Agenda and minutes

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 6 April 2022 be approved.

Oral report of the Leader of the Council

Decision – That the oral report of the Leader of the Council giving an update on a range of issues including Earth Day, a worldwide event to highlight the actions we can all take to protect the planet; the Council’s success in cutting its carbon emissions by 25%, by switching to renewable energy and LED streetlights; tree planting and other nature recovery schemes which are underway; an exhibition in Stafford Market Square to inspire more people to do their bit, from waste reduction and recycling to greener travel options like walking and cycling; work nearing completion on the £2million transformation of Shire Hall into a new business centre and enterprise hub for small and start-up businesses; the investment in a new junction at Stafford North Business Park, where the new Pets at Home facility will create 800 jobs; the hundreds of new and small companies, and jobhunters, who have received support and funding from the £5million Staffordshire Means Back to Business programme; the opening of nominations for the Dignity in Care Awards; and the Council doing its bit under the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, carrying out all relevant checks on the sponsors and the accommodation they are offering, and making sure support is in place for the arrivals; be noted.

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 6 April 2022 be received.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

Decision – That the oral report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills giving an update on “Staffordshire Means Back to Business” activity including the following matters be noted:

• The challenges our businesses and citizens are currently facing due to Global pressures on commodity prices and, the County Council’s responsibility to focus on the things we can do either alone or with partners that will make a positive difference for jobs, incomes and the vitality of our businesses.  

• The recent launch of the Staffordshire Investment Prospectus, as part of our We Are Staffordshire brand activity, which, for the first time, brings all the priority investment opportunities across the county, into a single document.  This document clearly articulates many opportunities and reinforces what a great place our County is.  Highlights include:

                   i.        Through the Future High Streets and Town Deal Programmes, we have over £130Million of planned investment for our towns

                 ii.        We have 96.4% coverage of superfast broadband and have an ambition to be a county with access to 100% Gigabit connectivity by 2030

                iii.        We have unrivalled connectivity being at the heart of the country which will only get better with the arrival of HS2

                iv.        We are home to the UKs biggest theme park, the brewing capital of the world and the national football team. 

                 v.        Since 2011 we have seen a 50% rise in adults with Level 4+ qualifications

• The major employment sites at Chatterley Valley and the West Midlands Interchange in South Staffordshire

• The proportion of young people in Staffordshire aged 18-24 that are claiming work-related Universal Credit has increased slightly and now stands at 4.3%, or 35 people.

• Staffordshire saw vacancies increase by 28% between February and March equivalent to over 4,200 more job vacancies.

• Despite this slight rise in young people claimants, our overall claimant rate remains static at 3.1% of the working age population in January compared to 5.4% regionally and 4.4% nationally

The enormous scale and quality of our tourism and visitor economy in Staffordshire, which contributes over £1.8bn to our economy and includes some of the UK’s biggest attractions such as Alton Towers, Drayton Manor, The National Memorial Arboretum and a large part of the Peak District to name but a few.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and

Resources

Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the new Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HIAMP) for Staffordshire which details the principles for managing the highway network and recognises the importance of the highway infrastructure in supporting a number of the Council’s key objectives.

Decision – (a) That the new Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HIAMP) for Staffordshire and annexed documents, be approved.

(b) That authority be delegated to the Director of Economy, Infrastructure and Skills to approve the HIAMP supporting documents.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the Consultation Draft of the Council’s Rural Economic Strategy.

Decision – (a) That the Consultation Draft of the Rural Economic Strategy be approved.

(b) That it be agreed that a 4-week public consultation be conducted, seeking views from stakeholders, businesses, and residents on the draft Rural Economic Strategy.

(c) That the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy & Skills take the draft Rural Economic Strategy to the next available Prosperous Overview & Scrutiny Committee for consideration and input.

(d) That the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy & Skills and Director for Economy, Infrastructure & Skills be authorised to agree changes and finalise the Rural Economic Strategy based on feedback received from the public consultation, Prosperous Overview & Scrutiny Committee and in response to Government policy announcements including the Levelling Up White Paper.

(e) 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.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

Reasons for the Decision – To consider a Formal Report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) in relation to the failure to fully consider a complaint about Children’s social care.

Decision – (a) That the Formal Report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), in relation to the decision making of accepting a complaint for investigation, be noted.

(b) That the recommendations made as part of the investigation report, and the finding of “upheld, maladministration and injustice”, be accepted.

Cabinet Member for Commercial Matters

Reasons for the Decision – To seek authority to undertake a procurement exercise to procure a framework agreement for demolition services and to delegate authority to the Director for Corporate Services to enter into the necessary arrangements once the procurement exercise is completed.

Decision – (a) That it be agreed that officers undertake a procurement exercise in line with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (the “Regulations”) for the Framework Agreement for the Provision of Demolition and Associated Services (the “Framework Agreement”).

(b) That, following the procurement process, the successful suppliers be appointed to the Framework Agreement for the period 1st July 2022 to 30th June 2024 and that, dependent on the quality of their delivery, the 24-month service extension be implemented to an end date of 30th June 2026.

(c) That the Director for Corporate Services be given delegated authority to:

      i.      Approve the initial awards of the tendered providers to the Framework Agreement.

     ii.      Approve all subsequent award of call-off contracts under this Framework Agreement; and

(If applicable) approve the 2-year extension to the Framework Agreement in its 2nd year.

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

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 18 May to 21 September 2022, which detailed the following issues, was approved:

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)

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.

The Cabinet then proceeded to consider the following matter:

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

(Exclusion paragraph 3)

Alan White

Leader of the Council