Agenda and draft minutes

The meeting of the Council will be called to order to receive Her Worship The Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The meeting of the Council was called to order to receive Her Worship The Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

To receive apologies for absence from Members to determine the quorum of the meeting in accordance with Rule 7 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

An apology for absence was received from Councillors J K Ford and G G Hunt.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

None.

To read, confirm and approve the minutes of the previous meeting in accordance with Rule 19 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 October 2025 be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous extraordinary meeting held on 19 November 2025 be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting(s).

None.

To consider any Motions on Notice in accordance with Rule 14 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

Proposed by Councillor Michael H Charlesworth

Council gave consideration to the Motion on Notice (as set out at page 13 of the agenda reports pack) regarding public bins on the Meadows estate.

It was moved by Councillor M H Charlesworth, seconded by Councillor P Joshi and

DEFEATED THAT:

The motion be approved.

For                  7

Against          15

Abstentions  1

The Deputy Leader of the Council proposed the motion be brought back to Full Council after Officers examined the motion, providing a comprehensive report to next Full Council outlining the costs, responsibility of the Council, responsibility of private estate management, number of bins and location of bins.

It was moved by the Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor J Kaufman and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The motion be brought back to Full Council after a comprehensive report is written on the matter.

To receive any Petitions, Deputations and, or, to answer any Questions by Members or the Public in accordance with Rule(s) 11, 12, 13 and 10 of Part 4 of the Constitution and the Petitions Procedure Rules respectively.

None.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor in accordance with Rule 2 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The list of Official Engagements attended by The Mayor and/or Deputy Mayor be noted.

To receive any statement from the Leader of the Council in accordance with Article 2.9.2(ii) of Part 2 of the Constitution.

The Leader of the Council presented a statement outlining her recent work and meetings she has attended, the administration’s plans and an overview of recent decisions taken since the previous meeting of the Council, together with fielding questions in relation to her statement.

The Leader of the Council also expressed her appreciation for receiving a letter from Neil O’Brien MP expressing his support for the North-City-South proposal for local government reorganisation, after having made a request for his support at the previous meeting of the Council. The Leader of the Council went on to request further assistance from the constituency MP in arranging a meeting with government ministers and lobbying for the success of the North-City-South proposal.

Report of the Senior Strategic Development Manager

Report of the Licensing Enforcement Officer

Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 18 – 50 of the agenda reports pack) which sought approval of the Statement of Gambling Policy (2025-2028).

It was moved by Councillor G A Boulter, seconded by Councillor C J R Martin and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

i)            That the Statement of Gambling Policy (2025- 2028) be approved and adopted; and

ii)           That delegated authority be granted to the Chief Finance Officer / Section 151 Officer to ensure that the policy is advertised and published in the correct manner.

Report of the Senior Planning Policy Officer

Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 51 – 64 of the agenda reports pack) which sought approval to publish the Biodiversity Duty Report on the Council’s website and to forward a copy of the report to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

It was moved by Councillor G A Boulter, seconded by Councillor K J Loydall and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

i)            The publication of the Biodiversity Duty Report (attached as Appendix 1) on the Council website be approved; and

ii)           A copy of the report be forwarded to DEFRA in line with the requirements of the Environment Act 2021.

Report of the Community Safety and Youth Officer

Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 65 – 104 of the agenda reports pack) which provided Members with an overview of the actions and work of the Borough’s Community Safety Partnership (“The Partnership”) in Q1 & Q2 2025/26, and on Crime and Disorder in the Borough for the same period.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the report and appendix be noted.

The press and public are likely to be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item below on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item below on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of the Legal & Democratic Services Manager / Monitoring Officer (Solicitor)

Council gave consideration to the exempt report (as set out at pages 105 – 106 of the private agenda reports pack) which sought approval to extend the six-month meeting attendance rule for a Councillor.

It was moved by the Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor L M Broadley and

RESOLVED THAT:

The recommendation be approved.

For                  15

Against          3

Abstentions  4