Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Annual meeting of the Council held on 17 May 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

1.    Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

2.    Other Interests

The following declarations were made:-

The Chairman of the Council provided an overview of engagements attended following the Annual Council meeting and announced that the Civic Service would take place on 17 September 2023 and the Civic Ball would take place on 19 April 2023.

The Leader of the Council referred to two recent incidents in Ipstones relating to the performance of the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) and the use of defibrillators local to the area (documents had been circulated to councillors).  The background to the incidents were further detailed by Councillor Malyon which included problems experienced in the provision of defibrillator cabinet access codes by WMAS, leading to serious delays, despite the equipment being correctly registered on the “circuit”.  In both cases it was reported that patients had sadly passed away.  It was agreed that WMAS should be held accountable for the level of service being provided and that the matter would be referred to the statutory body for the scrutiny of health services, the Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Staffordshire County Council and would also be considered by the District Council’s Health and Wellbeing Committee.

Recommendation

That the Annual Treasury Management Report 2022/23 is recommended to Council for approval.

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Treasury Management Report 2022/23 be approved.

RESOLVED:

That the revised political balance of the Council be approved subject to the membership of the Standards Committee to be discussed further by group leaders.

(No Member voted against.)

(At least two clear days notice required, in writing, to the Proper Officer in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.3.)

1.     Question to the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Tourism received from Councillor Andrew Church:

“The Government’s funding settlement imposed upon the Canal and River Trust from 2027 to 2037 amounts to a cut in real terms in excess of £300m. The Trust is encouraging individuals to petition their MP as part of the #KeepCanalsAlive campaign and I wondered whether this Council is willing to support the campaign by raising this matter with the Right Honourable Karen Bradley?”

Response:

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“Thank you, I too read with alarm the uncertainty regarding the potential significant reduction of funding of these precious national assets. This is clearly a controversial move, and the all party parliamentary group on waterways has already raised serious concerns, along with a wide range of stakeholders.  I can assure Council that we will be writing to our MP, expressing our own concerns, as well as those raised, both by the committee, and the Canal and River Trust.”

In response to supplementary questions the Portfolio Holder stated that local waterways would be considered for active travel opportunities and built into the Council’s Tourism and Move More Strategies.  A capital budget of £715,000 would also be focused on maintenance relating to waterways over the next 4 years that would be key to mitigating risks associated with climate change.

RESOLVED:

That the following changes be noted:

Standards Committee

Add:   Cllr G Taylor

Appeals Board

Add:   Cllr K Hoptroff

Established as a working group of Full Council politically balanced as follows:

RESOLVED:

That a Climate Change Working Group of Full Council be established politically balanced as follows: