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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall, Market Street, Tamworth. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services 01827 709264 

Note: To view this meeting please visit Tamworth Borough Council's Page on YouTube 

Items
No. Item

25.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Bailey, B Clarke, S Daniels, D Cook, R Kingstone, J Oates, P Thurgood

26.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of Members’ interests (pecuniary and non-pecuniary) in any matters which are to be considered at this meeting.

 

When Members are declaring a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they have dispensation, they should specify the nature of such interest.  Members should leave the room if they have a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they do not have a dispensation. 

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

27.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader, Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive

Minutes:

The Mayor made the following announcement

 

My very first Mayoral charity event was held last week, tail end of last week, and it was a Motown Disco at Bolehall Manor Club and it raised £300 which is now lodged into the Mayoral Charity and has given us a brilliant kick-off, I must put on record my thanks to the organiser Lee Smart who did a fantastic job and to Andy the Manager  at Bolehall Manor who gave the venue free of charge and enabled us to get off to that sparkling start.  So thank you to them.  If anyone has any events or money raising things that they can think of that they would like to add to the Mayoral Charity I will ask Tracey again if she could to put on, to send out an email detailing the bank details to which any funds could be deposited into the Mayoral Charity.  It would be fantastic if anybody could come up with some good ideas that would give that a good boost.

 

The Chief Executive made the following announcement

 

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, yes, I do have an announcement, probably quite a life changing one for me, today I’ve formally given notice to The Leader of the Council of my intention to retire as of 31st March next year, I think getting to 60 is about the right time to go for me personally.  Lots of good things have happened in my tenure at Tamworth and I’ve been here about 20 years now.  It’s still a great place and I’ve still got a passion for it and I haven’t gone yet but I’m giving members plenty of time to choose a successor and you know I really believe in the place and we’re going far so yes thanks Mr. Mayor.

 

The Leader Councillor P Turner made the following announcement

 

Thank you I’d just like to say that on behalf of all of us Andrew we’d like to thank you sincerely for your service, I know you’ve not gone yet, and your continued support for the next few months until you do decide to sail off to the Isle of Wight or wherever you’re going, so on behalf of all of us I think we’ll all agree you’ve been a great servant to Tamworth and we thank you so much.

 

The Leader of the Opposition Councillor C Dean made the following announcement.

 

Thank Mr. Mayor – I’m quite surprised Mr. Barratt I’m really it’ll be a shame because with my new group we’re all just getting used to we’re so thankful for the support you and your Team have given so you will be sadly missed, really missed but I hope you will enjoy the next few months, and my team don’t make it too much of a struggle for you before you go.

 

Councillor R Pritchard made the following announcement  Thank you Mr Mayor can I just add my thanks to that of everybody else to Andy Barratt and having  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Question Time: pdf icon PDF 80 KB

(i)                 To answer questions from members of the public pursuant to Procedure Rule No. 10.

 

(ii)               To answer questions from members of the Council pursuant to Procedure Rule No. 11

 

Minutes:

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO. 1

 

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor Jeremy Oates will ask the Leader of the Council,  Councillor Paul Turner, the following question:-

 

 

During 2013-2014 Tamworth was represented by the then Mayor of Tamworth Alderman John Garner. John had a vision to celebrate Tamworth history and heritage as well as provide a focal point and attraction for sign posting and ultimately now a decade later a point to take selfies, This vision was for an sculpture of a saxon warrior and titled The Spirit of Tamworth.

This council made the commitment to support this sculpture and its location at the end of Ladybridge.

I understand that the project has been let down in terms of private sponsorship.

Could the leader detail both renewed support for this project and identify specific funding streams to ensure Alderman Garners vision is delivered and Tamworth’s history is celebrated with a new attraction?

 

The Leader gave the following answer

 

Answer

 

Yes, I would be happy to renew support for the Spirit of Tamworth, I agree that this public art would indeed provide Tamworth with a cultural and regenerative opportunity that we should support it.

 

On the subject of funding I am unable to identify any financial opportunities within the budget, given the many important things that require support across the Borough. That said, the regen team and the castle team are always horizon scanning for possible opportunities to pull in external funding for cultural and town centre activities. I will ask these services to identify possible opportunities that could support this project and provide assistance in preparing bids and application forms if necessary. 

 

 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO. 2

 

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor Gareth Coates will ask the Portfolio Holder for Entertainment and Leisure, Councillor Andrew Cooper, the following question:-

 

First to thank the Leader of the council for keeping to his word and on the 14 day a bin was placed on Thackery Drive. Is it possible to either get an addition bin or a bigger bin outside the shops on Lakenheath? There is currently only one bin outside these shops and often 2 or 3 days after it’s emptied it is overflowing, during May half term there was litter all over the place as it’s near a park and I can only imagine over the summer it will get a lot worse. If it’s a bigger big that the council would be looking at putting there, can I suggest the Derby E Double Slimline Bin please, this bin is made by the current bin manufacturer the council use?

As Question 2 & 4 were similar Councillor A Cooper gave the following response to both Questions

 

 

There are currently over 800 litter bins in the borough and Tamworth Borough Councils remains committed to its priorities and we are working hard to keep Tamworth clean and tidy.

 

Instillation of new bins are generally carried out September through to March every year.  This allows us the opportunity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

Revised committee allocation due to the change in political balance

(Details to follow)

Minutes:

The following Committee changes have taken place and agreed due to change in political blance. 

 

Appointments  and Staffing Sarah Daniles replaces Jan Wadrup

Planning  Jan Wadrup replaces Sarah Daniels

Nominations and Grants Carol Dean replaces Jan Wadrup

 

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

 

 

30.

Outside Bodies Membership - 2023-24 pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Minutes:

Outside Bodies 2023/2024

 

 

 

 

 

Outside Body

Appointees

 

Citizens Advice Mid Mercia Management Committee

Councillor T Jay

 

Councillor D Maycock

 

Councillor C Dean

 

Dorcas Management Committee

Councillor J Oates

 

(Substitute Councillor M Bailey) 

 

 

 

Civil Emergency Committee

The Mayor – Councillor J Harper

 

Leader of the Council – Councillor P Turner

 

Leader of Opposition – Councillor C Dean

 

 

 

High Rise Social Club

Councillor P Thurgood

 

Councillor S Daniels

 

 

 

Local Government Association – General Assembly

Councillor P Turner

 

(Substitute Councillor T Jay)

 

 

 

St. Peters Church Management Committee

Councillor J Wade

 

Councillor S Doyle

 

Councillor J Wadrup

 

 

 

Staffordshire County Council Health & Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Councillor C Bain

 

 

 

 

Staffordshire Planning Forum

Portfolio Councillor S Smith

 

(Substitute Councillor P Turner)

 

 

 

 

 

Staffordshire Pension Fund Governance –

Portfolio Councillor T Jay

 

Pensions Consultative Forum

 

(Staffordshire Pension Fund - Pensions consultative forum (staffspf.org.uk))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Support Staffordshire

Councillor S Daniels

 

Councillor M Summers

 

Councillor D Maycock

 

 

 

Tamworth Cornerstone Housing Association

Councillor J Wadrup

 

Councillor C Dean

 

 

 

Tamworth Municipal Charities

The Mayor

 

Deputy Mayor

 

Councillor - T Clements

 

 

 

Tamworth Strategic Partnership

Councillor P Turner

 

 

 

Tamworth Twinning Association

Councillor T Clements

 

 

 

Staffordshire Joint Waste Management Board

Councillor T Jay

 

 

 

GBS LEP

Councillor S Daniels

 

Sons of Rest

Councillor John Harper

 Substitute Councillor D Maycock

 

Friends of Wigginton Park

Councillor Andrew Cooper

Councillor Robert Pritchard

 

Building Control Shared Service Board

Portfolio Councillor S Smith

Health & Safety Shared Service Board

Councillor J Wadrup

Waste Management Shared Service Board

Leader Councillor P Turner

Portfolio Councillor T Jay

 

Tamworth Heritage Trust 

Councillor D Maycock

Councillor John Harper

 

Destination Tamworth

Councillor A Cooper

Substitute P Thompson

 

Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Panel.

Councillor D Maycock

Councillor T Clements

 

Rawlett Trust

Councillor S Smith

West Midlands Combined Authority Board (WMCA)

Councillor P Turner

(Substitute Councillor T Jay)

 

West Midlands Combined Authority Scrutiny Panel (WMCA)

 

Councillor C Bain

 

West Midlands Combined Authority Audit Risk & Assurance Committee

 Not required this year

West Midlands Combined Authority – Housing & Land Delivery Board

Councillor P Turner

Corporate Parenting Panel (Staffordshire)

Councillor R Claymore

Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership – Joint Scrutiny Membership

Councillor  Dan Maycock

Stoke –on-Trent & Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Councillor P Turner

Stoke –on-Trent & Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Scrutiny Panel

Councillor J Jones

A5 Partnership

Councillor A Cooper

 

(Moved by Councillor J Harper and seconded by Councillor P Turner)

31.

Petition - To see a fully functional Council front desk service returned to Tamworth town centre. pdf icon PDF 40 KB

Minutes:

The item was deferred to be discussed at Council 19th September.

 

(Moved by Councillor J Harper and seconded by Councillor J Wadrup)

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.

Petition - Securing of Dosthil Park pdf icon PDF 39 KB

Minutes:

Mrs Ruth Griffiths presented the following petition

 

A petition was submitted to the Council on 22nd March 2023 to petition the council to Secure Dosthill Park so that travellers cannot gain entrance onto the park. Some work has been done to make a dirt mound around the perimeter but it isn't big enough and due to weather and people cycling over it the dirt isn't holding so isn't robust enough. It needs a lot more dirt.

 

Following on from debate the following motion was moved

 

That the Infrastructure Safety & Growth Committee pick up this item and see if they can come up with a way forward.   

 

(Moved by Councillor J Harper and seconded by Councillor C Bain)

 

 

33.

Exclusion of the Press and 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 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.

 

Minutes:

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 & 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.

 

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

 

34.

Gungate Project Mobilisation Report (To Follow)

(Leader of the Council)

Minutes:

Report of the Leader of the Council to request authority to take necessary action to conclude land ownership and assembly in order to mobilise the Gungate Regeneration Project.  Following on from the debate the following recommendations were approved. 

 

RESOLVED  That Council:

 

Approved the recommendations with changes to recomendation 1b and recommendation 1c.

           

            (Moved by Councillor J Harper and seconded by Councillor L Wood)

 

35.

Appointment of Section 151 Officer

(Leader of the Council)

Minutes:

Report of the Leader of the Council and Chair of Appointments & Staffing Committee to seek approval for the appointment of Becky Smeathers as the Council’s Section 151 Officer.

 

RESOLVED

That Council:

 

1.

approved the temporary appointment of Joanne Goodfellow (Assistant Director Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer) to the post of Executive Director Finance and Section 151 Officer so as to ensure business continuity and legal compliance;

 

2.

approved the permanent appointment of Becky Smeathers (external appointment) to the post of Executive Director Finance and Section 151 Officer.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor P Turner and seconded by Councillor A Cooper)

 

 

36.

Anker Valley Sports and Community Complet 3G

(Portfolio Holder for Entertainment and Leisure)

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED

That Council:

 

 

Approved the 5 recommendations in the report

 

 

(Moved by Councillor A Cooper  and seconded by Councillor B Price)