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

 

C.   The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2022 (previously circulated).

Additional documents:

2333.

Apologies and Declaration of Interests (Agenda item 1)

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Aled Evans, Adam Kent, Luke Mallett, Jack Satterthwaite, and Craig Warhurst.

 

Cllr Tracey Onslow declared an interest in Agenda item 5 (a) 2022/23 Draft Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan Update 2022-24 as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

 

2334.

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 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 14 February 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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Heather McNeillis presented a petition relating to the repair of the pavements in the Gorse Hill area of Worcester.

 

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

 

2335.

Minutes (Agenda item 3)

To approve as a correct record and authorise the signing of the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2022 (previously circulated electronically).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

2336.

Chairman's Announcements (Agenda item 4)

To receive any announcements to be made by the Chairman.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Noted.

2337.

Reports of Cabinet - Matters which require a decision - 2022/23 Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan Update 2022-24 (Agenda item 5 (a)) pdf icon PDF 230 KB

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

 

a)    Reports of Cabinet – Matters which require a decision; and

b)    Report of Cabinet – Summary of decisions taken.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council had before it a detailed report on the 2022/23 Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan Update 2022-24, which Cabinet had considered on 3 February 2022 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 3 February 2022.

 

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and moved the recommendation as set out in paragraph 1 of the report; this was seconded by Cllr Adrian Hardman. The Leader commented that the report set out a growing budget for 2022/23 alongside an ambitious capital programme and medium term plan. He thanked all those who had contributed to preparing the budget paperwork. The budget process had been a good example of collaborative working with positive input from stakeholders, partners, staff, trade unions, scrutiny panels and the Overview Scrutiny and Performance Board (OSPB). The budget would help to improve services, invest in the county, and recover from the pandemic. The budget addressed the demand-led pressures in adult and children’s social care with an extra £25m investment to protect the most vulnerable in society. The budget would fund a three year capital programme totalling £146m providing certainty in the development of projects.

 

He added that the budget provided additional funding for the priorities identified as important and in need of improvement by residents in the Council’s residents survey. The three key area were: Better roads and pavements; tackling congestion; and public transport. Over the three year plan, an extra £36m would be invested in surfacing more roads, £12m for pavements, £11m for rail projects including a new rail station in Redditch, the continuation of the cutting congestion programme, major infrastructure projects and bus services. Further investment had been outlined to support economic development including the ‘Open for Business’ initiative. Support would be provided to deliver the net zero carbon plan and sustainability plans (in addition to the existing plan to plant 150k trees) and £6m to support the LED street lighting replacement programme helping to lower energy use and carbon emissions. Additional funding would be provided to improve the highways including: the highways control centre being open for seven days a week; more highways response teams and highways liaison officers; and more funds for highway drainage works.

 

The budget included funding to empower councillors including the continuation of the members divisional fund, an extension to the local members capital fund and £500k per annum for small scale works for example pedestrian crossings. The parish lengthsmans budget would also be uplifted to help parishes get more things done locally including £100k to support the Jubilee celebrations (which included the waving of the fee for road closures).

 

The budget included investment for the next generation with increased funding in education including the provision of additional school places to keep pace with a growing county. £53m had been included for additional school place including the development of a new secondary school.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2337.

2338.

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:

 

·         Mental Health Aftercare Arrangements as Required Under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983

·         Creation of an All Age Disability Service (0-25) Incorporating Adult Services Young Adult Team (YAT)

·         Transport Policy for Adult Social Care

·         National Bus Strategy.

 

2339.

Appointment of External Auditors (Agenda item 6) pdf icon PDF 152 KB

To consider an opt-in to the Public Sector Audit Appointments sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The recommendation was moved by the Leader of the Council and seconded by

the Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee.

 

In the ensuing debate, a query was raised about the loss of audit expertise to local government and increased costs following the abolition of the Audit Commission in 2014 with the external auditor role transferring to the private sector. The Leader of the Council responded that there was an option in these proposals for the Council to set up its own auditing arrangements but that was considered to be costly. Alternatively, the Council could work with another partner but that was not considered appropriate. The Council complied with the national arrangements for the appointment of external auditors and intended to use the PSAA approach.

 

RESOLVED that Council opt-in to the Public Sector Audit Appointments sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023.

2340.

Notices of Motion - Notice of Motion 1 - Real Living Wage (Agenda item 7) pdf icon PDF 206 KB

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 8 February 2022.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Cllr Lynn Denham, Cllr Mel Allcott, Cllr Luke Mallett, and Cllr Dan Boatright.

 

The motion was moved by Cllr Lynn Denham and seconded by Cllr Josh Robinson, who both spoke in favour of it, and Council agreed to deal with it on the day.

 

Those in favour of the motion commented:

 

·         The real living wage had been calculated at £9.90 an hour which contrasted with the national living wage which was set at £9.50 an hour from April 2022. However, the National Living Wage only applied to workers over 23 whereas the Real Living Wage applied to workers over 18 years of age. This meant that 18-20 year olds would only receive £6.83 an hour under the national living wage for doing the same job as an “adult”

·         Paying the Real Living Wage would improve staff relationships with management, improve recruitment and retention, improve staff information, and improve health and well-being. Worcestershire LEP had identified low wages as an issue across the county. The increase would be beneficial for the local economy with increased staff spending power.

·         The introduction of the national living wage had not had the negative impact on employment as some predicted. A recent Harvard University paper had indicated that wage increases of the lowest paid improved loyalty, productivity and delivered increased earnings for businesses. The introduction of the real living wage at a time when the cost of living was increasing in the post covid environment should be supported

·         The motion merely asked that the issue of introducing the real living wage be considered by the Cabinet Member. It was important to address issues associated with staff recruitment and retention because of the potential impact on service provision

·         In a time of financial pressures on families, the Council could set an example as a good employer to other businesses by adopting the real living wage. Lower paid employees were likely to spend more of their earnings locally

·         Bringing a motion to Council was a legitimate part of the Council’s constitution. It was still possible to undertake national pay bargaining whilst paying the real living wage as Worcester City Council had done. This motion was an opportunity to send a positive message to those staff affected.

 

Those against the motion commented:

 

·                The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economy and Skills commented that increasing the tax free allowance and a rise in the national minimum wage rise was the best way to tackle poverty. The motion would result in an increase in Council Tax at a time when the cost of living was rising. It would also mean a move away from national pay bargaining. The Council’s priority was not solely to protect the interest of its staff but also to consider the impact on local residents

·                The motion had not made any reference to the impact of the real living wage on private sector staff.          

 

On being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2340.

2341.

Notices of Motion - Notice of Motion 2 - Climate targets (Agenda item 7)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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, and Cllr Martin Allen.

 

The motion was moved by Cllr Beverley Nielsen and seconded by Cllr Natalie McVey, who both spoke in favour of it, and Council agreed to deal with it on the day.

 

This Notice of Motion was withdrawn by the signatories to the motion at the meeting on the basis that a representative of the GAIA group would be invited to attend meetings of the Sustainability and net Zero Member Advisory Group.

2342.

Report of the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Environment (Agenda item 8) pdf icon PDF 384 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Environment on current issues and proposed developments within his area of responsibility and to receive answers to any questions on the report.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Environment presented his report to Council which covered various topics.

 

The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Environment answered a broad range of questions from members.

 

The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Environment for his report

 

2343.

Question Time (Agenda item 9) pdf icon PDF 205 KB

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 8 February 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’.)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

2344.

Reports of Committees - Pensions Committee (Agenda item 10) pdf icon PDF 117 KB

To consider the report of the Pensions Committee and to receive answers to any questions asked on it.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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