Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.?

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 21 February 2024 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 includingnine out of ten parents being allocated their first choice secondary school in Staffordshire this year, well above both the national and regional average, with nearly 99 per cent allocated one of their top three preferred schools; Staffordshire, one of 20 areas across the country, being selected to join a national pilot to encourage people to pursue a career in early years and childcare; the Holidays, Activity and Food scheme running over the Easter holidays with 15,000 places available to eligible children aged between five and sixteen on benefits related free school meals; the Council’s commitment to spend an extra £50 million in maintaining and improving Staffordshire’s highways over the next three years alongside a total of £53M being spent on a range of major projects, vital road improvements and general road maintenance in 2024/25; the Local Transport Fund deal which will see the county council allocated nearly £286million from 2025/26 from a national fund of £4.7bn; Staffordshire being chosen by City Nation Place to host its UK conference which will bring together leaders to focus on how to build place attractiveness and reputation – and to build pride, attract visitors, talent and investment be noted. 

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 6 March 2024 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: 

·       This month saw an increase of 855 universal credit claimants in Staffordshire, whilst at the same time we have seen significant increases both regionally and nationally. This reflects the challenging economic conditions businesses continue to operate in across the country and will in part be due to some seasonal jobs coming to an end.  The total number of claimants in the county now stands at 15,910 and the claimant rate has increased this month from 2.8% to 3.0% of the working age population.  However, it is important to note that the claimant count rate in Staffordshire continues to be one of the lowest in the West Midlands, far lower than the average for the region of 5.0%, and lower than the average for England of 3.9%.  

·       The youth claimant count in Staffordshire saw an increase of 140 claimants this month to a total of 3,020 young people. Increases were also seen regionally and nationally.  The proportion of young people in Staffordshire aged 18-24 that are claiming work-related Universal Credit has increased this month from 4.6% to 4.8%.  This continues to be lower than the national rate of 5.3% and far lower than the regional rate of 7.1%.  

·       Last month I updated Cabinet on our work to transfer the functions of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership into the County Council.  Government has confirmed that one of the LEPs previous responsibilities, namely the delivery of an economic strategy across the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent geography, will now be the responsibility of the upper tier authorities from April and that this will be a key document in being able to access future national funding programmes.  Whilst this is now the responsibility of the County and City Council’s, we will of course need to continue to work closely with our district and borough partners, local businesses and relevant economic stakeholders. The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Economic Strategy needs to be published by the end of September and therefore this work will be progressing quickly over the coming and I’ll ensure that Cabinet are updated and have a chance to shape this important piece of work. 

·       Since 2010, the number of our residents who have no qualifications has almost halved, whilst we now have around 60,000 more residents who have a degree level qualification.  This is a huge achievement and is a key reason why we have seen related successes in recent months and years, including average earnings of our residents now equalling the national average and the significant additional number of jobs that have been created in the area.  Recently released jobs data shows that 15,000 additional jobs were created in Staffordshire between 2021 and 2022, whilst we now have almost 60,000 more jobs within the county when compared to 2010.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider approving the Schools Capital Programme for 2024/25. 

Decision – (a) That the Schools Capital Programme 2024/25 investment proposal (as set out in the supporting appendices to the report) be approved. 

(b) That the Assistant Director for Commercial and Assets be authorised to monitor progress and make any necessary in-year alterations in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND). 

(c) That authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Services to enter contracts for projects in the Capital Programme which have a value of £2,000,000 or above. Other contract awards and modifications will be in accordance with the Council’s Procurement Regulations. 

Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

?? 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider approving the Highways and Transport Programme 2024/25 to 2026/27. 

Decision – (a) That the Highways and Transport capital investment proposals (set out in the supporting appendices to the report) be approved and it be noted that, at the time of writing, the allocations from the Department for Transport have not been provided.  

(b) That the additional investment of £30M by the County Council into highway maintenance to be delivered over the period from 2025/26 to 2026/27 be approved.  

(c) That the progression of the programme of developer funded s.278/s111 highway improvement projects be approved and that authority be delegated to the Director of Economy, Infrastructure & Skills to agree the details of the works agreements and authorise the contracts for works to be entered into. 

(d) That the Assistant Director for Highways and the Built County monitors progress of the overall programme and be given delegated authority to make any in-year alterations and additions to the programme in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport. 

Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change

?? 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider approving the updated Climate Change Strategic Development Framework. 

Decision – (a) That the updated Climate Change Strategic Development  Framework be noted and approved. 

(b) That it be noted that the revised Climate Change Strategic Development Framework highlights the importance of considering climate change mitigation and adaption in combination.  

(c) That it be noted that the Climate Change Action Plan is being refreshed to incorporate carbon reduction initiatives and building climate change resilience across all council services. 

Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport and Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change

?? 

Reasons for the Decision – To seek approval to accept capital funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) to enable the private sector to deliver public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Staffordshire. 

Decision – (a) That the Council agrees to accept funding from the Department for Transport to enable the private sector to deliver public EV charging infrastructure in Staffordshire. 

(b) That the final decision to either remain in a local authority consortium with Midlands Connect or for Staffordshire County Council to procure an EV infrastructure partner independently be delegated to the Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport and the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change.  

(c) That the completion of any legal agreements associated with the installation of electric vehicle chargepoints, i.e. s50 and SCC private leases, be delegated to the Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills. 

(d) That the Department for Transport focus for on-street charging infrastructure and the need to include a combination of off-street and on-street provision as a requirement of the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding, be noted. 

(e) That the continued collaboration with district and borough councils to allocate LEVI funding to facilitate the installation of EV infrastructure at areas of off-street parking where there is a residential need, be noted. 

Cabinet Member for Health and Care

?? 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider entering into a new Section 75 Agreement for the provision of adult social care assessment and case management. 

Decision – (a) That the progress with the current Section 75 Agreement with Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) be noted. 

(b) That the Council enter into a new Section 75 Agreement with MPFT to continue to provide adult social care assessment and case management and occupational therapy in Staffordshire.  

(c) That the completion of a change control to the Section 75 Agreement, to transfer the existing Mental Health Floating Support Service contract with MPFT into the Section 75 Agreement, be authorised.  

(d) That the Director of Health and Care and Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Care, be authorised to finalise and implement a Section 75 Agreement for adult social care assessment and case management and occupational therapy commencing 1 April 2025. 

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the requirement to change to a new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to procure apprenticeship provision. 

Decision – (a) That approval be given for the Council to join Crown Commercial Service, Apprenticeship Training Dynamic Marketplace – Framework RM6102 until April 2025. 

(b) That this be reviewed in April 2025 to consider whether it is appropriate to transfer to the CCS new framework RM6303 after considering the Apprenticeship Strategy that is currently being commissioned through People Services.  

(c) That the Assistant Director for Skills and Employability be authorised to approve the award of contracts with training providers and the release of funds from the apprenticeship levy to fund training. 

Cabinet Member for Health and Care

?? 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider a new All-Age Carers Strategy (2024-2029) to replace the current strategy. 

Decision – That the Staffordshire All Age Carers Strategy 2024 – 2029 be approved. 

Cabinet Member for Health and Care

?? 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an extension to the Dynamic Purchasing System Agreement for the supply of Residential and Nursing Care Home placements. 

Decision – (a) That an extension to the Council’s Dynamic Purchasing System for adult care home placements be approved.  

(b) That it be noted that a new commissioning model for care homes is in the final stages of development and that it will be brought to Cabinet for consideration in summer 2024. 

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

Reasons for the Decision – To consider establishing a Joint Committee on behalf of Staffordshire County Council and Stoke on Trent City Council to take all decisions within the budget and policy frameworks for both councils arising from the winding down and cessation of the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). 

Decision – (a) That the approach to form a Joint Enterprise Delivery Committee with Stoke-on-Trent City Council (“Joint Committee”) be endorsed.  

(b) That the Terms of Reference for the Joint Committee be agreed.  

(c) That the Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills be appointed to the Joint Committee.  

(d) That all necessary authority be delegated to the Assistant Director for Skills and Employability in respect of transferring the Careers Hub to Staffordshire County Council as the accountable body.  

(e) That authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive & Director for Corporate Services to sign the Asset Transfer Agreement to formally transfer the SSLEP reserves to SCC as the Accountable Body for the LEP, with the reserves to be managed through the Joint Committee.  

(f) That, once the SSLEP reserves are formally transferred to SCC as accountable body, the following funds are immediately ring-fenced (subject to Cabinet approval at Stoke-on-Trent City Council):  

                   i.SSLEP reserves of £298,250 and £425,934 are allocated to the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub and Careers Hub respectively as a rolling contingency, thereby allowing an additional year of these services to be funded should national grants not be provided in 2025/2026, or any subsequent year.  

                  ii.SSLEP reserves of £324,130 are allocated to be spent on the establishment and work programme of the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP). 

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

?? 

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 17 April to 21 August 2024, 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)

“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 the Local Government Act 1972 indicated below”.  

PART TWO 

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Cabinet Member for Commercial Matters

(Exemption paragraph 3)  

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the sale of surplus land at Histons Hill, Codsall. 

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