Agenda item

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

 

Staffordshire Means Back to Business – Oral Update

(Paragraph 1 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Philip White informed Members that the Government had recently granted permission for JCB’s hydrogen-powered backhoe loaders to be used on UK roads; and the publication of the Council’s Economic Strategy which detailed the Council’s economic priorities in the coming years.  Councillor Winnington also welcomed the recent news about JCB’s hydrogen-powered backhoe loaders and he also spoke about trialling new technologies to repair pot-holes.

 

Councillor Hussain referred to those families on low incomes and how the potential loss of Universal Credit could be an impediment to seeking employment, especially in those sectors where pay was low.  In response, Councillor Alan White indicated that the Council routinely lobbied the Government on such issues.

 

Councillor Hussain also referred to the Government’s proposals for eight new Investment Zones and the need for the Council to lobby with a view to securing one of the Investment Zones in Staffordshire. In response, Councillor Alan White indicated that, under the current criteria, it was unlikely that the Council would qualify for an Investment Zones in Staffordshire.

 

Diversity and Inclusion – Progress Update

(Paragraph 2 of the Statement)

 

In response to a question from Councillor Charlotte Atkins concerning the gender pay gap and the need for the Council to make employment opportunities available to encourage a more diverse workforce, Councillor Alan White referred to the Council’s new People Strategy and added that the Council had an “open door” policy and was taking steps to strengthen its approach to diversity and inclusion. He also indicated that the Council would continue to look to work with community leaders (as it had done during the Covid pandemic) to improve accessibility for all sectors of the community.

 

Empowering Our Communities

(Paragraph 3 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Northcote spoke about the importance of empowering communities within the County and the need to build on this work, including through the Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association.

 

Councillor Hussain referred to the important role played by Community Centres, many of which were struggling with rising costs, and the need for the Council to support them.

 

Councillor Sutherland spoke about the Members’ Community Fund and how the initiative had provided valuable support to local communities.

 

Councillor Charlotte Atkins enquired as to how the County Council intended to build capacity at parish and town council level.  In response, Councillor Sutton indicated that he would ask Councillor Wilson to let her have a detailed reply.

 

Councillor Alan White expressed his thanks to Parish Councillors and other voluntary groups for the work that they do in Staffordshire.

 

Integrated Performance Report - Quarter 3, 2022/23

(Paragraph 4 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Parry gave a brief overview of the Council’s performance in delivering against its Strategic Plan and Delivery Plan and added that, although the majority of indicators were “green”, there were some areas of concern, particularly across Childrens’ services.

 

Conflict in Ukraine

(Paragraph 5 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Charlotte Atkins referred to the Council’s work in helping to support Ukrainian refugees to find jobs and she expressed the hope that this work would be extended to support refugees from other countries. In response, Councillor Alan White indicated that he had recently had a meeting with the Home Secretary concerning the impact of asylum seekers in Staffordshire and the need to increase the speed of the application process for those seeking asylum.

 

Councillor Farrell and Councillor Cox informed the Council of the some of the work taking place in Tamworth and Lichfield to support Ukrainian refugees.

 

Councillor Hutton referred to the difference between those people who were displaced from their homes and who one day would return (as was the case for most Ukrainian refuges) and those who were seeking asylum status. 

 

Councillor Sutton spoke about the Council’s Homes for Ukraine scheme and indicated that around 500 Staffordshire residents had opened-up their homes to Ukrainian refugees.  He added that this work had been supported by the Council’s resettlement team.

 

Councillor Alan White thanked Members for their comments and indicated that there was not a quick solution to the conflict in Ukraine and that the United Kingdom would need to have an enduring commitment to those Ukrainians finding refuge on our shores.  He also expressed his thanks to those communities in Staffordshire who were supporting the refugees from Ukraine.

 

Highways Investment

(Paragraph 6 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Yates welcomed the investment by the Council in its highways and spoke about the need for local Members to work with their local town and parish councils when developing priorities for inclusion in the Highways and Transport Divisional Programme.

 

Councillor Hudson spoke about the need for local residents to report potholes through the “My Staffs app”; the priority areas for highway improvement/repair in Uttoxeter; and the need to update working practices when repairing potholes.  Councillor Jay also referred to the need for monitoring to ensure the quality of repairs which were undertaken.

 

Councillors Afsar, Peters and Wileman expressed their thanks for the Council’s additional funding to support pothole repairs and spoke about the priorities for highway improvement/repairs in Burton.

 

Councillor Francis enquired as to the impact on the highway improvement schemes which were being funded as part of the construction of HS2 following the recent announcement of the suspension of HS2 construction works for two years.  In response, Councillor David Williams indicated that civil works were to continue and it was the construction of new infrastructure which was being suspended.

 

Councillor Flunder referred to the petition he presented at the Council meeting in February seeking the installation of a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing in Endon and indicated that he was pleased to hear that highway officers had arranged a meeting to consider the request.

 

Councillor Hussain enquired as to whether consideration could be given to increase Divisional Highway Programme funding.

 

Councillor Philip Atkins spoke about how highway defects were categorised and where priority was given to repairs.  He also indicated that parish councils had powers to fund certain highway works.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Philip Atkins, Councillor David Williams confirmed that the JCB Pothole Pro machine had been on trial with the County Council.  Councillor Winnington enquired as to whether the machine was hydrogen powered similar to JCB’s new backhoe loaders.

 

Councillor Hutton expressed his thanks to the Council’s Highways Team for the work they do and also indicated that consideration needed to be given to tree maintenance as he was receiving an increasing amount of correspondence from constituents about this issue. In response, Councillor David Williams indicated that the County Council spent over £1m per annum in maintaining trees.

 

Councillor Parry informed Members that the Cabinet, at its meeting on 15 March, approved the Highways and Transport Programme 2023/24 under which, over the next two financial years, the County Council was to invest an additional £30M to support its commitment to fix more roads.  The Programme would also see a total of over £50 million invested in a range of major projects, vital local improvements, and general road maintenance.

 

Councillor Alan White spoke about the Council’s financial commitment to its highways network since 2021 and also how the Council was reliant on local residents to identify and report issues.

 

Armed Forces Covenant

(Paragraph 7 of the Statement)

 

Councillors Clements, Hudson, Cox, Tagg and Eagland welcomed the announcement that the Staffordshire’s Leaders Board had joined together to pledge support for the armed forces communities by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant.  They also paid tribute to the work of the Armed Forces.

 

Councillor Alan White indicated that he was delighted to sign the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of the County Council (and as a former member of the Armed Forces) and he also encouraged all Members to visit the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas and to reflect on the sacrifices made by servicemen and women.

 

New History Centre

(Paragraph 8 of the Statement)

 

Councillors Trowbridge and Francis welcomed the commencement of the work to build the new history centre in Stafford.  Councillor Sutton added that the work would include the creation of additional storage to provide capacity for an additional 55 years of archives.

 

Councillor Alan White spoke about other investments planned for Stafford including the redevelopment of the Market Square.

 

Staffordshire Day

(Paragraph 9 of the Statement)

 

Councillors Oates and Clements referred to the activities planned in Tamworth as part of Staffordshire Day.

 

School Places

(Paragraph 10 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Yates spoke about the lack of SEND provision in Biddulph and Councillor Hudson expressed similar concerns about provision in the Uttoxeter area.  In response, Councillor Price indicated that the Council was currently undertaking a review of its SEND provision.

 

Councillor Hudson indicated that he wished to dispel the myth which was circulating about a shortage of school places in Uttoxeter and he referred to the construction of a new First School at Bramshall Meadows and the capacity to extend two of the middle schools in the area.

 

Councillor Philip White paid tribute to the Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND) following the recent announcement that, this year, 92.5% of parents were allocated their first choice of secondary school for their children.

 

In response to comments made by Councillor Eagland concerning a SEND case she had become involved in where the child had been allocated a place at a school three miles away from their home, Councillor Price indicated that he would be happy to discuss this matter with her outside of the meeting.

 

New Chapter for Business Start-Ups

(Paragraph 11 of the Statement)

 

Councillor Philip Atkins referred to the difficulties which could be encountered when starting-up a new business owing to the complexity of regulations and added that this needed to be considered as part of the support the Council provides to new businesses.

 

Councillor Yates paid tribute to the free 1-2-1 support which was available to those starting-up a new business.

 

Councillor Francis informed the Council that the Stafford Business Innovation Centre was to close in April.

 

Councillor Sutherland spoke about the success of the Enterprise Centre in Rugeley which was now fully occupied.

 

Councillor Philip White added that Staffordshire was a great place to start a business, partly as a result of the County Council working in partnership with the business sector and the District/Borough Councils, and also for the wrap around support that was available to start-ups.

 

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