Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Councillors Pete Gilbert, Andy Jenns, Dale Keeling, Jack Kennaugh, Kate Rolfe, Martin Watson, and Andrew Wright

None.

The minutes of the meetings of Council held on 6 February 2025 and 18 February 2025 were agreed as an accurate record for signing by the Chair.

(a) Former County Councillor Dr John Bland

The Chairman announced his sad duty to inform Council of the recent passing of former County Councillor Dr John Bland.  Dr John had served as the Warwickshire County Councillor for Meriden No1 (Arley) Division between 1967 and 1985.  He was also Chairman of the Council from 1984 to 1985.  The Chairman extended the Council’s condolences to his family and friends.

(b) Former Councillor Margaret Stevens

The Chairman announced his sad duty to inform Council of the recent passing of former County Councillor Mrs Margaret Stevens. Margaret served as the Warwickshire County Councillor for Nuneaton Weddington Division between 1981 and 1985.  The Chairman extended the Council’s condolences to her family and friends.

To note any requests to speak on any item on the agenda in accordance with the Council’s Public Speaking Scheme (see note at end of the agenda).

None.

That Council endorses the 2024 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health and the recommendations within it.

Councillor Margaret Bell, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health introduced and moved this report, noting that the report presented an executive summary since the annual report was innovatively presented in mixed media format.  Councillor Bell noted that the Annual Report was a vehicle for informing local people about the health of their community, as well as providing necessary information for decision makers in local health services and authorities on health gaps and priorities that needed to be addressed.  The 2024 Annual Report focussed on the importance of assets (people and the built and natural environment) for community-building, influencing the social fabric of an area and ultimately improving health and wellbeing.  The Annual Report had been presented to Health and Wellbeing Board in January 2025 and had been disseminated widely to partners and stakeholders.

Councillor Penny-Anne O’Donnell seconded the recommendations and reserved her right to speak.

The Annual Report was commended and the Director of Public Health and her team were thanked for their work to produce it in an accessible format.

Members made the following comments regarding the content:

• The need for health and wellbeing to be embedded across all services, strategic policies and services, and how the focus on prevention being seen throughout the health system was brought into service provision.
• The way in which the Annual Report contributed to the evidence base upon which the Council based its policies was welcomed.
• The importance of the three themes that had emerged about what people liked about where they lived – proximity to open and green space, proximity to local amenities, and community and neighbours – reflected what had emerged as essential to communities during the Covid-19 pandemic and these had subsequently been central to the shaping of Council policies. 
• It was noted that actions to help the community could reap rewards without an injection of significant funding. 
• In light of the report’s focus on amenities, the Council’s revision of budget proposals to close libraries on Sundays was welcomed.
• Noting the positive benefits green space had on mental health, how mental health services were resourced in light of a reported increasing volume of patients was questioned.
• The importance of preserving green spaces and the green vistas visible on driving through the county rather than building on them was underlined as important to mental health.
• The importance of disseminating the report to the wider community and stakeholders, including Town and Parish Councils, was emphasised. 
• The recommendations of the report were reflected in the work of Shipston Health and Wellbeing Partnership which stood as an exemplar of what could be achieved when the approach advocated by the report was followed. 
• In terms of the progress on the previous Annual Report’s recommendations, apprehension was expressed regarding Health Visitor service provision and it was queried how many schools in Warwickshire had taken advantage of the introduction by government of a breakfast club scheme.

In seconding the recommendations, Councillor O’Donnell urged Members to watch the video report as well as read the executive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To consider the following motions submitted by Members in accordance with Standing Order 5:

(1)      Labour Motion 1: Warwickshire’s Renewed Support For Ukraine

Warwickshire County Council is disturbed by the continuing horrific devastation in Ukraine, and the devastating effect 3 years of war has had on the Country.  In light of this, and as a way of expressing support for members of our communities who are from or who have ties with Ukraine,

This Council:

1.     Continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and their families and friends, including those local to Warwickshire;

2.     Continues to support those families fleeing from conflict recognising that many are now concerned about renewing their permissions to remain in the UK by seeking ways which the Council can support those who may be struggling with applications;

3.     Continues to seek ways in which a thriving Ukrainian culture can be supported during this difficult time and signpost people to existing community support groups including those supporting mental health problems caused by PTSD and other related conditions.

           Proposer: Councillor Sarah Feeney

           Seconder: Councillor Sarah Millar

(2)      Labour Motion 2: Climate Resilience and Flooding Support

Warwickshire County Council recognises the important role that Councils play in climate resilience: through their role as place shapers and community leaders at the forefront of adaptation efforts delivering essential services that protect public health, manage roads and infrastructure, and prepare people and places against flooding.

Recognising that climate impacts like warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, and more intense and frequent weather extremes as a result of climate change (recognised by this Council in its recently published Sustainable Futures Annual Report) are already impacting residents, like those residents affected by recent Storm Henk:

This Council:

1.     Will further encourage affected/eligible residents and businesses to apply for the Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grant, offering up to £5000 (including VAT) to implement measures that will make their properties more resilient in the future;

2.     Help residents and businesses to understand what other opportunities are available to them to forward fund the contribution required for accessing the PFR grant and thus make the grant as accessible as possible.

           Proposer: Councillor Sarah Millar

           Seconder: Councillor Sarah Feeney

(1)      Warwickshire’s Renewed Support For Ukraine

Warwickshire County Council is disturbed by the continuing horrific devastation in Ukraine, and the devastating effect 3 years of war has had on the Country.  In light of this, and as a way of expressing support for members of our communities who are from or who have ties with Ukraine,

This Council:

1.         Continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and their families and friends, including those local to Warwickshire;

2.         Continues to support those families fleeing from conflict recognising that many are now concerned about renewing their permissions to remain in the UK by seeking ways which the Council can support those who may be struggling with applications;

3.         Continues to seek ways in which a thriving Ukrainian culture can be supported during this difficult time and signpost people to existing community support groups including those supporting mental health problems caused by PTSD and other related conditions.

(2)      Climate Resilience and Flooding Support

Warwickshire County Council recognises the important role that Councils play in climate resilience: through their role as place shapers and community leaders at the forefront of adaptation efforts delivering essential services that protect public health, manage roads and infrastructure, and prepare people and places against flooding.

Recognising that climate impacts like warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, and more intense and frequent weather extremes as a result of climate change (recognised by this Council in its recently published Sustainable Futures Annual Report) are already impacting residents, like those residents affected by recent Storm Henk:

This Council:

1.         Will further encourage affected/eligible residents and businesses to apply for the Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grant, offering up to £5000 (including VAT) to implement measures that will make their properties more resilient in the future;

2.         Help residents and businesses to understand what other opportunities are available to them to forward fund the contribution required for accessing the PFR grant and thus make the grant as accessible as possible.

(1)      Warwickshire’s Renewed Support For Ukraine

Councillor Sarah Feeney moved the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor Sarah Millar:

Warwickshire County Council is disturbed by the continuing horrific devastation in Ukraine, and the devastating effect 3 years of war has had on the Country.  In light of this, and as a way of expressing support for members of our communities who are from or who have ties with Ukraine,

This Council:

1.         Continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and their families and friends, including those local to Warwickshire;

2.         Continues to support those families fleeing from conflict recognising that many are now concerned about renewing their permissions to remain in the UK by seeking ways which the Council can support those who may be struggling with applications;

3.         Continues to seek ways in which a thriving Ukrainian culture can be supported during this difficult time and signpost people to existing community support groups including those supporting mental health problems caused by PTSD and other related conditions.

In proposing the motion, Councillor Feeney stated that the war had continued longer than anticipated and Ukrainian refugees in the UK were now looking at applying for a renewal of their permission to stay.  The motion was, therefore, seeking a renewal of the Council’s commitment recognising that the support required by Ukrainian families was changing as time progressed. 

Councillor Millar seconded the motion and reserved her right to speak.

Debate

Members welcomed the Motion and spoke in support, commenting as follows:

• There was endorsement for continued support for Ukrainian refugees and the support that had thus far been provided was explained; specific support from groups in key areas of the county was acknowledged and applauded.
• Anxiety about the future in view of the international context and polarisation of views between statesmen was recognised.
• Thanks were extended to sponsor families who had opened their homes as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
• The wider support that had been offered to Ukraine from the UK and Europe was highlighted.

Councillor Millar thanked Members for their comments in support of the Motion, and the solidarity that had been shown.  She considered that the Motion aligned with public sentiment which remained supportive of Ukraine and the government’s approach.  She was proud of the local support that had been offered and the reiteration of support at this meeting.

Councillor Feeney similarly thanked Members for the supportive debate and noted that many refugees were ‘giving back’ by playing an active part in the UK economy.  However, she reiterated that the needs of refugee families were changing as time went on and they now needed support to renew their permission to stay. 

Vote

The motion was unanimously supported.

Resolved that

This Council:

1.         Continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and their families and friends, including those local to Warwickshire;

2.         Continues to support those families fleeing from conflict recognising that many are now concerned about renewing their permissions to remain in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

A period of up to 40 minutes is allocated for questions to the Leader, Cabinet Portfolio Holders and Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

1.        Question from Councillor John Holland to Councillor Peter Butlin

I believe that public buildings are paid for by the public and should be used for the benefit of the public.

(i)       Some time ago I asked for the empty Barrack Street building to be available for a pop up visitor attraction to provide footfall to support local businesses but was refused.  Now a local business man has made the same request and also refused.  How much has the Barrack Street building cost since it was vacated, including Business Rates and all costs?

(ii)       I have asked twice in Council about a banking hub being set up in Shire Hall near the Post Office and twice you assured me this was on course.  Now I am told it will be elsewhere in the town centre providing Post Office money services and potentially two nonviable Post Offices. For what reason are the public not able to use Shire Hall for our banking hub?

Councillor Butlin responded as follows:

(i)       The Barrack Street building had been unused for some time and solutions for its use had been sought bearing in mind the complication that there was a substantial car park attached to it. Councillor Butlin summarised the figures involved as follows:  In 2019, the cost to the Council was £349,669 of which £39,000 was capital maintenance and £50,000 was staff costs in looking after the building. To date, as a result of the building being unused, the costs had reduced to £265,000.  The cost of bringing the building back into use, for example as an event space, would be in the region of £500,000 to £600,000.  Additionally, since use of the building had ceased, energy costs had increased by 150%.  Since the associated car park was still in use, a business rate rebate was not applicable.  Councillor Butlin concluded that finding a solution for the building, whether that was demolition, redevelopment or making it good, was somewhat problematic.

(ii)       When the question of using Shire Hall as a banking facility was first raised, Councillor Butlin had indicated that the model would be trialled elsewhere first, and he was pleased to confirm that a banking hub at Kenilworth Library had opened as planned.  This was a temporary location for approximately six months until a permanent location could be identified.  The site would be used as a pilot to inform understanding of how banking hubs would operate from other locations.  A meeting was due to take place when the options for a banking hub in Warwick would be discussed, including Shire Hall and other potential sites.

2.        Question from Councillor Sarah Millar to Councillor Jan Matecki

A large hole recently appeared on the pavement at the top of Tavistock Street in Leamington Spa, apparently caused by a collapsed cellar. I understand that a local business owner with premises next to the hole arrived to open the business and called the emergency helpline. The call was made prior to 9am and the business owner was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider any other items that the Chair considers are urgent.

None.