Minutes:
Councillor Kier Barsby - Portfolio Holder for Environmental Improvements, Corporate Communications and Cross Portfolio Support
· Success of four open air cinema events
· Future High Streets Fund and Towns Fund ongoing development including Moor Market
· 26 press releases since last Council meeting regarding, amongst others, Hucknall and Kirkby Leisure Centre and Moor Market
· Promotion of the recent Vaccination Bus and its locations
· Website continuing to meet all accessibility requirements with all documents checked before publication
· Updated Mod.Gov system went live in August 2021 with upgrades to Members’ IPads
· 100 new online forms now available on the Council’s website
· New Events website page currently being developed
· Covid Scrutiny Panel continuing to focus on District recovery and Standards Working Group progressing with work on the Members’ Code of Conduct, Standards in Public Life recommendations and the Complaints process
· Legal continuing to support officers particularly with Community Safety and the new Public Spaces Protection Order and CCTV Policy
· The 2021 election canvass had received a good response with face-to-face and doorstep canvassing returning (with Covid-secure processes in place)
· The Polling Places Review Working Group to be reconvened imminently.
Councillor Matthew Relf - Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Planning
· The Draft Local Plan consultation exercise commencement date of 4 October 2021 with wide ranging promotion across all Council media platforms
· Concerns around the 457 Government housing allocation for Ashfield for each year (resulting in a total of 8,226 for the life of the Plan) and subsequent lobbying of local MP’s to campaign to reduce Government housing requirements
· Benefits of the new Draft Local Plan proposing two new mixed-use settlements with supporting and self-sustaining infrastructure.
Councillor Sam Deakin - Portfolio Holder for Parks, Town Centres and Neighbourhood Services
· The Towns ‘Welcome Back’ funding being utilised to promote the Council’s town centres including art exhibitions, music in towns, food and drinks festival, repainting of high street furniture and murals on buildings
· Update on improvements to play facilities around the District including Titchfield Park, Hucknall, Huthwaite Welfare Park and Sudbury Drive Play Area
· Masterplan progressing for Selston Country Park
· Tree planting initiative now mapped out with work progressing with external partners
· Waste Team continuing to provide an efficient service to the District
· Thanks and appreciation to the Environment Team for supporting recent events on parks and in the town centres
· Delivery of the Silverhill Pit Wheels from storage at the Depot back to the former Silverhill Colliery site.
Councillor Rachel Madden - Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing
· Events over the summer being a success including the food programmes, the ‘Feel Good Families’ events and Playfest which took place in the three designated priority areas
· The Premier League Kicks programme continuing to be facilitated in partnership with Nottingham Forest, Nottinghamshire Police and Sutton Academy
· Applications for Ashfield Community Development Grants (as managed by Notts. Community Foundation) were now being taken with £10,000 of funding available
· Production of a ‘Feeding Ashfield’ educational leaflet
· Volunteering opportunities continuing to open up with details on the Council’s website
· Success of four open air cinema events
· Ongoing recruitment for a new Events & Place Officer
· Improvement and build works continuing at the Lammas, Hucknall and new Kirkby Leisure Centres.
Councillor John Wilmott - Portfolio Holder for Licensing, Environmental Health and Regulatory Services
· High risk inspections continuing with full service being resumed
· Highest ever rate of food premise applications with a 28 day turnaround being achieved
· Animal welfare inspections are now commencing as a priority
· Air and water quality inspections are continuing
· Recently advertised for four new members of staff with appointments hopefully being made by the end of October
· Increase in new driver and vehicle licence applications following update to taxi licensing fees schedule
· Recruitment of new Licensing Officer
· Income stream continuing from pavement licences
· Traders being offered licensing payment schemes and instalments to assist them to recover business following the pandemic
· Alcohol and Entertainment applications are back up to pre-Covid levels
· Currently out to consultation on the statutory Gambling Policy review
· Recent update to the Aids and Adaptations Policy and an increase to the level of Disabled Facilities Grant available
· Selective Licensing Scheme review underway and being reported to Cabinet in December.