Agenda and minutes

The members had before them:

A.    The Agenda papers (previously circulated);

B.    5 questions submitted to the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance (previously circulated); and

C.   The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2022 (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, David Chambers, Aled Luckman, Luke Mallett, Jack Satterthwaite, Emma Stokes and Shirley Webb.

Cllr Adrian Hardman declared an Other interest in Notice of Motion 2 as a recipient of a pension from the BBC.

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 Democratic Governance and Scrutiny Manager 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 11 January 2023). 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.

Mrs Hannah Windross presented a petition concerning security improvements at the Fairfield centre site, Warndon, Worcester.

The Chairman thanked Mrs Windross 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 10 November 2022 (previously circulated electronically).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements to be made by the Chairman.

Noted.

A Minute’s silence was held in memory of former county councillors Mr Paul Mills and Mr Bob Peachey who had sadly passed away.

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:

·         A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP)

·         Fair Funding For Schools 2023-24 – National And Local Funding Arrangements For Schools, and

·         Resources Report – Revenue Budget Monitoring – Month 7 (31 October) 2022/23.

To consider a report on the appointment of a Vice-Chairman of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Council considered the appointment of a Vice-Chairman of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

In the ensuing debate, the nomination of Cllr Frances Smith was moved and seconded and commended to Council.

RESOLVED that the nominee of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC), Cllr Frances Smith, be appointed as Vice Chairman of the HOSC.

To receive the report of the Democratic Governance and Scrutiny Manager on any Notices of Motion received by her.

Councillors are asked to note that any Notices of Motion must be received by the Democratic Governance and Scrutiny Manager no later than noon on 3 January 2023.

The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Cllr Mel Allcott, Cllr Andy Fry, Cllr Jack Satterthwaite, Cllr Luke Mallett, Cllr Lynn Denham, and Cllr Richard Udall.

The motion was moved by Cllr Mel Allcott and seconded by Cllr Lynn Denham who both spoke in favour of it.

In accordance with Procedural Standing Order no. 29.3, the Motion stands referred to the meeting of Council on 16 February pending a report by the Monitoring Officer.

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

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

The following amendment was moved by Cllr Adam Kent and seconded by Cllr Marc Bayliss:

“Council recognises and values the contribution to Worcestershire life and society made by BBC radio stations, such as BBC Hereford and Worcester. The use of BBC local radio is an important part of the council’s ability to communicate with local residents at times of emergency or natural disaster. Council calls upon the BBC’s Director General to prioritise funding for BBC local radio stations in order to maintain local programming, scheduling, reporting and broadcast quality.”

Those in favour of the amendment commented:

·         The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Corporate Services and Communication highlighted the work of other local and community radio stations in Worcestershire and beyond aside from the BBC and the importance of maintaining a wide-range of local media with different views. He stated his support and concern for the future of local radio but the allocation of resources was a matter for the Director General of the BBC not the Government and the letter should be directed accordingly

·         The BBC’s move to more regionally-based local radio would have a negative impact on the viability of local newspapers

·         The BBC had plenty of alternative funding streams other than taxation and had sufficient funds to support local radio if it chose to do so.

Those against the amendment commented:

·         Massive cuts to local radio were proposed by the BBC which would impact on this Council’s ability to communicate with its residents, particularly in a crisis. The original motion was addressed to the Secretary of State because the reduction in the funding to the BBC was a decision that had been made by the Government

·         It was queried whether the amendment negated the original motion because the meaning of the motion had been lost. The Democratic Governance and Scrutiny Manager explained the changes made to the original motion, most notably the plea to the Director General of the BBC rather than the Secretary of State. She advised that the overall thrust of the motion had been retained in the amendment which was to provide support and resources to local radio

·         The Government had restricted the funding available to the BBC and the appointment of BBC governors was not an independent process which indicated an element of politicisation in the funding arrangements for the BBC

·         The BBC did not represent a threat to local newspapers. It was an important institution nationally and locally and more was needed to be done to protect it.

On being put to a vote, the amendment was carried and put as the substantive motion.

Those in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2414.

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

The motion was moved by Cllr Matt Jenkins and seconded by Cllr Beverley Nielsen who both spoke in favour of it.

In accordance with Procedural Standing Order no. 29.3, the Motion stands referred to the meeting of Council on 16 February pending a report by the Monitoring Officer.

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 Democratic Governance and Scrutiny Manager by noon on 3 January 2023 or

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

Five questions had been received by the Democratic Governance and Scrutiny Manager 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 Audit and Governance Committee introduced the report and commented that the Annual Statutory Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022 had yet to be signed off by Grant Thornton, the Council’s external auditor. He hoped that this would be achieved by the end of January. To date, no other top tier authority had had their accounts signed off by external audit. He remained optimistic that this Council would be amongst the first in the country.

In response to a query about the recruitment of the post of Chief Internal Auditor, the Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee explained that the Council was currently buying in an external internal audit service for 2 days a week. A Worcestershire-wide option had been considered but ruled out. Subsequently, the Council had advertised the post in the job market and it was hoped to make an appointment in due course.

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

The Chairman of the Pensions Committee undertook to provide a written answer to Cllr Beverley Nielsen in response to her query about the Pension Fund’s investment policy for place-based impact assessments, as well as the definition of and investment levels in place-based initiatives.

The Chairman of the Pensions Committee undertook to provide a written answer to Cllr Natalie McVey to provide an update on the latest position with regard to recruitment to the 13 vacancies in the pension administration team.

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