Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Barnes, Griffiths, Norfolk and Udall.

To receive any declarations of interest.

The following declarations of interest were made:

Councillor Mitchell – Minute 61 - Report of Armed Forces Champion - As a trustee of Stepway Charity

Councillor Stanley – Minute 61 - Report of Armed Forces Champion - As a trustee of Stepway Charity.

Of the meeting held on 21^st September 2021 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 21^st September 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To receive any communications the Mayor may wish to make.

Remembrance Day Service

The Mayor thanked all those who had attended this year’s Remembrance Day service on 14^th November 2021.

Christmas Lights

The Mayor thanked everyone who attended the opening of Worcester’s Christmas lights. The Mayor had been honoured to be able to switch on the lights alongside Oliver Saxelby-Lee.

Victorian Christmas Fayre

The Mayor informed the Council that he would be opening the Victorian Christmas Fayre on Thursday, 2^nd December. He would attend a community Carol Service at the Cathedral before leading the procession to the Cornmarket, where the opening ceremony would take place.

Lord Mayor Status

The Mayor informed the Council that a bid for Lord Mayor status for Worcester was being prepared, as part of a civic honours competition taking place to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

Small Business Saturday

The Mayor announced that he would be supporting this event on Saturday, 7^th December.

Say No to Domestic Violence

The Mayor informed the Council that he had attended the launch of this campaign, the aim of which is to encourage Worcestershire men, women and children to sign up and say 'No' to domestic abuse and sexual violence. He was wearing a white ribbon to show his support and he thanked Officers for organising a series of events to highlight this campaign. He encouraged all Members to wear a white ribbon too.

Refreshments

The Mayor invited all Members to join him for refreshments in the Lower Hall following the meeting. This would include showing a short trailer for a film that has been made as part of the Charter 400 celebrations.

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.

They Mayor welcomed Year 6 children from St Barnabas Primary School. They spoke to the Council in relation to climate change and the effect of the pandemic on children, and they asked the Council to support a new children’s woodland in Worcester.

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.

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

Local Generated Renewable Electricity

That Worcester City Council

1. Acknowledges the efforts that this Council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy. 
2. Further recognises that very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so, and that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for local companies, community groups and councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations, if they wished.  Furthermore, that revenues received by such local companies, community groups or councils that chose to become local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Notes that the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee, as a result of its 2021 Technological Innovations and Climate Change inquiry, recommended that a Right to Local Supply for local energy suppliers be established to address this.

Therefore, Council accordingly resolves to:

1. Support the Local Electricity Bill, currently supported by a cross-party group of 270 MPs and which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote local renewable electricity supply by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply company.
2. Mandate the Managing Director to inform the local media of this decision, to write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and to write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at Camden Collective, 5-7 Buck Street, London NW1 8NJ or info@powerforpeople.org.uk) expressing the Council’s support.

Proposed By: Councillor Stephen

Voluntary Code of Practice to encourage the reduction of Single Use Plastics (SUP) throughout take away food outlets

The Environment Bill currently passing through Parliament seeks to reduce the litter and landfill waste generated by Single Use Plastics (SUP’s) cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups. 

In support of the Government’s aims and to set an example to other Local Authorities for reducing SUP’s this Motion seeks Council’s agreement to encourage local take away food outlets to phase out single use plastics by creating a Voluntary Code of Practice ahead of the UK Government pledged enforcement date of April 2023. Furthermore, this Motion proposes that officers recommend such a Code of Practice for consideration by the Council’s Environment Committee.

Proposed by: Councillor Lawrance

Additional Schools and Covid Funding

This Council requests the managing director to write to the Minister of State (Minister for School Standards) and express this Council’s wish for an increase in funding for all pupils in Worcester schools through the national funding formula for schools.  Furthermore, for an increase in (covid) catch-up funding, in line with the recommendation of the (former) education recovery commissioner, Sir Kevan Collins.

Proposed by:  ...  view the full agenda text for item 58.

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

Local Generated Renewable Electricity

That Worcester City Council:

1.   Acknowledges the efforts that this Council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy. 

2.   Further recognises that very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so, and that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for local companies, community groups and councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations, if they wished.  Furthermore, that revenues received by such local companies, community groups or councils that chose to become local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.

3.   Notes that the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee, as a result of its 2021 Technological Innovations and Climate Change inquiry, recommended that a Right to Local Supply for local energy suppliers be established to address this.

Therefore, Council accordingly resolves to:

1.   Support the Local Electricity Bill, currently supported by a cross-party group of 270 MPs and which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote local renewable electricity supply by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply company.

2.   Mandate the Managing Director to inform the local media of this decision, to write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and to write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at Camden Collective, 5-7 Buck Street, London NW1 8NJ or info@powerforpeople.org.uk) expressing the Council’s support.

The proposer, Councillor Stephen and the seconder, Councillor Bisset, both spoke in support of the Motion.

Members then entered into a debate where support was expressed across the Chamber.  On being put to the vote the Motion was agreed and it was

RESOLVED: That the Council agree to:

1.    Support the Local Electricity Bill, currently supported by a cross-party group of 270 MPs and which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote local renewable electricity supply by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply company; and

2.  Mandate the Managing Director to inform the local media of this decision, to write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and to write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at Camden Collective, 5-7 Buck Street, London NW1 8NJ or info@powerforpeople.org.uk) expressing the Council’s support.

Voluntary Code of Practice to Encourage the Reduction of Single Use Plastics (SUP) Throughout Takeaway Food Outlets

The Environment Bill currently passing through Parliament seeks to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

That the Council agrees changes in appointments to Committees or Other Bodies proposed at the meeting.

The Council considered a proposal from the Leader of the Council to change one of the Council’s representatives to the South Worcestershire Development Plan Joint Advisory Panel. It was proposed by Councillor Bayliss and seconded by Councillor Mitchell that Councillor Hassan be removed and replaced by Councillor Mackay.

RESOLVED: That the Council agree to remove Councillor Hassan and appoint Councillor Mackay on the South Worcestershire Development Plan Joint Advisory Panel.

That the Council adopts the revised Scheme of Delegation to Officers set out in Appendix 1 and authorises the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary consequential changes to references to Officer roles appearing elsewhere in the Constitution.

The Council considered a report from the Monitoring Officer which proposed changes to the Scheme of Delegation to align it with the responsibilities of the current chief officer management structure.

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 adopt the revised Scheme of Delegation to Officers set out in Appendix 1 to the report and to authorise the Monitoring Officer to make the necessary consequential changes to references to Officer roles appearing elsewhere in the Constitution.

The Council received a report from the Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Mitchell, setting out events, activities and highlights over the last 12 months. Following his presentation, there was an opportunity for Members to ask questions.

RESOLVED: That the Council receive the report of the Armed Forces Champion.

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 authorise the Monitoring Officer to amend Part 12 of the Constitution with regard to the determination of planning applications in the terms set out in section 3 of the report.

The Council considered a referral report from the Chair of the Planning Committee.

The Planning Committee at is meeting on 23^rd September 2021 had considered a report which set out proposals and options to amend the process to be followed by Planning Committee when the Committee wishes to make a decision contrary to Officer recommendation. The Committee had agreed to remove the ‘Minded to’ procedure but replace it with a Delegated Authority process with clarification on the meaning of Chair and Vice Chair.

The Monitoring Officer had agreed the proposed amendments which were necessary to give effect to the Planning Committee’s recommendation. They are to paragraph 11 of Part 12 of the Constitution: “Decisions Contrary to Officer Recommendation and/or Development Plan”, as follows:

That the Council approve the estimate of £80,000 to the Capital Programme in 2021/2022 to implement the phased approach to the Ward Improvement Plans for Public Bins.

The Council considered a referral report from the Chair of the Environment Committee.

At its meeting on 2^nd November 2021, the Environment Committee had considered the planned phased approach to the Ward Improvement Plans for Public Bins. The Committee agreed to recommend to Council the approval of the estimate of £80,000 to the Capital Programme in 2021/2022 to implement the proposals.

It was proposed by Councillor Stafford and seconded by Councillor Collins and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council approve the estimate of £80,000 to the Capital Programme in 2021/2022 to implement the phased approach to the Ward Improvement Plans for Public Bins.

That the Council approve the Fees and Charges submitted by Freedom Leisure for 2022 (covering the period 1^st January 2022 to 31^st December 2022 inclusive).

The Committee considered a referral report from the Chair of the Income Generation Sub-Committee.

At its meeting on 10^th November 2021, the Income Generation Sub-Committee considered the proposed Fees and Charges submitted by Freedom Leisure for the period 1^st January 2022 to 31^st December 2022 inclusive.

The Sub-Committee agreed to recommend to Council the approval of the Fees and Charges submitted by Freedom Leisure.

It was proposed by Councillor Mackay and seconded by Councillor Riaz and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council approve the Fees and Charges submitted by Freedom Leisure for 2022 (covering the period 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022 inclusive).

To receive a report, if necessary.

None.

To consider any exempt matters which might arise.

None.