Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Oates & P Thurgood, Councillor T Jay arrived at 18.12

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Leader of the Council Councillor Jeremy Oates made the following announcement - Madam Deputy Mayor I would like to announce that this afternoon I accepted an invite to co-sign a letter to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary

Dear Priti Patel / Boris Johnson,

As the world has watched the horrific events unfold in Ukraine, citizens living in free and democratic countries have considered how they can best play their part in assisting with this unfolding crisis.

We welcome the actions taken so far by this Government against the Putin regime, and are proud to see that President Zelensky counts the United Kingdom amongst his greatest allies. But we must now do more.

We write to you as Staffordshire local authority leaders to let you know we stand ready and able to welcome those displaced by war in Europe. We have the skills, the authority and the willingness to assist in housing and supporting families seeking refuge from the horrors of war – and urge you to clear the bureaucratic path as quickly as possible for these families, who urgently need our assistance.

Councillor Sheree Peaple made the following announcement thank you Deputy Madam Mayor, the Leader as allowed me to make this announcement on what is happening in Tamworth for Ukraine. We have set up a group which is called March for Ukraine with the intention of working throughout March to collect as many goods as possible and get them over there.  The partnership is a partnership between Community Together CIC, Heart of Tamworth, Community Children Count, Tamworth Pantry and some of our Councillors are involved including Cllr Dan Maycock and Cllr Alex Farrell and if I have missed anyone out there I apologise to them.  So far we have collected a huge quantity of goods and we have been absolutely overwhelmed and humbled by the way the good people of Tamworth have as usual opened their hearts and their purses and done everything that can to help with this terrible terrible crisis.  In just a week we have collected approx £23,000 worth of goods which are going over to Ukraine.  We have drivers who are taking the goods up to Grimsby where they are shipped out.  Just to say if you are approached by residents who want to know how they can help if you can direct them to the March for Ukraine face book page it’s got all the details of what we have been asked to supply and what we don’t accept.  If you do get any queries if you can direct them to March for Ukraine page then that would be much appreciated there is also the facility for people to make donations if they want to.   Thank you Madam Deputy Mayor.

The Deputy Mayor Councillor Moira Greatorex made the following announcement - Following that announcement it would be appropriate for this Council to join me in 1 minutes silence to reflect of the struggles taking place in the Ukraine followed by a 1  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO. 1

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor Dr. S Peaple will ask the Portfolio Holder for Voluntary Sector, Town Centre, Evening Economy & Community Safety Councillor M Summers, the following question:-

This month sees the winding up of the Tamworth Starfish Project and the transfer of its remaining funds to groups which will continue its work to support those in need in our town, namely, Manna House, Heart of Tamworth, Tamworth Foodbank, Tamworth Street Angels and the Rawlett Trust. Would Cllr Summers take this opportunity to acknowledge the leadership shown by John Larkin and the service given to their fellow citizens by the hundreds of volunteers who sustained the Starfish project during the last twenty years.

Councillor Summers gave the following reply-

I'm more than happy to pay tribute to Mr Larkins' leadership and dedication to the Starfish project and indeed everyone who volunteered for them. The voluntary sector relies on the good will of people donating their time and making sacrifices in their own lives to do so. Those that put themselves forwards to run projects such as this bear the brunt of the time and sacrifice required. I will always happily acknowledge with gratefulness, those who dedicate part of their lives in the service of their fellow human beings.

Councillor Dr. Simon Peaple asked the following Supplementary Question

Can I ask Cllr Summers support in approaching the Chair of the Grants & Nominations Committee in the coming municipal year to establish a form of recognition that we can use to recognise volunteers in the Town, there are national awards and there are occasional Mayoral awards but I think it would be great if can put this on some sort of firm footing so that those who give so much to their fellow citizens without publicity are recognised.  I am very conscious that if you look at the list of our Freemen of the borough awards are all Freemen and Alder persons are a bit more mixed as we have had some long standing women Cllr’s who have received the award but it is at the moment true that the vast majority of volunteers are women and I would like to see the opportunity for them to be recognised.  I had the pleasure of introducing one of our volunteers to the Leader of the Council who currently helps with the Community café, previously helped with the Starfish project providing breakfast on a Saturday morning and in addition has been a Samaritan for many years.  I think people like that deserves an award that shows that the Mayor the First Citizen of this town  supports them and what they do and will, ask his support in carrying that project forward when I leave the Council.

Councillor summers gave the following reply-

I certainly support the idea in principle and would be happy to have a chat with you to discuss and the Chair of the Nominations and Grants Committee.   

To consider excluding the Press and Public from the meeting by passing the following resolution:-

“That in accordance with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meeting and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, and Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and/or 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public  interest in disclosing the information to the public”

At the time this agenda is published no representations have been received that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

To consider excluding the Press and Public from the meeting by passing the following resolution:-

“That in accordance with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meeting and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, and Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public  interest in disclosing the information to the public”

At the time this agenda is published no representations have been received that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

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

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Entertainment and Leisure)

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor Dr. S Peaple)