| 1 | An apology for absence was received from Councillor Spencer. |
| 3 | None declared. |
| 4 | The Head of Cabinet Office informed Members of Nottinghamshire County Council's progress towards the next Local Transport Plan covering the Borough.
The Report also informed members of latest developments with regard to the Arnold Management Mobility Action Area.
Kevin Sharman from Nottinghamshire County Council attended the meeting and sought members views on the emerging proposals.
In Nottinghamshire there were two LTP Areas, which were established in LTP1: -
(i) North Nottinghamshire, covering the Districts of Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood, Mansfield and Ashfield (excluding Hucknall); and
(ii) Greater Nottingham, covering the City of Nottingham, the Boroughs of Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe and the Hucknall part of Ashfield District. The Greater Nottingham LTP was prepared jointly with Nottingham City Council.
Nottinghamshire County Council was currently consulting on the development of the LTP2 that covered Gedling Borough and was seeking views on six specific issues relating to the LTP,details of which ewere included in the report and on any further general issues or concerns. |
| 5 | The Head of Planning and Environment informed Members of the award of the Warden Quality Standard to Gedling Borough Council's Neighbourhood Wardens. |
| 6 | The Head of Planning and Environment reported that the Bestwood Village Conservation Area Appraisal had been undertaken since September 2003. After an extensive process of surveys, consultation and preparation of the detailed Appraisal Study Report in draft form, this document was now ready for final approval and adoption by the Council.
Under the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Section 71(2), there was a requirement for proposals for the preservation and enhancement of Conservation Areas to be submitted by the local planning authority for consideration.
Also, approval for the following revisions (extensions) to the Bestwood Village Conservation Area (first designated 1992)was sought, in accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Section 70(8):-
· Eastern and western extensions to the Conservation Area at Bestwood Country Park, so that this now followed defined features throughout (0.8 ha);
· Northern extension to incorporate entire Hawthorne School grounds (0.3 ha). |
| 7 | The Head of Planning and Environment, on behalf of the Portfolio Holder reported that the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, which had come into effect on 28th September 2004, had introduced a new system for producing development plans, called Local Development Frameworks (LDFs). The first stage in this new process was to produce a LDS, which sets out the Council's intentions with regard to the content and timescale for production of new Local Development Documents (LDDs) that would make up the LDF. The Borough Council were required to submit the LDS to the Government Office for the East Midlands and the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) by 28th March 2005. A response had been received from PINS on 12th April 2005 confirming that the LDS as submitted was "fit for purpose" and was broadly satisfied with the programme for the examination of the proposed development plan documents. This would enhance the value of the Planning Delivery Grant next year.
In summary, it was proposed to submit the following documents for examination which would be subject to consultation and Cabinet and Full Council approval:
· Statement of Community Involvement - submit January 2006
· Core Strategy - submit October 2006
· Generic Development Control Policies - submit July 2007
· Site Specific Allocations and Policies - submit December 2009
· Arnold Town Centre Action Area Plan - submit December 2008.
It was proposed that the Local Plan Steering Group be reformed as a LDF Steering Group in order to oversee the progress of the timetable of the LDS. |
| 8 | The Head of Planning and Environment reminded members that Planning Services had been the subject of an Audit Commission Inspection, the results of which had now been received. A copy of the Inspection Report and News Release were submitted for information.
The planning services (Local Plans, Development Control and Building Control) were assessed as being "fair" but "uncertain to improve".
Recommendations made by the Inspectors would now be taken on board and fed into the production of an improvement plan together with other matters identified by the self-assessments carried out as part of the current Best Value Review of the planning service. |
| 9 | The Head of Finance reminded members of the requirement to provide an Annual Efficiency Strategy - Forward Look 2005/2006 by 15 April 2005, to identify how the authority was working towards achieving its efficiency target for 2005/2006 of £360,000. The return to Government, which had to be endorsed by the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive and Head of Finance (Chief Financial Officer) was in several parts namely:
i) An overall strategy and key actions
ii) A range of service strategies and key actions
iii) A financial summary of efficiencies split between cashable and non-cashable items
Although the ODPM had not yet issued guidance, completion of the return was a statutory requirement and could be the subject of External Audit. A copy of the Annual Efficiency Strategy and associated information was attached in the appendices to the report. This was returned to Government on 15 April 2005 as required.
Appendix 3, for which information in respect of 2005/2006 only was submitted to Government, showed that the Council was expecting to achieve efficiency savings of £546,000 of which 75% would be cashable - well in excess of the target figure. |
| 10 | Consideration was given to a report on the Financial Impact of the Termination of the Highways Agency Agreement.
It was reported that as a result of the decision to terminate the Highways Agency, costs in 2005/2006 had risen by £12,100 and that medium and long term savings in excess of £200,000 per annum would be achieved. |
| 11 | None. |
| 12 | The Head of Legal and Democratic Services reminded members that in 1998, the Council had made a Compulsory Purchase Order relating to one of the garage courts at Honeywood Gardens in order to facilitate the proper planning objectives for the area after many of the garages had fallen into disrepair and become a focus for fly tipping and anti-social behaviour.
There were ten other garage courts on the estate and similar problems were becoming apparent with these. A preliminary survey had been carried out to assess the feasibility of compulsorily acquiring these remaining garage courts for development at no cost to the Council. |
| 13 | The Head of Personnel and Orghanisational Development submitted for members approval, a revised Equal Opportunities Policy. |
| 14 | The Head of Cabinet Office submitted a report informing members of proposed publicity initiatives planned for coming months. |
| 15 | Thee Head of the Cabinet Office informed members of consultation being carried out by Nottinghamshire County Council on the draft Nottinghamshire Community Strategy 2005-2009 and to seek members' views on what, if any, response should be made to the consultation. |
| 16 | Consideration was given to a report of the Portfolio Holder for Leisure requesting Cabinet to adopt the Gedling Borough Arts Strategy. |
| 17 | Consideration was given to a report of the Portfolio Holder for Leisure on proposals relating to the revised opening hours of Calverton Leisure Centre. |
| 18 | The Portfolio Holder for Leisure submitted a report requesting the adoption of "Changing Lifestyles" a Sports and Physical Activity Strategy for Gedling 2005 - 2010. |
| 19 | The following progress reports on items within their purview were received from Portfolio Holders:-
1. Housing
Completion of Stock Appraisal Survey
Working Groups on Housing Repairs and Maintenance programmes.
2. Development and Economic Regeneration.
Town Centre Manager Award for Pub Watch and Radio links.
3. Agenda 21, Crime and Community Development.
Area Based Initiatives
Local Authority Agreements.
4. E Government and Member Services
Numerous IT projects ongoing |
| 21 | KING GEORGE 5TH PLAYING FIELD.
Reference was made to the decision by the ODPM to grant outline planning permission to the Arnold Town Football Club for their proposed new Ground on land adjacent to the A614 and a request from the Club that they be allowed a short extension to their licence to use the King George V Playing Field. |