Agenda and minutes

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 9 November 2023 (previously circulated).

A Minute’s silence was held and tributes paid to Cllr Peter Griffiths as well as former councillors Ken Pollock and Margaret Wills who had sadly passed away.

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 Alastair Adams, Tony Miller, Jo Monk, Beverley Nielsen and Craig Warhurst.

The following councillors declare an interest in Agenda item 6 as members of the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority: Alan Amos, Dan Boatright-Greene, Bob Brookes, David Chambers, Brandon Clayton, Allah Ditta, Elizabeth Eyre, Adrian Hardman, Ian Hardiman, Marcus Hart, Emma Marshall, Natalie McVey, Dan Morehead, Richard Morris, Linda Robinson, Kit Taylor, Richard Udall and Tom Wells.

Cllr Marc Bayliss declared an interest in Agenda item 5 as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and did not take part in the debate.

Cllr Salman Akbar declared an interest in Agenda item 7 (b) Reports of Cabinet -Summary of Decisions Taken in relation to Fair Funding for Schools 2024/25 - National and Local Funding Arrangements for Schools as his wife is a trainee teacher.

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 10 January 2024). 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.

Sam Ammar presented a petition about the repair and resurfacing of Grafton Crescent, Bromsgrove.

Jessie Jaggers asked questions about the collapse of a footpath known as "the slip" on Northwick Marina in Claines.

The Chairman thanked Sam and Jessie for their contribution and said they 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  9 November 2023 (previously circulated electronically).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements to be made by the Chairman.

The Chairman recognised the difficult times experienced by local residents during the latest flooding in the county and his thoughts were with them during this difficult time.

Noted.

An opportunity for councillors to ask questions of the Police and Crime Commissioner about his priorities and local policing plans. It is planned that the Temporary Chief Constable will also attend this meeting.

The Chairman welcomed John Campion, the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, to the meeting. The Chairman also welcomed and introduced Alex Murray, the Temporary Chief Constable of West Mercia Police.

Both the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Temporary Chief Constable gave a brief presentation of their respective roles, their vision for the future and the current state of policing in Worcestershire. The Police and Crime Commissioner and the Temporary Chief Constable then answered a wide range of questions posed by members.

The Chairman thanked Mr Campion and Mr Murray for their attendance.

To consider the annual report of the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority to be presented by Cllr Kit Taylor, Chairman and to receive answers to any questions asked about this report. It is planned that the Chief Fire Officer will attend the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed Jonathon Pryce, the Chief Fire Officer, to the meeting. The Chairman of the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority, Cllr Kit Taylor, presented his report to the Council and he and Mr Pryce answered a wide range of questions asked by members of the Council.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Taylor and Mr Pryce for their attendance.

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.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and commented that the capital programme needed updating to reflect the announcement of additional funding and contributions relating to schools funded by the Basic Needs Grant, High Needs Provision Capital and Section 106 contributions. The Council was seeing the impact of inflationary pressures on some capital schemes in the capital programme. The Council was re-evaluating the need for additional build or capacity to mitigate that pressure.

The Leader undertook to provide a written answer to a query about the original capital programme budget and variations in the revised budget for 2023/24 and future years.

It was queried whether the Council was using borrowing as a means to deliver the capital programme and what was the revenue impact of that borrowing. The Leader of the Council responded that a fully revised capital programme would form part of the budget proposals. These were minor adjustments to the capital programme as a result of additional income and contributions. There were some savings and offsets set out in paragraph 5 of the report. The capital programme would always be subject to change.

RESOLVED that the variations to the Capital Programme as detailed in paragraphs 4 – 6 of the report and the updated Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix 5 of the Cabinet Report be approved.

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

·         Local Nature Recovery Strategy

·         Resources Report – Revenue Budget Monitoring – Month 6 (30 September) 2023/24

·         The New Foxlydiate First School

·         Expansion of Car Park at Worcestershire Parkway Rail Station

·         Scrutiny Report: Developer Funded Highways Infrastructure

·         Adults Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy

·         Adult Social Care Strategy

·         Fair Funding for Schools 2024/25 - National and Local Funding Arrangements for Schools, and

·         Visit Worcestershire - Destination Management Plan.

To consider (a) Political Balance; and (b) an appointment to the Independent Remuneration Panel.

(a) Political Balance

The Leader introduced the report and commented that Cllr Bill Hopkins had left the Conservative Group to become an independent and in line with the rules of political balance was entitled to an allocation of two seats. It was proposed that Cllr Hopkins retained his seats on the Planning and Regulatory Committee and Waste Credit Governance Committee.

RESOLVED thatthe recalculation of political balance set out as an Appendix to the report be approved and the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance be required to give effect to it in accordance with the nominations from the respective Group leaders from time to time.

(b)  Appointment to Independent Remuneration Panel

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and commented that following the recruitment process, Mr Stefanovic had been recommended for approval by Council  to serve as a member of the Independent Remuneration Panel for the period up to 30 November 2027. Further recruitment to the Panel would be necessary in the near future and he gave an assurance that every effort would be made to recruit a more diverse panel. It was considered that Mr Stefanovic had the necessary skills and expertise to undertake the role. It was important that the Panel was able to meet and produce a report in a relatively short period of time.

In the ensuing debate, it was commented that the lack of any female nominees or members on the Panel meant that not only was the Panel not representative of the population of Worcestershire but not of the membership of the Council. The Leader responded that Mr Stefanovic was the only application received for the position. He acknowledged that the next recruitment exercise needed to be as wide-ranging as possible to address the lack of diversity on the Panel.

RESOLVED that the appointment of Paul Stefanovic to the Independent Remuneration Panel for a term of office ending 30 November 2027 be approved.

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 2 January 2024.

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

The motion was moved by Cllr Lynn Denham 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 Mike Rouse:

“This Council believes that scrutiny is essential to democracy in the cabinet system of local or national government.  We note that since the closure of the upper floors of County Hall due to risks from RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) in September 2023, there has been no webcast of either Cabinet or scrutiny committees available to the public.

Council therefore requests the Cabinet Member with responsibility brings a report to scrutiny to consider how we can provide access to online recordings of all public council meetings within our buildings.”

Those in favour of the amendment commented:

·      The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Corporate Services and Communication commented that historically not all Council meetings had been recorded. Council and Cabinet meetings had been recorded for some time and then more recently overview and scrutiny meetings had been recorded. The Council was fully meeting its statutory duty to allow public access to public meetings although he acknowledged the need to provide access to the wider public. It was not possible to insist that other buildings outside the Council’s control provided equipment to enable the recording of meetings. The original motion would have resulted in spending that would not be subject to scrutiny and might not be technically possible as part of the logistical challenges of the rooms available. He was keen to find a satisfactory solution to provide recording of public meetings hence the proposed amendment which requested that a report be brought to a scrutiny meeting

·       It was appropriate for scrutiny to look at the online recording of public meetings to ensure that the most appropriate solution was found

·       The amendment recognised the potential cost implications of the recording meetings

·       If members of the public and journalists were interested in the business at a particular meeting, they should attend that meeting in person

·       In response to points made in the debate, the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Corporate Services and Communication added that there was no intention to cause delay, There were a number of variables involved in recording meetings and the aim of the amendment was to be pragmatic and recognise the need for budget scrutiny. He had to be extremely cautious about committing to a course of action that could cost significant sums of money. A report would be brought to the next available Corporate and Communities Scrutiny Committee.

Those against the amendment commented:

·         The Council merely needed to acquire some basic technology to undertake the filming of meetings which could be achieved at relatively little cost. The amendment used the word “consider” but  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2500.

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 2 January 2024 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’.)

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 six questions were provided at the meeting. There was insufficient time to ask Question 7. 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;

b)    Pensions Committee; and

c)    Planning and Regulatory Committee.

The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report and commented that the final Statement of Accounts had been signed off on 15 December 2023 with an unqualified opinion from the external auditor. This Council was the first County Council in the country to have their Accounts signed off. He thanked the Section 151 Officer, Phil Rook and his team for their excellent work and professionalism over the last 12 months. The recent track record of the Council in the signing off its Accounts in a timely fashion indicated that the Council had a first-class finance team and excellent audit processes and systems in place.

The Chairman added his thanks to the excellent achievement of Phil Rook and his finance team in signing off the Accounts in such a timely fashion.

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

It was queried how much of the Pension Fund had invested directly into fossil fuel companies. In response, the Chairman of the Pensions Committee explained that the Fund did not directly invest in companies. The investment was via an investment manager or “fund of fund” investments. Indirectly therefore the Fund did have a small carbon footprint but its focus and requirements to all the fund managers was Responsible Investment, Environmental, Social and Governance issues, properly taken care of and better managed risk and sustainability long-term. The Fund had developed a Climate Risk Strategy, published an annual Climate Risk report together with a Climate Related Financial Disclosure. The direction of travel was to improve the Fund’s carbon footprint. The carbon footprint of all equities was 30.1% below benchmark. The majority of this reduction had been achieved between 2020 and 2022. In November 2021, the Fund transitioned out of a very carbon intensive passive equity fund and invested £200m in a climate multi-factor fund. The Fund was doing all it could but the Fund had a fiduciary responsibility to its members and to meet its liabilities.

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

The Council received the report of the Planning and Regulatory Committee containing a summary of the decisions taken.