Agenda item

Question from Councillor Nick Crisp to the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing:

“I’m pleased that Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has been recognised with the Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Award for its support of Armed Forces veterans. This reflects the council’s commitment to supporting veterans, reservists, service families, and cadet volunteers.

Can the Portfolio Holder confirm whether the Council intends to build on this

success by working towards silver and gold level recognition, further strengthening its support for the Armed Forces community in the Borough?”

The Portfolio Holder stated that the bronze award was welcomed.  Confirmation was given that the Council did intend to build upon it by applying for silver and gold awards.  The Scheme recognised the commitment and support that organisations gave to Armed Forces veterans and personnel through the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant and making of pledges which demonstrated the development and implementation of Armed Forces friendly policies and promoting and advocating good practice to other partners and organisations.

The Council was already in a good position to achieve silver standard – having policies in place which, for example acknowledged the housing needs of ex Armed Forces people and was currently looking at human resources policies which would ensure that there was no unfair disadvantage to ex-service personnel through the recruitment and selection processes.

Councillor Crisp did not ask a supplementary question:

Question from Councillor Andrew Parker to  the Leader of the Council:

“Following last week’s announcement that Newcastle Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) has successfully secured its re-ballot, alongside the Town Centre’s outstanding achievements in the Heart of England and National Britain in Bloom awards, Will the Leader join me in congratulating the BID team and council staff on these successes, and outline how the council intends to build on this and work with the BID to further enhance the vitality and attractiveness of our town centre for businesses, residents, and visitors?”

The Leader stated that the success of the BID re-ballot was really welcome, giving it up to 2031 to continue delivering its services and the great work that it did with businesses in the town centre – such as the Christmas lights switch-on which was funded by the BID.   They had a Business Plan and Prospectus, setting put their aims and objectives for the next five years,  for which they went to businesses and got support in the ballot from voting businesses.

The Council would continue to work in partnership with the BID and other key organisations such as the police, helping to deliver the objectives which married with the Council’s objectives which included a cleaner and safer town centre, vibrant businesses and the regeneration that was currently underway.

Regarding the success in the Britain in Bloom Awards, that was a great achievement for the town centre again.  Last year the BID won the regional finals and went through to the nationals where they won a silver award and received a commendation.  The Leader thanked all of the Council staff who were involved in that.

The business engagement part of the awards was carried out by the BID, getting businesses involved in dressing their windows and frontages.

Councillor Parker asked a supplementary question:

“The Queen’s Gardens have been a credit again this year.  Could the Leader confirm that the Council’s policy of having a sustainable herbaceous perennial planting scheme mixed in with the annual planting in the Queens’ Gardens is to be continued.  The Scheme demonstrates that the Council’s environmental sustainability approach whilst ensuring a striking and interesting garden environment for town centre visitors”

The Leader stated that Queens Gardens had always been the flagship of the town centre.  The Council had moved towards more sustainable planting around the sides.  The Council still did the proper bedding plants and the changing throughout the year ensuring that the Council still mixed the sustainable planting which would grow and improve year after year whilst still changing the bedding plants in the central parts to keep the variety.

Watch the debate here