Agenda and minutes

The following Member declared an interest in accordance with Standing Order 16.5:-

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 15 June 2022 be approved.

Oral report of the Leader of the Council

Decision – That the oral report of the Leader of the Council giving an update on a range of issues including advice to the public not to swim in open water and not to bring barbeques to Cannock Chase or country parks; Keele being named best UK university in the Student Crowd awards, with Staffordshire University ranked 4th; more than 80 apprentices being recognised at an annual graduation ceremony at Keel University last month including a number working at the county council; the recent opening of the superb Shire Hall Business Centre in Stafford town centre; the initiative to encourage people to cut down on plastic use or even go plastic free; the offer of free activities and food for children over the summer to those on low incomes; and wishing the best of luck to all of our Staffordshire athletes competing in the Commonwealth Games; be noted.

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 6 July 2022 be received.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

• 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:

·       How the Staffordshire economy is well placed to deal with the economic conditions Staffordshire businesses find themselves working within and how those businesses not only survive but continue to thrive.

·       How SME’s are the foundation upon whom the success of the Staffordshire economy rests.  Over 400 people have attended the business start-up training offered by the Council’s business start-up programme resulting in 170 new businesses starting to trade.

·       The Council continues to promote and support the local economy at multiple levels.  Whether that be national, through the recent very successful “We Are Staffordshire” promotional trip to the Palace of Westminster, to regional work through the Midlands Engine and our own direct activity along the A50 A500 corridor or locally, through partnerships with our Boroughs and Districts and the highly successful Staffordshire Means Back to Business Programme.  The Council is working closely with our District and Borough Partners over plans of collaboration to maximise the benefits of governments UK Shared Prosperity Fund, working at scale but also at a very localised level.  We are also supporting our colleagues in the preparation of their Levelling Up Fund 2 applications in addition to working to submit our own based on transport priorities.

·       How the Council is investing its own money in the local economy such as through the recently opened Shire Hall.  This important building in the centre of Stafford has been refurbished into managed workspace with easy tenancy arrangements, including virtual, designed to be flexible and meet the needs of small and start-up businesses.  Getting more businesses back into our town centres is also critical to support plans through Town Deals and Future High Streets, helping to generate footfall and vibrant places.

·       The proportion of young people in Staffordshire aged 18-24 that are claiming work-related Universal Credit has decreased further and now stands at 3.7%, or 2,400 young people which for the first time is now 15 below the pre-pandemic level. This is reflective of our strong and resilient local economy and the record number of job vacancies currently available across the full economy, with more young people finding employment in areas of demand to aid the recovery from the pandemic. There remain clear opportunities for more young people in a number of our priority and locally important sectors such as manufacturing, construction, logistics, health & social care and hospitality.

The decline in young people claiming Universal Credit has contributed to an overall decline of 180 claimants in June and our claimant rate which now stands at 2.7% of the working age population which is well below the regional rate of 4.9% and national rate of 3.8%.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

Reasons for the Decision – To seek approval to procure and develop a four-year Community Learning Framework to continue to meet the priorities and outcomes of the Community Learning & Commissioning strategy and approval of the funding allocation and distribution for the first contract year 2023-2024

Decision – (a) That approval be given to conduct an Open tender process in line with Staffordshire County Council’s Procurement Regulations and the Public Contract Regulations to put in place a Community Learning Framework, ensuring the Council achieves value for money and delivers its

Community Learning & Commissioning Strategy.

(b) That the award of the Community Learning Framework and subsequent call-off contracts relating to the annual allocation and distribution of funding, be delegated to the Director for Economy, Infrastructure & Skills in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an overview of Staffordshire County Council’s progress, performance and financial position  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Reasons for the Decision – To inform the Cabinet of the Council’s investment and borrowing activity during 2021/22 including both borrowing and investment decisions taken throughout the year in the light of the interest rates and economic conditions prevailing at the time.

Decision – (a) That the treasury management activities for the year ended 31 March 2022, including the Prudential Indicators outturn (detailed in Appendix 4 to the report), be noted.

(b) That the use of the Minimum Revenue Provision at 31 March 2022 (as set out in paragraphs 29 and 30 of the report) be noted and approved.

(c) That the proposed revision to the Non-Standard Investment limits (as detailed in paragraphs 56 and 57 and Appendix 5 to the report) be noted and approved.

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

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 17 August to 21 December 2022, which detailed the following issues, was approved:

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 Local Government Act 1972 indicated below”.

PART TWO

(All reports in this section are exempt)

Decision – 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 Local Government Act 1972 indicated below.

The Cabinet then proceeded to consider the following matters:

PART TWO

Cllr Philip White took the Chair.

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Cabinet Member for Health and Care

(Exclusion paragraph 3)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider proposals for the development of an Enhanced Home Care Service which would work flexibly, offering additional home care capacity to meet demand when necessary, and reablement for some people when demand is lower to increase their independence.

Decision – That the recommendations contained in the report be agreed.

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

(Exclusion paragraph 3)

Reasons for the Decision – To consider future delivery model options for Staffordshire Highways from October 2024.

Decision – That the recommendations contained in the report be agreed.

(Exemption paragraph 3)

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

(Exclusion paragraph 3)

Reasons for the Decision – To provide Cabinet with an update in relation to the use of unregulated placements.

Decision – That the recommendations contained in the report be agreed.</AI21>