Agenda and minutes

Councillor Jason Zadrozny declared a Non Disclosable Pecuniary/Other Interest relating to his current position as the Council’s representative on the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Panel.

Councillor Sam Wilson declared a Non Disclosable Pecuniary/Other Interest relating to his spouse’s current employment with the Nottinghamshire Police Force.

The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and advised that she had called the meeting, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19 and following consultation with the Leader of the Council, to enable a State of Ashfield debate to take place which would be the first for over a decade.

The debate would be focussing on Crime and Disorder and presentations had been arranged to be given by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Mr. Paddy Tipping, the Chief Constable, Mr. Craig Guildford, the Chief Executive of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office, Mr. Kevin Dennis and the Head of Services for Women’s Aid and Integrated Services, Ms. Jennifer Allison.

The Chairman explained to Members that the main purpose of the meeting was to enable the Leader and his Cabinet colleagues to gather information on the issues and matters which were of concern to Members and which could be considered as part of the preparations for business planning and the proposals for the Council’s budget and policy framework.

In order to enable effective discussion to take place and to ensure a more flexible committee style of meeting, it was moved and seconded in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 30.1, the suspension of Council Procedure Rule 16 (Rules of Debate).  Upon being put to the vote the motion was duly carried. 

No formal recommendations or decisions were to be taken at the meeting but informal next steps and common understanding between all parties would be formulated at the end of the meeting.

A State of the District debate then ensued during which the Council received three presentations detailing the work of Nottinghamshire Police, the Council’s Community Partnership Hub and the work of Women’s Aid and Integrated Services in relation to domestic violence.  Members then raised and discussed their concerns and observations via question and answer sessions as agreed.

During the course of the meeting it was moved and seconded in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 23.1 (Conclusion of Proceedings) to extend the meeting until 9.30 p.m. Upon being put to the vote the motion was duly carried. 

At the conclusion of the debate, the Leader of the Council thanked the Council’s Members and guests for their contribution and hoped that they had found it informative and useful, particularly as Cabinet Members would now be able to assimilate the comments made and take them into account during the business planning process which was to be commenced shortly.