Agenda and minutes

Councillor Nick McDonald – other Council business

Councillor Dave Trimble – leave

David Bishop

Ian Curryer

None

Last meeting held on 21 July 2015 (for confirmation)

The Board confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2015 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

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

The Board considered the Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration's report providing an up to date assessment of the Council's current and forecast yearend financial position for the General Fund revenue account, Capital Programme and Housing Revenue Account (HRA), based on activity to the end of June 2015.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note:

(a)  the overall current (medium case) forecast net overspend of £1.650 million, as set out in paragraph 2.2 and Appendix A of the report;

(b)  the management action being taken to control the identified cost pressures across services, as set out on Appendix B of the report;

(c)  the progress on the implementation of cost reductions and pressures, as set out in paragraph 2.5 of the report;

(d)  the forecast working balance of £3.951million on the HRA, as set out in paragraph 2.7 of the report;

(e)  the forecast position on the Capital Programme, as set out in paragraph 2.9 of the report;

(f)  the Capital Programme projections at Quarter 1, as set out in paragraph 2.9 of the report;

(g)  the additions to the Capital Programme listed in Appendix E of the report;

(h)  the variations to the Capital Programme listed in Appendix F of the report;

(i)  the refreshed Capital Programme, including schemes in development, as set out in paragraph 2.9 (tables 7, 8 and 9) of the report;

(2)  approve the movements of resources, as set out in paragraph 2.6 and Appendix D of the report;

(3)  note and endorse the allocations from the corporate contingency, as set out in paragraph 2.4 of the report.

Reasons for decisions

To enable formal monitoring of progress against the 2015/16 budget and the impact of actual and planned management action.

The approval of virements of budgets is required by corporate financial procedures.

Other options considered

No other options were considered as the Council is required to ensure that expenditure and income are kept within approved budget levels.

Report of Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport's report proposing the review and renewal of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan to deliver improvements to the rights of way network which support sustainable transport options, the local economy, encourage healthy lifestyles, and improve citizens' health and wellbeing.

RESOLVED to

(1)  review the Nottingham Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP1) adopted in 2007 against the matters identified in paragraph 5.1.2 of the report;

(2)  amend ROWIP1 by adopting Nottingham's second Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP2), as set out in the adoption draft attached to the report.

Reasons for decisions

The adoption and publication of ROWIP1 in 2007 was in compliance with the Council's statutory duty under section 60 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The Council decided that the plan would be valid for 5 years to coincide with the first Local Transport Plan. There has been a number of changes to the Local Transport Plan to help deliver a sustainable integrated transport system across Nottingham so it is appropriate for ROWIP1 to be reviewed and amended to align it to the new objectives.

Other options considered

Retaining ROWIP1 in its current format was rejected because the consultation responses prove that it is out of date, and the changes to the Council's transport objectives also mean that is it obsolete.

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

The Board considered the Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration's report setting out a request from Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club (NCCC) for a further loan of £8.1 million from Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, and Rushcliffe Borough Council to make ground improvements.

RESOLVED to

(1)  approve a secured loan of £2.7 million, repayable over 20 years, with an interest rate set at the prevailing Public Works Loans Board rate at the time the agreement is set, plus 2%;

(2)  delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Finance, in consultation with the Legal Services Manager, to agree the final repayment schedule and legal agreement.

Reasons for decisions

To enable NCCC to make ground improvements which will continue to attract events which contribute to the economy of the City.

Other options considered

Not progressing with the loan was rejected as it would mean that ground improvements couldn't be made.

Negotiating different payment terms or changes to the interest rate were rejected as the negotiations undertaken have confirmed that NCCC is comfortable with the loan terms.

Report of Portfolio Holder for Energy and Sustainability

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Energy and Sustainability's report outlining the requirements for Nottingham City Council to procure a Renewable Energy Framework to enable the delivery of renewable energy infrastructure, with a core focus on the Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) programme citywide. The framework consists of 5 lots - materials, supply and fit, specialist design, resource support, and scaffolding, and will replace the current Renewable Energy Framework which comes to an end in October 2015.

RESOLVED to

(1)  approve the procurement of a 4 year Solar PV framework for renewable energy, split into 5 lots, as detailed in paragraph 2.5 of the report;

(2)  approve the awarding of the framework to the suppliers successful in completing the fully Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and Nottingham City Council compliant tendering process;

(3)  delegate authority to award individual call-off contracts from the framework to the Strategic Director of Commercial and Neighbourhood Services, within appropriate approval limits set out in Financial Regulations.

Reasons for decisions

The framework will enable the delivery of the Council's ongoing Solar PV programme up until 2020. It will also help reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, reduce carbon emissions and utility costs, contribute to energy security, save money on energy bills.

It is in line with the City's Energy Strategy to provide affordable heating, the Carbon Management Plan commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 31% by 2020, and the Council's priority of job creation and reducing energy bills.

It will also address the Council's commercialism agenda as it will be opened up for other local authorities to use for a fee.

Other options considered

Not delivering the Solar PV programme was rejected as it forms part of the Council's commercialism strategy.

Doing nothing was rejected as it would offer no contribution to the policy commitments or Energy Strategy.

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration

of the remaining item 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 item 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 outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of 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.