Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M Bailey, A Cooper and B Price

The minutes of the meeting held on 21^st September 2021 were approved and signed as a correct record.

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

The Chief Executive Mr Andrew Barratt made the following announcement I just want to inform Council formally that on 2nd December I received the resignation with immediate effect from Mr Paul Brindley. 

The Leader - Councillor Jeremy Oates made the following announcement It has been nearly 7 months since the Council AGM and I’ve worked with the Cabinet since then.  During that time I have watched the Cabinet members working, listened to their interests and looked at the skills and what they bring to the table.  Also during that time a number of the projects and pieces of work we are doing as a Council have changed in terms of their stage and where we are at with those.  With this in mind Mr Mayor I have made some changes to the Cabinet and the Cabinet’s responsibilities, which will come in effect on 15th December 2021.  A copy has been passed to the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Executive has been informed of the changes.  

The Leader’s portfolio there are some minor amendments which move Member and Democratic Services into that Portfolio and there is the removal of Corporate Risk from the leader and delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Risk & Customer Services.  You will see Mr Mayor that Reset & Recovery now refers to all Cabinet Members being on the board and  responsible for their relevant elements. I would also ask the Chief Executive to make the necessary amendments to the outside bodies list to reflect the portfolio changes.

Updated Portfolio Holder’s

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NO. 1

Under Procedure Rule No 10. Mr Huw Loxton, of Tamworth will ask the Leader Of the Council, Councillor J Oates, the following question (in his absence the Chief Executive read the question out):-

In July 2020 the Audit and Governance Committee decided to proceed with the process to appoint up to two independent members to the said committee.

Could you please provide an update of what steps have been taken since then to appoint said independent members, what is currently being done, and the timescale for when those appointments will be made?

Councillor J Oates gave the following reply –

This question relates to the decisions of Audit and Governance committee which operates independently of the cabinet and so decision and process of recruitment of independent members sits with that committee. I will make the request of the chairman of that committee to write to Mr Loxton with an answer.

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO. 1

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor Dr. Simon Peaple will ask the leader of the Council, Councillor Jeremy Oates, the following question:-

“As the GBSLEP’s latest report shows that unemployment in Tamworth is the highest amongst Staffordshire districts and rising; what is Tamworth Borough Council going to do to assist local people to find work.”

Councillor J Oates gave the following reply-

Whilst  the report you refer to was accurate at the time the latest updated figures show unemployment is falling. Unemployment and universal credit claimant rates in Tamworth are dropping, with both being below West Midlands and Great Britain averages. Based on experience from the previous challenges. Tamworth traditionally has high levels of unemployment initially but recovers quickly. Indications seem to show this is the case currently, with Tamworth having the third best improvement in uc claimant numbers in Staffordshire based on October 2021 figures.

Unemployment: Tamworth currently estimated to be around 4.0% of economically active, WM 5.4%; GB 5.0%

Universal credit: Tamworth currently 4.5%, WM 5.9%, GB 4.8%

Dropped from 6% in October 2020 – approx. 700 people difference.

With regards assisting local people to find work, the Borough currently plays a significant coordinating role in ensuring partners with responsibility for this area of work are connected, in particular Job Centre plus; Employment Skills Board – both LEPs; agencies directly contracted with the Department of Work and Pensions.

Funded by the GBSLEP until end of March 2022 Tamworth Borough Council provide an officer to support the operation of the Southern Staffordshire Employment & Skills Board. This board comprises leading individuals from business, local authorities, education and training providers with a purpose of identifying skills and employment opportunities, ultimately aiming to reduce unemployment within our area.

The board joins up the relationships between employers, schools, colleges and all stakeholders involved in skills and employment throughout our area.

Playing a central role in this board, allows TBC to directly identify opportunities, connect opportunities for jobs and training to local businesses, build key relationships with stakeholders  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Customer Services)

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Customer Services to present to Members the Mid-year Review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy.

Council congratulated the Officers for compiling the report.

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Customer Services)

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Customer Services to advise members that the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for working age customers for 2022/23 should include continued alignment to Applicable Amounts with those of Housing Benefit.

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Customer Services)

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Customer Services to advise Members of the options, process and legislative requirement to appoint External Auditors for the Accounting Periods from 2023/24 and to seek Member endorsement of the recommended option for Council approval.

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.

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 J Oates and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard)

(Report of the Chair of the Nominations and Grants Committee)

Report of the Chairman of the Nominations and Grants Committee to consider the Nomination received, considered and supported by the Nominations and Grants Committee.