Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

Decision – That the notes of the meetings held on 17 and 24 January 2024 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 the appointment of Mike Wilcox as Cabinet Member for Health and Care following Julia Jessel’s decision to step down from the post; the recent announcement that King Charles is being treated for cancer and his decision to raise awareness of the importance of health checks and to encourage others to seek medical advice if they are worried about their own health; the County Council setting a balanced budget for 2024/25 and its work to ensure that its position over the five-year period to 2028/29 also remains balanced;  the major highway improvement schemes underway, including the A52 Ash Bank Road, Werrington,  the A53 Newcastle Road, Loggerheads, and the A511 Horninglow Road North, Burton and also the proposed A38 Branston Interchange project; the ongoing efforts of the Council’s trading standards teams to protect people in Staffordshire including warning people about scams and the seizure of counterfeit goods, and the welcome news that Government plans to ban the sale of disposable vapes; and Staffordshire becoming the first UK location to join the City Nation Place advisory board, a network of leading decision makers from place brand, economic development and destination marketing organisations from around the world; be noted.

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the property Sub-Committee held on 7 February 2024 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:? 

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·       This month saw an increase of 320 claimants in Staffordshire, whilst at the same time we have seen increases both regionally and nationally. The total number of claimants in the county now stands at 15,290 and the claimant rate has increased this month from 2.8% to 2.9% of the working age population.  However, it is important to note that the claimant count rate in Staffordshire is still one of the lowest in the West Midlands, far lower than the average for the region of 4.9%, and also lower than the average for England of 3.8%. We will continue to support those residents that unfortunately find themselves out of work to access employment through our dedicated Jobs Brokerage service. 

·       The youth claimant count in Staffordshire saw an increase of 60 claimants this month to a total of 2,895 young people. This is in line with increases also seen regionally and nationally.  The proportion of young people in Staffordshire aged 18-24 that are claiming work-related Universal Credit has increased this month from 4.5% to 4.6%.  This continues to be lower than the national rate of 5.1% and far lower than the regional rate of 6.9%. Our focus continues to be to engage with our younger residents and support them to find employment or continue in education and training. 

·       Creating the conditions to support the growth of our economy remains one of our top priorities, including supporting the development of our key industrial sectors which continue to thrive within the county.  This includes our visitor economy and ensuring that we are taking full advantage of the fact that Staffordshire is home to numerous nationally renowned attractions. 

·       Next month we will celebrate and champion these attractions and our tourism and hospitality businesses through our Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards, taking place at the National Memorial Arboretum.  The awards have been growing year-on-year and in total we received a record number of entries for this year’s awards, with over 140 entries received across nineteen categories.  Our awards are now the largest tourism awards competition in the Midlands and the second largest in England, with only the South West competition, which covers the whole region and not just one county, receiving more entries.  The finalists for the event have recently been announced and many of the winners will go on to represent Staffordshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in June 2024. 

·       At the end of last year, I updated Cabinet on our success to secure a Local Visitor Economy Partnership for the area which will work to support and grow the visitor economy and has the potential to bring significant benefits to the county, including through access to support and future funding programmes.  We are now recruiting for a chair for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

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Reasons for the Decision – To consider a proposal to open six in-house Local Authority run children’s homes. 

Decision – (a) That the proposal to open six (6) in-house Local Authority run children’s homes be endorsed.  

(b) That a contribution of £0.3m in 2024/25 from the Council’s transformation fund, to meet upfront costs incurred during the transition process (invest to save), be approved. 

(c) That the Staffordshire County Council joining the new West Midlands Framework for the Provision of Residential Homes from October 2024 be endorsed. 

(d) That Staffordshire County Council joining the new West Midlands Foster Care Framework from April 2024 be endorsed. 

Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

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Reasons for the Decision – To consider proposals for the Council to become the Primary Delivery Partner for the Stoke and Staffordshire region, to deliver Energy Assessments and Grants on behalf of the Pilot Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) programme in the Stoke and Staffordshire region. 

Decision – That, following a Members Decision Notice to enter into a funding agreement with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), retrospective authority be given for the Council to become the Primary Delivery Partner for the Stoke and Staffordshire region, to deliver Energy Assessments and Grants on behalf of the Pilot Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) programme in the Stoke and Staffordshire region alongside their Green Solutions Programme. 

Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change

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Reasons for the Decision – To consider undertaking a procurement exercise in compliance with the requirements of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (the “Regulations”) for 11 new wheeled excavators (JCBs) for the Household Waste Recycling Centre equipment renewal programme. 

Decision – That it be agreed that officers undertake a procurement exercise in compliance with the requirements of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (the “Regulations”) for 11 new wheeled excavators (JCBs) for the Household Waste Recycling Centre equipment renewal programme. (An already established Framework Agreement procured by The Procurement Partnership Ltd will be used). 

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

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Reasons for the Decision – To consider an overview of Staffordshire County Council’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

Leader of the Council

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Reasons for the Decision – To consider approving the refreshed Civil Contingencies Policy along with a supporting new Business Continuity Management Policy. 

Decision – (a) That the Civil Contingencies Policy V6 (as appended to the report), be approved.  

(b) That the Business Continuity Management Policy V1 (as appended to the report), be approved. 

Leader of the Council

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Reasons for the Decision – To consider progress in 2023 and proposed areas of focus for 2024 to further strengthen the Council’s approach to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion both within the organisation and across Staffordshire. 

Decision – (a) That the progress of the Council’s work to further strengthen its approach to equality, diversity and inclusion, including delivery of the action plan, be noted. 

(b) That the Council's Gender Pay Gap report and Workforce profile as reported in April 2023, be noted. 

(c) That the emerging priorities for 2024/25, as part of the Council’s continued commitment to promote equality, diversity and inclusion, be noted. 

Cabinet Member for Commercial Matters

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Reasons for the Decision – To consider proposals to award a contract for the supply of gas and associated services to Total Energies Gas and Power Limited for the period from 1st April 2025 to the 31st March 2029. 

Decision - That it be agreed that the Council awards a contract for the supply of gas and associated services to Total Energies Gas and Power Limited for the period from 1st April 2025 to the 31st March 2029 using the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) framework. 

Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

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Reasons for the Decision – To consider proposals for procuring the supply of electricity for street lighting and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) assets. 

Decision - That the approach for procuring, awarding and entering into an Electricity and Associated Services contract through Crown Commercial Services (CCS) framework for the period of 1 April 2024 until 31 March 2028, with EDF Energy for Street Lighting and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) assets be approved. 

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

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The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 13 March to 17 July2024, which detailed the following issues, was approved:? 

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