Agenda and minutes

The members had before them:

A.    The Agenda papers (previously circulated);

B.    4 questions submitted to the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance (previously circulated); and

C.   The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2021 (previously circulated).

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

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Salman Akbar, Aled Evans, Laura Gretton, Bill Hopkins, Adrian Kriss, Aled Luckman, Linda Robinson, Craig Warhurst, and Shirley Webb.

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 Assistant Director for Legal and Governance in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the Monday before the meeting (in this case 10 January 2022). Further details are available on the Council’s website. Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed in this agenda and on the website.

Cllr Elizabeth Eyre presented a petition to work in partnership with Highways, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Safer Camera Partnership to address the dangers of the Evesham to Beckford stretch of the A46.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Eyre for her contribution and said she would receive a written response from the relevant Cabinet Member.

To approve as a correct record and authorise the signing of the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2021 (previously circulated electronically).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements to be made by the Chairman.

Noted.

To consider the reports of the Cabinet and to receive answers to any questions asked on the report of Cabinet – Summary of decisions taken.

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

·         Consideration of Specification and Land Acquisition for New Secondary School

·         Resources Report – Revenue Budget Monitoring – Month 6 (30 September) 2021/22

·         Fair Funding for Schools 2022-23 – National and Local Funding Arrangements for Schools

·         Policy and Process for the Determination of Penalties Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and Associated Legislation

·         Waste Management Service Contract.

To receive the report of the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance on any Notices of Motion received by him.

Councillors are asked to note that any Notices of Motion must be received by the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance no later than noon on 4 January 2022.

The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Cllr Elizabeth Eyre, Cllr Scott Richardson Brown, Cllr Richard Morris, Cllr David Chambers, and Cllr Brandon Clayton.

The motion was moved by Cllr Elizabeth Eyre and seconded by Cllr Scott Richardson Brown who both spoke in favour of it, and Council agreed to deal with it on the day.

In the ensuing debate, the following points were made:

·         A year long programme of events was being devised to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It was important to make the celebrations held in Worcestershire bigger than for any previous jubilee events. To start the celebrations, the Chairman should write to the Queen to offer loyal congratulations on behalf of the county’s residents and the Council

·         The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Corporate Services and Communication commented that the Queen had long-held connections and visited the County on many occasions prior to and during her reign. He wished to encourage residents throughout Worcestershire to hold street parties to celebrate the Jubilee. He highlighted the measures that would be put in place in partnership with district and parish councils to help facilitate the street parties and provided a brief snapshot of the programme of events which would tree-planting beacon-lighting and a garden party

·         The Queen and the royal family had contributed much to local charities in the county over many years

·         The country had benefited considerably from having an apolitical figurehead which meant that everyone was able to enjoy these celebrations. The commitment by the Council to support these events as outlined by the Cabinet Member was welcomed

·         The celebrations were particularly welcomed given the struggles people had experienced during the last couple of years because of the covid pandemic

·         The ability for councillors to be able to use their divisional funds to help support the jubilee celebrations was welcomed.

On being put to the vote, the motion which was agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED “This Council acknowledges the unique achievement of Her Majesty, The Queen, in being our longest-serving monarch; it commends her long life of service to our nation, our Commonwealth and many aspects of International life.

It requests the Chairman send loyal congratulations on behalf of our residents and agrees to support them and their communities, during the 4-day 2022 programme of events, around the County, as permitted by the Covid restrictions at the time: from facilitating road closures for street parties, to supporting tree plantings, to encouraging divisional funds appropriately to support the costs of celebrating her Platinum Jubilee.”

The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Cllr Mel Allcott, Cllr Josh Robinson, Cllr Jack Satterthwaite, Cllr Lynn Denham, Cllr Richard Udall, and Cllr Dan Boatright.

The motion was moved by Cllr Mel Allcott and seconded by Cllr Richard Udall who both spoke in favour of it, and Council agreed to deal with it on the day.

The following amendment was moved by Cllr Tony Miller and seconded by Cllr Emma Marshall and accepted as an alteration by the mover and seconder of the motion which therefore became the substantive motion:

“Council welcomes the focus of the new Environment Act 2021 (the 2021 Act) on Biodiversity which updates and strengthens the existing Biodiversity Duty on public bodies (including local authorities) contained in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC Act) and commits to doing the following:

•      In compliance with, and subject to, the requirements of the Act, produce a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (the Strategy) which will set out the priorities for protection and enhancement of biodiversity within the area covered by it, key habitats and geographical locations of focus.

•      Work with partners to review and update all existing relevant strategies.

•      Expand the mandate of the existing Member Advisory Group [on Low Carbon/Net Zero] to include biodiversity and assist with any future revision of the Strategy and report annually on actions taken.”

In the ensuing debate, the following points were made:

·         The protection and enhancement of Biodiversity was vital for our future. This was highlighted by the approximately a million species of animals and plants currently threatened with extinction. However, it was not too late to make a difference at all levels of government

·         The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Environment commented that the Council already had a Biodiversity Action Plan in place with a vision and a set of objectives up to 2028. The word “emergency” had been removed from the original motion because it was recognised that nature needed to develop. In addition, the proposals set out in the Motion formed part of the existing work of the Council (for example the Green Infrastructure Strategy was the subject of a review for completion in 2022). This work would take time to complete. The Member Advisory Group [on Low Carbon/Net Zero] was the appropriate forum to take this issue forward. The Cabinet Member then set out the biodiversity measures that the Council had already adopted

·         It was clear that tackling climate change and biodiversity losses were interlinked and therefore it was appropriate to expand the mandate of the existing Member Advisory Group [on Low Carbon/Net Zero]  to include biodiversity. The establishment of two separate Advisory Groups would add an unnecessary layer of complexity. A single group was a far more expedient way of addressing these time-sensitive issues. A holistic approach was required which worked across all sectors of government with a green thread running through all council policies. The Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2325.

The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Cllr Matt Jenkins, Cllr Natalie McVey, Cllr Beverley Nielsen, Cllr Tom Wells, and Cllr Martin Allen.

The motion was moved by Cllr Matt Jenkins and seconded by Cllr Natalie McVey who both spoke in favour of it, and Council agreed to deal with it on the day. The following amendment was moved by Cllr Karen May and seconded by Cllr Marcus Hart and accepted as an alteration by the mover and seconder of the motion which therefore became the substantive motion:

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on all our lives. In particular, it has highlighted and exacerbated the existing health inequalities that exist within our society.

There are various areas where these effects are felt, often cutting across the council departments of health, adult care and children’s services.

Examples of the concerns are:

•               The impact on children born during the pandemic

•               School readiness of children on free school meals

•               Worsening educational outcomes and risk for the most disadvantaged

•               Impact on mental health

•               All sectors of society that are socially and economically disadvantaged

This motion calls for this Council to request that all of the above issues are fully considered by the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.”

In the ensuing debate, the following points were made:

·         It was important to understand the health impacts of the pandemic on the residents of the county so that the Council could make the right decisions going forward. A scrutiny group should be established to undertake a cross-departmental investigation into the impact of the pandemic on the health of Worcestershire residents with a particular focus on health inequalities such as deprivation, low income and poor housing. Covid 19 had exacerbated the relationship between these inequalities and poor health. Particular focus was needed on learning disabilities, mental health, age, ethnicity, and Inclusion health groups such as the homeless and Gypsy Roma Travellers. The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment was an important document that highlighted the fact that the impacts of Covid 19 had not been felt equally in Worcestershire. It was likely that the impact of the pandemic would be felt for many years to come

·         The health impact of the pandemic on children born before or during the pandemic was not known. However, it had been recognised that there had been a negative impact on children of pre-school age in terms of impaired speech and language development. Young people had borne the brunt of the impact of the pandemic.

·         The full impact on quality of life and the number of local residents suffering with long-covid was not known

·         The scrutiny group was an ideal forum for local residents to share their stories about the impact of the pandemic

·         The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Well-being commented that Covid 19 had affected Worcestershire residents in many ways. There were some impacts that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2326.

To receive the annual report of the Leader of the Council and to receive answers to any questions on it.

The Leader of the Council presented his report.

The Leader then answered a broad range of questions from members.

The Chairman thanked the Leader for his report.

The report was noted.

To receive the annual report of the Chief Executive and any answers to questions on it.

The Chief Executive presented his report to Council which covered various topics.

The Chief Executive answered a broad range of questions from members.

The Chairman thanked the Chief Executive for his report.

To receive the annual report of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board and answers to any questions on it.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board (OSPB) introduced the report. He acknowledged the high standard of scrutiny work since the council elections in May which was testament to the work of scrutiny chairs. In future, the Annual report would be timetabled to fit in with the Municipal year and therefore the next scheduled report would be May 2023.

The Vice-Chairman of the Board welcomed the positive approach of the Chairman of OSPB, as well as the cross-party nature of the scrutiny work and the good work of the scrutiny panels and their chairs. He thanked officers and members of Cabinet for their support.

The Chairman answered questions on the report.

The report was noted.

To receive answers to any questions asked by Councillors.

(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 Assistant Director for Legal and Governance by noon on 4 January 2022 or

·         If it relates to urgent business, the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance is notified at least half an hour before the start of the meeting and the Chairman agrees the matter is urgent’.)

Four questions had been received by the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance and had been circulated in advance of the meeting. The answers to all the questions are attached in the Appendix.

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

a)    Audit and Governance Committee; and

b)    Pensions Committee.

The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report.

The Chairman undertook to provide a written response to a request for details of the number of amber and red risks on the Council’s Risk Register in relation to environmental recruitment and supplies.

The Council received the report of the Audit and Governance Committee containing a summary of the decisions taken.

The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report.

In response to a query about whether a timeframe had been established for the Fund to cease investing in fossil fuels, the Chairman of the Committee commented that the County Council’s Pension Fund invested its funds through the national pooling arrangements. The Pension Fund had adopted a Responsible Investment approach and was encouraging other organisations to do the same. It should also be noted that the Fund had a fiduciary responsibility to look after the pensions of employees and ex-employees and therefore a balance needed to be struck.

The Council received the report of the Pensions Committee containing a summary of the decisions taken.