To answer questions submitted by Opposition Group Leaders on items on the agenda.
Minutes:
Question from Councillor J Walker to Councillor Brennan.
“Ruddington has recently been offered a consultation exercise to explore a possible Masterplan. Meanwhile, Radcliffe on Trent is further advanced in this process and has now secured £1 million from the Asset Management Group to support its town centre improvements towards its Masterplan.
Can you confirm whether Ruddington will be considered for a comparable level of financial support as its plans progress?”
Councillor Brennan advised that there could be no guarantees at this point regarding future levels of funding for any such scheme. Firstly, a Masterplan needed developing, then what opportunities availed themselves, such as potential land acquisition and a fully supported business case would need to be developed. Until then, it would not be prudent to pick particular sums. The objectives in the Radcliffe on Trent Masterplan could be directly linked to the objectives set out in the Council’s Asset Management Strategy.
Councillor Walker asked a supplementary question requesting clarification on what work had been done in preparing the Ratcliffe on Trent Masterplan since it started in 2017.
Councillor Brennan stated that the details were set out in the Cabinet report, which highlighted the various reviews that had been considered by the Parish Council, to form the basis of discussions to form the Masterplan.
Question from Councillor Thomas to Councillor Brennan. Councillor Thomas was unable to attend the meeting, so her question was read out by the Leader, Councillor Clarke MBE.
“How much has the latest Radcliffe on Trent master planning exercise cost the Council to date, including committed amounts not yet paid, and from which part of the budget has this been allocated?”
Councillor Brennan stated that for this phase of the exercise £23,934.30 has been spent, which has been funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. £1m was allocated in the Capital Programme for land acquisition and works, as detailed in the Cabinet report.
Question from Councillor Birch to Councillor Upton.
Before reading out his question, Councillor Birch asked to make a statement, which the Chair did not allow. Councillor Birch read out his question.
“Given the report confirms the Council has purchased around 50 acres of land at Upper Broughton for woodland planting to offset carbon emissions, can the Portfolio Holder explain what assessment was undertaken to ensure this represents the most cost-effective way of achieving carbon sequestration, compared with alternative options, such as large-scale tree planting projects elsewhere in the UK or internationally?”
Councillor Upton stated that the Council’s approach to carbon offsetting was set out in a Cabinet report on 14 May 2024. The approved Carbon Offsetting Framework identified an ambition to acquire land for offsetting within the Borough, which would also enhance local tree cover and biodiversity commitments, as set out in the Rushcliffe Biodiversity Opportunities Mapping report. In respect of the specific acquisition of land at Upper Broughton, the report approved by Cabinet on 13 May 2025 set out the assessment that was undertaken in line with the Carbon Offsetting Framework.
Councillor Birch asked a supplementary question.
“With some international afforestation schemes reporting planting costs of under 50 pence per tree, the £500,000 spent on the Upper Broughton site could theoretically fund the planting of between one and two million trees, thereby offsetting approximately 300 to 450 times the amount of carbon your scheme will. Why didn't we do this?”
Councillor Upton advised that the detailed reasons why this action was taken were included in the 13 May 2025 Cabinet report.