This week in Staffordshire:

Planning Decisions Under Scrutiny

The Planning Committee met on Thursday, June 5th, 2025, but no video recording of the meeting was provided, so the details of the discussion are not available. Here is a link to the meeting page.

Other Matters

• The Property Sub-Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 4th, 2025, was cancelled. Here is a link to the meeting page.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a list of meetings scheduled for the next week:

• The Special Committee RE Appointment of Assistant Director for Strategy and Transformation will meet on Monday, June 9th, 2025. Here is a link to the meeting page.
• The Countryside and Rights of Way Panel will meet on Friday, June 13th, 2025. Here is a link to the meeting page.
• The Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, has been cancelled. Here is a link to the meeting page.
• The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, has been cancelled. Here is a link to the meeting page.
• The Charities and Trusts Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, has been cancelled. Here is a link to the meeting page.
• The Cabinet will meet on Wednesday, June 18th, 2025. Here is a link to the meeting page.
• The Countryside and Rights of Way Panel will meet on Friday, June 20th, 2025. Here is a link to the meeting page.

This week in Staffordshire:

• The Children and Families Strategic Partnership Board met, but no transcript or summary is currently available.
• At the County Council meeting, Councillor Paul Williams was appointed Chairman, Councillor Gordon Munro was appointed Vice-Chairman, and a motion on improving roads failed.

Children and Families Strategic Partnership Board - Tuesday 20 May 2025

The Children and Families Strategic Partnership Board met, but no transcript or summary is currently available.

County Council - Thursday 22 May 2025

The Staffordshire County Council meeting on 22 May 2025 saw Councillor Paul Williams appointed as Chairman of the County Council, and Councillor Gordon Munro appointed as Vice-Chairman. Councillors also debated a motion on improving roads, which ultimately failed to pass. The new Reform UK led administration responded to questions from the previous Conservative administration by promising to review past work before making any decisions.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

Councillor Paul Williams was elected as Chairman of the council, proposed by Councillor Gary Hales and seconded by Councillor Warwick McKenzie. Councillor Williams thanked the council and paid tribute to the outgoing chairman, Councillor Hewitt, and his consort Adrienne, for their service. Councillor Jill Hood also spoke, praising Councillor Hewitt for his kindness, compassion, and sense of humour.

Councillor Gordon Munro was appointed as Vice-Chairman of the County Council, nominated by Councillor Charlotte Kelly and seconded by Councillor Matthew Wallens. Councillor Munro thanked the council and acknowledged the service of the outgoing Vice-Chairman, Councillor Colin Greatorex, and his wife Donna. Councillor Philip White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, also thanked Councillor Greatorex and Donna for their service.

Tributes to Retiring and Non-Re-elected Members

The council paid tribute to members who were not re-elected or had retired. Councillor Philip White paid tribute to the outgoing leader, Councillor Alan White, for his service and leadership. Councillor Syed Hussain, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, acknowledged the contributions of several councillors, including Councillor Philip Atkins, Susan Woodward, Councillor Ellen White, Councillor Charlotte Atkins, the late Derek Davies, Gillian, Arshad, Mark Duval, Nigel, Simon, Connor, Colin, Victorious, Gill, and Councillor Philip White. Councillor Conor Wileman paid tribute to former councillors from East Staffordshire, including Councillor Philip Atkins, Bernard Peters, Julia Jessel, and Philip Hudson. Councillor Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, spoke of the dedication of former cabinet members. Councillor Ann Edgeller, Vice-Chair (Scrutiny) of the Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee & Mental Health Champion, thanked Councillors Jeremy Pert, Jonathan Price, and Mark Willington for their work. Councillor Colin Greatorex mentioned General Sylvester Hall and Richard Cox, noting their attendance at meetings.

Appointment of Leader and Cabinet

Councillor Ian Cooper was appointed as the Leader of the Council, proposed by Councillor Tracey Dougherty and seconded by Councillor Rhys Mandry. Councillor Cooper addressed the council, thanking them for the opportunity to lead and outlining his vision for Staffordshire. He emphasised the need for change, a fresh start, and a focus on delivering essential services. He also highlighted the importance of working with partners and challenging national issues such as funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Councillor Philip White congratulated Councillor Cooper and offered his support.

Councillor Cooper proposed setting the cabinet membership at nine members plus the leader, which was agreed.

Motion on Improving Roads

Councillor Jack Rose introduced a motion focused on improving roads, particularly in rural areas. He expressed disappointment that Councillor Peter Mason and the new cabinet member had not engaged with him on the motion. Councillor Angela argued that potholes were exacerbated by recent severe weather and that the county was already investing significantly in roads. Councillor Syed Hussain acknowledged the importance of addressing potholes and highlighted government funding for road repairs. Councillor Philip White supported the sentiment of the motion but stated that the Conservative group could not support the detail, arguing that the proposals would worsen the situation. Councillor Ian Cooper also expressed support for the sentiment but stated that the Reform group could not support the motion. Councillor Rose acknowledged the lack of support and stated his intention to revise and resubmit the motion in the future. The motion ultimately failed to pass.

Questions to the Leader and Cabinet

Councillors posed questions to the Leader of the Council and cabinet members. The new administration responded to each question by stating that they were treating their legal obligations seriously and would review the work of the previous administration before making any decisions. This approach was criticised by some councillors, including Councillor Victoria Wilson, who expressed concern that urgent cases were not being addressed promptly, and Councillor Philip White, who likened the responses to a broken record. Councillor Richard Holland asked why the Leader of the Council had apparently changed his mind about scrapping net zero initiatives. Councillor Alex Farrell asked why the new administration was sticking to the financial plans of the previous Conservative administration, given Reform's claims that the council was badly run and wasteful. Councillor Val Chapman questioned why diversity, equality, and inclusion was one of Reform's election pledges. Councillor Ann Edgeller asked what the council would do to reduce immigration. Councillor Bernie Brown asked the Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture to commit to retaining libraries. Councillor Philip White asked the Leader of the Council to apologise for the cost of a by-election caused by Reform UK's failure to properly vet a candidate who had made obscene social media posts. Councillor Cooper responded that the candidate had resigned for personal reasons and that the Conservatives were being hypocritical in complaining about the cost of the by-election, given the number of costly by-elections caused by Conservative MPs in the last Parliament.

This week in Staffordshire:

• The Children and Families Strategic Partnership Board met, but no transcript or summary is currently available.
• An unknown committee met, but no transcript or summary is currently available.

Children and Families Strategic Partnership Board - Tuesday 29 April 2025

The Children and Families Strategic Partnership Board met, but no transcript or summary is currently available.

Unknown committee - Thursday 01 May 2025

An unknown committee met, but no transcript or summary is currently available.

This week in Staffordshire:

• The Audit and Standards Committee approved the internal audit strategy and plan for 2025/26 and discussed the code of conduct for members.
• The Children and Families Strategic Partnership Board met, but no transcript or summary is currently available.

Audit and Standards Committee - Tuesday 22 April 2025

The Audit and Standards Committee met to discuss the external audit plan, the code of conduct for members, the internal audit strategy and plan, the annual information governance report, the annual civil contingencies report, and the forward plan for the committee. The committee approved the internal audit strategy and plan for 2025/26 and accepted the annual information governance and civil contingencies reports. They also noted the information contained in the report on the code of conduct for members.

External Audit Plan

Robert Fenton, engagement manager for the external auditors, KPMG, presented an interim update on the external audit plan for the year. A full plan is expected to be presented at the July meeting. The key risks identified were valuation of land and buildings, valuation of post-retirement benefit obligations, management override of controls, and adoption of IFRS 16¹. Mr Fenton noted that the risk profile was consistent with the year-end findings for the 23-24 audit. He also noted that there would likely be an additional fee for the value for money assessment, due to the significant weakness identified in the prior year relating to the Ofsted² report.

Code of Conduct for Members

Simon Humble, Governance and Support Manager, presented the annual report on the Code of Conduct for Members. The report covered the period from June 2024 to March 2025. Between June and December, one complaint was received, which was concluded to have no breach. From January to March, six complaints were received relating to five members. Two of these cases have been concluded with no breach of the code found. Some cases are still outstanding. Mr Humble noted that a few of the complaints related to communications between councillors and constituents, with some instances of communications being very sadly lacking. He emphasised the importance of elected members keeping open and active communication channels with the people they represent. Councillor Janice Silvester-Hall raised concerns about a new quarantine system through Microsoft 365 that is causing emails to go into quarantine. She also suggested that there should be more support for councillors, especially new ones, given the number of councillors standing down at the upcoming election. The committee noted the information contained in the report and made a recommendation to assist in respect to the management of member complaints.

Internal Audit Strategy and Plan 2025/26

Debbie Harris, Chief Internal Auditor, presented the internal audit strategy and plan for the 2025/26 financial year. The plan was developed in consultation with the senior leadership team and operational managers. It is designed to be flexible and responsive to emerging risks. Ms Harris stated that the main aim of the presentation was to demonstrate that there is a robust strategy for formulating the audit plan and also to provide comfort to you all that internal audit resources are focusing on the key risks faced by the authority at the moment. The top risk reviews for the year were identified as: Children’s Services – Ofsted Improvement Plan, New Care System, Devolution & Local Government Reorganisation, Adult Social Care – NHS Reforms, Cyber Assurance, Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) – High Needs Block, SEND – Enhanced Assess-Plan-Do Review Pathway; and Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs), Entrust Future Contract Arrangements, Digital Innovation, and Skills & Employability – Connect to work project support. Ms Harris noted that the plan includes an emphasis on strong financial management and controls, a continued focus on key digital innovation projects, a full programme of ICT audit reviews, and several audits directly aligned to the council’s delivery plan for 2025/26. The plan also includes a counter-fraud plan, which focuses on preventing and detecting fraud, and a programme of continuous controls monitoring. Councillor Silvester-Hall asked about sufficient resources and whether there was allowance for any additional work that might come up. Ms Harris responded that it was a balancing act, and that some audits may naturally fall by the wayside. She also noted that the team was hoping to recruit an audit manager and were supporting staff through various qualifications. Councillor Richard Cox raised concerns about the capacity of the council to manage some of the top risk areas, such as devolution and NHS reforms. Ms Harris responded that the council was fortunate to have a number of very senior auditors with a lot of experience, and that they could also draw upon the expertise from their internal audit framework contracts. Councillor Tom Loughbrough-Rudd asked about external reviews for South Staffordshire Council and Newcastle. Ms Harris responded that the council was under contract to undertake their internal audit service and needed to provide assurance to those organisations that they have their systems in place. The committee approved the internal audit strategy and plan for 2025/26.

Annual Information Governance Report

Tracey Thorley, Assistant Director for Corporate Operations & Data Protection Officer, presented the annual information governance report for the period April 2024 to March 2025. The report provided assurances that information governance practices are appropriate, current, adhered to consistently, well communicated, and under regular surveillance. Ms Thorley highlighted that there had been an increase in subject access requests, especially in the children's world, which had slightly affected the response rate. She also noted that there had been an increase in reported security incidents, but the majority were low-risk. Ms Thorley reported that the council had successfully completed the Data Security and Protection Toolkit, giving them continued access into the NHS patient data. She also noted that the risk to information security continues to grow for all local authorities and especially their suppliers, and that there is a lot of work being done to strengthen some of the areas. Councillor Silvester-Hall asked for more specific information about the increase in subject access requests in the children's world. Ms Thorley responded that it was in both social care and SEND. Councillor Silvester-Hall also raised concerns about the timeframes for responding to subject access requests and suggested that something needed to be put in place to make sure that the council could meet the deadlines. Ms Thorley responded that a new system had been put in place to help staff with redaction, which is the bit that takes a lot of time. Councillor Loughbrough-Rudd asked about the drop in the percentage of freedom of information requests responded to within 20 days. Ms Thorley responded that it was for a two-month period at the end of the reporting period, but it was back on the levels now. The committee reviewed and accepted the report.

Annual Civil Contingencies Report

Tracey Thorley, Assistant Director for Corporate Operations & Data Protection Officer, presented the annual civil contingencies report for the period April 2024 to March 2025. The report provided assurances that the emergency planning arrangements are fit for purpose, up to date, are routinely complied with, have been effectively communicated and are monitored. Ms Thorley highlighted the changes that are currently underway to the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the accompanying guidance and standards. She also noted that a recent independent effectiveness and efficiency review had demonstrated the value for money of the Civil Contingency Unit Secretariat and that Staffordshire were operating at a best practice level. Ms Thorley reported that the council had been developing a new business continuity framework, which was following feedback from service users. She also noted that the council had responded to several specific incidents during the year, including Wally's quarry, flooding, and adverse weather. Councillor Loughbrough-Rudd asked how local government reorganisation was going to affect the local authorities that the council works with. Ms Thorley responded that they would work through that as they understand of which proposal they go for. Councillor Loughbrough-Rudd also suggested that internet capacity should be included in the forward plan, as well as transport. The committee considered the report and the assurances provided within it, accepting that the emergency planning arrangements are fit for purpose, up to date, are routinely complied with, have been effectively communicated and are monitored.

Forward Plan for the Audit and Standards Committee 2025/26

Lisa Andrews, Assistant Director – Internal Audit & Financial Services, presented the forward plan for the Audit and Standards Committee for 2025/26. The plan includes regular reports that form part of the assurance arrangements that get contained within the annual governance statement, as well as any forward items that have been requested to go on future meetings of the committee from audits that have previously come through for review. The committee approved the forward plan for the next reiteration of this particular committee.

Children and Families Strategic Partnership Board - Friday 25 April 2025

The Children and Families Strategic Partnership Board met, but no transcript or summary is currently available.