Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2, Shire Hall. View directions

Contact: Deb Moseley - Democratic Services Team Leader 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

General

Additional documents:

1(1)

Apologies

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Andy Crump

1(2)

Disclosures of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None

1(3)

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 448 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 25 January 2022 were agreed as an accurate record.

1(4)

Public Speaking

To note any requests to speak on any items that are on the agenda in accordance with the Council’s Public Speaking Scheme (see footnote to this agenda).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

2.

Council Plan 2020-2025 Quarter 3 Performance Progress Report (Period under review April 2021 to December 2021) pdf icon PDF 1 MB

A report that presents Cabinet with an update on the Council’s performance set against the targets contained in the Corporate Plan.

 

Portfolio Holder – Councillor Andy Jenns

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Andy Jenns (Portfolio Holder for Customer and Transformation) explained that the report provided an update on the Council’s performance set against the targets contained in the Corporate Plan.  He noted that there were 54 Key Business Measures (KBMs) in the framework and overall, the Council continued to maintain its robust performance across the board in the face of increased and changing demand due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant changes in how services were delivered.  Councillor Jenns advised that the Quarter 3 overall performance against the Quarter 2 position had declined slightly and highlighted the notable measures achieving targeting and those not achieving target as detailed in the report.  He concluded by advising that the Council was developing a new performance management framework alongside the Council Plan refresh, which aimed to provide a sharpened focus on performance and would better support delivery of?the Organisation’s new priorities as outlined in the refreshed Council Plan.

 

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse noted that there were a number of KBMs that had been static for some time and he watched with interest to see how these developed.  In relation to children in care, he referenced the work of the Corporate Parenting Board which had noted an improvement in the direction of travel against this measure.  The Board had focussed on missing episodes and would be holding a special meeting to dive deeper into this topic.   Councillors Jeff Morgan (Portfolio Holder for Children, Families & Education) and Isobel Seccombe (Leader) welcomed work on this issue by the Corporate Parenting Panel.

 

Resolved:

That Cabinet notes progress on the delivery of the Council Plan 2020 - 2025 for the period as contained in the report.

3.

HMICFRS Inspection of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) pdf icon PDF 326 KB

A report that presents the HMICFRS Inspection Report for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service and seeks endorsement of the HMICFRS Action Plan together with agreement of the resources outlined to deliver the Action Plan and required improvements.

 

Portfolio Holder – Councillor Andy Crump

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In the absence of Councillor Andy Crump (Portfolio Holder for Fire & Rescue and Community Safety), Councillor Isobel Seccombe (Leader of the Council) presented this report, which presented the HMICFRS Inspection Report and the Action Plan that had been produced in response to the three Causes of Concerns issued by HMICFRS during their inspection the previous summer.  As Leader, Councillor Seccombe had previously approved the Action Plan through the urgent decision making process and endorsement of the plan was now sought.  The paper also detailed the resources required to deliver the improvements set out in the Action Plan.  Councillor Seccombe advised that action was required to address all the causes for concern, but she particularly noted that progress towards embedding cultural improvements in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion would be a legacy to the former Chief Fire Officer, the late Kieran Amos.

 

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse noted that the report would also be considered by the IRMP Assurance Panel and he would provide comments at that meeting.  He did not consider that the report was surprising as the service had been through challenging and difficult times.  He noted that the IT data system was being replaced and he asked whether there was opportunity for elected members to support the protection work in their roles as community leaders.  Councillor Seccombe noted that there would be a role for local members and expressed her hope that the portfolio holder and Chief Fire Officer would give consideration to how elected members could provide support and take forward any opportunities identified.

 

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.               Notes the HMICFRS Inspection Report for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service; and

2.               Endorses the HMICFRS Action Plan for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

4.

Determination of Admission Arrangements, Co-ordinated Scheme and In Year Process for School Admissions for the 2023/2024 Academic Year pdf icon PDF 199 KB

This report seeks approval for the Admission Arrangements, Co-ordinated Scheme and In Year process for school admissions during the 2023/2024 Academic year.

 

Portfolio Holder – Councillor Jeff Morgan

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Jeff Morgan (Portfolio Holder for Children, Families & Education) explained that the Council was the admissions authority for all community and voluntary controlled schools in the county and was required to annually determine the admission arrangements and consult on any proposed changes.  For 2023/2024, changes included the reduction in the published admission number at two schools to better reflect the pupil intakes and amendments to the oversubscription criteria to ensure the definition of looked after children was in line with the new Admission Code 2021. Only eight replies had been received in response to the consultation, none of which addressed the issues being consulted upon, and approval of the arrangements was, therefore, sought.

 

Councillor Margaret Bell reflected on recent casework and asked whether the criteria in relation to looked after children could be extended to consider fostering arrangements.  Councillor Morgan agreed to consider, in conjunction with officers, what support could be provided to foster parents who would otherwise be taking their own and foster children to schools in opposite directions.

 

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.  Approves the Admission Arrangements, Co-ordinated Scheme and In Year process for school admissions during the 2023/2024 Academic year, as outlined in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the report; and

2.  Authorises the Strategic Director for Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children, Families and Education to approve the Admission Arrangements, Co-ordinated Scheme and In Year admission process in future years, unless those arrangements or schemes are subject to consultation as outlined in Section 1 of the report.

5.

Change of Age Range - Camp Hill Primary School pdf icon PDF 184 KB

This is a report that seeks approval to change the age range at Camp Hill Primary School from 3-11 to 2-11 with effect from March 2022.

 

Portfolio Holder – Councillor Jeff Morgan

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Jeff Morgan (Portfolio Holder for Children, Families & Education) summarised this paper which was seeking approval to change the age range at Camp Hill Primary School from 3-11 to 2-11 with effect from March 2022.

 

Resolved:

That Cabinet approves changing the age range at Camp Hill Primary School from 3-11 to 2-11 with effect from March 2022.

6.

Reports Containing Exempt or Confidential Information

To consider passing the following resolution:

 

‘That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972’.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972.

7.

Exempt Minutes of the 25 January 2022 Meeting of Cabinet

To consider the exempt minutes of the 25 January 2022 meeting of Cabinet.

Minutes:

The exempt minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 25 January 2022 were agreed as an accurate record.

8.

Coronial Functions

An exempt report concerning Coronial functions.

 

Portfolio Holder – Councillor Andy Jenns

Minutes:

Councillor Andy Jenns (Portfolio Holder for Customer and Transformation) introduced this item and summarised the exempt report.

 

Resolved:

The recommendations as set out in the exempt report were agreed.

9.

Children's Services Residential Proposals

An exempt report setting out Children’s Services residential proposals.

 

Portfolio Holder – Councillor Jeff Morgan

Minutes:

Councillor Jeff Morgan (Portfolio Holder for Children, Families & Education) introduced this item and summarised the exempt report.

 

Resolved:

The recommendations as set out in the exempt report were agreed.