Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 11^th October and 23^rd October, 2018, as now submitted, be received and approved.

(During consideration of the minutes, Councillor Mike Smith entered the meeting at 7.02 p.m.)

Chairman

“Personally I have one announcement to make.  After the meeting in the room behind, there are drinks, sherry and wine and I think there are a few mince pies.  So you are quite welcome to come and join us.”

Leader of the Council

“I do, Madam Chairman, thank you, I’ll give a brief report on my portfolio.

“Regeneration and Place Area: Place Enhancement: Discover Ashfield, the new brand for the District, was launched in November at the Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 Business Meeting and with a very positive article in the Chad.  The brand will be promoted at Christmas events with information provided on the brand as well as give-aways and competitions.

The Discover Ashfield website is up and running, helping to promote the area for business investment, to boost visitor numbers and tourism as well as increasing pride in our communities.  We are recruiting Discover Ashfield ambassadors who will be supported to promote the District from a business, community and/or visitor perspective.

Moving forward sub-groups from the Place Board will be implementing an action plan to support these themes.  We’ve already secured a number of place brand ambassadors including Rolls Royce and it’s been very ably chaired by Martin Ridley who I would, again, like to put thanks from the Administration for all the work that he’s done. 

In terms of economic growth, Madam Chairman, a blue chip IT company, after some serious lobbying from this Council, has decided to open an operation at Sherwood Business Park and planning to create around 200 jobs there over the next two years.  Corporate Communications Officers are working with their counterparts at the company to co-ordinate the publicity.  A public announcement and launch event is expected in the very early new year.

Unfortunately, though it would appear that Prolog will be closing their Sherwood Business Park distribution operation with the potential loss of around 500 jobs.  We understand that Prolog is looking for another operator to take on the plant and the workforce and we wish them well in that search.  We have been working with the DWP’s Rapid Response Team and will be doing what we can to help any affected local residents to find alternative employment should Prolog’s search for another owner not be successful. 

With D2N2 consultations we have submitted our second set of comments back on the D2N2 Draft Strategic Economic Plan (SEP).  This Council’s feedback in September has resulted in a more recent consultation on our recent feedback and has been largely very supportive.

A more important consultation is still to come in the early new year with the D2N2 Local Industry Strategy (LIS) due to be created.  This LIS, aligned with the finalised SEP, will be more focussed on where and how future funding, predominantly in the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, will be spent making it very important that our views are incorporated.  The Shared Prosperity Fund will affectively replace the EU’s ESIF funding, including the ERDF2 funding and ESF funding etc. 

The Future  ...  view the full minutes text for item C.52

1.    From Ms. Natalie Bryan:

To the Portfolio Holder for Environment:

“It has been revealed that during the 'Ashfield Big Spring Clean' that asbestos was dumped in the skip on Babbacombe Way (in Hucknall). Will the portfolio holder now accept responsibility for exposing the public, council workers and contractors to this hazardous, carcinogenic material?”

2.    From Ms. Lynda Mcleod on behalf of Butlers Hill Project Community Group, Hucknall:

To Councillor Helen-Ann Smith as the Portfolio Holder responsible for Parks and Open Spaces:

"The proposed banning of dogs from Ashfield sports pitches & parks is a move which will punish responsible dog owners who clean up after their pets.  Will the portfolio holder responsible confirm that these proposals will not go any further?"

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, the following questions had been submitted:-

Question 1

From Ms. Natalie Bryan:

“To the Portfolio Holder for Environment:

It has been revealed that during the 'Ashfield Big Spring Clean' that asbestos was dumped in the skip on Babbacombe Way (in Hucknall). Will the portfolio holder now accept responsibility for exposing the public, council workers and contractors to this hazardous, carcinogenic material?”

The Deputy Leader of the Council (Outward Focus) responded to the question as follows:-

“Thank you for your question Miss Byron.  The Big Ashfield Spring Clean was a campaign run by this Council for three weeks throughout May and June this year which encouraged residents to clear out their waste.  Skips and bin lorries were provided for residents use.

The campaign was a great success which enabled residents to dispose of over 80 tonnes of waste.  In Hucknall, for instance, I was delighted to join Councillor John Wilmott, alongside local residents Rebecca Cullen and Lee Waters, in cleaning Titchfield Park before heading off into the Hucknall town centre. 

Information received by both this Council and Councillor John Wilmott is that it was overwhelmingly welcomed by local people in Hucknall.  Indeed, we look to next year, the day when the Spring Clean returns to Hucknall.

Back to your question about last year’s Spring Clean, the skips used for the campaign were provided by a specialist waste disposal contractor who was able to process all of the waste put into the skips. 

In Hucknall on Babbacombe Way there was a small amount of construction waste, around 100 kilograms and that construction waste contained about around 1% of asbestos.  The equivalent of a bag of sugar.  The specialist skip company using their own employees was able to remove the asbestos and dispose of it safely following their own internal risk assessments and policies. 

Council crews carried out checks on the skip sites to ensure that any waste needing specialist disposal could be reported to the contractor.  All necessary precautions were taken and there were no further incidents of asbestos waste identified.  It’s important to note that no other asbestos was found in any other skips in the three weeks that our Spring Clean was carried out.

Due to the fact we collected fine grained data on the Spring Clean, opposition Members are aware of the issue regarding the small amount of asbestos.  Members will also be aware that there are plenty of incidents where construction waste including asbestos is fly tipped by unscrupulous contractors for our environmental crews to pick up.  Our crews are fully aware of protocols around finding asbestos as is the skip company which we used.  You should also note that asbestos is not harmful if left untouched. 

Regarding the Spring Clean, although skips were not manned they were monitored and all necessary precautions were taken.  The skip company took full responsibility for the waste and dealt with it through their procedures. 

Thank you.”

The Chairman then gave Ms. Bryan the opportunity  ...  view the full minutes text for item C.53

(None received for this meeting)

No petitions were received for consideration.

(Councillors Chris Baron, Cathy Mason, Lauren Mitchell and Helen-Ann Smith returned to the meeting following the adjournment at 7.49 p.m.)

The Leader of the Council advised as follows:-

“In accordance with Rule 17.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules it is necessary for me to inform the Council when an executive decision has been taken pursuant to Rule 16 (Special Urgency Provisions.)

I can confirm to the Council that one such decision has been taken by the Cabinet as a matter of urgency recently.

The decision related to the acquisition of a commercial investment property. The decision was key and contained exempt information but the full 28 days’ notice could not be given due to the need to proceed with the transaction without delay.

The Rule 16 Notice and the non-exempt elements of the decision have been published.”

Council were requested to consider the proposals for revised polling districts and polling places following a periodic review required by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013.

RESOLVED that

a)    the recommendations of the Review Working Group as set out in the minutes of the meetings held on 22nd May, 5th September and 7th November, 2018, as outlined at Appendices A, B and C, be approved;

b)    the final proposals report setting out the changes to the polling districts and polling places, as outlined at Appendix D, be approved;

c)    the Chief Executive be requested to formally publish the notice of conclusion of the review, its findings, the responses from consultees and all other relevant documentation;

d)    should a polling place be unavailable in the run up to an election, delegated authority be granted to the (Acting) Returning Officer to select an appropriate alternative with formal retrospective approval being sought from Council following the election should this be a permanent proposed change.

Reason:

To comply with the legislation requiring the Council to undertake periodic reviews of polling district and polling places.

(During consideration of this item, Councillor Cathy Mason left the room at 7.53 p.m. and returned to the meeting at 7.54 p.m.)

In accordance with the Council Procedure Rule 2(ix), Council considered the following recommendations:-

Minute No. L.7

Licensing Committee – 8th November, 2018

Review of the Statement of Licensing Policy

RESOLVED

that the draft revised Statement of Licensing Policy (effective from 31st January, 2019), as presented, be approved;

Minute No. L.8

Licensing Committee – 8th November, 2018

Review of the Statement of Gambling Policy

RESOLVED

that the draft revised Statement of Gambling Policy (effective from 31st January, 2019), as presented, be approved;

Minute No. CA.52(d)

Cabinet – 26^th November, 2018

Budget Monitoring (Position to September 2018) –

General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital Programme

RESOLVED

that the new capital schemes, as outlined in the Cabinet report as presented, be approved.

Motion 1

To consider a notice of motion proposed by Councillor Lachlan Morrison and seconded by Councillor Don Davis, as follows:-

“Breaking Point campaign

This Council notes that many council budgets are now at Breaking Point. Austerity has caused huge damage to communities up and down the UK, with devastating effects on key public services that protect the most defenceless in society – children at risk, disabled adults and vulnerable older people – and the services we all rely on, like clean streets, libraries, and children’s centres;

• Tory cuts mean councils have lost 60p out of every £1 that the last Labour Government was spending on local government in 2010;

• Councils had to spend an extra £800m last year to meet the demand on vital services to protect children by over;

• With an aging population and growing demand adult social care faces a gap of £3.5 billion – with only 14% of council workers now confident that vulnerable local residents are safe and cared for;

• Government cuts have seen over 500 children’s centres and 475 libraries close, potholes are left unfilled, and 80% of councils’ workers now say have no confidence in the future of local services;

• Northamptonshire has already gone bust due to Tory incompetence at both national and local level, and more councils are predicted to collapse without immediate emergency funding;

• Councils now face a further funding gap of £7.8 billion by 2025 just to keep services ‘standing still’ and meeting additional demand. Even Lord Gary Porter, the Conservative Chair of the Local Government Association, has said ‘Councils can no longer be expected to run our vital local services on a shoestring’;

This Council condemns Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss for stating on BBC Newsnight on 1^st October 2018 that the government is “not making cuts to local authorities”, when all independent assessments of government spending show that this is entirely false; and that this Council further notes that Prime Minister Theresa May has also claimed that “austerity is over” despite planning a further £1.3bn of cuts to council budgets over the next year;

This Council agreeswith the aims of the ‘Breaking Point’ petition signed by Labour councillors across the country, in calling forthe Prime Minister and Chancellor to truly end austerity in local government by:

• Using the Budget to reverse next years planned £1.3bn cut to council budgets;

• Immediately investing £2bn in children’s services and £2bn in adult social care to stop these vital emergency services from collapsing;

• Pledging to use the Spending Review to restore council funding to 2010 levels over the next four years;

This Council resolves to:

• Support the ‘Breaking Point’ campaign, recognising the devastating impact that austerity has had on our local community;

• Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Prime Minister, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the funding pressures faced by our local council, and calling on the  ...  view the full agenda text for item C.58

The Council received a notice of motion moved by Councillor Lachlan Morrison and seconded by Councillor Don Davis as follows:-

“Breaking Point campaign

This Council notes that many council budgets are now at Breaking Point. Austerity has caused huge damage to communities up and down the UK, with devastating effects on key public services that protect the most defenceless in society – children at risk, disabled adults and vulnerable older people – and the services we all rely on, like clean streets, libraries, and children’s centres;

·         Tory cuts mean councils have lost 60p out of every £1 that the last Labour Government was spending on local government in 2010;

·         Councils had to spend an extra £800m last year to meet the demand on vital services to protect children by over;

·         With an aging population and growing demand adult social care faces a gap of £3.5 billion – with only 14% of council workers now confident that vulnerable local residents are safe and cared for;

·         Government cuts have seen over 500 children’s centres and 475 libraries close, potholes are left unfilled, and 80% of councils’ workers now say have no confidence in the future of local services;

·         Northamptonshire has already gone bust due to Tory incompetence at both national and local level, and more councils are predicted to collapse without immediate emergency funding;

·         Councils now face a further funding gap of £7.8 billion by 2025 just to keep services ‘standing still’ and meeting additional demand. Even Lord Gary Porter, the Conservative Chair of the Local Government Association, has said ‘Councils can no longer be expected to run our vital local services on a shoestring’;

This Council condemns Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss for stating on BBC Newsnight on 1st October, 2018 that the government is “not making cuts to local authorities”, when all independent assessments of government spending show that this is entirely false; and that this Council further notes that Prime Minister Theresa May has also claimed that “austerity is over” despite planning a further £1.3bn of cuts to council budgets over the next year;

This Council agrees with the aims of the ‘Breaking Point’ petition signed by Labour councillors across the country, in calling for the Prime Minister and Chancellor to truly end austerity in local government by:

·         Using the Budget to reverse next years planned £1.3bn cut to council budgets;

·         Immediately investing £2bn in children’s services and £2bn in adult social care to stop these vital emergency services from collapsing;

·         Pledging to use the Spending Review to restore council funding to 2010 levels over the next four years;

This Council resolves to:

·         Support the ‘Breaking Point’ campaign, recognising the devastating impact that austerity has had on our local community;

·         Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Prime Minister, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the funding pressures faced by our local council, and calling on the Government to truly end austerity  ...  view the full minutes text for item C.58

The Council received a notice of motion moved by Councillor Mike Smith and seconded by Councillor David Griffiths as follows:-

“This council notes

·         Though slavery was abolished in the UK in 1833, there are more slaves today than ever before in human history. Figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggest that there are more than 40 million people in modern slavery across the world, with nearly 25 million held in forced labour.

·         There were 3805 victims of modern slavery identified in the UK in 2016. A rising number but still well below the 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims estimated by the Home Office.

·         Modern Slavery is happening nationwide. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment. This can include sexual and criminal exploitation.

This council believes:

·         That action needs to be taken to raise awareness of modern slavery and the fact that it is happening all over the UK.

·         That the current support for victims is not sufficient and needs to go beyond the 45 days they are currently given by the government.

·         That councils have an important role to play in ensuring their contracts and supplies don’t contribute to modern day slavery and exploitation.”

This council resolves:

·         To adopt the Co-operative Party’s Charter against Modern Slavery to ensure our procurement practices don’t support slavery.”

(Following a short debate and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.11(i) [Closure Motions), a motion was moved and seconded to proceed to the next business.  The Chairman having duly indicated that she believed the item had been sufficiently discussed, the motion was put to the vote and carried.)

Having been sufficiently considered, the motion was then put to the vote and it was

RESOLVED

that the Council agrees to adopt the Co-operative Party’s Charter against Modern Slavery thus ensuring that the Council’s procurement practices do not support slavery.

(During consideration of the motion, Councillor Lauren Mitchell left the room at 9.07 p.m. and returned to the meeting at 9.09 p.m.)

Question 1

Question from Councillor Lee Anderson to the Leader of the Council:

“Could the council leader please advise on what damage, if any has been caused to our war memorials in Sutton and Huthwaite Cemeteries?”

Question 2

Question from Councillor Lee Anderson to the Leader of the Council:

“Could the council leader please advise why there has been an apparent lack of money spent of keeping all our War Memorials in good condition?”

Question 3

Question from Councillor Keir Morrison to the Cabinet Member (Outward Focus):

“Given that Cllr. Wilmott was the deputy leader of the council at the time the decision was taken to close Hucknall’s public toilets, could he inform the council when new public toilets will be built in Hucknall?”

Question 4

Question from Councillor Don Davis to the Deputy Leader of the Council (Outward Focus):

“It’s clear that there’s a demand in the Ashfield District to accommodate the travelling community, instead of travellers setting up encampments illegally, does the portfolio holder agree that the council needs to explore options in order to reach a long term sustainable solution for all parties?”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13, the following questions were

submitted:-

Question 1

From Councillor Lee Anderson:

“Could the council leader please advise on what damage, if any has been caused to our war memorials in Sutton and Huthwaite Cemeteries?”

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jason Zadrozny, responded as follows:-

“Madame Chairman can I thank Councillor Anderson for his question.  I know what a very keen interest he has taken in the Watr Memorials and their preservation particularly in Sutton and Huthwaite.

Councillor Anderson will be aware of the historic addvice we’ve taken from the Conservation Officer that did show previous cleaning of the War Memorials had caused some damage. The damage, particularly where well-meaning people had used abraisive chemicals like turtle wax which bearing in mind the stone we’ve got, it’s a pourous type of stone, our Conservation Officer seems to think it absorbs into the stone and can degrade it from inside out so we’ve had to be extremely careful about the work we’ve done.

We’ve taken advice from the War Memorials Trust that said we shouldn’t clean War Memorials unless the dirt is harmful to them for example harardous fumes and things like that.  However, that said, we did undertake to do some very light steam cleaning work and Councillor Anderson joined me as we watched in happen in Sutton and then onto Huthwaite.  We undertook the most sensitive type of work we could do trying to make sure that the Armistice days were celebrated in the best way that we could.

It’s too early to say if any damage was caused with that sort of cleaning but in order to avoid any damage, we were concerned that the least intensive methods were used so that meant no high pressure work, no detergents and no scrubbing.

We realised that people have an emotional family attachment to our War Memorials but we must remember that the War Memorials are nearly a hundred year’s old and many are fragile so the cleaning has potential to damage them irreparably.  This can happen by weakening the lead letters on names, by loosening the mortar leading to water ingress and frost damage, by exposing the stone surface pores meaning that they become dirtier quicker and by bronze staining from plaques etc.

Ironically, cleaning can make the situation become worse and more visibly damaging if it’s not done properly.  It is for those reasons we decided not to have an extensive programme for cleaning this year, on the basis of the advice of the Conservation Officer and the War Memorials Trust, and when they are cleaned it will be in an appropriate and gentle method carried out by specialists and in that way we can ensure that they are still around for the next hundred years.

Madame Chair, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Councillor Anderson particularly for the work he has done on raising this issue and making sure the Council has a sharp focus on it.  ...  view the full minutes text for item C.60