Agenda for City Council on Monday, 4th March, 2019, 2.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - at the Council House. View directions

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

Items
No. Item

70.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Councillor Merlita Bryan – unwell

Councillor Rosemary Healy – unwell

Councillor Nick McDonald – work commitments

Councillor Georgia Power – work commitments

Councillor Cate Woodward – personal

 

71.

Declarations of interests

Minutes:

Councillor Brian Parbutt declared an interest in Agenda Item 12 Pay Policy Statement 2019/20 because he is employed by a Trade Union which has local government members.  He left the Chamber and took no part in discussion or voting on this item.

72.

Questions from citizens pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Minutes:

Equality Impact Assessments

 

AD asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Community Protection:

 

Why hasn’t the Council considered that, for a disabled person on a low income, the difference between not having to pay for their transport to work and having to pay for it every day could make it more economical for them to give up work and live on benefits? This has not been reflected in the Equality Impact Assessment complied for this policy change.

 

Councillor Neal replied as follows:

 

Thank you Lord Major and thank you to the citizen for the question. Can I refer the citizen to the response I provided in the Chamber at the Full Council meeting in January in which I answered all of these points, and is included in the Minutes that are now circulated.  Notwithstanding that, I am happy to meet with the citizen to discuss the matter further and look forward to doing so in the near future. Thank you. 

 

73.

Petitions from Councillors on behalf of citizens

Minutes:

Councillor Eunice Campbell-Clark submitted a petition regarding speeding.  The petitioners requested speeding enforcement on St Albans Road, Bulwell and improvement of speed limit signage.

 

Councillor Jim Armstrong submitted a petition regarding large vehicle access on Arleston Drive.  The petitioners requested replacement of the current square shaped speed bumps with smoother rounded speed bumps and the introduction of a limit on the size of vehicles able to use Arleston Drive to 7.5 tonnes.

 

Councillor Brian Grocock submitted a petition regarding parking on Hillington Rise.  The petitioners requested the introduction of yellow lines on the school side of Hillington Rise road.

 

74.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of Council held on 21 January 2019 pdf icon PDF 374 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Jim Armstrong requested a recorded vote on confirmation of the Minutes but the Lord Mayor declined this request.  Councillor Armstrong raised a point of order in reference to Standing Order 21 relating to conduct – “Councillors shall at all times during Council meetings behave with courtesy and respect towards others and do nothing which might bring the Council into disrepute or disrupt Council business” because he felt that the Minutes did not record all of the business conducted at the meeting.  The Lord Mayor stated that the Minutes were recorded in accordance with usual practice and suggested that if Councillor Armstrong wished to change this practice then this could be done by proposing a change to be considered at the Council’s AGM in May.  Councillor Toby Neal raised a point of order in reference to Standing Order 21 because he felt that Councillor Armstrong’s continued raising of the same issues at successive Council meetings without taking what Councillor Neal considered to be the appropriate action to resolve his concerns brought the Council into disrepute. 

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2019 were agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

75.

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

Minutes:

Candida Brudenell, Assistant Chief Executive, reported the following:

 

Light Night

The City’s annual Light Night was held on 8 February in partnership with ‘It’s in Nottingham’ and was very successful.  Over 75 events and activities took place throughout the City including the popular Museum of the Moon in the Royal Concert Hall which received over 7500 visits.

Stewart Adams, Freeman of the City

I am sad to report the death of Dr Stewart Adams on 30 January.  A world-renowned chemist he helped develop the painkiller ibuprofen while working at Boots in Nottingham. In recognition of his work he was awarded an OBE, and made an Honorary Freeman of the City in 2013.

Alderman Betty Higgins

It is with sadness that I also report the death of Alderman Betty Higgins on 11 February.  Betty was first elected to serve as a councillor in 1971.  She was the first female leader of the City Council between 1983 and 1987 and became leader again in 1991-93 before standing down as a councillor in 2003.  She was made an Honorary Alderman in 2004.  In 2015 she received a Nottingham Award for her lifelong service to the City.

Councillors Liversidge, Parbutt, Rule and Ali spoke in tribute to Alderman Betty Higgins, and a minute’s silence for Dr Stewart Adams and Alderman Betty Higgins was held.

 

The Lord Mayor proposed that the fourth official communication be taken at the end of the meeting to allow the Leader and the Chief Executive to return from an urgent meeting relating to HS2.

 

RESOLVED to defer the fourth official communication to the end of the meeting.

 

76.

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

Minutes:

None

77.

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 113 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council Tax

 

Councillor Jim Armstrong asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Commercial Services:

 

Could the Portfolio Holder provide a breakdown of the Council tax bandings for the 2,500 new houses built by the Council over the past four years? Therefore, is there a revenue return to the Council for Council tax against the cost of services to these properties?

 

Councillor Graham Chapman replied as follows:

 

Thank you for the question. It’s quite an interesting one. The current prediction is that by May 2019, the number of homes completed or on site to rent or buy will be 2251. In addition to the 2251 homes, there are a further 534 homes being actively progressed through planning and pre-site development on site, enabling the Council to charge council tax. A sample of the properties has been undertaken as requested in the question to establish the banding split. This has been used to provide an estimate percentage split of bandings: 85% Band A, 12% Band B and 3% Band C. Of these properties, there will be single occupiers and council tax support recipients, which affects, of course, the amount of council tax you can collect. In terms of income per dwelling it is estimated that we’ll get an aggregate £2,340,000 as a consequence.  That’s the council tax element only from the additional properties based on the bandings above. This assumes an estimate: 40% for single persons’ discounts at 25% apply. This income to the Council of £1,039 per dwelling, once you discount the discounts, provides £2,340,000 divided by 2251, that’s how you get it. In 2018/19, the City Council’s net budget is £246 million and the number of dwellings is 137,112. The cost per dwelling is therefore £1798. If you take what you get from these houses from the cost to the City Council of the average house, we are losing a net cost of £759; we actually lose money. This does not take into account the New Homes Bonus, which only last four years, but is worth £1671. So that makes it slightly more profitable, but in the long term, given that houses last for about fifty, sixty or more years, it becomes not a very important factor given your initial loss, nor does it take into account student dwellings.  As we all know we used to get compensation but the current Government has reduced it down to virtually nothing, and that is costing us £12 million a year. I just remind people of the loss from having student dwellings: council tax we are not able to collect and which we used to get compensation for and which we no longer do.

 

So interesting question, we lose money on new builds, we gain a bit more as a consequence of the New Homes Bonus, but it doesn’t last long, and we lose loads as a consequence of having lots of student housing. I am intrigued to know the purpose of the question.  Is it to try  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

78.

Decisions taken under Urgency Procedures pdf icon PDF 216 KB

Report of the Leader of the Council

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council submitted a report detailing decisions taken under procedures which include exemption from Overview and Scrutiny Call In Procedure Rules and Special Urgency Access to Information Rules.

 

RESOLVED to note

 

(1)  the urgent decisions (exempt from call in):

 

Decision Reference Number

Date of Decision

Subject

Value of Decision

Reasons for Urgency

3379

18 January 2019

Parent Company Guarantee

Exempt

To enable the arrangements to be in place by the required date.

3386

24 January 2019

Engagement of Professional Services

Exempt

Delay would have meant that the planned action could not proceed.

3395

1 February 2019

Nottingham Science Park No.2 Building – Additional Works

Exempt

The Council had started works on the site under a pre-construction contract.  These works will take 6 weeks.  The main construction contract needed to be signed on 4 February to allow works to continue, any break would have added additional cost to the project as the contractor would need to have left the site and then return.

Minute Number 82

19 February 2019

Medium Term Financial Plan

£122,609million

The Council’s budget has to be approved at the Full Council meeting on 4 March 2019 and the report despatch date for the Council agenda is before the call in period would have ended.

 

(2)  the Key Decisions taken under special urgency procedures:

 

Decision Reference Number

Date of Decision

Subject

Value of Decision

Reason for Special Urgency

Minute Number 75

22 January 2019

Highways Services – Key Decision

Exempt

The need to complete the project within agreed timescales.

3405

15 February 2019

Investment Acquisition – Project Green

Exempt

Heads of Terms had been agreed with the vendor and a condition of the sale was a simultaneous exchange and completion within 20 working days of receiving the full legal pack.

Minute Number 82

19 February 2019

Medium Term Financial Plan – Key Decision

£122,609million

The Council’s budget has to be approved at Full Council in March 2019, which takes place before the March 2019 Executive Board meeting.

Minute Number 83

19 February 2019

Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 and Capital and Investment Strategy 2019/20

Nil

Approval of a Treasury Management Strategy is a legal requirement.

 

Councillors Armstrong, Rule and Steel requested that their vote against the above decision was recorded.

79.

Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 and Capital Investment Strategy 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Report of the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Commercial Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Commercial Services presented a report seeking approval for a series of strategies relating to treasury management and capital investment in 2019/20.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  approve the 2019/20 Treasury Management Strategy document, including the strategy for debt repayment and the investment strategy, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

 

(2)  approve the Prudential Indicators and limits from 2019/20 to 2021/22, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report; 

 

(3)  adopt the current Treasury Management Policy Statement, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report; and

 

(4)  approve the 2019/20 Capital and Investment Strategy document, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

 

Councillors Armstrong, Rule and Steel requested that their decision to abstain from voting on the above decision was recorded.

 

 

80.

Budget 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 146 KB

Report of the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Commercial Services

Minutes:

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Commercial Services presented a report setting out proposals for the 2019/20 budget.

 

Councillor Andrew Rule proposed an amendment to the budget as follows:

 

In recommendation 2.1(1) add after “the revenue budget for 2019/20”

 

“subject to the following:-

 

Section 1    Net 2019/20

£

 

Proceeds from the sale of shares in wholly owned companies  -3,000,000

 

Ring-fence resources for the following areas:  +1,500,000

·  Children’s Services – Early Years Intervention

o  Expansion to Team Around School Pilot in South of City

o  Expansion to Edge of Care Hub

o  Expansion to Multi Systemic Therapy Programme

o  Expansion to PAUSE programme

·  Adults Services – Early Intervention  +1,500,000

o  Enhanced provision of the following areas:

§  Increasing support for Community Care in the

Voluntary Sector via Community Grants

§  Increasing Social Care Prevention Provision

§  Promoting Independent Living Through Connections

in the Community

o  Additional provision

§  Creation of Mental Health Reablement Pathway

 

Income from Solar Panel Investment Scheme   -37,500

Reinvested in Energy Improvement Initiatives  +37,500

 

Fleet Sponsorship of Council Vehicles  -70,000

 

Lamp post commercial advertising  -81,000

 

Increased charges for Pest Control  -92,600

 

Reduction in the number of Special Responsibility Positions   -86,190

 

Voluntary Garden Waste – offer citizens a two month extension service to  -202,610

the current garden waste collection scheme for £8.50

 

Reduction in payments to Trade Unions   -66,280

 

Abandon Arrow communication and cancellation of Neighbourhood  -162,000

Newsletters

 

Bulky Waste – citizens offered two free collections per annum, charges  -172,330

of £15 apply for further collections to fund council tax reductions for all

citizens

 

Release uncommitted Area Capital reserves (one off)   -182,270

 

Total Net Financial Impact  -1,115,280

 

Section 2

 

It is recommended that reviews of the following areas be undertaken:

·  Review of impact on the City Council in the event the Tram Operator fails

·  Review of parking and traffic enforcement exemptions – NHS City Care Staff, Council employed carers, first responders and on duty emergency personnel

·  Assessment of inefficiencies arising from Internal Charging within City Council

·  Urgent review of parking charges on economy of City Centre

·  Review of corporate governance in Council owned companies

·  Area Capital allocation formula

·  Develop a strategy for increasing the mix of affordable homes as a means of increasing the City Council’s Council Tax Base

·  Identify and pursue commercialisation opportunities with other local authorities”

 

In recommendation 2.1 (2) add after “the capital programme to 2023/24”

 

“subject to the following:-

 

That a new scheme is added for Solar Panel Investment Scheme (£1.500m in 2019/20 to be funded from borrowing)”

 

It is recommended that a review of the existing capital programme be undertaken to:

·  Reprioritise resources to create additional funds to improve pavements.  Councillors who use Area Capital Fund to improve pavements on main thoroughfares could seek match funding from this fund.

·  Reprioritise to fund repairs to roads across the City”

 

And amend the following recommendations as indicated:

·  In recommendation 2.1 (3) substitute £114,986,071 for £116,101,351;

·  In recommendation 2.1 (3) (a) substitute £954,424,103 for £954,675,713;

·  In recommendation 2.1 (3) (b) substitute £839,483,032 for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

81.

Pay Policy Statement 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 252 KB

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Transport and HR

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Transport and HR presented a report seeking approval for the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2019/20.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  approve and endorse the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2019/20; and

 

(2)  note that the Statement may need to be amended in-year for any necessary changes the Council may wish to adopt.  Any such changes will be presented to Full Council for approval.

82.

Re-designation of Director of Adult Social Services responsibilities from the Corporate Director of Children and Adults to the Director of Adult Social Care pdf icon PDF 207 KB

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Transport and HR

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Transport and HR presented a report proposing that the statutory Director of Adult Social Services responsibilities, currently held by the Corporate Director of Children and Adults, are re-designated to the post of Director of Adult Social Care and that relevant changes are made to the Council’s Constitution to reflect this change.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  approve the re-designation of the Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) responsibilities to the post of Director of Adult Social Care; and

 

(2)  amend the City Council’s Constitution to reflect the changes as a result of the re-designation of the Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) responsibilities, including change to the reporting lines of the post of Director of Adult Social Care, to recognise the change in status from Deputy Chief Officer to Chief Officer, as determined under the City Council’s Officer Employment Procedure Rules (Standing Orders on Employment Matters), as a result of holding the DASS duties.

83.

Membership Changes

To note that:

·  Councillor Linda Woodings has stood down from Planning Committee

·  Councillor Corall Jenkins has stood down from Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transit Advisory Committee

·  Councillor Carole McCulloch has stood down from Licensing Committee, Regulatory and Appeals Committee and Health and Wellbeing Board

·  Councillor Linda Woodings has been appointed to replace Councillor Jane Urquhart on Joint Committee on Strategic Planning and Transport

Minutes:

RESOLVED to note that:

 

(1)  Councillor Linda Woodings has stood down from Planning Committee;

 

(2)  Councillor Corall Jenkins has stood down from Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transit Advisory Committee;

 

(3)  Councillor Carole McCulloch has stood down from Licensing Committee, Regulatory and Appeals Committee and Health and Wellbeing Board; and

 

(4)  Councillor Linda Woodings has been appointed to replace Councillor Jane Urquhart on Joint Committee on Strategic Planning and Transport.

84.

Dates of Future Meetings

(1)  To agree to hold the Annual General Meeting on Monday 20 May 2019 at 2pm at the Council House.

 

(2)  To note the proposal to meet at 2pm on the following Mondays:

 

·  8 July 2019

·  9 September 2019

·  11 November 2019

·  13 January 2020

·  9 March 2020

Minutes:

RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  agree to hold the Annual General Meeting on Monday 20 May 2019 at 2pm at the Council House; and

 

(2)  note the proposal to meet at 2pm on the following Mondays:

a.  8 July 2019

b.  9 September 2019

c.  11 November 2019

d.  13 January 2020

e.  9 March 2020

85.

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

Minutes:

Ian Curryer, Chief Executive, reported the following:

 

Retiring councillors

As this is the last meeting before the City Council elections, I would like to thank all councillors and recognise the hard work and commitment that you have put in over the last four years.  Particularly we have a number of councillors who are standing down, the largest number of councillors standing down at one time in the 20 years that I have been in the Council and they will not be standing for re-election, so I think it is particularly important that we recognise their contribution.

 

Councillors Collins, Rule and Armstrong spoke in tribute to the retiring councillors.