Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 25^th July and 5^th September, 2019, as now submitted, be received and approved.

Leader of the Council

“Thank you, Chairman.  Just a very brief update for Members from me.  We have just had the first ever Alderman Awards event prior to this full Council meeting and I just wanted to make clear that although it was a civic service and something we’ve done to commemorate those Members who have given above and beyond, there was actually no cost to the Council because I’ve chosen to have an invoice raised and personally pay for all the badges, the frames, the printing, the tea and coffee and everything else that was associated with it, Mr. Chairman.”

(None received for this meeting)

No questions were received from the public.

(None received for this meeting)

No petitions were submitted for consideration.

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 me

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 now been published.”

Council was requested to consider the proposals for revised polling places following an interim review dealing with urgent polling place issues and based on the recommendations from the Polling Places Review Working Group.

RESOLVED that

a)    the recommendations of the Polling Places Review Working Group as set out in the minutes of the meetings held on 1st August and 16th September, 2019, as appended to the report, be approved;

b)    as a result of (a) above, the final proposals setting out the changes to the polling districts as outlined in Appendix D to the report, be approved;

c)    should a polling place be unavailable in the run up to an election, the (Acting) Returning Officer be delegated authority to select an appropriate alternative and seek formal retrospective approval from Council following the election should this be a permanent proposed change;

d)    it be noted that the approved changes will take effect on 27th September, 2019.

d)

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

Minute No. CA.20

Cabinet – 16^th September, 2019

New Corporate Plan

RESOLVED

that the new Corporate Plan, as presented to Council, be approved.

Minute No. CA.21

Cabinet – 16th September, 2019

2019/20 July Financial Monitoring Update Report

RESOLVED that

a)    amendments to the Capital Programme as set out in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Cabinet report, noting that there are no additional borrowing implications, be approved;

b)    the revenue budget revisions for 2019/20 as set out in Section 3 of the Cabinet report, be approved.

(During consideration of the Cabinet recommendations, Councillors Rachel Madden and David Hennigan left the room at 7.47pm and 7.48pm and returned to the meeting at 7.50pm and 7.51pm respectively.)

The following Cabinet Members gave updates in respect of their Portfolio

activity:-

Portfolio Holder for Place, Planning & Regeneration

“In August the Council was informed that it had been successful in its bid for funding from the Future Highstreets Fund, with its bid for Sutton Town Centre progressing onto the business case development stage, where we’ll put forward a more detailed bid.

In addition to this, the Council learnt in September that both Kirkby and Sutton were to benefit from the Towns Fund with up to £25 million worth of investment available for each town.  We’re waiting on the Government for full details of the offer and conditions but funding is aimed at improving transport, skills and culture in each town.  Unlike the Future Highstreets Fund, the Towns Fund is not a competitive bid and has been allocated to us.

I will just point out though that these are ring-fenced for specific things that the Government sets and is not something that assists with our precarious financial position at the minute.  But I am sure that you will agree with me that this is great news and I look forward to working with Members and officers on drawing up ambitious plans to continue the exciting transformation of Ashfield. 

The latest Ashfield Job’s Fair took place on the 13^th of September and was another great success with 70 recruiters pitched and 650 job seekers in attendance.  Ashfield and Mansfield have been jointly hosting Brexit business events.  The Manufacturing and Engineering Event was held on the 25^th of September at Portland College in partnership with the Council; 35 businesses attended and with the welcome address delivered by Council Zadrozny.  Coming up on the 1^st of October is the Transport and Logistics Event and on the 9^th of October is the HR and Personnel Event, both hosted at Mansfield Civic Centre. 

On the 20^th of September the Entrepreneur’s Programme had a networking event and seminar with 32 people registered;15 have since taken up the option of one-to-one mentoring support following the last round of workshops and 18 Business Growth Advisory Clinics have been held over four days since the launch on the 3^rd of October.  They’re now being supported by advisors from MBV and Growth Hub for up to 12 hours.  The support ranges from business planning, sales and marketing strategy, raising finance, action planning, knowledge transfer training and Council service support. 

The first Discover Ashfield Photographic Competition has been launched to promote the area’s attractions.  With the support from Chad this has been well received with over 40 submissions received in the first few days. 

Working in partnership with the town teams, we are running several promotions through to Christmas including support for our opticians with National Health and Eye Health Week.  Working with the areas micro pubs in promoting Micro Pub Week and the Ashfield Ale Trail.  Celebrating Ada Lovelace Day on the 8^th of October with a plaque unveiling in the town celebrating her  ...  view the full minutes text for item C.49

(None received for this meeting)

There were no notices of motion submitted by Members.

(None received for this meeting)

There were no questions submitted by Members.

(None received for this meeting)

There were no questions submitted by Members.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 5 (Urgent Items), the Council received an emergency notice of motion moved by Councillor Jason Zadrozny and seconded by Councillor Dave Shaw as follows:-

“This Council calls on our Members of Parliament to act more responsibility and in the public interest.

Following Parliament being recalled, exchanges between MP’s in the House of Commons have become unnecessarily heated and personal.  Culminating in crass and inflammatory language from political parties on both sides of the house yesterday (25^th September 2019).

This Council makes no comment on the debates taking place.  We simply call on members to use more considered and mature language in debates.

This Council believes that trust in politics and politicians is at an all-time low.  At a time when many vital issues are facing Ashfield and the United Kingdom as a whole we expect our MP’s to show humility and leadership, dealing with the challenges that face us in a style more befitting the mother of democracies.

Elected members of local government would not be able to behave in this manner, as the standards in public life rules would find us in breach of bringing the office of Councillor into disrepute.  If Councillors are leading by example, despite passionate differences of opinion, we expect even better from those representing us locally and nationally in Westminster.

Ashfield residents deserve better from its elected representatives who should seek to raise the bar for our area and the quality of life.  There is more to representing people than party political point scoring.

This Council therefore resolves to write to both MP’s representing Ashfield District Council area and the leaders of all political parties in Westminster, asking for them to reflect on the tone and nature of their debates.

The letter will seek reassurances that MP’s will debate in a more mature, fact-based, less personal and less adversarial style.

It will ask that the pressing issues of the day for Ashfield residents including but not limited to Brexit, Infrastructure investments, Health, Education, The Environment, Jobs and the Economy and Crime and Disorder are prioritised over petty party squabbling.”

(At this point in the proceedings and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 23 (Conclusion of Proceedings), a motion was moved and seconded to extend the conclusion of the meeting to 9.30 p.m. The motion was put to the vote and duly carried.)

Having been duly debated, the emergency motion was put to the vote and it was

RESOLVED

that the Council agrees to write to both MP’s representing the Ashfield District Council area and the leaders of all political parties in Westminster, asking for them to reflect on the tone and nature of their debates with the letter seeking reassurances that:

·         MP’s will debate in a more mature, fact-based, less personal and less adversarial style;

·         the pressing issues of the day for Ashfield residents including but not limited to Brexit, Infrastructure investments, Health, Education, The Environment, Jobs and the Economy and Crime and Disorder are prioritised over  ...  view the full minutes text for item C.53