Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Roxanne Ellis, Pope, Robinson-Payne, Martin Smith and Sam Smith. Councillor Strong attended as substitute.

RESOLVED:

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

None.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager

The Chair Welcomed Paddy Tipping from South Notts Placed Based Partnership (PBP) to the meeting as part of the Council’s partnership review programme.

Paddy and his team delivered a presentation on the key areas of their work at South Notts PBP, highlights of which were as follows:

It was noted that there were six Primary Care Networks (PCN) in the South Nottinghamshire area which included 15 GP practices working in partnership. It was also noted that the PBP had 33 partner organisations in total.

Members noted South Nottinghamshire’s ‘building blocks of health’ which included stable jobs, good pay, quality housing and education. It was highlighted that socioeconomic factors, physical environment, health behaviours and access to health care also contributed towards their ‘building blocks of health’.

It was noted that there were pockets of deprivation with an urgent need to tackle health inequalities such as mental health, alcohol and smoking, cancers, and respiratory diseases. Members noted that the areas identified with the highest level of health inequalities were Eastwood Town, Hucknall Town, Arnold Town and Cotgrave.

It was highlighted that Gedling Borough Council (GBC) had received funding from the Integrated Care System (ICS) in 2019 to resource a South Notts community development worker supporting NHS social prescribing. GBC expanded the team to two workers in 2021 before being expanded and hosted by voluntary sector organisations in 2024. It was noted that their grant pot had reached £16K per year for local groups.

Members noted that GBC leisure centres had been working in partnership with Highcroft and Stenhouse surgeries, having received funding from the ICS with their priority focus being cardiovascular disease. It was noted that surgeries had been identifying patients at risk and would then signpost the patient to the leisure centres, introducing them to a leisure centre environment. The funding received would allow the system to provide the patients with three months free membership and improve their overall health.

The Chair gave members the opportunity to ask questions of the South Notts PBP.

Members asked whether the Council could do anything more to help those signposted that were on lower incomes, maintain their memberships after the three-month free membership had passed.

It was noted that the Council offered concessionary memberships for those claiming benefits.

Members asked how much money the preventative measures detailed above had saved the NHS. Member of the South Notts PBP explained that the data would be monitored to see where the preventative measures were showing new trends such as lower numbers of patients attending the emergency departments or being admitted to hospitals.

Leisure referrals and the leisure management system had also allowed for more accurate monitoring of some of the data.

RESOLVED:

To thank the South Notts Placed Based Partnership for attending the meeting and the information provided.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

Members welcomed Councillor John Clarke, Leader of the Council, to the meeting to examine his portfolio. Councillor Clarke gave an update to members on some key happenings within his portfolio.

No questions were received from Members in advance of the meeting, so Councillor Clarke delivered an update on the various areas of responsibility within his portfolio. He gave the following updates:

It was noted that the year-end performance for 23/24 had been reported to Cabinet on 17 July. It showed that 61 Gedling Plan actions were completed out of 69, and the remaining 8 had been carried forward for delivery during 24/25. Members also noted that out of the 28 performance indicators with set targets, 86% of these had either met or exceeded targets.

It was noted that Cabinet Members were expected to provide regular feedback on activity within their portfolio to Councillor Clarke as Leader. It was noted that the current focus had been on larger strategic projects and programmes of work, such as the Greater Carlton Towns Board, Ambition Arnold, strategic leisure review, and the wholescale digital transformation programme.

It was noted that the Council had engaged with partners such as local universities to discuss ways to improve learning and develop job opportunities for residents of the borough. Engagement had also taken place to develop a local skills strategy, which looked at ways to create a local college through the Greater Carlton Towns Funding. Members also noted the partnership work with South Notts PBP, as detailed earlier in the meeting.

It was noted that Councillor Clarke represented Gedling at all Mayoral Devolution meetings, working to lobby the East Midlands County Mayor on key issues such as transport, housing, skills and adult education, net zero, economic development and the visitor economy. Councillor Clarke also represented Gedling on the Economic Prosperity Committee alongside other Council Leaders as well as being the nominated District Council representative for Nottinghamshire on the EMMCA Investment Committee.

It was noted that the Internal Audit Annual Report for 23/24 had been presented to the Audit Committee in July. The report showed that auditors had reached a positive level of assurance which demonstrated that the work undertaken by the Council had strengthened its internal control environment. It was also noted that a new Risk Management Strategy and Framework had been presented to the Audit committee, further strengthening the Council’s internal control environment.

The Chair then gave Members the opportunity to ask questions of Councillor Clarke’s portfolio.

Members asked how Councillors could offer feedback or influence topics of discussion at the Greater Carlton Town Board and whether the meetings were broadcasted to the public.

Councillor Clarke explained that the applications had been considered and shortlisted and would be available for Members to make comment via the appropriate channels. Members also noted that the meetings were not broadcasted however minutes were published on Gedling Borough Council’s website.

Members asked whether the applications for the Greater Carlton Towns Board were still being received and if the consultation considered whether the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

Report of the Chief Finance and Section 151 Officer.

The Chief Executive introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, updating members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the current position of risk management reporting.

RESOLVED:

To note the current position with risk management reporting and associated actions.

Report of the Communications Manager

The Communications and Marketing Manager introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, providing an update on the production and distribution of the Council’s magazine, Contacts.

Members asked whether the timeline could be condensed to ensure that the articles were current news.

The Communications and Marketing Manager explained that the deadlines were in place to ensure that staff were able to prepare and had sufficient time to consider their articles. It was noted that although the deadlines were in place, the articles could be updated or removed to reflect new information before they went to print.

Members queried how the Council monitored instances of reported failures of the Royal Mail’s delivery of the Contacts magazines and whether there were any hotspots of delivery failures.

The Communications and Marketing Manager confirmed that reports of undelivered mail could be requested from the Royal Mail to confirm what may have occurred to prevent delivery however it was noted that it was not a perfect system.

RESOLVED:

To note the report.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager

Consideration was given to a report of the Democratic Services Manager, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, presenting the Overview and Scrutiny annual report to the committee.

RESOLVED to:

Agree the report’s submission to Council.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager

Consideration was given to a report of the Democratic Services Manager, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, providing an update on the scrutiny work programme.

Members expressed an interest in receiving regular updates from the Carlton Towns Board at future meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Members also expressed an interest in receiving updates from the Council’s Leader Councillor Clarke, concerning the current priorities and work of the East Midlands Combined Mayoral Authority. Members also suggested inviting the regional Mayor to a future meeting, having allowed enough time for them to settle in to their new position.

RESOLVED to:

Note the report.

None.