Agenda and draft minutes

The Mayors Chaplain was unable to attend the meeting so no thought for the day was given. The Mayor welcomed the newly elected councillor, Councillor Darren Maltby, to the chamber.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dunkin, Ellwood, Fox, Grahame Pope, and Welsh.

The Mayor noted that he had been on several visits in the community over the past few weeks, including a visit to the Community Hub in Gedling village who were raising funds to renovate the old station.

RESOLVED:

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

Councillor Clarke declared an interest in item 13, as a recipient of the Winter Fuel Payments in which the motion was concerned with.

None received.

Question 1 – received by Matthew Francis

“To remain compliant with legislation and operate lawfully, Gedling Borough Council must appoint three statutory officers: a Head of Paid Service, a Chief Financial Officer and a Monitoring Officer, the uninterrupted continuation of these three roles within local government, is essential. In accordance with Section 5 (1) (b) and (1A) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 the Monitoring Officer cannot be appointed to the position of and/or act as either the Chief Financial Officer and/or the Head of Paid Service. In line with Section 9P (1) (c) of the Local Government Act 2000 when read with Direction 3 of The Local Government Act 2000 (Constitutions) (England) Directions 2000, Gedling Borough Council must have all delegations to officers, statutory or otherwise, written within the Gedling Borough Council Constitution. Within your constitution you have mechanisms in place so that individuals can act as the Monitoring Officer or Chief Financial Officer if they are on annual leave, off sick or absent for other reasons, however there is no mechanism of any form, in place for someone to act as the Head of Paid Service, if they are absent for any reason. It is essential to note that the designations of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service are two separate and distinct roles, within both the Gedling Borough Council Constitution and legislation, as stated by case law, however they can be assigned to one individual.

I have been in communications with your Deputy Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer for some time regarding this, but we haven't made any progress. The responsibilities of the Head of Paid Service are very serious, such as reports to the council, health and safety matters, and decisions regarding how the discharge of various functions at Gedling Borough Council are coordinated. Any decisions taken by any officer at the council, other than the Head of Paid Service, in relation to the aforementioned responsibilities, would currently be unlawful, as they would be acting without authority.

Your current Deputy Chief Executive is also the Monitoring Officer, and is therefore prohibited by law from acting as the Head of Paid Service in any way and at any time, will you therefore write into the constitution, as a matter of urgency, so it complies with the law, and make known now to the public, who currently acts and can act moving forward, as the Head of Paid Service, when the Head of Paid Service is absent?”

One question was received and printed on the agenda pack from Matthew Francis. Matthew Francis addressed the meeting and confirmed that he would be withdrawing his question.

Question 1 – from Cllr Whiting to Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

“What support, if any, is Gedling Borough Council able to provide those pensioners who will lose their Winter Fuel Allowance as a result of the introduction of means testing?”

Question 2 – from Cllr Bestwick to Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy

"Will the Council be following the new Labour Government’s directive to drop the local connection test for social housing? If so how many non UK nationals are likely to be added to the list in Gedling and what will that mean to the local residents already on the waiting list?”

Question 3 – from Cllr S Smith to Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy

“Following the Labour Government’s announcement of the reintroduction of housing targets and the increase of 45% in Gedling. Can you inform the Council of what additional sites you have highlighted for future housing development across our borough?”

A question was asked of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance by Councillor Whiting, as follows:

“What support, if any, is Gedling Borough Council able to provide those pensioners who will lose their Winter Fuel Allowance as a result of the introduction of means testing?”

Response from Councillor Payne:

Can I start off by thanking Cllr Whiting for his question and by saying that this is an issue that is a concern for everyone in this chamber. Support for our most vulnerable residents is something this council has been focused on since we took control of the council in 2011 and will continue to be focused on.

In terms of the specific question that you asked, despite huge financial cuts imposed by the previous conservative government over many years, this labour council is incredibly proud of its ongoing support to its most vulnerable residents, and I am pleased to say that this commitment has been continued by Gedling Borough Council into this financial year. I can give you four particular examples, three of which pensioners who you referred to specifically in your question, are eligible for.

Firstly, we provide discretionary housing payments and in 2023/2024 we distributed £184,000 in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out. Secondly, we provide hardship relief to council tax payers and in 2023/2024 we granted a further £107,000 to our local residents. Thirdly, although not relevant to this particular question about pensioners, the council provided £214,000 of council tax support to care leavers, an issue that I know is very important to you and everyone in this chamber. Fourthly, we of course continue to be one of only a handful of councils that maintains the 100% council tax reduction scheme meaning that our most vulnerable residents across the borough are protected from paying any council tax at all.

The financial outlook remains incredibly challenging, as it does for the county, but I am sure I speak for everyone when I say that we will continue to do all that we can to maintain our support for our most vulnerable residents in future years. I will finish by saying this – this council also has an incredibly important role to play in making sure that other forms of funding handed out by central government are levied to support the most vulnerable people in the borough even if we are not directly responsible for it. I know that is something you have done in the past and will continue to do so I hope Councillor Whiting that you will join me in pressing Nottinghamshire County Council to make sure that the extended household support fund goes to the most vulnerable residents, including to those pensioners who now might be struggling this winter. It is absolutely critical that Nottinghamshire County Council see fit to do this – central government have taken the right decision in my view to extend that funding by a further £421 million to county councils across England. Nottinghamshire county council is receiving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

                                                                          Councillor Sam Smith left the meeting.

None.

Report of the Assistant Director - Governance and Democracy

Due to a delay in the implementation of the Procurement Act from the 28 October 2024 to Feb 2025 and the potential legislative changes that come with this, this item was withdrawn.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager

                                                                 Councillor Sam Smith re-joined the meeting.

Councillor Clarke proposed amended recommendations, in the following terms:

To approve the following changes to representation on committees:

1) Remove Councillor Welsh from the Joint Consultative and Safety and Committee; and

2) Appoint Councillor Creamer as Chair of the Joint Consultative and Safety and Committee; and

3) Add Councillor Roxanne Ellis to the Joint Consultative and Safety Committee as Vice-Chair of the committee

RESOLVED to:

1) Remove Councillor Welsh from the Joint Consultative and Safety and Committee; and

2) Appoint Councillor Creamer as Chair of the Joint Consultative and Safety and Committee; and

3) Add Councillor Roxanne Ellis to the Joint Consultative and Safety Committee as Vice-Chair of the committee

None received.

Gedling Borough notes:

• The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

• The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK says will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.

• The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents across Gedling Borough and the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.

• The additional strain this decision will place on vulnerable pensioners, many of whom do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.

Gedling Borough Council believes:

• That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the Borough and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.

• While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, other pensioners within Gedling Borough sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their entitlement to the Winter Fuel Payment.

Therefore, Gedling Borough Council resolves to:

1) Launch a Council-led local awareness campaign in a future Contacts Magazine to alert and encourage those eligible for Pension Credit to apply for it because doing so will trigger access to Winter Fuel Payments.

2) Send a letter from the Council Leader to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the Government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.

3) Commit the Council to signing the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK and write to all members offering them the opportunity to sign the petition themselves.

4) Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Gedling Borough are supported in claiming their entitlement.

Proposer: Cllr Mike Adams

Seconder: Cllr Boyd Elliott

Councillors Clarke and Greensmith left the meeting

Councillor Adams, seconded by Councillor Elliott, proposed a motion in the following terms:

Gedling Borough notes:

·         The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

·         The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK says will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.

·         The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents across Gedling Borough and the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.

·         The additional strain this decision will place on vulnerable pensioners, many of whom do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.

Gedling Borough Council believes:

·         That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the Borough and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.

·         While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, other pensioners within Gedling Borough sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their entitlement to the Winter Fuel Payment.

Therefore, Gedling Borough Council resolves to:

1)    Launch a Council-led local awareness campaign in a future Contacts Magazine to alert and encourage those eligible for Pension Credit to apply for it because doing so will trigger access to Winter Fuel Payments.

2)    Send a letter from the Council Leader to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the Government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.

3)    Commit the Council to signing the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK and write to all members offering them the opportunity to sign the petition themselves.

4)    Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Gedling Borough are supported in claiming their entitlement.

Proposer: Cllr Mike Adams

Seconder: Cllr Boyd Elliot

Councillor Greensmith rejoined the meeting

An amended motion was proposed by Councillor Payne and seconded by Councillor Hollingsworth, in the following terms:

Gedling Borough notes:

•       The £22 billion black hole left in the public finances by the previous Conservative government (now being investigated by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility), which has forced the Labour Government into making the tough decision to target the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

•       The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK believes will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.

•       The significant role that Winter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.