D R A F T
CABINET
Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 26th April 2016 at Retford Town Hall
Present: Councillor S A Greaves (Chair),
Councillors K Dukes, J Evans, J A Leigh, S Scotthorne, S Shaw and J White.
Advisory Member: Councillor H M Brand.
Liaison Members: Councillors H Burton and T Taylor.
Officers: B Alderton-Sambrook, D Armiger, T Bannister, S Brown, J Hamilton, M Hill, L Prime, N Taylor, R Theakstone and S Wormald.
Also present: Councillors J M Sanger and C Troop.
(The meeting opened at 6.30pm.)
(The Chair welcomed all to the meeting and read out the Fire Evacuation Procedure. He also enquired as to whether any member of the public or press wished to film/record the meeting or any part thereof; however, although there was one member of the public present, this was not taken up.)
138. QUESTION TIME - PUBLIC
Council Procedure Rules were suspended for fifteen minutes to allow questions from the public; although there was one member of the public present, there were no questions.
139. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K H Isard and D G Pidwell.
140. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS AND OFFICERS
(a) Members
There were no Declarations of Interest by Members.
(b) Officers
There were no Declarations of Interest by officers.
141. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15TH MARCH 2016
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 15th March 2016 be approved.
142. MINUTES FOR ACTION AND IMPLEMENTATION
RESOLVED that the Minutes for Action and Implementation be received.
143. OUTSTANDING MINUTES LIST
RESOLVED that the Outstanding Minutes List be received.
144. FORWARD PLAN
The Chief Executive requested that Devolution Arrangements (Key Decision No. 530) be added to the Forward Plan for the July 2016 Cabinet Meeting so that the consultation exercise in respect of the Council’s application to join the Sheffield City Region can be launched.
RESOLVED that the Forward Plan be approved, subject to the addition of Devolution Arrangements (Key Decision No. 530) to be presented to the July 2016 Cabinet Meeting.
SECTION A – ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION IN PUBLIC
Key Decisions
145. REPORT(S) OF THE CABINET MEMBER – CO-OPERATIVES AND CORPORATE SERVICES - COUNCILLOR K DUKES
(a) Digital First – Customer Programme (Key Decision No. 558)
Members’ approval was sought for the outline of a framework for a new Customer Programme for the Council. The revised Customer Charter and a Policy Statement on Unacceptable Customer Behaviour were appended to the report.
In establishing a new Customer Programme for the Council, it is important that there is an understanding of the drivers, both internal and external, behind the proposals, and these were detailed in the report. The report also outlined: financial pressures; the Council’s Transformation Programme; the Council’s ICT Strategy; geography and broadband; the Government’s Digital Programme; and public sector reform.
The report went on to outline the proposed Customer Programme ‘Digital First’ – its objectives; four work streams; approaches; channel shift; marketing and communications; challenges; and governance. Recent experience has demonstrated the lack of capacity within ICT to respond to current demand. Capacity is required across services to adopt the new approaches. It is vitally important that the new customer approach is “owned” and driven from the top of the organisation so that all service areas share a common goal and purpose.
The Leader of the Council commented that the savings detailed in Paragraph 3.2.2 of the report which shows the industry standard costs per transaction incurred by local authorities for different contact channels was “startling”.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
Cabinet can agree to approve the recommendation or not. The report sets out a series of drivers faced by the Council that require us to develop a co-ordinated approach to customer access and service delivery. It is for these reasons that Cabinet is asked to support the proposals.
RESOLVED that:
1. The approach to ‘Digital First’, the proposed Customer Programme for the Council, be endorsed.
2. The revised Customer Charter and the Policy Statement on Unacceptable Customer Behaviour be approved.
146. REPORT(S) OF THE CABINET MEMBER – FINANCE – COUNCILLOR J EVANS
(a) Goodwin Hall, Retford (Key Decision Nos. 567)
Members’ approval was sought to transfer the freehold of Godwin Hall to the Trustees to allow them to apply for grant funding and other income generating activities with the aim of replacing the building on the existing footprint. Members’ approval was also sought to grant the Trustees of Goodwin Hall financial assistance of £10,000 to assist them with the project.
The Chief Executive compared this project to that undertaken by the cancer treatment charity Aurora in renovating the Grade II former library building in Worksop.
The Head of Regeneration informed Members that planning officers are primed to assist the Trustees with any pre-application advice and have already advised on some historic plans.
The Leader of the Council welcomed the report and praised the Trustees on their work to date.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
The Council is not in a position to invest extensive monies into substantially repairing the building or replacing it, given the dearth of resources available in the capital programme. The ‘co-operative council’ initiative is a pragmatic way forward, which has broader benefits for community engagement and community development, enhancing stakeholders’ commitment and generating more local capacity to solve local issues such as this.
The Trustees understand the situation and about the concept of the ‘co-operative council’ idea and are keen to take it forward, with a variety of fund raising ideas like “buy a brick” to accumulate funds for a new building. The £10,000 capacity building will enable them to augment what funding they have at the moment to take the scheme forward (architects etc), and also engage a bid writer who can help them target funding organisations and release funding to replace the hall.
RESOLVED that:
1. The freehold transfer of Goodwin Hall to the Trustees be approved.
2. Financial assistance of £10,000 to the Trustees of Goodwin Hall be approved.
147. REPORT(S) OF THE CABINET MEMBER – HEALTH AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING – COUNCILLOR S SHAW
(a) Bassetlaw District Council Community Safety Plan (Key Decision No. 562)
Members were updated on the Council’s approach to Community Safety and approval was sought for the Community Safety Plan for 2016/17, which was appended to the report and which will be refreshed annually. The duties and functions required to be undertaken by the Council in respect of Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 were detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.
The overall strategic direction and priorities for Community Safety across Nottinghamshire are set by the Safer Nottinghamshire Board (SNB) in conjunction with the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and based on an annual Needs Assessment supported by crime data. Partners are accountable to both the SNB and PCC for ensuring these are met.
The action plan appended at Appendix 2 of the report cuts across all Council services and will also assist in identifying any gaps where the Council could or should be more proactive or working in partnership to strengthen safety in our communities.
A Liaison Member enquired as to whether Members’ involvement would require additional training, and the Director of Corporate Resources reported that training would be offered to all elected Members in respect of the Prevent Agenda and Safeguarding, etc. All Council employees have already undergone similar training.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
The production of a Bassetlaw Community Safety Plan is not a statutory requirement; however, there are specific statutory requirements for the Council to fulfil, as outlined in Paragraph 3.1 of the report. Therefore, an overall understanding of how those duties are being discharged is beneficial and provides an opportunity to identify any further action which can be undertaken to further strengthen the Council’s response to this growing agenda.
RESOLVED that:
1. The duties and functions undertaken by the Council in respect of Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, be noted.
2. The Community Safety Plan for 2016/17, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report, be approved.
3. The Council’s Community Safety Plan be refreshed annually.
148. REPORT(S) OF THE CABINET MEMBER – REGENERATION - COUNCILLOR J WHITE
(a) Update on the Land Availability Assessment Call for Sites (Key Decision No. 521)
Members were updated on the Land Availability Assessment (LAA) Call for Sites process.
The Call for Sites ran between 9th November 2015 and 8th January 2016 and invited landowners, agents or potential developers to put forward sites for consideration as having the potential to contribute towards Bassetlaw’s future development needs. 336 sites have been identified for further appraisal, although these sites have not been fully verified in terms of the qualification against the minimum requirements. A site must be available for development, be a minimum of 0.25ha or capable of accommodating at least five dwellings, and not wholly located on an environmentally sensitive site (e.g. a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)).
Once all the potential sites have been assessed, the final LAA will be published showing the number and location of sites that are available, suitable and achievable. The LAA will provide an evidence base for the new Local Plan.
Elected Members will receive regular briefings to update them on progress, similar to the briefing delivered recently.
The Cabinet Member for Housing enquired as to the impact of the LAA on parishes’ Neighbourhood Plans. The Principal Planner informed Members that officers will continue to work with parishes to develop their Neighbourhood Plans and that parishes can look at their own land availability. The new Local Plan will not undermine the Neighbourhood Plans but will work in conjunction with them.
The Leader of the Council recognised the work to date by the officers involved and also the work ahead.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
The report is for information only and does not present any specific options or risks.
Whilst the report is not itself a key decision, it is linked to Key Decision No. 521. The progression of the LAA is a key evidence base for the new Local Plan (Key Decision No. 519).
RESOLVED that the progress and outcomes of the Land Availability Assessment (LAA) Call for Sites process be noted.
Other Decisions
149. REPORTING MINUTES
(a) Health and Safety Committee – 9th December 2015
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Health and Safety Committee held on 9th December 2015 be received.
(b) Joint Employee Council – 9th December 2015
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Employee Council held on 9th December 2015 be received.
150. REPORT(S) OF THE CABINET MEMBER – POLICY, STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS – COUNCILLOR S A GREAVES
(a) Hate Crime Policy
Members’ approval was sought for the proposed Hate Crime Policy which was appended to the report.
The Council has a duty to co-operate with the Safer Neighbourhood Board (SNB) and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) through its role as a responsible authority, in the overall delivery of agreed priorities and objectives, one of which is tackling Hate Crime. This is further reinforced by the Council having signed the Hate Crime Pledge on 18th December 2015, along with all Nottinghamshire local authorities, which requires each local authority to demonstrate its commitment. A model policy was produced by the Hate Crime Executive Group for all local authorities to adapt and subsequently adopt.
The Director of Corporate Resources added that this work is part of a bigger agenda, e.g. the Prevent Agenda and potential radicalisation, and is extremely important in tackling hate crime within our communities.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
There is an option not to adopt a Hate Crime Policy; however, the Council has made a commitment to do so as part of its Community Safety Partnership responsibilities as outlined in the report.
RESOLVED that the draft Hate Crime Policy, as appended to the report, be approved, adopted and implemented.
151. REPORT(S) OF THE CABINET MEMBER – NEIGHBOURHOODS – COUNCILLOR J A LEIGH
(a) Use of Recreation Ground, Blyth Road (Bassetlaw Showground)
Members’ approval was sought to introduce restrictions on the use of the Recreation Ground, Blyth Road, Worksop, also locally known as the Bassetlaw Showground, in relation to the flying of microlight aircraft and paragliders, etc., from the site, and also the use of motocross motorbikes and model aircraft/drones from the land. The site was identified on a map appended to the report.
The number of complaints of such uses of/from the site has increased over recent months. The Council has never granted anyone permission to use this land for these purposes. The Council has granted one licence for the use of the site by the Air Ambulance for emergency use i.e. for the Air Ambulance to land adjacent to Bassetlaw Hospital should it be necessary. Obviously, any difficulty in the Air Ambulance accessing the site because of other flyers could have serious consequences. There are alternative local airfields for such purposes.
The other activities taking place on the site involving motorised vehicles and flying model aircraft and/or drones also attract largish groups of people, cause damage to the site and endanger other users of this recreational land e.g. dog walkers. The proximity of the site to the highway and inappropriate parking of vehicles and the off-loading of equipment can obstruct the highway and endanger both pedestrians and road users.
The enforcement of any rules or prohibitions will be difficult as the site is not staffed on a regular basis. Local clubs and organisations promoting the activities taking place on the site will be contacted and advised of the Council’s course of action, and signage will be placed on the site. Any movement of users to other Council-owned land will be monitored. Discussions have already taken place with the Council’s Legal Department as to how enforcement action can be taken if necessary.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
Members have a choice as to whether to continue to tolerate the unauthorised activities from this land or to agree such regulations as are necessary to restrict the use of motorised and airborne equipment from and on the recreation ground at Blyth Road, Worksop.