Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Hemmingway and Murray. Councillor Lawrence attended as substitute.

RESOLVED:

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

None.

Councillor Feeney joined the meeting.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager

Councillor Sam Smith joined the meeting.

Members welcomed Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth to the meeting to examine the Growth and Regeneration portfolio.

No questions or areas of concerned had been submitted in advance of the meeting so Councillor Hollingsworth delivered an update on various areas of responsibility within her portfolio.

Councillor Hollingsworth informed members that:

·       The Council had under delivered on the number of houses constructed but expects that delivery will catch up in the next quarter.

·       No affordable homes were delivered in this quarter but it is expected that it will catch up in the next financial year.

·       The Council currently has a 6.23 year housing land supply, which is above the 5 year requirement.

·       Work is ongoing to bring forward the Nottinghamshire Strategic Plan which will be an update of the Core Align Strategy adopted in 2014.

·       Empty homes across the borough have decreased by 36% over the last year, to which Councillor Hollingsworth paid tribute to Nicola Bryant and her team for their work on this.

·       A new page has been added to the Council’s website to allow local businesses to promote themselves.

·       Arnold Market Place was progressing well and the Council were on track to have most of the units filled by completion

Councillors Hollingsworth also answered questions, posed at the meeting, from members relating to reliance on developers/housing providers, setting deadlines for developments, percentages of affordable homes per development and the use of article 4 directives for issues with houses of multiple occupation (HMO).

She confirmed that there are adequate avenues for communication with developers to ensure they have the best support, funding chances and access to guidance and legislation to allow them to hit the housing deadlines and follow the legislative framework. She followed on to confirm that due to the increase in HMO’s, an article 4 directive was something that could be considered where necessary, but noted they needed substantial evidence to support them, which is currently not available. It was reiterated that HMO’s play an important role in providing accommodation for single persons.

Councillor Lawrence joined the meeting.

RESOLVED to

Thank Councillor Hollingsworth for her attendance and the information provided.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager

Councillor Barnes joined the meeting.

The Director of Communities, Environments and Leisure introduced a report which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, informing members in summary of the position against Improvement Actions and Performance Indicators in the 2020-23 Gedling Plan at the end of 2021/22 quarter 3.

Member noted that they were pleased to hear the rediscover campaign had been well received but wondered whether footfall has been measured as part of the evaluation of the campaign. It was also noted that increased reporting on future performance monitoring would be useful, namely the introduction of a measure against the previous year to see a full comparison of progress, where applicable.

Members discussed the achievements and noted that further information on the Gedling community money advice developments would be useful.

RESOLVED to:

Note the information and report back on the matters raised by members.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager

The Democratic Services Manager introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, to provide an update on the scrutiny work programme and to receive feedback from members on ideas for the programme going forward.

Members discussed the report and identified areas for examination, such as the state of public parks, the current level of facilities at recreational grounds and the relationships the council has with “friends” groups. It was decided that these areas would be added to the work plan and addressed through working groups and officer reports to review the areas in depth and suggest recommendations to council for any issues found.

It was also noted that during the next year, the committee would be inviting external partners to meetings to review their work across the borough. These reviews would take into account any funding received from the council and any additional support available.

RESOLVED to:

·       Note the information in the “follow up” section of the report;

·       Confirm the areas for examination for the remainder of the 2021/22 work programme such as the issue of sewage discharge within the borough; and

·       Include the areas of partner performance, public parks, facilities at recreational grounds and relationships with friends groups for examination for the 2022/23 work programme.

None.