Agenda and minutes

The following Member declared an interest in accordance with Standing Order 16.5:-

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 21 September 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 the county council submitting bids to create investment zones on the A50/A500 corridor; the official opening of the new Bramshall Meadows First School in Uttoxeter; the We Are Staffordshire programme, through which the county council is working with businesses, universities, attractions and others to promote our great county as a place to invest, live, study and visit; the help available to Staffordshire households with the rising cost of living; the Council’s Here to Help campaign which includes advice for people to look after their wellbeing; and the publication of the Council’s annual climate change report; be noted.

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 5 October 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 Council’s submission to central government, putting forward the A50 A500 Hydrogen Technologies Corridor, in Staffordshire, as a potential Investment Zone. (As part of that submission two key sites at Blythe Vale in Staffordshire Moorlands and Branston Locks in East Staffordshire have been included).

·       The County Council’s business support programmes which have already invested over half a million pounds in start-up support programmes. The Start Up And Step-Up businesses support is one of the main priorities in our economic development strategy. As a County Council we have made a commitment to invest a minimum of £100,000 per year in Start-up and Step-up business support programmes on an on-going basis. Given that global events continue to impact the local and national economy, primarily the war in Ukraine and the related increases in fuel and energy prices which are impacting local businesses, this support has never been more important.

·       The current economic climate which presents a number of challenges to the local, regional and national economies in the short-term, with the Bank of England now predicting that we will enter recession this year and remain in contraction for some time.

An increase in unemployment, with the number of work-related benefit claimants in Staffordshire increasing by 310 between August and September, primarily due to increases in fuel and energy prices leading to some businesses having to reduce staffing.  Therefore it is more important than ever that the right business support is in place to help viable businesses survive during these challenging times, help people to start their own business and ensure that benefit claimants have the right support and skills to access the high number of jobs available in the local economy such as through the Government’s ‘Plan for Jobs’ schemes including Restart and Skills Bootcamps and help prevent them becoming long-term unemployed.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Leader of the Council

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an update on the activities and performance of Nexxus Trading Services Limited during 2021/2022.

Decision – (a) That the report be received.

(b) That the in-year trading profit of £18,791, which has been transferred to company reserves, be noted.

Cabinet Member for Health and Care

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the outcome of the engagement undertaken with stakeholders and final recommendations for the future commissioning arrangements for Supported Living Services in Staffordshire.

Decision – (a) That the outcome of the engagement undertaken as part of the recommissioning of Supported Living services in Staffordshire be noted.

(b) That the final recommendations for the future commissioning arrangements for Supported Living Services in Staffordshire, as set out in paragraphs 8 to 12 of the report, be approved.

(c) That the further extension of the Dynamic Purchasing System for commissioning Supported Living until 30th June 2024 be approved.

Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider proposals for the utilisation of High Needs Provision Capital Allocation funding within Staffordshire Educational settings.

Decision – (a) That approval be given to the utilisation of the funding within Staffordshire Educational settings to:

(i)                Increase access to mainstream placements for children and young people with high needs (who might otherwise require more specialist provision) with the development of resource bases.

(ii)               Increase the local availability of high needs places to help reduce the requirement for out of area placements/placements at independent special schools.

(b) That the Director for Children and Families be given delegated authority to allocate the funding to the individual capital projects at educational settings.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an overview of the national context for Family Hubs, an overview of some of the local context that has been explored and an outline plan for the direction for Staffordshire.

Decision – (a) That the emerging Family Hub model, as detailed within the report, be endorsed and that officers be supported to further develop this working with partners and key stakeholders; and

(b) That this model be advocated and championed more broadly to help the Council to realise its ambitions locally.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the proposed refresh of the Council’s early Help Strategy which has been developed as a partnership to reflect our shared principles and commitment to Staffordshire children and families.

Decision – (a) That the partnership’s Early Help Strategy be endorsed.

(b) That the Strategy be Advocated at every opportunity for the promotion of and implementation of Early Help.

Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture

Reasons for the Decision – To consider proposals for the joint commissioning, with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Staffordshire Commissioner Office, of Domestic Abuse Victim and Perpetrator Services.

Decision – That it be agreed that:

(i)         The Domestic Abuse victim and perpetrator services be re-commissioned and funded for up to five years, with an initial three-year contract with the potential to extend for a further two years, providing continuity and sustainability for this much-needed and valuable service.

(ii)     The commissioning be carried out jointly with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Staffordshire Commissioners Office (SCO) to procure Domestic Abuse Services across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, and for the Staffordshire Commissioners office to be the Lead Commissioner.

(iii)  The funding from Staffordshire County Council for the recommissioned service is maintained at the current level of £670,450 per annum; this will be increased in line with the County Council’s MTFS inflation assumptions and will therefore mean that £683,860 will be available for the start of the recommissioned Contract.

Cabinet Member for Commercial Matters

Reasons for the Decision – To consider proceeding with the procurement of a framework agreement for the Supply and Installation of Window and Doors and to secure approval for the award of the Framework Agreement and the subsequent award of any call-off contracts under the Framework Agreement.

Decision – (a) That Staffordshire County Council undertakes the procurement of a framework Agreement for the supply and installation of windows and doors.

(b) That the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Services be given delegated authority to approve the contract awards to the framework agreement with successful suppliers and, subject to satisfactory performance, approve any framework agreement extensions;

(c) That it be noted that all subsequent call off contracts will be awarded in accordance with the council’s procurement regulations.

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 16 November 2022 to 15 March 2023, 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 matters:

PART TWO

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider proceeding with staffing consultations, to work with staff to design a model which is fit for the future Family Hub aspirations.

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

Cabinet Member for Commercial Matters

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Note by Clerk: Cllr Tagg declared a personal interest and left the room during consideration of this item.

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the sale of the surplus land at the site of the former Seabridge centre in Newcastle under Lyme.

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