Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Clarke and Fox. Apologies were also received from Councillors Barnfather and Hughes (observers).

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record.

None.

Report of the Senior Leadership Team

Alison Ball, Service Manager for Finance, presented a report, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, detailing the Council’s financial position at the end of the 1^st quarter of the financial year. Corporate Director Stephen Bray highlighted key achievements in terms of performance.

RESOLVED:

1)    To approve the changes to Performance Indicator and Action targets as detailed in paragraph 2.1.7 of the report, as an amendment to the agreed Council Plan;

2)    To approve the General Fund Revenue Budget virements included within Appendix 1 to the report;

3)    To approve the additions to the Capital Programme as virements funded from external grant funding:

·         Additional Disabled Facilities Grant                                                    £4,700

·         Additional Arnold Leisure Centre Refurbishment Lottery Grant         £42,000

·         Additional Fuel Poverty/Green Deal Grant                                          £10,800

4)    Refer to Council for approval the following amendments to the capital programme:

·         A supplementary estimate of £74,100 for Civic Centre Alterations

·         The removal of the Office Accommodation Joint Working Scheme (£450,000)

·         The removal of the  Affordable Housing Scheme (£139,000) which was completed ahead of schedule in 2012/13;

5)    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.

Report of the Corporate Director (Chief Financial Officer)

Alison Ball, Service Manager For Finance, presented a report, which had been previously circulated, summarising the performance of treasury activity in quarter one of the financial year.

RESOLVED:

To note the report.

Report of the Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer

Lyn Sugden, Assistant Solicitor, presented a report, which had been previously circulated, seeking Cabinet’s views on a request from Gedling Homes to dispense with their Annual General Meeting.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Approve the amendments to the Gedling Homes Articles of Association as set out in the draft Special Written Resolution which has the effect of dispensing with an AGM: and

2)      Authorise the Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer to sign the Written Resolution on behalf of the Council.

Report of the Corporate Director

Corporate Director Stephen Bray presented a report which sought amendments to the council’s representatives on outside bodies.

RESOLVED:

To nominate Councillor Pepper, in place of Councillor Parr, as a representative on the Arnold Local Area Forum.

Report of Councillor Mike Hope

Councillor Hope introduced a report on Scrutiny Committee activity, which had been previously circulated.

He highlighted a number of conclusions and recommendations made by various scrutiny reviews. Members and officers were

RESOLVED:

To note the final conclusions and recommendations appended to the report and to respond back to the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee within 28 working days.

Report of the Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer

Lyn Sugden, Assistant Solicitor, presented a report, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, informing Members of the annual audit of RIPA authorisations

RESOLVED:

To note the report.

Report of the Corporate Director and Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer

Lyn Sugden, Assistant Solicitor, presented a report which had been circulated prior to the meeting, giving details of the Annual report received from the Local Government Ombudsman.

RESOLVED:

To note the report.

Report of the Service Manager, Elections and Members' Services

Cabinet considered the Council’s draft forward plan which had been previously circulated.

The Chief Executive advised that due to the anticipated late notification of the Council’s next financial settlement it was necessary to delay the January meeting of Cabinet.

RESOVLED:

To note the report.

To note that the January meeting the Cabinet would take place on Thursday 15 January 2014.

Councillor Barnes (Environment)

·         During recent flooding a number of walls fell down in the Arnold area. Staff from Direct Services were thanked for their efforts in the clean-up.

·         The Council’s first electric van was now in operation.

·         A recent Planning Committee meeting has approved plans for a solar farm in the Borough which will help towards the area’s green energy targets.

Councillor Pulk (Leisure and Development)

·         Various cultural events had taken place in the Borough such as the Express yourself arts project.

·         The Council had responded to the latest version of the Rushcliffe Local Plan.

·         The employment skills group was pleased to report the creation of 20 apprenticeship places across the Borough.

Councillor Hollingsworth (Health and Wellbeing)

·         The Housing needs team continued to be a busy department – staff in the team had changed recently.

·         Health and wellbeing work was still progressing well.

·         Safeguarding polices had been recently renewed which saw a positive increase in referrals from both staff and councillors. Staff were thanked for their work.

·         Age UK’s Loneliness campaign continued and a project to work with “men in sheds” was hopefully going to follow.

·         Dementia friend training was being offered and was felt to be worthwhile.

·         The Revenues and Benefits department continued to perform well.

Councillor Payne (Public Protection and Communication)

·         The latest Landlord Forum had been held recently and was a success.

·         Crime across the Borough continues to fall.

·         There had been recent incidents of travellers illegally occupying land in the Borough.

Councillor Wheeler gave an update on the work had had been doing in his role as Policy Adviser for young people.

None.

None.