Gedling Borough Council met on 17 September 2025, and among other business, discussed treasury management, a petition relating to the Horse and Groom pub in Linby, and a motion to form a Local Development Plan Working Group. The council approved the Annual Treasury Activity Report for 2024/25 and also agreed to changes to representation on several committees.

Here's a breakdown of the key topics discussed:

• Local Development Plan Working Group
• Questions from Councillors
• Horse and Groom Petition
• Prudential Code and Treasury Management
• Smoke Control Area
• Woodborough Garden Centre Planning Application
• Flag Flying at the Civic Centre
• Other Committee Decisions
• Decisions Made Under Delegated Authority

Local Development Plan Working Group

A motion was put forward by Councillor Andy Meads and seconded by Councillor Russell Whiting to form a Local Development Plan Working Group. The group will support the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy and the Director for Place to explore options for delivering the spatial strategy for Gedling Borough up to 2043, addressing growth in housing, employment, services and infrastructure. This includes considering the option of delivering growth through new settlements. The working group's findings will inform the Regulation 19 pre-submission version of the Gedling Local Development Plan.

The Gedling Local Development Plan will set out the council's planning policies and proposals for the development and use of land in the borough. It will eventually replace the Gedling Borough Replacement Local Plan¹.

Questions from Councillors

Several questions were posed by councillors to portfolio holders and the Leader of the Council, covering a range of local issues:

• Allotment Sites: Councillor Whiting asked for reassurance that Gedling Borough has no allotment sites in future housing plans and will not entertain any planning application to develop allotment sites in future.
• Gaza Motion: Councillor Whiting requested an update on the motion passed in July 2024 regarding the situation in Gaza, specifically regarding ways to remember the events in the future.
• Freedom of Information Requests: Councillor Wheeler asked how much time and money has been spent by officers responding to Freedom of Information requests and complaints from the top 3 correspondents over the last 4 financial years. The Freedom of Information Act[^2] gives members of the public the right to request information from public authorities. [^2]: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides public access to information held by public authorities.
• Section 106 Money in Calverton: Councillor Meads raised concerns about Nottinghamshire County Council holding approximately £5 million in section 106[^3] money for school improvements from housing developments in Calverton, and asked what pressure the council can put on the county council to ensure they spend the money locally before Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) takes place. [^3]: Section 106 agreements are legal agreements between local authorities and developers, used to mitigate the impact of new developments on the community and infrastructure.
• Flies in Calverton: Councillor Meads reported that the north west corner of Calverton has been blighted by a large number of small flies, which coincided with the opening of a plastic recycling business, and asked the council to confirm the latest information they have on this, and to meet with him to see how the problem can be eliminated.
• S106 Contributions for Affordable Housing: Councillor M Smith asked why £560,567 allocated by the developer of the Strata Homes site in Linby nine years ago has not been spent on affordable housing, and why there has been a nine-year delay in using the Section 106 contribution.
• Pavement Sweepers: Councillor Bestwick asked about the number of pavement sweepers deployable across the Borough, whether they are all currently operational, and whether this will be adequate during the autumn.
• CCTV in Muirfield Park: Councillor Maltby asked why CCTV promised for Muirfield Recreation Ground in Bestwood was cancelled, and how they can work together with residents to get it installed.
• Calverton Leisure Centre: Councillor Walker asked for assurance that Calverton Leisure Centre will remain open under Labour's 'Leisure Transformation' plans.
• Pride Progress Flag: Councillor Adams asked for the planning application number, decision notice or authoriser for the June 4th raising of the Pride Progress flag at Gedling Borough Council.
• Fly-tipping on Catts Lane: Councillor S Smith asked the Cabinet Member to commit to working alongside Councillor Adams, the Parish Council and himself in ensuring Gedling Borough Council fund and install CCTV on Catts Lane to prosecute and deter those fly-tipping at this hotspot.
• Public Space Protection Order: Councillor Whiting asked whether Gedling would support the extension of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)[^4] aimed at anti-social car cruisers and ensure that everything is in place before the current Order expires in 2026. [^4]: Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are designed to deal with nuisance or problem behaviour in a defined area that is detrimental to the local community's quality of life.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence: Councillor Whiting asked if Gedling Borough Council is currently using Artificial Intelligence for any functions of the Council, and what plans there are to use AI in the future.
• CIL Public Consultation: Councillor Meads asked when the results of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)[^5] public consultation conducted in February would be presented and why it has taken so long. [^5]: The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new development in their area. The money is used to fund a wide range of infrastructure needed as a result of the development.

Horse and Groom Petition

The council considered a petition signed by 272 residents concerning changes to the Horse and Groom Public House in Linby. The petition requested that Gedling Borough Council give full consideration to the petition and ensure that any planning or licensing applications related to the Horse and Groom are subject to rigorous scrutiny, with particular attention to conservation, amenity and community impact. The council planning and conservation officer had visited the pub with members of the Parish Council on 21 July, following a request from the parish for the building to be listed and for the Council to serve a Building Preservation Notice². The Planning and Conservation Officer observed that the building clearly had a historic core but has been substantially altered in the 20th Century, and is unlikely to be considered worthy of listing. However, the building has a notable 1930s phase, which includes bar fixtures and fittings which both the Council and CAMRA a Pub Heritage Group can identify historic interest in. The council is engaging directly with Historic England to establish whether the building may merit listing and a building preservation notice being served. The council voted to accept the petition actions.

Prudential Code and Treasury Management

The council approved the Annual Treasury Activity Report for 2024/25, as required by regulations. The council is required to report on its Prudential Code indicators and treasury activity under the Local Government Act 2003³. The report noted that investment interest of £224,958 was generated from Money Market Fund (MMF) activity, term deposits with banks and building societies, and the property fund, during the period from 1 April to 31 July 2025. This represents an overall equated rate for the Council of 4.33%, which is marginally higher than the compounded Sterling Overnight Index Average (SONIA) rate, which averaged 4.26%.

The Prudential Indicator relating to Capital Expenditure has been exceeded due to the carry forward of budget from 2024/25 which was approved by members as part of the Budget Outturn and Budget Carry Forwards 2024/25 report. It was proposed that this indicator is increased from £6,413,400 to £10,159,800.

The Prudential Indicator relating to the ratio of financing costs to net revenue stream is currently at 2.30% which is under the approved indicator of 3.85% due to a decrease in the original budget of the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP).

The current projected outturn for internal borrowing is 49%, which is higher than the approved indicator of 45%. It was proposed that this indicator is temporarily increased to 50%, whilst advice will be sought from our Treasury Management advisors about the optimal time to undertake new borrowing.

Smoke Control Area

The Environment and Licensing Committee agreed to make an order revoking all existing post-1980 smoke control orders, to come into operation on 1 February 2026, and to make an order creating a Borough-wide Smoke Control Order to come into operation on the same date. The committee noted the confirmation from the Secretary of State regarding the revocation of the pre-1980 smoke control orders, with the order also coming into operation on 1 February 2026.

Smoke control areas are areas where restrictions are in place to limit smoke emissions from domestic and industrial premises. These restrictions are put in place by local authorities under the Clean Air Act 1993⁴ to improve air quality.

Woodborough Garden Centre Planning Application

The Planning Committee considered an application for the erection of 2 canopies to the north facade of the Woodborough Garden Centre, Lowdham Lane, Woodborough. David Lazenby, Property and Concessions Director of British Gardens Centres, spoke in support of the application.

The Assistant Director of Development informed the committee that since the publication of the agenda, a letter had been received from County Councillor Stoll, who considered that the benefits of the proposal would outweigh the negligible impact upon the Green Belt and was therefore in support of the application.

The officer recommendation to refuse planning permission was not carried. The committee felt the development did not meet all the criteria set out within paragraph 155 of the NPPF⁵ and was therefore inappropriate development. However, they felt that the economic benefits of the development, namely the ability of the business to compete with online retailers, providing a better environment for customers and securing the viability of the business for the future, were very special circumstances which outweighed the potential harm to the Green Belt. The committee voted to grant planning permission subject to conditions relating to commencement and approved drawings.

Flag Flying at the Civic Centre

The Planning Committee considered an application from Gedling Borough Council for the display of one of the following flags on a flagpole at the Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold: Pride Flag, Progress Flag, Windrush Flag, VE Day Flag, D-Day Flag (including any future versions). The committee voted to grant advertisement consent subject to conditions.

Other Committee Decisions

The council also noted decisions from various committees:

• Environment and Licensing Committee: Approved proposed taxi licensing fees for 2025/26, subject to advertisement requirements being satisfied.
• Cabinet: Approved the Gedling Plan Annual Report 2024/25 for publication, an updated Carbon Management Action Plan, and a new Consultation and Engagement Strategy. They also agreed to consult on the Gedling Local Development Plan Issues and Options Document.
• Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Noted reports on the Procurement project, Risk Management, and the Gedling Plan Q4 2024/25 Performance.

Decisions Made Under Delegated Authority

The council noted several decisions made under delegated authority, including:

• Advertisement of Disposal of Land Parcel at the Northern Portion of Killisick Lane
• Council Employees Wearing Body Cameras
• Increasing fixed penalty notice (FPN) charge levels for littering under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 from £65 to £150
• Response to Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government on the Fair Funding Review 2.0
• Warm Homes Local Grant 2025 to 2028
• National Non-Domestic Rates - Discretionary Relief Application - Nottinghamshire Royal Society for the Blind
• Response to Government Technical Consultation – Reform of Planning Committees
• Approval of Gedling UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Health and Wellbeing, Physical Activity Grant Fund 2025/26