Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Turner, C Bain, M Bailey, T Clements, J Jones B Price J Wade.

To review the Minutes of the meetings on the 23^rd May 2023, 26^th June 2023, 18^th July 2023 and the 21^st August 2023

The minutes of the four previous meetings held on 23^rd May, 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor T Jay)

The minutes of the meeting held on 26^th June 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor T Jay and seconded by Councillor J Wadrup)

The minutes of the meeting held on 18^th July 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor L Wood and seconded by Councillor T Jay)

The minutes of the meeting held on 21^st August 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor S Smith and seconded by Councillor S Daniels)

Councillor C Dean raised an observation that she felt more narrative was required in the minutes on the important discussions during this particular meeting and the conclusions arrived at.  This was duly noted by the Chief Executive.

Councillor R Kingstone declared an interest in relation to Item No.6, as the Petition organiser.

The Mayor made the following announcement

I’ve just got two things I want to flag up, one concerns a proposal which I’m intending to take forward if I can and this is to stage in either March or April a Tamworth Festival of Youth, under the title ‘Young Tamworth’.  This is a proposal to stage a celebration of youth and the aim is to provide Tamworth school and college students and youth groups with an outlet for artistic and sporting endeavours.  A key objective would be to foster Civic Pride, something that I’m particularly, desperately, want to do in my term of office and make awareness of Tamworth’s history and culture and make all of these more accessible to young people.  Tamworth Borough Council would be a key partner in organising the festival along with many voluntary organisations and groups which I’ll hopefully be able to put together, and with the aim of forging closer links between young people and the town in which they live.  The initial idea is for a week-long series of events in March or April and various components would include an original writing competition all about Tamworth - all of these things would be about Tamworth - a photography competition: the good, the bad and the ugly, asking students to provide three pictures that they think aptly reflects the town in which they live, a painting competition, a film-making competition, a chess competition perhaps.  A Young Tamworth quiz competition.  If we can do it, a swimming competition, a 5-a-side football competition and athletics competition.  These would all obviously require a lot of organisation if I can get it all together.  A Youth Marathon perhaps we could include in it, along with a music competition and the other thing I’m looking at  is to try to establish, is to put on a concert featuring our young people in whatever particular endeavour they’re going forward in so that we can stage and show the people of Tamworth the positive aspects of our brilliant, brilliant young people of which we have so many in this town.  If I come across amongst you at some point asking for help, advice and anything else I can think of that will make this particular project come to fruition, I will be doing so, so I want to make you all aware of that’s what I’ll be doing in the next few months.

So thank you very much for that, the only other thing I want to tell you is I’m also looking to stage a Mayoral Concert and the initial date I’ve got is Saturday February 10^th.  This will be held at the Assembly Rooms with the sole proviso of raising funds for the Mayor’s Appeal, I hope to make it a really good show that will have wide appeal and hopefully will attract you all to come along to it, so that’s Saturday February 10^th.

On behalf of Cabinet, Councillor S Smith, made the following announcement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NO.1

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Mr Simon Goodall, of Tamworth will ask the Portfolio Holder for Entertainment & Leisure, Councillor Andrew Cooper, the following question:-

Our region has a rich canal heritage; Tamworth is boundaried and bisected by the Coventry Canal with the Fazeley Canal just a stones throw away.  As you all know, canals are a growing part of the leisure sector both on and off water and provide important safe transport links as well as important ecological benefits contributing to the Council’s green agenda.  Can the Portfolio Holder commit the Council to supporting the Canal and River Trust in any way possible to provide support in light of future cuts to the grants provided by government?

Councillor A Cooper gave the following response

Thank you for your question.

Tamworth is very lucky to have a canal network and the Borough Council recognises the economic, social and environmental benefits that waterways deliver. As you rightly point out they are important for leisure, recreation and tourism uses and can provide sustainable transport routes for those walking and cycling. The Canal & River Trust is the charity who look after and bring to life 2000 miles of canals & rivers across England and Wales.

The Borough Council’s Local Plan provides a supportive policy framework which assists in unlocking the potential contribution and value of waterways to communities and individuals in Tamworth. Policy EN3 ensures that quality and accessibility of the canal and river corridors will be supported providing ecological value is not compromised.

The Canal and Rivers Trust is a statutory consultee in the Development Management process, and they have recently updated guidance on when they are consulted by Local Planning Authorities. As a result of new development in Tamworth adjacent to the canal network the planning team have secured £443K on behalf of the Canal and Rivers Trust, courtesy of the Dunstall Lane development site, to improve 1.1km of canal towpaths.

Through the planning system the Council has secured a significant amount of money to directly support the Canal and Rivers Trust. As a charity engaged in the planning system, this is the best form of support we can provide.

Supplementary

In light of your answer, could you commit to tabling a motion to Council that the Leader of the Council write to the appropriate Minister encouraging existing funding to be maintained based on those important benefits to our town. 

Answer

I would be supportive of that we need to raise the local issue we have a lot of canals and I would be happy to support that motion. 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NO. 2

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Mr Simon Goodall of Tamworth will ask the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Turner, the following question:-

The school uniform swap stall that was led by Cllr Clements was clearly so helpful for many families in this time of tighter finances.  Does the leader believe a motion should be brought to Council to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

(Presentation of the Petition by the Petition Organiser and debate by Full Council)

PETITION – To see a fully functional Council front desk service returned the town centre

Councillor Richard Kingstone, petition organiser, presented the following petition

A petition was submitted to the Council to petition the Council to return a fully functional front desk service to the town centre.

When Covid hit, Tamworth Borough Council closed its customer service desk to all visitors. As the restrictions forced upon us by the pandemic eased, the ability for residents to access council services and advice in person did not return. The reason given being that to make operational savings, the home of council (Marmion House) should be sold and a new facility be provided.  Several years on this has not materialised.

Assurances have been made that residents can access a face to face service at the Assembly Rooms. This is woefully impractical and does not allow residents to get support and advice when needed. Access to planning applications, confidential conversations and much more are no longer provided.

Those who are most vulnerable, disabled, do not have access or the skills to use the Internet, or simply want to discuss an issue in person are being disadvantaged.  This is not right.

We are asking the Leader of Tamworth Borough Council and it’s members to return to some sort of fully functional front desk service that allows residents to access council services and to do this immediately. We acknowledge that Marmion House needs to be sold off as quickly as possible but feel there are more than enough properties available within the town centre to restore these vital services immediately.

Following on from debate the following motion was moved

Resolved that Council

bring back to the final full council of the municipal year the investigation findings and options for this service for a decision.

(Moved by Councillor T Jay and seconded by Councillor A Cooper)

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Operations and Finance)

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Operations and Finance on the Council’s Treasury activity for 2022/23, and the actual Prudential Indicators for 2022/23.