Agenda, decisions and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 16^th September, 2019 be received and approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED that

a)    approval be given for the development of a brief protocol focusing on the four priority war memorials previously identified, setting out the Council’s key principles with regards to maintenance, engagement, and partnership working;

b)    the enhancement of existing webpages on the Council’s website be undertaken to provide further information on maintenance work, events, and community guidance regarding war memorials.

Members were presented with the final recommendations resulting from the Scrutiny Review of War Memorials undertaken by Scrutiny Panel B from June to September, 2019. 

The Leader of the Council took the opportunity to announce that the War Memorials Trust, following a funding application process for the four priority war memorials, had awarded just under £6,000 towards their cleaning and restoration.  The work was due to commence imminently and would be completed in time for this year’s Remembrance events across the District.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to accept the final recommendations but acknowledged that longer term planning for the upkeep and information sharing of war memorials was important for the Council and its residents.

RESOLVED that

a)    approval be given for the development of a brief protocol focusing on the four priority war memorials previously identified, setting out the Council’s key principles with regards to maintenance, engagement, and partnership working;

b)    the enhancement of existing webpages on the Council’s website be undertaken to provide further information on maintenance work, events, and community guidance regarding war memorials.

Reason:

to conclude the War Memorials topic review, as added to the Scrutiny Workplan 2019/20 in June 2019 and to safeguard the future upkeep of the War Memorials located across the Ashfield District.

Key Decision

Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Health and Leisure: Councillor Tom Hollis

RESOLVED that

a)    the works undertaken to improve the facilities at Hucknall Leisure Centre and the plans to consider further improvements of a combined spend up to the value of £1.3m as part of the new Leisure Operator contract tender, be noted and endorsed;

b)    delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to enter into discussions with the Governing Body of Edgewood Primary and Nursery School to come to a mutual agreement regarding the Council withdrawing from the operational management agreement for Edgewood Leisure Centre;

c)    in accordance with Article 12 of the Constitution, the Director of Legal and Governance be authorised to complete, sign and serve any documentation which is necessary as part of the mutually agreed withdrawal from the operational management agreement for Edgewood Leisure Centre on the instructions of the Director of Place and Communities and in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

Cabinet was requested to note the works undertaken to improve the facilities at Hucknall Leisure Centre and consider a request to commence negotiations for the potential withdrawal of the Council from the operational management of Edgewood Leisure Centre.

Members considered the alternative option of retaining the current operational position but recognised that this did not allow the Authority to achieve the aims of the Corporate Plan through asset rationalisation as recommended in the Leisure Facilities Strategy.

RESOLVED that

a)    the works undertaken to improve the facilities at Hucknall Leisure Centre and the plans to consider further improvements of a combined spend up to the value of £1.3m as part of the new Leisure Operator contract tender, be noted and endorsed;

b)    delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to enter into discussions with the Governing Body of Edgewood Primary and Nursery School to come to a mutual agreement regarding the Council withdrawing from the operational management agreement for Edgewood Leisure Centre;

c)    in accordance with Article 12 of the Constitution, the Director of Legal and Governance be authorised to complete, sign and serve any documentation which is necessary as part of the mutually agreed withdrawal from the operational management agreement for Edgewood Leisure Centre on the instructions of the Director of Place and Communities and in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

Reason:

A key project within the Ashfield District Council Corporate Plan (2019 to 2023) is to prioritise the health and wellbeing of the residents of Ashfield and to implement the agreed outcomes from the Leisure Transformation Programme by exploring and implementing options for the future of the Council’s Leisure Centre stock.

Approval of the recommendations will enable the Leisure Transformation Programme to continue to be developed to the next stage, including capital investment into Hucknall’s leisure offer and the delivery of revenue savings through an “invest to save” approach resulting in a reduction in revenue costs at the point where the Council retenders the leisure operator contract.

Non-Key Decision

Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Streets, Parks and Town Centres: Councillor Helen-Ann Smith

RESOLVED

that approval be given to close the mid-section of Lawn Lane to vehicles between the upper and lower car parks at Sutton Lawn Park to prevent vehicular traffic cutting through between Station Road and Coxmoor Road.

Cabinet was requested to consider implementation of the closure of the access route for vehicles travelling through Sutton Lawn Park but retaining the pedestrian public right of way.

Members considered the following alternative options:-

1.    To leave the access route open to traffic: a recent traffic survey had identified the high volume of vehicles using the site (more than 1 per minute during daytime hours). The risks to the public due to high numbers of cars and speeds above the speed limit therefore remained. The access route was not designed to highways specification and this meant that the road surface was likely to deteriorate thus contributing towards risk of injury to pedestrians or damage to vehicles, potentially resulting in compensation claims.

2.    To increase traffic calming measures: existing traffic calming measures already installed included road humps and speed limit signage. Additional measures would have minimal effect on reducing car numbers as there is already a significant number of cars speeding even with existing traffic calming measures in place. The section of access route with calming measures is not adopted highway therefore speed control measure are unenforceable.

RESOLVED

that approval be given to close the mid-section of Lawn Lane to vehicles between the upper and lower car parks at Sutton Lawn Park to prevent vehicular traffic cutting through between Station Road and Coxmoor Road.

Reason:

An increasing population and congested roads are encouraging more car users to take a short cut through the public open space increasing the risk in particular to children and wheelchair/mobility scooter users.

Non-Key Decision

Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Streets, Parks and Town Centres: Councillor Helen-Ann Smith

RESOLVED

that the update report in relation to the investment and improvements completed on the Council’s parks and green spaces in 2019 including current and future projects, be received and noted.

Cabinet was requested to note the £2.6m investment and improvements completed on the Council’s parks and green spaces in 2019 and receive a further update on current and future projects.

As the report was for information only, there were no alternative options for Members to consider.

RESOLVED

that the update report in relation to the investment and improvements completed on the Council’s parks and green spaces in 2019 including current and future projects, be received and noted.

Reason:

To keep Cabinet Members updated regarding investment and improvements completed on the Council’s parks and green spaces across the District during 2019 including any plans for future investment.