Agenda and minutes

Councillor Audrey Dinnall – annual leave

Councillor Phil Jackson – personal

Councillor Jane Lakey – personal

Councillor Chantal Lee – leave

Councillor Maria Watson – leave

Councillor Adele Williams – leave

Councillor Angharad Roberts declared an Other Interest in agenda item 3 (minute 3) – Report in the Public Interest on Nottingham City Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy and Action Plan in response, as a Council nominated Director on the Board of Nottingham City Transport, in an unpaid capacity.

Councillor Rebecca Langton declared an Other Interest in agenda item 3 (minute 3) – Report in the Public Interest on Nottingham City Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy and Action Plan in response, as a Council nominated Director on the Board of Nottingham City Home and Nottingham Futures, in an unpaid capacity.

Councillor Georgia Power declared an Other Interest in agenda item 3 (minute 3) – Report in the Public Interest on Nottingham City Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy and Action Plan in response, as a Council nominated Director on the Board of Nottingham City Homes, in an unpaid capacity.

Councillor Ethan Radford declared an Other Interest in agenda item 3 (minute 3) – Report in the Public Interest on Nottingham City Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy and Action Plan in response, as a Council nominated Director on the Board of Nottingham City Homes, in an unpaid capacity.

Councillor Anne Peach declared an Other Interest in agenda item 3 (minute 3) – Report in the Public Interest on Nottingham City Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy and Action Plan in response, as a Council nominated Director on the Board of National Ice Centre, in an unpaid capacity.

Councillor Graham Chapman declared an Other Interest in agenda item 3 (minute 3) – Report in the Public Interest on Nottingham City Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy and Action Plan in response, as a Council nominated Director and Chair of the Board of Nottingham City Transport, in an unpaid capacity.

Councillor Sally Longford declared an Other Interest in agenda item 3 (minute 3) – Report in the Public Interest on Nottingham City Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy and Action Plan in response, as a Council nominated Director and Chair of the Board of EnviroEnergy, in an unpaid capacity.

Councillor Cheryl Barnard declared an Other Interest in agenda item 3 (minute 3) – Report in the Public Interest on Nottingham City Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy and Action Plan in response, as a Council nominated Director on the Board of Robin Hood Energy, in an unpaid capacity.

Councillor Neghat Khan declared an Other Interest in agenda item 3 (minute 3) – Report in the Public Interest on Nottingham City Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy and Action Plan in response, as a Council nominated Director and Chair of the Board of Robin Hood Energy, and a Council nominated Director on the Board of Nottingham Futures, in an unpaid capacity.

Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis declared an Other Interest in agenda item 3 (minute 3) – Report in the Public Interest on Nottingham City Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy and Action  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Councillor David Mellen, the Leader of the Council, presented the report detailing the Report in the Public Interest on the Council’s governance arrangements for Robin Hood Energy, and the Action Plan in response to it for Council to approve.

The report was seconded by Councillor Sally Longford.

Councillor Andrew Rule, seconded by Councillor Roger Steel, proposed an amendment to the Action Plan, as detailed in the attached appendices.

The meeting was adjourned at 2.32pm to allow councillors to consider the amendment, and reconvened at 2.52 pm.

The Leader of the Council offered to meet with Councillor Andrew Rule, Leader of the Conservative Group, and Councillor Kevin Clarke, Leader of the Nottingham Independents, to discuss their views on the Action Plan in more detail.

Councillors voted on the proposed amendment.

Resolved to reject the proposed amendment.

After a debate, Councillors then voted on the original report.

Resolved to

(1)  accept the Report in the Public Interest and all of its recommendations from R1 to R13;

(2)  agree the Action Plan, noting that the Action Plan includes a response to each of the External Auditor’s recommendations, as well as a number of additional recommendations. It also sets out both indicative timelines and accountabilities;

(3)  note the commitments in the Action Plan to learn from best practice from its partners, from its successful other companies, and from national bodies such as the Local Government Association, to support its implementation of the recommendations;

(4)  request that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Audit Committee considers and reviews the Action Plan from their differing constitutional positions, and give their feedback in a report to the Executive Board at its October meeting;

(5)  request that the Executive Board receive a report at its October meeting on the Action Plan. This report will consider the feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Audit Committee. The report will also provide more detail on the recommendations and accountabilities. It will review the initial deadlines suggested in the Action Plan. It will outline the work with suitable external bodies, such as the Local Government Association, to support the Council in its endeavours. Any costs associated with implementing the recommendations and the delivery mechanism to support this work will also be reported to that meeting;

(6)  note that a report will be brought back to Council in September 2021 updating members on the progress of implementing the Action Plan. During that period the Executive will receive quarterly updates on progress. These updates will also be regularly scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Audit Committee (having regard to their respective terms of reference);

(7)  commit to a regular and open dialogue with the External Auditor and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to keep them appraised of the Council’s progress in implementing its Action Plan.