Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Paul Williams - Democratic Services Team Leader 

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Items
No. Item

1.

General

Additional documents:

1(1)

Apologies

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Dave Parsons (Deputy Leader of the Labour Group) tendered his apologies.

1(2)

Members' disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Additional documents:

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made.

1(3)

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 242 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 28 January 2021 were agreed.

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:

No members of the public registered to speak.

2.

Draft Integrated Risk Management Plan 2020 - 25: Post Consultation Report pdf icon PDF 172 KB

A report concerning the County’s Integrated Risk Management Plan.

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Andy Crump

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Andy Crump (Portfolio Holder for Fire and Rescue and Community Safety) explained that the paper before cabinet was the second of two, the other being that on the Fire and Rescue Service’s estates that was considered in January 2021.

 

The background to the survey referenced by the report was given. Response rates had been good with those from black and minority ethnic groups being particularly high.

 

Recent inspections had commended the Fire and Rescue Service for the way it responds to the community. The service has responded well to the Pandemic but it will be necessary to assess the capacity of its workforce. The hospital to home transport service has been a particular success. Going forward digital solutions will be sought to aspects of the service.

 

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) asked whether the report would be considered by the Fire and Rescue working party before going to Council. In response he was told that it would go either to the working party or to the Resources and Fire and Rescue Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

Councillor Keith Kondakor noted that whilst the report an appendices contain plenty of detail there is little indication of what is planned to happen in terms of future service delivery. In reply Councillor Kondakor was informed that this was a risk plan only. Other plans will follow.

 

In summing up Councillor Crump stated that he would welcome input from all councillors as they had a good knowledge of their locality. The key would be to be guided by robust evidence.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet recommends to Council:

 

1.    Notes the outcome of the eight-week Draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) 2020-2025 consultation process.

 

2.    Approves the IRMP 2020 - 2025 and the proposals therein.

·       Proposal 1 - Ensure our workforce and ethos reflect the diverse communities we serve

·       Proposal 2 - Assess our capabilities to improve our ways of working in response to any future pandemics

·       Proposal 3 - Assess our overall resource capacity to ensure our personnel and physical assets are in the right place and at the right time to deliver our statutory duties

·       Proposal 4 - Develop further opportunities to support the wider community health outcomes and help to protect Social Care and the NHS

·       Proposal 5 - Implement digital solutions to enhance our service delivery

 

3.  Authorises the Cabinet to approve the annual action plans to deliver the IRMP.

 

3.

Allocation of 2021/22 Dedicated Schools Grant pdf icon PDF 458 KB

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) is the ring-fenced grant from Government that provides each local authority with an allocation of funding for schools and services for pupils. The report outlines the 4 blocks of the DSG, and the current proposals to allocate the provisional DSG allocation. 

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holders – Councillors Peter Butlin and Colin Hayfield

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Colin Hayfield (Portfolio Holder for Education and Learning) noted that this subject regularly comes to Cabinet. The meeting was reminded that the DSG is passported through the Council to schools. As such the Council has no say in how it is distributed.

 

Councillor Peter Butlin (Deputy Leader – Finance and Property) stated that the County Council is the accounting body. Once the money has been passed on the challenge is in recognising where the pressures will lie after that.

 

Councillor Helen Adkins (Leader of the Labour Group) welcomed the opportunity to be engaged in the SEND TFG. She considered that it had been a very positive experience. It was good to work with colleagues and develop strategy.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet:

 

1)       Supports the allocation of the Schools Block DSG, as outlined in Section 3, in line with the National Funding Formula for Schools and in particular increasing funding allocated to schools through the lump sum and sparsity factors as outlined in 3.3.1 and 3.3.2.

 

2)       Supports the Early Years allocation of funding for all early years providers as outlined in Section 4

 

3)       Approves the proposed allocation of the High Needs DSG budget for 2021/22, as set out in Section 5.

 

4)       Supports the proposals for allocating the 2020/21 Central School Services DSG budget, as set out in Section 6.

4.

Long Term Savings for Children in Care pdf icon PDF 133 KB

A report that seeks Cabinet approval for the Long-Terms Savings Policy for Children in Care

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Jeff Morgan

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Jeff Morgan (Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services) explained that the report was concerned with helping children in care to save up and manage their money. The background to the changes in arrangements was explained. In the past it had proved difficult to persuade foster agencies to set up savings accounts for children in care. Additionally, if children had a number of changes to fostering arrangements the savings they might have accrued could get lost.

 

Under the new arrangement the young people will receive £5 allowance a week. They will also have savings which will come to them as lump sum when they turn 18.

 

The proposals had been discussed with children in care and widely welcomed.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Helen Adkins it was confirmed that the new system will be closely monitored. It will be important to ensure that payments are being made when they should.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet agrees the changes to the Long-Term Savings policy as set out in the report.

5.

Warwickshire Recovery and Investment Fund pdf icon PDF 860 KB

This report seeks the approval in principle of Cabinet to the establishment of the WRIF as recommended in the WRIF business case and the further development of the operational arrangements which will be brought back to Cabinet for consideration.

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Peter Butlin

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Peter Butlin (Deputy Leader – Finance and Property) set out the rationale behind the report adding that that this initiative could save 4000 jobs and create a further 2200. The scheme has the support of the Local Enterprise Partnership and Chamber of Commerce. It will stimulate the local economy and safeguard the Council Tax base.

 

Councillor Butlin added that here are three funds. Of these the one with the highest risk is the £10m fund. However, this has been fully stress tested to minimise those risks.

 

Councillor Izzi Seccombe (Leader of Council and Chair of Cabinet) stressed that the fund  had never been more needed.  People need to have a good job if they are to thrive.

 

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) emphasised the need to use the power of local authorities to help businesses. He noted the proposal to establish a further member oversight board but stated that consideration will need to be given to how it will be supported. An oversight board, he added would place an extra burden on the Democratic Services Team.

 

Councillor Keith Kondakor suggested that any oversight board would require a small pot of money to help it operate. It could operate like the Pension Board with officers on it to assist in scrutiny. He asked that the Property and Infrastructure Fund consider site restoration rather than just building in the countryside. Finally, he suggested that the jobs created ought to be accessible to local people.

 

Councillor Jeff Morgan noted that start up funding in London is five times that of the Midlands. That pattern needs to be broken. He hoped that adequate consideration would be given to supporting areas where GVA is low.

 

Councillor Heather Timms (Portfolio Holder for Environment and Heritage and Culture) welcomed the report noting the opportunities to support tourism. The City of Culture and Commonwealth Games will be very important to the area she added.

 

Councillor Helen Adkins (Leader of the Labour Group) commended the briefing recently given to members. She saw the fund as a good opportunity to invest in businesses that relate to climate change and health and wellbeing. In addition, the value of apprenticeships should not be undervalued.

 

In summing up Councillor Peter Butlin informed Cabinet that further details on governance arrangements will be forthcoming. Training for members involved in oversight will be provided. Land that is redundant will be reused/repurposed. He stated that population growth is driven by economics. People will go to where the work is. There is a desire to see Nuneaton and Bedworth and North Warwickshire grow. The County Council has invested heavily in Nuneaton town centre and this scheme will help it further. Finally, on the issue of apprenticeships, Councillor Butlin stated that a recent report had suggested that investment in these was not as high as it should be. This, he suggested, needs to change.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet:

 

1.       Supports the Business Case at Appendix A to establish the Warwickshire Recovery and Investment Fund.

 

2.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

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 paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972’.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Agreed.

7.

(Exempt) Minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2021

To consider the exempt minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 28 January 2021.

Minutes:

The exempt minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 28 January 2021 were agreed.