Annual Council, County Council - Tuesday 14 May 2024 10.00 am
May 14, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meetingTranscript
because the first thing is the election of Chair for the year 24, 25, and just before
we get that I have to say very happy birthday to Councillor Trohmins, very happy birthday.
So I'm going to invite nominations for the role of Chair for which kind of Council for
the year 24, 25, do I have any nominations?
Councillor SACON.
Chairman, first of all, just for the start of the business, can I thank you for the year
of office that seems to have gone so remarkably quickly and I'm sure we will hear more about
it, but thank you for the way you've conducted yourself over the last year and for all of
the work that you've done and the events that you've attended on our behalf and I, for
one, am very grateful.
But can I take this moment to nominate Chris Mills as Chair?
Can I say a few words about him now?
Councillor interjecting.
Thank you. I've known Chris rather in long time, I'm afraid, probably we were just trying
to work this out certainly since the 90s, so that's a fair while ago and he lives in
Kindon, which is a next door village, to me it's about sort of four or five miles away.
But I am delighted to have this opportunity to propose, Chris, I'm going to say a few
words about you, name and shame you now.
He's one of those rare people that actually it has a genuine kindness to him, a genuine
can do, will do and does do more importantly.
He has been an elected member in Stratford since 2007, I believe it is, and I've shared
some of those times with him.
He's lived in Kindon and I don't know but he will tell you, but I've always been there.
We've been very fortunate as a family because not only have I had my friendship and association
with Chris, but his wife, too, has for quite a long, quite a long time in the many years
worked with my husband Philip when he had his business also in Kindon.
But just a touch on him, he is involved in everything in Kindon and the surrounding
villages.
What he doesn't do isn't really worth knowing about, you know, tidying up the village, litter
picking, going to, you know, as Philip said to me over the weekend, there was one occasion
when there was a young woman who needed to move her flat, had no access to anybody who
could help.
Chris said, I'll do it, don't worry.
If you're short of a lift to an airport, Chris will do it.
He always does and not only that, and this is not wishing to disabuse anyone online,
he has often stood in for Santa in his busy period at Christmastime and there he is dressed
up and doing that.
He's just the heart and soul of the community.
I've never heard him say a bad word about anyone.
He's just always there to help and to be a good Samaritan, a word that actually often
gets spanned about rather poorly, but on this occasion is definitely one that should be
used.
I think he's absolutely the sort of person we should have representing us and waving
the flag for Warickshire, Warickshire members, all of you.
This is someone that I feel has really earned this role and I look forward to your next
year.
I'm sure you've got big shoes to fill, but I am sure you will be more than capable of
doing that awfully well.
So thank you, Chairman, I nominate Chris Mills.
Thank you, Councillor SACHN.
Second, Councillor CUMP.
Thank you, Mr Chairman.
First of all, I'd like to congratulate you, Councillor Kettle, on your excellent stewardship
in your role as Chairman of Warickshire County Council, following a family tradition,
so really, really well done and thank you from me as well.
You've got Councillor SACHN and Chris Mills a long time.
He is a true gentleman, he paid me £10 to say that, by the way.
Known as Mr Keiten, he even helps in the library and could be taken as red because he's such
a helpful person.
But I do have a word of warning, 'cance that mills as puns are just as bad, if not worse
than mine'.
Oh, yes, they are.
So, I'm sure Chris will take great credit in his role as Chairman.
I have given him a lift to a few meetings a couple of times.
So whatever you do, if you're driving and he's navigated, don't follow his instructions.
So thank you, well done, Chris.
Many congratulations.
I'm sure you will be a credit to Warickshire County Council.
Thank you, Councillor CUMP.
Do we have any other nominations?
In the absence of any other nominations, therefore, Councillor Mills, come forward because I – we
need to have a vote, but all those in favour of Councillor Mills being elected to chair.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Right.
There we go.
It clashes with his tie, but the most things do with Chris's tie.
Thank you.
[laughter]
[silence]
[silence]
[silence]
[silence]
[silence]
[silence]
I'm now signing a declaration of acceptance of office.
So I, Christopher John Mills, having been elected to the office of the chair of Council
for County Council Warickshire, hereby declare that I take that office upon myself and will
duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of my office according to the best of my judgment
and ability.
I shall now sign.
[applause]
Right, you have taken the – the – I've taken the – you know, right.
His acceptance of office speech, I've done, I'm opposed of thanks to the retiring chair.
And I think I would like to say a few words about Chris.
Um, actually, I was asked to say something, something nice about him.
[laughter]
Oh, yeah, yeah.
So yeah, anyway, I was asking something nice about the redoubtable Christopher Kettle.
So I looked up the meaning of redoubtable, and I quote, causing fear, fear and alarm,
formidable, okay, illustrious, eminent and worthy of respect.
You can take your pick, but I like the last one.
Um, I've known Chris for several years and I've served with him on various committees,
especially on planning with Stratford District Council.
His eye for detail is quite extraordinary, and he certainly likes to cross all the teas
and dot the eyes.
He's well known sheep farmer and was called upon to parade through the streets of Stratford,
leading a sheep accompanied by Jane Dame Judy Dench.
As we all know, Chris is also an accountant, and this is where he learned to fleece his
clients.
He is no one's poor, so you can't pour the wool over his eyes.
He is quite determined and single-minded, so no U-turns either.
However, it's not easy being a farmer, and one day, while loading his tract with bales
of straw, he did have a very bad accident when a bale fell on him, breaking his hip.
Even the police were even called.
He was taken off, but released on bale.
I tell you, it's worse, isn't it?
It's worse than Trump, he can't be, can it?
But as far as Chris was concerned, this was the last straw, as he could have ended up
behind bars.
Chris, you've been diligent about hard in your ear of office, have represented us in
an exemplary manner, and you have been an exceptional chairman, and very well respected
among your peers, and I do wish you a happy retirement.
I now present you with your past Chairman's badge, Councillor Cattle, there we are.
Well done, well done.
Thank you.
Chairman, Councillors, ladies and gentlemen.
Firstly, I promise the Chief Executive that my reply to your kind comments will be short
earth on the recent count for the PCC elections, which I'm sure will be a relief to some of
you.
I'd like to start off with some thank yous.
Firstly, thank you to both the Chief Executive and the Monitoring Officer for helping me steer
through these meetings, and one of two challenges during my year is Chairman.
Your advice, Monica and Sarah has been much appreciated.
I'd also like to thank the Civic Office team on my left, Dawn Mardle and her colleague
Julie Aliston.
Without Dawn and more recently, Julie, your chair will have found the challenges being
in the right place, at the right time, a substantial task.
Well done, Dawn and Julie, your sentence has been served as, I'm sure, a life will crystal,
the other chris will be somewhat easier.
Thirdly, I'd like to thank you, my fellow Councillors, for giving me the privilege of
being your chair for the past year.
Without you and your support, it would not have happened.
So what has happened?
Well, I could give you a day-by-day diary, I have it all here, of every event, but I
thought at the time it might take, and I do want to stay on good terms the Chief Executive
and her watch.
So a flying summer instead.
The role of Chair of Warwickshire, as some of you will know, takes you across the county
and into a wide variety of communities and groups, meeting the young and those more senior,
but all of whom were delighted to welcome me, your chair, into their organisation and
charities to show with pride what they're achieving for their communities and themselves.
This may be music, theatre, sport, medical research, or often those delivering support
for those whose needs are often greater than the resources they personally have.
The key issue I took home on each occasion is how we, as leaders of our communities,
should be aware of what is being achieved by so many in the voluntary sector to support
their fellow citizens, enabling them to achieve more than they can often themselves believe
they might be able to achieve without that helping hand.
It is difficult to pick any one group, but I am going to name some, the Samaritans,
the voluntary care workers, the soup kitchen helpers, the community centres, side-by-side
productions, the list goes on and on, but all with their dedication to supporting those
needing help.
And regardless of our politics, my year has demonstrated that working with my fellow
members of the chain gang and my colleagues here, there is so much more that unites us
than divides us.
We all care, that is why we do the jobs we do here in the Council.
During the year, I was honoured to be introduced to the Duke of Gloucester at the opening
of the police headquarters, Stuart Ross House, and on other occasions to meet those awarded
the British Empire Medal and the King's Award for Voluntary Service.
It was a privilege to take part in the ceremonies in this room, awarding British citizenship
to those who have worked so hard and for so long to achieve what we are lucky enough to
take for granted.
Similarly, it was an honour to be able to present awards to members of the War X Affair
and Rescue Service at their annual awards evening, that was great then.
And also at the War X Counter Council Star Awards to those individuals and teams from
this Council who have gone well beyond their day-to-day jobs to deliver exceptional service
to residents of this county.
There was one or two odd surprises, one of which was to be called Chairman Councillor
Humphreys, in Bedworth, who thought up there they might recognise him, at the laying of
the county wreath on Remembrance Day, are we that alike?
And I was surprised the first time when he was called to lay the wreath and I did it
for you, David so it's OK, you're fine.
The only problem was he, not me, was then called again to lay a second wreath in error.
And it was unfortunately Councillor Humphreys, not me, who was a no-show on that occasion.
Sorry, David.
I was pleased to be able to start, restart one or two practices that have been lost to
the result of COVID.
Having a counter-counsel service held in newly restored St Mary's Warwick, led by the new
rector, the Reverend Angus Argard, with a superlative church choir.
I'm grateful for all those Councillors, officers and guests who were able to join me if there's
very special service.
I'd like to record my thanks to the Reverend Angus, his team and that choir.
Having the chair's civic dinner here in the Olshar Hall to celebrate with other communities
across Warwickshire, all that we do here, was I wise to ask Councillor John Cook to give
the reply on behalf of the guests.
It was returning the compliment that he asked when he was chair and he did have connection
with a member of my family and, yes, John, thank you, I appreciated your comments, most.
The tradition of having the chair's portraits taken and so in one day in July we had a gaggle
or a posse, whichever is the right collective noun of former chairs, who missed out on their
photographs and their time.
So with multiple preening, we all had our portraits taken separately, I hasten to add.
I'd hoped that these portraits, along with others, of former chairs, could be found
at home as used to be the case somewhere in this building, other than gathering dust
in an old filing cabinet.
And finally, I think we know this, I replaced the pennant that used to be on the chairman's
car with modern technology, and for those of you who saw the chairman's car being driven
around, finally we were able to advertise that the county council was here, and when
you turn up at some of these functions, people are delighted that we are there to represent
the whole county at their events.
Although there has not been a practice in this council of the chair adopting a charity
for fundraising during his hearing office, I did for my civic dinner select two, the National
Autistic Society, and the more local charity helping hands.
On the night we raised some 400 pounds, which will be split between those two charities.
If any councillor would like to add to the collection, this bucket, and to show I'm
into renewables, it's actually a sheetbook bucket.
Well scrubbed and washed, and a little cut in the top.
If anybody would like to contribute who are unable to do so on the day, I will leave that
outside, and it is going, as I say, to the National Autistic Society, and helping hands,
which is a very small charity in Lamington, helping those who are on the street, giving
them breakfast and supper, day in, day out, and incredibly worthwhile.
It was quite an emotional event, actually listening to some of the stories when I went
to one morning's breakfast there, and so was the veil of time, and the chief executive's
watch drags me slow to my conclusion.
Some public words of advice to my successor, Chris, enjoy your time, but pace yourself.
It is, as they say, not a sprint, but a marathon.
Learn what this county can and does deliver.
It's surprised me, and I'm sure it will surprise you.
From Shipston and Biddford in the west, south of them in the south, rugby in Afghanistan
in the east, none eaten and bed worth in the north, and of course in my own patch, Warwick,
Lamington, Stratford, Kennelworth, any other major towns I've made a terrible gaff with,
and of course not forgetting Bishop Cichington, in the middle, we are a great county.
And finally, I would like to thank the most important people, the officers and staff of
this council, without whom we would achieve nothing and simply not exist.
So I would like you to give a round of applause so all what the officers achieve in this country.
Some of you are recalled in my family who is a unfinished business, it's been achieved
for me to complete this task, the one my late father started in Germany, 81.
I've therefore been very grateful to finish mine, and by default his term in office, in
which we sought to achieve something for this county in our respective years, and for me
to involve my two sons as well.
Councillors, guests, ladies and gentlemen, to conclude I'd like to read the words of the
Reverend Argar from my service last week.
We pray for this county worker, and for the council chairman, council leader, and all
county council officers, for all who have the care of this county's life, in administering
the law and keeping the peace, in education and the care of children, that they may help
to strengthen our community life and build safe and cohesive communities.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Chris.
Very good.
Thank you very much indeed.
And now come to the election of vice chair, can I call for nomination for vice chair please?
Councillor Bell.
Thank you, Chairman, and first of all congratulations on your election to this office.
Thank you.
Chair, I'd like to propose Councillor Andy Gens.
I work with Andy on both the county council and North War, it's a borough council, and
he's a really hard-working councillor who's absolutely passionate about the communities
that he represents.
Give Andy a challenge, and he just quietly and efficiently gets on with it.
So I have no doubt that he'll make an excellent vice chairman, and he'll be a great support
to our chairman, so I propose Councillor Andy Gens' vice chair, Chairman.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And do I have a second please?
Councillor Watson, thank you.
Yes, thank you, Chair, Chairman, and again congratulations on your appointment.
Andy's been a parish councillor since 1999, borough councillor since 2015, and a county
councillor since 2017, so he certainly put some hours in and done some time, and as
Margaret says, he's very proactive within his community.
In a way, and he probably doesn't know that, he's one of the reasons I sat here.
When I moved myself and my family up here from London to Warwickshire about just over
ten years ago, my wife very quickly joined the Kingsbury community group, and every day
at all, that Andy Gens, that Andy Gens, he's doing some great stuff, great stuff, to the
point where I was thinking, Ooh, he's Andy Gens, I need to meet him,
so hence I kind
of got involved in the local authority, et cetera, so on here.
Like Margaret, and it's already said, and it's hard working, he does it quietly, he gets
on with it, so I'm delighted about a second then, thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Watson.
Any other nominations, Vice Chair?
No, thank you.
So can we have a vote on Vice Chair?
Are we happy to accept Councillor Andy Gens as Vice Chairman?
Thank you, I'd like to invite Andy Gens up, please.
Excuse me, I, Andrew Gens, having been elected to the office of Vice Chair of the Council
for the County of Warwickshire, hereby declare that I take that office upon myself and will
duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of my office according to the best of my judgement
and ability.
Thank you, Andy, here you are, thank you, thank you very much, well done, thank you,
all.
Right, we're on to the general part of the meeting now.
Do we have any apologies for absence?
Do we have any apologies?
Councillor Sinclair.
Councillor Sinclair.
I have apologies from Councillor Dale Keeling and also Councillor Pemberton, Councillor
Daniel and Councillor Gilbert have unfortunately been delayed, will hope to be at this meeting,
but are due to be a little late.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, are they, also we've got Councillor Judy Felt there, yes.
Any declutter, right, item two, members disclosure of pecuniary and non-pecuniary interest, are
there any?
Has anybody got any pecuniary interests?
Any interests?
No?
Well, how about that, that's good.
All right, now would you confirm the minutes of the last meeting to confirm the actually
of the minutes of the following meeting of the 19th of March 2024, there will be a set.
You got me there?
I'll sign, I'll sign March, thank you very much.
Right, now to announcements, we have the retirement of Virginia Renee, who is director
of finance.
Virginia Renee, our director of finance, will leave the Councillor at the end of August,
after a truly exceptional career of public service at World Trade Councillor, which has
spanned almost 25 years.
Virginia has been a value and highly respected advisor to both members and officers, and
we have been privileged to have the benefit of her technical skills and enthusiasm, particularly
during the annual budget setting, which Virginia has taken a lead on for many years now.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to Virginia and wish her and her
husband Michael a long and happy retirement together.
I would now like to invite comments from members on Virginia please, thank you.
Thanks for battling.
Thank you Chair and congratulations, Johnny, your appointment.
Virginia Renee has been working together some time now, and when I heard that Virginia was
kind of going to retire, I thought, how the hell am I going to set a budget?
Virginia is basically kind of, without Virginia, I wouldn't be able to do my job as well as
I do, and she's just remarkable in her ability to know everything that's going on in the
Council.
There's not many people who can say that they know pretty well where everything lies and
how we're doing stuff, and if you ask Virginia a question, it doesn't matter what department
it is, she'll have a monetary answer for you.
She's been here for 25 years.
She joined here from Birmingham City Council, and don't they wish they kept her?
When you consider, we're kind of in a sound financial position, and I think to a large
part because of Virginia.
She works tirelessly in terms of punching the numbers, and I'm sure she's got a spreadsheet
in front of her as we speak.
She also deals with all the parties, she never shows any form of impartiality or bias towards
anybody.
I've never once got out of her corner what her politics are.
She's basically an absolute professional, and it doesn't matter if you're coming from
the Labor, Liberal, Green or the Blues.
If you ask a question, you will get a detailed and quick answer for those questions.
She's been also studying, and it's now kind of since Andy Feltman left us, and she stood
in, and is there and doing Andy Feltman's job, and she's done it brilliantly to the
extent that I've got a briefing note from here today which I'll be referring to later
on in this meeting.
She has basically kind of stood in and basically made sure that things keep ticking over.
I will miss you Virginia, because it's been an absolute pleasure working, you've made
my job easy.
Her legacy, our two things, the financial resilience of this place and sustainability
in difficult times.
I came here kind of just before the crash in 2008, and I've known nothing because of
them basically trying to make savings, reorganise this place, so we can cope with all the financial
problems that the 2008 crash and subsequent crises have thrown at us, and we've found
a way through it.
Rob basically used the phrase in terms of describing Virginia.
She is one of those rare birds that basically can write like Shakespeare and know the numbers
at the same time, which is fair description, because when you look at those strap lines
in terms of spreadsheets, and she puts a little piece in there to brief you and know
what you want, she can put in a few words to describe what those lines mean and where
they come from.
So I fully understand each number that comes on those spreadsheets, like I say, and then
anybody asks a difficult question, and she's always got an answer.
And if we've got a problem, generally you can ask Virginia and she'll have a solution
if we can move this from there or that from there.
So like I say, Virginia, I really will miss you, but enjoy your retirement.
I understand that your husband has retired about the same time, and it's in finance world
as well from country city council, and I believe you love sport, travel, and also your family.
And I hope you will have a wonderful time, travel far and wide, and make sure you see
everything.
And many thanks from myself and for what you can cancel, because you've been an admirable
surfer to this county, thanks very much.
I've got Councillor Rood House, thank you Jerry.
Thank you Mr Chairman, Virginia, how can you do this, it's not good, it's not good.
Virginia and I go back a long way, don't we?
Lots of budgets, lots of discussions, lots of Excel spreadsheets, lots of really big
A3 and A1 sheets, and we narrow down to computers and just doing it on spreadsheets, on the
computer, and I usually get the formulas wrong as well, so I'd mess it all up.
But Virginia is there, and that's the key thing I think, and she's there and she's always
been there, behind every chief finance officer and the way this council operates.
And for that, personally, sincerely, thank you.
And also, I thank for the residents of Oryxia as well, thank you very much for what you've
done.
Go off and enjoy yourself, but can you leave your mobile number, please, so?
Or an email or something, so I can just send you something next to sort of January, February,
just to make sure that I haven't messed up the spreadsheet again.
Thanks for joining.
Councillor Cheelves.
Thank you, Chair, and congratulations on your appointment.
Yeah, thank you so much, Virginia, for everything that you've contributed to this council, and
it's always a pleasure to wander down to your desk, or to press the Teams button to
phone Virginia, and I just want to highlight three things.
The first is unflappability, and even at the last minute, when I'm like, Virginia, I'm
really sorry I haven't done this earlier, palmless, and I'm able to...
The second is knowledge, like Peter said, I come thinking I've got a really random question
here that Virginia won't know the answer to, but almost always shall say, oh, yes, Jonathan,
no, that's...
We've put 1.2 million into this, or what is at the tip of her fingers, so unflappability,
knowledge, and then the first one is, the third one is that real helping us as a group
to express what we want to put forward.
So again, as Peter said, helping us find a way of working the numbers to put forward
the proposals we want, but also then finding that language, like Peter said, to summarise
what we're trying to say, and so we've always felt massively supported in terms of that
budget process and putting forward what we want to.
So thank you from us, thank you from the residents of Warwickshire, and have a very happy retirement.
Councillor Feeney, oh, there you are, sorry, sir.
I know I'm little at chair, but I'm not that little, I promise.
How could I miss you?
I just wanted to say on behalf of the labour group, a huge thank you to Virginia, and
congratulations to you, Chair, on your appointment election to chair.
When I think about Virginia, there's three words that come into my mind, and their expertise,
integrity, and kindness, and I know that all of my colleagues already have talked about
Virginia's expertise, there is literally nothing she doesn't know, and I think she can't help
you with, and you know, it's so, so knowledgeable, and it's going to be a huge gap.
We're going to really miss you, Virginia, and genuinely for me, you know, coming in
three years ago to be Deputy Group Leader, and John saying, There you go, there's
the budget,
and you go, Oh my gosh,
you know, Virginia has really kindly kind of held
our hands through the whole process and made it one that was achievable rather than completely
unachievable.
I mean, Virginia, I just want to talk about the integrity, because I think it's a word
that doesn't get used a lot very more, and I think it's a really key and critical word.
You know, Virginia has just great integrity.
You know, if something's not achievable, she'll tell you, you know, you have the absolute
trust that what Virginia tells you is right and correct and proper.
You know, and I think that that's probably a biggest accolade you could give anybody
in my world, you know, giving somebody that word.
And the last one is kindness, because Virginia's always been very kindly, even when we've come
up with a really daffed idea.
She said very kindly, I'm not sure that will quite work,
you know.
And then she will say, But if you thought about trying this instead,
you know, and
you know, that goes back to the expertise, but the kindness in which she does it, you
know, I've never felt stupid,
you know, I don't come from, you know, a high finance
background.
I do understand the government finance, but, you know, Virginia has always said, You
can't quite do it like that, but why don't you just make that tweak and that will work?
And the kindness in which it's done was really, really, warmly welcomed by us.
And I just want to say, Virginia, I really hope you enjoy your time, and thank you so
much from all of us, and we shall, like everybody else, really miss you, thank you.
Oh, yes, and we do have one other, Councillor Kettle.
Virginia, some people know I ask one or two detail questions, I'd like to get somewhere
down at the bottom.
You've never failed.
Your grasp, everything I've seen, has been remarkable, as others have said.
And I think replacing your contribution will be a real challenge, but many congratulations
what you've achieved from my point of view, and best of luck in your time, have fun.
Thank you very much, Virginia, obviously far too young to eat some.
First we have now our award for business intelligence team.
I'm delighted to announce that the Council's B1 team was highly commended in the B1 solution
of the year category at the British Data Awards on the 8th of May.
Congratulations and well done to everyone involved.
I'd like to invite the portfolio holder to say a few words.
Thank you, Councillor Dibesh, I am here to track everybody today.
Thank you, Mr Chairman, congratulations on your election to the chairmanship and Council
Jones for his election to the vice chair.
You do look resplendent in those gold chains, and if you fancy moonlighting, 90s rap music
videos perhaps, but there we go.
As you've said, Mr Chairman, I'm sure all members would like to join me in congratulating
the team in our business intelligence service, they are involved in developing our innovative
serious violence profiler tool.
This supports crime prevention in Warickshire, and they received a National Award and recognition
last week.
This was at the British Data Awards.
As you said, Mr Chairman, with the team being highly commended, indeed the tool is now recognised
as being best practice, and it's an integral part of fulfilling the Council's new serious
violence duty.
It's a massive achievement for Spencer Payne for his team and for Craig Cusack, so a huge
congratulations to all involved.
Thank you, thank you very much.
We now come to the appointments to committees and other bodies, and I'd like to invite the
leader Izzy Second to move recommendations as circulated.
This is on appendix.
Yep.
Thank you very much.
There are not many changes taking place in the appointments to the committees that have
been circulated.
I do just want to correct minor details which I am mitted in the distribution.
So this is the appendices which I think we've all got, and hopefully this is the up-to-date
one.
And just on the sort of inside page, we've got a corporate parenting panel.
There was an amendment which should have gone in but hasn't done.
So the corporate parenting panel from our point of view, from my group, will be made
up of Sue Marcoma's chairman, Peniano Donald, Marion Humphreys and Justin Carridge, rather
than Brett Beetham, and I do thank everyone who has served on that panel.
And then one additional, I don't think this is particularly on that committee, but this
is my opportunity just to say, I want to thank Andy Wright, who has been our local access
forum representative.
Many of you may wonder what the local access forum is, it's actually about footpaths and
rights of way, and he's served for many years actually, Andy, in that role.
And I think you feel your time has come to hand on the chain to somebody else, and I'm
delighted to say Chris Kettle will be taking that up.
So if we can just make a note of that.
And I think there may be a gap on the West Midlands, employers in there, and that is
the role of the Portfolio Councillor Youssef Dunmesh.
So if we can just note those changes from my perspective, I would move the paper as
submitted as an addendum, and unless there are any changes from other groups, I believe
that should be moved as printed.
Can I have a second of please?
Thank you Chair.
Yes.
I'll second now.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Give my thanks to all those that have served on those panels in the previous year and going
forward.
Thank you.
Are there any amendments?
Johnny Good.
Right, where are we?
Are there any comments from any members?
Sorry.
Any comments from any members?
Nope.
Thank you.
Right.
Where are we?
Can we go to the vote on that please?
Yes, are we happy with that?
Anyone against?
Any abstentions?
Carried.
Carried.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Right.
Where are we now?
Right.
We are now on item five.
Over here is recruiting the annual report asked for, is he second?
Thank you.
Thanks very much, Chairman.
You've got a report before you.
You've got an overview which is written well supported by me as well.
There's one or two observations I want to make.
I think the importance and value that a Council puts on its overview and scrutiny should
be as important as any policy development.
It is vitally right that what we do is we take checks and we take balances and that
we also review the implementation of policy as it goes forward and that is done by our
scrutiny function.
Anyone who has been in receipt of or has given a peer review will know that I think where
Councils have been weak in this area.
It has often represented a Council that is not functioning as well as it should do.
My view is that we should and do put in the investment in overview and scrutiny because
it is vital.
If you go headlong in life generally, if you go headlong down the decision without checking,
then you don't be surprised if you trip up.
So I want to thank all those who have led and served on the overview and scrutiny committees
and to our officers who have supported the function of it because it is truly important.
I think we need to reflect that there has been a moment this year when actually we were
held up to account.
I think the importance of that was how we responded to it, how we responded to the incidents
around send and are still doing so and reflect too that actually is there something we can
do better.
So we always, as Warwick's, you know, Warwick's your way, we have our own peculiar way of
doing things in life, I think it's right but that is the purpose of every one of us playing
a part in this organisation to ensure that it works and every cog keeps moving.
So I want to say thank you to everyone for what you have done, reflective, actually checks
and balance are important and we will continue to learn all the time.
I move the motion.
Thank you, do I have a second, I think Councillor, what's and thank you. Thank you Chair, I would like to second this and reserve my right to speak and can I add my congratulations to you and the vice-chairmen on your appointments. Do I take any proposed amendments on this? Right, now we go into the debate, it's amendments including seconders can only speak once unless they are moved as proposed or spoke amendments and seconders have the right to speak and thank you, any comments for your please, comments, oh, Councillor, thank you. One of the greatest additions that I think over in Scooty you can make is when we get outside visitors into the committee or hearing the perspective directly of some of the people that use our services across the Council, I think it's a really important opportunity and it allows us then to scrutinise the work that we do better. It feels like a year or two ago we had a bit more of that and it's maybe had slightly less of it in the last year, I know from my own committee and communities, I think the year before last we had seven Trent in which I think was excellent. I'm really hoping that we can get some people that receive our careers service and some of our skills to come and talk to us in communities during the coming year, but it's just a plea, I know it takes a little bit more organisation and a little bit more thinking but I just think it really, really adds value to what we do as overview and scrutiny, so please, I'd ask, to try and remember that in the coming year, thank you. Anybody else wish to speak, oh, Councillor Barker? I just want to thank all the members of the Adult Social Care and Health OSC for their support and help this year, I think we've worked really well as a collegiate bunch and I particularly want to thank John Holland who's had to step in a couple of times when I've been unwell, so I'm very grateful for that personally and obviously to Paul Spencer without whom this would not run at all, I think we can all agree on that. I just wanted to highlight a couple of things because the Adult OSC, we do spend quite a lot of time scrutinising outside bodies including the new commentary and worksheet integrated care board and care system providers who, the various hospital trusts and the West Midlands ambulance service, so just on the health part alone we spend a lot of time scrutinising. We also work really closely with HealthWatch and have a very good relationship there and we're just in the process of reassessing how we do that work together to improve it even more. I'm just really, really proud actually of the work we do. I'm particularly proud of the amazing work done, thank you, Kate, for the Task and Finish group on the menopause to Kate and for all the people who helped with that, to Councillor Goldby, who of course was the one who kicked it off and I think that's been a really amazing piece of work which we will hopefully roll out to others. So I just want to commend my part anyway of the reports and I'm sure the rest of it's all marvellous too to the Council, thank you. Thank you, Councillor Barker, Councillor Jeff Clark. Thank you. Thank you, Mr Chairman, my congratulations to both yourself and the Vice Chairman on your positions, your election to positions, well deserved. Can I just say, first of all, it's my third year as Chair of the overview and scrutiny committee, it's been really interesting. We are getting further down into the detail now as Councillor Chilvers points out and I thank him for standing in a couple of times as Chair when I was poorly, so I appreciate his assistance there, but it's important that we dig down into some of the detail of the projects that this Council manages. We have done some initial works on that. The projects can be quite detailed and sometimes quite protracted in the works that are taking place and I think we do need to ensure that any works that are undertaken by the County Council, particularly in relation to high waste projects and things like that, we do scrutinise that and it's important that we actually have those reports back to the committee so that we can dig down to make sure that it's what he's been doing, he's been done correctly and in a timely manner as well because that is quite frustrating to many residents across the County when they see schemes going on or schemes delayed, it's quite important that we make sure there's a reason behind that is known and that members of the public understand what the rationale or what the issue is for that delay. So there has been, we have had utilities to the Government of Scrutney Committee previous years. There is an intention to bring the utilities back in the coming year as well. Hopefully a one or one which would be the bus companies, the other one again would be probably the 7th Trent, so there is an intention there to scrutinise and to dig down further into some projects as we move forward through the year and I hope that reassures members that we are doing a job for this Council that will help move it forward and benefit the people of the Borough of the County. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Geoff. Thank you very much. Right, we've got a seconder for the recommendations, Councillor Boric. Thank you, Chair. I would like to thank all of the members of the Resources and Foreign Rescue Overview and Scrutney Committee and I'd particularly like to thank the spokes and the Vice Chair on that panel who have been utterly supportive to me during the year and been really, really helpful. We've had an interest in and varied year. Our panel looks at the fire service and let's be blunt and at the money and some of the topics that we've looked at over the last year have been extremely important. The social impact fund, cost of living support, household support funds, a lot of the things that we've been able to do to work with and assist the residents of Warwickshire. We've had an interesting year with the fire service, the resource into risk consultation and that will move forward into the following year and I know that will be immensely important to the residents of Warwickshire and important that we get that right and I'm sure we will. And the reason I'm sure we'll get it right is because we have a fantastic officer team that support us. Our council officers, our fire chief, Ben Brook, I can't thank them enough for the work that they put in and the effort that they put in to make what we do in Warwickshire as good as it is. Let's be honest, it's the support that we get that makes us able to do what we can do. And finally I'd like to thank Andrew Carswell, who is the RDS officer on this panel. He does an outstanding job and I'm really grateful. So thank you very much for what you do, thank you very much for the support that I have received over the last year and I hope we will move forward looking at some interesting and important topics over the year and I'm delighted to second this report. Thank you, Councillor Warwick. We have the move, the recommendations, Councillor Second. Nothing further to add, Chairman, but thanks to all those involved and engaged, thank you. Can I move the recommendations as printed? Can we now have a vote on that, please, all in favour? Anyone against, any abstentions? That's carried, thank you. We've got the annual report calling and urgent decisions of 2022, stroke 23. Can I ask Councillor, is it second to move the recommendation? Chairman, sorry, can I just do a little swap around, Yousif is going to move it and I'm going to second it if I may. Yousif. Thank you, Mr Chairman, hopefully not contentious, hopefully won't take up too much of your time. So if you've read through the report, it's the Council's calling and emergency procedures which is monitored annually, that's a constitutional obligation. And the report explains the process and the criteria for the decisions that have been taken. In short, if a decision is urgent and it cannot reasonably be deferred to the next decision-making meeting and then the delay would prejudice the Council or the public interest, we use the emergency procedures. The use of the procedure, they must be approved by the chairs of the relevant OSCs. There have been 11 instances of the use of the urgency procedure over the last year, it's the same figure as the year previously and it does show stability within the Council's decision-making process, also worth noting that all decisions taken under the urgency procedure, which due to external circumstances, it's mainly funding applications. So if you want to apply for some money, you've got to act quickly and that's how we use the procedure. So I hope you've had a chance to read through the report and happy to support it. Happy to propose, Mr Chairman. Thank you, Dimash. This is second and reserve my right to speak. Thank you. Any proposal? Any proposed amendments? Nope. John, you're good. Any comments from any members? We are getting through today, aren't we? Thank you. Oh, yes, we're back to Izzy now for the second. I'm so sorry. That's all right. Thank you very much. I didn't particularly expect this to be a subject that would bring on lots of chat, but I mean, one of the typical things that we've seen over the last few years, which Council use of Dimash has alluded to, is the short notice that we get from a lot of government opportunities and grants, which actually means that the functionality of the system that we have in place just doesn't allow time for these things to go through the procedures that of decision-making, which are normal to us. I guess, in a way, one of the issues we've always looked at is whether there's a way of trying to speed those up in any way. But I think the call-in, the urgency process is what it is, and it has served us pretty well. The important thing is the engagement of the chairs of scrutiny so that they know that if there's an issue that they feel is going to be of concern to members, they actually can stop that process, and they can. But generally speaking, it's usually the ability to call in, to make an urgent decision to get some grant application. So, I think you'll see most of those. I think, for me, it's good that we have managed not to have a call-in for quite some time, largely because I think that just is a healthier place for us all to be, that we can discuss issues openly and perhaps even closed as well. So, can I, once again, just thank everyone who's gone through this. This is what it is. It would be great if we didn't have any of these urgent call-ins, but I'm afraid, urgency is in call-ins, but I'm afraid it is the nature of the timeliness of decision-making. So, I'm happy to support this. Thank you, Councillor second. Back to you, you, Seth. Thank you, Mr Chairman. The leaders saved my blushes because I forgot to say about call-ins when my intro to the item, they say, yes, it is good that call-ins aren't used as much as they were years ago, and it's also worth looking at the urgent procedures and going back to 2020, you'll see there's a spike. I think there's 17. That was obviously because of the pandemic and the way in which we had to operate given at the confines of the rules. I'm happy to propose the item and hope that members can support it. Thank you, Mr Chairman. Thank you. Can we avert on that, please? All in favour? Anyone against? Any abstentions? Thank you, that's carried, thank you. Item 7 on the agenda, additions to the Educational Capital Program, 2024 to 25. Now I can't answer, ask Councillor CAM-CORE to move the recommendation. I move, Chair. And congratulations to both for yourself and to Councillor JENs on your appointment. I'm sure you'll both do a great job. And I can ask for a seconder, is that Peter Buffet? Thank you, Chair. I'd like to seconder reserve your right to speak, thank you. Any amendments on the recommendation? No. No. No. No. Any amendments? Right. It's open up for debate now. Anybody like to speak? Yes. Oh, Councillor Cheulves. I was hoping not to go first on this one, but maybe I'll prompt somebody else to speak. Why not? We'll find out. Yeah, thank you very much for this report. I think the report reflects that this is still a very, very difficult position in terms of funding our schools and the contracts. So my first money question, just to ask the question, it says in the report, so I didn't quite get the number that we're not expecting any DFE basic needs grants for next year. And just whether that's kind of how much of a shock that is to us and how much sort of additional pressure that might cause, so that's kind of one question. We're really pleased to see this kind of three lengthy paragraphs here on the energy efficiency. And it's good to see that actually the light horn heath and the shottery new school are going to go beyond the minimum part L standards. And so there's just, there's another paragraph which maybe just, I wonder if you could lose the date on cancer cause, it says that we're trying to be, that the schools are going to be fossil free, but net zero carbon ready, and I'm not, I can't quite get to the bottom of what actually that means in practice. So I wonder if you might be able to sort of fill this in or give us a little bit more about what that means in practice. And the final bit on energy efficiency is, yeah, thank you for actually making an assessment of what it would be to be all the way to net zero. And I think it's helpful to have that kind of sense, though I think there's still always more detail on that that would be helpful. So the question on the funding and the pressures and the expectations about the basic needs gone and then about kind of the clarity on what the wording in 3.9 and 3.10 means. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor, Councillor Tracy Drew, please, thank you. Thank you. Yes, as Jonathan suggests, it's good to see that 2021 building regs are going to be used. That's really welcome. Also, the use of local sites as mentioned in .4.6 is really welcome, and it will indeed help to promote active travel. You might have realised I was going to talk about active travel. However, active travel and the associated benefits remain a pipe dream without really well thought out and planned routes, cycle ways, foot ways to make them possible. If a busy road without these routes is in between a student, it doesn't matter whether the student and the school are 10 miles or just the street apart, the busy road without the appropriate infrastructure will stop active travel and make it impossible. Oakley Grove, I understand, with a country park on its doorstep, faces at the moment ongoing multiple issues with achieving walking and cycling to school. The scores of bike stands at the multi-million pound Kennewood School in sixth form routinely stand empty because students just can't walk and cycle in this case to school. The British Ocanda Council is breaking its own voice commitment to achieving active travel by our lack of putting priority and making a success of active travel. So, I guess my question is, how can we now guarantee specific, linked up, properly planned and vastly improved active travel routes that are ready for the opening of our new schools in the county? Thank you. Thank you. Is there anybody else wishes to speak on this? I can hear what everybody is saying, but I think we ought to look at the future and this report is very good for our future for our children and it's looking at physical disabilities, it's looking at sensory adaptations for our children and I think this is a report that we need to look at, look for the future and be glad that we have a future to be looked at. Thank you very much, Cam, for your input and everybody else that had the input into this report. Thank you, Councillor Humbours. Anybody else wish to speak on this? No. We have a seconder for the recommendation that Councillor Peter Butler. Thank you, Chair. A lot of these schemes put through Cabinet last week, which amounted to about £42 million. The reason why we're brought there, these two or three schemes that were brought forward today are exceeded, certain maps as a result have to come before the full Council for approval. We've got to make it take into account also these times sensitive when we deliver, vote these things through, because one, they have to be built and delivered in certain periods of time ready for a new period of time. So it is time critical that we kind of vote this through today. I'll go through the first two schemes. The first one is at Leitorn Heath Primary School, and as Chris Kettle knows, it's kind of a local representative, there's a considerable amount of development going on down in Leitorn Heath, and as a result of this allocation today, it will go from 91 to 420 places of Leitorn Heath Primary School to cost of $16.467 million. The next place is Chautree St. Andrew's County Primary School, including a specialist resource provision for up to an eight learners with a C&A across the $15.573 million. And finally, the third scheme, which is an allocation of $5.347 million to meet the increased cost of delivering Martin Gardens Primary School, above the already approved capital program. And I'll come back onto that one, one of the reasons why I'm going to talk about where we're going with funding. This will take us forward, including the other schemes that were passed at Cabinet the other day. It will take us forward for the next five years and secure school places across the county for that purpose. But beyond that point, we're unsure of where the funding is coming from. And I'll give you several reasons as to why. And I'll come back to the last one on that list, is inflation. And a lot of those schemes over the last few years, and we've seen it with Oakley Grove, that we've had to come back for extra money, and that the inflation has had a considerable effect on building costs, anything up to 20% increase. So therefore, we've managed to kind of get these things sorted out, and we've got money until for the next five years. But the government has not increased its annual allocation of funding to meet those inflation recuffs. It's flat, it's saying every year, no indication at all. So beyond that point, there is a certain amount of lobbying that needs to achieve, be achieved. And now I'm going to refer back to kind of Virginia Renee's notes in terms of questions that we need to consider. The inadequacy of 106 funding and the planning system to deliver resources required to provide core infrastructure. What we've found is prior to inflation, 106 agreements were based on static prices, which when you've got low inflation, it was perfectly adequate to meet the needs. But in an inflationary environment, those 106 agreements, because they were set some years before they actually implemented them, found that the actual provision was inadequate because inflation was not taken into account. The lack of resource from government to close the funding gap, which I've already alluded to, the unfairness of required council tax taxpayers to make savings to fund resources. Public authorities having the statutory duty to provide school places, but not the levers in the system to require cooperation from school post-acadimization. And finally, the relationship to the cost of providing home-to-school transport, where we are unable to deliver school places close to where the growth in demand exists. In these three cases, they are close to where the demand exists, light on his shotry. It's where all the new development is going. But occasionally, we're unable to make that provision, and the government is not adequately funding our ability to meet those requirements in terms of where we need extra transport. And they are, in a kind of put-to-no final point on it, some of the major kind of challenges that we face going forward in terms of education provision. The three schemes are all pointed out. If you look through the charts, you can see where the funding has come from. In answer to kind of a council of chilvers, in terms of what extra it would cost to meet a net zero at schools, it would add 20%. And that's not inconsiderable when you consider the fact that the government is not taking it to account inflation, let alone the inflationary cost is going for net zero. So we've basically kind of got to make a choice. Do we go net zero, or do we provide those school places? My choice, every time, and I've said this before in the chamber, every time it will be to provide a decent education for a child in the right position. So we will do what's necessary as and when, and when we can afford it in terms of net zero, but the school place comes first. So there are the things, I'm sure council of course is going to kind of come back and answer a few more of those questions that were raised, but I kind of implore you to look at this. Don't forget the fact that we are providing places and it's critical that we provide it at the right time. We don't want any difference because again, delivery periods are based on school holidays. But on that basis, I look forward for any more questions, comments. Thank you. Thank you, Peter. Now, to move with the recommendation is Council can call. Thank you, Chair. Councillor Butte Lin's has talked about the financials and I just want to talk about the strategic, if I may. I should have said this in the beginning really and I completely forgot and congratulating you both. So I won't do that again in a hurry. So just to say that it is, you know, over the next 10 years we are expecting an increase in the total age of population between the ages between 4 and 16 and we know that housing developments have already begun. We know that there are those in the pipeline, district and borough level in terms of planning applications that are already in and therefore we are already looking ahead. We're already looking ahead of the game to see actually where are we going to need the school places. So therefore, these three projects that are before you're demonstrating that we're doing that. Peter's talked about the three schools and again within the report you will see that light-horn Heath is anticipating 800 homes and also in terms of Mike and Gardens again it's around looking at the future, looking at actually where the developments are needed and actually keeping children within their communities which is high priority because again otherwise this has an impact on our home to school transport budget which as you all know is absolutely rising and continues to rise. I also want to just touch point on in terms of special educational needs and send, you know that we've had high demand and the demand is increasing and the forecast will continue to increase and therefore many of you will or may not know that the DFE awarded us only in March the delivering better value program which one of which the criteria is to increase resource provision and therefore again what you will see within these three projects is that that very thing is increasing resource provision when new buildings and also existing buildings can be utilised so that's a positive. In terms of active travel Council Drew just coming back to your point we work very closely with schools and also when we're going through a planning process in terms of home to school transport in terms of actually active travel, how children and young people get from home to school and back and also safely routes. There are occasions when this isn't possible but we do work very closely with the districts and boroughs in order to ensure this. Kennerworth looks amazing, absolutely amazing and it is a choice of active travel but we do work very very closely with schools and also encourage young people how to learn to ride a bike if they don't already know how to and many of the schemes so I understand what you're saying but we are where we are. Mr Chairman the recommendations are outlined on page 59 and I would ask if Council would approve. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Caw, now can we have a vote on that recommendation? All those in favour? Any against? Any abstentions? And that's carried, thank you. Nearly to the end of the meeting any other items of urgent business has anybody got any items of urgent business? Nope, thank you very much. Then I would say that's at the end of this meeting. Now go on to the lead decision-making, so that's, is he second? Thank you. So many screens now in front of me, it's very confusing, right, the lead decision-making I think by and large I've moved the paper as it was in the earlier part of the business let me just find this, here we go, and so we now have the actual business of the cabinet which I, as I've said I have made no changes and the cabinet will be as it has been for the last year. I do want to say thank you to all of our decision-makers and portfolio holders for the work they've done, it is a, you know, it is quite a lot of work, it's a big commitment of time and the reality is it doesn't seem to get any less as the challenges go forward, so I'm very grateful for all of that and the work that they put in to ensure that the work is kept up to date and is managed with our senior offices and other offices, behind everyone who sits here is a massively big team and for me the importance of Warickshire is to try to have synergies and bridges across all of those different departments because one council is what we should all be trying to achieve, so I value our senior offices and our other members who are trying to take that forward. We've got the process of the elections to the various bodies which we take forward, not only that's Chris's role isn't it, so I'm going to actually ask that the chairman will take that part forward and I'm going to move the recommendations as printed and to you Chairman to take forward the actual decision-making part. Thank you, Councillor second. Right now we come to the elections of Chair and Vice Chair, now the staff and pensions committee, I can only ask the members of the committee to stand which are Yuseb Dimash, Bill Gifford, Brian Hammersley, Chris Kettle, Sarah Miller, Mandy Trowman's and can I call for the Chair and the proposal which is Chris Kettle. Is there any other seconders, thank you very much, thank you, Bill Gifford, seconder, yes? Yes, I seconded you, Seth Darsh, to be Chair, thank you, staff and pensions. Right, can we have votes on that please, are we happy with that, yes, yes, I'm happy. Jolly good, that's Carrie, thank you, right now we're to the, you can all sit now, yes. We come to the pension fund subcommittee, oh sorry, where are we, sorry, the Vice Chair, sorry, over to you, Yuseb, sorry, I'm new in this job, thank you, Mr Chair, you were trying to deny me my speech of acceptance with this role, won't you? May I nominate Councillor Bill Gifford, please, the Vice Chair and call for a seconder. Thank you, seconder. Are there any more nominations, can we have any other nominations, no? Can we have a vote on that, are we happy, we're all happy, Jolly good, thank you. On the pension fund committee and subcommittee, so Chairman of the Council asks, which is Stan, which is Bill Gifford, Brian Hammersley, Chris Kettles, Sarah Miller and Mandy Trowmans. Can I have a course of nominations for Chair of the pensions fund investment subcommittee? Thank you, thank you, proposal is Trowmans, and proposal is I'm happy to propose Councillor Chris Kettles. Can I have a seconder on that, thank you, Councillor Miller, thank you. Are there any other nominations, nope, thank you, can we have a vote on that please, can we have a vote on that, thank you, can we have a vote on that, I'm so sorry, Councillor Miller, thank you very much, I think you still will chair that, Chris Kettles. We are now on regulatory, yeah. Right, regulatory committee, Chair of the Council asks, members of the committee to stand, Jeff Clark, John Cook, Judy Faupe, Dave Humphries, Dale Keeling, Justin Kerridge, Randy Jens, Caroline Phillips, Tim Sinclair, Rob Trowmans, Adrian Warwick, and myself. I'd like to propose Rob Trowman and to have a seconder, Tim Sinclair, thank you. I'm happy to second that nomination. Thank you, Councillor C clair. Do we have any other nominations, no? Over to you now, Rob, thank you. Thank you, Mr Chairman, and kind of congratulate you on your election and also congratulate Councillor Gens on his election. I would like to propose Councillor John Cook to continue as the vice chair. I'd wish to second that, Mr Chairman. Oh, Jeff, sorry, Jeff, I missed you there, sorry, thank you very much. All in favour? Anybody against? Imstentions? That much carried. Thank you. Now, point of order, Mr Chairman, and formally, I don't think we voted on the Chairman. Didn't we? Could we not? Can we vote for the Chairman? Are we all happy on that? Yes. It looks like you're in. Thank you very much. We're so on the job training, don't worry. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're now back on to adult social care and health, OSC. Can I ask members to stand, which are Joe Barker, John Cook, Tasty Jew, John Holland, Marion Humphreys, Daniel Keeling, Kate Rolf, Ian Shanton, Mandy Trowman's, and again myself. Well, I ask for nominations for the Chair of Adult Social Care. I'd like to move to take part on the Chairman. Thank you. And do I have a seconder? No. Oops, sir. Councillor Holland. Councillor Holland, thank you. Any other nominations? No, nominations, Jolly Good. And could we have a vote on that? Are we happy with that? Jolly Good? That's carried, thank you very much. Any objections, abstentions? We're happy with that. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr Chairman. May I propose the Vice Chair of Adult Health Social Care and over here at scrutiny, whatever we call. I never remember it. May I propose John Holland. Thank you. We have Chair I would second that. You would second that well done, thank you. Are there any others? Are they? No. Jolly Good. And can we have a vote for John or a vote for John? Well done, vote for yourself. Thank you, John. Thank you. Right. Now we're on to... Children. Children. Right, children, young people's at OSC. Um, can ask people to stand our, uh, pumindicing birdie, Barbara Brown, Piers Daniel, Marian Humphreys, Justin Karridge, Peniano Donald, Jerry Roodhouse, and, uh, Jill Simpson-Smith, Vincent Bince, sorry, I do know her since, and Smith, uh, Tim Sinclair and again myself. No, uh, can I ask, propose for, uh, Chair, which is Councillor CING birdie? Thank you, Chair. Um, I'm delighted to propose Marian Humphreys as the Chair of the Children's and Young People's OSC. Thank you. And do we have a seconder? Councillor Brown. Oh, sorry, Councillor Brown, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. Thank you very much. A vote on that, yeah? Yes. Yes. Yes. Did we vote on that? Are we happy? Are we all up right in standing? Jolly Good. Thank you. Oh, no. Thank you. Are we there? No. No. Oh, nominations and advice. Oh, nominations and advice, Chair, yes. Chair, I'd like to propose, um, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse, who's always been a great support of the board, and I thank you for last year, and I hope we go forward again for this year. Thank you very much, Jerry. Thank you. Seconder. Seconder. Do I have a seconder for Jerry? Thank you very much. Thank you, Jerry. Do we have a vote on that? Are we happy? That's Carrie. Thank you. Item six, communities OSC, um, can I ask, uh, people stand, Councillor St Johnton Chilvers, Jeff Clark, Dave Humphries, Sarah Feeney, Jenny Fradgley, Pete Gilbert. It's not here. Bagwan Singh Bander, Darren Pemberton, who's not here? Oh, yes. You snuck in. Yes. Major Singh and Andrew Wright. Right. Nominations for chair, Councillor Andy. And do we have a seconder? Yes. Major Singh, thank you. Are there any other nominations? Do you have a vote on that? Anybody happy, any objections, any abstentions? And now I hand over to you, Jeff Clark, as chair. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Call for nominations for Deputy Chair of the communities of the community and I'd like to propose Councillor Johnton Chilvers as advice chair, please. Seconder. Seconder Johnton, yes, thank you. Is everybody happy? Any objections, any abstentions? Carried. Thank you, Johnton. Thank you. Right. Resources and fire and rescue as OSC. I can ask members to stand, which is Pomminder Singh Burdie, Sarah Bode, Sarah Feeney, Wallace Redford, Will Roberts, Tim Sinclair, Major Singh. Expenser, Rob Trowmans and Adrian Warwick. Call for nominations for Chair of Resources, Councillor Tim Sinclair. Thank you, Chair. I wish to nominate Councillor Adrian Warwick as Chair of Resources, OSC. Is there a seconder? Thank you. Is there an expense, sir? Are there any other nominations? Nope. Thank you. Bless you. Can we have a vote on that? We are happy. Any objections? The abstentions? Carried. Thank you. Thank you very much, Chair. Can I call for nominations for Vice Chair of the Resources and Fire and Rescue OSC, please? Propose, Chairman, Councillor Pomminder Singh Burdie. Pomminder. Thank you. Is there a seconder for Pomminder? I'd like to second that, Chair. Is everyone in favour of Councillor Singh Burdie? Could we have a shout-out hands, please? Any abstentions? Any against? Councillor Singh Burdie as elected Vice Chairman. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Thank you. Right. We now close the business. Close the business. Close the business. And the next sheet is for Members Association Meeting. My goodness gracious, where are we? Thank you.
Summary
The meeting primarily focused on the election of the Chair and Vice Chair for the year 2024-2025, along with other committee appointments and reports. Chris Mills was elected as the Chair, and Andy Gens as the Vice Chair. The meeting also included discussions on several significant topics.
The most significant topic was the election of Chris Mills as the Chair for the year 2024-2025. Councillor Sacon nominated Chris Mills, highlighting his long-standing commitment to the community of Kindon and his extensive involvement in various local activities. Councillor Cump seconded the nomination, adding a humorous touch by mentioning Mills' helpful nature and his occasional role as Santa Claus. The council unanimously voted in favor of Chris Mills, who then signed the declaration of acceptance of office.
The second significant topic was the election of Andy Gens as Vice Chair. Councillor Bell proposed Andy Gens, emphasizing his dedication and hard work as a parish, borough, and county councillor. Councillor Watson seconded the nomination, sharing a personal anecdote about Gens' influence on his own involvement in local government. The council unanimously approved Andy Gens as Vice Chair.
The meeting also included a heartfelt farewell to Virginia Renee, the Director of Finance, who is retiring after nearly 25 years of service. Councillors from various parties praised her expertise, integrity, and kindness, acknowledging her significant contributions to the council's financial stability and her support across all political groups.
Another important topic was the approval of additions to the Educational Capital Program for 2024-2025. Councillor Cam Core moved the recommendation, which included significant investments in expanding school capacities and improving facilities. Councillor Peter Butlin highlighted the financial challenges, including inflation and inadequate government funding, but emphasized the importance of providing adequate school places. Councillor Core also addressed the need for active travel routes to schools, ensuring safe and accessible pathways for students.
The council also reviewed the annual report on call-in and urgent decisions for 2022-2023. Councillor Yusef Dimash explained the process and criteria for urgent decisions, noting that most were related to funding applications. The report showed stability in the council's decision-making process, with no significant increase in the use of urgency procedures.
Finally, the council discussed the importance of overview and scrutiny in policy development and implementation. Councillor Izzy Seccombe emphasized the value of checks and balances and thanked the members and officers involved in the scrutiny process. Councillors highlighted the need for external perspectives and direct feedback from service users to enhance the effectiveness of scrutiny.
Overall, the meeting was productive, with key appointments made and important discussions on financial management, educational investments, and the role of scrutiny in council operations.
Attendees
Documents
- Minutes of Previous Meeting
- Appointments to Committees and Other Bodies
- Appendix 1 for Appointments to Committees and Other Bodies
- Tabled Appendix 1 for Appointments to Committees and Other Bodies
- Agenda frontsheet Tuesday 14-May-2024 10.00 County Council agenda
- Tabled Appendix 1 to Appointments to Committees and Other Bodies Tuesday 14-May-2024 10.00 County
- Printed minutes Tuesday 14-May-2024 10.00 County Council
- Overview and Scrutiny Report 20232024
- Appendix A for Overview and Scrutiny Report 20232024
- Annual Report of Call-in and Urgent Decisions 20232024
- Additions to the Education Capital Programme 2024-2025