Bassetlaw District Council

The conference focused on Bassetlaw’s housing service performance and a significant pipeline of procurement and investment activity. Key themes were major stock investment, an urgent repairs backlog with extra contractors being brought in, new IT-enabled reviews of allocations and repairs, a digital upgrade of telecare/warden alarm systems ahead of the 2025 analogue switch-off, and major capital projects including Larwood House refurbishment and a 120-home modular new build at Radford Street. Members also discussed improved complaints handling and the need to strengthen tenant engagement and customer care.

The committee mainly debated a planning application for nine detached homes in Misterton, with strong focus on the made neighbourhood plan, site access, drainage, and whether the proposal counted as windfall development. Members also heard a legal update that remote meetings will end after 6 May 2021 and a training session is planned for 21 May. The planning application was refused after members concluded it conflicted with the neighbourhood plan and raised access concerns.

This virtual Licensing Committee meeting was largely procedural. Members approved previous minutes, noted an update that the council has no intention to license fishing on the River Idle in King’s Park and has no park enforcement officers to enforce non-licensed activity, and were informed that the street trading review will be addressed when the Principal Solicitor, Licensing and Regulatory returns from maternity leave on 10 May 2021. No direct procurement decisions, spending approvals, or contract awards were discussed.

The meeting focused on progress against the People Strategy action plan, including staff wellbeing, flexible working and new HR systems. Key procurement-relevant items included a new recruitment portal nearing completion, an integrated learning management system nearing completion, and proposals for hybrid working and flexi-time review. Members also recommended a new domestic abuse policy for approval, with discussion of manager training and workplace support arrangements.

The committee focused on health and safety compliance work with clear procurement implications: external fire risk assessments were being progressed, legionella monitoring continued under contract and expanded to more sites, HR was moving away from Learning Pool toward a bolt-on iTrent training solution, and the council’s health and safety policies were being reviewed. Members also noted an ongoing amber corporate risk around the failure to properly risk assess council practices.

The committee focused on NHS Bassetlaw CCG plans to invest more than £4 million into community mental health services, while also consulting on moving inpatient mental health beds away from Bassetlaw District Hospital to Mansfield. Members raised strong concerns about travel, support networks, and the suitability of the current ward environment, and the CCG confirmed consultation activity is underway before a final governing body decision after the election.