Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items contained within this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Resolved:                 That the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 December, 2020 be agreed as a correct record, subject to the following amendment being made:

                                    Item 12: Motions of Members: paragraph 6

                                    third line, to be amended to …’every report brought to Council from 2021’…

The Mayor announced that the Mayoress, Mrs Angela Cooper was poorly and not taking part in any Mayoral duties / virtual engagements etc.

The Leader passed on best wishes, on behalf of the Council, to the Mayoress.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Simon Tagg introduced the report and moved the recommendations which set out the recommendations of Cabinet for Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2021/22. 

Cabinet proposed an increase in council tax for 2021/22 of between £3.89 and £4.44 per year from the 2020/21 amount.  This represented an increase of less than ten pence per week for the vast majority of households.  Detailed recommendations were set out in Appendix A of the report.    Appendix B set out the proposed Revenue Budget for 2021/22.  A summary of additional income, additional expenditure and loss of income and new pressures was given in the report.

In summary the Council’s updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) indicated a forecast budget shortfall of £1.2754m for 2021/22.  A summary of savings and funding strategies to bridge the £1.2754m gap had been identified and agreed with managers and these were shown at Appendices C and D.

The Council’s S151 Officer had carried out a review of the Council’s Balances and Reserves together with a risk assessment. Details were given in Appendix E.  The MTFS and budget proposals had been scrutinised by the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee. 

The Capital Programme for 2021/22 was given in Appendix F of the report.

The Leader stated that there was optimism that an end was in sight for the pandemic and lockdowns as the number of cases were falling and the number of people receiving the vaccine was increasing. This time last year, there had been an awareness that the pandemic was coming but there had been no understanding of the affect and disruption it would have on people’s health and on the livelihoods of residents of the Borough.  The Leader paid tribute to the communities, both young and old, doctors, nurses, carers, shop workers and volunteers for their work during this time.  The Leader also thanked the Chief Executive all council staff for keeping services going during the pandemic.

The lockdown had meant a significant reduction in the Council’s income especially from J2 and car parking charges.  There had also been extra expenditure supporting the homeless and also for Covid outbreak control.

Emergency government funding of £3.5m had been forthcoming and had helped the Council to deal with the financial impact and this had allowed a balanced budget position at the end of this current financial year.  The Leader thanked local MP’s Jonathan Gullis and Aaron Bell for lobbying on the Council’s behalf.

The Leader stated that, despite the challenges the proposed budget continued to deliver the priorities set out in the Council Plan.  A Recovery Board was convened in the summer involving Cabinet members and heads of service to secure necessary savings this year, totalling £1.275m.  The saving had been achieved without affecting front line statutory services. Streetscene was protected and the new recycling service would be further improved over the coming year.

The workforce had continued to evolve and be built up, replacing key staff and a commiment to the recruiting of staff  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Leader introduced a report seeking Council’s approval of the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22. 

This was an annual requirement of the Localism Act, 2011 setting out the remuneration of chief officers and the lowest paid employees and the changes in roles and titles of senior officers.

Resolved:     That the Pay Policy Statement, as attached at Appendix A to the report, be approved.

Councillor Stubbs asked the Leader for an update on the resolution made at the Council meeting held in December regarding Sustainable Development Goals.

The Leader stated that a report was being prepared which addressed the Motion, setting out how it would be progressed.  It was a standing agenda item on the Sustainable Environment Steering Group.  The report would include the mapping for which of the sustainable goals and targets were most relevant to the Council.  The work would require resourcing from the policy perspective and the One Council programme would see the formation of a corporate policy capacity at the centre of the organisation which would take on that work and be updated as it moved forward.

Councillor Stubbs stated that there had been a request at the previous meeting that all reports coming to Full Council be marked appropriately, according to the sustainable development goals but the two reports at this meeting did not have those markings.  Could it be ensured that the reports at the next meeting would have the markings as requested and passed by the Motion.

The Leader assured that this would happen and stated that, although the reports at this meeting did not have the mark on them, the first report definitely had an indication to the sustainable goals.  The Borough Growth Fund showed £100,000 for environmental sustainability, £50,000 for the unpleasant odour, £70,000 for town centre recovery, £100,000 for the One Council programme.  The Capital Programme had solar panels, subways improvement, pest control vehicles and electric charging points which were all part of this.  

Councillor Fear asked the Leader for an outline of the threats posed by a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) for residents and businesses in the Borough.

The Leader stated that the CAZ’s were essentially where the most polluted vehicles of certain type and age paid a daily charge to enter a particular geographical area.  CAZ’s had two potential impacts.  It could mean a significant economic blow for the area.  The CAZ assumes a daily charge on older vehicles ranging from £5 for a car, £9 for LGV’s and up to £35 for HGV’s.  A report showed that the fleet of private vehicles in both Newcastle and Stoke on Trent were relatively old and around 20% of them would be non-compliant vehicles.  This figure was above the national average.  Imposing those charges would impact upon those least able to pay such daily charges.   In addition, A CAZ would need a larger area to cover it rather than the bus gate.  Displacement of the vehicles avoiding the CAZ would lead to exceedencies elsewhere.

Councillor Fear stated that this was very concerning and asked the Leader for assurance that he would continue to campaign and lobby against the imposition of a CAZ in the Borough.

The Leader confirmed this stating that he would be writing to the local MP’s and the Leader of Stoke on Trent City Council outlining the concerns and hoped that he had the support of Council in doing so.  

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following report(s) as it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs contained within Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no confidential items for consideration.

To consider any communications which pursuant to Appendix 7 – paragraph 7 of the constitution are, in the opinion of the Mayor, of an urgent nature and to pass thereon such resolutions as may be deemed necessary.

There was no urgent business.