Agendas, Meetings and Minutes - Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: County Hall, Worcester

Contact: Simon Lewis  Committee Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

Available papers

The Members had before them:

 

A.    The Agenda papers (previously circulated);

 

B.    7 questions submitted to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (previously circulated); and

 

C.   The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2018 (previously circulated).

Additional documents:

1976.

Apologies and Declaration of Interests (Agenda item 1)

To receive apologies and invite any councillor to declare any interest in any items on the agenda.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Mr R W Banks, Ms P A Hill, Mrs M A Rayner and Mr C B Taylor.

1977.

Public Participation (Agenda item 2)

To allow a member of the public to present a petition, or ask a question relating to the functions of the Council, or to make a comment on any matter on the agenda.

 

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case Wednesday, 14 February 2018). Further details are available on the Council’s website. Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed below.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Ms Danby presented a petition calling upon the County Council to maintain funding for Ludlow Road, Kidderminster, NHS short breaks service, and keep it open.

 

The Chairman thanked Ms Danby for the petition and said she would receive a written reply from the relevant Cabinet Member.

 

Ms Hamilton presented a petition requesting a reduction to the speed limit and having a permanent crossing outside St Mary's School on Leamington Road, Broadway.

 

The Chairman thanked Ms Hamilton for the petition and said she would receive a written reply from the relevant Cabinet Member.

 

Mrs E A Eyre presented a petition on behalf of Broadway First School requesting a permanent crossing located near the bus stop and a reduction in the speed limit on Leamington Road, Broadway.

 

The Chairman thanked Mrs E A Eye for the petition and said she would receive a written reply from the relevant Cabinet Member.

1978.

Minutes (Agenda item 3)

To approve as a correct record and authorise the signing of the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2018 (previously circulated electronically).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2018 be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Chairman.

1979.

Chairman's Announcements (Agenda item 4)

To receive any announcements to be made by the Chairman.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Noted.

1980.

Reports of Cabinet - Matters which require a decision by Council - 2018-19 Budget and Council Tax (Agenda item 5(a)) pdf icon PDF 210 KB

To consider the reports of the Cabinet and to receive answers to any questions asked on those reports as follows:

 

a)    Report of Cabinet – Matters which require a decision by Council (Yellow pages) (To follow); and

b)    Report of Cabinet – Summary of decisions taken (White pages) (To follow).

 

All Councillors have access to the full Budget and Council Tax report and Appendices considered by the Cabinet on 8 February 2018.  Additional hard copies are in the Group rooms and Members' lounge or available on request.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council had before it a detailed report on the Budget for 2018-19, which the Cabinet had considered on 8 February 2018 and which the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet were recommending for adoption by the Council.

 

All Councillors had received or had access to the full report and Appendices considered by the Cabinet on 8 February 2018.

 

The Leader introduced the report and moved the recommendation as set out in paragraph 1 of the report; this was seconded by Mr A I Hardman. The Leader explained that the budget papers were the culmination of nearly a year's work in consultation with partner organisations. He thanked all those who contributed including the detailed work of the OSPB and scrutiny panels and views made through extensive consultation exercise. The plans sought to address the budget gap by growing income, increasing Council Tax and business rates, better utilising assets and using capital rather than revenue funds where possible, and reforming the way the Council worked whilst delivering vital services and the investments that the public wished to see.

 

The Council's net budget was growing rather than shrinking. The Council faced challenges as a result of demands and costs growing faster than income. The Council remained a significant employer in the county and the Council should pride itself on the work undertaken by staff to deliver services. The budget provided the resources to continue to deliver the Council's ambitious Corporate Plan "Shaping Worcestershire's Future" and addressed issues highlighted by the public namely protecting vulnerable adults; improving roads and pavements; and cutting congestion.  

 

Demand-led services accounted for two thirds of the Council's spend and the proposals ensured that these services were adequately resourced with an extra £10.5m ongoing revenue funding allocated to Children's Social Care and £7.8m for Adult Social Care to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society were supported.

 

The budget included highways infrastructure capital investment of £37.5m. This committed an extra £3m pa for the next 3 years to ensure the county's roads and pavements were amongst the best in the country. The budget included investment in infrastructure to cut congestion and continue economic growth for example, the Pershore Northern Link Road, flood mitigation schemes, capital programme projects totalling £95m for 2018/19, and Government funded schemes such as, the Southern Link Road, walking/cycling routes in Bromsgrove, cutting congestion in Worcester City Centre, the Churchfields development in Kidderminster and Worcestershire Parkway. This programme would support the local economy which was one of the fastest growing in the country.

 

To fund this programme, it was necessary to increase Council Tax by approximately an extra £1 per week for an average Band D property. 3% of the rise in Council Tax would directly fund Adult Social Care. 1.94% would fund other highlighted proposals. He appreciated the difficulties this rise would cause for local taxpayers but emphasised that this Council remained one of the lowest Council Taxes in the country. He thanked all those who had lobbied the Government and noted the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1980.

1981.

Reports of Cabinet - Summary of decisions taken (Agenda item 5 (b))

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council reported the following topics and questions were answered on them:

 

·         Future provision of Replacement Care Services for Adults with a Learning Disability

·         Special Educational Need and/or a Disability (SEND) Strategy

·         Switch in Hosting of Joint Museums Committee

·         Future Use of The Grange, Kidderminster.

1982.

Notices of Motion - Notice of Motion 1 - Discarded plastics and non-recyclables (Agenda item 6) pdf icon PDF 170 KB

To receive the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services on any Notices of Motion received by him (Lilac pages). 

 

Councillors are asked to note that any Notices of Motion must be received by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services no later than noon on Thursday, 8 February 2018.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A Point of Order was raised that a Notice of Motion submitted by the Labour Group in accordance with the constitutional timescales, urging the Council to write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor to reconsider the transitional pension changes for women born on or after 6 April 1950 had been ruled out of order by the Chairman in advance of the meeting. It was argued that the motion was relevant and should be put before Council. The Chairman ruled that, having regard to the constitution which states that motions should only deal with county functions and matters affecting the county, this issue was a national issue and therefore was inappropriate for consideration by Council.    

 

The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Mrs E B Tucker, Prof J W Raine, Mr M E Jenkins and Mrs F M Oborski.

 

The motion was moved by Mrs E B Tucker and seconded by Prof J W Raine who both spoke in favour of it.

 

The Chairman also invited Group Leaders or their nominees to contribute before the Motion stood referred to Cabinet.

 

As the Motion was in relation to the exercise of an executive function it then stood referred to the Cabinet for a decision.

1983.

Notices of Motion - Notice of Motion 2 - Single-use plastics (Agenda item 6)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Mr P M McDonald, Mr R M Udall, Mr R C Lunn, Mr P Denham, Mr C J Bloore and Mr L C R Mallett.

 

The motion was moved by Mr P M McDonald and seconded by Ms C M Stalker who both spoke in favour of it.

 

The Council agreed to deal with the motion on the day.

 

The following amendment was moved by Mr M E Jenkins and seconded by Mrs F M Oborski who both spoke in favour of it:

 

"That this Council asks Cabinet to join others in the battle against single-use plastics by introducing a programme to stop providing plastic cups, bottles, cutlery and straws at all its buildings, cafes, and public events by the end of the year."

 

The mover and seconder accepted the amendment which became the substantive motion as altered.

 

Those in favour of the motion made the following comments:

 

·         Bearing in mind the damage to the natural environment, this Council should take the lead in banning the use of single use plastics. Efforts should be made to ensure that any form of pollutant, including plastic be banned and a sustainable alternative be found to reduce global warning and protect wildlife. This motion cost the Council little or nothing but helped create a cleaner environment for the future

·         The reduction in the use of single use plastics would lower the amount of rubbish sent to landfill, create less litter in public places and do less harm to wildlife

·         Some of the Council's contractors might already have ordered their products and therefore it was more realistic to introduce a programme to reduce the use of single-use plastics rather than vow to stop their use by the end of the year.

 

The following amendment was moved by Mr A P Miller and seconded by Mr M J Hart:

 

"That this Council asks Cabinet to join others in the battle against single-use plastic by encouraging the use of alternative materials for cups, bottles, cutlery and straws at all its buildings, cafes and public events."

 

Those in favour of the amendment made the following comments:

 

·         The Cabinet Member for the Environment commented that the Council was already doing a considerable amount in terms of education. In addition, negotiations had begun with contractors to cease the use of single use plastics. The Council should seek to influence and take people along with its proposals to engender a better response. The time limit set out in the substantive motion was unnecessarily restrictive

·         The Leader of the Council indicated that the Council needed to engage with the public about the benefits of using different types of material. A detailed report would be considered at the meeting of Cabinet in April in response to Notice of Motion 1

·         It was not possible to prohibit the use of single-use plastics in all circumstances.

 

Those against the amendment made the following comments:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1983.

1984.

Notices of Motion - Notice of Motion 3 - The Operating Model of the Council (Agenda item 6)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Mr P M McDonald, Mr R M Udall, Mr R C Lunn, Mr P Denham, Mr C J Bloore and Mr L C R Mallett.

 

The motion was moved by Mr R M Udall and seconded by Mr P M McDonald who both spoke in favour of it.

 

The Council agreed to deal with the motion on the day.

 

An amendment that the wording "… based on Worcestershire being a Co-operative Council .." be removed from the motion was put forward by Mrs F M Oborski. The original mover and seconder accepted this amendment which became the substantive motion.

 

Those in favour of the motion made the following comments:

 

·         The problems experienced with Carilion and other private contractors showed that public services should not be left to the vagaries of the free market. This motion asked the Council to look at other ways of operating to share wealth, opportunity and prosperity. The co-operative business model had operated successfully in both the public and private sector. The model placed responsibility in the hands of the individual. Too many officers and members failed to recognise the important contribution of service users. Service users needed to be trusted to manage their own affairs

·         The current operating model was not working in the best interests of the public or the local economy. The co-operative model increased transparency and accountability in local public services and delivered more social economies sensitive to local differences as well as empowerment of communities. The Council would have a new role as civil leaders with genuine co-operation and collective action

·         It was good practice to review the way the Council worked and the proposed cross party Committee was welcomed albeit with a revised terms of reference to that suggested in the original motion

·         A number of different councils had brought previously out-sourced public services back in-house during 2017

·         There were many different forms of the co-operation as an operating model. Council needed a clear understanding and consideration of how the co-operative model could work for the Council and not reject it out-of-hand.

 

Those against the motion made the following comments:

 

·         The creation of a committee to look at different models of operation seemed reasonable however the original motion pre-determined the outcome of that review and that was not acceptable

·         The example of the Co-operative Group was not a good basis for considering a change to the Council's operating Model. This Council's approach to commissioning was mature and the Council should continue to try to remodel the market for the benefit of the residents of Worcestershire

·         The Cabinet Member for Transformation and Commissioning commented that the Council was a successful commissioning authority with a blended approach to providing services. There had been issues with service delivery but the Council had acted swiftly and effectively to resolve them. Contracts were robustly monitored and managed

·         The Leader of the Council commented that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1984.

1985.

Report of the Cabinet Member with Responsibility (Agenda item 7) pdf icon PDF 116 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Transformation and Commissioning on current issues and proposed developments within her area of responsibility and to receive answers to any questions on the report (Green pages)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Transformation and Commissioning presented her report which concerned a number of overarching issues:

 

·         Human Resources and Organisational Development

·         Transformation Programme

·         Property

·         Digital and Customer Service

·         Commercial Team

·         Communication

·         Legal and Democratic Services

 

The Cabinet Member answered questions about her report which included the following topics:

 

·         Suspended employees

·         Reduction in the number of employees

·         Graduate and post graduate programmes

·         Long term sickness

·         Exit interviews for staff leaving the Council

·         Audit of severance arrangements

·         The exodus of senior staff from the Council

·         Commissioning staff training in different operating models in particular the Co-operative model

·         Progression of the 100 day plan for the HR and Finance system and its end date

·         Savings from the Transformation Programme

·         Small holding tenancy

·         the total cost of the Superfast Broadband Programme and progress towards 100% digital transformation

·         DoLS Authorisation for Worcestershire Funded Residents – safeguards built into the process and the benefits delivered to service users

·         The number of contracts tendered over the last 2 years

·         The involvement of external contractors in the running of the 2 datacentres and the level of their financial contribution

·         The percentage of contracts awarded to small businesses

·         The process to procure consultant services

·         Cyber security –the type of threats, the number of attacks and any data breaches arising

·         Technology partnerships with district councils

·         Consultations on future use of services– training for officers to ensure a consistent approach to questions and interpretation of answers

·         Residents' Viewpoint Survey – The number of respondents from the Rainbow Hill Division

·         The Corporate Risk Register – the levels of risk in red and amber

·         The level of debt that the Council had carried forward resulting from uncollected domiciliary care fees

·         Staff Survey "Your Voice" – Interpretation of results

·         Legal Services contracts.

 

1986.

Question Time (Agenda item 8) pdf icon PDF 124 KB

To receive answers to any questions asked by Councillors (Orange pages).

 

(Members are reminded of the timescale adopted by Council for notice of questions. A Councillor may only ask a question if:

 

·         It is delivered in writing to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services by noon on Monday 12 February 2018 or

·         If it relates to urgent business, the Head of Legal and Democratic Services is notified at least half an hour before the start of the meeting.)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Seven questions had been received by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services had been circulated in advance of the meeting. The answers are attached in the Appendix.