Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 21 June 2023 be approved.

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 Council’s on-going work to keep Staffordshire children safe and protected from harm, with more children and families coming forward in need of support; the vital role foster carers play in looking after some of the most vulnerable young people in our county and the recent long-service awards ceremony which paid tribute to more than 40 foster carers;  the support available to parents struggling with the cost of living through the Holiday Activities and Food Programme; the work to find new, better, and lower cost ways to work and deliver results including, for example, through our community managed libraries; the continuing work with local councils and businesses to create the right conditions for our economy to grow, and create more, better paid jobs for Staffordshire people; the Council working with Cannock Chase District Council and others to support employees and showcase opportunities through our jobs and careers service following Amazon’s announcement that they will be relocating operations from Rugeley; the additional £30m investment in our roads which will include repairs on the A522 near Uttoxeter, a £200,000 resurfacing scheme on the A34 Liverpool Road in Newcastle and an £800,000 improvement of the junction of Eastern Avenue and Grange Lane in Lichfield; and the Council’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero by 2050 including through its Climate Change Action Fund, now in its fourth year, offering more than £90,000 of grants to not-for profit organisations including charities, voluntary and community groups, parish councils and schools; 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:

·       This month saw an increase of 180 claimants, which was a lower proportional increase than seen nationally and in-line with the change seen regionally.  The total number of claimants in the county now stands at 15,300 or 2.9%. The claimant count rate in Staffordshire continues to be one of the lowest in the West Midlands and is far lower than the average for the region of 4.9%, and lower than the average for England of 3.8% of the working age population.

·       The youth claimant count in Staffordshire saw an increase of 55 claimants to a total of 2,890 young people.  The proportion of young people in Staffordshire aged 18-24 that are claiming work-related Universal Credit is 4.6%.  This is lower than the national rate of 4.8% and far lower than the regional rate of 6.6%.

·       In terms of job vacancies there was a 4% increase across Staffordshire and a 3% increase nationally between May and June. Demand for labour and skills remains high, with there currently being 1.7 jobs available for every claimant within the county, and therefore our focus continues to be to support those that unfortunately find themselves unemployed, to transition into work.

·       The news that Amazon have decided to leave its site in Rugeley to relocate to a much larger new facility in Sutton Coldfield. It is anticipated that the closure of the site at Rugeley will take place on a phased basis with the new site operational by October 2023.  There is the opportunity for workers to remain in employment with Amazon elsewhere, and our primary concern will of course be ensuring that we are supporting our residents who will be impacted by this decision.  We have therefore convened a taskforce comprised of senior representatives of the County Council, Borough Council, Department for Work & Pensions, South Staffordshire College and the National Careers Service to exchange information and consider our support offer, including the deployment of our Jobs & Careers Services if and when appropriate.

·       Alongside our district and borough partners and local authorities from the wider West Midlands Region, we are progressing work to consider the need for large employment sites for the logistics industry across the region.  This and our continued dialogue with the private sector emphasise the potential for this industry and its opportunities to create substantial numbers of new jobs, and we will of course continue to work proactively to ensure that these jobs are the right jobs in the right locations.

·       Our Staffordshire Jobs and Careers service continues to grow and receive referrals from residents across the county either via the website, word of mouth or via one of the many events the Employment Brokers have been attending.  This ongoing promotion of our employment and skills services continues to deliver with 11 Open Door placements secured (5 external, 4 SCC),  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Cabinet Member for Health and Care, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the final draft of a new ‘Living my Best Life’: Joint Strategy for Disabled and Neurodivergent people in Staffordshire 2023-2028 which has been jointly developed by the Staffordshire County Council and the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Decision – That the proposed ‘Living my Best Life’: Report on the Joint Strategy for Disabled and Neurodivergent people in Staffordshire 2023-2028, be approved.

Cabinet Member for Health and Care

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the commissioning plan for Supported Living care services in Staffordshire and to delegate authority for the award of contracts.

Decision – (a) That the commissioning plan for procurement of a Flexible Framework for Supported Living care services in Staffordshire be approved.

(b) That authority be delegated to the Director of Health and Care to appoint successful care providers to the Flexible Framework for Supported Living care services and to award call-off contracts under the Flexible Framework for Supported Living care services as detailed in the report.

(c) That authority be delegated to the Director of Health and Care to extend the current Dynamic Purchasing System for contracting Supported Living care services up to 01 July 2025 to cover the period of transition to the new contracts.

Cabinet Member for Health and Care

Reasons for the Decision – To seek approval to procure additional capacity to support the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards process.

Decision – (a) That the procurement of additional capacity to support the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards process be approved.

(b) That authority be delegated to the Director of Health and Care to award contracts for this additional capacity.

Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the requirement to complete the process for the creation of an Enhanced Partnership; and a proposed full review of the previously agreed Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in line with Department for Transport (DfT) feedback.

Decision – (a) That it be agreed that the process for the creation of an Enhanced Partnership (EP), that is to commence on the 1st August 2023 in line with the previously agreed Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), be completed.

(b) That the undertaking of a full review of the previously agreed BSIP in line with Department for Transport (DfT) feedback, to enable Staffordshire County Council a greater chance of success for future bids, be agreed.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an overview of the Council’s progress, performance, and financial position in delivering against its Strategic Plan, Corporate Delivery Plan and Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

Decision – That the report be received.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Reasons for the Decision – To consider a summary of the County Council’s treasury management activities for 2022/23, including the borrowing and investment decisions taken throughout the year in the light of the interest rates and economic conditions prevailing at the time.

Decision – (a) That the treasury management activities for the year ended 31 March 2023, including the Prudential Indicators outturn detailed in Appendix 4 to the report, be noted.

(b) That the use of the Minimum Revenue Provision at 31 March 2023 for £20.441m as set out in paragraphs 31 and 32 of the report be noted and approved.

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 16 August to 13 December 2023, which detailed the following issues, was approved: