Meeting Details

(a) Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
(b) Private Interests (pecuniary and non-pecuniary)

a)    Presentation of Awards/Certificates (if any)

a)    Questions to Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire Authority

b)    Questions to the Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairmen

Nottinghamshire County Council believes that it should do everything possible to ensure that no child goes hungry.

This Council notes that according to information from the October 2022 school census, covering pupils in years R-11 in all primary, secondary and special schools in the county (including academies) there are 25,265 - 22.1% of all pupils claiming free school meals.

This Council further notes the following table which shows the highest number of school children ever claiming free school meals across Nottinghamshire.

This Council believes that there are children who may be entitled to free school meals but do not claim them for a variety of reasons.

This Council therefore resolves to increase Free School Meal take up by investigating whether Nottinghamshire County Council can:

1) Automatically enrol children on to free school meals, using existing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction data.

2) Implement a policy of 'opt out' meaning that those not aware of their entitlement can benefit from free school meals.

The council believes that this will significantly increase Free School Meal uptake in Nottinghamshire, which will lead to additional Pupil Premium Funding to help reduce the gap in attainment between children from higher and lower income households.

Councillor Francis Purdue-Horan    Councillor Debbie Darby

The motion has been withdrawn

On 27 February 2023, it was reported that Nottinghamshire was named one of 'most dangerous places to live in UK for crime'.

An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report published in January confirmed that in the annual period between September 2021 and 2022, every area of Nottinghamshire has experienced rising crime, including:

• In Ashfield, an increase in 'Bicycle Theft' by 115% and of 'Non-Residential Burglaries' by 50%.
• In Bassetlaw, an increase in 'possession of dangerous weapons' by 76% and 'Violent Crime' by 23%.
• In Mansfield, rises in 'Robbery' by 71% and 'Shoplifting' by 66%.
• In Newark and Sherwood, an increase in 'Sexual Offences' by 41% and 'Public Order Offences' by 27%.
• In the South Nottinghamshire Community Safety Partnership area, an increase in 'All other theft' by 28% and 'Theft from person' by 14%.
• Across Nottinghamshire, Total Recorded Crimes rising by 15%.

This Council's Plan, The Nottinghamshire Plan, states:

"Helping our communities to stay safe is one of our top priorities as a Council. Over 1 in 3 people hoped to see lower crime in their local area over the next 10 years. So, we'll lead the Safer Nottinghamshire Board, working closely with Nottinghamshire Police, to reduce crime and make people feel safer and more protected."

The Safer Nottinghamshire Board (SNB) developed a 3-year Community Safety Agreement, to be reviewed annually from 2020-2023. This agreement outlines the strategic priorities of the SNB and assigns strategic leads to each priority.

This Council therefore resolves to recommend to the SNB that they:

• Ensure that rising crime rates across Nottinghamshire are acknowledged in the upcoming annual SNB CSA review.
• Consider the identified specific types of rising crime within a future CSA beyond 2023, to ensure there are targeted responses to these crimes across Nottinghamshire.
• Report on performance under current strategic priorities outlined in the SNB CSA and review whether those currently assigned to lead on these priorities remain suitable.
• Ensure that all past and future SNB CSA annual review reports are published online and easily accessible to Nottinghamshire residents via the Nottinghamshire County Council website.

Councillor Paul Henshaw    Councillor Mike Pringle