Agenda and minutes

The Mayors Chaplain, Fr Philipp, delivered a thought about being good citizens and having respect for everyone in the community.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Feeney, Hollingsworth, Payne and Scroggie.

The Mayor gave an update on a discussion held at the previous meeting surrounding the time between ordinary meetings in 2026 and noted that due to the business required to be transacted over the coming year, the dates were unfortunately unable to be amended. He confirmed that members were free to send questions to officers at any time, who would be happy to help.

The Mayor then gave an update on the start of his mayoral year and thanked members for their generosity in helping to raise over £300 for his charity, Motor Neurone Disease Association.

RESOLVED:

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

Councillor Rachael Ellis declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 10 on the agenda, St Albans CGR, noting she was a parish councillor for the parish of St Albans.

None received.

Question 1 - Received by Matthew Francis

On 29 August 2024, the Leader of the Council made the decision, designated as D1552, under delegated responsibility, to approve the granting of a lease to the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner for part of the Civic Centre and part of Arnot Hill Park, along with the Heads of Terms for said lease. In the decision notice there were five enclosures, which were all restricted and not provided to the public, due to this, the only pertinent information released to the public as part of that notice, is the information I have just stated. This decision has now resulted in the removal of use for the public, of sixteen parking bays, out of forty six bays, from the Bowling Green Car Park at Arnot Hill Park, which are now allocated to Nottinghamshire Police. As this car park is close to the play park, and the area that families use with their children, this is impacting where they can park, with some having to park on the road outside. Also, as you can imagine this is potentially impacting disabled people, as the amount of bays that are close to the park, has reduced by just shy of 35%, these are people that need support and understanding. It has been ascertained through an information request, that Gedling Borough Council did not carry out a consultation in relation to this lease or the decision to implement it, did not carry out an Equality Impact Assessment to see what effect this would have on protected groups, including disabled people, should have only allocated fifteen bays, and as stated above, restricted all the enclosures on the decision notice from the public eye. Considering Gedling Borough Council's belief in transparency along with Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, can the Portfolio Holder for Life Chances and Vulnerability explain what Gedling Borough Council will do to rectify this apparent failure in governance?

One question was received, and the questioner was in attendance to ask their question. The question and answer is as follows:

Question 1 - Asked by Matthew Francis:

On 29 August 2024, the Leader of the Council made the decision, designated as D1552, under delegated responsibility, to approve the granting of a lease to the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner for part of the Civic Centre and part of Arnot Hill Park, along with the Heads of Terms for said lease.

In the decision notice there were five enclosures, which were all restricted and not provided to the public, due to this, the only pertinent information released to the public as part of that notice, is the information I have just stated. This decision has now resulted in the removal of use for the public, of sixteen parking bays, out of forty six bays, from the Bowling Green Car Park at Arnot Hill Park, which are now allocated to Nottinghamshire Police. As this car park is close to the play park, and the area that families use with their children, this is impacting where they can park, with some having to park on the road outside. Also, as you can imagine this is potentially impacting disabled people, as the amount of bays that are close to the park, has reduced by just shy of 35%, these are people that need support and understanding.

It has been ascertained through an information request, that Gedling Borough Council did not carry out a consultation in relation to this lease or the decision to implement it, did not carry out an Equality Impact Assessment to see what effect this would have on protected groups, including disabled people, should have only allocated fifteen bays, and as stated above, restricted all the enclosures on the decision notice from the public eye.

Considering Gedling Borough Council's belief in transparency along with Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, can the Portfolio Holder for Life Chances and Vulnerability explain what Gedling Borough Council will do to rectify this apparent failure in governance?

Response from Councillor Clarke:

I approved a decision to lease part of the civic centre to Nottinghamshire Police in August 2024 as this was a commercial decision with the council as landlord. The appropriate rules for dealing with land were followed and the report was not fully in the public domain as it contained information which was deemed commercially sensitive.

In respect of car parking, in order to ensure the police could operate effectively from the civic centre, a number of spaces within the park were redesignated for police parking. There was no removal of public disabled parking bays from the car park and the process under the car park order was correctly followed.

The decision to grant the police the lease of the park supported the council's ongoing commitment to collaborate with other public sector partners and has provided a visible police presence within the local community. The location of police at the civic centre should provide assurances  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

None received.

Report of the Monitoring Officer

RESOLVED that:

      I.                the contents of the report be noted; and

    II.                the Policy and Procedure for Disclosure and Barring Services checks for Councillors at Appendix 1 be agreed; and

   III.                the Leader of the council writes to the Minister of State for Local Government to call for the introduction of a requirement for enhanced DBS checks for all councillors as part of the next steps of the devolution legislation.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager

RESOLVED that:

Council agrees:

      I.        That a new Parish with a Parish Council is established to cover the Deer Park, Bestwood Lodge area of the St Albans Parish named “The Parish Council of Deer Park”. The Parish Council should have five members; and

    II.        That a new Parish with a Parish Council is established to cover the area comprised of the Top Valley, Emmanuel Church area of the St Albans Parish, named “The Parish Council of St Albans”. The Parish Council should have seven members; and

   III.        That the new parishes shall not be warded; and

  IV.        The boundaries of the new parishes should be shown on the map contained at Appendix 4; and

    V.        That Elections shall be held in May 2026 for the new Parish councils, with further elections held the year after to return the parish councils to the appropriate cycle of elections for all other Gedling Parishes; and

  VI.        The current Parish Council of St Albans should be dissolved, and the current Parish of St Albans be abolished; and

 VII.        To delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Member working group to make the Reorganisation Order to give effect to the recommendations made in the review in order that its commencement is consistent with the statutory electoral timetable and the process for setting any parish budget requirements.

No points or comments were raised.

None received.