Agenda and minutes

The Meeting was led in prayer by the Mayor's Chaplain, Reverend Andrew Stewart.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 8 March, 2018.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor referred to the following Mayoral engagements:

·       Attending the Cotgrave Children’s Music Festival.

·       Attending the 209 Air Cadets Squadron’s awards evening.

·       Attending the St Georges Day Parade in West Bridgford.

The Mayor also provided an update on his fundraising activities and advised that his final fundraising event would be the “Stormy Weather Boys” concert on 18 May.

The Leader noted the Council’s success of being winning the “Best Entrepreneurial Council Award” at the recent LGC Awards and thanked members and officers for their efforts which had enabled this success. The Leader advised that while awards were welcome what was more important was how the Council was working to use its resources to generate revenue which could then be used to deliver great services to residents. The Leader also advised that the Council had just purchased two more investment properties that would bring £135,000 of revenue in each year to support frontline services.

The Leader advised how pleased he had been that Rushcliffe had been placed as the 15^th best place to live in the country in the recent Grant Thornton Vibrant Economy Index and that Rushcliffe had not only scored highly in categories such as the economy and prosperity but also in categories including inclusion and equality. The Leader also advised that there would be a review of the Council’s Scrutiny Committees during 2018/19 to ensure that the Council’s Scrutiny function was fit for purpose, independent and able to ensure accountability in the Council’s decision making processes.

The Leader also advised that with regard to the Council’s commitment to reduce the use of single-use plastics all Councillors would be receiving a reusable cup to take out and about with them.

The Chief Executive advised that the Council had been shortlisted as a finalist in the “Best Commercial Council” Category at the Municipal Journal Achievement Awards and noted that this showed how the Council was working hard to provide great value and services to the residents of Rushcliffe.

The Chief Executive also wished Councillor Mrs Males many congratulations on the event of her 90^th Birthday and presented her with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of all the staff at the Council.

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

There were no questions.

The report of the Executive Manager – Communities is attached.

The Portfolio holder for Housing and Planning presented the report of the Executive Manager – Communities seeking approval for the draft Local Plan Part 2 to be published for a six-week representation period, before being submitted for examination by an Independent Planning Inspector.

The new Rushcliffe Local Plan would be formed of two parts with Part 1 of the Local Plan (the Core Strategy) having been adopted by the Council in December 2014. It was noted that Part 2, having been through a process of consultation had now reached the stage where, as required by legislation, it was required to be examined by an Independent Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, before it could be adopted as part of the statutory development plan alongside the Local Plan Part 1. It was noted that the Local Plan Part 2 would identify non-strategic allocations and designations, for both housing and employment uses in the Borough and would also set out more detailed policies (sitting below the Core Strategy’s more strategic level policies) for use in the determination of planning applications. The draft Local Plan Part 2 was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report and a timetable for the remaining stages of the process for the adoption of the plan, culminating with adoption in December 2018 was tabled at the meeting for information.

The Portfolio holder advised that the proposed sites allocated for housing development would have a significant and positive impact on the Council’s ability to demonstrate a five-year housing supply as required by the Government. The Portfolio holder noted that home building in Rushcliffe was not keeping up with demand and that it was becoming more difficult for residents to find a suitable home in their local area. The Portfolio holder advised that the lack of affordable housing was becoming a pressing social issue in Rushcliffe, with the average price of a house currently eight times the average wage in the Borough, so the allocations in the Plan which contained provision for 30% affordable housing would contribute positively to the much needed supply of affordable housing.

The Portfolio holder noted the significant challenge that the Government’s requirement on the Council to increase the Borough’s housing stock by 28% had presented, and that with development of some of the strategic housing sites in the Borough being slow, it was essential that the Council identified other smaller housing sites in order to be able to demonstrate a five-year housing supply. The Portfolio holder advised that it was essential to be able to show a five-year housing supply, as without one the Council would lose control of where houses were built, which could lead to unwanted and unsustainable developments.

The Portfolio holder advised that the Plan had been through extensive and wide-ranging consultation, but that the time for action was now. It was acknowledged by the Portfolio holder that there was opposition to some of the sites included in the Plan by people who  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

The report of the Executive Manager – Communities is attached.

The Portfolio holder for Housing and Planning presented the report of Executive Manager – Communities seeking approval, subject to a majority vote from the referendum in favour, for the Council to adopt the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan to help decide planning applications.

The Portfolio holder advised that Keyworth Parish Council had produced the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan in consultation with the local community and that the Plan contained a number of policies which were intended to form part of the statutory development plan for the Borough and, therefore, to assist the Borough Council in the determination of relevant planning applications. In accordance with the Localism Act 2011, the Borough Council had invited representations on the submitted draft Plan and had appointed an Independent

Examiner to examine the Plan and consider all representations received through the consultation undertaken by the Borough Council. The Independent Examiner had concluded that subject to a number of modifications, the Plan met the required statutory requirements and should proceed to referendum. The Plan, incorporating the Independent Examiner’s modifications had been presented to Cabinet on 13 March 2018 where it had been resolved that the proposed Plan met the relevant statutory requirements and should proceed to referendum in order for residents to decide whether the Plan should become part of the statutory development plan. (Cabinet Minute No. 55, 2017/18). The Portfolio holder noted that a referendum had been scheduled for 30 May 2018. The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Edyvean.

Councillor MacInnes thanked Keyworth residents for their efforts in creating the Plan and urged them to take part in the referendum. Councillor S Mallender welcomed the active role that the local community had played in the development of the plan and noted that she hoped local residents would vote in favour of its adoption in the upcoming referendum.

Councillor Cottee noted the five years of hard work that had gone into the production of the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan and noted that the Independent Examiner had commended the wide-ranging consultation that had taken place, the community engagement and the engagement with the Council that had happened in the production of the Plan. Councillor Cottee noted with disappointment that some negative campaigning had been taking place in Keyworth and advised that while the Plan may not be perfect or please everybody fully, that it was better to have a plan in place that reflected public opinion that no plan at all.  Councillor Jones noted his support for the plan and commended the thorough processes involved in its creation.

Councillor Upton responded to the issues raised in the debate and noted that having been involved in the creation of the Radcliffe-on-Trent Neighbourhood Plan he fully understood the effort, as well as the difficult decisions and compromises that had been involved in creating the Plan. 

It was RESOLVED that, subject to a majority vote from the referendum in favour of using the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan to help decide planning applications:

a)    the Council ‘makes’ (adopts) the Neighbourhood Plan.

b)    authority be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

The report of the Chief Executive is attached.

The Leader presented the report of the Chief Executive requesting that Council considered increasing the allowances paid to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2018/19 civic year, and beyond.

The Leader noted that the last report of the Independent Remuneration Panel which had been considered by Council on 5 March 2015 had recommended that a separate review of the allowances paid to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor take place as these allowances had fallen outside of the remit of the Panel (Minute No.45, 2014/15). The Leader advised that these allowances had not subsequently been reviewed, and due to the considerable expense and time undertaken by the holders of the offices of Mayor and Deputy Mayor an increase in the allowance was now being recommended.  The Leader noted that the level of allowances was needed so to ensure that the office of the Mayor remained attainable and accessible for all of those who aspired to be the Civic Leader of the Borough.

In seconding the recommendations Councillor Moore noted that the Mayoral allowance, like all other allowances, was counted as taxable income and advised that as a former Mayor he had had first-hand experience of the significant extra outgoings that being the Mayor involved. Councillor Moore advised that holding the office of Mayor was a great privilege and honour but that no one should be discouraged from becoming Mayor because of the allowance being insufficient to cover the costs involved.

Councillor Edwards noted the importance of the role of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to the Borough and agreed that it was important that the holders of these roles should not be out of pocket as a result of carrying out the role. Councillor Edwards also noted that other allowances for Councillors had increased in line with staff wage increases, but that the proposed increase to the Mayor’s and Deputy Mayor’s allowance was 33.35%. Councillor Edwards advised that he was unable to understand how this proposed increase had been arrived at, and that he was concerned that the report contained insufficient reasons and justification for such a large increase. Councillor Edwards advised that he thought the report should be looked at again and brought back to Council with more evidence of why the allowances should be increased.

Councillor Jones advised that the proposed increase to the allowances was far too lavish and was not acceptable. Councillor Jones also noted that the Mayor and Deputy Mayor still received their basic allowance as well as being able to claim for travel costs separately.  Councillor Hull spoke on behalf of former Mayor, Councillor Davidson who had given his apologies for the meeting. Councillor Hull advised that Councillor Davidson had stated that he had found the current Mayoral allowance more than adequate for the expenditure that he had incurred whilst as Mayor, and that the proposed increase was far in excess of what was needed to fulfil the requirements of the office. Councillor S Mallender advised that in the current climate of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

To receive Notices of Motion submitted under Standing Order No.12

No notices of motion had been submitted.

To answer questions submitted by Councillors under Standing Order No. 11(2)

There were no questions.