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Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Democratic Services 01827 709264 

Media

Items
No. Item

56.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J. Wadrup

57.

To receive the Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 20th November 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.

 

(Moved by Councillor A Cooper and seconded by Councillor L Wood)

58.

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:

Councillor Dean declared an interest in item 9 as a member of The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

Councillor R Kingstone declared an interest in item 9 as a member of the The Friends of Wiggington Park

59.

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

Minutes:

I would like to invite councillors to the Mayors Christmas Carol Service on 15th and 16th December at St Editha’s Church.  And also invite Councillors to a Civic reception in the Town Hall on 16th December prior to the Carol Service.

 

And also draw your attention to a Mayoral Concert on February 10th at Tamworth Assembly Rooms featuring Tony Christie.  Tickets are now on sale  and the proceeds will be raising funds for Dementia charities in Tamworth.

 

60.

Question Time: pdf icon PDF 66 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 PUBLIC NO. 1

 

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Mr Huw Loxton, will ask the Acting Leader of the Council, Councillor T Jay, the following question:-

 

Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019 what have the council been doing to encourage people to use more sustainable modes of transport and encourage cycling and walking and reduce over reliance on the motor vehicle?

 

Answer

 

Thank you for your question. On this matter I have two points of clarification. Firstly, the climate change declaration that the Borough made in 2019 refers only to the operation of the Council and its services. Since the declaration a baseline assessment of Council operations has been undertaken and the authority is currently commissioning work on an action plan, building energy audits and an adaptation plan. In addition, the Council is in the process of appointing a climate change officer.

 

Secondly all matters related to travel and transport fall within the remit of the County Council.

 

Having said all of that, the Tamworth Local Plan does contain policies which seeks to support sustainable decision making in terms of managing change. Policy SU2 Delivering Sustainable Transport, states that Development should be accessible by walking, cycling and public transport and proposals should prioritise access by these modes of transport above the private car.

 

A recent example of implementing policy SU2 arose with a FHSF application relating to the new Flex building which is proposed close to the Middle entry passage and town hall. The County Council required additional cycle store in the pedestrian areas and additionally, to encourage staff associated with the proposed new building, 1 cycle storage space per unit. The Borough Council’s planning team requested that changes were made to proposals to ensure that the application was policy compliant.

 

Supplementary

 

The Local Government Associations’ Decarbonising transport series states that transport is the biggest emitter of carbon of any sector in the UK and to reach the target of net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner there will need to be a fundamental transformation of the way we move.  The climates parking policy briefing states it is essential to locate housing in the right places.  New developments in more accessible and central locations generate less car travel whilst increased residential densities are associated with lower transport CO2 emissions.  Parking for accessible developments can and should be limited.  Can I then ask what message with regards to your declared climate emergency do you think it sends out when a sustainable planning application recommended for approval by officers is turned down in the main for a lack of car parking provision despite having provision for 54 cycle parking places and being ideally placed to encourage the use of public transport

 

The acting Leader Councillor T Jay gave the following response

 

It is up to the Councillors and the Planning Committee to approve or not an application and if they have deemed it unfit with the number of spaces, they are right to do that.  I agree  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

61.

Confer the Title of Honorary Alderwoman on Michelle Cook

Minutes:

On Monday 20th November 2023 It was resolved that, pursuant to section 249 (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 this Council does hereby confer the Title of Honorary Alderwoman of the Borough upon Mrs Michelle Cook In recognition of her eminent services to The Borough of Tamworth whilst she was a member of Tamworth Borough Council.

 

 

 

62.

Appointment of the Leader of the Council

Minutes:

Councillor Thomas Jay was nominated as Leader of the Council

 

(Moved by Councillor P Turner and seconded by Councillor T Clements)

 

Votes in favour of Councillor T Jay

For 17

Abstain 12

 

It was therefore declared that Councillor T Jay is elected as Leader of the Council

 

 

63.

Changes to Committee Membership

Minutes:

The Leader, Councillor T Jay announced the intention to form a Conservative and Independent Futures coalition. Indicating there would be changes to Cabinet in due course.

64.

Nature Recovery Declaration pdf icon PDF 11 MB

(Report of the Leader of the Council)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Leader of the Council to declare that nature is in crisis and to commit to the recovery of nature across the Borough and wider Staffordshire.

 

 

Resolved

that Council

 

 

1.

Agreed that the Borough Council makes a Nature Recovery Declaration, Appendix 1.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

65.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy Mid-year Review Report 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 411 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder Operations and Finance)

 

Minutes:

Report of the portfolio holder for operations and finance to present to Members the Mid-year Review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy.

 

Resolved

that Council

 

 

1.

Approved the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy Mid-year Review Report 2023/24.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

66.

Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 185 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder Operations and Finance)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Operations and Finance to recommend that Cabinet and Council approves the implementation of a revised Council Tax Reduction scheme with effect from the 1 April 2024.

 

Resolved

that Council

 

 

1.

Approved the introduction of a new income banded/grid scheme for working age applicants with effect from 1 April 2024 to reduce the administrative burden placed on the Council by the introduction of Universal Credit and to increase the overall level of support for the lowest income families.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

67.

Draft Charitable Collections Policy 2024 - 2028 pdf icon PDF 94 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder Environmental Health and Community Partnerships)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health and Community Partnerships to bring before Full Council the Licensing Committee recommendation that they consider the draft Charitable Collections Policy set out at Appendix 1 as suitable for adoption.

 

Resolved

that Council

 

 

1.

Considered the draft Charitable Collection Policy 2024 – 2028 as suitable for adoption.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

68.

Sexual Establishment Policy 2024 - 2028 pdf icon PDF 67 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder Environmental Health and Community Partnerships)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health and Community Partnerships to bring before Full Council the Licensing Committee recommendation that they consider the draft Sexual Establishment Policy set out at Appendix 1 and, subject to any recommended amendments, approve the draft policy for adoption.

 

Resolved

that Council

 

 

1.

Considered the draft Sexual Establishment Policy 2024 – 2028 as suitable for adoption, subject to any amendments made following the comments received by Staffordshire Police

 

 

 

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