Report from our District Councillors- October
Reporting back from District Cllrs Peter Harris and Malcolm Brock Oct 16 2019
General Purposes Committee met on Sept 5. There will be a review of Polling Stns STC being consulted - are there any issues that the Town Council wishes to draw to the Council's attention. Also taxi fares are increasing with the initial flag charge £2.88 and 8 miles [the average cost to Southwell from Newark Town Centre] to £17.69
The Economic Development Committee of Sep 11 agreed to create a new 'Action Team' by 'realigning of in-service resources'. This team will have a similar function to the 'Litter Hit Squads' but with a wider range of skills. This new multi-disciplined team will be able to undertake cleansing duties and minor 'hard works' such as pruning, weeding and pothole filling. The Committee also looked at how to bring the delivery of the green waste collection service 'in house', including the admin.
The Committee also discussed bringing the Housing Management service, Newark and Sherwood Homes back in house to generate approx. £1m savings to the Housing Revenue Account to be reinvested in tenant services.
There is a Review of the Local Development Framework currently taking place with a meeting on Thursday 10th October 2019 to agree a number of amendments including possible potential development sites. The new LDF will supersede the Southwell Neighbourhood Plan
One of the commercial activities of the Council 'Arkwood Developments Limited' presented a Business Plan 2019-2024. but it was an exempt report and no public scrutiny is permitted but it was made public that the Company is involved in the supply of new homes by delivering 300 new homes by 2026/27
The Leisure and Environment Committee of Sep 24 published an indicative timetable in response to the Climate Emergency declared by Newark and Sherwood District Council. Its first task is to identify the current carbon footprint of the Council and its activities and the production of a draft Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan by February 2020
The N&SDC has agreed that there will be a new swimming pool at the Dukeries where the project has formal approval to progress subject to costs being within the approved budget of £2.5M.
A budget of £15,000 was agreed to tackle fly tipping, but no further reiteration of the promise of investigating the re-opening Fiskerton HWRC as this was said to be a matter for Veolia
The Flood Mitigation work for Southwell was reported with Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid and Local Levy further partnership contributions secured including £600k investment from the County Council, £220k from Newark & Sherwood District Council, £120K Southwell Town Council, £25k Southwell Flood Forum, an additional £300k Local Levy for the flood mitigation scheme and £233k Renew and Repair grant funds. Options for restocking the resilience stores were discussed. Four options were tabled. It was agreed that the District Council takes full responsibility for restocking stores.
It was reported that homeless figures continue to rise nationally and locally as does the use of temporary accommodation. In 2017/18 Newark & Sherwood experienced an increase in usage of temporary accommodation of 22% compared to the previous year. In response a new temporary accommodation facility is to be planned.
The listed milestone located against the Saracen's Head wall needs to be replaced, the previous conservation work from 20 years ago having failed. In 2014 the application to replace the milestone by the Southwell Civic Society required Greene King (now Westgate Brewery) to agree in a s106 agreement that the newly carved replica be installed. However, despite many contacts they have failed to respond. There remains minimal interest from the brewery.
While Historic England continue to object to the proposal, at the planning committee meeting on 08/10/19, there was approval of the application subject to a referral to the Secretary of State.
Prior to the removal of the existing stone, the replica will be fully constructed, carved in accordance with approved plans and will be made available for inspection by the LPA
Local Election Results May 2023
A spectacular set of elections both nationally and locally here in Newark and Sherwood!
Overall Lib Dem gains were 405 nationally, which posed a problem for Sky News, whose swingometer apparently was not able to contemplate a set of gains of this magnitude. We exceeded 'Exceeded Expectations'!
Our local gains at the district level saw the addition of our third District Councillor with the victory of Keith Melton in Trent Ward. We also kept 2 of 3 councillors for Southwell, now Karen Roberts and Peter Harris. We were encouraged to see the increase in our share of votes in other seats where we were able to field candidtes. Congratulations to everyone.
We had a very good performance in Southwell Town Council, gaining 10 of the 14 seats for which there were candidates, with 6 of these won in elections and 4 being uncontested. Two Conservatives, one Labour candidate and one Independent were also successful. One place on the council remains to be appointed to.
The Conservatives had a terrible set of district and parish elections, losing about half of their district councillors and many PCs. The final DC result was Conservative 14, Labour 11, Independents 11 (8 for Independents for Newark and 3 for other Independents) and Lib Dems 3. Discussions will take place for some time on the composition of the new administration, which is unlikely to include Conservatives for the first time since 2007.
On behalf of the executive, we are extremely grateful to everyone who stood as candidates, as well as everyone who performed the various roles which were necessary for the campaigns. We are a small party and many of you worked very hard.
We are very grateful for their past work to councillors who have stood down at this election, including Peter Scorer and Stuart Thompstone. Malcolm Brock has stood down from the District, though continues to serve on Southwell TC.
We welcome new members to the party, who were motivated by this campaign. This phenomenon was particularly marked in Trent Ward. Upton support has to be singled out, evidenced for anyone who drove through, by the huge number of LD stakeboards and posters.
Philip Barron
Chair, Newark Liberal Democrats
7 May 2023