Agenda item

To receive the Leader’s report on the work of the Executive since the Council meeting held on 13 January 2021.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bettison OBE, presented his report on the work of the Executive since that reported at the Council meeting on 13 January 2021. The Executive had met twice on 26 January and 9 February 2021.  

The Leader highlighted the following matters that had been considered:

•       Digital & ICT & Customer Experience Strategies 2021 – 2024 had been approved and were intrinsically linked. The strategies put the customer first with a recognised unreversible trend towards digital and the Council was increasing its migration to cloud-based technology.

•       CCTV Deployment & RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act) had been updated.

•       Revised Local Development scheme agreed which set out the work programme and timetable for Local Plan and Joint Minerals & Waste Plan:

–       Local Plan to be considered by Executive in March

–       Pre-submission consultation March – May

–       Full Council to consider submission in June 2021

•       School Places & Capacity Plan covering until 2025 would reduce surplus capacity in primary schools and facilitate transformation work to support special needs.

•       Climate Change Strategy was agreed. As an early signatory to Nottingham Declaration in 2007 the Council had an overall objective to become carbon neutral by 2050 in line with Government Policy. The Strategy included 41 separate key projects and an Advisory Group to support the Executive Member was being established.

•       Urgent action had been undertaken to procure Lateral Flow Community Testing. A proposal was submitted on 21 January for 15,000 people, twice weekly, based on up to 9 locations with eligibility focussed on those who have to leave home to work. The scheme was operational by 3 February 2021 currently across four centres with another opening next week.

•       Vehicle Emissions & Air Quality agreement to enforce 1986 Regulations relating to vehicle idling in Air Quality Management Areas would focus on engagement before enforcement and give power to adopt enforcement where necessary.

•       Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report had been received. There were five findings of “fault” from the Council’s millions of interactions during the year.

•       Appropriation of land at Coopers Hill had been agreed to support the regeneration of the town centre. There had been a technical approach to remove development risk and positive discussions with HCA continue on the covenant.

Councillor Temperton asked whether schools could be involved in designing the promotional material to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality. Councillor Bettison OBE agreed that this was a helpful suggestion as it was good practice to get young people involved in such projects so that they can help raise awareness to their own parents.

Councillor Temperton asked whether the Climate Change Strategy could be placed in a prominent position on the Council’s website to reflect that it is the core of the Council’s decisions. Councillor Bettison OBE agreed that in all communications, where appropriate, climate change would be central and remain visible.

Councillor Temperton stated that the previous year’s school plans plan predicted numbers were more accurate than ever before so queried what had changed in the process. Councillor Dr Barnard replied to this compliment that no algorithm was behind the predictions but the hard work of the officer team to create a modelling tool to assess the data available.

Councillors Bettison OBE advised, in response to Councillor Ms Brown’s question, that officers from the Public Protection Partnership would undertake air quality testing and would approach people in cars to explain what they were doing and how reducing emissions would improve air quality. He hoped that educating residents would assist in developing support for these improvements.