Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Maycock and P Thompson

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 18^th January 2023 were approved as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor J Harper and seconded by Councillor R Rogers)

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Chair highlighted that Councillor P Thompson had joined this Committee.

The Chair thanked Councillor S Peaple for all her contributions to the Committee.

The Chair reminded members that an additional meeting had been scheduled for 5^th April 2023 to consider the Castle Grounds Festival.

Update on responses received to Reports of the Infrastructure Safety & Growth Committee:

·          

No recommendations had been taken to Cabinet since the last meeting in January 2023.

(Discussion item)

The Chair reported that following the Motions at full Council on 28 February 2023, the Chairs of the scrutiny committees would consider how these could be progressed by scrutiny.

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Voluntary Sector, Town centre, Evening Economy & Community Safety/Assistant Director, Partnerships)

The Report of the Portfolio Holder for Voluntary Sector, Town Centre, Evening Economy & Community Safety / Assistant Director – Partnerships on the Tamworth Community Safety Partnership Plan 2023-2026 to consider the draft 2023-26 Community Safety Partnership Plan and progress update on the 2020-23 work plans.

The Chair welcomed the Portfolio Holder, Councillor Summers, the Assistant Director, Jo Sands, and the Chief Inspector, Rob Neeson to the meeting for this item.

It was reported that following this Committee’s consideration the three year plan would be presented to Cabinet for its approval in April 2023.

The Committee sought and received clarifications in the following areas:

1.    Clarification on the reported rises in the figures related to certain crimes set out in the report where the Chief Inspector reported that the report showed the increase from the period 12 month period during COVID and that if the figures were compared to the pre-COVID period the figures (April 2019 to March 2020), the rises were not as significant, although the figures remained higher which was a picture reflected across South Staffordshire.  The Chief Inspector reported that preventative work across our borders was underway in terms of vehicle crime to target these offences.

2.    Whether holding MARAC meetings online had improved attendance and performance where it was reported that there had been no adverse impact from moving online and it had assisted attendance.

3.    How knife crime was being addressed locally where the Chief Inspector reported that work continued with schools as well as linking in with social media.  It was reported that partnership funding had supported the roll out of knife bins.  The figures would also reflect any increase or improved targeting of stop and search powers.

4.    Funding streams in this area, and whether it was sufficient to deliver the planned work, where it was reported that the funding was from the Staffordshire Commissioners Office and that in Staffordshire this funding was being maintained, which was not the case in all regions. In addition there was additional funding available to partners through grant funding.

The Committee thanked the Portfolio Holder, Assistant Director and Chief Inspector for the Report and their attendance, who then left the meeting.

(Report of the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Skills, Planning, Economy and Waste)

Report of the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Skills, Planning, Economy & Waste on the Staffordshire Sustainability Board update to adopt:

1.    the Joint Staffordshire Sustainability Board Communications Plan 2023 which had been developed with the Staffordshire Sustainability Board in conjunction with all district and borough councils to help residents to reduce their carbon emissions; and

2.    the Staffordshire County Council Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy which had been developed in conjunction with all district and borough councils to help residents to transition to electric vehicles.

The Assistant Director further reported that the report covered the proposed adoption of the above two Staffordshire wide strategies as well as a proposal to adopt a borough strategy for EV Charging and to provide an update on progress made in relation to the installation of EV Charging points in two brough car parks.

Following this Committee’s consideration, the Report and its recommendations would be presented to Cabinet on 6th April 2023.

The Committee sought and received clarifications in the following areas:

·         the Chair reported that over the last 5 years recommendations to Cabinet from this Committee had been made and that whilst work to attract the installation of EV Charging Points in the Borough had been progressed to date no EV charging facilities had been delivered, which in part reflected the complexities of the system being operated within and the importance of ensuring any new strategy delivered.  

·         the Committee sought assurances that there would be action on EV Charging, where the Assistant Director reported that with the adopted of the Staffordshire Strategy could open up funding streams, which had been the case in Warwickshire following their adoption of a strategy.  However, it was reported that the Staffordshire strategy did place the onus on the districts and boroughs to do the delivery, even though not the highway’s authority.  The Staffordshire Strategy model would therefore need to assist boroughs and districts in accessing government funding streams to facilitate this.

·         The importance of there being EV Charging points in the town centre, to ensure that the town centre did not miss out. The importance of the council talking to the electricity network companies was also reported.

·         The importance of the Local Plan in this area, which was under review, and where climate change was likely to be central to that work.

·         The value of a bespoke strategy for Tamworth which could facilitate the delivery at pace of solutions once funding was available.  The Committee supported the importance of this strategy being developed quickly to facilitate progress in this area.

·         The Committee discussed the strategy to pursue a no cost solution to the council for EV charging on two borough car parks which was entered into with a sole supplier and where limited progress had been made.  It was reported that the supplier’s solution had moved from the delivery of facilities across 2 council owned car parks to one larger charging facility at the Riverdrive car park.   It was reported that a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

(Discussion item – link to Forward Plan is attached)

Browse plans - Cabinet, 2022 :: Tamworth Borough Council

No additional items were identified from the Forward Plan for this Committee’s consideration.

To receive updates from any Working Groups

There were no further working group updates at this point. 

Councillor Price reported that he expected to be able to provide an update from the Facilities for HGV Drivers working group to the June / July Committee meeting.

The Chair reported that all members had been invited to a useful seminar on Travellers.

(Update and discussion on the Infrastructure Safety & Growth Scrutiny Work Plan)

The Committee’s work plan was updated as follows:

Infrastructure, Safety and Growth Scrutiny Work Plan

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, 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”

(Report of the Assistant Director, Assets)

The Committee received the Report of the Assistant Director, Assets which provided an update on Town Hall Proposals.

The Committee agreed that it would keep this item on its Work Plan.

Following discussion the Committee noted the Report.