Agenda and minutes

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 17 February 2021 be approved.

Decision – That the oral report of the Leader of the Council giving an update on a range of issues including most of our children and young people returning to classrooms this month; the continued roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme; next week being the first anniversary of lockdown; the need to stay the course and keep doing the right thing – social distancing, getting tested, wearing a mask; the Government’s roadmap for lifting lockdown; how the county council will play a key role this year in the reopening and reinvigorating of our town centres, leisure venues and tourist attractions; and Burton and Kidsgrove securing massive Government investment through the Stronger Towns Fund; be noted.

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 3 March 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 cases of Covid in Staffordshire and across England continuing to fall; the Government’s Roadmap from lockdown with indicative dates for release of restrictions subject to continued success with the Covid vaccination programme and the NHS able to cope with the number of cases and complications; the expectation that infection rates would increase after schools return to classroom teaching on 8 March; the NHS having now vaccinated over 400,000 people with a first dose; the Council’s plans to maintain Covid defences for at least the next financial year in order to keep cases and complications low and protect our freedoms and livelihood.

Decision – That the report be received.

(i) Supporting Our Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure Employment Sectors</AI4>

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Reasons for the Decision – To consider proposals to enhance assistance to the Destination Management Partnership (DMP), both immediately and for the longer term, including the County Council’s own tourism team, to lead a transformation of our visitor economy and its businesses.

Decision – (a) That the contents of the report, which sets out the County Council’s position to support the direction of travel of the Staffordshire Destination Management Partnership (DMP), including the suggested future offer and related proposals, be noted.

(b) That the balance of the 2021/22 MTFS investment into Economic Development and our Economy, post Covid 19, (which is £200,000), be used for enhanced support for our visitor economy.

(c) That part of the MTFS investment be used to assist the DMP in 2021/22 to develop a 3 year fixed term post to act as the champion and advocate for rebooting our Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure sector, and to cover the inhouse costs of the Digital Marketing Officer for 3 years.

(d) That the remaining investment from 2021/22, along with enhanced contributions from other local authorities, be used to deliver continuity funding to the DMP in the anticipation of reduced private sector funding, and enhanced marketing activity through the DMP to strongly promote Staffordshire as a visitor destination, aligned to the new Staffordshire Story.

(ii) Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Business Loan Fund

Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the 2021/2022 Capital Programme for Schools.

Decision – (a) That the Schools Capital Programme 2021/22 investment proposal, as set out in the report and supporting appendices, be approved.

(b) That the Assistant Director for Commercial and Assets monitors progress against the Programme and makes any necessary in-year alterations in agreement with the Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND).

(c) That authority be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services to approve:

(i) All subsequent call-off contracts under the CWM framework Agreement to be awarded and entered into with the successful providers under the CWM Framework Agreement.

(ii) Any novation of call-off contracts to new providers or variations to the terms of call-off contracts, in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the proposed 2021/22 Highways and Transport capital investment programme.

Decision – (a) That the Highways and Transport capital investment proposal, as set out in the report and the supporting appendices, be approved.

(b) That the Project Team monitors progress of the Programme and any significant in- year alterations be approved by the Assistant Director for Highways and the Built County in agreement with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation.

(c) That the additional county council highways investment be extended initially for one more year by £5m, to be funded by earmarking the balance of the £3.6m contingency and £1.4m of usable capital receipts, and that this investment be reviewed as part of the review of the Strategic Plan and MTFS in the summer of 2021. (The majority of this is used to support Minor Capital Maintenance £4.6m, with any balance being used on structural maintenance schemes).

(d) That the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan be updated and future investment options for the local road network be considered further by Cabinet as part of the budget cycle for 2022/23.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the proposed conditions for expenditure and delivery of the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) National Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme to provide enriching activities and healthy food to disadvantaged children and young people (and in some circumstances their families).

Decision – (a) That the anticipated receipt of £2,231,290, from the Department for Education, in relation to the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, be noted.

(b) That the conditions of expenditure and delivery relating to the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, as set out by the Department for Education, be noted.

(c) That delivery decisions relating to the Holiday Activities and Food Programme be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND) and the Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Families and Communities.

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

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 21 April to 18 August 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 Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider options for the future involvement of the County Council with the project to replace the Hanford ERF plant.

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

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an update on Staffordshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centre provision.

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