Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

(a)  To agree the minutes from the meeting of Cabinet on 25 February, 2025

(b)  Matters arising

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2024 were agreed and signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which set out details of the Coventry Community Safety Partnership Plan 2025-2028.

The report would also be considered by Council at their meeting on 25 March 2025.

Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) were the statutory body that brought together local partners to solve shared issues around Crime and Disorder, Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), Drug and Alcohol misuse, and Reoffending.

CSPs were required to develop an overarching Community Safety Partnership Plan under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The plan provided an overview of the work and priority areas that fall under the responsibility of the Coventry Community Safety Partnership (CCSP).

The plan was intended to focus on those issues of most concern to residents, that caused the most harm to communities and required a coordinated approach to deliver lasting change.

The Coventry Community Safety Partnership Plan had been informed by:

·  the views of residents, including those who have been affected by crime and/or accessing services

·  analysis of the problem, drawing on data and information from a breadth of partners

·  evidence of “what works” in tackling crime and disorder

·  the views of professionals and stakeholders working locally.

To help inform the Plan a 12-week public consultation had been undertaken between the 10 July 2024 and the 2 October 2024. Workshops were held by the sub-groups of the CCSP to obtain the views of professionals and stakeholders. This report was also considered by Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee on the 18 December 2024. Following this, a survey was issued to Elected Members to enable them to input to the Plan.  Consideration has also been given to the West Midland Police Crime Commissioner's Priorities outlined in his 2025-2028 Plan.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)  Recommend that Council approve the proposed Coventry Community Safety Partnership Plan. 

(2)  Request quarterly monitoring of the Plan by the Coventry Community Safety Partnership.

(3)  Request a yearly report to update on the progress of the Coventry Community Safety Partnership Plan.

Council is recommended to:

(1) Consider the requirements of the Crime and Disorder Act 1999 and approve the proposed Coventry Community Safety Partnership Plan.

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy which set out details of the Coventry & Warwickshire Economic Strategy (2024-2034).

Following the closure of Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) in 2023, it was agreed by both Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council that the economic function of the sub-region remained a key priority.  It was also agreed that the area needed a new economic strategy that aligned with broader national economic policies and enabled local challenges and opportunities to be tackled in a focused and co-ordinated manner.

In 2023, Warwickshire County Council, working with Coventry City Council and other sub-regional economic partners, commissioned SQW (an independent economic development consultancy) to produce the new Economic Strategy for Coventry & Warwickshire. The commission included economic forecasting work to develop a fresh baseline and scenarios to better understand the area’s economic growth potential, and by the creation of the Economic Strategy and Action Plan.

The development of the Strategy has been informed by the evidence base and a consultation process, which featured discussions with the area’s Local Authorities, local business bodies and round tables with a range of local businesses.  Stemming from the evidence base and consultation process, a 10-year vision (2024 – 2034) has been proposed to frame the Coventry & Warwickshire Economic Strategy:

“Coventry & Warwickshire will be recognised for the role of its innovation focused knowledge economy, particularly in nurturing creativity, harnessing digital possibilities and solutions, enabling future mobility, and unlocking the potential of electrification. This will be achieved through major research-intensive businesses and universities/ institutions, but also through the dynamism and effectiveness of a rich but varied innovation ecosystem in which creativity flourishes and new businesses are formed, nurtured and grown. Over the next decade, Coventry & Warwickshire will see economic transformation and growth, through new skills and competencies, and through a process of economic restructuring (especially as established businesses/sectors pivot in response to regulatory and technological change). As a result, the whole area will be known around the world for its economic vibrancy, founded on creativity and innovation. The productivity of the local economy will also have grown. The benefits will be enjoyed by all who live and work in Coventry & Warwickshire, and inequalities between people, communities and places will be much reduced”.

Building on this vision, the Strategy and action plan was based around five themes and outcomes that would facilitate diversification of the economy through innovation (especially key sectors such as Electric Vehicles & Batteries and CreaTech, building on the area’s knowledge base assets), attract new investment, create new job opportunities for local people through increasing the number of high growth, scale up businesses and securing new investment, and realise major strategic infrastructure enhancements and capital projects notably the CW Gigapark Investment Zone site and developments at Ansty and the University of Warwick. The strategy helps to support the work of the Coventry and Warwickshire LVEP which was looking at several strategic objectives around the visitor economy. They were examining areas where efficiencies could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy in respect of the West Midlands Combined Authority Grant Funding to Coventry 2025/26.

The report would also be considered by Council at their meeting on 25 March 2025.

The West Midlands Trailblazer Deeper Devolution Deal (the Deal) was:

·  Agreed in principle by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Mayor and Portfolio Leaders on 10 March 2023.

·  Announced in the Chancellor’s Budget on 15 March 2023, and

·  Adopted by Coventry City Council (the City Council) on 17 October 2023. 

One of the flagship announcements within the Deal was for the West Midlands to have a Single Settlement, whereby instead of being funded through 50+ individual grants, the WMCA would be funded by a single funding settlement covering a full Spending Review period.  This has since been rebranded as an “Integrated Settlement”, and this report seeks approval to accept the first rounds of funding for Coventry through the Integrated Settlement.

The Integrated Settlement covers five Pillars.  It was expected that a total of £19.44m would be awarded to the City Council through the first round of funding (£10.971m of which will be revenue funding and £8.469m capital funding), although there may be potential for additional in year funds in the event of strong performance or underspends elsewhere in the region. The Integrated Settlement funding being awarded to the City Council is summarised below:

·  Pillar 1: Local Growth & Place.  The City Council was expected to be allocated £4.65m of funds (£3.761m revenue and £0.889m capital) through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for 2025/26 to deliver the City Council’s business support and grants and Job Shop “Hub & Spoke” services.

·  Pillar 2: Adult Skills & Employment Support.  The City Council expects to be awarded £6.27m of revenue funding, of which £5.52m would be from the Adult Education Budget (AEB), and up to £0.75m from the Connect to Work fund to tackle physical and mental health barriers to employment.

·  Pillar 3: Retrofit & Net Zero.  The City Council expects to be awarded £8.52m (£0.94m revenue and £7.58m capital) across two funds to improve the energy efficiency of private housing stock and the public estate.  Coventry based Registered Providers would also receive a share of the region-wide budget for the Warm Homes Social Housing Fund.

·  Pillar 4: Local Transport.  For 2025/26, much of the core transport funding for the City Council would be dealt with outside the Integrated Settlement, notably the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), and recommendations to approve acceptance of Transport Capital funding are covered in the Transport Capital Programme Cabinet Report to be tabled at this same meeting.  Much of the Transport funding through the Integrated Settlement (notably focusing on bus services) would be managed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).

·  Pillar 5: Housing & Regeneration.  Continuation of WMCA’s Brownfield Land & Infrastructure Fund, Brownfield Housing Fund, and Brownfield Land Release Fund.  This funding would remain open for developers to apply for, it was not expected  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive setting out the outcome of the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge 2024.

The report had been considered by Scrutiny Co-ordination at their meeting on 6 March 2025 and would also be considered at Council at their meeting on 25 March 2025.

The Local Government Association (LGA) was the national voice of local government, working with Councils to support, promote, and improve local government. The LGA’s Corporate Peer Challenge offer was effective and well regarded by the sector and provides robust, strategic and credible challenge and support to Councils.

It was expected that all Councils receive a Corporate Peer Challenge at least every five years covering core areas and any specific areas requested by the Council. Coventry City Council’s second Corporate Peer Challenge took place from 15^th to 18^th January 2024.

The visit focused on five core themes (local priorities and outcomes, organisational and place leadership, governance and culture, financial planning and management, and capacity for improvement). These areas are critical to Councils’ performance and improvement.

The Peer Team were asked to provide feedback on the organisation's corporate capacity and plans for service transformation, recognising the opportunity to receive some external challenge and feedback on future delivery plans.

At the time of the Corporate Peer Challenge in January, the Peer Team recognised that Coventry was an ambitious place that was on the up, with examples of innovation and a willingness to embrace change, whilst not forgetting its heritage. The Peer Team also noted that the Council was well-run, with strong officer and political leadership.

Following the Peer Challenge, the Council reflected on the Peer Team’s findings in order to determine its response to the recommendations that were made.

All Corporate Peer Challenges now include a progress review which takes place approximately 10 months after the original Peer Challenge visit. This review provides space for a Council’s senior leadership to report to the Peer Team on the progress made against the key recommendations, discuss early impact or learning and receive feedback on the implementation of the action plan. 

The LGA Corporate Peer Challenge progress report is provided as an appendix to this report (Appendix A). This report provides a detailed response on findings, including a number of observations and suggestions within the main section of the report.

Overall, the Peer Team were impressed at the level of progress made by Coventry City Council since the Corporate Peer Challenge. Work has been undertaken to respond to the recommendations including actions which were already underway prior to the original Peer Challenge and the Peer Team acknowledged the structured approach for making improvements and changes to achieve the Peer Team’s recommendations.

In summary, during the progress review, the Peer Team:

·  heard more examples of improvement and success, which was gratifying;

·  saw that the Council was showing a confidence to make adjustments to its improvement journey where this was necessary, for example in reconsidering its approach to transformation;

·  also heard again of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

Report of the Director of City Services and Commercial

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of City Services and Commercial which detailed the Transport Capital Programme for 2025/26.

The Coventry Transport Strategy was approved by Council in December 2022. It was a 15-year Strategy which set out plans to fundamentally change the city’s transport system, including investing in significant improvements to public transport, walking and cycling and by accelerating the transition to zero emission vehicles.

The report included details of a number of capital programmes which would be delivered over the coming year. This included a £3.1m programme of local network improvements, an £11.9m programme of highways maintenance and up to £2m (subject to funding approval) of further improvements to walking and cycling. These programmes formed part of the Council’s wider commitment to deliver the changes set out in the Coventry Transport Strategy.

Funding sources for these programmes included the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and tranche 5 of the Active Travel Fund (ATF5). In the future, both CRSTS and ATF funding would be absorbed into the West Midlands’ wider Integrated Settlement, along with several of further sources of transport funding.

In relation to comments raised at the meeting regarding public perception of speed camera fines and the importance of local authorities receiving sufficient funding to provide such cameras and deliver road safety schemes, the Leader indicated that he would be raising these issues regionally with the Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner. This issue received full cross-party support.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1. Approve delivery of the 2025/26 programmes of local network improvements and highways maintenance schemes, as set out in Appendices 1 - 3 of the report

2. Delegate authority to the Director of City Services and Commercial, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for City Services and the Director of Finance and Resources, to:

·  accept any funding that is secured via this fund up to a maximum sum of £2.5 million pounds

·  add any schemes which receive sufficient funding to the five-year capital programme and approve their delivery

3. Note the latest update on arrangements for future transport funding to be received as part of the West Midlands Integrated Settlement

Report of the Director of City Services and Commercial

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of City Services and Commercial on the Homes in Multiple Occupation Development Plan Document Adoption.  The report would also be considered at the meeting of Council on 25 March 2025.

Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) can provide important accommodation for a range of people including those entering the housing market. However, they can also bring significant disruption to settled neighbourhoods. In order to ensure that HMOs can only come forward in ways that integrate with existing neighbourhoods a Development Plan Document (DPD) has been prepared. As background, the DPD and accompanying Sustainability Scoping/Appraisal were consulted upon between 20 September and 15 November 2022 at the Regulation 18 stage and between 27 March and 15 May 2023 at the Regulation 19 stage. These consultations were undertaken in the formulation of the DPD which was then submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in September 2023, with hearings held January 2024 and subsequent Main Modifications consultation held between 10 June and 22 July 2024.

The report provided an update on the Main Modifications consultation and the published Inspector’s Report, in which the Inspector concluded, through independent Examination, that the HMO DPD was ‘sound’ and had been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements subject to her recommendations (main modifications). The report therefore sought agreement to adopt the Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) Development Plan Document (DPD). If adopted, it would become part of the Development Plan for the city.

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend that Council:

1.  Notes the Inspector’s Report on the Examination of the Homes in Multiple Occupation Development Plan Document (Appendix 1), and specifically that she has concluded that subject to her main modifications, the Plan meets the tests of soundness and has been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements and thus is ‘capable of adoption’.

2.  Adopts the Homes in Multiple Occupation Development Plan Document (Appendix 2), in accordance with Section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 which will be the Plan submitted on 25 August 2023 as amended by the schedule of Main Modifications (Appendix 3) and Additional Modifications (Appendix 4).

3.  Notes that the Equalities Impact Assessment (Appendix 5), Sustainability Appraisal report (Appendix 6), Sustainability Appraisal Adoption Statement (Appendix 7) and draft Adoption Statement (Appendix 8) will be published as soon as reasonably practicable after 25 March 2025 in accordance with Regulations 17 and 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

4.  Delegates authority to the Strategic Lead – Planning, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, to make further minor modifications to the Plan prior to final publication, where these modifications are confined to the correction of typographical errors, amendments to policy or paragraph reference numbers and consequential cross referencing, where appropriate.

Report of the Director of Children and Education Services

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Children and Education on a new policy in respect of supporting children who are unable to attend their education setting under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996. 

The Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) considered the report at their meeting on 13 March 2025 and a Briefing Note detailing their consideration of the matter was circulated.

Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 placed a duty on Coventry City Council (the Council) to make arrangements for the provision of suitable education at school or otherwise for those children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not for any period receive a suitable education unless such arrangements were made for them.’ This applied to all such children who were resident in the area, whether they were on the roll of a school, and for whatever type of school they attend.

This means that where a child cannot attend their educational setting because of a physical or mental health need, or due to an exclusion, or for any other legitimate reason, the local authority is responsible for arranging suitable provision.

The legal duty applies to children of compulsory school age (5-16 years) who would normally attend schools, including academies; free schools; special schools; alternative provision and independent schools. The legal duty does not apply to children under compulsory school age or who will cease to be of compulsory school age within the next six weeks and does not have any relevant examinations to complete.

All local authorities should have a written, publicly accessible Policy Statement on their arrangements for complying with the Section 19 duty. The purpose of the new Policy was to ensure the Council had an integrated Policy under the Section 19 Duty (permanent exclusion, ill health and otherwise) that complied with legal duty.

The Policy at Appendix A of the report set out the Council’s approach to meeting the needs of children of compulsory school age for whom it has a legal responsibility to provide an education, but who for reasons relating to illness, exclusion from school or other reasons, experience barriers to accessing a full and suitable education offer. The Policy would provide greater clarity to schools and parents/carers as to when the duty should apply, and confirmation of the Council’s approach.

Prior to implementing provision under Section 19, the Council would expect schools to have fulfilled their legal obligations and followed statutory guidance, such as the graduated response set out in the SEND Code of Practice, and to have made reasonable adjustments required under the Equality Act 2010.

The Policy set out the decision-making process which the Council will use to determine when it has a duty to make provision under Section 19, and the type of provision that the Council will make in order to comply with Section 19 duties.

This provision may include, but is not limited to:

•  the Council advising and supporting schools to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

Report of the Director of Children and Education Services

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Children and Education Services asking for approval for acceptance of grant in respect of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme 2025.

The Government’s Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) was an enrichment programme for disadvantaged children which included the provision of healthy food.  The programme was primarily for pupils of statutory school age, who were eligible for benefits-related free school meals. The programme had been funded from 2021/22 through to 2024/25 and operated through the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays. The delivery details were set out in the Cabinet report of 9 March 2021, the Council report of 16 March 2021 and the Cabinet reports of 15 March 2022, 14 March 2023 and 12 March 2024.

The Government had made a commitment for this next phase of the programme through to the end of March 2026. Coventry was receiving an allocation of £1,604,150 for the financial year 2025/26 (compared to an allocation of £1,587,840 for the financial year 2024/25), subject to meeting the conditions of the grant determination letter.  The report set out the intended approach for delivering HAF in 2025/26 and reported on 2024/25 activity.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1)  Approves the acceptance of the Department for Education HAF grant allocation, of up to £1,604,150 for the 2025/26 financial year.

2)  Delegates authority for decisions about the planning and delivery of the HAF to the Director of Children and Education Services,following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills including but not limited to:

a)  Co-ordinating and awarding monies to relevant organisations in order to ensure the delivery of the programme to a high standard.

b)  Acceptance of any future opportunities for additional in-year grant funding up to a total amount of £2.5 million pounds, in 2025/26.

Report of the Director of Children and Education Services

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Children and Education Services in respect of grant funding regarding the Family Hub and Start for Life Programme and Trailblazer Programme for the financial year 2025/26.

The Council currently operated eight Family Hubs to deliver place-based integrated offer to families acrossthe City,including theoffer fromthe buildings,through anoutreach community modeland anew digital offer.

Coventry City Council was selected as one of 75 Local Authorities to jointhe nationalFamily Huband Startfor Life Programme commencing in 2022-2025 (first 1001 days), including financial investment to strengthen its offer to babies, children and families building on its previous achievements. 

This Programme had already received £4.43m grant funding from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Education across the 3 years 2022/23 to 2024/25 to deliver the Programme objectives. Coventry was also formally recognised as a trailblazer in this approach, one of only 13 sites across England, and had received many national ministerial and governmental visits and has contributed to national evaluations.

The Programme had been governed by a Family Hub Programme Board, supporting the work of 7 workstreams to ensure that all of the national minimum expectation, and most of the “go furthers”, of the framework were delivered within the Coventry Family hub offer, in line with the MOU associated with this grant.  Regular updates had been provided to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, the Health and Wellbeing Board and other Boards and Forums on request.

Further funding had now been allocated to Coventry for financial year 2025/26, with a provisional maximum allocation of £1,583,700, subject to the Council meeting the current Programme expectations up to March 2025 and the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding to formalise the agreement to meet the new Programme expectations.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.  Notestheprogress to dateoftheFamilyHubandStartforLife ProgrammeandTrailblazer Programme.

2.  Accepts thegrant fundingfor thepurposes outlinedin thisreport inrespect ofthe FamilyHub and Start for Life Programme and the Trailblazer Programme, for the financial year 2025/26.

3.  Delegates authority to Director of Children and Education Services, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources and the Director of Law and Governance to enter into the necessary legal agreement/s to accept the funding.

4.  Continues to agreethat futurereports on thisgrant and theFamily Hub andStart forLife Programme are received by the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children Services.

Report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing in respect of the re-commissioning of long-term home support.

The report would also be considered by Council at their meeting on 25 March 2025.

The Council had a statutory duty under the Care Act (2014) to provide care and support to adults whose needs meet the eligibility criteria detailed in this legislation. This includes wellbeing and prevention duties that prevent the need for more intensive forms of care and support.  Home support was commonly referred to as domiciliary care or home care and the terms were used interchangeably. Home support was regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and can cover a wide range of activities, including (but not limited to) the provision of personal care such as assistance with washing/bathing, getting dressed, going to the toilet as well as support with medication, nutrition, and hydration. These services were delivered in the person’s home and seek to support people to remain in the community and promote independence as much as possible. Being supported in their own homes was the preference for most people requiring care and support rather than more intensive forms of care. Home support was often supplemented by the use of technology to enable people to remain supported at home.

Home support could also extend to reablement services (help to regain or retain skills and confidence) for people leaving hospital or seeking care and support for the first time. Reablement services sought to delay or reduce the need for ongoing care and support. These services arewere not the subject of this re-commissioning as services were tendered with new contracts commencing in May 2024, however those people going on to require ongoing support to live at home would benefit from the revised commissioning arrangements 

The current re-commissioning is, therefore, restricted to Long Term Home Support Services (LTHS) with current contractual arrangements which were due to expire in December 2025.

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommends that Council delegate authority to the Director of Adult Services and Housing, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources and the Director of Law and Governance, to undertake the tendering of long-term home support services (including the power to enter into any necessary legal agreements required to facilitate entering into the contracts for a period up to 8 years).

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

There were no other items of public business.