Agenda and minutes

Councillor Alan Clark – other Council business

Councillor Nick McDonald – other Council business

Councillor Alex Norris – other Council business

Councillors Jon Collins and Sam Webster declared an interest in agenda item 8 (minute 42), Blueprint Joint Venture – Key Decision, as Council appointed Directors of Blueprint, and left the room prior to discussion of the item.

Last meeting held on 22 September 2015 (for confirmation)

The Board confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2015 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

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

The Board considered the Leader’s report setting out the key priorities to be delivered by the Council over the four years of the current administration that had been elected in May 2015.

RESOLVED to

(1)  recommend that Full Council approves the Council Plan at its meeting on 9 November 2015;

(2)  approve the review/reporting timelines, as follows, including the publication of information externally, including the production of an annual performance report:

(a)  reporting progress to citizens and stakeholders, at least bi-annually, via the Council’s website and through the Nottingham Arrow;

(b)  reviewing the delivery plan on an annual basis to ensure it remains relevant, manageable, and takes into consideration any changes that may have taken place in the intervening year;

(c)  reporting progress to Portfolio Holders on a quarterly basis, with initial reporting beginning in November 2015 for the second quarter of 2015/16, with full performance reporting commencing on January 2016, the third quarter of 2015/16.

Reasons for decisions

The Council Plan will guide and steer the Council’s services and approach to support the delivery of key priorities for the City over the next four years.

Other options considered

No other options were considered, but a review of the performance management of the Council Plan 2012-15 informed the decisions and improvements that have been part of the development of the Council Plan 2015-19.

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

The Board considered the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Development, Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration, and Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport’s report seeking approval for Nottingham City Council to become the Urban Authority to deliver the Nottingham Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) Strategy, operating under Intermediate Body (IB) Status, as defined by the European Union Regulations, for 2015-2020.

RESOLVED to

(1)  agree that the City Council becomes the Urban Authority for SUB using IB status for European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) purposes, including having responsibility for the SUD allocation of €12.2 million (currently £8.43 million), and for the governance of the SUD Strategy;

(2)  approve that the Director of Economic Development continues negotiation and development work with the Department for Communities and Local Government in relation to IB status and delegation agreements;

(3)  agree that the City Council will engage with the EU-wide best practice Urban Development Network and the Urban Innovative Actions programme.

Reasons for decisions

SUD funding has been given to Core Cities within England, and a recognised Urban Authority needs to act as the IB for each SUD Strategy.

One of the benefits of SUD is access to £10.44 million of ring-fenced funding from D2N2 ESIF Strategy funding for delivery of the programme in the Nottingham Urban Area. This will be matched at a rate of 50% with public or private sector funding, for an overall programme value of £20.88 million.

The Urban Innovative Actions programme gives cities access to a new €370 million fund for innovative solutions to urban issues, which offers substantial opportunities for the City Council and Nottingham organisations.

Other options considered

The use of a Combined Authority as the IB was rejected as the Combined Authority has not yet been formed in Nottingham but, when it is, it will not have the same boundaries with the SUD which could cause governance issues.

Not taking on SUD status was rejected as it would mean the opportunity to ring-fence £10.44 million of European Regional Development Fund money for Nottingham projects would be lost.

Not engaging with the Urban Development Network and Urban Innovative Actions was rejected as it would mean an opportunity for the City Council to engage in best practice networks and access a new funding stream would be missed.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing’s report seeking approval for four new build housing schemes at Hazel Hill, Oakford Close, Conway Close and Hazel Hill Crescent, to support the Council’s pledge to continue to build high quality council houses across the City.

RESOLVED to

(1)  approve the additions of four new build schemes and associated costs to the Public Sector Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme:

(a)    Hazel Hill - £2.890 million;

(b)    Oakford Close - £2.500 million;

(c)  Conway Close - £1.315 million;

(d)    Hazel Hill Crescent - £0.395 million;

(e)    Nottingham City Homes fees - £0.071 million; and

(f)    the acquisition of Hazel Hill land - £0.300 million;

(2)  delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/Corporate Director for Development and Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, to award the new build tenders for the four sites (Hazel Hill, Hazel Hill Crescent, Oakford Close and Conway Close), and sign the contracts, subject to tenders being returned within the total funding envelope of £7.171 million;

(3)  approve the use of £0.051 million of Homes and Community Agency Affordable Homes Programme 2015-18 grant to part fund the Hazel Hill Crescent scheme;

(4)  approve the use of £0.867 million of retained Right to Buy 1-4-1 receipts to support the development of Hazel Hill, Oakford Close and Conway Close;

(5)  approve the transfer of £0.300 million from the HRA Capital Programme to the Property Trading Account as payment for the Hazel Hill site and the demolition of the existing property.

Reasons for decisions

To enable the Council to realise its ambition to provide high quality housing and actively regenerate neighbourhoods.

The awarding of the contracts will allow new homes to be delivered within the existing housing programme.

Other options considered

Not redeveloping the sites was rejected because of the Council’s ambition to provide high quality housing and regenerate neighbourhoods.

Selling the sites for market housing development was rejected as the provision of council homes in these locations will ensure the Council can regenerate communities, and one of the sites has been returned by a developer after only 50% of the site was developed.

Disposing of all the sites to a Registered Provider partner, for a reduced receipt in order for them to provide new affordable housing, was rejected because the sites are not marketable, and Hazel Hill has been given up by a Registered Provider.

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining item(s) 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 in 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.

Councillors Jon Collins and Same Webster left the meeting.

Councillor David Mellen took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

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, subject to the inclusion of consultation with the Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration in recommendations 2 and 3.

Reasons for decisions

As detailed in the report.

Other options considered

As detailed in the report.