Agenda and minutes

The following Member declared an interest in accordance with Standing Order 16.5:-

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 21 April 2021 be approved.

Decision – That the oral report of the Leader of the Council giving an update on a range of issues including the Council’s ongoing response to and recovery from the coronavirus pandemic; the Prime Minister’s announcement of a four week delay in the lifting of restrictions; the rising cases of the Covid Delta variant across the country, and in particular locally in and around Leek; the need to keep following the guidance - get tested regularly, and book your vaccine as soon as you can; the recent news that Newcastle-under -Lyme has secured a £23.6m Town Deal from Government;  the launch the Council’s free holiday food and activities programme to support children who receive free school meals; and Uttoxeter swim sensation Adam Peaty winning four gold medals at the European Championships last month; be noted.

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 2 June 2021 be received.</AI3>

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an update from the COVID-19 Member Led Local Outbreak Control Board including the number of new cases nationally and in Staffordshire rising over the last four weeks, largely due to the emergence of the delta variant of the virus;  the Covid vaccination programme was continuing to make excellent progress with 1,000,000 doses being administered to Staffordshire residents with uptake of two doses being close to 95% in over 65s, and 80% in 50 to 64 year olds; and the Council’s plans to maintain Covid defences for at least the next financial

year.

Decision – That the report be received.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

Decision – That the oral report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills giving an update on “Staffordshire Means Back to Business” activity including the following matters be noted:

(i) Whilst the delay in easing restrictions by central government was understood, the impact on the hospitality sector was of deep concern.

(ii) The number of people on some form of government job support scheme in Staffordshire was estimated to be lower than the rest of the country, 16% compared to 19% nationally, and had decreased slightly over the last month as more workers on furlough and Universal Credit returned to work.

(iii) Figures released this week showed that 4.4% of the county population claimed out-of-work benefits in May, a fall from the previous month, when the figure was 4.6%. The regional figure is 7% and national 6.1%.

(iv) The economic recovery could also be seen in the job vacancy figures which increased by 9% in Staffordshire between April and May, equivalent to 2,100 more job vacancies. This improvement in recruitment had seen vacancy levels rise above those seen prior to the start of the pandemic. 

(v) The key areas of support for the Staffordshire economy through the Staffordshire Means Back to Business strategy including:

·       Staffordshire Start-Up Loans - Launched in December 2020 - £250,000 pilot to support businesses

·       Staffordshire To Thrive Grants - Supported by our partners Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands Borough Council, South Staffordshire Council and Tamworth Borough Council - £370,000

·       Staffordshire Apprenticeship 500 initiative - Pays a grant of £5,000 to employers who recruit a new apprentice

·       Nil Cost Training Top Up - an initiative that enables small and medium employers to access training that is needed to help reskill or upskill their employees and supports the businesses in their recovery from Covid restrictions or to access new markets and ways of working.

Ignite - a new 3-year programme of free advice, workshops mentoring and support for students in year 12/13 looking to set up their own business in Staffordshire.

Leader of the Council

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the initial Executive Responses from the portfolio holders with regards to the recommendations from the two All Party Working Groups and the investigations focusing on Aspiration, Future Economy and Enterprise and Communities and Isolation, which identified a number of issues for Cabinet to consider.

Decision – That the initial executive responses of portfolio holders to the All Party Working Group recommendations be received.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the 2020/21 final financial outturn position of the county council including delivery of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Decision – (a) That the final outturn position be noted.

(b) That the request for £591,000 to be carried forward from the Health and Care underspend for future commitments be approved.

(c) That the capital financing arrangements, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report, including the capitalisation of transformational revenue expenditure, be approved.

Note by Clerk: The Chairman agreed that this item be added to the agenda as an urgent item of business.

Reasons for the Decision – To consider whether the County Council, as the Local Transport Authority, should form an Enhanced Partnership or Franchise model by end of June 2021 as part of the Department for Transport’s recently published National Bus Strategy.

Decision – (a) That the County Council commits to developing an Enhanced Partnership (EP), as outlined within the National Bus Strategy (NBS).

(b) That it be noted that additional capacity funding of £100k has been received to date, and further capacity funding is expected to be announced following confirmation of intention to work towards an EP.

(c) That the implications for the local bus network in Staffordshire, should it be decided not to develop an EP, be noted.

(d) That the potential impact on other DfT funding opportunities (not public transport related), should it be decided not to develop an EP, be noted.

Decision – That the following decisions taken by Cabinet Members under delegated powers be noted:

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 21 July to 17 November 2021, which detailed the following issues, was approved:

Alan White

Leader of the County Council