Agenda and minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Sally Baylis, delivered opening prayers.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Boyle, Creamer, Roxanne Ellis, Greensmith, Hollingsworth and Scroggie.

The Mayor informed Members about some of the recent engagements she had undertaken, including Calverton Play Day. The Mayor gave thanks to Councillors Viv and Ron McCrossen for hosting the Charity Quiz Night on 5 September and thanked everyone else who had supported the event. 

RESOLVED:

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

Councillor Wheeler declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 8 (Questions from Members) as a resident personally affected by recent flooding.

None received.

Question from Nick Quilty

In June 2018, Calverton Parish Council wrote to Gedling BC making the suggestion, 100 years after the end of the Great War, that we could honour and remember those from the Parish killed in the war through GBC using the family surnames of those killed, to name new streets in Calverton. GBC wrote back to Calverton PC advising that it was something they would strongly consider for all future developments. However, the first new development to be named since then was not named in such a manner. Bearing in mind the large number of new developments which have recently had planning approval, and that these will soon require new street names, will GBC be implementing the Calverton PC request - or is there some reason it cannot, or will not?

Answer from Councillor Payne

The suggestion of honouring and remembering the names of soldiers is fully supported but other reasonable requests also need be considered on a case by case basis. The first new development named since the request is Woodward Way, named in memory of Arthur Woodward, who served as a Councillor in Calverton for 20 years (1987-2007) and served as Mayor in 2004. This request was put forward by the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council in January 2019.

Several large new residential developments are expected to be built in Calverton and it is envisaged that groups of new roads will be named in honour of the soldiers, subject to Portfolio Holder approval.

Questions received from Councillor Adams

Question 1

Flooding in Arnold

The recent awful flooding in Arnold, apparently brought about as a result of the Gedling Borough Council maintained lagoon bursting its banks for the 3rd time in 10 years despite this supposedly being ‘a once in 50 x year event’, has raised huge concerns locally around the ability of the council to properly protect the welfare and wellbeing of its residents. I wonder how many times do residents on Bentwell Avenue in particular, the elderly, families with young children and other vulnerable residents, have to resort to their house insurers (where possible) to try and restore normality to their home, before the council properly exercises its responsibilities, acts positively and stops blaming the weather and indeed everyone else. When I personally attended on site at the lagoon, even my untrained eye could see that it was thick with silt and massively overgrown with trees and large shrubs. It certainly did not give the impression of a well maintained site. Can the Leader of the Council therefore explain details of the schedule of maintenance for the lagoon and brook that leads to the bottom of the gardens on Bentwell Avenue and confirm how that is complied with and checked by officers, and verified as sufficiently operable by those with appropriate expertise, including Nottinghamshire County Council as the Lead Flood Authority and/or the Environment Agency?

Question 2

Neighbourhood Police Team

During the 2019 local election campaign, Labour election literature committed to specifically providing the Gedling area with 5 additional police officers. The leaflet, promoted by the Deputy Leader Michael Payne, specifically stated "We will create a new local neighbourhood policing team – putting 5 additional police officers back on our streets". Can the Leader confirm as to how this Labour Administration intends to carry out that pledge and outline exactly which authority or legislation gives a District Council the power or indeed ability, to usurp the role of the Chief Constable in allocating additional Police Officers to the Gedling area and to determine their duties and responsibilities.

Questions received from Councillor Adams

Question 1

Flooding in Arnold

The recent awful flooding in Arnold, apparently brought about as a result of the Gedling Borough Council maintained lagoon bursting its banks for the 3rd time in 10 years despite this supposedly being ‘a once in 50 x year event’, has raised huge concerns locally around the ability of the council to properly protect the welfare and wellbeing of its residents. I wonder how many times do residents on Bentwell Avenue in particular, the elderly, families with young children and other vulnerable residents, have to resort to their house insurers (where possible) to try and restore normality to their home, before the council properly exercises its responsibilities, acts positively and stops blaming the weather and indeed everyone else. When I personally attended on site at the lagoon, even my untrained eye could see that it was thick with silt and massively overgrown with trees and large shrubs. It certainly did not give the impression of a well maintained site. Can the Leader of the Council therefore explain details of the schedule of maintenance for the lagoon and brook that leads to the bottom of the gardens on Bentwell Avenue and confirm how that is complied with and checked by officers, and verified as sufficiently operable by those with appropriate expertise, including Nottinghamshire County Council as the Lead Flood Authority and/or the Environment Agency?

Answer from Councillor Clarke

Madame Mayor, it appears that Councillor Adams is not entirely clear on the roles that the borough and county councils have in relation to flood management, so perhaps I can take this opportunity to clarify this for him.

Nottinghamshire County Council are the Lead Local Flood Authority, and play a leading role in emergency planning and recovery after a flood event. They also investigate significant local flooding incidents, and publish the results of these investigations in what is known as a section 19 report under the requirements of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Gedling Borough Council is a category one responder under the Civil Contingencies Act This means we must have plans in place to respond to emergencies and control or reduce the impact of an emergency.

A section 19 report was issued by Nottinghamshire County Council in August. It reported that:

“Between the 10^th and 12^th of June a significant amount of rain was recorded as falling on the Arnold area, with 92mm recorded over the three days, and with 59mm of that falling on the 11^th alone.  The average rainfall for the month of June in Nottingham is 64mm.  This excessive rainfall resulted in 24 residential properties and 20 businesses experiencing significant internal flooding.”

“The attenuation area is maintained by Gedling Borough Council with a Severn Trent Water surface water sewer permitted to flow into and out of it.  When functioning correctly the attenuation area collects water from the Severn Trent surface water network upstream and discharges that water back into the surface water network.” “Following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

Report of the Service Manager Democratic Services.

Consideration was given to a report of the Service Manager Democratic Services seeking approval to change to the memberships of the Environment and Licensing and the Licensing Act Committees.

RESOLVED:

To approve the following change to representation on the Environment and Licensing and the Licensing Act Committees:

Councillor Rachael Ellis to replace Councillor Gary Gregory as substitute member.

Vote: 35 For; 0 Against; 0 Abstentions

In accordance with Standing Order 11.1, a number of comments were made and responded to by the appropriate Cabinet Member or Committee Chair.

None received.

Motion One

This Council:

1)    Notes that the safeguarding of children and other vulnerable individuals within the community is of paramount importance to all who hold public office.
 

2)    Is aware of recent criticisms of other surrounding authorities for a failure to exercise due diligence in carrying out their safeguarding functions in respect of children within their care.
 

3)    Notes that, whilst Officers may primarily exercise the day to day functions of safeguarding on behalf of local authorities, that Elected Members equally have a responsibility to ensure that:

a)    Those functions are indeed carried out diligently and effectively;

b)    That vulnerable children and others potentially at risk in the community are protected by appropriate policies and procedures;

c)    That Elected Members themselves set an appropriate leadership example in exercising their duties and responsibilities.

4)    Recognises the importance of ensuring that everyone representing Gedling Borough Council, who may come into contact with such vulnerable children and other individuals in the course of their duties, are themselves above reproach.
 

5)    Should seek to provide reassurance to our Gedling community by ensuring that all Elected Members are themselves made subject to a DBS check upon taking office.

6)    Instructs the Monitoring Officer to consider and put in place a mechanism to ensure that appropriate DBS checks are carried out and recorded in a register against the name of all Elected Members.

Proposer: Councillor Adams

Seconder: Councillor Smith

Motion Two

This Council notes:

i)             the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s August announcement to allocate a £1 billion Future High Streets fund to 100 high streets across England

ii)            the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s decision on 6 September 2019 to invite 100 towns across England to benefit from the £3.6 billion new ‘Towns Fund’ and the announcement by Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government that each of those towns will receive up to £25 million

iii)           the lack of transparent application process for the Government’s new ‘Towns Fund’, the absence of any published criteria for the Government’s decision to choose the 100 towns over others and the Conservative Government’s inclusion of eleven places in the new ‘Towns Fund’ that are in the top seventeen Conservative Party general election target constituencies in England

iv)           the inclusion of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s own town of Newark-on-Trent in the Government’s new ‘Towns Fund’ announced on 6 September 2019

This Council regrets:

i)             the Government’s disappointing decision to reject Gedling Borough Council’s bid for a share of the £1 billion Future High Street Fund for Arnold town centre and choosing 100 other places instead

ii)            the decision of the Conservative Government to turn its back on Gedling Borough by not including any of Gedling Borough’s towns as beneficiaries of the multi-million pound new ‘Towns Fund’ announced on 6 September 2019

This Council agrees:

i)             that all members of the Council will be invited to sign the letter being sent by the Leader of the Council to the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 42.

Motion One

Upon a notice of motion received in the name of Councillor Adams, a proposition was moved by Councillor Adams, seconded by Councillor Sam Smith, in the following terms:

This Council:

1)    Notes that the safeguarding of children and other vulnerable individuals within the community is of paramount importance to all who hold public office.
 

2)    Is aware of recent criticisms of other surrounding authorities for a failure to exercise due diligence in carrying out their safeguarding functions in respect of children within their care.
 

3)    Notes that, whilst Officers may primarily exercise the day to day functions of safeguarding on behalf of local authorities, that Elected Members equally have a responsibility to ensure that:

a)    Those functions are indeed carried out diligently and effectively;

b)    That vulnerable children and others potentially at risk in the community are protected by appropriate policies and procedures;

c)    That Elected Members themselves set an appropriate leadership example in exercising their duties and responsibilities.

4)    Recognises the importance of ensuring that everyone representing Gedling Borough Council, who may come into contact with such vulnerable children and other individuals in the course of their duties, are themselves above reproach.
 

5)    Should seek to provide reassurance to our Gedling community by ensuring that all Elected Members are themselves made subject to a DBS check upon taking office.

6)    Instructs the Monitoring Officer to consider and put in place a mechanism to ensure that appropriate DBS checks are carried out and recorded in a register against the name of all Elected Members.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Payne, seconded by Councillor Barnfather, in the following terms:

That in accordance with section 14.08 a) of the Gedling Borough Council Constitution, to refer the subject of debate to the Cabinet.

The amendment was carried and it was

RESOLVED:

That in accordance with section 14.08 a) of the Gedling Borough Council Constitution, to refer the subject of debate to Cabinet:

Vote: 35 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions

Motion 2

Upon a notice of motion received in the name of Councillor Payne, a proposition was moved by Councillor Payne, seconded by Councillor Clarke, in the following terms:

This Council notes:

i)              the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s August announcement to allocate a £1 billion Future High Streets fund to 100 high streets across England

ii)             the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s decision on 6 September 2019 to invite 100 towns across England to benefit from the £3.6 billion new ‘Towns Fund’ and the announcement by Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government that each of those towns will receive up to £25 million

iii)           the lack of transparent application process for the Government’s new ‘Towns Fund’, the absence of any published criteria for the Government’s decision to choose the 100 towns over others and the Conservative Government’s inclusion of eleven places in the new ‘Towns Fund’ that are in the top seventeen Conservative Party general election target constituencies in England

iv)           the inclusion of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.