Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Dormer and Webb, the Council Leader Simon Geraghty and Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Communities, Marcus Hart.

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 on the working day before the meeting (in this case 28 March 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.

None.

(previously circulated).

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 30 January and 27 February 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Assistant Director for Communities introduced the update and reminded the Board that it was now over a year since the launch of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme for those fleeing the war in Ukraine. She added that Worcestershire was absolutely punching above its weight in supporting the Scheme.

Further to the information set out in the report, there would now be some additional funding to support English as a Second Language (ESOL) learning, in recognition that this would be a big step in helping Ukrainians into employment.

The Head of Registration, Coroners and the Resettlement Service made the following additional points:

·       The Scheme was based on a ‘One Worcestershire’ approach, with the Council’s role centered around initial support and ongoing assistance, and District Councils being the front facing part in looking after Ukrainian guests and hosts.

·       Hosts had made a huge leap of faith in welcoming Ukrainians into their homes.

·       The experience had presented challenges to the District Councils, being a new experience to them, therefore the move to consolidate the workforce involved in the Scheme had worked very well.

·       The local data recording system created to fill the gaps in the national system had been a very important tool in co-ordinating support and awareness of any issues for guests or hosts.

·       Every child had been offered a primary or secondary school place and the Council was working with the District Councils to offer post-16 education.

·       The main challenges related to education, mental health and housing.

·       Guests may choose to move to their own accommodation for a variety of reasons, including wanting to settle permanently.

The Chairman invited questions, which were grouped as follows:

Funding

• The question was asked about the number of Ukrainian refugees who had arrived this year, which the Officers would confirm (believed to be around 150). The Officers pointed out that from January 2023 the amount provided to Local Authorities per person had reduced from £10,500 to £5,900, however there was now funding specifically for housing, including a pot of £150m to provide support in general as well as a £500m Local Authority Housing Fund.
• The Officers would verify whether the tax-free thankyou payment to host families was declarable as part of income declared to the Inland Revenue.
• In response to a question about the reasons for the dramatic reduction in funding per refugee from January 2023, the Officers advised that no formal explanation had been given, although separate funding was now available for housing, as referred to.
• In response to further concern about a potential shortfall in funding in the absence of any guarantees on the amounts which would be allocated to Worcestershire from the separate funding pots, the Officers clarified that District Councils were invited to bid for the £500m fund, however it was not yet known how the further £150m fund would be apportioned.
• The Officers would confirm which District Councils had been successful in bidding for the Local Authority Housing Fund and what the pooled funding of £10,500 per person had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1311.

The Board considered the draft 2023/24 Work Programme as part of the overall refresh of Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Work Programmes, and agreed the following actions:

Update on the relocation of Redditch Library – timing was important, to enable pre-scrutiny of proposals prior to Cabinet’s consideration in May, therefore the update would be scheduled for either the OSPB or the Corporate and Communities O&S Panel, whichever meeting date fitted the timescale.

Draft Scrutiny Report: Developer-funded Highways Infrastructure and Section 278 Technical Approval – the Lead Member of the Task Group, Cllr Adams requested a new date for the OSPB 27 April meeting, so that he would be able to attend. The Scrutiny Officers would confirm the date, provisionally agreed for 28 April.

Annual Crime and Disorder Meeting – the Lead Member, Cllr Udall would give consideration to invitees.

Royal Mail Service – would be added to the Work Programme.

The Scrutiny Panel Chairmen/Lead Members provided an update on recent Scrutiny meetings and activities.

Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Cllr Emma Stokes)

The Panel’s recent meeting had been very good and had included trialling use of Power-Bi.

Following discussion of residential roadshows, the Panel had recommended a greater councillor presence and more effective use of future roadshows as a marketing tool. Discussion of income generation on green spaces had shown that an aspirational approach was desired.

An outcome of the In-year Budget Monitoring update was a question about the difference between gross and net income and the fact that the Panel was in effect unable to scrutinise operational costs which related to capitalisation. The Council’s Section 151 Officer was looking into this, which may also be relevant to the other Scrutiny Panels.

The Councillor Portal had been added to the Work Programme.

Environment Overview and Scrutiny Meeting (Cllr Alastair Adams)

The Panel’s recent meeting had been very positive and had included an update on flooding with representatives from Severn Trent, the Environment Agency, and District Council officers.  The number of alleviation schemes and improvements was pleasing.

Services related to the Environment were below budget, which was good.  Regarding performance, progress was being made in many areas including technical approval of Section 278 infrastructure schemes – the Task Group Report on this topic was almost finalised and it was pleasing to see improvements being made.

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Cllr Brandon Clayton)

The Committee’s last meeting had sought assurances on the Hillcrest Mental Health Ward following concerns about safety and staffing raised by the Care Quality Commission, and the inspection report would be considered at a future meeting.

The Chief Executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (Acute Trust) had provided an update about elective surgery. 7 Further operating theatre’s at the Alexandra Hospital would mean that all types of elective surgery would now take place there, which was fantastic news for Worcestershire residents. It was unfortunate that the Chief Executive was leaving and would be important to recruit the right person as his successor.

The adoption of monthly meetings would continue for the foreseeable future.

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Cllr Steve Mackay)

Home to school transport had been discussed at the Panel’s recent meeting, which had raised attention to this area. The Service was demand led and there had been a particular increase in numbers of children with special educational needs, with the county’s rural nature and driver recruitment being further issues – factors which could create ‘the perfect storm’. The Council was carrying out a holistic review of this statutory service, and the Panel had requested a further update. The Chairman of the Environment O&S Panel had also attended and raised points about managing the ongoing situation. Board members were pleased that this important area involving a significant budget, was being looked at.

The Panel had also looked at 2022 educational outcomes and key stage attainment, and these showed a fall at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1313.