This week in Worcestershire:

Police Panel Shortlists Independent Member

The West Mercia Police and Crime Panel - Independent Member Appointment Panel, composed of Councillor Barry Durkin, Councillor Rob Adams and Councillor Liz Harvey, met to shortlist candidates for a Lay Independent Co-opted Member of the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel.

• The panel reviewed a report pack containing 112 pages of information.
• A portion of the meeting was closed to the press and public to discuss exempt information relating to individuals. The panel determined that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

The West Mercia Police and Crime Panel is responsible for holding the Police and Crime Commissioner to account. Lay members bring an independent voice to the panel, ensuring broader community representation. The selection process aims to find the best candidate to fulfill this crucial role.

Link to meeting.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings:

• The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education meeting scheduled for Thursday 05 June 2025 has been POSTPONED.
• Pension Investment Sub-Committee on Wednesday 11 June 2025.
• Pension Investment Sub-Committee on Thursday 12 June 2025.
• Joint Museums Committee on Thursday 12 June 2025.

This week in Worcestershire:

• Council saw Councillor Louis-Joseph Shea-Steven elected as chairman, and Councillor Joanne Monk appointed as Leader of the Council.

Council - Thursday 22 May 2025

The Council meeting on 22 May 2025 saw Councillor Louis-Joseph Shea-Steven elected as the new chairman, and Councillor Paul Bennett appointed as vice-chairman. Councillor Joanne Monk was appointed as the Leader of the Council, and she announced her cabinet. Councillors voted to amend the constitution to improve governance and scrutiny, and also supported a motion to allow temporary hospital overspill parking at County Hall.

Tributes to Former Councillors

The meeting began with tributes to former councillors Nigel Knowles and Derek Proger, who had recently passed away. Councillor Richard Oudel spoke of Nigel Knowles's long service as a Labour councillor and his dedication to the community, noting that:

He was a man of principle who resigned as chair of the Fire and Public Protection Committee, rather than forced through damaging cuts, which he thought would certainly damage the service.

Councillor Hart, from the Conservative Party, also paid tribute to Nigel Knowles, acknowledging his commitment to public life. Councillor Hartman remembered Derek Proger as Mr Worcester and highlighted his dedication to his role as cabinet member for Highways. Councillor Oudel also paid tribute to Derek Proger, noting that he had stood against him in election in 1990, and that Proger had won.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

Councillor Louis-Joseph Shea-Steven was elected as the new chairman of the council, succeeding Tracey Onslow. The election was conducted via a named vote, a process described as unusual. Councillor Roger Bennett was also nominated for the position, but Councillor Shea-Steven won the vote 30 to 26. Councillor Paul Bennett was then elected as vice-chairman, defeating Councillor Roger Bennett in a straight vote.

Appointment of Leader of the Council and Cabinet

Councillor Joanne Monk was appointed as Leader of the Council, unopposed. She then announced her cabinet, with Councillor David Taylor as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for One Worcestershire. Other cabinet members include:

• Councillor Justin Bowen, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Children and Families
• Councillor Dr. Stephen Foster, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education and SEND¹
• Councillor Dr. Satinder Bell, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Community Support
• Councillor Susan Eacock, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Adult Social Care
• Councillor Carl Perks, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways
• Councillor Alan Amos, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Business and Training
• Councillor Rob Warton, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Finance and Efficiency

Public Participation

The meeting included a public participation session where two members of the public addressed the council. Sam Amar asked the council to ensure that they put Worcestershire residents ahead of politics and national rhetoric and really look into the facts of translations, and to ensure the provision of Braille and audio translation services for vulnerable people. Jonathan Coleman raised concerns about the A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BRECHT), criticising the disruption and negative impact on residents. He requested a meeting with the council to discuss alterations to the scheme and a study into a Western Relief Road for Bromsgrove.

Amendments to Constitution

Councillor Matt Jenkins moved a motion to amend the council's constitution to improve governance and scrutiny. The amendments included expanding the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board (OSPB) to include vice-chairs from scrutiny panels and allowing substitutes on scrutiny panels. Councillor Jenkins argued that these changes would enhance representation and ensure that scrutiny is fit for purpose.

Councillor Taylor expressed reservations about the use of substitutes, arguing that councillors should prioritise their attendance at meetings. However, Councillor Hart supported the motion, stating that it was the right time to make these changes and that substitutes could ensure representation when members are unable to attend. Councillor Eutle also supported the motion, highlighting that substitutions are allowed on other council committees.

The council voted on the motion in two parts, and both parts were carried. The first part was to amend Article 8C to increase the membership of OSPB to include the vice-chairs of the five ONS panels. The second vote was to amend Article 8I to allow substitutes on the five ONS panels.

Political Structures and Appointments

The council then moved on to the appointment of chairs and vice-chairs of committees. Following a short adjournment, Councillor Monk moved recommendations relating to the political and constitutional structures, which were seconded and agreed. The council then voted on appointments to various committees, including the Planning and Regulatory Committee, Standards and Ethics Committee, Audit and Governance Committee, Pensions Committee, Pensions Investment Subcommittee, and Waste Credit Governance Committee.

Nominations for the chairs and vice chairs of the committees were agreed by the Conservative group, the Green and Independent Alliance group, the Liberal Democrats and Labour group.

The nominations were as follows:

• Planning and Regulatory Committee: Councillor Linda Robinson (Chair), Councillor Martin Allen (Vice Chair)
• Standards and Ethics Committee: Councillor Sam Evans (Chair), Councillor Adam Kent (Vice Chair)
• Audit and Governance Committee: Councillor Dan Birch (Chair), Councillor Jabba Riaz (Vice Chair)
• Pensions Committee: Councillor Adrian Hardman (Chair), Councillor Matt Jenkins (Vice Chair)
• Pensions Investment Subcommittee: Councillor Adrian Hardman (Chair), Councillor Matt Jenkins (Vice Chair)
• Waste Credit Governance Committee: Councillor Tor Pingree (Chair), Councillor Tony Miller (Vice Chair)

The nominations for the scrutiny panels and the OSPB were also agreed, with Councillor Tom Wells nominated as the overall chair for OSPB.

Motion on Hospital Parking

Councillor Andrew Cross proposed a motion to allow temporary hospital overspill parking at County Hall to alleviate traffic congestion at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. The motion also called for the installation of more Beryl Bike bays at County Hall. Councillor Cross highlighted the severe traffic congestion at the hospital and the potential benefits of utilising the empty car parks at County Hall.

Councillor Pingree supported the motion, noting that the Conservative group agreed with the principle of using surplus car parks at County Hall. Councillor Shaw raised concerns about the cost-benefit of the project, while Councillor Alcott stated that an agreement was already being formulated to facilitate NHS car parking needs. Councillor Riaz emphasised the potential health benefits of reducing congestion and improving air quality. Councillor Amos criticised the previous Conservative administration for blocking the proposal and neglecting the County Hall complex.

The council voted in favour of the motion.

Question Time

The meeting concluded with a question time session, during which councillors posed questions to cabinet members. However, due to the newness of the cabinet, it was agreed that written answers would be provided at a later date. Questions were raised about highways involvement in parish council projects, climate change measures, the No. 31 bus service in Worcester, a public meeting about flooding in Severn Stoke, and funding for free school meals.

This week in Worcestershire:

• The Pension Investment Sub-Committee met to discuss housing investment options for the council's pension fund.
• The Malvern Hills National Landscape Joint Advisory Committee discussed strategic planning, budget, and updates on environmental programmes.

Pension Investment Sub-Committee - 07 April 2025

The Pension Investment Sub-Committee of Worcestershire County Council met on 7 April 2025 to discuss housing investment options for the council's pension fund. Presentations from Reddington Ltd and Man Group were scheduled, followed by a discussion. The public and press were expected to be excluded from these discussions due to the commercially sensitive nature of the information to be disclosed.

The agenda also included standard items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest¹, public participation, and confirmation of the minutes from the previous meeting.

Malvern Hills National Landscape Joint Advisory Committee - 11 April 2025

The Malvern Hills National Landscape Joint Advisory Committee met on 11 April 2025 to discuss strategic planning matters, the National Landscape budget and work programme for 2025/26, and to receive updates on the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme and the Generation Green 2.0 initiative. The committee was also scheduled to note several information items and hear verbal reports from partners.

Strategic Planning Matters

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report from Catherine Laidlaw, NL Planning Officer, regarding strategic planning matters, focusing on addressing people-related damage to the Malvern Hills Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The report pack outlined a proposed 'Strategic Solution' involving developer contributions, development exclusion zones, and the creation of Areas of Informal Recreation (AiRs). A recent decision to grant outline planning permission for 200 new homes at Cales Farm included a requirement for the developer to pay £269.75 per dwelling.

The report pack also noted that Section 245 of the LURA Act 2023 amended the duty on relevant authorities to ‘seek to further’ the statutory purposes of Protected Landscapes, replacing the previous duty to ‘have regard to’. The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 is a UK law that aims to reduce regional inequalities and promote economic growth across the country.

National Landscape Budget and Indicative Work Programme 2025/26

Paul Esrich, NL Partnership Manager, was scheduled to present a report on the National Landscape Budget and Indicative Work Programme for 2025/26. The total core budget for the year was expected to be £217,620, the same as the previous year, with £173,490 from central government (Defra) and £44,130 from local authorities.

Key work priorities for 2025/26 included enabling more areas to count towards meeting 30by30 targets, implementing the new Climate Change Adaptation Plan, delivering Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme, and delivering a range of Access for All improvements.

Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme

Sash Warden, NL Farming in Protected Landscapes Officer, was scheduled to give a presentation on the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme (FiPL). The committee was scheduled to note the work completed under FiPL and comment on any priorities or opportunities for FiPL in 2025/26.

Generation Green 2.0

Nick Hands, Director of Boundless Outdoors, was scheduled to give a presentation on work to provide countryside experiences for children under the Generation Green 2.0 funding programme.

Information Items

The committee was scheduled to note several information items, including updates on promoting positive change to landowners, managers, and developers, efforts to bury overhead powerlines, and the adoption of the new National Landscape Management Plan.

The Worcestershire Council held three meetings this week. The Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board meeting scheduled for Monday was cancelled. The Cabinet met on Thursday and made key decisions about electric vehicle charging infrastructure and the future of education in Pershore. The Pensions Committee met on Tuesday and noted the minutes of the Pension Board and the Pension Investment Sub-Committee.

Cabinet

The Cabinet meeting on Thursday 27 June 2024 saw the council make significant decisions about the future of electric vehicle infrastructure in Worcestershire and education in Pershore.

Worcestershire Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy

The meeting began by considering a proposal to adopt the final version of the Worcestershire Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) Strategy. This strategy aims to address the growing need for electric vehicle charging points across the county. The strategy document suggests that:

To support the transition to electric vehicles and meet anticipated demand, it is estimated that over 2,000 additional public charging points will be needed across Worcestershire by 2030.

The strategy identifies a number of issues that may prevent the council from meeting these targets, including a lack of available land in the right locations, the cost of connecting charging points to the electricity grid, and the relatively low usage of some types of charging point. The report goes on to say that:

The economics and operating model for public charging provision remain challenging due to factors such as relatively low utilisation rates (particularly at rapid and ultra-rapid chargers), high electricity prices, increasing business rates on charging points, and grid connection costs.

The strategy proposes that the council should work with private companies to deliver the charging points. This suggestion echoes proposals made by the UK government in their 2020 policy paper Taking charge: the electric vehicle infrastructure strategy. ¹ The strategy suggests that:

...the Council should investigate and, where appropriate, pursue opportunities to collaborate with private sector charge point operators (CPOs) and other stakeholders, through measures such as joint ventures or concession agreements.

The cabinet approved the strategy.

Pershore Education Planning Area - School Tier Change

Councillors also discussed a proposal to change the school system in Pershore from its current three-tier system of first, middle, and high schools, to a two-tier system of primary and secondary schools. ²

The report considered by the council suggests that this change will:

• Improve the quality of education provision in Pershore.
• Increase parental choice.
• Reduce the number of times children have to change schools.

The report identifies that the change would cost £20m and require the closure of 4 schools:

• St Nicholas CE First School
• Drakes Broughton Middle School
• Middle Littleton CE First School
• Abbey Park Middle School

The report recognises that closing the schools will cause significant disruption for the pupils who attend them, but argues that:

...the benefits of moving to a two-tier system outweigh the disadvantages.

The cabinet approved the publication of statutory notices about the school closures. ³ The decision to close the schools follows a period of public consultation that began in 2022 and concluded in February 2024. This consultation identified that whilst there was no clear consensus on the proposal:

...there was a slight majority in favour of the proposal amongst respondents living in Pershore.

Worcestershire County Council Statement of Accounts 2023-24

The cabinet received the draft statement of accounts for 2023-24. ⁴ The statement shows that the council spent £962m in 2023-24 and received £964m in income.

The statement identifies a projected overspend of £22.6m. Of that overspend, £16.8m was in the Children's Services directorate. £10.7m of this overspend is attributed to the placement of children in care outside of the county. The report suggests that this overspend is due to a number of factors, including an increase in demand for services and the rising cost of placements. The report goes on to say that:

...the national picture for children’s social care shows that demand and costs continue to rise at an unsustainable rate...

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the Leader of the Council, is quoted as saying:

I do think that it's important that we continue to highlight the position that we're in and other local authorities are in, that the system is not sufficiently funded in order for us to meet our statutory duties within existing resources.

This statement reflects Councillor Geraghty's previous statements on this issue. At the meeting of the Cabinet on 23 May 2024, Councillor Geraghty said:

...the funding model for local government as a whole and in particular the funding model for children's services desperately needs reform...

The cabinet noted the statement of accounts and agreed to recommend it to the council's audit and governance committee for consideration at their next meeting.

Pensions Committee

The Pensions Committee is responsible for overseeing the Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund. This week, the Pensions Committee met on Tuesday 25 June 2024 to note the minutes of two of its sub-committees.

Pension Board Meeting

The Pension Board is responsible for the overall governance of the Pension Fund. The board met on 4 June 2024, but no video recording of the meeting has been made available.

Pension Investment Sub-Committee Meeting

The Pension Investment Sub-Committee is responsible for advising the Pensions Committee on investment strategy. The sub-committee met on 10 June 2024, but no video recording of the meeting has been made available.

This is the second time this month that the Pension Investment Sub-Committee has met without a video recording of the meeting being made available.

This week has seen the council grapple with the challenges of providing essential services in the face of rising demand and costs. The cabinet's decision to approve the Worcestershire Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy demonstrates the council's commitment to tackling climate change. However, the projected overspend in the Children's Services directorate highlights the difficult financial decisions that the council faces.