Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest on this occasion.

Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council.

The Chairman welcomed Members to the first meeting of the Staffordshire Leaders Board which has been established to maximise the opportunities for all nine councils in Staffordshire to work even more closely together for the benefit of the county.

The Chairman stated that county council and district and borough councils already had a solid history of partnership working; formally coming together at the Leaders Board allows the County as a whole to focus on joint approaches to key challenges in Staffordshire which includes growing the economy, attracting investment, tackling public health issues such as obesity and mental health but also global issues like climate change by working together to reduce carbon emissions and increase recycling targets. The Chairman highlighted the future work of the Leaders Board.

It was reported that the Board gives the nine councils in Staffordshire one collaborative voice to speak to central Government on the Levelling Up agenda and exploring the potential of a County Deal.

RESOLVED – That the update be received.

Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council.

The Board received a report to establish the Staffordshire Leaders Board and the Constitution for Board.

RESOLVED – That (a) The Board formally confirm that Staffordshire County Council will act as host authority for the Board, and will provide the S151 Officer, Monitoring Officer and Legal Adviser to the Board

b) Councillor George Allen be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Leaders Board for 2022/23.

c) The updated version of the Terms of Reference for the Board will be taken to each parent authority’s Cabinet meeting to facilitate the Board’s preferred meeting frequency

Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council.

The Board received a report highlighting the priorities of the Staffordshire Leaders Board.

It was reported that six initial areas of focus had been identified as important to all nine local authorities and key to unlocking some of Staffordshire’s most important current and future challenges. These areas are:

·       Climate Change

·       Economic Development across the county

·       A ‘Single Front Door’ for Staffordshire residents who need to contact their councils

·       Addressing Health inequalities across Staffordshire

·       A joint approach to Waste and sustainability

·       Devolution and a County Deal.

The Board discussed each of the priorities and agreed that an update of these priorities will be discussed at future meetings.

RESOLVED – That (a) the priorities for 2022/23 set out in the report be agreed.

(b) the approach for the year set out in the report be agreed.

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 the Local Government Act 1972 indicated below”.

RESOLVED – 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.