Issue - meetings

The Leader will inform the Council about his work and his plans for the Council, and will give an overview of decisions taken by the Cabinet (and Portfolio Holders) since the previous meeting of the Council

The Leader of the Council presented a Statement outlining his recent work; his plans for the Council; and an overview of decisions taken by the Cabinet (and Portfolio Holders) since the previous meeting of the Council.

Joint Third Quarter Performance and Budget Monitoring Report

(Paragraph 2 of the Statement)

In response to questions from Members in relation to how the County Council was coping with reductions in the funding from Central Government, Mr. Atkins indicated that a decision had been taken to protect and invest in front line services and that, where some authorities were cutting services, the County Council was expanding some services.  An example of this was the Library Service where proposals were currently in hand to provide free Wi-Fi in a number of the County’s Libraries.  He paid tribute to the commitment shown by staff and explained that, although the County Council would become a leaner organisation over the next few years, it was hoped that this could be achieved through natural wastage rather than compulsory redundancies.  He concluded by indicating that the County Council was concentrating its resources on service delivery and securing better outcomes for the people of Staffordshire whilst, at the same time, protecting those who were the most vulnerable.

Staffordshire Transport Asset Management Plan

(Paragraph 3 of the Statement)

Mr. Chapman indicated that he welcomed the recent announcement that there was to be additional investment in highway maintenance to repair the damage caused to the county’s roads over the winter period.  He added that this announcement had raised the expectations of Parish Councils and that it was important that there was some flexibility in the maintenance programme in order to recognise the needs of rural areas.  In response, Mr. Atkins confirmed that there was to be an additional £4m investment in highway maintenance.  Mr. Marshall added that local members would in future play a vital role in identifying local priorities and that this additional investment in highway maintenance would be used to make sure that repairs were undertaken properly rather than pot holes being “patched”.

Staffordshire Passenger and Accessibility Management Plan –

Young Persons Travel Card and Concessionary Fares

(Paragraph 4 of the Statement)

Mr. Beale indicated that he welcomed the recent announcement that the County Council was to introduce a 24/7 concessionary travel scheme for the elderly/disabled and also a young person’s travel card.  Mrs. Jebb added that whilst she appreciated the introduction of the new concessionary fares scheme, it was important to ensure that rural areas were served with adequate bus services.  She added that Stoke-on-Trent City Council had recently announced its proposal to cease its subsidy of the bus service between Stoke-on-Trent and Bagnall which could result in some rural communities becoming isolated.  In response, Mr. Atkins indicated that it was important that local communities used their bus services if they wished to retain them and that the main thrust behind the concessionary travel scheme and young persons travel card was to get more people on to local bus services  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62