Agenda

1.    Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

2.    Other Interests

Recommendation

That Council approves the revised Statement of Principles 2025 – 2028 attached at Appendix B of the report.

This Council supports the transfer of Leek College to the Newcastle and Stafford College Group, recognising that the University of Derby can no longer fund Further Education and Skills in Staffordshire.

It acknowledges the excellent track record of the NSCG and believes that the new arrangements can provide a firm foundation for Leek College to continue to thrive. It asks that the interests of students and staff from the Moorlands be taken fully into account, particularly with regard to maintaining access to the widest range of courses, and noting the difficulties in transport across the wider area. 

While recognising that responsibilities for Skills and Further Education primarily sit at County level, this motion asks the Council Leader and CEO to:

1. seek early engagement with the management of the NSCG
2. stress the importance of maintaining and increasing the range of courses on offer at the Leek Campus to meet both student aspirations and the needs of local employers.
3. seek to improve the transport options for students between the campuses
4. seek assurances over the future of the historic and valued Leek School of Art.

At the moment at Cheadle Hospital the beds are there seasonally, why seasonally don't people get ill in the Summer months? It doesn't make sense patients who are nearly ready for home and go to Cheadle hospital get superb care in Cheadle Hospital, and are close to home.  The beds are full but now they are scaling back and anyone who wants to be transferred to Cheadle are told no, as the beds are closing for the season. This is a stupid policy when beds at the Royal Stoke Hospital could be released for emergency patients or patients who need operations. The NHS Board who make this decision need to revisit it and leave the beds in Cheadle throughout the whole of the year. I ask we urge our MPs to support this motion and the NHS board is urged to change this policy for the benefit of the people of the Staffordshire Moorlands 

This Council recognises that Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG ) is a serious issue affecting communities across the country, including the Staffordshire Moorlands, where rurality can present additional barriers to accessing help and reporting crimes.  We acknowledge the Labour Governments commitment to halving VAWG within a decade and are determined to ensure our local response is effective, collaborative, and accessible.  SMDC commits to:

·       Establishing a multi agency VAWG working group 

·       Enhancing Signposting and Access to support

·       Launching a public awareness campaign 

·       Addressing Rural Challenges

I ask that we write to the Health Minister to put an official warning on all vapes that are sold, a health warning as to what Vapes do to peoples lungs, there are many dangers from Vaping including lung and other organ damage, breathing problems, addiction and more, people think Vaping is safer than smoking it is not, and many think it is cool to Vape it is not.  It is a great concern and some have already died from Vaping.

The Chairman to move:-

“That, pursuant to Section 100A(2) and (4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings whereby it is likely that confidential information as defined in Section 100A (3) of the Act would be disclosed to the public in breach of the obligation of confidence or exempt information as defined in Section 100 I (1) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act would be disclosed to the public by virtue of the Paragraphs indicated.”