Agenda item

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

 

Adult Learning Disability Provider Services

(Paragraph 1 of the Statement)

 

In response to a question from Councillor Charlotte Atkins concerning the need for the Council to develop more building-based facilities for adults with learning disabilities, Councillor Jessel confirmed that the Council was continuing to invest in this service area.  She also spoke about the restrictions imposed by the Care Quality Commission which required new registrations for such facilities to have a maximum of six beds.

 

Homes for Ukraine

(Paragraph 2 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Charlotte Atkins extended her thanks to the host families for their generosity in opening up their homes to those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.  She did however express concern that there was no financial help available from the County Council for Ukrainian families in relation to transport costs for those residing in areas which had poor public transport links which resulted in them not being able to access services such as language classes.  In response, Councillor Wilson indicated that there were around 800 Ukrainians being hosted by Staffordshire residents.  She added that the Council was providing a range of services for those refugees to help them integrate into society and that English language classes were also available online.  Councillor Wilson also indicated that the Cabinet had approved proposals for the County Council, together with its partners, to develop a Resettlement Integration & Independence Support Offer (including the creation of a Resettlement Team), which would ensure that guests had access to seamless integrated support.

 

Review of Older People’s Nursing Home Capacity and Demand (Paragraph 3 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Winnington welcomed the proposed development of Bracken House in Burntwood and Meadowyrthe in Tamworth into nursing homes and indicated that these facilities would be operated by Nexxus.  In response, Councillor Jessel spoke about the huge positive impact that Nexxus had had on the provision of care services in Staffordshire.

 

Councillor Charlotte Atkins spoke about the need for additional, affordable nursing home care in north Staffordshire and suggested that The Mount in Leek may be suitable for such a development.  In response, Councillor Jessel indicated that the Council had carried out an assessment of current nursing care provision across the County, including any proposed future developments, so as to identify any gaps in provision.  This had led to the proposed development of Bracken House and Meadowyrthe into nursing homes.  She also spoke about the positive impact the use of new technology had had in the care sector and how the County Council acted as a catalyst to stimulate care provision by private providers.

 

Delivering a Future Vision for the Countryside Estate

(Paragraph 4 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Winnington spoke about the importance of the County’s Country Parks and routes such as the Stafford to Newport Greenway in helping people to stay healthy, both physically and mentally.   Councillor Yates also referred to the health benefits of open spaces and asked that the Council ensures that no unnecessary obstacles are placed in the way in relation to their use e.g. parking restrictions.  He also asked that the County Council engage with parish and district/borough councils in the development of the vision.  In response, Councillor Alan White confirmed that the County Council worked in partnership with local councils on such matters.

 

Councillor Wilcox spoke about the Chasewater County Park and how the Future Vision would have a role in developing and modernising the offer there, making it more attractive to users.

 

Councillor Tagg also spoke about the valuable role played by the Countryside Estate with respect to biodiversity and nature recovery.  Councillor Philip White added that the Estate also played an important role with regard to attracting tourists into the County.

 

Framework Agreements

(Paragraph 5 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Deaville referred to how the Framework agreements ensured value for money and best quality when procuring goods and services and that District and Borough Councils could also benefit from the arrangements put in place by the County Council.  He also added that the local suppliers could bid for work under the agreements. 

 

Staffordshire Means Back to Business – Oral Update

(Paragraph 6 of the Statement)

 

In response to a question from Councillor Hussain in relation to the increase in the claimant count for Universal Credit, Councillors Philip Atkins and Philip White indicated that there were more job vacancies than there were claimants and added that the hospitality sector in particular was finding it difficult to recruit.  Councillor White also highlighted the role of the Council’s Job Brokerage service which tried to match vacancies with individuals who possessed the necessary skills.

 

Councillor Hussain also referred to innovation and asked for examples of where this was occurring in Staffordshire.  In response, Councillor Philip White spoke about the Hydrogen Technologies Valley proposal and also the work by Keele University on vaccines.

 

Councillor Yates referred to an issue in Biddulph where an unadopted road provided access to land earmarked for mixed use development.  In response, Councillor David Williams indicated that the County Council would not adopt the road until such time as it was brought up to the necessary standards.  Councillor Philip White added that he would engage with the district council to see what could be done to address this issue.

 

Councillor Smith referred to the potential benefits arising from HS2 including providing opportunities for apprenticeships.  Councillor Philip White added that although the Council did not support the construction of HS2, it was determined to continue to extract the maximum benefits for Staffordshire and its communities.

 

Councillor Afsar highlighted the need for the County Council to continue to seek a fair and growth-based approach to business rates to support jobs and investment.

 

Health and Care Winter Update

(Paragraph 7 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Edgeller referred to spending on mental health services within Staffordshire and also a letter received by Theo Clarke MP from the Health Minister confirming funding for mental health services including for the Crisis Assessment Centre at St. George’s Hospital in Stafford.

 

Councillor Hood spoke about staff shortages at the Royal Stoke Hospital and also at St. Georges and the impact on patients.  In response, Councillor Alan White indicated that he would raise Councillor Hood’s concerns with the Integrated Care Board.

 

Councillor Huckfield commended the care provided in hospitals, nursing homes and also the provision of domiciliary care across the County.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Charlotte Atkins, Councillor Jessel confirmed that the allocation by Central Government of £3.0m of the one-off social care discharge fund to the Council needed to be spent by the end of March 2023.  She added that she had written to the Secretary of State to say that in her view there was a better, more sustainable way of allocating such funding by allowing local councils to plan ahead.

 

Councillor Pardesi spoke about Central Government’s under-investment in social care.  In response, Councillor Jessel referred to the ongoing partnership working between the Council and the NHS to ensure that people received the care they needed. 

 

Future Social Care Workforce Strategy

(Paragraph 8 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Jessel informed the council of the development of the Staffordshire Social Care Workforce Strategy which aimed to attract and retain care staff and to improve the image of the sector and make it more attractive as a career.  She extended her thanks to those who had participated in the development of the Strategy which was due to be launched by the end of March.

 

Staffordshire County Council's Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy

(Paragraph 9 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Flunder, Councillor Clements and Councillor Yates welcomed the publication of the Strategy.  Councillor Clements added that thought needed to be given to access to chargers by disabled drivers.  Councillor Yates enquired about the rate of delivery of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure across the eight Staffordshire Borough and District Councils.  In response, Councillor Parry, Councillor Tagg and Councillor David Williams indicated that the Strategy was about enabling the private sector to provide electric vehicle charging facilities and not for the County Council to be responsible for their provision at the Council taxpayers’ expense. Councillor Tagg and Councillor Flunder also spoke about the existing and planned provision in the Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands Districts.  Councillor Greatorex indicated that the Strategy did not contain any details regarding the target number of charging facilities across the County.

 

Councillor David Williams extended his thanks to Clive Thomson and his team for their work in developing the Strategy.

 

Staffordshire Sustainability Board Communications Plan 2023

(Paragraph 10 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Smith spoke about the problems, particularly amongst older people in the community, in accessing information via the internet and added that, in addition to providing training on accessing the internet, alternative methods of conveying information to Staffordshire residents needed to be considered.  In response, Councillor Tagg indicated that it was not primarily an on-line campaign and that a lot of the sustainability events would be taking place in town centres.  He added that environmental tips were to be included in the Council Tax leaflet being sent out to all households in Staffordshire.

 

Winter Highways Operations

(Paragraph 11 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Hussain paid tribute to the gritting crews who were keeping the County’s roads clear of snow and ice over the winter period.  He, together with Councillor Yates, also enquired as to how to get roads, e.g. on new housing developments, added to the routes which were routinely gritted.  In response, Councillor David Williams and Councillor Alan White indicated that there was a finite capacity to the routes which could be gritted and that grit bins were provided as necessary in those areas which were not on gritting routes.

 

Numeracy – It All Adds Up

(Paragraph 12 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Hudson welcomed the Multiply scheme, a three-year fully funded programme giving people the opportunity to improve their numeracy skills.  He added that the scheme was particularly important for parents with children of school age as the way in which mathematics was now taught in schools differed from the methods used twenty/thirty years ago.  Councillor Philip White also welcomed the scheme and added that it was to be rolled out across the County in both a classroom environment and also on-line.

 

A50/A500 Westminster Event

(Paragraph 13 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Philip Atkins and Councillor Hudson welcomed the ‘masterplan’ which was launched for the A50/A500 in February 2022 outlining nine schemes that, if delivered, could ease congestion along the whole route and create 12,000 jobs across the region.  They also spoke about how the proposed road schemes could benefit manufacturers located along the corridor such as JCB.  Councillor Philip White spoke about the need to continue to lobby Central Government to ensure that the masterplan came to fruition.

 

£20m Transport Boost

(Paragraph 14 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Sutherland, Councillor Edgeller and Councillor Jessel welcomed the announcement that major transport projects were to receive £20 million after the county council successfully bid for funding and they outlined the projects which would proceed in their respective areas.  Councillor Jessel also extended her thanks to the Leader, Deputy Leader and to those officers involved in the preparation and submission of the bid.

 

Councillor Northcott and Councillor Flunder referred to the successful £17.1 million bid by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to redevelop Leek town centre.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Smith concerning the maintenance of bus stops, Councillor Greatorex indicated that Parish Councils were responsible for the maintenance of bus shelters.

 

John Henderson

(Paragraph 15 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Philip Atkins, Councillor Charlotte Atkins and Councillor Alan White extended their thanks to Mr Henderson for agreeing to stay on in his role as Chief Executive until his replacement is appointed.  Councillor White added that there would further be opportunities for Members to pay their tributes to Mr Henderson for the contribution he had made before he leaves the Authority.

 

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