Agenda and minutes

To receive details of any Member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

None.

To receive any declarations of interest.

Councillor Riaz declared an interest in Medium Term Financial Plan – Progress Update (Minute 5) in relation to introducing a charge for entry to the Worcester Show as Chair of Worcester Mela.

Up to a total of fifteen minutes can be allowed, with 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 Committee.

None.

Of the meeting held on 21^st March 2023 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st March 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

That the Committee:

1.     approves the proposals and timetable for closing the budget gap identified in the MTFP at its meeting of 7 February;

2.     approves the introduction of a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme and delegates authority to the Managing Director to implement the proposed Scheme in the terms outlined in this report; and

3.     approves the reallocation of up to £500,000 existing earmarked reserves to cover potential costs.

The Committee considered a report on proposals for a savings plan to address the Council’s budget gap over a three-year timescale. The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources presented the report and explained that savings in the region of 8-10% will be required to bring costs in line with income in overall terms. The approach to achieving the savings and/or generating increased income were set out in the report along with the principles underlining the approach and a timetable for progress.

One key stage was the need to introduce a voluntary redundancy programme and details of the scheme were set out in the report. Reserves of up to £400k would need to be identified to enable the process to be completed. However, should it be necessary to identify compulsory redundancies, further costs may be incurred and an allocation of £500,000 was therefore recommended. Further details of potential reserves to be reallocated would be presented to the Committee at its July meeting.

Officers responded to questions and comments from Committee Members. In the ensuing discussion, it was clarified that opportunities to reduce revenue expenditure or increase income which have been discussed and agreed at Group Leaders/CLT meetings will be reported to this Committee  for decision at its meetings throughout the year.

RESOLVED: That the Committee approve:

1.    the proposals and timetable for closing the budget gap identified in the MTFP at its meeting of 7 February;

2.    the introduction of a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme and delegates authority to the Managing Director to implement the proposed Scheme in the terms outlined in this report; and

3.    the reallocation of up to £500,000 existing earmarked reserves to cover potential costs.

That the Committee:

1.   recommends to Council the inclusion of the provision of a new Changing Places Toilet at the Cornmarket in the Council’s Capital Programme; and

2.   recommends to Council that the Capital Programme is adjusted to include £60k of grant funding for the project and £20k supported by borrowing.

The Committee considered a report on  proposal to convert vacant space at the Cornmarket Public Conveniences into a Changing Places Toilet. The Corporate Director – Planning and Governance presented the report and explained that confirmation of a £60k Government grant was received in March 2022, including a contribution to servicing and maintenance in the initial years as well as conversion and fit out costs. Building costs had risen significantly since and with the inclusion of remedial work, an additional £20k was required from the Council’s own funds, in order to be able to award the contract for works and successfully complete the project.

Committee Members expressed support for the scheme. In the ensuing discussion, a request was made for consideration to be given to allocating a disabled parking space close to the toilet. The Corporate Director stated that Officers will looking into whether this is feasible.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to recommend to Council:

1.    the inclusion of the provision of a new Changing Places Toilet at the Cornmarket in the Council’s Capital Programme; and

2.    that the Capital Programme is adjusted to include £60k of grant funding for the project and £20k supported by borrowing.

That the Committee:

1.   Notes the contents of this report and in particular the work undertaken by the Task & Finish Group; and

2.   Notes the work of the T&F group has concluded and oversight of the Councils role in responding to the cost of living crisis will be undertaken by Health & Wellbeing Committee.

The Committee considered a closing report on the work of this Task and Finish Group, which held its last meeting on 29^th March 2023, thereby concluding its work.  The Corporate Director – Operations, Homes and Communities presented the report and summarised the work of the Group and its key outcomes. This area of work would now be overseen by the Health and Wellbeing Committee.

In the ensuing discussion, it was clarified that the amounts allocated from the Department of Work and Pensions set out in paragraph 2.20 are for 2023/24.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note:

1.   the contents of this report and in particular the work undertaken by the Task and Finish Group; and

2.   the work of the Task and Finish group has concluded and oversight of the Council’s role in responding to the cost of living crisis will be undertaken by Health & Wellbeing Committee.

That the Committee notes the Corporate Risk Management Report.

The Committee considered a report on progress made against the corporate risks for quarters 3 and 4, covering the period October 2022 – March 2023. The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources presented the report and responded to questions and comments from Committee Members.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note the Corporate Risk Management Report.

That the Policy and Resources Committee notes the Council’s quarter 4 and annual performance for 2022/23.

The Committee considered report on the quarter 4 and annual performance report for the Policy and Resources Committee. The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources presented the report, which showed progress for the current priority projects and activities which support the delivery of the Council’s City Plan and the corporate suite of key performance indicators.

Officers responded to questions and comments from Committee Members.

In the ensuing discussion, it was clarified that a report on the City Centre Transport Strategy, which has been undertaken jointly with the County Council,  will be presented to this Committee to agree a draft for onward submission to the County Council. It was further clarified that proposals will be brought forward by the end of this year setting out the Council’s response to the government’s Air Quality Strategy. This piece of work will not be dependent on when the City Centre Transport Strategy is published.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note the Council’s quarter 4 and annual performance for 2022/23.

That the Policy and Resources Committee considers the proposed content of the Policy and Resources Performance Scorecard for 2023/24.

The Committee considered the proposed content of the Policy and Resources Performance Scorecard for 2023/24. The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources presented the report and explained that a draft version of the scorecard was considered by the Committee at its meeting in March 2023, but the final version was deferred pending agreement on key priorities for the coming year. The content of the Performance Scorecard has since been reviewed by the Corporate Leadership Team and the version now presented included a number of new City Plan Projects and Activities.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree the proposed content of the Policy and Resources Performance Scorecard for 2023/24.

That the Committee:

1.     notes the proposed further consultation on a number of specific warding arrangements for Worcester City Council, published by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England; and

2.     authorises the Corporate Director- Planning and Governance, to submit a consultation response on behalf of the Council which is confined only to points on which all four Political Group Leaders have reached consensus.

The Committee considered a report on a further consultation on a number of specific warding arrangements for Worcester City Council, published by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, based on feedback from the initial consultation. The Corporate Director – Planning and Governance presented the report and summarised the proposals, which were appended to the report. The Commission proposed adjustments impacting on specific wards.

The further consultation period would run until 19 June. In view of the short timescale for response, it would not be not possible to take a draft submission to full Council for debate. Therefore the report recommended that Officers work with the Political Group Leaders to produce a consultation response on behalf of the Council, which indicates to the Commission those aspects of its proposals which are supported by all of the Political Groups on the Council, and provides commentary on any aspects which are not universally supported. Political parties were also able to make their own submissions.

Committee Members expressed support for the proposed way forward.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to:

1.    note the proposed further consultation on a number of specific warding arrangements for Worcester City Council, published by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England; and

2.    authorise the Corporate Director - Planning and Governance, to submit a consultation response on behalf of the Council which is confined only to points on which all four Political Group Leaders have reached consensus.

1.     That the Committee confirms the appointments to outside bodies for 2023-24; and

2.     That the Committee considers appointments of Member Champions for Heritage and Health and Safety.

The Committee considered a report on appointments to various outside bodies and also the appointment of Member Champions for two roles, Heritage and Health and Safety. The Corporate Director – Planning and Governance presented the report and explained that, following the May 2023 City Council Elections, there was a vacancy for the role of Heritage Champion, which was previously held by former Councillor Mrs Lucy Hodgson.

Meanwhile, Councillor Stephen had stepped down from his role as Health and Safety Champion. The report explained that the appointment of a member of the Council to take the lead on health and safety matters was introduced in 2019. A new Health and Safety Policy was adopted in 2022 and Members may wish to consider whether this Champion role is still required, now that the new Policy and a new Corporate Health and Safety Officer are in place. Councillor Stephen had indicated that in his view it was appropriate for the role to be retired.

The Corporate Director also presented nominations from Group Leaders for appointments to various outside bodies.

In the ensuing discussion, it was proposed and seconded that Councillor Gregson be appointed as Heritage Champion. There were no other nominations.

The Committee concluded that it was appropriate to retire the role of Health and Safety Champion, for the reasons set out above and in the report.

The Committee considered the recommendations from Group Leaders on appointments to outside bodies. In some cases, it was agreed to defer a decision to a future meeting in order to clarify the purpose of the appointment.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

1.    agree to appoint Councillor Gregson to the role of Heritage Champion;

2.    agree to recommend to Council that the role of Health and Safety Champion be retired; and

3.    confirm the appointments to outside bodies as set out in the schedule appended to the minutes.

Which in the opinion of the Chair is of sufficient urgency as to warrant consideration.

None.

The Committee 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.

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

Of the meeting held on 21st March 2023 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes (exempt items) of the meeting held on 21^st March 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.