Agenda and minutes

Councillor Adele Williams – Leave

Councillor Neghat Khan – Unwell

Councillor Sally Longford – Leave

Sajeeda Rose – Corporate Director for Growth and City Development (Paul Seddon, Director of Planning and Regeneration substituting)

None

Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2022, for confirmation

The Board confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2022 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and Parks

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and Parks presented a report on funding available from the Department for Transport (DfT) to support the city’s bus services. The following points were discussed:

(a)  Up to £11.4m is available from the DfT’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) to invest in new bus infrastructure including additional bus lane schemes, junction improvements and priority at traffic signals for late running buses.

(b)  Then funding will also be used to support a number of bus services that are currently at risk of withdrawal to return to higher levels of commerciality as new travel and work patterns continue to stabilise and consolidate as part of the recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

(c)  Targeted fares support for young people, the disabled and the unemployed will also be implemented to support access to jobs, education and healthcare.

(d)  It was noted that acceptance of the funding would require the Council to ringfence public transport budgets (excluding those for concessionary fares) at current levels, removing any flexibility in those budgets for the duration of the funding period.

Resolved to:

(1)  delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Growth and Development to accept up to £11.4m from Department for Transport’s (DfT) Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) fund when confirmed by Government and to enter into a grant agreement with DfT for receipt of the funding

(2)  note the finance and legal comments relating to the grant conditions including the ring fencing of existing budgets

(3)  delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Growth and Development in consultation with the section 151 officer to implement the Capital and Revenue programmes outlined in Appendices 1 and 4 to the report, including any procurement as required in full compliance with Contract Procedure Rules and public procurement thresholds

(4)  grant award local bus operators using transport de minimis powers or tendered contracts to deliver the frequency enhancements and route extensions to the bus routes identified in Appendix 4 in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and to transfer any funds as necessary to and enter into any necessary agreements to reflect such arrangements with Nottinghamshire County Council for the routes identified

(5)  delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Growth and Development in consultation with the Section 151 Officers and Portfolio Holder for Transport to review and amend as necessary all grant agreements or contractual arrangements entered into with local bus operators or Nottinghamshire County Council on an ad-hoc basis in response to the market recovery of any supported services.

·  Reasons for decision

This funding provides a welcome boost as the public transport network continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic. Both in terms of mitigating the impact of changes to travel demand patterns created by flexible working and the 2 years of public health messaging that has advised the populace to avoid the use of public transport as part of the effort to control the transmission of Covid-19. It will help the network realign to the new levels of bus patronage which are currently in the region of 80-85% of the level of bus use before the pandemic hit and grow patronage going forward.

Reductions in patronage, combined with rising costs mean that bus operators need to do more with less and work harder to attract new / former passengers. Investment in infrastructure focused on improving priority for buses across the Greater Nottingham road network will deliver operational efficiencies which will reduce costs and allow reinvestment back into fleet and technology, improve the passenger experience and advance transport decarbonisation - The delivery of attractive bus services and low carbon public transport directly supports Nottingham’s ambition to be Carbon Neutral by 2028.

·  Other Options Considered

Not accept the funding – This option was rejected due to the pivotal role the revenue support will have in maintaining a stable bus network with good levels of service over the next three years. This investment will be complemented by the capital infrastructure investment which will support journey reliability and punctuality across Greater Nottingham.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Communications

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Communications presented a report on the proposed surrender of the current lease and grant of a new lease at 211 Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham. The following points were discussed:

(a)  The property forms part of the Property Trading Account.

(b)  Acceptable lease terms have been agreed with the current longstanding tenant at the property.

Resolved to:

(1)  approve the lease terms agreed with the sitting tenant in respect of 211 Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 1GN, as set out in the Exempt Appendix

(2)  delegate authority to the Director for Economic Development and Property to approve any required final terms and conditions to the agreement, save for the rent.

·  Reasons for decision

Acceptable lease terms have been agreed with the current tenant. The surrender and re-grant will ensure that the Council continues to receive a rental income under a new lease term.

·  Other options considered

To not proceed with the surrender and re-grant of the lease: this option is rejected as acceptable lease terms have been agreed that will preserve an income for a new term beyond the expiry date under the existing agreement.

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, under Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraphs 3 and 4, on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining an exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

The Board resolved to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, under Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraphs 3 and 4, on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining an exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2022, for confirmation

The Board confirmed the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2022 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

Exempt appendix to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Communications

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Communications presented the exempt appendix to the report on the proposed surrender of the current lease and grant of a new lease at 211 Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham.

The Board noted the exempt appendix to the report.

Exempt report of the Corporate Director for Finance and Resources and Section 151 Officer

The Corporate Director for Finance and Resources presented the exempt report.

The resolutions agreed by Board are recorded in the exempt minutes.