Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Altaf, Cleary and Willmore.

To receive any declarations of interest.

The following declarations of interest were made:

Councillor Laurenson – Notice of Motion – Registered Social Landlords (Minute 105) – As an employee of Sanctuary Housing

Councillor Piotrowski – Notice of Motion – Registered Social Landlords (Minute 105) – As an employee of Platform Housing Group.

Of the meeting held on 20^th February 2024 to be approved and signed.

In reply to a question concerning who had given answers to questions, the Mayor stated that Officers will check to ensure they are attributed correctly.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th February 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To receive any communications the Mayor may wish to make.

Charity Fashion Show

The Mayor thanked all who had supported the Charity Fashion Show on 14^th March.  The event was a great success, with over 50 students and teachers from Christopher Whitehead Language College, Nunnery Wood High School and Heart of Worcestershire College taking part and creating some brilliant designs.

Annual Spring Concert

The Mayor thanked Worcester Concert Brass, who performed the Annual Spring Concert with songs from stage and screen on 15^th March, raising money for Age UK.

Royal Maundy Service

The Mayor announced that he would be proudly attending the Royal Maundy Service on Thursday, 25^th March in Worcester Cathedral where Her Majesty The Queen will be distributing Royal Maundy gifts on behalf of His Majesty the King.

Retiring Councillors

The Mayor paid tribute to Councillors Bisset, Geraghty and Piotrowski, who were retiring in May and were therefore attending their last meeting of the Council. Other Members also paid their own tributes.

Refreshments

The Mayor invited all Members to join him for refreshments in the Mayor’s 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.

Carla Williams spoke on behalf of the Battenhall Pump Track Action Group. She explained that the local residents believe a pump track is a good idea but this is entirely the wrong location. Reasons include the need to protect of wildlife and the natural environment, the presence of historical monuments on the site; lack of emergency access or any access for cars, ruling the track out for inclusivity of wheelchair users; the wetland nature of the site and poor drainage, putting the local area at risk of flooding again; and lack access for construction traffic. Local residents were concerned that a procedural irregularity had occurred when the Place and Economic Development Committee took its decision in January 2024 as a motion was proposed that the public were unaware of. A more suitable site would not have the same constraints and the Action Group respectfully asked for scrutiny and review of the Committee decision. She had brought this matter to the attention of the Council in order to raise awareness of the views of local residents.

Elaine Watt raised children’s summer activities at venues such as Perdiswell, St. John’s and Nunnery Wood Sports Centre. She asked if parents know that men who claim to be women are able to access Council funded facilities and use the changing rooms there, and how is this addressed in the Council’s safeguarding policies? She referred to You Gov statistics regarding negative public opinion on men who claim to be women using women’s spaces, and Parliamentary Committee statistics regarding the higher likelihood of men who claim to be women committing sexual offences. She asked the Council to confirm whether these statistics have been taken into account when allowing men who claim to be women into Council-funded spaces, where women only should be? Whether parents who intend to use the facilities over the summer holidays have been consulted or advised of these statistics? And how will these facts sit with the Council’s child safeguarding policies?

The Mayor thanked both speakers and advised them that they will be provided with a written response.

The Joint Leaders 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.

Adoption of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Definition of Islamophobia

This Motion is proposed in recognition of our commitment to fostering an inclusive and tolerant community where all residents feel valued and respected, regardless of their background or beliefs.

Worcester City Council recognizes the invaluable contribution of its diverse population to the fabric and strength of our community, including the integral role played by our Muslim residents in all aspects of city life;

Worcester City Council has a longstanding commitment to promoting social cohesion and embracing individuals from diverse backgrounds, and has consistently stood against racism and discrimination in all its forms; we also recognise that we live in a tolerant secular society where those with and without faith show respect for each other.

Worcester City Council acknowledges the need to address and combat Islamophobia, a form of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness;

This Council hereby welcomes, endorses, and adopts the working definition of Islamophobia as outlined by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), which defines Islamophobia as follows:

"Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness."

This definition includes all accompanying examples below, which encompass various manifestations of Islamophobia in public life, media, schools, workplaces, and interactions between religious and non-religious groups.

• Calling for, aiding, instigating or justifying the killing or harming of Muslims in the name of a racist/fascist ideology, or an extremist view of religion. 

• Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Muslims as such, or of Muslims as a collective group, such as, especially but not exclusively, conspiracies about Muslim entryism in politics, government or other societal institutions; the myth of Muslim identity having a unique propensity for terrorism and claims of a demographic ‘threat’ posed by Muslims or of a ‘Muslim takeover’. 

• Accusing Muslims as a group of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Muslim person or group of Muslim individuals, or even for acts committed by non-Muslims. 

• Accusing Muslims as a group, or Muslim majority states, of inventing or exaggerating Islamophobia, ethnic cleansing or genocide perpetrated against Muslims. 

• Accusing Muslim citizens of being more loyal to the ‘Ummah’ (transnational Muslim community) or to their countries of origin, or to the alleged priorities of Muslims worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations. 

• Denying Muslim populations, the right to self-determination e.g., by claiming that the existence of an independent Palestine or Kashmir is a terrorist endeavour.

 • Applying double standards by requiring of Muslims behaviours that are not expected or demanded of any other groups in society, e.g. loyalty tests. 

• Using the symbols and images associated with classic Islamophobia. 

• Holding Muslims collectively responsible for the actions of any Muslim majority state, whether secular or constitutionally Islamic.

This Council resolves to:

1. Instruct the Managing Director to write to government ministers urging them to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 105.

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

Adoption of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Definition of Islamophobia

This Motion is proposed in recognition of our commitment to fostering an inclusive and tolerant community where all residents feel valued and respected, regardless of their background or beliefs.

Worcester City Council recognizes the invaluable contribution of its diverse population to the fabric and strength of our community, including the integral role played by our Muslim residents in all aspects of city life;

Worcester City Council has a longstanding commitment to promoting social cohesion and embracing individuals from diverse backgrounds, and has consistently stood against racism and discrimination in all its forms; we also recognise that we live in a tolerant secular society where those with and without faith show respect for each other.

Worcester City Council acknowledges the need to address and combat Islamophobia, a form of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness;

This Council hereby welcomes, endorses, and adopts the working definition of Islamophobia as outlined by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), which defines Islamophobia as follows:

“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”

This definition includes all accompanying examples below, which encompass various manifestations of Islamophobia in public life, media, schools, workplaces, and interactions between religious and non-religious groups.

·        Calling for, aiding, instigating or justifying the killing or harming of Muslims in the name of a racist/fascist ideology, or an extremist view of religion.

·        Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Muslims as such, or of Muslims as a collective group, such as, especially but not exclusively, conspiracies about Muslim entryism in politics, government or other societal institutions; the myth of Muslim identity having a unique propensity for terrorism and claims of a demographic ‘threat’ posed by Muslims or of a ‘Muslim takeover’.

·        Accusing Muslims as a group of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Muslim person or group of Muslim individuals, or even for acts committed by non-Muslims.

·        Accusing Muslims as a group, or Muslim majority states, of inventing or exaggerating Islamophobia, ethnic cleansing or genocide perpetrated against Muslims.

·        Accusing Muslim citizens of being more loyal to the ‘Ummah’ (transnational Muslim community) or to their countries of origin, or to the alleged priorities of Muslims worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

·        Denying Muslim populations, the right to self-determination e.g., by claiming that the existence of an independent Palestine or Kashmir is a terrorist endeavour.

·        Applying double standards by requiring of Muslims behaviours that are not expected or demanded of any other groups in society, e.g. loyalty tests.

·        Using the symbols and images associated with classic Islamophobia.

·        Holding Muslims collectively responsible for the actions of any Muslim majority state, whether secular or constitutionally Islamic.

This Council resolves to:

1.   Instruct the Managing Director to write to government ministers urging them to heed the voices of Muslim communities and the cross-party  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105.

To consider motions to adopt reports on matters which by law or in accordance with the Constitution are referred to Council.

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 amended Protocol for Member/Officer Relations at Appendix 1, as Part 13 of the Constitution.

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

At the meeting on 5^th  March 2024, the Standards Committee considered a report on the review of the Protocol for Member/Officer Relations. All sections of the Constitution and all Council policies are subject to periodic review. The Protocol for Member/Officer Relations was last reviewed in 2017.

The Committee noted that it would be beneficial for the Protocol to have been reviewed and updated prior to the new councillor induction and training programme which will commence after the elections in May.

The Committee agreed to approve the amendments to the Protocol set out in an appendix attached to their report. Authority was delegated to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Standards Committee to agree the final draft, taking account of any further comments from the Political Group Leaders.

A few further amendments of a minor nature were proposed by the Chief Officer leadership team and the Democratic Services team. The Political Group Leaders have provided their support.

A final version of the Protocol was attached to the Council report.

It was proposed by Councillor Lawrance and seconded by Councillor Desayrah and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council agrees to adopt the amended Protocol for Member/Officer Relations at Appendix 1, as Part 13 of the Constitution.

That the Council agrees to the establishment of a Member Champion for Personal Safety and Civility, with the first appointment to this role being made after the May elections.

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

At the meeting on 5^th March 2024, the Standards Committee considered a report on Personal Safety and Civility. The Committee discussed a number of matters relating to civility and respectful debate in public life as well as related to the personal safety of councillors and officers.

A number of actions were agreed for the Monitoring Officer to progress, with the Standards Committee overseeing this as a standing agenda item at future meetings. One of the actions was to establish the role of Member Champion for Personal Safety and Civility. This would enable a councillor to work on a cross party basis, giving some focussed leadership to this vital topic and bringing in best practice from other organisations as appropriate.

It was proposed by Councillor Lawrance and seconded by Councillor Desayrah and on being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council agrees to the establishment of a Member Champion for Personal Safety and Civility, with the first appointment to this role being made after the May elections.

That the Council adopts the Capital Strategy and Investment Strategies for 2024/25.

(Report to follow)

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

At the meeting on 19^th March 2024, the Committee considered a report on the Capital Strategy for 2024/25 – 2026/27 and Investment Strategy for 2024/25 – 2026/27. The Committee agreed to recommend the Council to adopt both Strategies, copies of which were appended to the report.

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 adopts the Capital Strategy and Investment Strategy for 2024/25.

That the Council agrees:

1.       the preferred option for the hiring of the Guildhall by Political Groups represented on the City Council, as set out in section 3 of the Report at Appendix 1; and

2.       the proposed changes to the existing Policy as set out in Appendix 2 and for this to become the new Guildhall Hiring Policy, to be subject to periodic review by the Policy and Resources Committee.

The Council considered a report from the Chairman of Audit and Governance Committee.

At the meeting on 20^th March 2024, the Committee considered a report on proposed changes to the Council’s existing Policy on hiring the Guildhall and reviewed the terms of hiring by Political Groups represented on the City Council.

The Committee recognised that the Guildhall is a special building and that it should feel welcome to all. The terms of hire should reflect this. The Committee had a detailed discussion on the issues set out in the report.

The Committee voted to recommend the Council to adopt the preferred option, which in summary means that the 50% discount for Political Groups making Christmas Fayre bookings should now cease, and that bookings can continue on a full price basis, sharing rotating access amongst Political Groups which are represented on the City Council, as long as there is transparency and good signage for such events.

The Committee also agreed, subject to the amendments below, to recommend the Council to agree the changes to the existing Policy, so that it becomes a Guildhall Hiring Policy and is subject to periodic review by the Policy and Resources Committee.

The amendments are:

i.      That a positive welcoming statement is added to the start of Section 1.2.

ii.      That Section 1.6 of the Policy reflects that the Managing Director is the appeal stage of the decision-making process, and removal of the word “absolute”.

iii.      That Graduation Ceremony Processions, listed under Section 4.1 as a non-chargeable booking, be subject to review.

iv.      That Worcester Allotment Forum, listed under Section 4.1 as a non-chargeable booking, be removed as the Forum no longer exists.

It was proposed by Councillor Amos and seconded by Councillor Piotrowski that the Council adopts the proposed revised Policy, as amended. A copy was attached to the report.

The Council then entered into a debate on the proposal.

The Chairman asked for his thanks to the Guildhall staff who manage the Hiring Policy to be recorded. He highlighted the helpful manner in which they conduct their work.

On being put to the vote it was agreed and

RESOLVED: That the Council agrees:

1.    the preferred option for the hiring of the Guildhall by Political Groups represented on the City Council, as set out in section 3 of the Report at Appendix 1; and

2.    the proposed changes to the existing Policy as set out in Appendix 2 and for this to become the new Guildhall Hiring Policy, to be subject to periodic review by the Policy and Resources Committee.

To receive the report of the Children and Young People’s Champion.

The Council received a report from the Children and Young Peoples’ Champion, Councillor Lamb, setting out the achievements and highlights over the last 12 months. There was an opportunity for Members to ask questions of Councillor Lamb.

Members thanked Councillor Lamb for his report.

To receive a report, if necessary.

Councillor Denham explained that the Audit and Governance Committee had agreed that a statement should be made to Council about the scrutiny and governance of major capital programmes. She read out the following:

“At their meeting on 20 March, the Audit and Governance Committee discussed an audit report of the Scala and Corn Exchange project. The Committee discussed the governance arrangements for major capital projects in the Council. The Committee considered that the Scala and therefore other capital projects in the future must receive greater scrutiny from Members.

The Committee resolved to ask the Council to note that in any review of governance arrangements that may be conducted after the May elections, the arrangements for the oversight and scrutiny of all major capital projects should be considered and best practice external advice should be followed.

The Joint Leaders are asked to note this position so that it can be recorded in the minutes of this Council’s meeting, for the benefit of the Council which is formed in the new municipal year.”

Other Members commented on this statement.

To consider any exempt matters which might arise.

None.