Agenda and minutes

Councillor Fairburn, Hogarth and Parker submitted their apologies.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous Council meetings.

The minutes of the Council meetings held on 8 October 2019 were presented.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Council meetings held on 8 October 2019 were approved as a correct record.

To receive declarations of interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct (Members are directed to the guidance sheet attached)

Councillor Mackiewicz made a declaration of interest as a Director of AMPA Associates Ltd who provided contracts procured by Solihull Council.

Councillor Adeyemo made a declaration of interest on the basis that a relative worked in the Council’s Income and Awards department.

To receive petitions from Members of the Council.

Councillor Tildesley submitted a petition on behalf of local residents, which requested Solihull Council to upgrade and improve the parking facility on Prospect Lane following the loss of a car parking facility at The Sharman’s Cross pub.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader of the Council or Members of the Cabinet.

The Mayor made the following announcements:

Christmas donation:

The Mayor invited members to make a Christmas donation, as corporate parents, for looked after children and care leavers within the borough.

Director of Managed Growth and Communities

The Mayor announced that the Director of Managed Growth and Communities would be leaving the organisation, and on behalf of members and officers thanked her for her ten years of service.

A date for the diary

The Mayor’s Christmas Miscellany would be held on Monday 16 December 2019.

The Mayor also provided a brief summary of his activities since the last full Council in October.

To answer questions asked by residents of the Borough under Standing Order 9 and to hear petitioners or deputations in accordance with Standing Order 12.

No questions or deputations were received.

To answer questions asked under Standing Order 8 by Councillors (30 Minutes)

Councillor Cole to Councillor Courts Leader of the Council

“Kingshurst Parish Council and the local stake holders at Kingshurst Parade have requested I ask you the following question. Proposals for the redevelopment of The Parade started in 2005, can you explain why after 15 1/2 years we appear to be no further forward?”

The Leader responded with the following points:

·  The North Solihull Partnership was established in May 2005 with the aim of bringing about the physical, social and economic regeneration of North Solihull. This had resulted in £534 million of funding to the North of the Borough. Progress had been made but it was recognised that it was desirable to make this happen quicker. This was a result of the housing market collapse in the first five years of the programme, which threatened the funding for the project.

·  The project was incredibly complex, with challenges such as infrastructure improvements and property acquisition. As with many redevelopment projects, considerable work had to be undertaken within the community and to ensure that it was commercially viable. Significant developments had taken place over the previous year, which included gaining £4.86 million from the WMCA to complete the early scheme development.

·  It was not possible to confirm a date for the completion of the scheme, as it was not known if compulsory purchase orders would be required, which would add to the timescale.

Councillor Cole responded by requesting information on the situation with regards to funding at the moment.

The Leader responded by outlining that the project required substantial funding but the WMCA were keen to provide support, subject to the provision of a detailed scheme.

Councillor Cole questioned when the scheme would start.

The Leader explained that there were ongoing negotiations with properties where compulsory purchase orders may be required, which meant it was not possible to give a definitive date. An illustrative programme would emerge once the planning consent and compulsory purchase orders have taken place.

Councillor Allen to Councillor Mackiewicz Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Planning and Housing

“For almost four years the residential development at Berry Maude in Shirley was without proper street lighting, leaving the huge parts of the area blacked out during winter months and increasing anti-social behaviour.  The developer failed to install the correct lamp standards and there has been an ongoing battle with the developer by the residents and the council to correct this. Thankfully this will be resolved very soon, but has taken far too long. There is now another issue for the Poppyfields development at the old Powergen site. Street lamps are installed, but are not switched on as the council has not adopted the highway yet and residents are concerned about safety and security in what is an unfinished building site until the Extra Care village is complete. 

Is there any reason why a standard condition could not be attached to all planning approvals for street lights to be working before residents move in to new residential developments?”

The Cabinet Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To deal with any Topic of Debate submitted.

No topic of debate was submitted.

To receive the following motion:

Cllr Mackiewicz:

“That Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council:

(i) recognises that councils can play a central role in creating sustainable communities, particularly through the provision of locally generated renewable electricity;

(ii) further recognises:

Ø  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;

Ø  that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier's operation would create significant opportunities for councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations; and

Ø   that revenues received by councils that became local renewable electricity providers could be used to help fund local greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures and to help improve local services and facilities;

(iii) accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, currently supported by a cross-party group of 115 MPs, and which, if made law, would make the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Local Supply; and will ask the LGA to lobby government to support the local electricity bill:

Ø  inform the local media of this decision;

Ø  write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill; and

Ø  write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeole.org.uk) expressing its support.

Councillor Mackiewicz proposed the following motion, seconded by Councillor Diccico.

“That Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council:

(i) recognises that councils can play a central role in creating sustainable communities, particularly through the provision of locally generated renewable electricity;

(ii) 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;
• that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier's operation would create significant opportunities for councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations; and
• that revenues received by councils that became local renewable electricity providers could be used to help fund local greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures and to help improve local services and facilities;

(iii) accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, currently supported by a cross-party group of 115 MPs, and which, if made law, would make the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Local Supply; and will ask the LGA to lobby government to support the local electricity bill:

• inform the local media of this decision;
• write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill; and
• write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeole.org.uk) expressing its support.”

Councillor Caudwell proposed an amendment to the motion, so point ii, bullet point one reads as follows (amendment stated in italics). Councillor McLoughlin seconded the amendment:

• “that very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being challenging for local renewable electricity generators to do so;”

The above amendment was put to Council and agreed.

Councillor Caudwell then proposed a further amendment to the motion to include the following point. This was seconded by Councillor McLoughlin:

At the end of the motion to include the following words “Furthermore, the Council will commit to identifying land suitable for renewable energy generation in the Local Plan.”

There was a brief adjournment so Group Leaders could discuss a possible way forward regarding the second amendment, as there had been offer to refer this particular issue to the relevant Cabinet Member, the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change Planning and Housing.

The amendment was subsequently withdrawn by Councillor Caudwell, and  Councillor Mackiewicz agreed to include the amendment in a report which would be debated at his next  Climate Change, Planning and Housing Cabinet Portfolio Holder Decision Session.

Members then voted on the substantive motion which read as:

“That Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council:

 (i) recognises that councils can play a central role in creating sustainable communities, particularly through the provision of locally generated renewable electricity;

(ii) further recognises:

• that very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive the following recommendations from Committees:

Remuneration Committee 24 October 2019

Minute 6 Highways & Environment Leadership Team (pages 126-127)

RESOLVED:

That full Council on 3 December 2019 be RECOMMENDED to approve the payment of severance costs of £122,385 (annual salary including on-costs is £93,862) with a payback period of 1.3 years.

Governance Committee 21 November 2019 (page 131)

Minute 9 Calendar Of Meetings 2020/21

RESOLVED

That Full Council on 3 December be Recommended to approve the calendar of meetings for 2020/21.

Council received the following recommendations from Committees:

Remuneration Committee 24 October 2019

Minute 6 Highways and Environment Leadership Team

  RESOLVED

  That Council approved the payment of severance costs of £122,385 (annual salary including on-costs is £93,862) with a payback period of 1.3 years.

Governance Committee 21 November 2019

Minute 9 Calendar of Meetings 2020/21

RESOLVED

That Council approved the calendar of meetings for 2020/21

To receive a summary of decisions, reports from and to deal with any subsequent questions in relation to the following Cabinet Portfolios:

a) Leader of the Council Cabinet and Portfolio (Economy) Report

(pages 29-37)

b) Cabinet Member for Resources (pages 39-42)

c) Cabinet Member for Stronger and Safer Communities (pages 43-45)

d) Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Housing (pages 47-53)

e) Cabinet Member for Children Education and Skills– (pages 55-61)

f)  Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways (pages 63-68)

g) Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health including Solihull Health and Wellbeing Board minutes (to follow)  (pages 69-75)

h)  Cabinet Member for Growth and Infrastructure (pages 77-78)

(i) Cabinet Member for Leisure Tourism and Sport (pages 79-83)

The Leader and Cabinet Members updated Council on their respective portfolios and responded to any queries raised by Councillors:

·  Leader of the Council, Cabinet and Portfolio (Economy) Report

·  Cabinet Member for Resources

·  Cabinet Member for Stronger and Safer Communities

·  Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Housing

·  Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills

·  Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways

·  Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health including Solihull Health and Wellbeing Board minutes which had been tabled at the meeting

·  Cabinet Member for Growth and Infrastructure

·  Cabinet Member for Leisure, Tourism and Sport

The minutes of the following Scrutiny Board are presented for information:

a)  Resources and Delivering Value (pages 85-89)

b)  Economic Development and Managed Growth (pages 91-101)

c)  Children’s Services, Education and Skills (pages103-109)

d)  Stronger Communities and Neighbourhood Services (pages 111-115)

The minutes of the following Scrutiny Board were presented for information:

·  Resources and Delivering Value

·  Economic Development and Managed Growth

·  Children’s Services, Education and Skills

·  Stronger Communities and Neighbourhood Services

The minutes of the following Committees are presented for information:

a)  HS2 Implementation Advisory Group (pages 119 124)

b)  Remuneration Committee (pages 125-127)

c)  Audit Committee (to follow)

d)  Governance Committee (pages 129-131)

The minutes of the following Committees were presented for information:

·  HS2 Implementation Advisory Group

·  Remuneration Committee

·  Audit Committee

·  Governance Committee

To receive the following report form the Chief Executive:

a)  Leader's Schemes of Delegation to Cabinet Members and Officers (provided for information only)

The Chief Executive presented a report on the Leader’s Schemes of Delegation to Cabinet Members and Officers for information.

The Chief Executive to report on any urgent matters.

There were no urgent matters.

To answer any remaining questions not dealt with under item 7.

There were no remaining questions.

That, pursuance of Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business to be transacted, on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information in terms of paragraph 3 of Part 9 of Schedule 12A to the said Act.

That, in pursuance of Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business to be transacted, on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information in terms of Schedule 12A to the said Act.

To receive for information the following sets of minutes:

a)  Appeals Committee (School Transport) (179-181)

b)  Audit Committee Minutes (to follow)

The following private minutes were presented for information:

·  Appeals Committee

·  Audit Committee