Agenda and minutes

In the absence of Councillor Jon Collins and Councillor Graham Chapman, Councillor Alan Clark Chaired the meeting.

Councillor Graham Chapman – Other Business

Councillor Jon Collins – Other Council Business

Ian Curryer – Other Council Business

Councillor Nicola Heaton – Other Council Business

Councillor Jane Urquhart – Unwell

Councillors Dave Liversidge and Alan Clark declared an interest in agenda item 7 (District Heating Network Replacement Programme – Key Decision) and agenda item 13 (Robin Hood Energy – Key Decision) as they are Council appointed Board Members of EnviroEnergy. Although Councillor Alan Clark presented the reports as the relevant Portfolio Holder, neither Councillor contributed to the debate or voted on these items.

Last meeting held 24 February 2015 (for confirmation)

The Board confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2015 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

Report of the Leader/ Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Schools

The Board considered the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Schools’ report on the expansion of Nottingham Academy.

Additional school places for primary age children in the Sneinton area has been identified as a priority, the report is seeking approval to move to stage 2 of the expansion.

RESOLVED to:

1)  approve the Stage 1 submission from the Local Education partnership, noting the evaluation as set out in appendix 1;

2)  authorise progress to Stage 2 for both the primary and year 7 base;

3)  delegate authority to the Director of Legal and Democratic Services to approve Stage 2, subject to a satisfactory review by the Project Team and a robust value for money assessment from advisors, allowing the project to proceed to Financial Close.

Reasons for decision

To allow the continued progress of the expansion scheme at Nottingham Academy which will provide urgently needed additional school places for primary age children in the Sneinton area.

Other options considered

Expanding a different school was rejected, as other schools have site constraints.

Using an alternative provider to the Local Education Partnership was rejected, as a feasibility study showed that an alternative contractor was unable to deliver the project within budget.

Report of the Leader/ Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Schools

The Board considered the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Schools’ report on admission arrangements for Nottingham City Community schools for 2016/17.

The City Council is legally required to determine the admission arrangements for these schools.

RESOLVED to approve the Local Authority’s admission arrangements for the 2016/17 school year for community schools, as set out in appendix 1 of the report. 

Reasons for decision

The City Council, as the admission authority for community schools, is legally required to determine admission arrangements, and to make the admission process for children out of the normal age group clear.

Other options considered

No other options were considered, as setting the admission arrangements is a legal requirement.

Report of the Leader/ Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Schools

The Board considered the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Schools’ report on Schools’ budgets for 2015/16.

The Schools’ budget has been agreed in line with the parameters agreed at Schools Forum, and with the financial regulations issued by the Department of Education.

RESOLVED to:

1)  note the value of the 2015/16 Schools DSG (Dedicated Schools Grant) budget (£233.001m) and note that this excludes 2 year old funding, as per Table 5;

2)  approve the in-year DSG budget transfers and payments to schools, Private Voluntary Charitable and Independent settings and Academies totalling £220.845m as per Table 5;

3)  approve the in-year DSG budget transfers and payments for 2 year old places estimated at c.£6m;

4)  approve external DSG spend associated with centrally retained expenditure. This allocation is £13.801m, as per Table 5;

5)  note any unallocated DSG will be transferred to the Statutory Schools Reserve (SSR) as noted in section 4.8;

6)  note that the procurement of external placements will be in accordance with the financial regulations, gaining approval through the appropriate processes;

7)  approve the allocation of Pupil Premium to Schools and Early Years settings in accordance with the grant conditions;

8)  approve spend associated with the use of the SSR to support the cost of split sites kitchens in 2014/15 as approved at Schools Forum;

9)  approve the transfer of any underspend associated with the Schools Building Maintenance de-delegated budget to the reserve as set out in section 4.10;

10)  delegate the authority to the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services and the Corporate Director of Children’s and Families to approve any final budget adjustments.

Reasons for decision

To ensure an understanding of how and on what level different Department for Education grants are allocated, and how they are then distributed to educational settings.

Other options considered

No other options were considered, as the recommendations align to the financial regulations issued by the Department for Education.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Energy and Sustainability

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Energy and Sustainability’s report on the District heating Network replacement programme.

The City Council has a contractual obligation, as owners of the district heating network, to maintain the network to a satisfactory standard.

The Board requested that a schedule of works be made available. The Board also requested that land which is vacant due to inconvenient positioning of district heating pipes be reviewed as part of the maintenance programme, with a view to moving pipes and potentially making the land usable and future maintenance easier.

RESOLVED to:

1)  approve a 5 year forward capital works programme provision of £6.293m as described in the report, and to delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Energy and Sustainability to commit expenditure over the 5 years;

2)  approve the management and delivery of all construction works through the Highway & Energy Infrastructure in-house delivery teams supported by specialist sub-contractors (under approved framework) as required;

3)  delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Commercial & Neighbourhood Services to award contracts for specialist work activities under the established OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) compliant Highway Procurement Framework supporting the delivery of this programme.

Reasons for decision

An investment and maintenance programme will improve the overall condition and life expectancy of the Council owned asset, and reduce risk of service failure and the dependency on reactive maintenance resources to respond to network failures.

The programme will support Council objectives to provide affordable heating, reduce Council CO2 emissions by 31% by 2020, and create local jobs.

Other options considered

Not having a planned forward maintenance programme was rejected, as it is essential some works be completed in-year.

Not progressing with planned works was rejected, as this would increase the risk of more costly emergency works, cause increased disruption to road users, and risk service failure, particularly over winter periods.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation’s report on the Cycle City Ambition programme 2015/16 and 2016/17.

Funding for the Growth Deal for the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) Local Economic partnership for Nottingham’s cycle infrastructure will be provided through the Local Growth Fund mechanism

RESOLVED to:

1)  accept £6.1 million from the D2N2 Local Economic Partnership to invest in the City’s cycle infrastructure. £3 million in 2015/16 and £3.1 in 2016/17, subject to receipt of the formal grant award from Derbyshire County Council who are acting as the Accountable Body for the D2N2 Local Economic Partnership;

2)  approve the expenditure (subject to the formal grant award) to deliver the schemes and delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/ Corporate Director for Development and Growth and Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation to make variations to the programme;

3)  approve the development of a design guide for cycling in Nottingham, using where appropriate the London Cycling Design Standards and the Sustrans Handbook for Cycle Friendly Design

Reasons for decision

The delivery of high quality cycle infrastructure is a key priority for the Council and this funding provides the opportunity to begin a step change in the quality and nature of provision within the City. The funding will bring cycle infrastructure up to a standard where a greater proportion of the population will adopt cycling as a regular mode of travel.

Other options considered

Not accepting the funding was rejected, as there is not enough funding available within other transport budgets to support this level of investment in the City’s cycle infrastructure, and it may significantly impact on the Council’s ability to attract similar funding in the future.

Not considering design documents was rejected, as the Council is looking to provide the highest possible standards in cycle infrastructure design, which is consistent across the City.

Report of the Deputy Leader/ Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration

The Board considered the Deputy Leader/ Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration’s report on Byron House refurbishment works.

Byron House has been identified as being of a suitable size and layout to accommodate a new Central Police station and the Council’s Community Protection section. Some expenditure is required on alterations and fitting out works.

RESOLVED to:

1)  delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Development and Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder of Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration, to approve lease terms with Nottinghamshire Police to occupy part of Byron House on terms set out in the exempt appendix;

2)  delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Development and Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder of Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration, to approve expenditure on alterations and fitting out works to Byron House to accommodate Nottinghamshire Police and Community Protection on a colocation basis as set out in the exempt appendix, subject to identification of sources of funding, linked to and accounted for within the Guildhall Scheme.

Reasons for decision

In order to proceed with the relocation, approval is required for a lease agreement of part of the office building to Police and expenditure on alterations and fitting out works.

Other options considered

Doing nothing was rejected, because the Police need to reduce costs by finding a sustainable new location in the city centre and selling Central Police Station.

Finding separate alternative accommodation for the Central Police station was rejected, because the pressure to find suitable alternative premises for Community Protection would remain.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture

The Chair agreed that this item, although not on the original agenda, could be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972. It was not possible to include the item on the original agenda, as the external partner requested that financial and brand information be exempt, so additional work was required to finalise the report.

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture’s report on a national programme of physical activity in parks and open green spaces.

The Partnership Agreement would deliver a 2 year programme of park based activities and healthy lifestyle events.

RESOLVED to:

1)  grant approval to implement the project, as detailed in section 1.2 of the report:

2)  grant delegated authority to the Director of Sports and Culture, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, to confirm the final funding and Activation Programme and enter into contracts with the Significant Partner;

3)  amend the Medium Term Financial Plan to reflect the additional expenditure and funding listed in exempt appendix 4;

4)  enter into contracts with local sports coach providers to deliver the activation programmes;

5)  note the establishment of a new 2 year fixed term Project Co-ordinator post as detailed in section 1.2 of the report.

Reasons for decision

The project has been designed to help activate the community and help provide a sustainable range of opportunities to help improve health and wellbeing.  This will support the Council’s priorities relating to health and leisure, help to increase park usage, and help to build pride and ownership which may in turn help to tackle vandalism, crime and antisocial behaviour within parks.

Other options considered

Not entering into the partnership with the Significant Partner was rejected, as this would significantly reduce the City Council’s ability to deliver a mass participation programme of events and activities.

The Board noted the cancellation of the above meeting.

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items in accordance with section 110a(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the 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(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

As per minute 105, above.

Report of the Deputy Leader/ Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration

The Board considered the Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration’s exempt report.

RESOLVED to approve the recommendations in the report.

Reasons for decisions

As detailed in the report.

Other options considered

As detailed in the report.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Energy and Sustainability

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Energy and Sustainability’s exempt report.

RESOLVED to approve the recommendations in the report.

Reasons for decisions

As detailed in the report.

Other options considered

As detailed in the report.