Agenda

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any items on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time. 

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the attached Minutes of the Annual Council and Ordinary Council meetings held on 19 May 2025.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8 to allow members of the public to ask questions about the Council’s activities for a period up to fifteen minutes.  The replies to any such questions will be given by the appropriate Cabinet Member.  Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting.

No questions have been submitted under Procedure Rule No 8 for this meeting.

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance.

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance.

Report of the Chairs’ of the Scrutiny Committees.

Report of the Chair of Standards Committee.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 9.2 to allow Members to ask questions about Council activities.  The replies to any such questions will be given by the Chair of the Council or relevant Committee or the appropriate Cabinet Member.  Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting. 

The following questions have been received.

Question A – Proposed by Councillor S Cough to Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council

Noting their critical importance towards a local say in planning, will the Leader of the Council write to the relevant Secretary of State to ask them to reconsider their recent announcement, withdrawing support for Neighbourhood Plans.

Question B – Proposed by Councillor C Renwick to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

What has been the attendance at the local plan meetings/early drop in sessions and what is the council doing to ensure residents are receiving meaningful and timely notification of the new local plan consultation? 

Question C – Proposed by Councillor N Baker to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

Given the long period which has now elapsed since Covid restrictions were lifted, is it not now time that Planning Committee site visits are carried out in person, instead of continuing them virtually, in order the allow Committee Members to acquaint themselves, more fully, with the nuances and details of each site they are being asked to consider?

Question D – Proposed by Councillor C Cupit to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

Many residents have contacted me to express concern that the current local plan consultation online response form is extremely complicated and technical in nature.  How does the Council therefore intend for ordinary residents to be able to respond in a meaningful way particularly where concerns they only centre around one or two aspects or sites? 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 10 to consider Motions on notice from Members.  Motions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting. 

The following Motions have been submitted.

Motion A – Submitted by Councillor N Baker

Council notes the results of the recent consultation regarding the proposal for highway alterations and the installation of new signals at the A61-Mill Lane junction in Wingerworth.

Council notes that the proposed scheme is sponsored by this Council, following the receipt of grant funding by the regional Mayor to unlock more new homes and a new depot on The Avenue regeneration site. 

Council also notes the many views that have been expressed towards these proposals during that consultation by local residents and stakeholders, particularly raising concerns in relation to road safety, turning right at the Nottingham Drive junction and traffic flow on the A61 in that vicinity.

Council therefore resolves to respect and fully publish the results of the consultation and commits to not pushing ahead with the scheme until those concerns have been properly addressed.

Council also resolves to undertake any further design work on the proposals, which the consultation responses have highlighted are necessary, and then to re-consult residents and other stakeholders on any revisions to the proposed scheme, in that area, before any work begins and undertakes to ensure that the final design of the scheme fully reflects local concerns for highway safety, suitability and usability and is not just based on cost savings and maximising housing number delivery.

Motion B – Submitted by Councillor A Dale

This Council believes that fly-tipping is a blight on our district.  It is unsightly, damages our beautiful countryside and rural landscape, and places an unfair financial burden on local taxpayers who must ultimately foot the bill for its clean-up. 

Council reaffirms its commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping and believes that a strong deterrent strategy is required.  This must include:-

·                High profile prosecutions to demonstrate consequences;

·                The use of powers to seize and, where appropriate, destroy vehicles used in fly-tipping offences;

·                Continued and increased use of CCTV cameras in known hotspot areas; and

·                The application of significant financial penalties to offenders. 

Council therefore welcomes the recent purchase of additional CCTV cameras made possible through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), as well as the successful prosecution relating to a fly-tipping incident in Marsh Lane, which serves as an important example of enforcement in action.  Council is also extremely grateful for the ongoing work of our Environmental Health and Streetscene teams in seeking to prosecute flytippers and keep our District clean and tidy. 

To go further and strengthen the deterrent, Council resolves to:-

1.        Increase fly-tipping fixed penalties to the latest national maximum as set out in the most recent Government regulations;

2.         Review the use of mobile CCTV units to ensure rapid deployment in response to community reports and intelligence;

3.        Explore the introduction of public-facing “Caught  ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

To consider any other matter which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.