Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Tony Muir, Craig Warhurst and Marc Bayliss (Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Skills).

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 19 January 2022).  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 on 9 November were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman noted that the previous action relating to the performance indicators on pothole repairs was still outstanding.  The Assistant Director for Highways and Transport Operations informed the Panel that further information would be available shortly.

(indicative timing: 10.05 – 11.15am)

The Panel was asked to consider the draft 2022/23 Budget for areas within its remit.

The Chairman reminded the Panel that a task group (made up of Panel Members) had met in November and December to consider detailed budget information provided by the Directorate and he wished to thank officers for providing this information.  He also reminded Members that, following the Panel’s November meeting, he had written to the Cabinet Members with Responsibility (CMRs) for the Environment, and for Highways and Transport, and asked them to consider the funding for particular service areas, including small flood alleviation schemes, footways and Public Rights of Way.  The draft budget indicated that the Panel’s concerns had been taken into account and the Chairman thanked the CMRs for this.

The Panel received a presentation from the Head of Finance and was invited to ask questions.  The following main points were made:

·       The Council-wide budget position was summarised.  It was important to put the budget for Economy and Infrastructure in context.

·       The Panel’s views would be forwarded to OSPB for further discussion and OSPB’s recommendations would then be considered by Cabinet and, in due course, by full Council.

·       The one-off use of reserves and the increased investment in People Services was noted.

·       An estimate had been used to calculate pay and contract inflation as the final figure was not yet known.

·       The Government had provided a good settlement for Local Authorities and the Council would be receiving more grant income than had been expected for social care and other areas.  This was a very positive position.  Some grants were still to be confirmed, eg those relating to the Better Care Fund and public health.

·       £1.5m of reserves would be used to fund pressures in relation to the waste contract.  It was noted that this reserve would be exhausted by the end of 2022/23.

·       A whole system approach was being taken to address adult care funding pressures, and the Council was currently in consultation with the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.

·       A Council Tax increase of 3.94% was being proposed.  The Council would remain in the lower quartile for level of Council Tax in relation to comparable councils.

·       In response to a question from a Member of the Panel, it was confirmed that other local authorities would have a range of approaches to investment in both their revenue and capital budgets.  However, it was not necessarily the case that those with the highest council tax had the best services.

·       It was confirmed that General Reserves (to cover unexpected events) would remain at £12.2m as the level of risk was assessed to be the same as the current year.  In response to a Member’s question, it was confirmed that the County Council’s level of reserves was low when compared to other local authorities and the Council had not drawn down a significant amount from reserves over the last five years.  Members were reminded that the Chief Financial Officer had a professional and legal duty  ...  view the full minutes text for item 433.

(indicative timing 11.15 – 11.35am)

The Panel was asked to consider information on the Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) pilot which had been operating in Bromsgrove since July 2021.

By way of introduction, the Assistant Director for Highways and Transport Operations made the following main points:

·       The Bus Service Improvement Plan was fundamentally about enhancing bus services which provided a vital link for local residents and had been in decline in recent years.  Government had told local authorities that, if they did not produce a plan, their funding would be reduced.  The Bus Service Improvement Plan was, therefore, key and the County Council was in a good place to move forward.

·       The aim was to develop an enhanced partnership – a formal legal entity to enhance the infrastructure (including bus stops, real time information and branding) based on customer experience and a focus on sustainability.

·       In recent years, bus services had been in steady decline nationally and there was a need to look at an alternative to the conventional bus.

·       The Demand Responsive Transport pilot was important to establish the concept and establish what were the benefits and risks.  The pilot had been very well received and feedback was very positive.

·       Funding from the Department for Transport would be confirmed in February and the Council could then look at how Demand Responsive Transport could be embedded in the network in Worcestershire.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and the following main points were made:

·       The positive benefits of the scheme were noted and it was suggested that giving buses priority in traffic may have a role in encouraging residents to move away from car use.  The CMR for Highways and Transport confirmed that, where it was possible, he would be in favour of giving buses priority at traffic lights.

·       In response to a question about the demographics of the passengers using the pilot service, the CMR confirmed that passengers came from a cross-section of the community and were often repeat customers.  It was agreed that further data from the pilot (including details of users and why some residents may have declined to use the service) would be circulated to the Panel.

·       It was confirmed that the level of subsidy needed going forward was yet to be decided.

The Chairman felt this was a fantastic idea and welcomed the positive feedback.  The Panel would welcome regular updates at future meetings.

(indicative timing: 11.35 -11.45am)

The Panel reviewed its current work programme and agreed that:

·       As part of effective communication, regular Cabinet Member Briefings should be held.  The Assistant Directors were asked to organise these briefings.

·       An update on Street Lighting would be added to the March agenda.

·       An update on the Waste contract would be added to the May agenda.

·       Active travel and Congestion would also be considered in May.

·       Q4 performance data would be considered in July.

·       An update on Highways communications would be added to the September agenda.

·       A Panel visit to the Ringway depot at Lydiate Ash would be arranged to further Members’ understanding of Highways issues.

·       A Panel ‘away day’ would be held in July to consider successes and challenges, and look forward to the coming year and how best the Panel could make a difference.

·       Now that Covid restrictions were being reduced, the planned visit to the House of Commons to observe a select committee hearing would be arranged.