Agenda and minutes

Councillor Merlita Bryan - unwell

Councillor Audrey Dinnall – personal

Councillor Sam Gardiner – leave

Councillor Rosemary Healy – unwell

Councillor Phil Jackson – personal

Councillor Maria Joannou – personal

Councillor Zafran Khan – personal

Councillor Rebecca Langton – personal

Councillor Dave Liversidge – personal

Councillor Sally Longford – personal

Councillor Carole McCulloch – personal

Councillor Sajid Mohammed – unwell

Councillor Salma Mumtaz – unwell

Councillor Nayab Patel – personal

Councillor Shuguftah Quddoos – unwell

Councillor Mohammed Saghir – personal

Councillor Maria Watson – personal

Councillor Adele Williams - personal

None

Bulky waste

AM asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Energy, Environment and Waste Services:

If you are thinking of charging for the bulky waste collection, have you considered that this will lead to more people dumping items on street corners? This is already a problem and will only get worse. Also only having one tip for the whole of Nottingham will not work if the amount of people bringing bulky waste increases. Do you think people can afford to pay for a collection or even hire a van to go to the tip in today’s current climate?

In the absence of Councillor Longford, Councillor Mellen replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and, as you say, there are a number of questions today addressed to Portfolio Holders who are not here to answer, so you will hear my voice a little bit more than usual I’m afraid.

Can I think the citizen for their question.  The Controlled Waste Regulations 2012 allow local authorities to charge for items that do not fit into household bins. The collection of bulky waste is discretionary for local authorities, and many councils provide such a service and almost all choose to charge a fee to recover some of the costs. Only a handful of councils across the UK offer free bulky waste collections for some or all residents, those being Hillingdon, Hyndburn, Liverpool and Tower Hamlets and Redbridge; and until recently we offered all collections for free.

Fly- tipping is a national problem and has increased across the Country.  In the last 2 years there have been 21,179 fly-tips reported to Nottingham City Council, many of which have been investigated by our Community Protection Officers in an effort to identify the perpetrator.  Unfortunately, fly-tipping is often a crime of stealth and, despite investigations using CCTV cameras, door to door enquires, or by seeking information from within the fly-tip, the number of cases that are brought to justice is relatively small. Evidence shows that the lockdown triggered by the pandemic lead to increased consumption by households and to big changes in the amount of waste and recycling. This has put an additional pressure on the waste management systems in every city and town across the UK. The increase in consumption were initially due to purchasing items in bulk or panic buying and then by many citizens being forced or choosing to stay at home for their work and make online purchases which come with large amounts of packaging. Consequently, more domestic waste was generated and this trend continues today. This has put increased pressure upon waste collection systems across the Country, and it was decided when the Council resumed white goods collection after Covid lockdown in April 2021 it would restart as a chargeable service.  Since the resumption we have seen a reduction in fly-tipped fridges, probably because many white goods suppliers now take away old items. Some people have predicted that introducing a collection fee for other bulky waste items will lead  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Councillor Georgia Power presented a petition on behalf of local residents requesting that the Council and Nottingham City Homes replace the gate next to 2 Penllech Walk due to concerns around safety, anti-social behavior and theft.

Councillor Andrew Rule presented a petition on behalf of residents of Lark Hill Retirement Village requesting more adequate recycling bins for the village to enable residents to support the Council in achieving its recycling targets.

The minutes of the Extraordinary meeting of Council held on 4 January 2022 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2022 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

The Chief Executive reported the following:

I am pleased to announce that the Council was announced as Local Authority of the Year 2020/21 at the National Energy Efficiency Awards in February, in recognition of its work to tackle fuel poverty, generate renewal energy and lead on sustainability policy across the City and region.

The Lord Mayor made the following statement:

I want to take this opportunity to make a statement on the dreadful situation in Ukraine, on behalf of Nottingham City Council and the City of Nottingham.  We have all watched the news in great horror as Russian troops invaded a sovereign European state.  It will be a cause of great concern to people right across the city and we stand together with the people of Ukraine.  It is an outrageous act that has huge ramifications right around the world and united the world in opposition as never before.  Many Ukrainian nationals have made Nottingham their home and they too, will have grave concerns for their families and friends still in Ukraine.  Nottingham is a welcoming city and will always provide refuge to those in need.  We work closely with organisations in the voluntary sector such as the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum and the Arimathea Trust who offer vital support to new arrivals in our city in whatever way they can.  Last week, Nottingham City Council took steps to sever friendship and twinning arrangements with both the Belarusian city of Minsk and the Russian town of Krasnodar. The severance of ties is borne out of our unwillingness to be associated with both the Russian and Belarusian governments and is not a reflection on the people of Minsk or Krasnodar.  The actions taken by Russia are a regressive act, which will stifle the Russian and Belarusian people who rightly deserve much more from those whom they have bestowed their authority.  This afternoon we stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and against the aggression of those who seek to undo their sovereign independence.

None

Housing rents

Councillor Kevin Clarke asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Heritage:

Can the Portfolio Holder inform us whether the nearly £4 a week rise in Council Housing rents would still have been necessary without the more than £15m taken ‘unlawfully’ from the Housing Revenue Account?

Councillor Linda Woodings replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and thank you Councillor for your question. As Councillor Clarke is already aware, unlike Government budgets, NHS budgets and council budgets (including the Housing Revenue Account) have to balance every year on a revenue basis. Therefore, the rise in Council rent would have been necessary regardless of the sum transferred incorrectly into the Council’s General Fund. The final sum to be repaid has yet to be determined and awaits the outcome of further investigation.  It will also need authorising by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and therefore the sum that has already been set aside for it cannot be repaid until finalised and without specific agreement. However, the 4.1% increase is necessary for the long term sustainability of the Housing Revenue Account. It is based on the lower rate of inflation in September last year and of course in January inflation hit a 30 year high of 5.5%, so this proposed increase is, even now, below the rate of inflation. Nottingham City Council has historically levied rents that are lower than those in the rest of the social housing sector and the majority of tenants are still not paying the target rent for their home. This remains the case for most of Nottingham City Council housing stock because we charge social rent on most of our houses, while most of the social housing sector now charge affordable rents which are higher. All local providers and the majority of councils nationally are increasing rents by 4.1% and it remains the case that, even after these rises, Nottingham City Council tenants will pay some of the lowest rents available in Nottingham. For almost three quarters of our tenants the rent and service charge increases will be entirely covered by Housing Benefit or Universal Credit payments, but of course we are always mindful of the people who have to self-fund their rent and I have asked the Board of Nottingham City Homes to track the arrears situation of tenants and the reasons behind evictions.

Nottingham City Council’s housing stock is also ageing and requires an ongoing repair and maintenance programme to maintain the Decent Homes Standard.  Soon we are expecting an enhanced New Homes Standard.  New homes also need to be acquired and developed in order to replace the homes lost to Right to Buy and, although new homes will never meet the numbers lost, we just can’t build them fast enough. In fact, very soon we will have lost more than 50% of our housing stock under the Right to Buy. 50% of those properties sold are now in the hands of private landlords.

The Council also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources

Councillor Sam Webster, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, presented the report proposing approval of a series of strategies relating to treasury management and capital investment for 2022/23, following the recommendation of Executive Board.  The report was seconded by Councillor David Mellen.

Resolved to:

(1)  approve the 2022/23 Treasury Management Strategy, including the borrowing strategy, debt repayment strategy and investment strategy, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

(2)  approve the Prudential Indicators and limits from 2022/23 to 2024/25, as set out in Section 5.1 of Appendix 1 to the report;

(3)  adopt the current Treasury Management Policy Statement, as set out in Section 5.3 of Appendix 1 to the report; and

(4)  approve the 2022/23 Capital Strategy including the Voluntary Debt Reduction Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources

Councillor Sam Webster, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, presented the report proposing approval of a Medium Term Financial Plan for 2022/23 to 2025/26, as recommended by Executive Board.  The report was seconded by Councillor David Mellen.  Councillors debated the report.

Councillors voted on the recommendations in the report as follows:

Resolved to:

(1)  approve the Medium Term Financial Plan 2022/23 to 2025/26, incorporating the revenue budget for 2022/23 and the recommendations contained therein;

(2)  note the recommendations of the Interim Corporate Director of Finance and Resources in respect of the robustness of the estimates made for the purpose of the budget calculations and the adequacy of reserves;

(3)  delegate authority to the Interim Corporate Director for Finance and Resources to finalise the 2022/23 revenue budget for publication;

(4)  approve the capital programme 2022/23 to 2026/27, noting the revenue implications of the capital programme;

(5)  note the authority’s council tax base of 67,540 for 2022/23, calculated in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, as approved by Executive Board on 18 January 2022;

(6)  approve a council tax requirement of £132,062,312 including the calculations required by Sections 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the Act), as set out below:

a.  £1,027,753,083 being the aggregate of the expenditure, allowances, reserves and amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) (a) to (f) of the Act;

b.  £895,690,771 being the aggregate of the income and amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) (a) to (d) of the Act;

c.  £132,062,312 being the amount by which the aggregate at 6a exceeds the aggregate at 6b, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A of the Act, as its council tax requirement for the year.

(7)  approve a City Council Band D basic amount of council tax for 2022/23 of £1,955.32 being the amount at (6c) divided by the amount at (5), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

Report of the Leader of the Council

Councillor David Mellen, Leader of the Council, 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 Linda Woodings.

Resolved to note:

(1)  the following decisions taken under the Call-in and Urgency provisions of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules:

(2)  the following Key Decision taken under the Special Urgency provisions of the Access to Information Procedure Rules:

Report of the Chair of the Audit Committee

Councillor Audra Wynter, Chair of the Audit Committee, presented the Audit Committee Annual Report 2020/21.  The report was seconded by Councillor Michael Edwards.

Resolved to:

(1)  note the work undertaken by the Audit Committee during 2020/21; and

(2)  accept the Audit Committee Annual Report 2020/21, as set out as Appendix 1 to the report.

Report of the Chair of the Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee

Councillor Hassan Ahmed, Vice Chair of the Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee, presented the report proposing approval of the Pay Policy Statement for 2022/23.  The report was seconded by Councillor Eunice Campbell-Clark.

Resolved to:

(1)  approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2022/23, as set out as Appendix 1 to the report; and

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

Note: Following the meeting, an error in the report to Council was identified.  Details of this error and the correct information are set out in an addendum to these Minutes.

To note that Councillor Maria Joannou has been removed as a member of the Planning Committee.

It was noted that Councillor Maria Joannou had been removed as a member of the Planning Committee.

1)  To agree to hold the Annual General Meeting on Monday 9 May 2022 at 2pm; and

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

·  11 July 2022

·  12 September 2022

·  14 November 2022

·  9 January 2023

·  6 March 2023

Resolved to:

(1)  hold the Annual General Meeting on Monday 9 May at 2pm; and

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

a.  11 July 2022

b.  12 September 2022

c.  14 November 2022

d.  9 January 2023

e.  6 March 2023