Minutes:
Councillor Michael Payne (Resources and Reputation)
· Customers can now change their circumstances for Council Tax online.
· Staff mileage and expense claims can now be made online.
· The Communications Team had recently led on arranging the Pride of Gedling Awards with Nottingham Evening Post, which were superb.
· The “Keep Me Posted” service was advertised when council tax bills were sent out. This resulted in an additional 1000 subscribers.
· An April fool’s video about dog fouling posted to social media by the Communications Team had received 22,000 views and had appeared on 80,000+ Facebook timelines.
· The IT team had been working with the Department of Work and Pensions’ Job Centre to provide training and advice about computer use and providing information about grants to get a computer.
Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth (Growth and Regeneration)
· The examination of the Local Plan has now concluded and the inspector had requested some updated information.
· An application had been made to the Homes and Communities Agency capacity funding to be used to deliver a number of projects aimed at bringing forward land for development.
· 2 business engagement events, in Calverton and Arnold, had been held and had been well received. A further two events are planned to take place.
· Industrial Strategy is out for consultation.
· A consultation on East Midlands Trains services is ongoing and a specific consultation will take place in Netherfield.
· Shareware now providing good quality clothing free of charge at the Beacon Church.
· Confirmation had been received that Sainsbury would build a superstore at the Colwick Loop Road site by 2020. The Leader asked that the Chief Executive and Member of Parliament be thanked for their lobbying of the company.
Councillor David Ellis (Public Protection)
· The Council have been approved as part of the Notts Hygiene Accreditation Scheme to use the scheme to rate businesses providing tattoos, piercings and semi-permanent make up.
· A series of training courses on modern slavery had been held and attended by the Portfolio Holder.
· The Portfolio Holder attended the final event of Women’s Month, a performance of the Vagina Monologues at the Bonington Theatre.
Councillor Gary Gregory (Community Development)
· The Heritage Lottery Big Group had now had their first meeting.
· The Portfolio Holder had contacted Age UK about developing pop up shops in the Arnold area for the Men in Sheds and Arnold Arts Society.
· Ley Street park project opened by the Mayor.
· The Portfolio Holder had attended a meeting of the Senior’s Council, which had been well organised and a number of projects had been set out.
· It had been agreed that part of Arnot Hill Park would be designated no smoking during Arnold Carnival.
· Arnold Arts Society would celebrate their 50th anniversary at Pondhills on the 10th of May.
· A book festival would be held from the 17th to 22nd of July.
Councillor Peter Barnes (Environment)
· The Gedling Country Park visitor building was under construction and the park had been very busy over the weekend.
· Litter and dog fouling remain a problem across the Borough.
Councillor Henry Wheeler (Housing, Health and Well-being)
· Nottingham North East CCG had indicated that they are facing significant efficiency saving targets and were looking at combining resources with neighbours.
· Gedling was the first district to submit a formal bid to the Sport England local plans fund, covering health and wellbeing broadly.
· A sugar awareness campaign was to begin on 19 May.
· A very successful event had been held at Carlton Forum Leisure Centre with 237 swims in one day, free squash and table tennis and access to the health suite as part of International Women’s Day.
· A young person was now taking part in the tobacco declaration working group aiming to get schools on board.
· Work was being undertaken to look at co-ordinating efforts across the public and third sector around domestic violence, sexual abuse and incest.
Councillor John Clarke (Leader of the Council)
· The Leader and Leader of the Opposition were looking at undertaking fundraising for a young person that they met at the Pride of Gedling awards.
· Age UK would be using Arnot Hill Park for their 75th national celebration.
· The Leader had recently met with Ariva trains regarding the local rail franchise.
· The Leader had been involved in an issue regarding the hedges at Gedling Country Park with Bloor Homes.
· The Council’s Keep Me Posted service now had around 25,000 subscribers.
Councillor Roxanne Ellis (Policy Advisor for Equalities)