Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber

Contact: Alec Dubberley  Service Manager, Democratic Services

Items
No. Item

56.

Opening Prayers.

Minutes:

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

 

The Council observed a minute’s silence in remembrance of Holocaust Memorial Day.

57.

Apologies for Absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Clarke and Towsey-Hinton.

 

Council was informed that Councillor Lawrence would be late to the meeting.

58.

Mayor's Announcements.

Minutes:

The Mayor thanked her Chaplain for leading the Holocaust Memorial Service that had taken place in the Council Chamber earlier that week and commented that it had been well attended by Staff and Members. The Mayor recited the poem ‘Never Shall I Forget’ by Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor. The Mayor spoke of the importance of exercising kindness and respect in our daily lives regardless of our differences.

59.

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2019. pdf icon PDF 154 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record, subject to an amendment to note that the Council observed a one minute’s silence to mark International Transgender Awareness Day.  

 

60.

Declaration of Interests.

Minutes:

The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance, Mike Hill, declared an interest in agenda item 12, ‘Transitional Arrangements Relating to the Post of Chief Executive’ and stated that he would leave the Council Chamber.

61.

To deal with any petitions received under Standing Order 8a.

Minutes:

None received.

62.

To answer questions asked by the public under Standing Order 8.

Minutes:

None received.

63.

To answer questions asked by Members of the Council under Standing Order 9.

Question from Councillor Martin Smith

 

I think we will all agree that tackling the increasing problem of litter across the Borough should be one of the priorities of the Council. This problem is addressed by both our own staff and in some areas local volunteers. Good examples of this are the Ravenshead Litter Force group, who regularly meet to clear the grass verges surrounding the village, and the young people of Newstead village who organised a litter pick as part of their summer holiday play scheme. I am sure that fellow councillors will be aware of other similar initiatives.

 

Money was allocated in this year’s budget for an extra 50 rubbish bins across the Borough. An action most welcomed. In October, councillors were asked by the Leader of the Council to nominate possible sites within their own Ward, where these bins could be placed. Three months later, no action appears to have been taken. Please could the Leader give an update as to when these new bins will be installed and also indicate if they will be fairly distributed across urban and rural areas of the Borough.

Minutes:

Question received from Councillor Martin Smith

 

New Litter Bins

 

“I think we all agree that tackling the increasing problem of litter across the Borough should be one of the priorities of the Council. This problem is addressed by both our own staff and in some areas local volunteers.  Good examples of this are the Ravenshead Litter Force group, who regularly meet to clear the grass verges surrounding the village, and the young people of Newstead village who organised a litter pick as part of their summer holiday play scheme. I am sure that fellow councillors will be aware of other similar initiatives.

Money was allocated in this year’s budget for an extra 50 rubbish bins across the Borough.  An action most welcomed. In October, councillors were asked by the Leader of the Council to nominate possible sites within their own Ward, where these bins could be placed. Three months later, no action appears to have been taken. Please could the Leader give an update as to when these new bins will be installed and also indicate if they will be fairly distributed across urban and rural areas of the Borough.”

 

Response from the Deputy Leader, Councillor Payne, on behalf of the Leader of the Council.

 

“Madame Mayor, this Leadership considers it to be vitally important that we work to reduce the levels of litter on our streets and roads, and in our town and local centres.

In response to the question asked by Councillor Smith, I can confirm that in excess of 50 requests for new litter bins have been received from Members of all political parties across the borough, and council officers are currently visiting these suggested locations and technically assessing these sites for suitability.

Interestingly I note that we have not received any requests for Newstead Abbey, which is your ward Councillor Smith.

You may think that three months is a long time, but installing new bins is not as straight forward as you may think:

 

  • In most cases we need to seek initial permission from Nottinghamshire County Council as Highway authority.
  • We have to allow clearance on the pavement of 1.2 metres to allow the safe passage of pedestrians, wheelchairs and pushchairs, without the need to step out into the carriageway.
  • We also have to create a shuttered concrete slab with the necessary fixings to secure the bin in situ.
  • All of this takes time as the officers involved undertake a number of other roles including fixing street name signs

 

Madame Mayor, can I make it absolutely clear that this Leadership is committed to delivering on all of the bin requests, subject to this criteria being met, and that officers have already started a programme of new bin installation across the borough in both urban and rural areas. So far we have installed 38 bins in the suggested locations with another 12 sites under review.”

 

In response to an additional comment from Councillor Martin Smith, the Deputy Leader confirmed that a list of locations would be circulated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

64.

Council Tax Reduction Scheme pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance, seeking approval for the continuation of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) for the financial year 2020/21.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

Approve and adopt the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) 2020/21, from 1 April 2020 with no changes to the CTRS for working age people as described in Section 1 of this report, except for the annual uprating and amendments of allowances and premiums in line with Housing Benefit levels.

65.

Referral from the Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee: Pay Policy Statement 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 604 KB

Report of the Service Manager Organisational Development.

 

Council is recommended to:

 

Adopt the pay policy statement for publication on the Council’s website.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report of the Service Manager Organisational Development, which had been referred to Council by the Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee.

 

 

RESOLVED to:

 

Adopt the Pay Policy Statement 2020/21 for publication on the Council’s website.

66.

Referral from the Audit Committee: Mazars Annual Audit Letter 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 149 KB

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance.

 

Council is recommended:

 

To note the Annual Audit letter.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance which had been referred to Council by Audit Committee.

 

RESOLVED:

 

To receive and note the Mazars Annual Audit Letter 2018/19.

 

 

67.

Transitional arrangements relating to the post of Chief Executive

Report of the Director of Organisational Development and Democratic Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance left the meeting at 6.35pm.

 

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Organisational Development and Democratic Services seeking approval for transitional arrangements following the departure of the Chief Executive.

 

The Deputy Leader paid tribute to the Chief Executive for her vision, her calm and wise counsel and her innovative and creative approach during her time at the Council. The Deputy Leader wished her well in her new post, on behalf of the Council. The Leader of the Opposition also paid tribute to the Chief Executive, having always found her to be professional, courteous and even-handed.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

Subject to receipt of a notice of resignation, for the transitional period:

 

1)    Mike Hill, will take on the role of acting Chief Executive, be designated as Head of Paid Service; appointed as Returning Officer for local elections (Borough and Parish) and Parish Polls and Electoral Registration Officer; and appointed as Proper Officer for all those functions where the Chief Executive is designated as the Proper Officer;

 

2)    Mike Hill be paid an honorarium to take his salary to the bottom of the current Chief Executive salary scale for the transitional period to reflect the additional responsibilities in carrying out those functions usually discharged by the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service; and

 

3)    Subject to Mike Hill confirming that he no longer wishes to act as Section 151 Officer, Alison Ball, Service Manager Financial Services be designated as the Council’s Section 151 Officer during the transitional period.

 

The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance re-joined the meeting at 6.51pm.

68.

To receive questions and comments from Members concerning any matter dealt with by the Executive or by a Committee or Sub-Committee (Standing Order 11.1). pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

69.

To consider comments, of which due notice has been given, under Standing Order 11.03(a).

Minutes:

None received.

70.

To consider motions under Standing Order 12.

Minutes:

None received.