Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Cook T Jay, D Maycock, B Price & J Wade

The minutes of the meeting held on 14^th December 2021 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor S Peaple and seconded by Councillor J Oates)

The Mayor Councillor Michael Oates congratulated new Councillor Christian Cooke on his success in the By-election and welcomed Councillor Cooke to the meeting

The Leader - Councillor Jeremy Oates made the following announcement As a result of the by election and a change to Cabinet the Committee places have been re-jigged but the political balance as not been affected and a copy of the Committee places as been circulated to the Chief Executive, Councillors and the Leader of the Opposition. Also I would like to announce that there has been a change to the Cabinet with regards to Cllr Daniel Cook stepping down in January and I’d like to welcome Cllr Martin Summers to the Cabinet for the foreseeable future. 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO. 1

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor Andrew Cooper  will ask the Portfolio Holder for Homelessness Prevention and Social Housing, Councillor Alex Farrell, the following question:-

In light of the Government’s efforts to support applications from people in Hong Kong to emigrate to the UK in order to seek a better life here.

What are the council’s plans and strategies to welcome, support and help our Hong Kong friends to our beautiful town of Tamworth. 

Answer

To confirm that there is no official County approach to the resettlement of  emigrants from Hong Kong as they would not be refugees and likely to have rights to reside.

Under Tamworth Borough Council’s Allocations policy/ Homelessness Strategy, Hong Kong nationals fleeing their country DLUHC state in the homelessness Code of guidance for Housing Act 1996 Part VII, they would be eligible for assistance under homeless legislation, they would therefore be given parity to UK nationals.

The Councils policies for Allocations & Homeless has regard for the Immigration Rules Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas) - Immigration Rules - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Should there be specific requirements for persons presenting in Tamworth, the close work with the key voluntary sector organisation will enable signposting for further support should that be required.

At this time Tamworth is only working with Staffs CC, Refugee Action and Spring Housing to welcome up to 4 displaced families from Afghanistan under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy, offering help to persons formally employed by armed forces.

There was no supplementary Question

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO. 2

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor Tina Clements will ask the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Leisure, Councillor Rob Pritchard, the following question:-

As a volunteer litter picker in Tamworth, I am always asked about the a5 and why it is in such a mess. The answer for me is because people going along that length of road throw their rubbish out, but can I have an answer to what the council is doing about the amount of rubbish on the a5 this year and moving forward.

Answer

Thank you Mr Mayor,

The A5 is a main entrance point to Tamworth and keeping it free of litter is very important.  Myself and the whole Street Scene team share the publics despair at the litter strewn on the A5. There is something wrong with our society when you see the blasé attitude to litter shown by so many motorists. It is something to be ashamed off.  Tamworth Borough Council will be deploying cleansing team to cleanse the A5 in March, in order to litter pick the A5

A5 cleansing depends heavily on the grass verges and banks becoming more accessible for the team to safely carry out the work and is therefore subject to the weather conditions. The A5 is a dangerous road to cleanse and while Highways England won’t tackle litter on the A5, they have in the past worked with us to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

(Report of the Leader of the Council)

Report of the Leader of the Council to approve the Vision Statement, Priority Themes, Corporate Priorities and Plans and their inclusion in the Corporate Plan (attached at Appendix A).

To approve the recommended package of budget proposals (attached at Appendix B) to enable the Council to agree the:

• General Fund (GF) Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2022/23;

• Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2022/23;

• 5 Year General Fund Capital Programme (2022/27);

• 5 Year HRA Capital Programme (2022/27);

• 3 Year General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (2022/25); and

• 5 Year HRA Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (2022/27).

To comply with the requirement of the Council’s Treasury Management Policy in reporting to Council the proposed strategy for the forthcoming year and the Local Government Act 2003 with the reporting of the Prudential Indicators (attached at Appendix N) and the requirement to prepare an annual Corporate Capital Strategy (attached at Appendix O).

(Report of the Chair of the Infrastructure Safety & Growth Scrutiny Committee)

Report of the Chair of Infrastructure Safety & Growth Scrutiny Committee to update Council and to make recommendations to it following consideration of

matters by the Scrutiny Committee.