Decisions

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 19 October 2022 to 15 February 2023, which detailed the following issues, was approved:

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

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:

• Increases in fuel and energy prices would continue to present a number of challenges to the local economy and, working with our Districts and Boroughs and other partners, the Councils’ continued support for businesses locally.
• The continuation of the Council’s Staffordshire Means Business programme which had delivered assistance to hundreds of Staffordshire businesses and supported the creation of 400 new Apprenticeships.
• Proposals for the Council’s new Start Up and Step-Up Business support package aimed at helping those wanting to start and grow their own business which had a strong focus on making those businesses resilient.
• Staffordshire’s Universal Credit figures which showed that the claimant count in Staffordshire saw an increase of 200 claimants between July and August 2022, although the claimant rate remained at 2.7% of the working age population.
• The proportion of young people in Staffordshire aged 18-24 that were claiming work-related Universal Credit currently stood at 4.0%, an increase of 120 young people.
• Despite these increases in the claimant count, during the same period, Staffordshire saw a 5% rise in job vacancies equivalent to just over 900 more job vacancies to a total of over 20,200, which was more than work related benefit claimants.
• The role of the Council’s new Job Brokerage Service to match those seeking work with the jobs Staffordshire businesses were so successful in creating.
• The agreement of terms with the Harworth Group, using County Council funding together with funding from Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council, through its Town Deal, to enable the development of the Chatterley Valley business park site.
• The new Pets at Home HQ in Stafford was nearing completion (which would generate over 800 jobs); and the exceptionally strong interest in the Council’s serviced employment land at i54.

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 26 August and 7 September 2022 be received.

Decision – That the oral report of the Leader of the Council giving an update on a range of issues including the real outpouring of emotion and gratitude towards Queen Elizabeth II over the period of mourning; the new Government’s proposal to announce a mini budget with the aims of boosting growth in the economy and helping people with the rising cost of living; the many people struggling across Staffordshire with rising energy bills, and prices going up in supermarkets, shops and petrol stations, and the Council’s proposals for a publicity campaign, directing people to help from the county and district councils, and in communities; Government reforms to the care system which were due to come into force next year and the huge uncertainty over the funding Councils will receive to enact these changes; the Council’s commitment to supporting everyone to lead as healthy and independent lives as possible, for as long as possible ; and eligible Staffordshire residents being encouraged  to get their covid booster and flu jab; be noted.

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the procurement direction and award for the time period 1st April 2023 until 31st March 2027 for the supply of Electricity and Associated Services.

Decision – (a) That the approach for procuring, awarding, and entering into an Electricity and Associated Services contract through the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) framework for the period of 1^st April 2023 until 31^st March 2027, with Npower Business Solutions, be approved.

(b) That the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Services be given delegated authority to approve the contract award and delegated signatory of the contract.

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the progress on the County’s Electoral Review and the Council Size Submission which is due to be considered by Full Council on 13th October.

Decision – (a) That the progress and timescales for Staffordshire’s Electoral Review be noted.

(b) That the following proposals within the Council Size Submission be agreed.

That the County Council:

          i.        Retains the current council size of 62 Elected Members

         ii.       Requests a single member per division review

(c) That the Council Size Submission be referred to the County Council for approval on 13^th October 2022.

(d) That the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Corporate Services be authorised to finalise the details of the Council Size Submission prior to submitting to the Boundary Commission.

Reasons for the Decision – To consider delegating to the Director of Economy, Infrastructure & Skills, in consultation, with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, authority to mobilise the Multiply project, which aims to increase the levels of functional numeracy in the adult population across the UK quickly, with provision to formally commence in October 2022.

Decision – (a) That the purpose of Multiply be noted.

(b) That it be agreed that the Director of Economy, Infrastructure & Skills, in consultation, with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, be given delegated authority to:

            i.        authorise the Council to enter into an agreement (Accountable Body Agreement) with the Department for Education formalising the Council’s role as Lead Authority for Multiply.

          ii.        authorise the Council to enter into an individual grant funding agreement (Grant Agreement) following appraisal and prioritisation of applications for Funding with each of the identified Providers best placed to meet our strategic priorities.

         iii.       authorise that the Assistant Director for Skills & Employability be given delegated authority to approve any formal variations or extensions required to the Accountable Body Agreement or to the individual Grant Agreements based on performance or changes in Multiply Guidance.

Reasons for the Decision – To consider extending the current Section 75 Agreement with Midlands Partnership Foundation NHS Trust (MPFT), for adult social care assessment and case management and occupational therapy in Staffordshire, for two years.

Decision – (a) That the Council extends the current Section 75 Agreement with MPFT for two years from 1st April 2023 to 31^st March 2025, to continue to provide adult social care assessment and case management and occupational therapy in Staffordshire.

(b) 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 the extension of the Section 75 Agreement for adult social care assessment and case management and occupational therapy in Staffordshire.