Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Grange and Cross.

There were no declarations of interests.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 October 2022 were agreed as a correct record.  The Chair informed the committee that he had received an update from Councillor Marshall (Chair of Planning Committee) and having considered all the members concerns and due to the degree of public participation, it had been agreed to revert back to the original Planning Committee Protocols allowing ward members 10 minutes for speaking at planning committee meetings.

Sections of this report have been redacted as it contains information not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.  The full report has been sent to the Committee separately and any discussion on this exempt information will be held in private session.

The Cabinet Member for Waste & Recycling, Councillor Little, introduced the report to the committee.  She informed the committee that the methods of the district’s recycling were changed in April/May this year to dual stream recycling however, implementation did not go as well as desired.  It was reported that by the end of May the roll out was complete however, due to concerns, an Independent Expert’s report had been requested to look at the issues experienced and how the service could move forward.  This report was attached and Councillor Little asked the committee for any questions or observations.  She said there was a work programme for the Joint Waste Service now to address the concerns but asked for any other feedback.  She agreed the service needed to move forward and get back to the gold standard service the residents had enjoyed prior to this implementation and lengthy discussions took place around the failures and lessons learnt.

Cllr Matthews attended to brief the committee on the involvement of the Task Group and it was noted that although he was tasked in November last year to look at the roll out of the dual stream recycling scheme, for various reasons the Task Group did not meet until 17 Feb 2022 and met only once with one task and that was to review the communications strategy surrounding the roll out – the notes of this Task Group were provided.

The following views/questions were given:-

·         There was not sufficient support or “buy in” from local residents as members were not involved early enough; February for the Task Group was too late;

·         The Joint Waste Committee did not scrutinise or feed in to Overview & Scrutiny committees  nor members as to the progress and why blue bags were decided upon;

·         As this was a new service why was there no pilots/trials so staff could be trained in advance?;

·         The Leader was asked why the communication plan and deadlines were not adhered to?

·         Can we signpost to where Tetra-packs can be recycled (at the County Council’s recycling centres) on the website?

·         The Cabinet Member, at the time, Cllr Ashley Yeates, was not interviewed by the Independent person for his input in to the report;

·         Why did the other local authorities who were part of the introduction of the blue bag system, Tamworth, South Staffordshire, Cannock and East Staffordshire not seem to have the same problems as Lichfield District?

·         What was the additional costs in providing extra rounds?

·         When will HMO’s roll out be complete?

·         In hindsight, it was agreed a dedicated helpline would have been beneficial; it was highlighted that this was a suggestion of the Task Group but was not acted upon.

·         The delay in the supplier providing the bags meant staff were not given appropriate toolbox talks and this had had an enormous strain on capacity as it took drivers off collections to deliver bags, why was there no modelling done?

·         It was noted that the quality of recycling is good but it is the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Commissioning, Councillor Strachan, introduced the Medium Term Financial Strategy Report and said this was the second time this item had come to the O&S meeting and members will see some of the comments from the previous meeting had been incorporated and the remainder of comments were still under consideration before it is made final and taken to Council on 28 February 2023.

The Assistant Director - Finance & Commissioning, Mr Thomas, gave a presentation covering the Autumn Statement announcement today even though the detail would not be available until the settlement is released which is not due until 19 December:-

Local Authority Elements:-

·       Spending Review numbers not changing from numbers for 2021.

·       Adult social care funding. (new money available)

·       Delaying adult social care charging reforms. (saves a lot of money)

• B and D council tax thresholds.  The maximum core threshold will increase from 1.99% to 2.99%, and the ASC precept will be 2% in 2023-24.  Thresholds will increase for both district councils and for authorities with social care responsibilities.

• Business rates multiplier.  The multiplier will be frozen in 2023-24.  Local authorities “will be fully compensated for the loss of income as a result of these business rates measures”.  No confirmation yet whether cap compensation will be payable based on RPI or CPI.

• Business rates reliefs.  Extension of Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) reliefs into 2023-24, plus a Supporting Small Business Scheme (SSBS). 

• Revaluation 2023.  Revaluation will go ahead but there will be a more generous transitional scheme, with additional Government support.

• New Homes Bonus – No mention of this in the Autumn Statement but likely to be in the settlement details in December.

Further information was also given on the potential financial impact of a higher Council Tax threshold - 3% threshold in all years was illustrated on the presentation.

Councillor Strachan then gave his update:-

·       Financing of the Leisure Centre - Reiterated that Option 1 was always and remains a successful application to the Levelling up Fund.  He sees it as a replacement of a very well used but aging facility that without a replacement would be lost so avoiding levelling down not just levelling up.  However, members were asked to note that if the application was unsuccessful, the original plan was to look at funding via external borrowing but this now looked less probable and it was discussed why in the current economic climate it is becoming a challenging option in the report.  Alternative options are under consideration.

·       Fees and charges – Balancing act of user affordability versus offset to increasing costs as there were a number of things that were significantly restricted and we have to do on a costs recovery basis.  At previous meeting, the committee agreed to a 2.5% increase (2023/24).  It was agreed we have to recognise where residents are struggling to afford things we are operating but look at where we are committed too.

·       Local Government Finance Risks – Very difficult climate at the moment and the Audit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Commissioning, Councillor Strachan, summarised the proposed new Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme Report and thanked Steve Woods and Lizzie Barton and her team for the consultation exercise which now meant the Council could move forward with a new proposed scheme.

The proposed changes were detailed on page 1 of the report and Councillor Strachan confirmed that the scheme aimed to make it better for claimants and better for council taxpayers allowing them more financial support, less paperwork and thus confusion, provide more financial stability and reduce debt recovery activities.  He said the new scheme had the ability to award 100% reduction to those on the very low incomes and there were a number of income disregards.  It was a banded route which should permit fluctuation within the band and all major preceptors had been consulted and widespread support had been reported.  The need for extended payments (where someone who was unemployed, but gains employment, retains the same council tax reduction for the first four weeks of their employment so that they do not face bills as soon as they start working) had been revisited and given the new scheme is designed to encourage and support people into and to remain in work it was proposed that extended payments be retained in the new scheme despite the consultation feedback.  Members support and comments was requested.

The following questions/comments were given:-

1.    Were there exemptions for students and care leavers?

2.    Can we develop the automation for the process?

3.    Who were able to comment on the proposed scheme and were CAB asked to comment as an organisation who also deal in benefits? 

4.    It was agreed the extended payments element should be retained – very valuable.

5.    Good to see that discretion was to be built in but there was concern as to a 2 child limit – (it was agreed to look at this policy for discretionary payments at the O&S meeting in January).

6.    How are we going to inform customers of the new scheme as needs to be as seamless as possible? 

Lizzie Barton assured members that the contact centre staff would all be trained and know how the new scheme works and she will be working with the CAB to signpost effectively and encourage people on to the new scheme which will all be in place before it goes live.

RESOLVED:-

(1)  The Committee supported the introduction of a new income banded Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for working age claimants with effect from 1 April 2023 in line with all proposals (detailed in Appendix 1), except for the removal of extended payments.

(2)  The Committee supported the retention of extended payments to better support residents who gain employment (see3.21).

(3)  The Committee noted that subject to their input, the proposals will be considered for approval by Cabinet in December. If the scheme is approved, the exact rates for the 2023 – 2024’s Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The Chair, Councillor Wilcox, highlighted the email he had sent to all members on Monday following the previous Staffordshire County Council’sHealth & Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee which gave a resume of the meeting.  He also advised that he had emailed the Chair of the committee detailing the concerns previously voiced here about the lack of mental health facilities and he had now received a detailed response which he would forward on to members via email also.  Councillor Wilcox said he was assured as the Chair had now confirmed that there would be two papers coming in the early part of next year in relation to Children’s Health & Wellbeing and Mental Wellbeing in Schools and it was most definitely on their radar.

Cllr Eagland confirmed this too and stated that the SCC Safeguarding group were also really going forward on this subject and Councillor Silvester-Hall confirmed she had been to a SCC event today - Journey of a child – which was also looking at mental wellbeing in early years/school children/teenagers and beyond.  She said there were a lot of good initiatives going on including how children are supporting each other.

The Committee noted the Work Programme and the Chair confirmed that the next meetingwas scheduled to take place on 15 December 2022 and was the one item only agenda - Budget meeting.

There was a concern voiced that there were Elections next May where Voter ID Cards were being brought in as a necessity by the government to vote yet no criteria had yet been set by councils for those who do not have the approved forms of ID.  It was requested this item be discussed at January’s meeting.  This was agreed as circulars were being received about this which Members asked to be copied to them and it was agreed that a special meeting could always be arranged if timings did not coincide.

The discretionary policy (Section 13) for the new Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme to be added in to January’s work programme also – Lizzie Barton.

Christine Lewis, Principal Governance Officer, advised members that the Lichfield Masterplan Task Group met last night and the notes would come to the budget meeting to be held on 15 December;

The New Leisure Centre Task Group were meeting beginning of December so the notes would come to 15 December meeting;

And

The Climate Change Task Group were also hoping to meet 5 December dependent on the planning committee meeting agenda.