| 74 | No apologies for absence were received.
The Chair made the meeting aware that Councillors Creamer and Barnfather would be arriving late. |
| 76 | Councillor Clarke and Pulk declared none- pecuniary interests in Item 4 as Members of Nottinghamshire County Council, who own land included in the documents. |
| 77 | The Service Manager, Planning and Economic Development, presented a report, which had been previously circulated, requesting Cabinet's comments and endorsement of the main issues raised in the comments received on the Aligned Core Strategies Publication Version, the submission documents and seeking approval for the revised Local Development Scheme.
Councillor John Clarke thanked Officers for their hard work in preparing the Strategy documents and the public for their interest and involvement in consultations on the document. |
| 78 | The Service Manager, Housing and Localities, presented a report which had been previously circulated requesting that Cabinet endorse the revised Allocations Policy for social housing in Gedling and refers it to Council for approval and adoption. |
| 79 | The Service Manager, Housing and Localities, presented a report which had been previously circulated requesting that Cabinet endorse the joint homelessness strategy for Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe and refers it to Council for approval and adoption.
Councillor Clarke formally thanks the Service Manager and her team for all their hard work, not only on the Joint Homelessness Strategy and the Housing Allocations Strategy, but every day in the face of increasing demands on the service. |
| 80 | The Service Manager, Parks and Street Car, presented a report, which has been previously circulated, seeking the adoption of the Gedling Borough Green Space Strategy 2012 - 2017 and the Executive Summary. |
| 81 | Corporate Director, Stephen Bray, presented a report, which has been previously circulated, seeking Cabinet's agreement for the draft Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan 2013-17, to guide the Council's future work on sustainability. |
| 82 | Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Director, Mark Kimberley, presented a report, which had been previously circulated, providing details of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2013/14, New Homes Bonus income and the level of grant to support the Council Tax Reduction Scheme provided by Government and seeking approval of an increase in Fees and Charges of 3% to be applied in 2013/14. |
| 83 | Consideration was given to a report of the Service Manager, Elections and Members' Services, presenting the Executive's draft Forward Plan for the next four month period. |
| 84 | Members were informed of the Cancellation of the Cabinet meeting due to be held 2 May 2013. |
| 85 | Councillor Jim Creamer (Portfolio Holder for Environment)
• The Council recently took delivery of two new waste freighters with electronic bin lifts. The lifts now charge from the engine while the vehicle is moving and so should decrease fuel consumption.
• The Council are due to take delivery of a hybrid transit in February.
• Funding has been secured for 4-way CCTV cameras for 9 waste freighters.
• Direct Services are currently interviewing for an Apprentice position.
Councillor Kathryn Fox (Portfolio Holder for Community Development)
• A Funding Fair will be held at the Richard Herrod Centre on the 21st of January 2013 and Members are encouraged to attend.
• Burton Road Community Centre recently won an APSE award.
• Locality Co-ordinators in Netherfield and Newstead have now made public the times and places where residents can drop in to see them and how to book appointments.
• A no-smoking event and Farmers Market are arranged to take place in Netherfield.
• The Locality Co-ordinator for Newstead is currently developing partnership working in the area, prioritising youth engagement and help for those with debt problems.
• Public Realms work on fencing in Newstead to improve the street scene is currently taking place.
Councillor Darrell Pulk (Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Development)
• The Art exhibition in the Reception Room has recently changed.
• Visits have recently taken place to see what other Leisure Centres have achieved with similar Growth Point Funding to that that has been allocated for the refurbishment of the changing rooms and theatre at Arnold Leisure Centre.
• Following the recent announcement of the Local Government Financial Settlement a 3% savings requirement is likely for the Portfolio.
• The "Goals" project at Carlton Forum has been very successful with around 75 children attending each session. However, the Police are no longer able to take part and the Youth Service is having problems getting the bus to the sessions. Work is now underway to find additional resources to enable to continuation of the project.
• Work is underway in Netherfield on a project with Nottinghamshire Forest Football Club to target childhood obesity.
• The all-weather pitch at Carlton Forum has been found to require around £20,000 in expenditure and there is an intention to talk to Nottinghamshire County Council regarding any funding opportunities that might assist with this.
• A project to encourage disabled children to participate in sports was very successful during the October half term and sessions have now been scheduled to take place during the February half term.
Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth (Portfolio Holder for Health and Housing)
• Temporary accommodation capacity remains low. Two properties are currently empty but both require work before they can be put into use.
• There have been 234 Homeless Preventions in the first three quarters of 2012/13, more than the last financial year as a whole.
• The Health and Wellbeing Board are due to meeting next week and local government delivery plans will be a topic of discussion.
• The public health finance settlement was due in December but was delayed and this will be announced today.
• A scheme to prevent winter deaths in underway and has received 8 applications so far this winter. The scheme which is funded by the Department of Health is administered by Nottinghamshire County Council and targets those in fuel poverty at risk.
• The Cold Weather Strategy has seen 1 person accommodated this year, but it is expected to come into action again in the coming weeks as temperatures drop.
Councillor Michael Payne (Portfolio Holder for Communications and Public Protection)
• Thanks to all staff at Gedling Borough Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and flood wardens for their work in preventing damage to private property by flooding over recent weeks.
• Domestic Violence levels in the Borough have decreased, following the Man Enough campaign and the extra publicity generated by displaying Domestic Violence information on waste freighters over the festive period.
• There has been a decrease in crime in the Borough, particularly in Carlton which has seen a significant decrease.
• Drugs remain a problem in Netherfield and Colwick. However, following some high profile work in the Borough reporting of drug related crime is increasing. It is also hoped that intelligence on those taking part in drug related crimes will be gathered now via the Locality Co-ordinator based in the area.
• Police Commissioner, Paddy Tipping, is intended to roll out Gedling Borough Council's special police constable initiative County-wide.
• There is an intention to carry out some work to put in place an initiative to recruit Community Safety Volunteers and to increase the Council's relationship with the Neighbourhood Watch groups in the Borough.
• There have been some brilliant examples of Gedling Borough Council employees actively implementing the Council's Community Safety Strategy.
• There has been a recent announcement that the County Council intend to dim street lights in the Arnold and Carlton areas. As yet, there has been no consultation with the Borough Council however the Portfolio Holder will be pushing for a dialogue on this. The Portfolio Holder will report back on this issue in due course.
Councillor Clarke (Leader of the Council)
• The first meeting of the Crime Panel will take place next week and Members will see a draft of the Police Commissioner's plans for the Police Service.
• Potential closure of the Police Headquarters, Carlton Police Station and the Oxclose Lane Police Station are of great concern to the Borough.
• Praise for all Officers, Members and Local People involved in protecting communities from the recent floods.
Councillor Clarke invited Councillor Barnfather to update Members on the recent flooding of Bestwood Village.
Councillor Barnfather outlined the flooding that had taken place over the festive period in Bestwood Village and praised the Highways Officers at Nottinghamshire County Council for their hard work in trying to locate and fix the problem. A temporary solution to the problem is now in place and Nottinghamshire County Council are pursuing a longer term solution in their role as Lead Flood Authority and Highways Authority. |
| 86 | In a response to a question from Councillor Barnfather, Councillor Clarke, the Chief Executive and Corporate Director, Stephen Bray, updated Members on the intention to sign an Armed Forces Community Covenant.
Members were advised that the Forces had expressed an interest in signing a County wide covenant, however unfortunately not all Districts have yet passed a motion to do so. The Corporate Director will be looking to approach the Forces and, with their agreement, arrange to sign a covenant as a single Borough. |
| 87 | None. |