Agenda and minutes
PDF 487 KBVenue: The Ryland Centre, New Road, Bromsgrove B60 2JS
Contact: Jess Bayley
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To receive apologies for absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors S. Colella, G. Denaro, M. Glass, S. Hession, A. Kriss, R. Laight, M. Sherrey, C. Spencer and K. Van Der Plank.
In the absence of the Chairman the Vice Chairman, Councillor A. Beaumont, chaired the meeting.
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Declarations of Interest To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests. Minutes: Councillor M. Thompson declared a pecuniary interest in Minute Item No.s 38/21 – 40/21 – Recommendations from the Cabinet, Background papers for Cabinet and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 15th September 2021. This pecuniary interest related to his employer, Bromsgrove School, which had been one of the organisations providing a financial contribution to support, and would benefit from, the Detailed Design Phase of the Zero Carbon Heat Network project of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Heat Network Delivery Unit (HNDU). He left the room during consideration of these items and took no part in the debate or voting thereon.
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of Council held on Wednesday 14th July 2021 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on Wednesday 14th July 2021 be approved as a true and correct record.
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To receive any announcements from the Chairman and/or Head of Paid Service Minutes: The Vice Chairman advised that sadly former District Councillors, Katie Gall and Jean Hancox, had passed away during the summer. In addition, former Parish Councillor, Dean Smith, who had filmed many Council meetings over the years, had also died since the previous meeting of Council. The Vice Chairman led Members in paying tribute to the former District Councillors by observing a minute’s silence.
During consideration of this item, the Vice Chairman explained that Council wanted to make reference to the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo and that he understood that all Group Leaders had met and wanted the Council to collectively acknowledge with pride the excellent achievements where Team GB came fourth and second respectively in the medal tables.
The Vice Chairman asked Council to resolve to congratulate all Olympians and Paralympians on their fantastic achievements at this year’s games and to record the authority’s particular pride in the contribution and achievements of all of the athletes and support team from the District who took part, including Paralympian, Ms Lauren Rowles, who achieved her second gold medal during the summer.
Members were advised that the Chairman would write to Ms Rowles extending the Council’s congratulations.
The Head of Paid Service confirmed that he had no announcements to make on this occasion.
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To receive any announcements from the Leader Minutes: The Leader advised that she had no announcements to make on this occasion.
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To receive comments, questions or petitions from members of the public A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed for members of the public to make a comment, ask questions or present petitions. Each member of the public has up to 3 minutes to do this. A councillor may also present a petition on behalf of a member of the public.
Minutes: The Chairman informed Council that no questions, comments or petitions had been received from members of the public on this occasion.
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Urgent Decisions Minutes: Members were advised that no urgent decisions had been taken since the previous meeting of Council.
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Recommendations from the Cabinet To consider the recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet held on Wednesday 15th September 2021.
Minutes: Zero Carbon Heat Network
The Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Cultural Services and Community Safety presented a report on the subject of the Zero Carbon Heat Network. Members were advised that the Council was in the process of working on the development of a heat network which would initially be sited in Bromsgrove town centre.
Council had previously agreed to launch a heat network in Bromsgrove in 2019 and in 2020 the Council had secured £227,500 towards the detailed design phase of the project from the Government. This had been matched by funding from Bromsgrove District Council, Bromsgrove School and the Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust. Since that time, the Government had made some changes to the process, including in respect of the requirement for a Zero Carbon Heat Network. The recommendations from Cabinet were designed to address these changes.
During consideration of this item, an amendment was proposed to the fourth recommendation on the subject of the Zero Carbon Heat Network. The amendment was proposed by Councillor P. McDonald and seconded by Councillor L. Mallett.
The amendment was as follows:
“To ensure that the membership of the Zero Carbon Heat Network project board is truly representative, the state schools in Bromsgrove town centre and Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT) should have representatives on the board.”
In proposing the amendment, Councillor McDonald commented that he welcomed news about the Zero Carbon Heat Network. However, he expressed concerns that no state schools would be represented alongside the private Bromsgrove School on the project board. Members were also asked to note that it was important to ensure that residents’ housing needs were met in delivering the project and BDHT would therefore be an invaluable partner on the board.
In seconding the amendment, Councillor Mallett commented that it was important to ensure that the most appropriate organisations were represented on the project board at the feasibility study stage. Councillor Mallett raised concerns about the rationale for a representative being appointed from Bromsgrove School to the project board. He suggested that it would be sensible to appoint representatives from a state school and BDHT to the project board.
Members discussed the amendment in some detail and in so doing commented on the following:
· The rationale for the original choice of organisations that would be represented on the project board. Members noted that Bromsgrove School was represented because the school grounds would be the site of the bore hole for the network. · The organisations that had contributed funding to the project and whether they were all represented on the project board. · The extent to which the Zero Carbon Heat Network would benefit houses in the initial stages of the project. · The role of the project board. Council was advised that the project board wouldoversee the work of the project manager and the feasibility study and ensure that the project was delivered in budget. · Members were advised that any proposals for a Zero Carbon Heat Network which might arise from the feasibility work would be ... view the full minutes text for item 38\21 |
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Background Information on the recommendations from the Cabinet Additional documents: Minutes: Council noted the background information that had been provided in respect of the Zero Carbon Heat Network report which had been considered at the Cabinet meeting held on 15th September 2021.
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To note the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15th September 2021 Minutes: Members considered the Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on Wednesday 15th September 2021.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on Wednesday 15th September 2021 be noted.
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Questions on Notice To deal with any questions on notice from Members of the Council, in the order in which they have been received.
A period of up to 15 minutes is allocated for the asking and answering of questions. This may be extended at the discretion of the Chairman with the agreement of the majority of those present.
Minutes: The Vice Chairman explained that 3 Questions on Notice had been received for consideration at the meeting. These questions would be considered in the order in which they had been received. A total of 15 minutes had been allocated to consideration of the Questions on Notice and answers to these questions and no supplementary questions would be permitted.
Question submitted by Councillor J. King
“Refugees in Bromsgrove
We all welcome the very generous support which Bromsgrove residents are giving to the newly arrived refugees from Afghanistan and other countries. The response to a recent Collections Day was magnificent with sufficient donations of new items of clothing, toiletries and toys received to make up hundreds of welcome packs.
The biggest challenge now is to find good quality affordable private rented accommodation for our resettled Afghani refugees. How is the council supporting the call for suitable housing and work with local private landlords and the refugee unit led by Natasha White at Worcestershire County Council to find the accommodation which is needed?”
The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health and Wellbeing responded by explaining that the Council was working proactively with Worcestershire County Council and all the other Worcestershire Districts with regard to refugees.
Worcestershire Leaders had signed up to:
· The UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) – and were committed to resettling a further 50 people into the community over the following 12 months. · The Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) – this included local allies’, such as interpreters’, priority relocation to the UK. Worcestershire Leaders had committed to resettling 30 people, with the first family arriving the week commencing 13th September 2021. · A new scheme: the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The Government had committed to relocating up to 20,000 people nationally over the following 5 years, subject to continued funding under this scheme.
In addition, the Leaders had pledged a commitment to the ACRS scheme to resettle some 200 people over the following 5 years, which mirrored the previous percentage commitment for the other programmes. Initially this would amount to 2 properties per district, depending on the number of family members.
Officers in Strategic Housing were working closely with colleagues at Worcestershire County Council and BDHT to identify suitable and appropriate properties to accommodate refugees.
Question submitted by Councillor R. Hunter
““Please could you explain how the new Bromsgrove on Demand bus service is funded and how you plan to ensure its long term sustainability?”
The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services explained that in respect of the sustainability of the service the timing of the question was apt. At a recent meeting of Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Members had considered a report on the subject of improving bus services in the county. This report, on the subject of the Bus Improvement Plan, would help to ensure that services in Worcestershire met the needs of local residents.
Public transport had historically been a challenge in terms of providing a service to rural communities. However, there was a need to reduce ... view the full minutes text for item 41\21 |
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A period of up to one hour is allocated to consider the motions on notice. This may only be extended with the agreement of the Council.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Vice Chairman explained that 2 Motions on Notice had been received for consideration at the meeting. Prior to the meeting, the Group Leaders had met and agreed the first Motion that had been submitted by Councillor Till. Therefore, the Motion would not be debated during the meeting.
Cabinet – Size and Composition
Members considered the following Motion on Notice submitted by Councillor P. McDonald:
“Recognising the financial challenges facing the Council and its communities and the additional financial pressures that Covid presents I would like to call on the leader to reconsider the size and make up of her Cabinet in the coming budget round to ensure that the Councils is effectively allocating its resources.”
The Motion was proposed by Councillor P. McDonald and seconded by Councillor H. Rone-Clarke.
In proposing the Motion, Councillor McDonald commented that since the previous meeting of Council, a new Portfolio Holder position, taking a lead on tackling climate change, had been introduced on the Cabinet. Councillor McDonald noted that it was important for the Council to take action to tackle climate change, however, he expressed the view that climate change should underpin the work of all Portfolio Holders in relation to every service area. Members were asked to note that Portfolio Holders received Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) for their position of £6,045, in addition to the basic allowances of £4,650 which all Members received, so the introduction of this new post had financial implications for the Council. In addition, Councillor McDonald commented that instead of this appointment, the Council could be investing in charging points for electric vehicles, solar panels for Council buildings and electric or hybrid vehicles that could be used for Council business. He concluded by commenting that he did not feel comfortable with the way that the appointment had been announced outside of a formal meeting environment.
In seconding the Motion, Councillor Rone-Clarke detailed the reasons for his opposition to the appointment of an additional Portfolio Holder serving on the Cabinet. Councillor Rone-Clarke expressed concerns about the way in which the appointment had been made. He questioned whether this indicated that the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, who previously had responsibility for tackling climate change, had had too much to do and, if so, the reasons why it had taken 2 years for this to be addressed. Members were asked to note Councillor Rone-Clarke’s support for measures that tackled climate change, but he commented that he would prefer a radical green new deal to the appointment of a Portfolio Holder for Climate Change.
The Leader responded to the proposed Motion by explaining that the Council was required by law to have a Cabinet. As Leader, she was responsible for making arrangements to discharge functions which fell to the Cabinet. Legally, the Leader could appoint up to 8 Members on her Cabinet and she was responsible for determining the number of areas of political responsibility or ‘portfolios’ that she believed were needed. Council had determined a number of ... view the full minutes text for item 42\21 |