive delegations as set out in the Scheme of Delegation in the Constitution are confirmed.

13.

Decisions taken under Urgency Procedures pdf icon PDF 212 KB

Report of the Leader of the Council

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor David Mellen, 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 Sally Longford.

 

Resolved to note:

 

(1)  The following urgent decisions (exempt from call in) taken:

 

Decision Reference Number

Date of Decision

Subject

Value of Decision

Reason for Urgency

4150

09/03/2021

Private Rental Sector Enforcement Competition

£2,200,000

The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy provided the Memorandum of Understanding to the Council on 12 February and required it to be signed as soon as possible to enable the funds to be transferred within the deadline and not lost.  Loss of funding would have meant that citizens would not have benefit from work to address issues in the private rented sector including fuel poverty, improved carbon efficiency and carbon emissions reduction.

Executive Board Minute Ref: 89

12/03/2021

Request to MHCLG to capitalise revenue costs

£20m

Council submitted a capitalisation request to MHCLG on 23 December 2020.  On 5 March 2021 the Council received a response from MHCLG to this request and was required to respond by 12 March 2021. 

Executive Board Minute Ref:

16/03/2021

District Heating

Exempt

Delay would have resulted in the decision not being implemented in time, thus undermining the decision’s objective.

 

(2)  The following decisions taken under the Special Urgency Procedure:

 

Decision reference number

Date of Decision

Subject

Value of Decision

Reason for Special Urgency

Executive Board Minute Ref: 89

12/03/2021

Request to MHCLG to capitalise revenue costs

£20m

Council submitted a capitalisation request to MHCLG on 23 December 2020.  On 5 March 2021 the Council received a response from MHCLG to this request and was required to respond by 12 March 2021.

 

14.

Future Meeting Dates

To agree to meet at 2pm on the following Mondays:

·  12 July 2021

·  13 September 2021

·  8 November 2021

·  10 January 2022

·  7 March 2022

Minutes:

Resolved to meet at 2pm on the following Mondays:

·  12 July 2021

·  13 September 2021

·  8 November 2021

·  10 January 2022

·  7 March 2022