Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Louise Fox, Rob Hiney-Saunders, Tom Kirkham, Sally Renshaw, Ashley Taylor, Ross Walker and Carol Wood.

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

There were no declarations made at the meeting.

No questions were received.

There were no questions from the public received.

No questions were received.

There were no questions from Members received.

No motions were received.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 no Motions on Notice were submitted by Members for consideration.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17, to hear a deputation provided five clear working day’s written notice has been provided to the Monitoring Officer.

No petitions or deputations were received.

Colin Hampton addressed the Council on the work undertaken by the Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre (the ‘Workers Centre’).

A Member expressed great thanks to the Workers Centre on behalf of Langwith Ward Members and residents.  Other Members echoed their thanks for the life changing levels of support shown towards residents of the District by the Workers Centre.

Colin Hampton left the meeting at 12:01 hours.

Minutes’ Silence

The Chair asked Council to stand (if able) for a minute’s silence in remembrance of the passing of former Alderman Ray Brooks.

Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner – bravery awards

The Chair invited Councillor Donna Hales to present this item and introduce the recipients of the awards namely: Thomas Smith, Sarah Bryan, Beverly Daniels, David Daniels and Kieran Daniels to the Council.

They had shown great courage when they had intervened during a head-on-collision on the B6417 Mansfield Road, off Ramper Avenue, Clowne and had extinguished the blaze, helped 5 casualties safely away from the wreckage and warned on-coming vehicles of the incident.  Following this accident, they had successfully campaigned with a long-running appeal to introduce safety measures and speed restrictions in that area.

The Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner had acknowledged their bravery and campaigning and had asked the Council to present the awards to the 5 residents.

The Chair of the Council presented the awards on behalf of the Council and the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner and commended their bravery and actions.

Councillors Donna Hales and Rita Turner, and Thomas Smith, Sarah Bryan, Beverly Daniels, David Daniels and Kieran Daniels left the meeting at 12:05 hours.

Council considered a report and appendix relating to the Auditor’s Annual Report in respect of 2024/25 as presented by Councillor Clive Moesby, Portfolio Holder for Resources.

Moved by Councillor Jane Yate and seconded by Steve Fritchley

          RESOLVED that the report from the Council’s External Auditor, Forvis Mazars at Appendix 1, be noted.

Councillor Donna Hales returned to the meeting at 12:07 hours.

Council considered a report which provided updates to the General Fund element of the Council’s Medium-Term Financial Plan 2026/27 to 2029/30 following receipt of the Government’s finance settlement for 2026/2, presented by Councillor Clive Moesby, Portfolio Holder for Resources.

·       The report detailed the final settlement received from the UK Government and the impact of the significant reductions in funding for the Council and subsequent impact on the use of reserves as outlined in 1.8 of the report.

Moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor Jane Yates

          RESOLVED that the changes to the Medium-Term Financial Plan as detailed at 1.8 of the report, for 2026/27 to 2029/30 years, be approved.

Council considered a report relating to the appointment of Member Champions  2026/27 as presented by the Monitoring Officer who drew members’ attention to the nominations received at Appendix 1.  During discussion it was proposed that 2 Domestic Abuse Champions and Neurodiversity Champions be appointed which was agreed by Members.

Moved by Councillor Mary Dooley and seconded by Councillor Donna Hales

          RESOLVED thatthe Member Champions nominated in Appendix 1 to the report with the additional aforementioned nomination be appointed for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

Council considered a report relating to the proposed changes to the Members’ Allowances Scheme which would enable Members to access the Local Government Pension Scheme as presented by the Monitoring Officer.  It was confirmed that:

·       From May 2026, Members would be able to join the Local Government Pension Scheme on an opt-in basis.

·       The revised Members’ Allowance Scheme was attached at Appendix 1.

·       The Monitoring Officer sought approval for an additional recommendation for Council to approve the amendments to the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

Moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor Phil Smith

          RESOLVED that (1) it be noted that with effect from 11^th May 2026 Members were able to opt-in to the LGPS provided by Derbyshire Pension Fund; and,

(2) that the potential additional costs to the Scheme as set out in paragraphs 2.6 and 2.7 (based on a 100% opt-in) be noted; and

(3) that approval be given for the Members’ Allowances Scheme to be updated as shown in Appendix 1 of the report.

Council considered a report relating to Part 4.8 of the Council’s Constitution, Contract Procedure Rules as presented by the Monitoring Officer.  It was confirmed that:

·       The Council’s Contract Procurement Rules provided a framework for the procurement of all goods, services and works for the Council.  The Council’s Contracts Manager had been in post since February 2025, during which time the Council’s existing Contract Procurement Rules had been assessed and a set of revised rules produced to reflect the Local Government Act, Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.

·       The Revised Contract Procurement Rules were attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Moved by Councillor Donna Hales and seconded by Councillor Jane Yates

          RESOLVED thatthe revised Contract Procurement Rules as attached in Appendix 1 be adopted.

Consideration was given to a report relating to the Historic Environment Supplementary Planning Document as presented by Councillor Tom Munro,  Portfolio Holder for Growth.

·       The Planning Committee had recommended at its meeting on 15^th April 2026 that Council adopt the Historic Environment Supplementary Planning Document as a material consideration in planning decisions.

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Jeanne Raspin

          RESOLVED that the Historic Environment Supplementary Planning Document as contained in Appendix 1 be adopted as a material consideration in planning decisions.

Council considered a report relating to the delivery of the People Strategy as presented by Councillor Jane Yates, Leader of the Council. Council was informed that:

·       The Executive had approved the Council’s new People Strategy for 2026-28 (the ‘Strategy’) at its meeting on 2^nd March 2026.  The Strategy included proposals for:

o   An uplift in the Council’s Annual Leave entitlement to align with Derbyshire Peer authorities.

o   Introduction of paid compassionate leave.

o   Moving employees of Bolsover District Council from its own independent pay spine to the National Joint Council (NJC) pay spine in readiness for Local Government Reorganisation.

·       The Strategy set out the need to ensure the Council was able to continue to attract and retain high quality employees over the following 2 years against the backdrop of Local Government Reorganisation.

·       To commit to the Armed Forces Covenant and assist with the Council’s ambition to achieve the Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award.

·       The proposed People Strategy was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Councillor Clive Moesby, Portfolio Holder for Resources stated the Council’s staff were its greatest resource and as noted in the table in the report detailing the annual leave entitlements across other lower-tier local authorities Derbyshire, Bolsover District Council was currently the least generous.

Moved by Councillor Jane Yates and seconded by Councillor David Bennett

          RESOLVED that subject to consultation and agreement with Trade Unions approval be given to: (1) the uplift of the Council’s annual leave to 25 days on appointment and 30 days after five years' service, effective 1^st June 2026 (pro rata);

(2) confirm the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant Policy at Appendix 2 and aim to achieve ‘Silver’ status;

(3) the introduction of a maximum five day paid compassionate leave entitlement for employees who have completed six months’ continuous service with the Council;

(4) the alignment of the Council’s pay spine back to National Joint Council Pay Spine as set out within the report and financial implications; and,

(5) the Medium-Term Financial Plan being updated with the financial implications of this report as part of the 2026/27 budget refresh in the Autumn of 2026.  This to include the increased annual leave cover, and the movement to the NJC pay spine.

Council considered a report which sought approval to update the schemes included in the Bolsover Homes pipeline funding envelope of £36.2m and add the Mill Lane, Bolsover to the scheme.  The report was presented by Councillor Phil Smith Portfolio Holder for Housing and it was confirmed that:

·       The Executive had agreed to proceed with pre-construction works at Mill Lane, Bolsover, and this report sought approval from Council to include Mill Lane, Bolsover within the Bolsover Homes funding pipeline.

Moved by Councillor Phil Smith and seconded by Councillor John Ritchie

          RESOLVED that approval be given for the inclusion of Mill Lane, Bolsover development within the previously approved £36.2m funding envelope for Bolsover Homes.

Councillor Will Fletcher left the meeting at 12:48 hours.

Council considered a report relating to the proposed purchase of S106 Properties from Forge Homes Limited, Park Avenue, Glapwell as presented by Councillor Phil Smith, Portfolio Holder for Housing.

·       Forge Homes were. were building 49 properties at Park Avenue, Glapwell, including 5 affordable semi-detached houses as a Section 106 planning condition.

·       It was proposed to purchase 6 properties at Park Avenue, Glapwell, to be added to the Capital Programme to be funded by capital receipts.

Moved by Councillor Phil Smith and seconded by Councillor John Ritchie

          RESOLVED that approval be given to add the 6 properties at Park Avenue, Glapwell to the Capital Programme utilising 141 Right to Buy receipts and that these would be let at affordable rent within the Housing Revenue Account.

Council considered a report relating to the proposed Play Area Refurbishment Programme as presented by Councillor Mary Dooley, Portfolio Holder for Housing presented the report to the Council.

·       During discussions it was suggested that the Council assist some Parish Council’s in funding improvements to their play areas over which the Council had no responsibility.  It was confirmed that funding was finite and that the Council had to focus on its own areas of responsibility.  It was suggested that this also be brought back to a future meeting if Local Government Reorganisation was confirmed to ascertain whether there was funding still available in the reserves.

·       Some specific issues were raised and it was suggested that further information be forwarded to the Leader and Leisure Facilities Planning & Development Manager.

Moved by Councillor Mary Dooley and seconded by Councillor Cathy Jeffery

          RESOLVED that (1) approval be given for the use of NNDR Growth Protection Reserve to carry out the play area refurbishments shown in Appendix 1; and

(2) the capital programme be updated to include the capital elements of this refurbishment programme.

Council considered a report presented by Councillor Tom Munro, Portfolio Holder for Growth which sought approval for the creation of a full?time Corporate Asset Manager post to deliver the Council’s Corporate Asset Management Plan.

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Donna HalesRESOLVED that: (1) approval be given for the creation and budget for a full?time Corporate Property Asset Manager post following job evaluation; and

(2) authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to agree the grade of the post following completion of the job evaluation process.

Councillor Tom Munro Portfolio Holder for Growth presented a report which sought approval for a budget of £2.5m (to include £82,082.80 requested for scaffolding subject of a separate report) to address urgent and foreseeable risks associated with Council-owned assets at Pleasley Vale Business Park.

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Steve Fritchley

          RESOLVED that approval be given to establish a budget of £2.5m (less the £82,082.80 outlined in the Scaffolding Report) to enable urgent works, associated follow-on investment and related mitigation measures to be undertaken in a controlled, proportionate, and legally compliant manner.

Councillor John Ritchie, Portfolio Holder for Devolution provided an update on progress of Local Government Reorganisation and letter received from Government relating to the drafting of the Structural Changes Order.

Councillor John Ritchie left the meeting at 13:15 hours.

To move:-

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the stated Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and it is not in the public interest for that to be revealed.” [The category of exempt information is stated after each item].

Moved by Councillor Duncan Haywood and seconded by Councillor Duncan McGregor

          RESOLVED that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the stated Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and it is not in the public interest for that to be revealed.

Council considered a restricted report as presented by Councillor Tom Munro, Portfolio Holder for Growth.

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Clive Moesby

          RESOLVED that (1) that approval be given allow the purchase of the existing scaffold as detailed in the report; and

(2) an allowance be made from the General Fund to continue the mandatory weekly inspection regime and annual inspection by a structural engineer.

Councillor Sandra Peake left the meeting at 13:18 hours.

The Chief Executive thanked the Governance Team for their work before and during the meeting.

The Chair thanked Members for attending and closed the meeting.