Agenda and minutes

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 16 September 2020 be approved.

Decision – That the oral report of the Leader of the Council giving an update on a range of issues including the rapid increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Staffordshire, along with the rest of the country; the need for Staffordshire people to look after their own physical and mental wellbeing including getting their flu jab if they are eligible; the launch of #talksuicide information on the Council’s website and social media channels; the launch of “Together4Childrenan”, an exciting new partnership to speed up adoptions for vulnerable children; the commencement of a six-month action plan which includes changes that make climate change central to the Council’s day-to-day thinking; and the launch of a new Community Climate Action Fund for people to apply to for grant funding of up to £1,000 to support projects in their communities; be noted.

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 7 October 2020 be received.

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an update from the COVID-19 Member Led Local Outbreak Control Board including the Council’s response to outbreaks in Newcastle-under-Lyme, due in part to an outbreak at Keele University, as well as in Stafford, due in part to an outbreak at HMP Stafford, and in South Staffordshire; and issues about the difficulties some people were experiencing in booking a test.

Decision – That the report be received.

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the approach that the County Council will  take to its planning and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; the learning taken  from the response phase; and the high level priorities for recovery across the Council  together with the progress against these.

Decision – (a) That the impact of COVID-19 on Staffordshire since June 2020 be noted.

(b) That the approach being taken to resetting the Corporate Strategy be noted and endorsed.

(c) That the progress made towards the high-level priorities and plans from each

recovery area be noted.

(d) That the approach to the County Council’s management of the Recovery process moving forward be endorsed.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an overview of the County Council’s progress, performance and financial position in delivering against its Strategic Plan and Delivery Plan.

Decision – (a) That the report be received.

(b) That the use of £0.384m of Contingency to fund part of the agreed pay award for 2020/21 be approved.

Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing

Reasons for the Decision – To consider Staffordshire Better Care Fund (BCF) performance, 2019-20; BCF Funding for 2020-21; BCF Guidance and Planning for 2020-21; and the transfer of Disabled Facilities Grant funding to Districts.

Decision – (a) the progress of the Staffordshire BCF during 2019-20 be noted.

(b) That the extension of the 2019-20 BCF schemes, as set out in paragraph 17 of the report, be approved.

(c) That the final approval of the Staffordshire BCF Plan for 2020-21 be delegated to the Health and Wellbeing Board Chairs, including the Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing.

(d) That the passport of monies received from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for the Disability Facility Grant to the district/borough Councils, as set out in table 8 of the report, be agreed and the entering into agreements with the district/borough councils to passport the monies, be approved.

(e) That approval to enter into the section 75 agreements for 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 be delegated to the Director for Health and Care.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

Reasons for the Decision – To consider supporting a regional commissioning approach to the procurement of supported accommodation provision across the West Midlands to support children in care in their transition to independence.

Decision – (a) That it be agreed that Staffordshire County Council should partake with other West Midlands local authorities with responsibilities to “Looked after Children” in creating a Flexible Framework Agreement to ensure that the local authorities involved can meet their responsibilities to provide supported accommodation for young people who are in the process of leaving care; and commissions a West Midlands Regional Supported Accommodation Framework Contract (12th July 2021 to 11th July 2025), with an option to extend for a further 2 years (12th July 2025 to 11th July 2027).

(b) That the proposal that Staffordshire County Council leads the setting up of the Flexible Framework Agreement on behalf of the following West Midland’s local Authorities be supported: Birmingham City Council / Birmingham Children's Trust, City of Stoke-on-Trent Council, City of Wolverhampton Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Herefordshire Council, Sandwell Children's Trust, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Telford and Wrekin Council Walsall Council Warwickshire County Council, Worcestershire County Council (through Worcestershire Children First).

(c) That the term of the proposed Flexible Framework Agreement (begins on 12 July 2021 and ends on 11July 2025) be approved, but there be an option to extend the term for a further 2 years (12July 2025 to 11 July 2027) should there be an operational need.

(d) That authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Families and Communities to award contracts and thereafter enter into contracts with providers who successfully apply to be included in the proposed Flexible Framework Agreement.

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

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 18 November 2020 to 17 March 2021, which detailed the following issues, was approved:

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 paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of Local Government Act 1972 indicated below.

PART TWO

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the programme budget and funding proposals to progress the required activities.

Decision – That the recommendations contained in the report be agreed.

Alan White

Leader of the County Council