Agenda and minutes

As the Mayor’s chaplain was unable to attend, the Deputy Mayor delivered a thought for the day.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brooks, Hope, Lawrence, Parr, Scroggie, Towsey-Hinton, and Truscott.

The Deputy Mayor confirmed the Mayor was unable to attend and wished him well.

RESOLVED:

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

Councillor Elliott confirmed a disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to his employment and its connection to houses of multiple occupation (HMO). Due to this, he confirmed he would leave the meeting before the second motion, which related to HMOs.

None received.

None received.

Question by Councillor Ellwood

"In view of the fact that the Borough Council's Playing Pitch Strategy was last published in August 2016, when does the Council expect to review the Strategy and publish a revised version of the Strategy document?"

Question by Councillor Elliott

“Can the Portfolio holder for the Environment provide an update on the Council’s progress of u-turning on its smaller household waste bin size policy?”

Questions were received from Councillors Ellwood and Elliott, as follows:

Question by Councillor Ellwood

"In view of the fact that the Borough Council's Playing Pitch Strategy was last published in August 2016, when does the Council expect to review the Strategy and publish a revised version of the Strategy document?"

Response by Councillor Wheeler

“The Council’s last Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) was published in August 2016. As a general guide, if no review and subsequent update has been carried out within three years of the PPS being adopted, Sport England and the relevant national governing bodies of sport (NGBs) typically would consider the PPS and the information on which it is based to be technically ‘out of date’. However, this ‘grace period’ extends up to five years where the original PPS has been updated. For further context over 2018/19 a national piece of work undertaken by the FA, Football Foundation and DCMS in partnership with local authorities to develop Local Football Facility Plans (LFFP’s) for every local authority area in England. The LFFP’s were due to be published in late 2019, however this didn’t take place until Nov 2020. The refresh of our PPS was due to take place Spring/Summer 2020, following work on the development of the LFFP. Unfortunately, the deliverability of this was significantly impacted by the global pandemic, both locally and nationally.

However, our officers have worked hard, with local and national partners to by-in-large deliver the main strategic aims of the 2016 PPS; including four new artificial grass pitches (AGP’s) including Redhill Leisure Centre/Academy, Carlton-le-Willows Academy (which were both funded via the Football Foundation and match-funding from GBC and the Academies), Goosedale Sport Club (in Bestwood Village) and the Carlton Football Centre, at Carlton Academy. Additionally, we have received Football Foundation funding to deliver a new pavilion and natural grass pitch (NGP) improvements at Lambley Lane Recreation Ground, with works due to take place later this Spring/Summer. These alongside other smaller community facility improvements across the Borough.  

Additionally, since joining us on 1 March 2022 our new Corporate Director has commenced a wide-ranging strategic review which will inform our current and future proposals/requirements, primarily via an overarching Strategic Outcomes Planning Model (SOPM) - which is code for ‘why’, ‘where’, ‘what’, ‘how’ and for ‘whom’ councils can transform their local play, sport, physical activity, wellbeing and community facilities and services sustainably for their citizens and communities. As part of the wide-ranging strategic review a new PPS will be commissioned, alongside other strategies being developed and/or refreshed. The existence of a robust and up-to-date strategies (including a PPS) via an overarching SOPM can be of significant benefit to a wide variety of parties and agendas;

·       Enhance and maintain relationships between parties with an interest in provision within these facilities

·       Ensure the best use of available resources to develop and deliver the strategy(ies)

·       Develop a locally specific and tailored approach

·       Understand the supply of and demand for these facilities within the Borough

·       Assess and understand whether  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

None received.

None received.

Motion one

The UK leaving the European Union enabled our Government to strike our own incredible trade deals as an independent nation which boost investment and create jobs. The benefits of this were seen by millions through our rapid rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, months ahead of EU nations, saving many lives. 

This Council notes that, as a result of Brexit, the UK Government has now gained the ability to remove VAT from products. This Council also notes that, during his recent Spring Statement, the Conservative Chancellor exercised his ability to deliver on this Brexit bonus by removing the 5% VAT from solar panels. 

This Council resolves to create an SPD for ‘Renewables on Affordable housing’ ensuring developers add Solar Power, with batteries, to all affordable properties built across the Borough, resulting in those in need of affordable housing also benefiting from lower bills. This measure is within the Council’s remit and does not require any letter being sent to Government, our local Members of Parliament or any input from third parties. 

Proposer: Cllr Mike Adams 

Seconder: Cllr Sam Smith 

Motion two

This Council notes that there is a rising number of Homes of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) in the Netherfield area and that both residents and elected Councillors do not currently have a say in the decision to change the use of a family home (Class C3) into a HMO (Class C4) shared by up to six occupants. Under permitted development rights, this change is not subject to the usual full planning permission process, meaning Netherfield resident are not able to comment in support or objections to plans for individual property conversions and the Gedling Borough Council Planning Committee is not able to debate them. 

This Council also notes that the Government has introduced powers to enable Planning Authority Councils, like Gedling Borough Council, to require property owners to apply for planning permission should they wish to covert a property into a HMO. This is called an ‘Article 4 Direction’ and has been introduced by neighbour Councils, including the City of Nottingham and Broxtowe. 

This Council recognises how these short-term tenancies in HMOs are impacting the Netherfield community with: 

·         Increased traffic on the roads; 

·         More cars parked on already congested streets; 

·         Added strain on the Victorian drainage system; 

·         The loss of family housing stock; 

This Council resolves to make a non-immediate Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights for change of use from Use Class C3 (dwelling house) to Use Class C4 (house in multiple occupation) covering the Netherfield area, which will trigger a statutory publication period of a minimum of six weeks and then be referred to September’s Full Council to consider whether the order should be confirmed. 

If confirmed during September’s Full Council, the Article 4 Direction covering Netherfield will take effect 28 days later. 

This measure is within the Council’s remit and does not require any letter being sent to Government, our local Members of Parliament or any other third party. 

Proposer: Cllr Mike Adams  ...  view the full agenda text for item 31.

Motion one

Upon a notice of motion received in the name of Councillor Adams, an amended proposition was moved by Councillor Adams and seconded by Councillor Sam Smith following legal advice from the Monitoring Officer, in the following terms:

The UK leaving the European Union enabled our Government to strike our own incredible trade deals as an independent nation which boost investment and create jobs. The benefits of this were seen by millions through our rapid rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, months ahead of EU nations, saving many lives. 

This Council notes that, as a result of Brexit, the UK Government has now gained the ability to remove VAT from products. This Council also notes that, during his recent Spring Statement, the Conservative Chancellor exercised his ability to deliver on this Brexit bonus by removing the 5% VAT from solar panels.

This Council supports in principle the adoption of a SPD for ‘Renewables on Affordable housing’ ensuring developers add Solar Power, with batteries, to all affordable properties built across the Borough, resulting in those in need of affordable housing also benefiting from lower bills as soon as practicable.

This measure is within the Council’s remit and does not require any letter being sent to Government or our local Members of Parliament.

An amendment to remove the first two paragraphs of the motion was moved by Councillor Ellwood and seconded by Councillor Dunkin. The amended motion read as follows:

This Council supports in principle the adoption of a SPD for ‘Renewables on Affordable housing’ ensuring developers add Solar Power, with batteries, to all affordable properties built across the Borough, resulting in those in need of affordable housing also benefiting from lower bills as soon as practicable.

This measure is within the Council’s remit and does not require any letter being sent to Government or our local Members of Parliament.

Councillor Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor Boyle, proposed a motion to briefly adjourn the meeting to allow members to consider the amendments put before them. The motion was supported and the Mayor declared it carried.

The meeting adjourned at 6:54pm.

The meeting resumed at 7:16pm.

The amendment was accepted by the proposer and seconder and became the substantive motion. In accordance with standing order 17.03, the motion was put to a named vote as follows:

For the motion:

Against the motion:

Councillor Peter Barnes                               Councillor Gibbons                                    

Councillor Sandra Barnes                            Councillor Hollingsworth

Councillor Boyle                                           Councillor Keneally

Councillor Clarke                                          Councillor Viv McCrossen

Councillor Clunie                                          Councillor Ron McCrossen 

Councillor Collis                                            Councillor Miller  

Councillor Creamer                                       Councillor Najuk                              

Councillor David Ellis                                    Councillor Paling  

Councillor Rachael Ellis                                Councillor Payne 

Councillor Roxanne Ellis                               Councillor Wheeler  

Councillor Feeney                                         Councillor Wilkinson 

Councillor Fox                                           

Abstentions:

None.

The Mayor declared the motion lost.

Councillors Bosworth and Elliott left the meeting.

Motion two

Upon a notice of motion received in the name of Councillor Adams, an amended proposition was moved by Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.