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 Assistant Director for Legal and Governance (previously circulated); and

 

C.   The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2023 (previously circulated).

Additional documents:

2449.

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 Martin Allen, Brandon Clayton, Matt Dormer, Luke Mallett, and Andy Roberts.

2450.

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 working day before the meeting (in this case Wednesday 12 July). 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:

Viv Moss presented a petition and a dossier of photographs and videos and asked a question concerning flooding issues on  Walcot Lane and ford, Drakes Broughton, Pershore.

 

Mark Redfern asked a question about safeguarding vulnerable road users along Walcot Lane, Drakes Broughton, Pershore.

 

Bill Houle asked a question on behalf of the “Stop the Quarry Action Group” requesting the omission of Lea Castle Farm from the “Preferred Options” draft of the Mineral Site Allocations Development Plan.

 

The Chairman thanked Viv, Mark and Bill for their contribution and said they would receive a written response from the relevant Cabinet Member.

2451.

Minutes (Agenda item 3)

To approve as a correct record and authorise the signing of the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2023 (previously circulated electronically).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that subject to Cllr Salman Akbar being added to the list of attendees, the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

2452.

Chairman's Announcements (Agenda item 4) pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To receive any announcements to be made by the Chairman.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Noted.

2453.

Reports of Cabinet - Summary of decisions taken (Agenda item 5) pdf icon PDF 90 KB

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

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·         Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2021-2022

·         Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training and Automated External Defibrillators (AED) across the County

·         Developer Funded Highways Infrastructure Scrutiny Report

·         Consultation outcome in relation to charging for care and support

·         Resources Report – Provisional Financial Results 2022/23

·         Transfer of coroners officers to Worcestershire County Council.

2454.

Constitutional Matters - Council meeting dates 2024-25 (Agenda item 6) pdf icon PDF 90 KB

To consider a report on the Council Meeting dates 2024/25.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Council meeting dates were currently scheduled up to November May 2024. To enable the future meetings programme to be produced and help members plan their commitments, the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance suggested that further meetings of the Council were now scheduled for 2024 and through until the end of the next Municipal Year in 2025. In accordance with the usual practice and pattern of meetings, further meetings (Cabinet, Committees and Panels) would be arranged in the light of the Council dates and members notified in due course.

 

RESOLVEDthat the Council approves its meetings for 2024 and early 2025 as follows:

 

2024

 

11 July

12 September

7 November

 

2025

 

9 January

13 February

22 May (a week later than normal for the election)

 

2455.

Notices of Motion - Notice of Motion 1 - Local Farmers (Agenda item 7) pdf icon PDF 99 KB

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

 

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 Tuesday, 4 July.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

The motion was moved by Cllr Richard Udall and seconded by Cllr Mel Allcott 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:

 

“Worcestershire County Council recognises and notes the huge contribution made by our local farmers to the Worcestershire economy and its rural communities. Council calls upon the Cabinet Members Responsible to continue to work with our partners, interested parties and the NFU considering:

 

·         How Worcestershire County Council can develop stronger partnerships with our arable, livestock, and dairy farmers in order to enhance our magnificent countryside. How the Council can support farmers, by being sympathetic to diversification opportunities and promotion of local produce.

 

·         How to support our local farmers to market their produce to local events and organisations.

 

·         Ways to encourage residents, where possible, to shop locally, taking advantage of home-grown, affordable and nutritious food, both plant and meat based thus reducing food miles to our plates and boosting the local economy.

 

·         How as a council we can continue to support the Council’s County Farms estate, encouraging training and skills in farming and rural industries on our estates."

 

The mover and seconder of the motion accepted the amendment and the motion as amended became the substantive motion. Members spoke in favour of the motion with the following points being made:

 

·         Council should recognise the huge contribution of local farmers to the local and rural community. Supporting all farmers and growers was essential to the local economy and good for the environment. There were small things that could be done like supporting seasonal produce for Worcestershire events and promoting its use by local residents including local plant-based products. The sector had been left too long to the vagaries of the free market and needed intervention from national and local government. The Council should use its estates to promote the Council’s values and principles, to promote the local economy and new businesses, rural trades and industries especially for young people

·         The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Corporate Services and Communication commented that the motion as amended solidified and reinforced this Council’s commitment to the farming community. The Council continued to work with farmers and held regular meetings with representatives of the NFU

·         The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for the Environment commented that he had regular contact with the farming community and tenant farmers. There were a number of examples of partnership working. For example, the Council worked with partner organisations including farming and agriculture representatives on the Worcestershire Local Nature Partnership to develop areas of the county. This work included the sharing of grant-funded opportunities. In addition, the Council had been working with partner organisations on the Natural Networks Programme to deliver biodiversity enhancements across the county

·         The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2455.

2456.

Notices of Motion - Notice of Motion 2 - Worcestershire Pride (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 Cllrs Mel Allcott, Richard Udall, Dan Boatright-Greene and Luke Mallett.

 

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

 

The following amendment was moved by Cllr Marcus Hart and seconded by Cllr Emma Marshall:

 

“Council sends its support and greetings to Worcestershire Pride and the wider Worcestershire LGBTQIA+ community.

 

Worcestershire Pride is due to take place on Saturday 15th July, in Worcester City Centre.

 

Council also notes that a number of Pride events are held in other places across Worcestershire.

 

Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to request that the Cabinet Member for Communities investigate how even more support can be provided for Pride events in Worcestershire.

 

Council agrees that the Cabinet Member for Communities in their Cabinet role is the best person to champion this.

 

Council also agrees that the Cabinet Member for Communities should ensure that Worcestershire County Council works with all community groups and embraces diversity.”

 

Those in favour of the amendment commented:

 

·         The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Communities commented that the amendment recognised the value of pride events across the whole of the county, not just Worcester City. The Council should celebrate the progress made in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community over recent decades. As a general rule, this Council did not have member champions especially in this case as the role of championing the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community rested with him as the relevant Cabinet Member. The county had a very diverse community and it was important that this Council was inclusive and respected all members of the community

·         The Pride event in Redditch helped to bring the local community together to show the progress made in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, and that residents had more in common than divided them. The event had the added benefit of supporting local businesses in the town centre

·         All members of the Council were diversity champions under the Equalities Act therefore a separate member champion was not necessary. The position with regard to the Armed Forces Member Champion was different as different parties held different political stances

·         Any concerns about the quality of Equality Impact Statements should be raised with relevant officers

·         The Council should champion all sections of the community as a whole, not certain sections in isolation

·         As much as gender equality of representation on the Cabinet should be encouraged, it was important that the best person was appointed to the role irrespective of gender

 

Those against the amendment commented:

 

·         Although significant progress had been made in this country with respect to attitudes towards the LGBTQIA+ community, it was still important as a liberal country to promote Pride events. This Council should lead the way by providing support for local Worcestershire pride events

·         The Council had focussed on mental health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2456.

2457.

Notices of Motion - Notice of Motion 3 - LTP5 member engagement (Agenda item 7)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was insufficient time to consider this motion.

2458.

Reports of the Cabinet Members with Responsibility - Cabinet Member for Health and Well-being (Agenda item 8(a)) pdf icon PDF 589 KB

To receive the reports of the Cabinet Members with Responsibility for Health and Well-being and Highways and Transport on current issues and proposed developments within their areas of responsibility and to receive answers to any questions on the reports.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Well-being presented her report to Council which covered various topics. In particular, she thanked representatives of the voluntary sector and NHS for their support.

 

The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Well-being answered a broad range of questions from members.

 

The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Well-being for her report.

2459.

Reports of the Cabinet Members with Responsibility - Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport (Agenda item 8(b))

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport answered a broad range of questions from members.

 

The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport for his report.

2460.

Question Time (Agenda item 9) pdf icon PDF 86 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 Tuesday, 4 July 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:

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

2461.

Reports of Committees - Audit and Governance Committee (Agenda item 10 (a)) pdf icon PDF 83 KB

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report and commented that the Council’s draft Statutory Accounts had been published by the statutory deadline of 31 May 2023. Only a small number of top tier authorities had had their accounts signed off in time. The finance team were working with Grant Thornton, the Council’s external auditor to ensure that the final accounts were signed off by the statutory deadline of 30 September 2023.

 

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

2462.

Reports of Committees - Pensions Committee (Agenda item 10 (b))

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report and commented that the draft Pension Fund Statutory Accounts had been published by the statutory deadline of 31 May 2023. She highlighted the Fund’s excellent governance arrangements through the Stewardship Code, that the Fund was 96% funded, and that the Chief Executive of the LGPS Central had resigned and a replacement was being sought.

 

She recognised the dedicated service of Amanda Lewis, who would be retiring from her position of Membership Manager in October 2023 after over 30 years’ service.

 

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