Please note that council minutes remain in draft form until approved at the next council meeting.
Present : Councillors I Shaw (Chairman), R Butler, K Chewings, S Ellis, S Gardner, L Healy,
C Jeffreys, S Mitchell, N Monday, A Simpson, D Stothard and M Woodward.
Apologies Received : Councillor S Denham and M Myles.
Attendance : Julie Stephenson (Town Clerk), Jane Pick (Administration Manager)
Cotgrave Town Council, Kate Matthews (Restorative Justice), Bente Klein (JBM Solar
Farms)
Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Chairman of Council, Councillor I Shaw asked Council to stand and take a few moments to remember Councillor B Handbury who passed away shortly before Christmas. Councillor Handbury had served for 10 years as a councillor for Cotgrave and will be sadly missed.
The meeting was held at Cotgrave Methodist Church and commenced at 7pm
Apologies
0463 The apologies received were approved.
0464 The Chairman requested to suspend Standard Orders to allow for Agenda item 2, to appoint a Vice Chairman, be moved until after the public open session.
0465 Resolved : To move agenda item 2 until after the Public Open Session.”
Declarations of Interest
0466 Councillor Shaw declared an interest in agenda item 11, a grant request for Cotgrave Advice Centre. Councillor Shaw will not take part in the discussion.
Public Open Session
0467 Kate Matthews from Restorative Justice Nottingham gave council a report on the work that they carry out in Nottinghamshire.
0468 The Restorative Justice is as voluntary process where trained professions set up safe communication opportunities for those harmed by crime or conflict and those responsible for the harm caused. It can be an opportunity to express the impact caused by what happen to the person responsible, seek answers and to express how life is or has been impacted by the crime. This includes crimes of all levels. This does not reduce any sentence and does not cover any domestic abuse issues.
0469 The Chairman thanked Kate for attending the meeting and update Council on the work provided by Restorative Justice.
0470 Bente Klein from JBM Solar Farms gave council an update on the proposed new solar farm near to Cotgrave and Radcliffe-on-Trent.
0471 The planning application for the 20w solar farm is now live and can be viewed online. A public engagement event took place in September and 5000 household were invited to attend of which approximately 18 attended the event. Of those who attended 79% were in favour of the development. The farm will produce electricity for equivalent of 7900 homes.
0472 Extra land had been added to enable for biodiversity. A wetland will be created for Skylarks and other wildlife. Also, the access road to the site will have some changes to allow for better access for emergency services.
0473 Cotgrave will benefit from some funding from JBM this currently stands at £264,000 over a 40-year period. They will also be working on a project with the Friends of Cotgrave Country Park.
0474 Councillor Woodward asked what impact the site would have on flooding issues incurred by the road in the area of the site. Bente explained that they have no responsibility for the highways and that infect the solar panels on the field would actually make the draining in the field better. In fact, the panels are located on small amounts of concrete.
0475 The Chairman thanked Benta for attending the meeting and updating Council on the solar farm development.
To appoint a Vice-Chairman of Council
0476 Councillor K Chewings proposed Councillor S Gardener. This was seconded by Councillor I Shaw
0477 Councillor C Jeffreys proposed Councillor L Healy. This was seconded by Councillor R Butler.
0478 A closed ballot was requested, and the vote took place and
0479 Resolved : “To appoint Councillor S Gardner as Vice Chairman of Cotgrave Town Council.”
0480 Councillor Garden will be provided with a declaration of Office form for signing as soon as possible.
Accuracy of the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 6th December 2023
0481 Resolved : “That the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 6th December 2023 be received
and confirmed as a true record.”
Progress Minutes of Council Meetings held on 6th December 2023
0482 M0407 Bus Stop at Spires Hospital
No further update was available.
0483 M0416 Grant Cotgrave Candleby Lane School
An email has been received from Cotgrave Candleby Lane thanking council for the grant …. “We were thrilled to receive the grant for our choir trip to Sheffield Area. Thank you so much. Your funding is so vital for activities like this to take place and for children to experience such great musical events.”
0484 M0419 Remembrance Day Parade
Councillor Mitchell informed Council that the Royal British Legion CBOC branch recommended that the parade does not continue. This item is scheduled for agenda item of the council in February.
0485 M0447 Pegasus Group Telephone Mast
Notification has been received from the Planning Department that this application is acceptable, and the Prior Approval of the Borough Council is not required, it has been passed through by permitted development.
0486 M0454 Park Keeper
The Clerk informed council that a new park keeper has been employed and they commence their position from 13th January 2024.
Planning Minutes
0487 Resolved : “To confirm the planning minutes recorded and the decisions taken by the Council
and those of the Planning Authority.”
Financial Matters
0488 Payments
Resolved: ‘’That the payments made since the previous meeting totalling £59,206.47 as recorded below, be approved and the invoices awaiting payment be paid’’.
| Opus Energy | 7411982 | Sports Pavilion Electricity | 92.77 |
| EDF Energy | Unit 28 Electricity | 29.00 | |
| Real Christmas Trees | 20530 | Christmas Tree | 595.00 |
| Mick Dutton | 15635 | Echo Battery Strimmer | 396.00 |
| Notts County FC | 607241 | Pensioners Christmas Meal | 4555.20 |
| Three | Mobile Phones | 13.99 | |
| Joker Entertainer | Christmas Market Entertainment | 714.00 | |
| UK Fuels | 10012894 | Fuel | 70.00 |
| Notts CC | 92948675 | November Salaries | 20,889.53 |
| Sharpes of Nottm | Coach Hire Pensioners Meal | 975.00 | |
| KPD Sounds | 241123 | DJ – Music Christmas Lights | 695.00 |
| CK Insurance | Allotments Insurance | 179.61 | |
| Water Plus | 3990530 | Unit 28 | 21.66 |
| J Pick | Reimbursement for Petty Cash | 24.13 | |
| Big Bang Fireworks | 2161023 | Fireworks Display 5.11.23 | 2300.00 |
| Methodist Church | Room Hire 8.11.23 | 30.00 | |
| Elexcel | 11922 | MUGA Pir Repairs | 448.80 |
| Rushcliffe BC | 71060840 | Unit 28 Rent | 650.00 |
| Rushcliffe BC | 71060949 | Suite F Service Charge | 180.00 |
| Rushcliffe BC | 71060617 | Suite F Rent | 435.00 |
| Water Plus | 4038901 | Forest Close Allotments | 89.56 |
| SLCC | 246327-1 | Membership Fees | 298.00 |
| British Gas | 978740076 | Suite F Electricity | 90.78 |
| EDF | Unit 28 Electricity | 29.00 | |
| Arco | 947155165 | Coat and White Lining Spray | 101.66 |
| Rushcliffe BC | 71061623 | Reconciled Service Charge Suite F | 654.40 |
| Opus Energy | 74814047 | Sports Pavilion Electricity | 111.98 |
| Cotgrave CL School | Grant – Transport for Choir | 550.00 | |
| St John Ambulance | 23009512 | Christmas Market | 158.40 |
| Cotgrave FC | Grant | 200.00 | |
| Notts County FC | 607254 | Pensioners Christmas Meal | 1452.00 |
| Notts County FC | 607268 | Pensioners Christmas Meal | 216.00 |
| Mick Dutton & Son | 15666 | Kioti Mechron K9 Vehicle | 21,960.00 |
0489 Income
Resolved : “That the income totalling £180.00 since the last meeting, as reproduced below.
| 1.12.23 | Cotgrave FC | Rent | 160.00 |
| 18.12.23 | Market Stall | Christmas Market | 20.00 |
Financial Statements
0490 Members considered and approved the Statements for October 2023 as reproduced at the back of the Minute Book.
At the end of October 2023 Council had £4,986.85 in the Co-op account, £129,864.23 in the HSBC account and £203,743.24 in the NatWest account.
Budgets 2024-2025
0491 The Clerk together with the Budget Working Group has prepared and presented council with the proposed budget for 2024/2025.
0492 Councillor K Chewings said that the working group have considered removing the councillor’s allowance to contribute to keeping the costs down and proposed that the Budget be accepted.
0493 This was seconded by Councillor S Ellis.
0494 Councillor Monday queried the justification for the funding for the Pensioners Party, The Fireworks Event and Grants. The funding for the pensioners Christmas meal was provided by the Lightsource funding scheme and not part of the precept.
0495 A vote was taken, all councillors, except one councillor who abstained, agreed the budget.
0496 Resolved : “That Council apply for a precept of £247,912 which equates to
£101.86 per year or £1.96 per week for a band D property, which is
and increase of 0.7%.”
Grants
0497 Council have received a grant request form from Cotgrave Advice Centre for £100 to purchase replacement telephones and £150 for two replacement signs.
The advice centre provides support for residents of Cotgrave, Rushcliffe and the wider Nottingham community. They help people to address their problems and ensure they have the necessary welfare benefits to enable them to meet their expenses. They open between 9 and 12 noon on Tuesday and Thursdays. All advisors are volunteers.
0498 Council were in agreement, except for one abstention and
Resolved : “To award a grant request of £250 to Cotgrave Advice Centre.”
Council Events
Pensioners Christmas Party
0499 Councillor Healy gave council an update on the Pensioners Christmas Party. This year there was a new venue, Notts County Football Club. 160 residents attended the meal between 12 noon and 4pm. They were provided with a drink’ reception, followings by a full Christmas meal, and entertainment and everyone had a very enjoyable time.
Coaches were provided to and from the venue. This event is paid for from the Lightsource Fund given to council.
Hollygate Lane Estate Maintenance Charges
0500 Councillor Shaw said that he would be meeting with Robert Galij from Barratts David Wilson Homes at the Council Office on Thursday afternoon with Councillors Ellis and Gardner to discuss the maintenance charges and for an update regarding the bridge.
0501 Councillors Butler and Chewings said that the issues of maintenance charges have been discussed at the Scrutiny Group at the Borough Council (which was available for viewing via YouTube).
0502 An update will be added to the next Council Meeting agenda.
Street Naming
0503 Adam Smith the Address and Gazetteer Officer at Rushcliffe Borough Council has received an application to name new streets for phase one of the development North and South of Hollygate Lane, Cotgrave. Four new street names were needed for the south section and seven for the north section.
0504 Council discussed several options for the new street names but decided to keep with the theme of nature and arable crops. Suggestions will be put forward to the Borough Council.
Cotgrave Futures
0505 Councillor Chewings, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Cotgrave Futures said that there was nothing to report at this time except that the board was financially sound and new leases have been sent out to users which has all been signed and accepted.
———————————————————
Correspondence (for information)
0506 Information has been received from the Borough Council regarding Parish Councils and the Biodiversity Duty.
Under the Environment Act 2021 public authorities must:
- Consider what can be done to conserve and enhance biodiversity in England. First consideration of what action to take for biodiversity must be done by 1 January 2024.
- Soon after this date policies and specific objective must be agreed and reviewed at least every 5 years.
- Act to deliver your policies and achieve your objectives.
0507 Council will work towards putting a Biodiversity Policy in place.
Reports from Ward Members
0508 Councillor Chewings reminded council that Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Repairs Grants were available for anyone in the Borough who had been affected by the recent floods.
0509 Councillors Butler said that he knows of properties that have been affected by the floods located on Owthorpe Road, Cotgrave.
0510 Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Flood Signage Scheme (CFSS) Allows trained members of the community to close roads during flood events to help reduce the impacts of bow waves caused by vehicles travelling through flood water. There are currently 18 Active Schemes in the county.
0511 Volunteers can attend a short training session and the signs are provided and paid for by the County Council.
Clerks Reports
0512 Council has received a Christmas Card from a pensioner who had attend the Christmas Meal “to say thank you for the lovely lunch. It was a great occasion. Excellent organisation, and free transport as well!!. We are so lucky in Cotgrave.”
Also received, a handmade Christmas Card from the Library and its users thanking Council for all the grants during the year which allowed for many craft sessions.
Councillors’ Reports
0513 Councillor Monday asked if anything could be done about the overgrown hedge on Rise Gate – towards the junction with Candleby Lane.
0514 Councillors Butler will chase this issue up.
0515 Councillor Monday also asked if a further meeting had been arranged with the Rector of All Saints’ Church. This was planned for 1st February 2024.
0516 Councillor Simpson thanked Council for their kind messages following the sad death of his wife, Margaret. Margaret had lived in Cotgrave for 60 years.
0517 Councillor Simpson asked if anything could be done regarding a church burial ground in Cotgrave. His wife had requested a traditional burial in Cotgrave, but the cemetery has no capacity for any new graves. This question will be put to Revd. Paul Massey.
0518 Councillor Gardener had been approached by an armed forces veteran to see if an event (coffee morning etc) could be put on in Cotgrave the veterans. The Administration Manager, who is the Armed Forces Covenant Officers for the Council will look into this.
0519 Councillor Healy raised the issues of the recycling bins on the shopping centre car park. This will be raised again with the Borough Council.
0520 Councillor Chewings asked if a working group could be set up to further discuss the hire agreement for the Football Club.
0521 Councillor Chewings also wish to pass on his thanks to Council’s grounds man, Paul Howitt, for all his work over recent months. All Councillors were in an agreement with this statement.
0522 He also wanted to thank the Clerk and the Administration Manager for covering the opening and closing of the parks, following the resignation of the weekend cover park keeper and their work on recruiting a new park keeper.
0523 Councillor Chewings said that Councillor B Handbury had served on council for 10 years and asked if a donation on behalf of Council could be forward for the two charities requested by his family. All Council agreed a donation of £100.
0524 Councillor Stothard has noticed that cars are parking on the paved area close to the Café Pizzeria. Also, the waste oil from the drums in the contained at the site of the building are leaking onto the pavement close to the entrance to the play area.
0525 The clerk has emailed the Borough Council, owners of the shopping centre regarding both of these issues.
0526 Has there been any further update on the works to take place at the Leisure Centre. A planning application has been put forward for amendments to the building.
0527 Councillor Stothard also asked if anyone had heard of a re-build for the Church School.
Nothing was known about this.
0528 Councillor Stothard informed Council of an accident that had taken place with the South Notts Academy school bus and another vehicle. The incident had taken place at the junction of Ringleas and Colston Gate. Councillor Butler was not aware of this but will find out more information.
The meeting closed at 8.58pm.
Chairman: ………..……………………. Signed as a True Record (Date) ……………………………..
Personnel Committee Meeting
18th January 2024
Present : Councillors R Butler Chairman), K Chewings, S Gardner, L Healy, S Mitchell and
N Monday.
Attendance : Julie Stephenson (Town Clerk), Jane Pick (Administration Manager)
Cotgrave Town Council,
The meeting was held in the Cotgrave Town Council Office and commenced at 9.30 am.
Apologies
0056 No apologies were received.
Declarations of Interest
0057 No declarations of interest were given.
Public Open Session
0058 No members of the public were in attendance at the meeting.
The press and public will be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item/s of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.
Staffing Matters
0059 An update was given by the Clerk regarding the current staffing matters, including the employment of a new park keeper, who commenced work on 13th January 2024.
0060 A general update on staffing matters was discussed by the committee.
The meeting closed at 10.25am
Chairman: …………………………………….. Signed as a True Record (Date): ………………………
Planning Minutes
The following responses were made to plans under consideration by the Planning Authority, Rushcliffe Borough Council.
No objections were raised except where stated.
023 At Council Meeting on 10th January 2024
20/03244/OUT Land East of Gamston and North of Tollerton, Tollerton Lane,
Nottingham – outline planning application for the first phase of a sustainable
urban extension at land east of Gamston and north of Tollerton, comprising
up to 2,250 dwellings, a primary school, a local centre (Class E, a, b,c,d,e,f
and g) and hot food takeaway (Sui generis), a strategic infrastructure
including associated buildings, children’s play areas, strategic infrastructure
including drainage and engineering off A52 and Tollerton Lane with all
other matters reserved. (Council Observations): Flooding Issues, impact
on traffic, pressures on schools (specifically secondary schools)
Rushcliffe Borough Council, the planning authority, has forwarded the following
decisions: –
024 Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015
23/02099 GDOTEL
Playing Field East of Leisure Centre (Madisson Park), Woodview, Cotgrave – Existing 15m pole supporting 3
no. antennas to be removed and replaced with new 20m monopole which will support 3 no. new antennas
along with ancillary equipment thereto including RRUs and BOBs.
025 Permission Granted
23/02106/FUL 36 Rectory Road, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3HU – single storey side
extension and 2 roof lights over existing kitchen.
23/02246/FUL 74 Saxon Way, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3NX – new front porch and
new front bay window. Demolition of existing conservatory. Single storey
rear extension. Part raising of existing garage roof includes roof lights.
Application of timber cladding and render.
23/02309/FUL 13 Colston Gate, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3JX – two storey side
extension and single storey rear extension.
23/02267/FUL 25 Maygreen Avenue, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3SH – first floor side
extension over existing garage.
Chairman …………………………………… Signed as a True Record (Date)………………………………