Items
| No. |
Item |
62. |
Decision notice of the meeting held on 17 December 2014  PDF 179 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Decision
– That the notes of the meeting held on 17
December 2014 be approved.
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63. |
Leader's Update
Oral report of the Leader of the Council
Additional documents:
Minutes:
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“Today’s agenda
focuses on a number of areas that are absolutely critical in how we
are working to improve the lives of people across Staffordshire, by
creating a connected county where people can prosper, be healthy
and happy.
We have a report on how we
support families to give our children the best start in life; an
update on successful work to accelerate economic growth and create
more, better paid jobs for our people; a paper on new legislation
to ensure people have more choice and say in the care they need;
and a paper on how we manage taxpayers’ money well to ensure
we continue to make a positive difference to Staffordshire
people’s lives.”
Philip Atkins, Leader
of the County Council.
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Decision
– That the oral report of the Leader of the
County Council giving an update on a range of issues including how
the County Council was working with its partners in the health
sector to manage winter pressures on local hospitals, be
noted.
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64. |
Treasury Management, Annual Investment and Minimum Revenue Provision Strategies 2015/16 PDF 430 KB
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategy,
Finance and Corporate Issues
Additional documents:
Minutes:
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“We
always look to achieve the best value for money for our taxpayers
and we do this by running an efficient county council.
By using our cash reserves
rather than borrowing more, we have been able to achieve
substantial savings in what remain challenging financial
times. This year we hope to make savings of around
£1m. Like many councils we continue to face serious
financial pressures but it is positive news that through
well-thought out decisions, we are able to make those kinds of
savings. Any savings we can make is excellent news for
Staffordshire taxpayers and will help us to focus our resources
where they are most needed.”
Ian
Parry, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategy, Finance and
Corporate Issues.
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Reasons
for the Decision – The Local
Government Act 2003 requires a local authority to have regard to
the Prudential Code and to set Prudential Indicators for the next
three years to ensure that its capital investment plans are
affordable, prudent and sustainable. The Prudential Indicators are
approved as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy
(MTFS). The Treasury Management
Strategy is a key element of the MTFS as the planned capital
expenditure programme drives the borrowing required.
Decision – (a) That, in
accordance with the regulations, it be recommended to the County
Council, at its meeting on the 19 March 2015, that the Annual
Investment Strategy (AIS) 2015/16 (described in paragraphs 24 to 70
and as detailed in Appendices 2 and 4of the report) be adopted.
(b)That, as required by guidance, the following
policies (as described in paragraphs 96 to 104 to the report) be
approved;
i) review of the
strategy;
ii) the use of
external advisers; and
iii) training.
(c)That the proposed
borrowing strategy for the 2015/16 financial year comprising:
- the use of cash in lieu of borrowing
required in 2015/16;
- the use of cash to repay loans
early, subject to market conditions;
- as a contingency the ability to
borrow new loans as a result of;
- unexpected changes in the capital
programme;
- a reduction in the level of cash
balances; or
- the repayment of LOBO’s;
- a forward borrowing strategy that
will not be used in 2015/16; and
- a loan rescheduling strategy that is
unlimited where this re-balances risk,
- The above to operate within the
prudential limits set out in Appendix
5 to the report and in consultation with the Deputy Leader
and Cabinet Member for Strategy, Finance and Corporate Issues with
respect to early loan repayment, raising new loans and loan
rescheduling;
be
approved.
(d) That, in
accordance with the regulations, it also be recommended to the
County Council that the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy
2015/16 (as summarised in paragraphs 105 to 107; and as set out in
full at Appendix 8 to the report), be adopted.
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65. |
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub PDF 222 KB
Cabinet Member for Economy, Environment and
Transport
Additional documents:
Minutes:
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“Backing our small
businesses is vital as they play an essential part in the
county’s long-term economic growth and create thousands of
jobs.
“The Growth Hub has done a fantastic job since it was set
up in April and is on track to exceed its target for business
engagement already. Small businesses face a range of challenges and
the Hub is making a real difference in helping them to overcome
them – whether this is through advice, signposting them to
the appropriate organisations or directly through the grants scheme
or private investment initiative. I’m pleased to report the
success of the Growth Hub today.”
Mark Winnington, Cabinet Member for Economy, Environment and
Transport.
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Reasons for the Decision – To update Cabinet on the work of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub, a new programme
working to improve access to business support and finance for small
and medium sized (SME) businesses across the Local Enterprise
Partnership’s area.
Decision – (a)
That the success of the Growth Hub programme
in unlocking investment and job creation among local businesses and
improving cross-referral between business support initiatives,
innovation and international trade support be noted.
(b) That the Cabinet and wider
membership help to promote the Growth Hub services to local small
and medium-sized businesses by raising awareness of the business
helpline.
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66. |
Best Start PDF 137 KB
Cabinet Member for Children and Community
Safety
Additional documents:
Minutes:
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“We know the
quality of a child’s development up to the age of five has a
huge bearing on all aspects of the rest of their life, therefore we
owe it to every child to do all we can to ensure they have the best
start possible.
Most parents do a
good job taking care of their children and do not need our
assistance beyond help accessing the right information to make
positive choices for their families. However, despite intensive
effort and investment by many different agencies in recent years,
we have not been reaching all the young families who need us
most.
This new approach
to early years, including how we work with schools and other
partners, involves providing the right information and advice,
refocusing our resources on those in need and reconfiguring how we
use our Children’s Centres in future.
This will change the philosophy of how we
deliver services for maximum impact to benefit those most in need
of support and to ensure every Staffordshire child is safe, healthy
and ready to take advantage of all that a good education has to
offer.”
Mike Lawrence,
Cabinet Member for Children and Community Safety.
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Reasons for the Decision – To inform Cabinet of the findings
of the eight week consultation and to seek their approval to the
final proposals for a new approach to giving children the best
start in life.
Decision – (a)
That the content of the report and the
proposal for a new way of working for under-5s in Staffordshire be
endorsed.
(b)
That the contents of the Public Consultation Report and Community
Impact Assessments for each district be noted.
(c) That authority be given to
the Deputy Chief Executive and Director for People, in consultation
with the Cabinet Member for Children and Community Safety, to take
all such steps, decisions and actions as are necessary to give
effect to the proposals as set out in paragraphs 25-45 of the
report.
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67. |
Care Act PDF 118 KB
Cabinet Member for Health, Care and
Wellbeing
Additional documents:
Minutes:
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“We want to ensure that
Staffordshire is a place where people are healthy, are supported in
their community and live as independently as possible for as long
as possible.
There are many different laws
about care and support at the moment, so it’s difficult for
people to know what information and advice they have access to, and
what care and support they can access in the future.
The Care Act is a huge
opportunity for us to help ensure that people have better access,
information and clarity on the right support when they need it and
will complement the huge amount of work we are already doing to
focus on prevention and early intervention to promote wellbeing for
all our residents.”
Alan White, Cabinet Member for
Health, Care and Wellbeing.
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Reasons for the Decision – To inform Cabinet of the approach
which the county council was taking regarding the implementation of
the Care Act.
Decision – (a)
That the approach being adopted to implement
the Care Act be approved.
(b) That authority be delegated
to the Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing to sign off on
policy implementation, in order that they can be implemented with
effect from 1April 2015.
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68. |
Decisions taken by Cabinet Members under Delegated Powers PDF 58 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Decision
– That the following decisions taken by
Cabinet Members under delegated powers be noted:
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Cabinet Member for Economy,
Environment and Transport
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In approving:
(i)
The draw-down of monies to the value of
£313,514.01 (from the £3million
from the sale of land owned by Staffordshire County Council at
Pye Green) to
support the following schemes:
·
A contribution of £59,056.01 in respect of the
Feasibility Study, Ecology/Bat survey and Planning
Application Fee for the proposed development of a Sports and
Recreation hub on Cannock Chase District Council owned land on
Pye Green Road.
·
A contribution of £154,458 in respect of
Technical site surveys and the completion of all planning
application documentation, Planning Application Fee and
purchase of Signal Box for the Development of a full sized Artificial Turf Pitch (ATP)
on Bradbury Lane in Hednesford
·
A contribution of £50,000 in respect of the Rugeley Town Centre Improvements
and a further £50,000 contribution to the Conservation area
fund (to support an existing scheme to
support traders to conserve and improve at risk
premises).
(ii)
The arrangements for the
draw-down of future monies from the sale of the land at
Pye Green
Note: These monies are held in a joint account between both
authorities (Staffordshire County Council and Cannock Chase
District Council) and are earmarked for projects that support
Economic Prosperity and Public Health outcomes. Release of these
monies is subject to separate approvals and will be based on
project appraisals for each case.
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Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategy, Finance and
Corporate Issues
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In approving the purchase
of a parcel of land
in Burton on Trent.
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69. |
Forward Plan of Key Decisions PDF 67 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for
the period 18 February to 18 June
2015, which detailed the following issues, was approved:
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Subject Matter
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Contact
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Strategic Plan 2015 - 2019 and Medium Term Financial Strategy
2015 - 2020
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Name: Rachel
Spain
Tel: (01785) 854455
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Libraries in a connected Staffordshire (Part 3)
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Name: Janene Cox
Tel: (01785) 278368
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Third Quarter Budget Monitoring Report
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Name: Rachel
Spain
Tel: (01785) 854455
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Quarterly Performance Report
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Name: Lauren
Jackson
Tel: (01785) 854561
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Fourth Quarter Budget Monitoring Report
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Name: Rachel
Spain
Tel: (01785) 854455
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70. |
Exclusion of the Public
The Chairman to move:-
“That the public be excluded from the
meeting for the following items of business which involve the
likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the
paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of Local
Government Act 1972 indicated below”.
PART TWO
(All reports in this section are exempt)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Decision
– That the public be
excluded from the meeting for the following items of business which
involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in
the paragraph of Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act
1972 indicated below.
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71. |
Exempt minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2014
Minutes:
(Exemption paragraph
3)
Decision
– That the exempt
notes of the meeting held on 17 December 2014 be
approved.
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