Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Bisset and Mitchell and David Blake, Managing Director.

To receive any declarations of interest.

The following declarations of interest were made:

Councillors Altaf, Ditta, Gregson, Hassan, Riaz, Stanley and Stephen - Minute 32 (Notice of Motion - Protection and Engagement – Private Renters) – As private landlords in Worcester

Councillor Piotrowski -  Minute 32 (Notice of Motion - Protection and Engagement – Private Renters) – Due to his employment by a major social housing provider

Councillor Riaz – Minute 38 (Termination of Revenues and Benefits Management Contract) – Brother is an employee of Civica.

Of the meetings held on 17^th May 2022 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Annual and Extraordinary Council meetings held on 17^th May 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To receive any communications the Mayor may wish to make.

Thank You to Staff

The Mayor thanked all Council Officers who had helped with the organisation of the recent Queen’s Jubilee events and the 100^th Anniversary of Gheluvelt Park event.

Civic Service

The Mayor thanked those Members who attended the Civic Service on 19^th June 2022.

Worcester Carnival

The Mayor informed the Council that he had attended the opening of the Worcester Carnival on Saturday, 2^nd July 2022.

10th Anniversary of The Hive

The Mayor informed the Council that he had attended the 10^th anniversary of the opening of the Hive on Saturday, 2^nd July 2022.

Magic of Middle Earth Exhibition

The Mayor informed the Council that he would be opening the Magic of Middle Earth Exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery on 9^th July 2022.

Remembering Srebrenica Memorial Event

The Mayor reminded Members of this event, which would take place on Monday 11^th July 2022 at 11.00am.

St Swithun’s Day Organ Recital

The Mayor informed the Council that he would be attending an organ recital at St Swithun’s Church, following 3 years of restoration work, on Friday, 15^th July 2022 at 1.10pm. All Members were welcome to join him.

Three Choirs Festival

The Mayor informed the Council that he would be attending the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford on 23^rd July 2022.

Inaugural Banquet

The Mayor announced that his Inaugural Banquet will be held on Friday 23^rd September 2022 and invitations will be sent out soon.

Welcome to Worcester’s Ukrainian Guests

Members were advised that plans are underway to organise an event in August 2022 to welcome Worcester’s Ukrainian guests. More information will follow.

Refreshments

The Mayor invited everyone present to join him for refreshments in the Assembly Room at the finish of the meeting.

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.

None.

The Leader of the Council 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.

The Council considered the following questions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.

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

Cost of Living

This Council notes that:

On 1 April 2022 Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 54 per cent.  This means the average standard tariff energy bill will increase by £693 per year and the average pre-pay meter energy bill will increase by £708 per year.  (1)

The Government has not applied the pensions “triple lock” for 2022/23 meaning that Worcester’s pensioners will see a rise of just 3.1 per cent this year as opposed to 8.3 per cent under the triple lock formula. This year, this will cost a Worcester pensioner on the full new state pension an average of £487 and a Worcester pensioner on the full basic state pension an average of £373.  (2)

Worcester Foodbank fed 10,838 people in 2021 and has seen a 22% rise in demand since 2020.  More than 1 in 3 people fed by Worcester Foodbank are children.  (3)

This Council therefore declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and requests the Managing Director to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and express this Council’s wish for Government to:

Immediately remove the standard rate of VAT on fuel from 5 per cent to 0 per cent saving Worcester households £100 (£98.55 on the average standard tariff maximum and £100.85 on the average pre-pay meter energy bill);

Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20 per cent to 17.5 per cent for one year further saving the average Worcester household £587.50 this year (4);

Immediately apply and backdate the pensions “triple lock” for this year (2022/23) to support Worcester’s pensioners now.

(1)   Ofgem website announcement 3^rd March 2022

(2)   TUC statement 18^th March 2022

(3)   Worcester Foodbank website statement 20^th June 2022

(4)   Officer for Budget Responsibility October 2021 VAT Forecast

Proposed by: Councillor Allcott

Dines Green Community Police Post

Council is concerned about the proposals by the Police and Crime Commissioner to close the Dines Green Community Police Post. Council opposes such a decision and believes the Commissioner should continue to provide a permanent police presence in St John’s and west of the river, which would be responsive to local needs and would assist with community engagement and community safety.  Council therefore mandates the Managing Director to request that the Police and Crime Commissioner reconsiders his proposal and to work with the City Council to consider alternatives to closure and disposal.

Proposed by: Councillor Udall

Protection and Engagement – Private Renters  

This Council is committed to protecting and engaging with private renters as no one should live in a home that is damp, in a poor state of repair, overcrowded or unaffordable. Private renters need to hear more from Worcester City Council about the rights they have and how to exercise them.

Council therefore resolves to instruct Officers to compile an Action Plan for consideration by the Council’s Communities Committee identifying measures of how the Council can further protect and engage  ...  view the full agenda text for item 32.

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

Cost of Living

This Council notes that:

On 1 April 2022 Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 54 per cent.  This means the average standard tariff energy bill will increase by £693 per year and the average pre-pay meter energy bill will increase by £708 per year.  (1)

The Government has not applied the pensions “triple lock” for 2022/23 meaning that Worcester’s pensioners will see a rise of just 3.1 per cent this year as opposed to 8.3 per cent under the triple lock formula. This year, this will cost a Worcester pensioner on the full new state pension an average of £487 and a Worcester pensioner on the full basic state pension an average of £373.  (2)

Worcester Foodbank fed 10,838 people in 2021 and has seen a 22% rise in demand since 2020.  More than 1 in 3 people fed by Worcester Foodbank are children.  (3)

This Council therefore declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and requests the Managing Director to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and express this Council’s wish for Government to:

Immediately remove the standard rate of VAT on fuel from 5 per cent to 0 per cent saving Worcester households £100 (£98.55 on the average standard tariff maximum and £100.85 on the average pre-pay meter energy bill);

Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20 per cent to 17.5 per cent for one year further saving the average Worcester household £587.50 this year (4);

Immediately apply and backdate the pensions “triple lock” for this year (2022/23) to support Worcester’s pensioners now.

(1)     Ofgem website announcement 3^rd March 2022

(2)     TUC statement 18^th March 2022

(3)     Worcester Foodbank website statement 20^th June 2022

(4)     Officer for Budget Responsibility October 2021 VAT Forecast

The proposer, Councillor Allcott and the seconder, Councillor Denham, both spoke in support of the Motion.

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Stephen and seconded by Councillor Lewing:

Between the words “Immediately” and “remove” add the words “for this year.” On being put to the vote the amendment was lost.

Members then entered into a debate on the Motion, where a range of views were expressed. Upon being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That this Council declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and requests the Managing Director to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and express this Council’s wishes as set out in the Motion above.

Dines Green Community Police Post

Council is concerned about the proposals by the Police and Crime Commissioner to close the Dines Green Community Police Post. Council opposes such a decision and believes the Commissioner should continue to provide a permanent police presence in St John’s and west of the river, which would be responsive to local needs and would assist with community engagement and community safety.  Council therefore mandates the Managing Director to request that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

That the Council agrees the Warding Arrangements Submission set out in Appendix 1 as its collective response to the initial consultation being undertaken by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and authorises the Corporate Director - Planning and Governance to submit this document to the Commission, on behalf of the Council.

The Council considered a report on a submission to Local Government Boundary Commission for England in response to their initial consultation on proposed warding arrangements, based upon 35 councillors representing the district. The Corporate Director- Planning and Governance presented the report and explained that, whilst there was no requirement for the Council to submit an agreed response, this will be helpful for the Commission’s review and would give the Council the opportunity to have its say. To this end, Officers have been working with Members to develop proposals for warding arrangements in the district which may be able to achieve consensus support from Council Members.

The draft submission, which was appended to the report, had been prepared following discussions with the four Political Group Leaders as well as through individual workshops with each Political Group on the Council. All Group Leaders spoke in support of the proposed submission. Other Members also spoke.

In was moved by Councillor Bayliss and seconded by Councillor Denham and upon being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council agrees the Warding Arrangements Submission set out in Appendix 1, Paragraph 4 - Summary of the Council’s Proposals as its collective response to the initial consultation being undertaken by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and authorises the Corporate Director - Planning and Governance to submit this document to the Commission, on behalf of the Council.

That the Council approves, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution set out in this report and authorises the Corporate Director - Planning and Governance to make the necessary drafting changes to the Constitution.

The Council considered a report on proposed amendments to the Constitution to provide clarity on a number of points where the Constitution did not currently reflect the Council’s preferred operating arrangements. The Corporate Director – Planning and Governance presented the report and explained that the amendments were:

The Council were advised that a proposal to change the name of the Income Generation Sub-Committee to Income Management Sub-Committee so as to better capture its purpose/remit was not being put forward for consideration at this stage as a report on this topic would be presented to the Sub-Committee in the first instance.

It was proposed by Councillor Allcott and seconded by Councillor Stephen and upon being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council approves, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution set out above and authorises the Corporate Director - Planning and Governance to make the necessary drafting changes to the Constitution.

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 receives the Treasury Management Annual Report 2021/22.

The Council considered a referral report from Councillor Stanley, Vice-Chair of Policy and Resources Committee.

At the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 24^th May 2022 it was agreed that the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2021/22 be referred for information to full Council.

The Council has adopted the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management in the Public Services (2009).  The Code stipulates that Council should receive regular treasury management reports, including an annual review report after the close of the year.

It was proposed by Councillor Stanley and seconded by Councillor Denham and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council receives the Treasury Management Annual Report 2021/22.

That the Council agrees an ‘in principle’ capital allocation of £200k to unlock specialist support from the Football Foundation to facilitate the development of a business case and detailed design.

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

At the meeting on 8^th June 2022, the Committee had approved the progression of a business case and detailed design for a multi-use Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) at Perdiswell. The Football Foundation needed to see a complete business case and approve it. At this point they had provisionally allocated a specialist to work with the Council to reach approval stage but required a capital commitment by the Council.

In accordance with the Constitution, changes to the Policy and Budgetary Framework were reserved to full Council to determine.

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

RESOLVED: That the Council agrees an ‘in principle’ capital allocation of £200k to unlock specialist support from the Football Foundation to facilitate the development of a business case and detailed design.

That the Council approves the return of the Revenues and Benefits to an in-house shared service, with staff employed by Malvern Hills District Council, noting that further reports will be brought to the Policy and Resources Committee once the transfer has been completed and a review of the service has commenced.

The Council considered a referral report from the Councillor Stanley, Vice-Chair of Policy and Resources Committee.

At the meeting on 4^th July 2022, the Committee had considered a report on the return of the management of the South Worcestershire Revenues and Benefits Shared Service to the Shared Service partnership arrangement that was previously in place. The earliest requested date of transfer was 30^th October 2022. If this is to be achieved, Council approval to terminate the contract early was required to ensure that there is time for a full and detailed consultation with the staff who will transfer.

It was proposed by Councillor Denham and seconded by Councillor Stanley and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council approves the return of the Revenues and Benefits to an in-house shared service, with staff employed by Malvern Hills District Council, noting that further reports will be brought to the Policy and Resources Committee once the transfer has been completed and a review of the service has commenced.

To receive a report, if necessary.

None.

None.