Agenda and minutes

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 21 October 2020 be approved.

Decision – That the oral report of the Leader of the Council giving an update on a range of issues including cases of Covid-19 stabilising in parts of Staffordshire; the ramping up of lateral flow testing capability in Staffordshire which will give a result in less than an hour; plans for the rolling out of vaccines in Staffordshire once they become available; the Council’s continued investment in business parks like i54 South Staffordshire, in road improvements such as Stafford Western Access, and Lichfield Southern Bypass, to attract new investment; the virtual Midlands UK Forum for Growth where leaders will discuss how Staffordshire can contribute to sustainable economic growth and prosperity across the Midlands; and important changes in the Council’s work to support children and families; be noted.

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 4 November 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 continuing efforts to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19; the rapid increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 in Staffordshire at the end of October and its impact on the NHS, compounded by staff shortages due to sickness and/or self-isolation; the profound effect of the ongoing restrictions on physical and mental well-being and the economy including rising levels of obesity and poor diet; the Council’s management of  incidents in a range of settings, including care providers, schools and workplaces; improvements to the availability of testing, with more NHS Test and Trace facilities available, complemented by a Community Testing team at a range of sites across the county and plans to roll out rapid testing.

The Cabinet were also informed that the Department for Work and Pensions had announced a significant package of extra financial support for those most in need of help with the cost of food, energy and water bills, and other associated costs this winter.  The £170 million COVID-19 Winter Grant Scheme would be available from December until the 31 March 2021, with the County Council receiving just over £2.2m to support people in Staffordshire.  At least 80% of the total funding would be ring-fenced to support families with children, with up to 20% of the total funding to other types of households, including individuals. For Staffordshire this equated to £1.77 million for children and £440,000 for adults.  

Decision – (a) That the report be received.

(b) That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Mark Sutton, to decide the eligibility criteria for distribution of the Covid-19 Winter Grant Scheme, and to take all other decisions precedent and subsequent thereto, to ensure that this support gets to those who need it as quickly as possible.

Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing

Reasons for the Decision – To review proposals for the future of adult learning disability services directly provided by Staffordshire County Council to ensure they will remain appropriate post COVID-19; and to consider proposals to develop a single integrated Adult Learning Disability service and extend the range of support offered for people in their homes and communities as well as continuing to provide care for people during the day and overnight, offering people a better experience.

Decision – (a) That the progress with commissioning of supported living services from the independent market to replace the residential service provided by the Council at Greenfields House in Staffordshire Moorlands and the care provided by the Council at Horninglow Bungalows in East Staffordshire be noted.

(b) That the progress of redevelopment of residential care in Lichfield be noted.

(c) That the progress of refurbishment of Wilmott Drive to provide residential replacement care alongside specialist day opportunities in Newcastle-under-Lyme be noted.

(d) That an options analysis be undertaken for future provision of residential replacement care in Staffordshire, with results being presented to Cabinet in the first quarter of 2021.

(e) That an extension to the current contractual arrangements for residential replacement care in Cannock and East Staffordshire with the current contracted provider be approved.

(f) That authority be delegated to the Director for Health and Social Care to extend the contractual arrangements for the provision of residential replacement care services.

(g) That the potential expansion of specialist day opportunities and residential replacement care to offer a greater range of support for people in their homes and communities as part of a single integrated service be endorsed, and that a business case be developed and service users, carers and stakeholders be engaged in the codesign of a service model.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the support provided to Business Start-ups in Staffordshire including proposals for a new Start Up Loans Scheme, a Student Start Up Scheme and the creation of a digital Start Up Prospectus for potential new business in Staffordshire.

Decision – (a) That the various programmes available to residents across the County interested in starting their own business be supported

(b) That the production of an electronic Start Up Prospectus be supported with the final document being signed off by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills.

(c) That the progress being made to identify the County Council properties that could be used as incubation space in an Enterprise Quarter for Start-Up’s be noted, and that any final business case be agreed through Property Sub-Committee.

(d) That the funding and delivery of a student start-up programme targeted at young people in the final year of further education with aspirations to progress into self-employment for an initial 3 years with the potential to extend for a further 2 years, as detailed in the report, be agreed.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Matters

Reasons for the Decision – To consider a summary of the Council’s borrowing and investment activities during the first six months of the year.

Decision – (a) That the treasury management activities for the half-year ended 30 September 2020 be noted.

(b) That the Prudential Indicators (as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report) be noted and that the increase to the Upper Limit of variable rate interest exposure (as detailed in paragraph 42 of the report) be agreed.

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

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 16 December 2020 to 21 April 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)

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND)

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the progress being made towards achieving the Council’s aspirations for the transformation of the Children and Families System, taking into account the implications of COVID-19.

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

Alan White

Leader of the County Council