Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 12 February were declared a true record and were signed by the Chairman.

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

There were no questions.

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

There were no questions.

The report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    The Nottinghamshire Local Officer for Care Leavers is approved and;

b)    That delegated authority be given to the Executive Manager for Communities to explore and report to Cabinet how the Council might work with Nottinghamshire County Council to support Looked After Children and those at risk/vulnerable of becoming so.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Leisure presented the report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods, which asks for Cabinet approval for the Council to explore working with Nottinghamshire County Council to support Care leavers. The report provided a summary of the District/Borough Council elements contained within the proposed Nottinghamshire Local Offer for Care Leavers, attached as Appendix 1 with the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Leisure explained that there are approximately 70,000 children in care in England at any one time. Many of these young people when they leave care do so without the support of a loving family and often face serious disadvantage, compared to their peers.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Leisure added that Borough/District chief executives have expressed ‘in principle’ support for a number of proposals subject to approval of their respective Councils. These include:

·         Employment, skills and Apprenticeships – with the intention to more actively signpost care leavers to apprenticeships made available by Borough/District Councils and where possible, to prioritise care leavers for local authority apprenticeships.

·         Housing – working together to secure a consistent offer that gives priority to care leavers within Housing Allocation Schemes, together with a commitment to help care leavers secure accommodation.

·         Physical and Mental Health – it is proposed that all Borough/District Councils consider providing free membership of their leisure centres to care leavers.

In addition Borough/District Councils have previously agreed to exempt care leavers from council Tax up to their 25^th birthday as part of the development of this Local Offer.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Leisure advised that in supporting the Local Offer the Council would fulfil its statutory Corporate Parenting duties, improve lifetime outcomes for care leavers in Rushcliffe and across Nottinghamshire and reduce lifetime local and national spend on care leavers.

In seconding the recommendations, Councillor Upton commented that without family support and a care network it must be incredibly difficult for care leavers.

Councillor Edyvean added that anything the Council could provide to help care leavers in the transition to adult life must be a good thing.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    The Nottinghamshire Local Officer for Care Leavers is approved and;

b)    That delegated authority be given to the Executive Manager for Communities to explore and report to Cabinet how the Council might work with Nottinghamshire County Council to support Looked After Children and those at risk/vulnerable of becoming so.

The report of the Executive Manager – Communities is attached.

It was RSOLVED that:

The revised draft Statement of Community Involvement for Planning Policy and Planning Applications be adopted.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Waste Management presented the report of the Executive Manager – Communities that sets out the Borough Council’s policies on community involvement in planning policy preparation and the determination of planning applications.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Waste Management explained that the Statement of Community Involvement for Planning Policy and Planning Applications would, if adopted, set out the Council’s policies on community involvement in planning policy preparation and the determination of planning applications. Adding that his would replace the existing, 2016 Statement of community Involvement.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Edyvean advised that a number of Parish Councils had raised planning issues and that changes to the Statement of Community Involvement for Planning Policy would help the Council to deal with such issues effectively.

It was RSOLVED that:

The revised draft Statement of Community Involvement for Planning Policy and Planning Applications be adopted.

The report of the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    The project revenue position for the year with a 9.63% variation (£1.007m) in the revenue position; and

b)    The Capital underspend of £12.698m as a result of capital scheme re-phasing and projected savings be noted.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the report of the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services, which provided the Councils budget position for revenue and capital as at 31 December 2018.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance explained that, the report had been presented to the Corporate Governance Group on 7 February 2019 with no issues arising. The revenue financial position has moved from a relatively small adverse variance to £1.01m favourable variance. Adding that this was due to three one off items of income:

·         Additional income from planning applications contributing towards the £406k positive service position.

·         Improved position on Business Rates as a result of renewable energy assets (455k)

·         The Nottinghamshire Business Rates Poll had an uncommitted surplus which was shared proportionately according to the pool contribution (127k)

The overall position of a £1.007m favourable variance represents -9.63% variation against the Councils net expenditure budget.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance advised that the capital programme shoed a planned underspend of £12.698m due to the ‘slow down’ in asset investment due to risks in the property market and the Council’s decision to not build a replacement Depot.

In seconding the recommendations, Councillor Edyvean commented on the adverse variant in respect of facility hire, adding that the Council needed to obtain a greater return on the assets at Gresham and Lutterell Hall. Councillor Mason supported this observation.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    The project revenue position for the year with a 9.63% variation (£1.007m) in the revenue position; and

b)    The Capital underspend of £12.698m as a result of capital scheme re-phasing and projected savings be noted.