Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M Bailey and Natalie Statham. Apologies were also received from County Councillor J Jones.

Apologies were also received from Councillor A Wells that he would be arriving late to meeting. Councillor Wells arrived at 6:15pm.

Councillor R Claymore was appointed at Vice-Chair of the Committee.

(Moved by Councillor C Bain and seconded by Councillor S Doyle)

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th March 2024 were approved as a correct record.

(As the only member of the committee 2023/24 Councillor C Bain moved the minutes as a correct record)

There were none.

The Chair highlighted to the Committee that a meeting of the Staffordshire County Council Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee is on the 17^th July and the that Members could watch the meeting and that the items discussed would impact on the borough. It was highlighted that Democratic Services would share the link to the agenda.

The Chair also asked the Committee if they had any objections to the meeting of the 26^th November 2024 being moved to the 27^th November 2024. The Committee did not raise any objections.

(Update on responses to the Reports of the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee)

There were none.

(Discussion item)

There were none.

(To receive the Digest from Staffordshire County Council’s Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee and an update from County Councillor J Jones)

The Chair confirmed that there is a County Council representative on the Committee, County Councillor J Jones and that apologies had been received from them.

We have also not received a digest to share.

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for People Services, Engagement and Leisure)

Councillor Wells arrived at 6:15pm.

The Chair welcome the Assistant Director, Partnerships and the Portfolio Holder for People, Services, Leisure & Engagement to introduce the report on work done to ensure the Council meets its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and associated plan.

The Portfolio Holder introduced the item highlighting that the report was returning following endorsement by Cabinet in July 2023 with the agreement that the Committee would receive an annual update. The Portfolio Holder thanked Officers for the work done in this area and highlighted the key successes of the Council listed in the report.

The Assistant Director thanked the team and HR for the work done in this area and recognised this as a good new story.

The Committee made the following comments/observations and asked the following questions:

1.     In section 7.2 of the action plan, it states that Cllr Smith is to be the Armed Forces Champion and how this sits within the Constitution, also whether a recommendation had gone to last years Cabinet that an appropriate Champion be selected and where possible this should be a member of the veteran’s community?

The Chair confirmed that the Constitution states that a Member of the Cabinet cannot be a Champion.

The Officer confirmed that the Armed Forces is named within the Cabinet Members portfolio but the use of the word champion within the action plan could be reviewed.

The Committee agree that it could not endorse the action plan (recommendation one) until the action plan has been updated.

2.     In Section 1.3 of the action plan in connection with the prominent anniversary of VE Day, the wording ‘consider events’ is used. Would it be more appropriate to use the wording  ‘plan events’?

The Officer confirmed that the first planning meeting for this event had already taken place and the wording for this matter could be changed.

3.     Is it possible to get a breakdown of the budget allocation and how this was used for the Royal British Legions?

The Officer confirmed that they would investigate this and come back to the Committee.

A motion was moved to recommend to Cabinet that the Council continues to financially support the Royal British Legion in organising Armed Forces Day events. The motion was not carried.

The Committee commented that there would several organisations that would benefit from the Councils support and that this should be looked at.

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Homelessness and Planning)

The Chair welcomed the Assistant Director Assets, Paul Weston, and the Disabled Adaptation Manager, Lucy Mitchell, and the Leader of the Council who was there in the absence of the Portfolio Holder for the report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Homelessness and Planning to review and consider the proposed draft Housing Assistance Policy (Appendix A) for the delivery of mandatory and discretionary Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), prior to submission to Cabinet for full approval and adoption for private sector delivery, and in the interim period of not having a Council Adaptations Policy, consider the policy foundations within this Policy for Council delivery.

In addition, review and consider the Interim Policy Position Statement (IPPS) for Council adaptations in scenarios where the Council can reject, refuse of pend permission, for example where tenants are intending to purchase their property, are in arrears or facing eviction action, or are looking to move home and the exceptional circumstances for applying discretion (Appendix B).

The Leader of the Council introduced the report before handing over to the Assistant Director who thanked the team for their work on the reports. They highlighted that there are applications for discretionary fundings for adaptations which cannot move forward until the policy is in place as well as providing transparency in this area.

The Committee made the following comments/observations and asked the following questions:

1.     What expert advice did Officers receive when they were writing point 3.9 C of the policy, how many tariff levels there are and whether the Officer was aware of how many conditions that this would exclude?

The Officer confirmed that no specific advice had been taken but this part of the policy was written in line with is the Government recommendations, the wording contained with the policy allows the Council to claim back money from the Government for DFG purposes.

With regards to the number of tariffs this is something that they could come back to the Committee on and the Officer agreed to provide a copy of the data that was used for points 3.9 C and D.

In terms of those excluded by this there is a policy foundation and a discretionary element. If there are additional factors that need to be considered then they would be.

A motion was proposed that Cabinet removes lines C and D from section 2.9 in the draft, this was not carried.

2.     The Committee acknowledged the work that had gone into the policy and that the Council are providing a much-needed service and that massive efforts have neem made since the changeover of the service.

3.     As this is the policy, how we are going to do this, what are we currently implementing and what are the challenges?

The Officer confirmed that the service is being delivered within the statutory framework, but the policy outlines the terms and conditions around that and allows the Council to offer the four discretionary grants. It was confirmed that all mandatory grants are going through as legislation requires. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Please see the link to the Forward Plan:

Browse plans - Cabinet, 2024 :: Tamworth Borough Council

There were no items identified from the Forward Plan.

(To receive an update from any Working Groups)

The Committee proposed setting up a Disabled Facilities Grants working group to support the Officers.

To review the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Work Plan

The Committee received the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Work Plan.

The Chair highlight that the Committee are due to the receive the Housing Strategy Update at the next meeting in September.

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 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”

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 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”

(Moved by Councillor S Doyle and seconded by Councillor R Claymore)

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Homelessness and Planning)

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning presents several key proposals that collectively lead towards the development of the adaptations service.

The Committee did not move the first recommendation.