Agenda and minutes

1. Declarations of Interest in accordance with Standing Order 16

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

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 16 November 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 tragic death of three young boys in Solihull on Sunday and the dangers of playing on frozen lakes, ponds and rivers; the council’s gritting crews who have been working tirelessly to keep Staffordshire on the move during the recent cold snap; the pledge to Staffordshire taxpayers that the Council will live within its means and deliver value for money; the Here to Help pages on the council’s website which provides support and advice on where to turn if you need help with money, paying your bills, food, or help with childcare; the Council teaming up with Staffordshire Samaritans to help those who struggle with their mental health over the festive period; ways of improving mental and physical health including enjoying Staffordshire’s countryside and green spaces; the Council’s nature recovery strategy for the county and Stoke-on-Trent; work on the construction of the Staffordshire History Centre to commence in the new year; encouraging people to shop local, and support local businesses and jobs; and the Leader’s thanks to county council colleagues who work tirelessly to support people and businesses across the county, and to improve our communities; be noted.

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 claimant count in Staffordshire saw an increase of 420 claimants over the last month, with the total number of claimants in the county now standing at 14,535.  This increase is similar to the rise seen nationally, with the claimant rates for Staffordshire increasing from 2.6% to 2.7% and England seeing the rate rise from 3.6% to 3.7% of the working age population.

• The youth claimant count in Staffordshire saw an increase of 105 to a total of 2,675 young people. This is similar to what has happened in the last month across England as a whole.  The proportion of young people in Staffordshire aged 18-24 that are claiming work-related Universal Credit has increased this month from 4.0% to 4.1% compared to 2.7% for the working age population and 4.7% nationally where the rate increased from 4.6%.

• We have now supported 493 individuals through the Staffordshire Start Up Programme, commissioned through the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce since it started in June 2020.  228 of these have decided that self-employment is for them and have started their own business.  Get Started and Grow has supported more than 80 business owners this year who have been trading up to 5 years with professional services support in marketing, finance or digital marketing. The programme is looking to expand in 2023 to areas such as Human Resources and the County Council will continue to procure established Staffordshire businesses to provide this support.  A series of peer-to-peer Networks is also being launched for new businesses who want to take the next steps in their journey to success.

• Recently released information from the Office for National Statistics show our efforts are bearing fruit.  In 2021, a thousand more businesses were born in Staffordshire than the previous year.  Our business birth rate has therefore improved substantially and is now, for the first-time ever, in-line with the national average.  Businesses born within Staffordshire also remain far more likely to survive compared to the national average.

• We also continue to make great strides in supporting higher-level skills, with work ongoing on the £16m Institute of Technology which is scheduled to open in 2024.  St. Modwen Logistics, one of the UK’s leading logistics developers and managers, is the latest partner to join the Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group led consortium of education providers and employers from across the Midlands to form the IoT.

• Looking forward to the year ahead, there are several significant projects that we continue to work on and will be delivering.  Our Hydrogen Technologies Valley proposal remains one of our biggest opportunities and has the potential to play a major role in supporting a more productive local economy, but also can help to address some of our greatest national and global challenges including energy security and climate change.  Whilst the Government has decided not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Reasons for the Decision – To provide Cabinet with an update on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), which provides details of how the Council’s operations will be funded over the five year period 2023-2028.

Decision – (a) That the updates to the financial plans as set out in the report, including the potential use of reserves to balance the 2023/24 budget and potential cost reduction plan for future years, be noted;

(b) That the announcements made by the Chancellor as part of his Autumn Statement, be noted;

(c) That the commitment to continue to deliver the cost reduction programme (as set out in Appendices 2a – 2d to the report) and the commencement of an innovation programme with immediate effect to identify cost reductions from 2024/25 onwards, be endorsed;

(d) That the risks associated with these planned cost reductions (as set out in the report) be noted and that the Senior Leadership be requested to undertake the appropriate engagement arrangements required to deliver the cost reductions;

(e) That a further report be submitted to Cabinet in January to recommend a Revenue Budget, MTFS and Council Tax to full council in February; and

(f) That the Corporate Review Committee be requested to scrutinise the proposed pressures and cost reduction options against the principles of a good and balanced budget.

Cabinet Member for Health and Care

Reasons for the Decision – To receive an update on progress in respect of modernising and improving our in-house adult learning disability services, including revised recommendations for the residential replacement care service at Douglas Road in Newcastle under Lyme, the Greenfields House residential care service in Leek, and the Hawthorn House residential care service in Lichfield.

Decision – (a) That the Douglas Road residential replacement care service be retained at its current location in Newcastle under Lyme, and authority be delegated to the Director for Health and Care for approval and procurement of refurbishment and redevelopment works, subject to a business case.

(b) That the continued provision of the residential care service at Greenfields House in Leek, with refurbishment of the premises, be endorsed.

(c) That the need for building based care facilities for adults and children countywide be assessed and that opportunities to use the Council’s land and property portfolio for developments to meet these needs be considered.

(d) That the progress and revised plan to refurbish Hawthorn House for residential care in Lichfield be noted.

(e) That the progress regarding the ongoing development of Specialist Day Opportunities services and their buildings, be noted.

Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture

Reasons for the Decision – To consider proposals for the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Staffordshire including the development of a Resettlement Team to support the scheme and broader resettlement programme.

Decision – (a) That the progress to date in relation to the Homes for Ukraine Scheme be acknowledged.

(b) That the proposed approach for the development of a Resettlement Team to support the Homes for Ukraine scheme and broader resettlement programme, be endorsed.

(c) That the Financial breakdown and spend in line with these proposals (based on the actual costs as these figures are still subject to change as more people arrive), be approved.

(d) That thanks be extended to the sponsors for the compassion and generosity they have shown in offering to sponsor a family fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and welcoming them to Staffordshire.

Cabinet Member for Health and Care

Note by Clerk: Mark Deaville declared a pecuniary interest as a Non-Executive Director of Nexxus and withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of this item.

Reasons for the Decision – To consider proposals to increase capacity and ensure access to good quality and affordable nursing care home placements when they are needed.

Decision – (a) That the current challenges and ongoing support to the nursing home market be noted.

(b) That the residual concerns about the sustainability of the nursing home market be noted.

(c) That the development of Bracken House in Burntwood and Meadowyrthe in Tamworth into nursing homes be approved in principle, subject to a business case, and that authority to take the decision on this development be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Health and Care in consultation with the Director of Health and Care and the Director for Finance.

(d) That potential sites for new nursing homes be identified and that business cases for development, including options for development and delivery, be brought to a future Cabinet meeting.

Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture

Reasons for the Decision – To consider a new vision for the Countryside Estate and proposals for an in-house management model that will focus on maximising the benefits of the estate to our communities and environment.

Decision – That the proposed approach for management of the countryside estate and associated delivery plan be supported.

Cabinet Member for Commercial Matters

Reasons for the Decision – To seek Cabinet approval undertake a procurement exercise to procure a framework agreement for Supply, Delivery and Installation of Furniture. The framework should allow for Corporate Office furniture, Educational Furniture and Library Furniture

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 office, educational and library furniture (the “Framework Agreement”).

(b) That following completion of the procurement process, the successful suppliers be appointed to the Framework Agreement for the period 1st July 2023 to 30th June 2025 and that, dependent on the quality of their delivery, that one or both of the 12-month service extensions be implemented to a final contract end date of 30th June 2027.

(c) That it be noted that any contractual agreements in terms of the Framework Agreement and subsequent call-offs will be approved in accordance the council’s Procurement Regulations.

Cabinet Member for Commercial Matters

Reasons for the Decision – To seek Cabinet approval to undertake a procurement exercise to procure a framework agreement for supply, installation, repairs and maintenance of Tarmacadam and other surfaces via an agreed schedule of rates.

Decision – (a) That it be agreed that officers undertake a procurement exercise in compliance with the requirements of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (the “Regulations”) for the Framework Agreement for the supply, installation, repairs and maintenance of Tarmacadam and other surfaces (the “Framework Agreement”).

(b) That following the procurement process the successful suppliers be appointed to the Framework Agreement for the period 1st June 2023 to 31st May 2027.

(c) That it be noted that any contractual agreements in terms of the framework agreement and subsequent call-offs will be approved in accordance the council’s Procurement Regulations.

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

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 18 January to 17 May 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.

PART TWO

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Cabinet Member for Health and Care

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Note by Clerk: Mark Deaville declared a pecuniary interest as a Non-Executive Director of Nexxus and withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of this item.

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the Strategy for the Future Commissioning and Contracting for Extra Care Housing within Staffordshire to ensure adequate Extra Care capacity so that older people have an opportunity to live as independently as possible in their own homes.

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

Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the acceptance of additional grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund; entering into a Joint Venture Development Agreement to enable the development of the Staffordshire Record Office and the William Salt Library to create the Staffordshire History Centre; and to enter into the construction contract.

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

Note by Clerk:  The Chairman of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee has given his approval to the above decision being exempt from call-in as delay likely to be caused by the call-in process would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the public’s interests or the interests of any person(s) to whom the decision relates.