Agenda for Executive Board on Tuesday, 17th September, 2019, 2.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Ground Floor Committee Room - Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG

Contact: Kate Morris, Constitutional Services, Tel: 0115 8764353  Email: kate.morris2@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Note: Unless stated otherwise, all decisions are subject to call-in. The last date for call-in is 26 September 2019. Decisions cannot be implemented until the working day after this date. 

Items
No. Item

31.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Councillor Sally Longford – Other Council Business

Councillor Adele Williams – Personal

 

32.

Declarations of interests

Minutes:

In relation to agenda items 7 and 11, Loan to Nottingham City Homes Enterprise Limited for the redevelopment of the Former Meadows Police Station in the interests of transparency Councillor Rebecca Langton stated that she was a member of the Board of Nottingham City Homes. This did not preclude her from speaking on the matter.

 

 

33.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 256 KB

Last meeting held on 16 July 2019 (for confirmation)

Minutes:

The Board confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2019 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

34.

Report to Executive Board following the Publication of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Report of the Leader of the Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This item is exempt from call in as it is for information only.

 

The Board considered the report of the Leader of the Council informing them of the planned actions following the publication of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. He informed the Board that there had been two recommendations for Nottingham City Council, to assess the risk posed by current and former foster carers and to undertake an independent external evaluation of practices around harmful sexual behaviours in children.

 

The Leader stressed that there had already been work on both of these recommendations. The Board were informed that a more detailed action plan looking at refining practice was being developed which would be taken to the City’s Safeguarding Children Partnership in late September 2019.

 

Further updates on the progress of work required by the action plan will be delivered to this Board in due course.

 

The Board noted the content of the report and the timescales for responding to the requirements of the published Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse report. 

35.

Review of 2019/20 Revenue and Capital Budgets at 30 June 2019 (Quarter 1) - KEY DECISION pdf icon PDF 499 KB

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and the City Centre

Minutes:

The Board considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and the City Centre providing a review of the 2019/20 Revenue and Capital Budgets at 30 June 2019 (Quarter 1). During discussion, the following points were highlighted:

 

(a)  The current projected overspend is just under £9million, however this is a projection and mitigating action is being taken to reduce this overspend over the next three quarters;

 

(b)  The lower than expected collection of rents within the Housing Revenue account is as a result of tenants being switched to universal credit, and the expectation to pay rent in advance. There are a number of work streams running to support tenants and to promote the rent first message. 

 

RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  Note:

a.  the overall current forecast net overspend of £8.986m.

b.  the forecast working balance of £7.727m on the Housing Revenue Account;

c.  the forecast position on the Capital Programme;

d.  the Capital Programme projections at Quarter 1;

e. the refreshed Capital Programme, including schemes in development; 

 

(2)  To approve the movements of resources set out in report published with the agenda at paragraph 2.6 and Appendix D.

 

(3)  Endorse the allocations from the corporate contingency as set out below:

 

Item

Amount £m

Marcus Garvey Day Centre

0.067

LEP Core Funding Contribution

0.063

Crocus Fields Care Home

0.040

Ageing Well Day

0.001

TOTAL

0.171

 

Reasons for Decision

Noting the information contained within the report allows the formal monitoring of progress against the 2019/20 budget and the impact of actual and planned management actions.

 

The approval of virements of budgets is required by corporate financial procedures and ensures that the Council is acting within its own framework.

 

Other Options Considered

The Council is required to ensure that, at a corporate level, expenditure and income are kept within approved budget levels and so the option of not doing anything was rejected.

 

36.

Residential development of the Padstow and Ridgeway sites, Bestwood - KEY DECISION pdf icon PDF 315 KB

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Safety and Communications and the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing seeking approval to begin the process of the residential development of the Padstow and Ridgeway sites. The report sets out the Council’s desire to procure a developer to deliver a mixture of market sale and affordable housing across both sites.

 

The Portfolio Holder advised the Board that these developments would work towards achieving the Councils target of buying or building 1000 new council homes and would retain open and green space within the developments.

 

RESOLVED to:

(1)   To appropriate the land under S122 of the Local Government Act 1972 for Planning  (Development) purposes in advance of the proposed sale and/or development of the sites for housing development;

 

(2)  To declare the former Henry Whipple annex surplus, and to include it within the Padstow development site, and for the holding department to remain responsible for all the revenue costs of holding the building until the property is sold including, but not limited to, security costs, utilities, business rates and maintenance costs;

 

(3)  To commence the procurement process to select a developer partner to acquire a proportion of the Padstow and Ridgeway sites for private residential development, and to build new Council housing under licence on the remainder;

 

(4)  To approve the current estimated project costs as set in the Exempt appendix;

 

(5)  To transfer the land for the new private housing to the successful

Developer at a price to be determined through the procurement process;

 

(6)  To engage external legal support to assist with preparation of the development agreement, transfer deeds and ancillary contract documentation, and to support the procurement process and the subsequent conveyancing work;

 

(7)  To approve the provision of a budget to cover the cost of external legal support through the General Fund, which will be reimbursed through the capital receipt for the land, in line with the projected costs set out in the exempt appendix;

 

(8)  To amend the Housing Revenue Account capital programme to cover the development of 93 new affordable housing units, to be built by the developer, owned by Nottingham City Council (NCC), and managed by Nottingham City Homes (NCH), in line with the projected costs set out in the exempt appendix;

 

(9)  To delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Development and Growth, in consultation with the Leader of the Council/Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Safety and Communications, to approve the final terms and conditions of the development agreement and the disposal for both sites, and to award the contract following completion of the procurement process;

 

(10)  To delegate authority to the Director of Strategic Assets and Property to approve any additional actions and expenditure which will maximise the value of the sites;

 

(11)  To transfer the land on which the Housing Revenue Account properties will be built from the General Fund to the HRA, on terms to be agreed by the Director of Strategic Assets and Property.

 

Reasons for Decision

 

The proposals support the City Council’s Quality Homes for All (2018-2021) housing strategy by ensuring good quality housing with diverse tenure is available to citizens.

 

The development of these sites for predominantly family housing is supported by the existing and the emerging Local Plan. By procuring a developer the Council retains a degree of control; over the programme of the new build. The Council will also retain a degree of control over the quality, quantity ownership and delivery of affordable new housing.

 

It is necessary to appropriate the land under Section 122 of the Local Government Act 197 to change the land from Education use to a site for future development. This process removes the third party remedy of seeking an injunction, such as stopping up of public rights of way, which would delay development.

 

The competitive tender process will allow the Council a greater degree of control over the agreed project however will take a considerable amount of officer time, for this reason external resources need to be appointed to ensure necessary support is in place.

 

The new Council housing element of the development will contribute to the spending of the Right to Buy replacement fund which are time limited. Failure to spend them within this time limit will mean that the Council would have return them to Central Government with interest.

 

Other options considered

There were a number of other options considered, the first was to do nothing. This option was rejected as the sites have been identified for residential development  within the Local Plan and the development will contribute to meeting the Council’s housing targets.

 

The next option considered was to sell the land to a developer. This was rejected as it does not allow the Council the degree of control over quality and delivery  of the new housing and would result in fewer affordable housing options for citizens.

 

The last option was to put 100% council housing on both sites. This option was rejected as the surrounding area has a relatively high level of Council housing and this mixed development gives the opportunity in increase the mix of tenures in the area.

 

37.

Loan to Nottingham City Homes Enterprise Limited for the re-development of the former Meadows Police station - KEY DECISION pdf icon PDF 408 KB

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage and the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and City Centre

Minutes:

The Board considered the Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance Growth and the City Centre seeking approval to provide a loan to Nottingham City Homes Enterprise Limited to facilitate the expansion of their private rented portfolio by re-development of the former Meadows police station with 21 two bedroom apartments.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  Approve the Load to Nottingham City Homes Enterprise Limited (NCH Ltd) on the terms set out within the exempt financial advice;

 

(2)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Finance to approve loan drawdown subject to the completion of due diligence as detailed in the exempt finance comments.

 

Reasons for Decision

 

The loan facility will support NCH E ltd to expand their private portfolio. This

will allow them to increase the offer of good quality homes to citizens of Nottingham.

 

The loan is subject to due diligence by the Finance section of the City Council.

 

Other Options Considered

The option of not providing the loan was rejected as it would not support the shared objective of improving the Private Rented Sector within Nottingham and will not allow NCH E Ltd to its asset base. Not providing the loan would limit the regeneration within the Meadows area and would leave a prominent building undeveloped.

 

38.

Expenditure of grant funds for the Wollaton Hall gallery refurbishment programme 2019-2023 - KEY DECISION pdf icon PDF 251 KB

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and IT

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Leisure Culture and IT setting out expenditure of grant funds for the Wollaton Hall gallery refurbishment.  He highlighted that the planned work would be phased, and that the work would be financed from grants and public donations. The aim of the refurbishment is to encourage more interaction and to increase visitor numbers.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  To delegate authority to the Director of Sports & Culture to accept grant awards totalling£2,086,091 for activities up to and including financial years 2021/22.

 

(2)  To approve submission of bids totalling £681, 542 for funding from The Wolfson Foundation and other grant giving organisations to fulfil the funding requirements for the Wollaton Hall gallery refurbishment project between now and 2023 and if successful to incur expenditure once grant funding has been secured.

 

(3)  To approve the following staged refurbishment programme at Wollaton Hall:

Stage 1 (2019-2020) – refurbished Great Hall, front entrance, bird room and fish room.

Stage 2 - refurbish the mineral gallery and insect gallery

Stage 3 – refurbish the Willoughby Room and Natural Connections

Stage 4 – refurbish the African Gallery.

 

(4)  To delegate authority to the Director of Sports & Culture to enter into contracts required to deliver the programme.

 

(5)  To approve the use of earmarked donations/reserves as match funding totalling £36,000 to deliver the Wollaton Hall gallery refurbishment programme and to approve subsequent drawdown of further donations to deliver the programme to meet the Council’s match funding requirements.

 

 

Reasons for Recommendations

The refurbishment programme will improve the visitor offer and increase the dwell time. This in turn will increase secondary spend and help the museum service move more towards self-sustainability.

 

The planned programme of works will help to strengthen the identity of Wollaton Hall and will improve the internal appearance of the hall. The current galleries do not engage a diverse audience and by improving their interactivity, it will drive up dwell time further.

 

An increased commercial offer with a more regular “pop-up” café in Wollaton Hall will also support visitors to stay longer and improve the secondary income.

 

Wide ranging public consultation shows public support for the proposed staged refurbishment.

 

Other Options Considered

The alternative option would be to do nothing. This option was rejected as it would mean that exhibits would continue to look outdated and dwell time would decrease further. This would decrease  income generation, would not allow the service to work towards self-sufficiency, and bring the sustainably of the site into question.

39.

Exclusion of the public

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 the public interest in disclosing the information

Minutes:

The Board decided to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining agenda 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 outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information, as defined in Paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

 

40.

Residential development of the Padstow and Ridgeway sites, Bestwood - EXEMPT APPENDIX

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Safety and Communications and the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing

 

Minutes:

The Board considered and noted the information contained within the exempt appendix.

41.

Loan to Nottingham City Homes Enterprise Limited for the re-development of the former Meadows Police station - EXEMPT APPENDIX

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage and the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and City Centre

Minutes:

The Board considered and noted the information contained within the exempt appendix.