Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Wednesday 17th June 2020 10:00am

Venue: Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams

Contact: Mike Bradbury  Email: michael.bradbury@staffordshire.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

141.

Decision notice of the meeting held on 20 May 2020 pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 20 May 2020 be approved.

142.

Leader's Update

Oral report of the Leader of the Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision – That the oral report of the Leader of the Council giving an update on a range of issues including the County Council’s ongoing response to Covid-19; how it will spearhead Staffordshire’s economic and social recovery from the pandemic; the need to stay alert and prevent the spread of the virus as the county and the country reopens; the three voluntary groups in Staffordshire who all received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this month; the peaceful Black Lives Matters protests across the county over the past fortnight and the need to ensure  that everyone in Staffordshire enjoys equality of opportunity, regardless of their race, creed, gender or sexuality; be noted.

143.

Minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 3 June 2020 pdf icon PDF 204 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 3 June 2020 be received.

144.

Impact of COVID-19 on SCC Communities, Economy, and Organisational and Recovery Approaches pdf icon PDF 425 KB

Leader of the Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Philip Atkins

 

 

 

“Throughout this pandemic, the people of Staffordshire have pulled together to help keep people safe, protect the vulnerable and support one another.

 

While the shadow of Covid-19 will undoubtedly be felt for some time, it is the resilience and spirit of Staffordshire people which will help us bounce back from this crisis.

 

It is great to see 99 per cent of our primary schools reopen to more pupils and all our secondary schools offering some face to face support for Year 10 and Year 12 pupils.

 

We have also seen more people back at work, more businesses reopening their doors and our town centres gradually welcoming back shoppers this month.

 

However, as a county council we know that there is still much hard work to be done in helping keeping our communities safe as lockdown restrictions are lifted further and also in helping this county not only recover from the impact of Covid-19 but also to shape a brighter future for both residents and businesses.”

 

Philip Atkins OBE, Leader of the Council

 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider details of the approach that Staffordshire County Council is to take to its planning and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic together with the learning that has been taken from the response phase, the high-level priorities for recovery across the council and the progress against these.

 

Decision (a) That the approach to recovery be noted and endorsed.

 

(b) That the approach to understanding the impact of COVID-19 be endorsed

 

(c) That the high-level priorities and plans from each of the recovery areas (contained in appendices 2-9 of the report) be endorsed.

 

145.

Economic Recovery, Renewal & Transformation Strategy pdf icon PDF 357 KB

Leader of the Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

“The role of the county council is central to supporting everyone during these changing times, and indeed the recovery and renewal of our economy is already under way.

 

As well as continuing to invest in the conditions all businesses need to thrive, the current situation has also presented us with opportunities to further develop the Staffordshire economy by supporting the creation of those clean, digital, highly productive businesses that will provide the jobs of the future.

 

Our five-year Economic Recovery and Renewal Strategy is a roadmap to regrowth and a renewed economic landscape. It includes our approach to supporting new businesses to become established, robust and thrive. Including the refurbishment of previously unused parts of the in-demand Cannock Chase Enterprise Centre, and the expansion of the Silverdale centre to create much needed extra workshop space.”

 

Philip Atkins OBE, Leader of the Council

 

Reasons for the Decision To consider the Council’s Economic Recovery, Renewal and Transformation Strategy which sets out its priorities for the next five years to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and subsequently recover, renew and transform the local economy. 

 

Decision – (a) That the Economic Recovery, Renewal and Transformation Strategy be approved.

 

(b) That the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Cabinet Member for Learning and Employment take the Strategy to the next available Prosperous Select Committee for consideration and input.

 

(c) That the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Cabinet Member for Learning & Employment and Director for Economy, Infrastructure & Skills be authorised to continuously review the Strategy due to changes in economic circumstances.

 

(d) That, working with those Cabinet Members with associated responsibilities, the Director for Economy, Infrastructure & Skills be authorised to progress the development of supporting delivery plans, working with our partners as appropriate.

 

(e) That, as part of the delivery of the Strategy, the progression of the extensions to the Cannock Chase and Silverdale Enterprise Centres, including investment of £355,850 from Staffordshire County Council borrowing and £150,000 for the Cannock Chase scheme from the joint County Council and Cannock Chase District Council Pye Green Investment Fund, be approved.

 

(f) That Cabinet Members communicate the new £0.360m Staffordshire County Council start-up support scheme with their communities and across the county to maximise the benefit of the scheme in supporting people at risk of redundancy to start their own business.

146.

Final Financial Outturn Report for 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 459 KB

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

 

 

 

“This report covers the last financial year and the period when the authority first began helping those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic so, as a result, does not begin to reflect the millions of pounds subsequently spent in that direction.

 

However, it shows that despite the rising costs of care for older people and providing support to vulnerable children and young adults, the council has still been able to invest millions of pounds in more school places, highways and economic regeneration.”

 

Philip Atkins OBE, Leader of the Council

 

“At a time when local authorities face great pressures, good management and investment of our resources means the county council has been able to balance the books, invest in Staffordshire’s future and keep some money for emergencies.

 

The longer-term implications for this authority, particularly around the rising costs of adult care and children’s services, remain a serious concern. We continue to work with Government to find answers to putting local government funding on a more sustainable footing.”

 

Mike Sutherland, Cabinet Member for Finance

 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the 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 unspent Contingency sum of £4m be added to the Investment Fund previously established to fund commercial or other investments.

 

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

147.

Forward Plan of Key Decisions pdf icon PDF 239 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 15 July to 18 November 2020, which detailed the following issues, was approved:

 

Subject Matter

Contact

Provision of Apprenticeship Services

Name: Anthony Baines

Tel: (01785) 895984

Integrated Performance Report 2020-21 - Quarter 1

Name: Andrew Donaldson/ Rob Salmon

Tel: (01785) 278399/ 276354

Recommissioning of Home Care Services

Name: Helen Trousdale

Tel: (01785) 277008

The Award of the Service and Testing of Domestic Water Systems Framework Agreement

Name: Ian Turner

Tel: (01785) 277228

Treasury Management report for the year ended 31 March 2020

Name: Rob Salmon

Tel: (01785) 276354

Review of Future Use of Kingston Centre, Stafford

Name: Andrew Marsden/ Ian Turner

Tel: (01785) 278787/

277228

Mitigation Plans for Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation

Name: Janene Cox

Tel: (01785) 278368

North Staffordshire Ministerial Direction for Nitrogen Dioxide - Project Update

Name: Clive Thomson

Tel: (01785) 276522

Refurbishment of Council Owned Older People Nursing Home

Name: Andrew Jepps

Tel: (01785) 278557

Children’s and Families (including SEND) System Transformation

Name: Janene Cox

Tel: (01785) 278368

Waste Disposal Arrangements in the North of Staffordshire from 2025

Name: Clive Thomson

Tel: (01785) 276522

Nexxus Trading Services Limited - Annual Report 2019/2020

Name: Dr Richard Harling/

Helen Riley

Tel: (01785) 278700/ 278580

Integrated Performance Report 2020-21 - Quarter 2

Name: Andrew Donaldson/ Rob Salmon

Tel: (01785) 278399/ 276354