Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Altaf, Hassan and Lawrance.

To receive any declarations of interest.

The following declarations of interest were made:

Councillors Gregson and Stephen – Minute 34 - Amendment to the scheme for Members’ Allowances 20212/22 – as Members affected by the amendment.

Of the Annual Council Meeting and the Extraordinary Meeting held on 18^th May 2021 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Annual Council Meeting and the Extraordinary Meeting held on 18^th May 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To receive any communications the Mayor may wish to make.

Remembering Srebrenica

The Mayor explained that he and the Mayoress attended a special event to mark Srebrenica Memorial Day. Remembering Srebrenica raises awareness about the Bosnian genocide and educates people about what the UN called “the worst atrocity on European soil since World War Two”. This charity is the sole organiser of the annual Srebrenica Memorial Week which culminates on July 11. The event was organised by Worcester Interfaith Forum and we had a keynote speaker, Amil Khan, who is the Director of the Remembering Srebrenica Charity.

Worcester’s Big Parade

The Mayor explained that he was delighted to attend the launch event for Worcester’s Big Parade earlier today.  This summer the city centre will be home to a parade of beautifully decorated elephant sculptures, both big and small, which form a stunning, free art trail through the city’s streets and open spaces.  Each sculpture is sponsored by a business and individually designed by an artist.  The ultimate purpose of Worcester’s Big Parade is to raise awareness of St Richard’s Hospice.

Three Choirs Festival

The Mayor announced that the opening ceremony of the Three Choirs Festival is on Saturday 24^th July. More details to be circulated shortly.

The Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader of the Council or the Chair of any Committee or Sub-Committee to take any questions that may be submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.

Up to a total of fifteen minutes can be allowed, each speaker being allocated a maximum of five minutes, for members of the public to present a petition, ask a question or comment on any matter on the Agenda or within the remit of the Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

Paul Snookes from Worcester Environmental Group spoke on the programme of native wildflower verges and green spaces and the way in which the Council can save money, reduce their carbon footprint, enhance the biodiversity in the city and improve the wellbeing of the community.

To consider any Notices of Motion submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.

Pets as Prizes: This Has to Stop

This Council:  

·          is concerned about the number of cases reported to the RSPCA each year regarding pets given as prizes via fairgrounds, social media and other channels in England, and notes the issue predominantly concerns goldfish;

·          is concerned for the welfare of those animals that are being given as prizes;

·          recognises that many cases of pets being as prizes may go unreported each year;  

·          supports a move to ban the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, on Worcester City Council land.  

The Council agrees to: 

·          ban outright the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, on Worcester City Council land; and

·          mandate the Managing Director to write to the Minister of Animal Welfare, urging an outright ban on the giving of live animals as prizes on both public and private land. 

Proposed by: Councillor Laurenson

West Mercia Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Support Centre

West Mercia Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Support Centre is the only organisation in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to offer specialist support to the victims of rape and sexual violence. Services are free, confidential and non-judgemental and currently available to survivors who have experienced any form of rape and/or sexual violence at any time in their lives. WMRCSASC offers both telephone advice and face to face counselling sessions to survivors of rape and sexual violence, both men and women, young and old, and offers a specialist Independent Sexual Violence Advisory Service to survivors over the age of 5. The majority of those seen by the service are between the ages of 11 and 25.

It is therefore devastating to hear that the service has had to close it’s doors to new referrals whilst it clears the backlog of over 400 people currently on the waiting list, with a current estimated wait time of over 18 months from referral to a first face to face session. Whilst approximately one third of funding for the service comes from the Ministry of Justice, and the advocacy service is currently funded by the PCC, there is a significant funding gap and it is no longer ethical or sustainable for the service to accept new referrals.

This Council notes the hardship that is currently being experienced by WMRCSASC and calls on the Managing Director, Director of Homes and Communities, and Leader of the Council to work with partners across Worcestershire including MPs, the PCC, the NHS and social services in order to assist WMRCSASC in being able to carry out this valuable and life saving work.

Proposed by: Councillor Griffiths

The Council considered the following Notices of Motion, which had been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8:

Pets as Prizes: This Has to Stop

This Council:  

·           is concerned about the number of cases reported to the RSPCA each year regarding pets given as prizes via fairgrounds, social media and other channels in England, and notes the issue predominantly concerns goldfish;

·           is concerned for the welfare of those animals that are being given as prizes;

·           recognises that many cases of pets being as prizes may go unreported each year;  

·           supports a move to ban the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, on Worcester City Council land.  

The Council agrees to: 

·           ban outright the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, on Worcester City Council land; and

·           mandate the Managing Director to write to the Minister of Animal Welfare, urging an outright ban on the giving of live animals as prizes on both public and private land. 

The proposer, Councillor Laurenson and the seconder, Councillor Lewing  both spoke in support of the Motion.

Members then entered into a debate on the Motion where support and opposition was expressed across the Chamber.

The Motion was then put to vote which was tied.  In accordance with the Council’s Constitution the Mayor used his casting vote and the Motion was lost.

West Mercia Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Support Centre

West Mercia Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Support Centre is the only organisation in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to offer specialist support to the victims of rape and sexual violence. Services are free, confidential and non-judgemental and currently available to survivors who have experienced any form of rape and/or sexual violence at any time in their lives. WMRCSASC offers both telephone advice and face to face counselling sessions to survivors of rape and sexual violence, both men and women, young and old, and offers a specialist Independent Sexual Violence Advisory Service to survivors over the age of 5. The majority of those seen by the service are between the ages of 11 and 25.

It is therefore devastating to hear that the service has had to close it’s doors to new referrals whilst it clears the backlog of over 400 people currently on the waiting list, with a current estimated wait time of over 18 months from referral to a first face to face session. Whilst approximately one third of funding for the service comes from the Ministry of Justice, and the advocacy service is currently funded by the PCC, there is a significant funding gap and it is no longer ethical or sustainable for the service to accept new referrals.

This Council notes the hardship that is currently being experienced by WMRCSASC and calls on the Managing Director, Director of Homes and Communities, and Leader of the Council to work with partners across Worcestershire including MPs, the PCC, the NHS and social services in order to assist WMRCSASC in being able to carry out this valuable and life  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

That the Council agree to remove Councillor Allcott as a member of Licensing and Environmental Health Committee and appoint Councillor Lawrance.

The Council considered a report on the appointment of Members to Committees.

Following Annual Council on 18^th May 2021 whereby appointment of Members to Policy Committees, Regulatory Committees, Joint Committees and Other Bodies had been approved, Councillor Allcott had requested that she be removed from the Licensing and Environmental Health Committee and replaced with Councillor Lawrance.

In accordance with Part 2, Article 4.2 of the Constitution, appointing and removing Members to and from Committees is a matter reserved to full Council, unless delegated by the Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Bayliss and seconded by Councillor Mitchell and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council agree to remove Councillor Allcott as a member of the Licensing and Environmental Health Committee and appoint Councillor Lawrance.

That the Council approve the amendment to the Scheme for Members’ Allowances 2021/22 as set out in the report.

The Council considered a report on the amendment to the Scheme for Members’ Allowances 2021/22.

Following the Local Elections on 7^th May 2021the political balance of the Council changed and subsequently changes to the appointment of the Deputy Leader role, membership on committees and the appointment of Charis and Vice Chairs were agreed by Council at its meeting on 18^th May 2021.

At this meeting, Councillors Gregson and Stephen were appointed to the Vice Chair role of Policy and Resources Committee meaning that both are now carrying out one special responsibility function.

In accordance with the Independent Remuneration Panel’s recommendation that Members should only receive one Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) payment, it is proposed that Councillors Gregson and Stephen receive the SRA of £4,474 agreed by the Council on 23^rd February 2021 for the Vice Chair role of Policy Committees.

It was proposed by Councillor Bayliss and seconded by Councillor Mitchell and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED:  That the Council approve the amendment to the Scheme for Members’ Allowances 2021/22 as set out in the report.

To receive reports on matters which by law or in accordance with the Constitution are referred to Council for decision.

The Council received reports on matters which by law or in accordance with the Constitution are referred to Council for decision.

That the Council agree an amendment to the Capital Programme of up to £182,100 to meet the costs of the capital works.

The Council considered a referral report from the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee.

The Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting on 8^th June 2021 had considered a report on the procurement of contractors to replace the wetside floor tiles at Perdiswell Leisure Centre.  The Committee agreed to recommend that the Council amends the Capital programme of up to £182,100, to meet the costs of the capital works, in  accordance with the proposals set out in the report.

It was proposed by Councillor Bayliss and seconded by Councillor Mitchell and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council agree an amendment to the Capital Programme of up to £182,100 to the meet the costs of the capital works.

That the Council receive the Standards Committee Annual Report 2020/21.

The Council considered a referral report from the Chair of Standards Committee on the Annual Report of the Committee, which provided a summary of the work undertaken by the Committee in the 2021/21 municipal year.

It was proposed by Councillor Roberts and seconded by Councillor Lamb and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council receives the Standards Committee Annual Report 2020/21.

To receive a report, if necessary.

None.

None.