Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Round.

To receive any declarations of interest.

The following declaration of interest was made:

Councillor Cookson – Minute 53 (Notice of Motion – Violence Against Women) – Due to the nature of her employment. Councillor Cookson left the meeting for consideration of this item.

Of the meeting held on 11^th July 2023 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th July 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To receive any communications the Mayor may wish to make.

Tribute to Councillor Andy Roberts

The Mayor paid tribute to former Councillor Andy Roberts, who had sadly died in August 2023. He had represented Warndon Parish South Ward for 17 years, having been first elected in 2006, and was Mayor in 2009/10. Group Leaders and other Members also spoke and paid their own tributes.

Recent Events

The Mayor highlighted some recent events which he had attended including the Worcester Show, the Drumhead Parade by the Battle of Worcester Society, degree ceremonies by the University of Worcester and Heart of Worcestershire College, Heritage Weekend at the Guildhall, the Evensong Cathedral service to mark the retirement of the Dean, and the Worcester City Run.

Coming Up

The Mayor highlighted two forthcoming events: the Worcester Civic Society Lecture at 7pm on Tuesday, 10^th October and the Elgar Choral Christmas Carol Concert at 6.30pm Saturday, 2^nd December. All money raised will be for the Mayor's charity, Age UK. He encouraged Members to support and promote both events.

Refreshments

The Mayor invited everyone to join him for refreshments in the Parlour at the end 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.

The following persons addressed the Council:

Alex Sheppard spoke in support of the Notice of Motion relating to Pets as Prizes.

Craig Welsby spoke about healthy diets and prioritising plant-based food options wherever possible. He asked the following question: “Will councillors meet with me to address any concerns they may have, over the cost, inclusivity, and local impacts of such a policy, and hear how it could be an enormous win for health, sustainability and budget?” The Mayor asked Group Leaders to consider taking up this invitation.

Joy Griffiths, Chair of the Trustee Board of West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre, spoke in support of the Notice of Motion relating to ending Violence Against Women.

The Joint 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.

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.

Violence Against Women

According to national crime statistics in the UK, on average one woman is killed by a man every three days.

Council notes:

1. Sexual violence, sexual harassment, and domestic abuse remain endemic in our society, highlighted most recently by the appalling murders of Sabina Nessa, Sarah Everard and sisters Bibba Henry and Nicole Smallman:

2. Those from minority backgrounds experience sexual abuse disproportionately:

3. White Ribbon UK is the leading charity with a mission to end male violence against women and part of the global White Ribbon movement which arose from a campaign started by men in Canada in 2004:

4. That hate crime particularly directed against minority groups and the LGBTQ Community have increased dramatically caused in part by increases in transphobic rhetoric in the public domain.

Council believes:

• Male violence against women and girls is part of a broader culture of misogyny in society.
• Perpetrators of serious violence usually have a history of inflicting abuse and harassment against women and girls.
• Tackling violence against women and girls means dismantling this culture.
• It also means tackling other forms  ...  view the full agenda text for item 53.

The Council considered Notices of Motion submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.

Violence Against Women

According to national crime statistics in the UK, on average one woman is killed by a man every three days.

Council notes:

1.   Sexual violence, sexual harassment, and domestic abuse remain endemic in our society, highlighted most recently by the appalling murders of Sabina Nessa, Sarah Everard and sisters Bibba Henry and Nicole Smallman:

·      According to national crime statistics in the UK, on average one woman is killed by a man every three days.

·      A 2021 YouGov national survey on behalf of UN Women UK found that among women aged 18-24, 97 per cent said they had been sexually harassed while 80 per cent of women of all ages said they had experienced sexual harassment in public spaces.

·      A recent OFSTED review into sexual harassment in schools has found that sexual harassment, including online sexual abuse, has become 'normalised' for children and young people.

·      The ONS reported that last year alone 618,000 women were victims of a sexual assault or an attempted sexual assault by a man.

·      The Government's End-to-End Rape Review found that only 1.6 per cent of rape cases brought to the police result in a charge.

2.   Those from minority backgrounds experience sexual abuse disproportionately:

·      ONS figures for 2019 show that disabled women were more than twice as likely to experience domestic abuse than non-disabled women.

·      LGBT+ people are significantly more likely to experience domestic abuse, with 13 percent of bisexual women facing intimate partner abuse in 2019/20, according to Stonewall.

·      In 2019, 60 per cent of UK police forces admitted referring victims of crime to the Home Office for immigration purposes, harming migrant women.

3.   White Ribbon UK is the leading charity with a mission to end male violence against women and part of the global White Ribbon movement which arose from a campaign started by men in Canada in 2004:

·      They mark White Ribbon Day annually on 25th November, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, by encouraging men and boys to pledge never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women and to make this by wearing a white ribbon on the day and for a week or two afterwards.

·      White Ribbon UK operate a system of male Ambassadors, female Champions and Youth Advocates, as well as having specific materials to support primary and secondary schools, all with the aim of encouraging men to take the pledge and help to eradicate violence against women.

4.   That hate crime particularly directed against minority groups and the LGBTQ Community have increased dramatically caused in part by increases in transphobic rhetoric in the public domain.

Council believes:

•    Male violence against women and girls is part of a broader culture of misogyny in society.

•    Perpetrators of serious violence usually have a history of inflicting abuse and harassment against women and girls.

•    Tackling violence against women and girls means dismantling this culture.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

That Council approves the South Worcestershire Local Development Scheme 2023-2026 in the form set out at Appendix 1 and authorises the Corporate Director - Planning and Governance to make any necessary minor amendments before publication on the Council’s website.

The Council considered a report on a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS). The Chair of the Place and Economic Development Committee presented the report and explained that the most recent LDS for the South Worcestershire Councils was adopted in January 2022. National Planning Practice Guidance states that an LDS should be reviewed and kept up to date. This revised LDS will cover the period 2023-2026.

The Council were informed that the current iteration of the LDS provides clarity in relation to the anticipated timetable through to adoption of the Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Policies and Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) ,as well as the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review and future of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule.  

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

RESOLVED: That Council approves the South Worcestershire Local Development Scheme 2023-2026 in the form set out at Appendix 1 to the report and authorises the Corporate Director - Planning and Governance to make any necessary minor amendments before publication on the Council’s website.

That the Council agree the allocation of seats between Political Groups to take effect from the date of the Council meeting, pending a further review in due course as a result of the forthcoming by-election in the Warndon Parish South Ward.

The Council considered a report on the allocation of seats between Political Groups as a consequence of the by-election for the Nunnery Ward which was held on 20^th July 2023. The Monitoring Officer presented the report and explained that, at the date of the by-election, the Council had 35 councillors. The political balance of the Council and the proportion of overall committee places on the politically balanced committees that this would reflect was as follows:

Table 1 (35 Members)           

A by-election had been called for 19 October to fill the vacancy which had arisen as a result of the death of Councillor Roberts in August. Until the by-election result is declared, the Council had 34 councillors and this again affected the political balance calculation, which, following political balance principles set out in the legislation, was as follows:

Table 2 (34 Members) 

The political balance would change again after the by-election, when the Council returned to having 35 councillors.

A detailed spreadsheet showing appointments to committees based on Table 1 (35 Members) and Table 2 (34 Members) was appended to the report.

Group Leaders had been consulted on these proposals.

Pending the Warndon Parish South by-election, if the Council wished to make Councillor Willmore’s appointment to committees effective but hold open the vacancy left by Councillor Roberts’s death (Table 1 – 35 Members), then in accordance with the legislation this would mean there must be no Members present at the Council meeting voting against Table 1. Otherwise, the proposal which meets the legislative principles on political balance should prevail (Table 2 - 34 Members).

Upon being put to the vote it was unanimously agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council agree the allocation of seats between Political Groups to take effect from the date of the Council meeting in accordance with Table 1 – 35 Members, pending a further review in due course as a result of the forthcoming by-election in the Warndon Parish South Ward.

That the Council agrees changes to appointments of members to Committees for 2023/24.

The Council considered a report on changes proposed by Group Leaders to Committee membership for 2023/24 as a consequence of the changes to political balance agreed under the previous item.

The Labour Group Leader proposed the following:

·        Policy and Resources Committee - Appoint Councillor Agar

·        Health and Wellbeing Committee – Remove Councillor Udall and appoint Councillor Willmore

·        Licensing and Environmental Health Committee – Remove Councillor Agar and appoint Councillor Willmore

·        Standards Committee – Appoint Councillor Udall

The Green Group Leader proposed the following:

·        Health and Wellbeing Committee – Remove Councillor Stephen

·        Income Management Sub-Committee – Remove Councillor Round

·        Personnel and General Purposes Sub-Committee – Appoint Councillor Round

The Conservative Group Leader proposed the following:

·        Health and Wellbeing Committee – Appoint Councillor Stanley

·        Personnel and General Purposes Sub-Committee – Remove Councillor Geraghty

The Liberal Democrat Group Leader proposed the following:

·        Policy and Resources Committee – Remove Councillor Murray

·        Income Management Sub-Committee – Appoint Councillor Murray

RESOLVED: That the Council agrees the changes to Committee appointments as set out above.

To receive the report of the Member Champion for Armed Forces

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

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 agrees to adopt the Worcestershire Housing Strategy 2021 – 2040 (Appendix 2).

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

The Committee at its meeting on 25^th January 2023 had approved the undertaking of an 8-week public consultation exercise on the Draft Worcestershire Housing Strategy 2021-2040. The consultation has now been completed. The majority of issues raised as part of the City’s consultation process were around matters addressed in other strategic documents either already in place, or due to be adopted in the near future, such as the South Worcestershire Development Plan, Housing Enabling Strategy, Homelessness & Rough Sleeper Strategy and City Plan.

It was recommended that no further changes to the Worcestershire Housing Strategy are needed, and the Strategy should be adopted by Worcester City Council in its current form. A Worcester City Action Plan will be developed, identifying relevant and priority actions from the County Housing Action Plan, as well as addressing issues raised in consultation responses. In addition, a countywide multi-agency stakeholder event is planned before the end of the year.

A copy of the full Committee report was attached to the report (Appendix 1) together with the final Strategy document (Appendix 2).

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

RESOLVED: That the Council agrees to adopt the Worcestershire Housing Strategy 2021 – 2040.

That the Council agrees an amendment to the capital programme of £250,000 to complete the work referred to in recommendation 1.2 in the attached report.

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

The Committee at its meeting on 18^th July 2023 considered a report on the Bereavement Services Review and in particular the feasibility review of cremator replacement at Astwood Cemetery carried out by specialist consultants, CDS, where three options were identified. The Committee had agreed to preferred Option B being progressed to a detailed design stage which would include full costings, with a further report to Policy and Resources Committee for final consideration. An amendment to the capital programme of £250,000 was required to complete this process.

It was proposed by Councillor Lewing and seconded by Councillor Cookson and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council agrees an amendment to the capital programme of £250,000 to complete the work referred to above.

That the Council agrees an adjustment to the capital programme of £710,240 to enable progress on energy cost reduction works on Council assets.

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

The Committee at its meeting on 25^th July 2023 had considered a report on progress made to date towards closing the budget gap of £1.7m identified in the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) published at Council on 21^st February 2023. The report set out a number of proposals to support the savings plan which has been developed in accordance with the process which was agreed by the Committee.

One of the proposals related to the introduction of new photovoltaic panels on Council buildings. Two opportunities had been explored to date which were expected to result in savings in energy costs and other efficiencies. To proceed to the more detailed stages of development required a commitment of resources which can be capitalised, subject to the asset development proceeding as planned.

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

RESOLVED: That the Council agrees an adjustment to the capital programme of £710,240 to enable progress on energy cost reduction works on Council assets.

That the Council receives the Treasury Management Annual Report 2022/23.

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

At the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 25^th July 2023, it was agreed that the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2022/23 be referred for information to full Council.

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

RESOLVED: That the Council receives the Treasury Management Annual Report 2022/23.

To receive a report, if necessary.

None.

The Council is invited to pass the following resolution:-

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act.

None.

None.