The Leader of the Council presented a Statement outlining his recent work since the previous meeting of the Council.

 

VCSE Capacity Building Recommission

(Paragraph 1 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Sutton informed the Council of the proposals for investing in VCSE capacity building activity once the current arrangements end on 31st July 2022 in order to ensure that the sector remained strong, sustainable, and had the stability required to continue supporting communities in Staffordshire.  He gave examples of the VCSE work including its hosting of the annual youth camp associated with the German War Graves on Cannock Chase in which young people from both Staffordshire and Germany took part.  Cllr Hussain, Cllr McMahon and Cllr Wilson also paid tribute to the invaluable work of volunteers, particularly during the Covid pandemic.

 

Burton Town Deal - Proposed Library Move

(Paragraph 2 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Wilson indicated that she was looking forward to hearing from East Staffordshire Borough Council as to whether their regeneration proposals, which would see Burton Library relocated from its current location to the Market Hall, Market Place, Burton upon Trent as part of the Burton Stronger Town Deal, were to proceed.  Cllr Hussain and Cllr Wileman indicated that they were opposed to the library’s relocation, as were 77% of respondents to the recent public consultation.  Cllr Hussain added that he was also fearful for the livelihood of the market traders if the library was to be relocated into the Market Hall.

 

Cllr Philip Atkins and Cllr Hudson indicated that they were supportive of the regeneration proposals; and Cllr Jessel added that town centres needed to adapt and modernise if they were to survive.

 

Cllr Alan White drew a comparison with the recent relocation of Lichfield Library which was opposed by a petition by over 5,000, but, once relocated, had seen a doubling of users.

 

Home to School Transport - Review of Temporary Vacant Seat Scheme

(Paragraph 3 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Charlotte Atkins referred to the impact of the review of the temporary Vacant Seat Scheme, how non-school bus services were not required to be fitted with seat belts and the time it will take bus operators to modernise their fleet.  In response, Cllr Price indicated that the review had been brought about due to new regulations from Central Government and would only impact those young people who were not entitled to free school transport.

 

Cllr Philip Atkins asked for the situation to be kept under review and, in reponse, Cllr Price indicated that the County Council would work with bus operators so try to minimise the impact to those affected by the review.

 

Formal Report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman regarding SEND

(Paragraph 4 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Charlotte Atkins and Cllr Francis referred to the difficulties often encountered by parents in trying to navigate through the SEND process to get support for their child.  In response, Cllr Price referred to the improvement brought about by the Children’s System Transformation Programme, and he also informed Members that the Council had recently appointed a new Head of Vulnerable Learners who would support Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators.

 

Proposed Relocation and Expansion of St Leonard's Primary School, Stafford

(Paragraph 5 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Pardesi indicated that she welcomed the proposal to relocate St Leonard's Primary School into the Kingston Centre.  Cllr Price thanked Cllr Pardesi for her comments and added that the relocation would enable the school to expand to meet the expected demand for primary school places generated by local housing development and would also provide a modern learning environment and on-site playing field.

 

Chatterley Valley West - Project Update

(Paragraph 7 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Hutton, Cllr Sweeney and Cllr Huckfield welcomed the proposal for the 43-hectare (gross) employment site at Chatterley Valley which could generate around 1,700 jobs.  Cllr Philip White thanked the Members for their comments and added that the project was a good example of how the County Council, working with others, could unlock land for development which the private sector could not deliver on its own.

 

Families Health & Wellbeing (0-19) Service: Contract Extension

(Paragraph 8 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Sutton indicated that the extension of the contract for the Families Health and Wellbeing (0-19) service with MPFT will enable children, young people and families to access information, advice and support from Health Visitors and School Nurses.

 

IA2609 Framework for Responsive Property Maintenance and Day Works

(Paragraph 9 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Deaville informed Members that Framework Agreements ensured that the Council received best value for money and that the majority of suppliers were local companies.

 

Staffordshire Means Back to Business - Oral Update

(Paragraph 10 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Alan White referred to the success of the Staffordshire Means Back to Business programme which had achieved a number of successes including new employment generating developments in the County, such as ASOS in Lichfield (2,000 jobs) and Pets at Home in Stafford (800 jobs).  He added that there was still work to do in supporting certain groups, such as the under 25’s, to gain employment.

 

Economic Recovery & Growth: Enhancing Delivery

(Paragraph 11 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Alan White highlighted that the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) included an additional £1million per annum to support economic recovery and encourage economic growth; of which £0.200m had been used to create a Destination Management Partnership (DMP) post and to create a DMP marketing budget, and £0.640m had provided the ability to develop and operate the Staffordshire Means Back to Business scheme, both of which were vital to support the Staffordshire Economy. 

 

Establishment of the Staffordshire Leaders Board

(Paragraph 12 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Smith and Cllr Tagg expressed their support for the establishment of the Staffordshire Leaders Board, the purpose of which was to continue to improve joint working between the County, District and Borough Councils in Staffordshire, and to develop and negotiate a County Deal with Government.  Cllr Alan White referred to how the County, District and Borough Councils had worked together during the Covid pandemic, and he added that the establishment of the Leaders Board was a natural progression to this joint working.  He also added that the “door was open” to Stoke-on-Trent City Council should they wish to join the Board at some point in the future.

 

Update from COVID-19 Member Led Local Outbreak Control Board

(Paragraph 14 of the Statement)

 

Cllr McMahon provided Members with the latest information in respect of the impact of Covid in the County including infection rates, hospitalisations and vaccination rates.

 

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Commonwealth Games

(Paragraph 15 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Hussain, Cllr Philip Atkins and Cllr Wilson paid tribute to Her Majesty The Queen for her 70 years of service to the Country and the Commonwealth.

 

Cllr Trowbridge outlined some of the events which were taking place in Stafford Borough to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee.

 

National Apprenticeship Week and Skills

(Paragraph 16 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Smith referred for the need for apprenticeships to be recognised with a comparable qualification in a similar way to those who have gone into Higher Education such as university courses.  In response, Cllr Alan White indicated that the Council would explore this issue further.

 

Cllr Pert referred to the links between apprenticeships and the various strands in the Council’s Strategic Plan.  He also outlined how apprenticeships could be used to tackle unemployment amongst the 18 – 25 group. 

 

Cllr Charlotte Atkins referred to the need to examine the gender and diversity in-balance amongst those taking up apprenticeships, i.e. within the construction sector.  In response, Cllr Winnington referred to how the advice given in schools often steered young people into certain career pathways.  Cllr Philip White added that the Council needed to ensure that career pathways were open to all and that he would write to Cllr Atkins regarding the position in Staffordshire.

 

Cllr Sutherland cited an example of how apprenticeships were being used very successfully by a business in his area which was taking on an average of five new apprentices every year.

 

Director of Public Health Report

(Paragraph 17 of the Statement)

 

Cllr McMahon commended the Director of Public Health’s Report to all Members of the Council.

 

Climate Change

(Paragraph 18 of the Statement)

 

Cllr Smith stated that he was pleased to see Climate Change on the agenda. 

 

Cllr Tagg reminded Members that applications under the Climate Change Action Fund needed to be submitted by no later than 24 February 2022.

 

RESOLVED – That the Statement of the Leader of the Council be received.