Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2, Shire Hall. View directions

Contact: Paul Williams - Democratic Services Team Leader 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

General

Additional documents:

1(1)

Apologies

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Keith Kondakor and Councillor Dave Parsons.

1(2)

Members' disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

1(3)

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 206 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2021

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 11 February 2021 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:

There were no public speakers at the meeting.

2.

Revenue Investment Funds pdf icon PDF 146 KB

This report seeks Cabinet approval to the financing of a number of projects through the Revenue Investment Fund.

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Peter Butlin

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Peter Butlin (Deputy Leader – Finance and Property) summarised the key elements of the published report explaining that Cabinet was being asked to approve two projects for funding and to note two others.

 

There were no questions from the floor.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet:

 

1)    Supports the progress made on the Climate Change strategy and Place Shaping strategy with the Climate Change Impact Assessment and Stoneleigh Bridge design project approved by Corporate Board under the authorisation delegated to Chief Executive at a cost of £0.010m and £0.051m respectively.

 

2)    Approves the bids as detailed in section 2.1 and 2.7, amounting to £0.990m from the Place Shaping Investment Fund and £0.340m from the Sustaining Prevention Fund.

 

3)    Authorises the Strategic Directors for People and Communities to procure and enter any agreements to give effect to the above proposals on terms and conditions acceptable to the Strategic Director for Resources.

 

3.

Service Estimates 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 337 KB

The figures in this report will form the basis for financial monitoring throughout the forthcoming financial year. Should any further adjustments be necessary, they will be reported as part of the quarterly financial monitoring reports to Cabinet.

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Peter Butlin

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Peter Butlin explained to the meeting that the report on service estimates follows on from the February budget setting meeting. Its purpose is to show how budgets and the work to be undertaken by the council are realigned following the budget decision. It was emphasised that further adjustments may be necessary in the future.

 

Councillor Jeff Clarke (Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning) welcomed the report especially the support for large capital schemes in Nuneaton and Bedworth. He recognised that it was not possible for all schemes to be progressed at once but stated that it is important to know that the funds are available when they are required.

 

Councillor Peter Butlin concluded by congratulating officers on their swift work post budget, undertaken at a challenging time.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet:

 

(i)       Approves the detailed revenue budget, savings plan and capital programme for each of the Authority’s services set out in Appendices A to M; and

 

(ii)       Notes the adjustments to service revenue and capital budgets as a result of the realignment of budgets within and between directorates since the budget was set on 8 February 2021, as outlined in Section 3 and Appendix N.

4.

Capital Programme - Re-purposing of facility at The Warwickshire Academy pdf icon PDF 234 KB

This report concerns the re-purposing of an existing hydrotherapy pool at the evolving new Warwickshire Academy.

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Colin Hayfield

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This report was deferred to a later meeting.

5.

SEND & Inclusion Change Programme: Report of Task and Finish Group pdf icon PDF 337 KB

County Council agreed a motion on 22nd September 2020 requesting that ‘the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee to set up a Task and Finish Group  (TFG) to monitor delivery of SEND provision. This is the report and recommendations of the TFG.

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Colin Hayfield

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Colin Hayfield (Portfolio Holder for Education and Learning) commended the task and finish review as a good example of this type of work. Evidence gathering meetings had been well attended and had received good support from officers. Councillor Andy Crump (Portfolio Holder for Fire & Rescue and Community Safety) commended the report stating that it was an excellent piece of work. Councillor Pam Williams considered that the recommendations contained in the report point in the right direction.

 

Councillor Helen Adkins (Leader of the Labour Group) expressed her satisfaction at working in a cross-party environment. She agreed that officers had been very supportive. Regarding the establishment of a members SEND panel she asked that this be undertaken as soon after the election as possible. This latter point was agreed by Councillor Izzi Seccombe.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet approve the recommendations of the SEND & Inclusion task and   finish group as set out in Section 2 of the report.

6.

Child Friendly Warwickshire pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Warwickshire County Council were successfully awarded £3.993m from the Department for Education (DfE) as part of the national ‘Strengthening Families, Protecting Children programme’ (SFPC).  The programme consists of three different evidence-based models.  The council have adopted the ‘Leeds Family Valued’ model.  The Child Friendly Warwickshire initiative is a key element within this model.

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Jeff Morgan

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Jeff Morgan (Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services) introduced the item explaining that Warwickshire County Council intends to be an outstanding authority for children and families to grow up in. The document before Cabinet provides an umbrella for all children and family activities. Around £4m has been provided by the Department for Education for children and families and £343k has been earmarked for this initiative.

 

Leeds City Council was cited as an exemplar in this subject area. In particular its use of restorative practices was noted.

 

Cabinet’s attention was drawn to a series of performance measures and it was recognised that these will need to be refined and developed further.

 

The reference on page 88 of the document pack to a Children’s Mayor was highlighted. Cabinet was informed that this is not to be a political post and should perhaps best be described as a champion role.

 

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) commended the report and welcomed the additional funding from government. Referencing page 89 of the pack Councillor Roodhouse asked for an update on the Child Poverty Strategy. In reply he was told that this will be reviewed, and a new strategy produced.

 

Councillor Pam Williams welcomed the report as did Councillor Peter Butlin who commented on the challenges that the last year have presented to children.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet endorse the Child Friendly Warwickshire initiative and action plan.

7.

Change of Status of Dunchurch Infant School pdf icon PDF 219 KB

This report asks that Cabinet approves that Dunchurch Infant School, a Foundation school, be closed and simultaneously replaced by a new Voluntary Aided school (with no change to pupils, staff or buildings).

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Colin Hayfield

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Colin Hayfield explained that the matter before Cabinet was a simple change of status of the infant school at Dunchurch to bring it into line with the junior school. Although responses to the consultation that was undertaken were limited it was the collective view of the governors that the change of status should be made.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet approves that Dunchurch Infant School, a Foundation school, be closed and simultaneously replaced by a new Voluntary Aided school (with no change to pupils, staff or buildings).

8.

A452/A46 Developer Improvement Works pdf icon PDF 463 KB

This report seeks approval from Cabinet to undertake the delivery of the improvements at the A46/A452 Thickthorn roundabout in Kenilworth.

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Jeff Clarke

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Jeff Clarke introduced the published report. He noted that the scheme at the interchange will help in the delivery of the K2L cycleway project. Referencing paragraph 2.11 Cabinet was informed that the meeting referred to had been held on 16 March. At the meeting the developer had recognised that the cost of the project had increased and agreed to pay a larger contribution towards the delivery of the scheme.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet recommends that Council:

 

Approves the use of Capital Investment Funding of up to £6.6m to forward funding road improvements on the A452/A46 interchange to enable the proposed development in the area, on the basis that any of the funding which is not spent on those improvements will be refunded to the Capital Investment Fund and any which is spent will be recovered from local developer(s) through Section 106 funding. 

 

9.

Exclusion of 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:

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

10.

Land at Stratford Park and Ride

An exempt report concerning land at Stratford Park and Ride.

 

Cabinet Portfolio Holders – Councillor Peter Butlin and Councillor Jeff Clarke

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet agrees to recommendations as set out in the exempt report.