Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Juliet Brunner, Antonia Pulsford and Paul Swansborough.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 21^st September 2015.

RESOLVED that

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 21st September 2015 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider any exceptional Announcements under Procedure Rule 10:

a)         Mayor’s Announcements

b)         Leader’s Announcements

c)         Chief Executive’s Announcements.

(Oral report)

a)    The Mayor

The Mayor thanked all those who had attended her Church Service which had been held on 4^th October 2015.

b)    The Leader

The Leader had attended a number of events and highlighted the following:

·         The Headless Cross Apply Day

·         Mental Health and Wellbeing Day

·         A fund raising event at a local bank in support of the local Nightstop project.

To consider the enclosed report prepared by the Chief Executive, setting out key issues relating to the Government’s devolution agenda and asking the Council to decide its response to an invitation to join the proposed West Midlands Combined Authority.

The Leader introduced the report and in so doing highlighted to Members an additional recommendation, in respect of delegated authority to approve amended documentation, should the Council agree to accept the invitation to become a non-constituent member of the proposal West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).  This took account of the fast moving and ever changing route which this matter was taking.

In response to a requested from Councillor Brandon Clayton, the Mayor announced that the meeting would be adjourned for a few minutes to allow Members to consider the additional recommendation.  The meeting stood adjourned from 7.07 p.m. to 7.09 p.m.

Following the short adjournment the Leader continued his presentation of the report, making specific reference to a number of areas:

·         The Council needed to make a decision on 2 very important issues which could lead to advantages to the residents and business of the Borough.

·         The WMCA work was much more advanced than that in respect of the Worcestershire Devolution option and the joining of one did not preclude membership of the other.

·         The results of the consultation which had been carried out – the Leader had also spoken to both residents and business leaders and discussed the matter at the Economic Development Forum.

·         The complexity of the subject and the speed and pace at which the matter was moving, with the timetable being set by Central Government.

·         Presentations and updates which had been received in respect of both options – it was highlighted that each had differing powers and scope with one based on a single county and the other with potentially 21 councils and 3 LEPs.

·         The Leader thanked officers for their support, work and dedication on the two projects.

In respect of the WMCA option, a decision was needed in order to meet the response date and the Leader spoke in support of this option drawing Members attention to the opportunities for growth, jobs, investment and improved transport which the Borough could potentially benefit from by being a non-constituent member of the WMCA.  The WMCA would be the biggest combined authority in the country with the potential for significant growth being available which would allow the Borough to raise skills levels and increase productivity.  The Leader highlighted a number of points within the report and in particular made reference to the “metro mayor”, assuring Members that this role would only cover the metropolitan council areas and not the non-constituent members.  In respect of the devolution option, work was on going on putting together a package and reports would continue to be received and consideration given to this in due course.

The Leader gave the Chief Executive the opportunity to provide a further update and he provided Members with details of the authorities who had already agreed to become non-constituent members together with those who were yet to make a decision.  The Chief Executive also confirmed that the 3 LEPs involved were Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire and Greater Birmingham and Solihull.  He also confirmed that all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

To consider any additional items exceptionally agreed by the Mayor as Urgent Business in accordance with the powers vested in her by virtue of Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

(This power should be exercised only in cases where there are genuinely special circumstances which require consideration of an item which has not previously been published on the Order of Business for the meeting.)

There were no separate items of urgent business to consider at this meeting.