Agenda and minutes

Cllr Graham Chapman  -  other Council business

Cllr Nick McDonald  -  work commitments

None.

Last meeting held on 22 December 2015 (for confirmation)

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

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 Council Tax and the determination of the 2016/17 tax base, including the process and calculations used in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2012.

The Council Tax base is used in the calculation of the Council Tax which provides resources for delivery of the Council’s vision, values and objectives.  Council Tax revenue funds service delivery.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  approve a tax base of 62,091 for 2016/17;

(2)  use a collection rate of 96.4% in the determination of the 2016/17 tax base.

Reasons for decisions

To enable the Council to estimate future changes to the current tax base during 2016/17 and apply an appropriate anticipated collection rate for the period, which takes into account collection trends and the prevailing economic environment so that the tax base figure can be set and used by the City Council and the precepting authorities (ie Police and Fire Authorities) in their budget processes in February 2016 to determine the level of Council Tax for 2016/17.

Other options considered

None, as the Council is legally required to set a Council Tax base using objective calculations.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Schools

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Schools’ report on Strategic Alliance-Activity Funding.

The ‘strategic alliance’ across the City of Nottingham is designed to provide clarity, focus and coherence, making the best use of resources available and engaging Teaching Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, schools working in Trust arrangements and individual schools and academies to work together to improve overall education provision and outcomes for Children and Young people and reduce the gap in achievement between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  approve the allocation of £0.600m from reserves in 2015/16 to develop a citywide strategic alliance and fund focussed educational improvement activities for 3 years, noting that Schools Forum agreed to match fund this activity (£0.600m) from the Statutory Schools Reserve (SSR) in April 2015, giving a total of £1.2m;

(2)  approve spend of £1.2m over 3 years on Education Improvement Activity on schemes agreed by the Education Improvement Board (EIB) and the Portfolio Holder for Schools, noting that this spend will adhere to the appropriate procurement procedures.

Reasons for decisions

To align £0.600m from reserves to match fund the contribution from Schools Forum to support collaborative activity carried out by the Strategic Alliance.

Other options considered

Not providing the match funding was rejected as there are no other funding options available to support this activity, which means it wouldn’t be possible for it to take place.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Schools

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Schools’ report on Alternative Provision Arrangements for 2015/16.

Due to the increased level of permanent exclusions across all Key Stages (KS), revised arrangements have been required for alternative provision for education for those pupils.

The following information was provided:

·  Results and recommendations from the Alternative Provision review are in, and are being worked through with Council officers, head teachers, and through the Schools Forum;

·  There have been higher than normal exclusion rates, leading to higher costs of Alternative Provision.  The bulk of the exclusion numbers have come from a small number of schools.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  approve a £1.655m spend associated with alternative provision from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) reserve within the SSR;

(2)  delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Schools and the Corporate Director for Children and Adults to approve additional spend over and above this amount from the SSR should this be required.

Reasons for decisions

The local authority has a statutory obligation to provide education for pupils that have been permanently excluded.

Due to the increased level of permanent exclusions across all KS, revised arrangements have been required to respond to circumstances that were not envisaged at the time of setting the 2015/16 Schools Budget and further funding is required to cover the costs.

Other options considered

No other options were considered as immediate action has been necessary in response to changing circumstances, but wide-ranging options are being considered for the longer-term.

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

The Board considered the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Development’s report on the sale of the former Padstow School field, at Ridgeway, Top Valley Nottingham.

The site is included in the emerging Local Plan Part 2: Land and Planning Policies document and Property Services are in a position to take the site forward for sale, enabling development that will contribute towards the City’s housing requirements.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  agree the principle of selling Nottingham City Council’s freehold or long leasehold interest in this site, and delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/Corporate Director for Development and Growth, in consultation with the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Development, to agree the method of sale and approve the sale terms for the site, including price;

(2)  delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/Corporate Director for Development and Growth, in consultation with the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Development, to approve any instructions and associated expenditure required prior to sale.  Such expenditure may include, but is not limited to, the sourcing of site and ground investigations, appointment of experts or specialists in development and planning matters to obtain a planning consent prior to sale.

Reasons for decisions

Nottingham’s Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) recognises this site as surplus to the sports and recreational needs of the city. Due to the nature of the site it provides potential as a development opportunity to contribute to the city’s housing need whilst also enabling the Council to achieve a capital receipt.

The site has been identified by Property as suitable for residential development and is a proposed residential allocation with in the emerging Local Plan Part 2: Land and Planning Policies document.

Property will explore all possible sale opportunities for the site before a decision is taken on a final method of sale.

One option would be for Property to market the site with outline planning permission in place and with relevant land surveys, assessments and reports having been undertaken and made available to prospective purchasers. Providing this level of detail will go towards ensuring that offers received are as informed as possible, minimising negotiations following the acceptance of an offer.

Other options considered

Not selling the site was rejected as it would be a missed opportunity for the City Council to contribute towards tackling the City’s housing need by enabling development, and would mean foregoing the capital receipt to be achieved on sale.

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.

The Board considered the exempt appendix to the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Development’s report.

RESOLVED to note the information contained within the exempt appendix.

Reasons for decisions

As detailed in minute 73.

Other options considered

As detailed in minute 73.