Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 10 May 2022 were declared a true record and signed by the Chairman.

To answer questions submitted by citizens on the Council or its services.

There were no citizen’s questions.

To answer questions submitted by Opposition Group Leaders on items on the agenda.

Question from Councillor J Walker to Councillor Upton:

“How will Cabinet ensure that the CIL money generated in our communities housing estates goes to the secondary schools where children are allocated?”

Councillor Upton responded by saying that Nottinghamshire County Council, as the responsible authority for education, calculated where demand for school places was evident using its own calculation method to determine where school provision was required across the borough.  This analysis had identified need for secondary school provision in only one area, Lady Bay/Gamston and this was included in the Strategic CIL priority list attached to the Cabinet report. This list was reviewed every three years. 

Councillor Walker asked a supplementary question concerning planning processes and Councillor Robinson advised that supplementary questions should relate to the substance of the original question and new issues could not be introduced. He added that questions about planning could be raised through other channels.

The report of the Chief Executive is attached.

It was RESOLVED that the report of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England setting out the new ward boundaries for the Borough of Rushcliffe be noted.

The Leader, Councillor Robinson, presented the report of the Chief Executive concerning the review of wards and boundaries by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

Councillor Robinson explained that the consultation for the review had been carried out from May to July 2021 and that Full Council had considered and responded to the recommendations made by the Boundary Commission at its meeting in December 2021.  Council’s comments on the initial recommendations had related to the areas of Bingham, Radcliffe-on-Trent and Upper Saxondale.  The Boundary Commission had now decided that its original recommendations would stand.  He explained that the Boundary Commission recommendations stated that Rushcliffe would have 44 Councillors with 24 wards compromising of six wards with three councillors: eight wards with two councillors and 10 wards with a single councillor.  He reminded Cabinet that the process of the review was about fairness and representation and added that Councillors, Parish Councillors, and the public had fully participated in the review.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Edyvean explained that the Boundary Commission was an independent body that was also non-political, which had been important for the independence of the review.  He acknowledged that, following the changes proposed, there remained some anomalies in population in parts of the Borough but added that it was expected that by 2027 these anomalies would be more aligned to the average of 2,400 voters per Councillor, which would help address potential increases in population size due to the amount of development across the Borough.

It was RESOLVED that the report of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England setting out the new ward boundaries for the Borough of Rushcliffe be noted.

The report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth is attached.

It was RESOLVED that the Proposed CIL Delivery Programme document (attached at Appendix B to the report) be approved as part of the previously agreed allocation and spend procedure, including the proposed rate of provisional allocation to future projects.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, Councillor Upton, presented the report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth which sought approval for the proposed Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Delivery Programme, attached at Appendix B of the report, and the proposed rate of provisional allocation to future projects.

Councillor Upton reminded Cabinet that CIL was a discretionary charge, agreed by Cabinet in 2019, which was attached to certain types of development to support the creation of new infrastructure.  He added that, of the potential £12.8m CIL receipts, £2m had been received so far and priorities for spending now needed to be agreed. The five-step methodology, agreed by Full Council in September 2021, was being followed, with step three – to agree the Delivery Programme, the subject of the Cabinet report which related to the ‘strategic’ aspects of the CIL Delivery Programme. In forming the Programme, the Working Group had engaged with key stakeholders, for example Nottinghamshire County Council regarding education and highways, and the Clinical Commissioning Group on health issues. Projects included were a mix of short and long-term and, in order to reduce risk of under collection of CIL, initially 65% of the estimated funding had been set aside for longer-term projects.  Councillor Upton informed Cabinet that both the funding priority list and the programme allocation would be subject to periodic review; an appeal process was in place.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Moore recognised that it had been a long process and said that he was pleased that the delivery phase had been reached.  The clear process established to assess CIL projects would help the Council to further enhance the lives of residents and to move forward and invest in communities quickly.  He informed Cabinet that, as the Pavilion Project in East Leake was included at the top of the Delivery Programme, the proposed loan agreed at the Cabinet meeting in May 2022 was no longer required as the CIL funding would enable completion of the project.

It was RESOLVED that the Proposed CIL Delivery Programme document (attached at Appendix B to the report) be approved as part of the previously agreed allocation and spend procedure, including the proposed rate of provisional allocation to future projects.

The report of the Chief Executive is attached.

It was RESOLVED that

a)    the report of the Bingham Improvement Board be considered and it be noted that the Town Council resolved to accept the report at its meeting of 24 May 2022; and

b)    the report be presented to the July Council meeting, as it was Full Council that received the petition which led to the Board being set up.

The Leader, Councillor Robinson, presented the report of the Chief Executive concerning the report of the Bingham Improvement Board.

Councillor Robinson reminded Cabinet that, following approval by Full Council in September 2021, the Bingham Improvement Board had been established to explore a number of issues that had emerged over some years at Bingham Town Council.  The Board was asked to explore the issues and give recommendations for improvement to the Town Council. He added that the Board consisted of three independent persons and two Bingham Town Councillors and assured Cabinet that the final report, appended to the Cabinet report for consideration, had been compiled by the independent members of the Board.

Councillor Robinson highlighted that the report referred to the Nolan Principles of public life and added that this clearly showed that there had been substantial issues in Bingham Town Council. He said that the objectives of the Bingham Improvement Board had been met and stressed that it was now up to Bingham Town Council and its members to adapt and take forward the recommendations made in the Bingham Improvement Board report.  He said that Bingham Town Council had accepted the report at its full Council meeting in May and added that he would invite the Town Council to come to Cabinet in six months’ time to give an update on progress in implementing the recommendations.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Brennan commended the Board for creating such an accessible and clear report which drew out the key issues and set out practical ways for Bingham Town Council to move forward.  She said that the report specified that some of the issues related to culture and behaviour and clear actions to address these were set out, including the need for training for Councillors and paid staff.  She ended by saying that she was pleased that the Town Council had accepted the recommendations made.

It was RESOLVED that

a)               the report of the Bingham Improvement Board be considered, and it be noted that the Town Council resolved to accept the report at its meeting of 24 May 2022; and

b)               the report be presented to the July Council meeting, as it was Full Council that received the petition which led to the Board being set up.