Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllrs Hodgson, A Wilson and Ryan.

Cllrs L McCarthy and Rebeiro with the Mayors permission joined the meeting remotely.

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

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the two meetings held on 11 October 2022 be agreed subject to the following correction the removal of “of” after Queen and before Elizabeth on page 10, and correct spelling of Cllr Courts on the same page.

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

None received.

To receive petitions from Members of the Council.

The following petition was submitted:

Cllr Thomas - Residents call upon the Council to co-ordinate measures with residents to tackle the infestation of rats in the back gardens of properties backing onto Richmond Road playing fields.

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

The Mayor made a number of announcements which in summary included:

Christmas Donations - As had become tradition at the December Council meeting the Mayor invited Members, as Corporate Parents, to make a Christmas donation to OVOS.

Foster Carers – The Mayor drew attention to the flyer on desks seeking Member support for the new online foster carer recruitment campaign.

Pete Campbell- The Mayor welcomed Pete Campbell as the new Director of Children Services’ and Skills to his first Council meeting.

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.

The Mayor advised that under Standing Order 9 one question had been received from Mr Richard Lloyd. Mr Lloyd presented his question:

“Given the importance of the Balsall Common and Hampton-in-Arden HS2 Viaducts to residents, and the failure of HS2 Ltd to engage with the community, as mandated in the Parliamentary proceedings, beyond peripheral issues, it would be appreciated if the Council would set out its strategy for securing more attractive architectural design options, as offered for the Colne Valley in London, rather than the current cumbersome design.”

Cllr Mackiewicz, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Housing responded to the question and undertook to provide Mr Lloyd with a written response.

The Mayor advised that under Standing Order 12 one deputation had been received from local residents Mr Freeman and Mr Maskell regarding speeding on Dovehouse Lane. Cllr Gibbin introduced them.

Cllr Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure responded to the deputation.

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

Cllr Rymer to Cllr K Grinsell Cabinet Member for Partnership’s and Wellbeing

Is it acceptable to have Solihull Community Housing properties with doors that either don’t lock, or won’t open?

The Cabinet Member advised that Solihull Community Housing make every effort to ensure that doors in communal areas operate effectively at all times with opening and locking, always in good working order. It is not acceptable to have communal doors not working particularly as they are integral for building safety. Unfortunately, there are times when the doors break down. In such situations, there are occasions where the resolution to the break down requires a part to be supplied and this can sometimes cause a delay in the repair. We are aware of a particular low-rise block where this has happened recently, and action is being taken to sort the problem out.

Cllr Rymer questioned whether it was acceptable to wait up to six months for a resolution. The Cabinet Member repeated that work was on going with the supplier to fix the problem. Cllr Rymer questioned what the plan was to deal with other blocks which faced the same problem. The Cabinet Member asked that Cllr Rymer provide the details he had so she could follow this up.

Cllr Thomas to Cllr Gough Cabinet Member for Children and Education

Over the last year Solihull has welcomed a large number of families arriving from Hong Kong, with Solihull being the second most popular destination in the UK. The arrival of so many new families is putting pressure on our already full schools and students are being offered places at schools’ miles away from their catchment areas. Although this has been acknowledged as a problem and a bus is being offered, it comes with a 1 hour plus journey time (including walking a substantial distance to the nearest stop), which is detrimental to the children's education and well-being, as well as depriving them of the opportunity to participate in after school activities. What steps are being taken to provide additional places within or close to their catchment areas for these pupils?

The Cabinet Member advised that he had a detailed answer which he would share with Cllr Thomas, but in brief. Demand for places was significant and unprecedented.  However, it doesn't just fall at the feet of one particular group, it's a combination of many factors. We had over 3000 in year applications in 2021 therefore the majority of schools at the start of the academic year were already full before the year even started so it leaves very little room for expansion throughout the year. Families are offered a school place as close to their home as humanly possible but with the high demand it's becoming more challenging. To meet demand secondary schools were accommodating pupils over and above their existing numbers through the Fair Access Panel. For September 2022 bulge classes have been added to years 7, 8 and 9 and that's circa 125 places, there's an additional 600 planned  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To deal with any Topic of Debate submitted.

No topic of debate was received.

To deal with any motions submitted.

No motion was received.

Governance Committee 24 November 2022

Minute 9 Appointment to an Outside Body – George Fentham Hampton in Arden Endowed Charity and the Educational Foundation of George Fentham (page 163)

RESOLVED:

That Full Council be recommended to confirm the reappointment of Ms Josephine Oswald to the George Fentham Hampton-in-Arden Endowed Charity and the Educational Foundation of George Fentham for a four-year term 2022-2026.

Cllr B Grinsell the Vice-Chairman moved the recommendation from Governance Committee 24 November 2022 Minute 9 Appointment to an Outside Body – George Fentham Hampton in Arden Endowed Charity and the Educational Foundation of George Fentham.

RESOLVED:

That Full Council confirm the reappointment of Ms Josephine Oswald to the George Fentham Hampton-in-Arden Endowed Charity and the Educational Foundation of George Fentham for a four-year term 2022-2026.

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 and Lead Member for the Economy

(pages 23-32)

b) Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Partnerships and Wellbeing including Solihull Health and Wellbeing Board minutes (pages 33-47)

c) Cabinet Member for Resources (pages 49-52)

d) Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure (pages 53-59)

e) Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Housing (pages 61-65)

f) Cabinet Member for Children and Education (pages 67-71)

g)  Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure (pages 73-75)

h) Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health (pages 77-85) 

The Council received a summary of decisions, reports and dealt with any subsequent questions in relation to the following Cabinet Portfolios:

Leader of the Council and Lead Member for the Economy

The Leader presented his report, there were no questions.

Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Partnerships and Wellbeing

The Deputy Leader presented her report, there were questions relating to work the Council was doing on ‘Well Paid Work’, how other Wards could be considered for future schemes similar to the Shirley Utility Box scheme, what work the Council was doing to reduce residents reliance on having to access third party partners during the Cost of Living Crisis, communications the Council was providing to residents on what Mental Health and Debt Advice services would be available over the festive period and finally what data the Council had collected on the impact on the Household Support Fund and residents reliance on using foodbanks.

Cabinet Member for Resources

The Cabinet Member presented his report, there no questions.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Communities and Leisure

The Cabinet Member presented her report, there was a question concerning the water temperature at Tudor Grange pool being too cold and what data was being collected as part of the exercise referral schemes and Good Boost.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change Planning and Housing

The Cabinet Member presented his report, there were questions relating to the potential date of submission to the Secretary of State and on the consultation on the Local Plan, whether the Council would be supporting the Planning Committee’s decision to refuse the redevelopment of the former Morrisons site in Shirley and whether there was an overprovision of care home/retirement living properties in Shirley.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children and Education

The Cabinet Member presented his report. There was a question relating to whether more detail could be given in the reports in the future due to the difficulties the service was facing.

Cabinet Portfolio for Environment and Infrastructure

The Cabinet Member presented his report. Members welcomed the introduction of Average Speed Check Cameras in the borough.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing

The Cabinet Member presented his report. Members asked questions relating to the statistics on suicide in the Borough and what the Council was doing differently to tackle this issue and changes to Adult Social Care following the Autumn Statement.

To receive for information the Scrutiny Annual Report.

The Chairman of the Resources and Delivering Value Scrutiny Board introduced the report which was for information only. Councillors reiterated the role of Scrutiny Members, Chairman and the role it plays in holding the Executive to account, queried the minute style and commented generally on the content of the report.

RESOLVED
That the report be received for information.

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

a)  Resources and Delivering Value (pages 103-118)

b)  Children’s Services, Education and Skills (pages 119-124)

c)  Health and Adult Social Care (pages 125-134)

d)  Stronger Communities and Neighbourhood Services (pages 135-140)

e)  Economic Development and Managed Growth (pages 141-151)

The minutes of the Scrutiny Boards were presented for information. Questions related to the work of the Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Board and whether the recent allegations in the media could be covered by the Board and whether any further work would be done following the motion on the Cost-of-Living Crisis being heard at Resources and Delivering Value Scrutiny Board.

a)  Resources and Delivering Value Scrutiny Board 3 October and 7 November

b)  Children’s Services, Education and Skills Scrutiny Board 1 November and 9 November

c)  Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Board 22 September

d)  Stronger Communities and Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Board 16 November

e)  Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board 17 November

RESOLVED

The minutes of the Scrutiny Boards were received for information only.

The minutes of the following Committees are presented for information:

a)  Audit Committee (pages 153-155)

b)  Remuneration Committee (pages 157-158)

c)  HS2 IAG (pages 159-160)

d)  Governance Committee (pages 161-164)

The minutes of the following Committees were presented for information.

a)  Audit Committee 14 November

b)  HS2 Implementation Advisory Group 21 November

c)  Governance Committee 24 November

RESOLVED

The minutes of the Council’s Committees were received for information only.

To receive the following reports:

a)  Minutes of the WMCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee (pages 165-168)

The minutes of the meeting were presented for information. There was a question on whether more detail could be provided in the minutes to reflect what happened in the meeting and how long it took for the minutes of the Committee to be presented to the Council. Cllr M McCarthy, as the Council’s representative on the Committee advised he would pick this with West Midlands Combined Authority.

RESOLVED

The minutes of the WMCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee 5 September were received for information only.

To deal with any questions by Leaders of political groups to the Leader of the Council, a member of the Cabinet, a Chairman of a Committee, Board, Sub-Committee or Task and Finish Group.

Cllr Kathryn Thomas – Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats

What is the Council’s position on raising awareness of Strep A given the deaths of Children in the Country?

The Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care informed Cllr Thomas there was a number of communications coming from the Council both directly to the public and schools around this issue.

To consider appointing four Members, to sit with the Cabinet Member for Children and Education on the Corporate Parenting Board.

The Deputy Chief Executive presented the report seeking the appointment of four Councillors to the Corporate Parenting Board. There were five nominations received and Council agreed to appoint five members.

RESOLVED

That Cllrs L McCarthy, B Groom, D Gibbin S Gethen and A Rebeiro be appointed to the Corporate Parenting Board.

The Chief Executive to report on any urgent matters.

The Deputy Chief Executive had no Urgent Matters to present.

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

Cllr Sheshabhatter to Cllr Howell Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure

Residents and Councillors reporting issues to Solihull Connect are seeing service requests closed before any action is taken. The only exception to this is in relation to lighting. Can you explain why other service areas aren’t following the same process so that logged issues are dealt with after one report.

The Cabinet Member advised that the request should only be closed when the service has been completed, and or the scheduled completion date has been noted. Unfortunately, this process is not always followed by all service areas consistently which can cause repeat contact and effort. The Connect Service is therefore currently working with service delivery teams, and ICT, to develop the customer management system to stop this issue occurring and ensure that all service requests move to progress update status with the details included before the request can be closed

Cllr Sheshabhatter to Cllr Hawkins Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure

The street-care schedule for leaf sweeping doesn’t appear to be followed, and new streets that are added aren’t getting swept, as the build-up of leaves in areas shows. What is happening to address this issue?

The Cabinet Member advised that he was not aware of any issues with the leafing schedule and all new street requests for leafing raised by Members have been added to the schedule. However, I would be happy to raise any specific areas of concern with Officers if Cllr Sheshabhatter could email me the relevant details.

Cllr Rymer to Cllr Hawkins Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure

Bollards and double yellow lines need reinstating for safety outside Bishop Wilson School, so can the Cabinet Member confirm when this will happen?

The Cabinet Member advised that the bollards had been reinstated, the yellow lines work was weather dependent and is programmed shortly.

Cllr Rymer advised that the bollards had not been done. Cllr Hawkins advised he would look further into this matter, as Officers had assured him the bollards had been reinstated.

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.

RESOLVED

That, pursuant 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.

The following minutes were received for information:-

a)  Audit Committee (pages 175-176)

b)  Stronger Communities and Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Board (pages 177-179)

RESOLVED

The private minutes of the Audit Committee and Stronger Communities and Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Board were presented for information only.