Agenda and minutes

None.

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, three working days  before the meeting (in this case Monday 21 September 2020).  Further details are available on the Council's website.  Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed below.

Mr Peter Archer, resident of Astley in Worcestershire, asked that in the areas covered by Worcestershire County Council all cases of people identified as Covid-19 positive should be recorded and  made available daily on the WCC Website. The Leader undertook to obtain a written response for Mr Archer.

The Minutes of the meeting of 25 June 2020 have been previously circulated

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed as a

correct record.

The Cabinet considered the proposals for the future use of the Children’s Centre building known as Riverside Children’s Centre at Bewdley Primary School.

The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Children and Families summarised the report as proposing to incorporate the Riverside Centre into Bewdley Primary School and to extend the age range from 3-11  to 2–11 years. He emphasised that the proposal to authorise the Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Public Health to take necessary action and make decisions on this in future, would be with the proviso that Surestart services were provided. The Cabinet member confirmed that a consultation on the age group change had taken place in December 2109 and the majority of responders were in favour of the change.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills also commended the report to Cabinet. 

RESOLVED that:

(a)  the proposals for the future use of the Children’s Centre building Riverside Children Centre at Bewdley Primary School as outlined in the report be approved;

(b)  the Director of Children’s Services be authorised, in consultation with the Director of Commercial and Change, to take all necessary steps within their respective responsibilities to give effect to the above; and

(c)  the Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Education and Skills and Children and Families, be authorised to take all decisions in relation to the change of use of Children’s Centre buildings so long as they will continue to provide services under the definition of a Sure Start Children’s Centre, and the Director of Commercial and Change be authorised to agree appropriate terms for the future use of Children’s Centre buildings.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services confirmed that this report did not undermine the Section 75 agreement made by Worcestershire County Council on 1 April 2016, as the report only dealt with older mental health and learning disability provision. It was proposed to bring these services back in house to enable a specialist team to move away from generic care to a more focussed remit.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing endorsed the proposals and felt that service users would see very little change in service provision.

RESOLVED that:

(a)  Termination of the Agreement for Section 75 Integrated Provider Adult Mental Health, Older Adult Mental Health and Learning Disabilities with Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust with effect from 31 March 2021 be agreed;

(b)  that it be noted that the Council will resume direct management of all adult social care mental health functions and services with effect from 1 April 2021; and

(c)  the Strategic Director of People be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, by 1 April 2021 to:

·         enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Trust to ensure the delivery of personalised, place-based and integrated services to people with mental health difficulties, aligned to the Transforming Community Mental Health services pilot,

·         agree with the Trust the transfer of relevant staff to the Council in accordance with the TUPE Regulations,

·         agree with the Trust the arrangements for co-location of staff as appropriate,

·         establish an operational mental health social care function within the People Directorate within the existing budget

The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure reported that following delay due to Covid-19, the hearing sessions for the emerging  Minerals Local Plan were due to take place between 10 and 12 November 2020 at the Cricket Club in Worcester, and would also be streamed live.

RESOLVED that:

(a)  the Minerals and Waste Local Development Scheme (LDS) September 2020 – December 2023 be approved to come into effect on 30 September 2020;

(b)  the Strategic Director of Economy and Infrastructure be authorised to make minor amendments to the LDS prior to publication;

(c)  during the period 2020-2023, the Strategic Director of Economy and Infrastructure be delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, to approve updates to the Mineral and Waste Local Development Scheme, subject to call-in; and

(d)  that an updated Mineral and Waste Local Development Scheme be returned to Cabinet for approval in 2023.

The Leader summarised the report which set out the outturn forecast for this financial year as at month 4, the estimated financial impact of Covid-19 as well as the progress on the savings and reforms programme. The report included details of the extra support that had come from Government for the response phase of the Covid-19 pandemic and risks arising from the impact of the pandemic to income.

The Cabinet recognised the work undertaken to deliver various capital projects across the County, and thanked officers in the Economy and Infrastructure Directorate for their work on these schemes.  

RESOLVED that:

a)    The conclusions concerning revenue budget monitoring up to 31 July 2020 be endorsed;

b)   the financial impact and forecast for COVID-19 expenditure be noted;

c)    the current progress regarding savings plans approved by Council in February 2020 be noted;

d)   the conclusions concerning capital budget monitoring up to 31 July 2020 be noted;

e)    Council be recommended to approve the updated Capital Programme at Appendix 7; and

f)     the report on borrowing and lending transactions during 2019/20 detailed in paragraphs 59 to 60 and Appendix 8 of the report be noted.