Meeting documents

Cabinet
Thursday 3 November 2011 5.30 pm

Date:
Thursday, 3rd November, 2011
Time:
5.30pm
Place:
Reception Room, Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
51 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Business for item 51
 
52 TO APPROVE AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6TH OCTOBER 2011
 RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
53 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Business for item 53
 
54 PRESENTATION: THE OLYMPIC LEGACY
JAYNE COX AND CLARE APPLEBY, LEISURE SERVICES
Business for item 54
RESOLVED:

To thank the officers for the presentation and encourage Members to participate in the forthcoming year's events.
55 INVESTMENT IN BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE
Business for item 55
RESOLVED:

To approve the ‘match funding' requested by Nottinghamshire County Council of £89, 777 in support of the development of broadband services across the County and that Officers make appropriate provision within the 2012/13 budgeting process.
56 PRUDENTIAL CODE INDICATOR MONITORING Q2 2011/12 AND
QUARTERLY TREASURY ACTIVITY REPORT Q2 (30 SEPTEMBER 2011)

Business for item 56
RESOLVED:

To note the report, together with the Prudential Indicator Monitoring at Appendix 1, and the Treasury Activity Report at Appendix 2 of the report.

To confirm the action taken by the Head of Corporate Services with regard to the change in minimum lending criteria made necessary by the Fitch downgrade of the UK banks, as detailed at paragraph 6 of the report.
57 QUARTERLY BUDGET MONITORING PERFORMANCE DIGEST AND VIREMENT REPORT
Business for item 57
RESOLVED:

To thank staff for their continued high performance

To approve the changes to Performance Indicator targets as detailed in paragraph 3.10 of the report, as an amendment to the agreed Council Plan;

To agree the General Fund Revenue Budget changes in appendix 2. Changes above £50,000 are listed below for information.

Development Control Income £74,500

Building Control - Employee Expenses £53,600

Direct Services - Employee Expenses (£50,100)

Leisure Services - Employee Expenses £61,900

Central Provisions - Supplies and Services (£95,000)

Non Distributed Costs - Employee Expenses £98,300

Benefits and Rent Allowances (net) (£63,300)

Corporate Income (£83,500)

To note the addition of the Photovoltaic Panel Capital Scheme approved at Council on 5 October 2011.

To note the addition of the Burton Road Recreation Ground capital scheme approved by Policy and Resources Committee on 9 March 2011, funded through Section 106 monies;

To agree further amendments to the capital programme schemes totalling a reduction of £135,300 for deferral schemes and savings of £57,000 in respect of freighter procurement.

To include details of budget and performance monitoring in a quarterly performance digest, to be published on the Council's website and Intranet; in line with the recommendations of Performance Review Scrutiny Committee.
58 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AFFORDABLE WARMTH STRATEGY
Business for item 58
RESOLVED:
To adopt the Nottinghamshire Affordable Warmth Strategy, and appoint Councillor Collis as a Community Warmth Champion
59 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DISCRETIONARY HOUSING AND COUNCIL TAX PAYMENTS POLICY SCRUTINY REVIEW.
Business for item 59
RESOLVED:
To accept the recommendations of the review and to respond to the recommendations in writing to the Chair of the Overview Scrutiny Committee.
60 HOUSING AND COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT DISCRETIONARY HOUSING PAYMENT POLICY
Business for item 60
RESOLVED:

To adopt the revised Housing and Council Tax Benefit Discretionary Policy
61 NOMINATION TO OUTSIDE BODIES
Business for item 61
RESOLVED:
To approve the nomination of Councillor Wheeler to the Gedling Parochial Charities Board and JW Harris Charity.
62 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS TO PORTFOLIO HOLDERS
Business for item 62
 
63 PROGRESS REPORTS FROM PORTFOLIO HOLDERS
Business for item 63
 

Attendance Details

Present:
W.J.Clarke, M.R.Payne, R.D.Allan, S.M.Creamer,
P.Feeney, J.Hollingsworth, D.E.Pulk,
Observers:- R.F.Spencer(a) P.A.Hughes.

Business

Business
ItemBusiness
51Apologies were received from Councillors W.J. Clarke, Pulk and Creamer informing other Cabinet members that they were to attend the meeting later
53None
54Members received a presentation by Jayne Cox and Claire Appleby of the Leisure and Communities Department outlining proposals for delivering an Olympic Legacy in the Borough, and to celebrate the Queens Jubilee Year. The proposal aimed to motivate healthy lifestyles and generate Civic pride. The Officers reported that by working within existing resources and raising external funds the Council would engage with schools, communities, partner agencies and past Olympians to deliver sports activities, training and upgrades to grounds and facilities to mark the year. Members were asked to become involved and offer ideas and suggestions.
55(Councillors W.J. Clarke, Pulk and Creamer joined the meeting.)

Consideration was given to a report of the ICT and Efficiency Manager for the Head of Corporate Services about the opportunity to contribute to a matched funding exercise, led by Nottinghamshire County Council, in support of broadband infrastructure across the County. All Nottinghamshire Borough and District Councils were being asked to make contributions, and Gedling's proposed contribution was £89,777, based on 5,336 properties that could potentially benefit, predominantly in rural areas of the Borough.
56Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Corporate Services informing Members of performance monitoring of the 2011/12 Prudential Code Indicators, and to advise Members of the quarterly treasury activity as required by the Treasury Management Strategy.
57Consideration was given to a report of the Senior Management Team informing Members of the position against Improvement Actions and Performance Indicators in the 2011/12 Council Plan, and seeking approval for changes to targets as stated.

The report also updated Members on the likely budget outturn for the 2011/12 financial year, sought approval for budget changes as stated and informed Members of virements approved during quarter ended September 2011
58Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Planning and Environment seeking the approval of Cabinet to adopt the Nottinghamshire Affordable Warmth Strategy as a basis for its role in working to reduce the number of households in Fuel Poverty.
59Consideration was given to a report of Councillor Wheeler, informing Members of the recommendations of a Policy Scrutiny Review into the Discretionary Housing and Council Tax payments policy
60Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Corporate Services, detailing the reasons for introducing a Discretionary Housing Payment Policy (DHP). The Draft Policy had been referred to Scrutiny for review, the outcome of which was as set out in the previous item. The revised Policy was attached to the report at Appendix A.
61Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Strategy and Performance, informing Members of a request for a nomination to the combined Gedling Parochial Charities Board and JW Harris Charity, which administers a small grant fund and makes donations to young people for extra - curricular development through a network of local schools
62Councillor P. Hughes asked the Leader of the Council whether arrangements had yet been made to call a meeting with group leaders to discuss the responses to the Parliamentary Boundary Review Consultation, as agreed at last meeting.

Councillor W.J. Clarke thanked Councillor Hughes for the question and confirmed that a meeting would be scheduled as soon as possible.

Councillor Barnfather asked the Portfolio Holder for Economic and Strategic Development whether he was aware of issues with the distribution of the special edition "Contacts" consultation focusing on Housing provision.

Councillor Allan explained that the distribution was carried out by the same regular provider that delivered Contacts, which had an established track record of reliable distribution. He reported that the provider carried out regular sampling and follow up with a localised household check, which indicated copies had been delivered across the Borough. All complaints received had been referred to the company, who responded by delivering a copy to each household that had complained. Copies had also been distributed to all Council Members via the Members pigeon holes.
63
Councillor J. Hollingsworth (Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing) gave an update on the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Councillor J. Creamer (Portfolio Holder for Community and Employee Relations) gave an update on the closure of Park House, and reported on a positive visit he had made to Ravenshead Parish Council.

Councillor R. Allan (Portfolio Holder for Economic and Strategic Development) informed Members that the promotion of the new car parking arrangements had now been completed and had been a very successful exercise.He confirmed that the Aligned Core Strategy was also progressing. He also informed Members that he had authorised the new parking policy for consultation, allowing minimum parking requirements for new homes.

Councillor Pulk (Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture) gave an update on plans for Christmas Lights events in Netherfield, Mapperley, Carlton Hill and Arnold. He also informed Members of the success of our Community Centres at the APSE awards - both Arnold Hill and Westdale Lane Community Centres had been recognised. He reported on work that the Arts Strategy Officer had been doing towards the Mayor's new initiative, inviting local Arts Groups to display their work in the Reception Room.

Councillor Feeney (Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability) reported on plans to improve the gateway to Arnot Hill Park. He informed Members that he had authorised the arrangements for Christmas refuse collection and gave an update on arrangements for the New Year. He made Members aware of the electric vehicle that the Council currently had on trial which was being used for inspection duties. He encouraged Members to arrange a test drive.

Councillor M. Payne (Portfolio Holder for Communications and Public Protection) fed back on recent police operations on the Colwick Retail Park, and informed Members of a condition on a recent planning decision relating to the Macdonalds outlet on the park, requiring the addition of barriers and landscaping, which it was hoped would mitigate some of the issues.

Councillor J. Clarke (Portfolio Holder for Finance and Performance) reminded Members of the new emergency Police numbers, and urged Members to encourage the reporting of incidents of anti social behaviour, and also to report any street lights found to be out of action in the Borough to the County Council. He informed Members that following a period of monitoring since the closure of the Gedling recycling centre, there had been no increase in fly tipping recorded.