Agenda and minutes

Councillor Kevin Clarke - work

Councillor Audra Wynter - leave

Sajeeda Rose

Malcolm Townroe

None.

Minutes of the meeting held on 19 September, for confirmation

The Board confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2023 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

To agree to change the February meeting date of Executive Board from Tuesday 20 February at 2pm to Tuesday 13 February at 2pm

Resolved to agree to change the February meeting date of Executive Board from Tuesday 20 February at 2pm to Tuesday 13 February at 2pm

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Education

Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Portfolio for Children, Young People and Education, presented the report seeking approval to accept the annual capital maintenance grant from the Department for Education (DfE) for 2023-24and approve the fourteen schemes that have been prioritised using the draft strategy document. The total value of the grant is £2,743,541 and is to improve the condition of school buildings maintained by the Council. In addition, approval was sought to allocate a contingency of £623,541. The contingency is to be delegated to the Corporate Director for People to approve and authorise how this is spent.

Resolved to

(1)  accept the Capital Maintenance Grant 2023-24 of £2,743,541 from the Department for  Education and to approve the fourteen schemes prioritised using the draft strategy document as set out at the 21st December 2021 meeting of the Executive Board;

(2)  approve a contingency of £623,541 and delegate authority to the Corporate Director for People to approve and authorise how the contingency is allocated;

(3)  authorise the procurement of any necessary contracts to carry out the programme of schemes using the 2023/24 funding and delegate authority to the Corporate Director for People to award any procured contracts.

Reasons for decisions:

·  The prioritisation of the school capital maintenance grant is based on technical advice and a review of the condition of the Nottingham City schools estate. The process is articulated in the Business Case and the draft strategy document which is being used until the Corporate Asset Management plan is finalised. There are two areas where funding is prioritised:

o  Health and safety issues likely to impact on children and staff to ensure the safeguarding of the pupils within the school site, ensuring buildings are structurally sound and can be safely evacuated in the event of an emergency; and

o  Condition issues likely to impact on the operation of the school, to ensure that school buildings are warm and dry to negate the potential of schools closing and loss of learning for the pupils.

·  The programme of works is prioritised in line with the draft Capital Maintenance Strategy for Schools. This will be reviewed and reflect the priorities that are in the overarching Corporate Asset Management Plan that is currently being finalised as part of the wider Corporate Landlord role. The grant for 2023-24 is £2,743,541 and fourteen schemes have been identified which will be delivered in the school summer holidays 2024 or earlier where possible, taking advantage of the October 2023 half term and Easter 2024 school holidays respectively.

·  Delegating authority to the Corporate Director for People to approve and authorise how the contingency is allocated will ensure a timely response to any urgent issues that arise.

Other options considered:

·  To combine the 2023-24 Schools’ Capital Maintenance Grant with Basic Need funding and the SEND capital funding to address the shortfall of SEND capacity and secondary places across the city. This option was rejected as it would leave schools at risk of temporary closure due to health and safety or condition issues. It could also mean that school buildings continue to deteriorate and may be subject to forced closure whilst emergency repairs are carried out.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and Planning

Councillor Angela Kandola, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and Planning, presented the report seeking formal approval to accept extended Moving Traffic Enforcement powers from the Department for Transport. Nottingham City Council applied for these additional powers in February 2023 and were granted the formal Designation Order (to use these powers) in July 2023. The potential benefits include better management the highway network, reduced congestion / pollution and improved road safety.

Resolved to accept the Moving Traffic Enforcement additional powers granted under Part 6 of the Transport Management Act 2004. 

Reasons for decision:

·  Accepting additional powers will support the effective management of the highway network.

·  The government’s decision to fully implement Part 6 of the Transport Management Act 2004 will now allow councils outside of London and Cardiff to enforce further moving traffic restrictions via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras. These are moving traffic restrictions that are already prohibited but Drivers continue to flout (i.e. banned Right or Left turn, illegal U turns, travelling the wrong way on One Way Streets, and incorrect vehicle movements through Yellow box junctions, Prohibition of Driving, Pedestrian Zones or No Entry’s restrictions).

·  Accepting additional powers will assist in the efficient running of a live highway network and compliment Local Transport Strategies and Plans including access to good, reliable public transport. 

·  Nottingham City Council already enforces Bus Lanes under the Transport Management Act 2004, and the Traffic & Flood Risk Management service area already has this expertise in-house, therefore additional enforcement capacity will easily be integrated into the current system.

·  By accepting the powers Nottingham City Council as the Highway Authority can better manage areas where engineering measures have been exhausted and safety is compromised.

·  This decision is to confirm and have the adoption of the powers accepted and to highlight that a Moving Traffic Policy will outline NCC’s process for Moving Traffic Enforcement along with an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) to support proceeding with the implementation.

Other options considered:

·  To not apply for the new powers – This option was not considered. By not adopting the new powers, NCC would be unable to enforce on-street moving traffic restrictions. Drivers may continue to contravene these restrictions and put all other road users at risk.

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, under Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3, on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining an exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

Resolved to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, under Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraphs 3 and 5, on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining an exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt minutes of the meeting held on 19 September, for confirmation

The Board confirmed the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2023 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.