Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the Meeting held on 23 February 2021 were agreed as a true record.

To consider whether to exclude the press and public for the items of private business for the reasons shown in the report.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded under Sections 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 for  the consideration of the following private reports on the grounds that the reports involve the likely disclosure of information defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act as indicated, and that in all circumstances of the cases, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information:

Paragraph(s)

of Section 12A

of the Act  Minute No.  Report title

3    112    Investment in Material Recycling

  Facility - Update 

3    113     Provision of Loan Funding to Support a

  Key Regeneration Priority in Friargate

3    114  Coombe Abbey Park Ltd – Shareholder

  Refinancing Proposal

3    115    Birmingham Airport

(a)  COVID 19 Pandemic

The Lord Mayor referred to the upcoming anniversary since the first lockdown began due to the pandemic. She reflected on a year that had been one of sorrow and hardship, of struggles and challenges, but one which had also shown selflessness, heroism and sacrifice.

The Lord Mayor also commemorated the lives lost due to COVID.  She paid tribute to the health and care workers and the frontline heroes who had shown incredible courage and compassion and had risked their lives to save others.

(b)  Sarah Everard

The Lord Mayor referred to the recent tragic death of Sarah Everard and indicated that the thoughts and prayers of everyone in the City were with Sarah’s family at this sad and difficult time.

A minute’s silence was held in memory of all those who had lost their lives during the COVID 19 pandemic in the City and in memory of Sarah  Everard.

(c)  Retiring Councillors

The Lord Mayor referred to Councillors A Andrews and T Mayer who were not standing in the forthcoming Municipal Election. 

Members of the City Council paid tribute to the work carried out by the Councillors over the years they had served as Members of the Council and wished them well for the future.

There were no petitions to be presented.

(a)  Councillor F Abbott declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the matter the subject of Minute 102 below headed ‘Holiday Activities and Food Programme 2021: Acceptance of Grant and Proposed Distribution’. She left the meeting during the consideration of this item

(b)  Councillor E Ruane declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the matter the subject of Minute 106 and 116 below headed ‘Birmingham Airport’. He left the meeting during the consideration of these items.

(c)  The Monitoring Officer reported that as a number of Members were likely to have family or friends that are impacted by the two items that are the subject of the debates referred to in Minute 111 and 112 (‘Extension of Furlough Scheme’ and ‘Government’s proposal to award 1% pay rise to NHS workers’) that a dispensation had been be granted to all Members to allow them to participate in the debate and vote thereafter. The dispensation would apply for the consideration of the two debates and would expire on 17 March 2021.

Further to Minute 21 of the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which sought approval to the revised Model Code of Conduct and to recommend to Council to adopt the revised Model Code of Conduct.

The Local Government Association (LGA), following a consultation held in summer of 2020, published a new Model Code of Conduct for Members. The new Model Code of Conduct was produced on the recommendation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life in its report on local authority standards published in January 2019. The Ethics Committee made representations to the LGA on the wording of the proposed Code.

Ethics Committee considered the new Model Code of Conduct at its meeting on 21 January 2021. Its comments and observations were summarised in the report. On 17 February 2021, the Constitutional Advisory Panel considered a revised Code which incorporated the changes suggested by the Ethics Committee. The Panel resolved to recommend to the Cabinet Member that he recommend to full Council the adoption of the revised Code set out in the appendix to the report.

The Council’s current Code of Conduct for Elected and Co-opted Members was adopted by the Council in 2012. While there have been some amendments to it, it has remained largely the same since then.  The publication of the new Model Code provided an ideal opportunity to consider moving from its current Code to the new one.

The report provided further information and outlined what the main points of the Model Code of Conduct were.

Ethics Committee was asked to consider the Model Code of Conduct and whether they wished to recommend its adoption by the Council, either as drafted or with modifications. The Committee made a number of comments in relation to the Model Code and in its adoption by the City Council, in particular: -

·  The Committee welcomed that the term “treating others with respect” was favoured rather than “with civility”, together with the definitions provided in the Model Code

·  That the threshold for the registration of gifts and hospitality should be set at £50 in line with the national threshold

·  That the Council should extend the obligation to declare membership of outside bodies to include those which currently must be declared

·  That appropriate training to new and existing Members should be provided following the adoption of the new Code

·  That the Member Complaints Protocol should be strengthened and updated to reflect any new changes to the Code

·  That the Model Code should be amended to be more user friendly and easier to reference, to include using the second person, to remove unnecessary preamble, to be numbered, and to include the Nolan Principles at the forefront of the document, rather than as an Appendix.

The revised Code of Conduct was attached as an Appendix to the report and took into account the points made by the Ethics Committee. The revised Code of Conduct was endorsed by the Constitutional Advisory  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97.

Further to Minute 22 of the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which sought approval to proposed changes to the Constitution.

On 17 February 2021, the Constitutional Advisory Panel considered a number of proposed changes to the Constitution. These were:

(a)  The Contract Procedure Rules: Part 3G

(b)  A proposed new Employee Code of Conduct: Part 4B

(c)  The terms of reference of Planning Committee and consequential change to the scheme of delegation: Part 2G

(d)  A review of Code of Good Planning Practice for Members and Employees Dealing with Planning matters: Part 4C

The changes to the Contract Procedure Rules and the Code of Conduct for Employees were detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report, including the required tracked changes to the Constitution.

The Constitutional Advisory Panel resolved to recommend to the Cabinet Member that he recommends to full Council the adoption of changes which were detailed in the report.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1.  Approves the proposed changes to the Contract Procedure Rules shown in Appendix 1 to the report;

2.  Approves the revised Code of Conduct for Employees set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

3.  Approves the changes to the Terms of Reference of Planning Committee and the Scheme of Delegation to Employees set out in paragraphs 2.10 to 2.12 of the report.

4.  Approves the proposal that once the Planning Committee has approved the new Planning Code, that the new Planning Code is appended to the Constitution and made available on the Council’s website, in accordance with the Constitution.

Further to Minute 23 of the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services which provided an update on the outcome of the 8-week consultation undertaken on the review of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy for the Licensing Act 2003 and sought approval to the revised policy for the period 2021 – 2026.

The Licensing Act requires each licensing authority to prepare and publish a Statement of Licensing Policy.  The policy statement sets out how the authority intends to approach its licensing responsibilities and in particular how it intends to promote the four licensing objectives. This policy must be renewed every five years and be subject to a full consultation process.

The current Statement of Licensing Policy came into effect on 6^th January 2016, to cover a period up to January 2021.  However, due to the pandemic, and on the advice of the Local Government Association (LGA), the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities approved the decision to delay the consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2021 – 2026, and that the existing Statement of Licensing Policy be extended past the 6^th January 2021, until the draft policy had been consulted on and approved.

This report outlined the comments received and proposed amendments to the Council’s draft Statement of Licensing Policy.

This would be the fourth Statement of Licensing Policy produced by the Licensing Authority under the Licensing Act 2003. The general principles of the Licensing Policy remained the same and focused on the Licensing Act's four licensing objectives, namely, the prevention of crime and disorder; ensuring public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm.

The policy had been reviewed throughout to ensure consistency with the latest changes in legislation, regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary of State.   

Following public consultation, the revised draft Statement of Licensing Policy was now ready to be recommended for adoption to take effect from 16th March 2021 as attached at Appendix A of the report.

RESOLVED that, the City Council adopts the revised Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026 attached as Appendix A of the report. 

Further to Minute 89 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Childrens Services which indicated that Family Valued is a Leeds City Council system change programme designed to spread restorative practice across children’s services. A key element is the expansion of the Family Group Conferencing (FGC) service to a scale not previously seen in the UK, including for families experiencing domestic violence.

There are 2 core strands to the programme;

·  Awareness raising and deep dive training to embed restorative practice across social work, Children’s Services and the wider workforce for children, families and communities.

·  Expansion of FGCs to more families, including those affected by domestic violence and with a new model prior to Initial Child Protection Conferences.

An evaluation was undertaken 16 months into the Leeds programme which found that almost all of the Family Valued outcomes had been achieved. There were statistically significant reductions in;

·  Number of looked after children

·  Rate of LAC per 10,000 population

·  Number of Child Protection Plans

·  Number of children in need

Other outcomes were also identified at the time of the evaluation such as improvements in school attendance, number of children leaving care and returning to their families, and rates of re-referrals for domestic violence.

The Leeds Family Valued approach reflects the ‘Coventry way’- children are at the centre of practice. This reflects the values of the Leeds model which places families in control and enables them to reduce dependency on specialist services, develop resilience and capacity and take the lead in decision making and ownership of their plan.

The Coventry approach encourages workers to establish a relationship-based method to working with children and families.  As a Signs of Safety local authority social workers are already working to a strength based and restorative framework.  Existing approaches would need to be developed further to take account of the Leeds Family Valued model.

Coventry is on a journey to good or better and is committed to achieving this. Working with and alongside Leeds Local Authority this proposal would enhance the pace of change and further improve outcomes for children in Coventry.

The cost to implement the Leeds Family Valued programme for the first two years will be met fully by the DfE Grant of £4.1m commencing 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2023.

·  2021/22  £2.0m

·  2022/23  £2.1m

The report had also been considered by the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) at their meeting  on 11 March, 2021.

RESOLVED that the City Council accepts the grant funding of £4,062,295 from the Department for Education for the two-year period to support the change programme to spread restorative practice across Children’s Services.

Further to Minute 90 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Education and Skills which sought approval for the future acceptance of Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) grant funding if bids are successful to support the delivery of energy efficiency retrofit measures on maintained schools within Coventry.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) created the PSDS to provide grants to encourage projects that help towards the UK’s Net Zero and clean growth goals. The Grant Scheme is available for up to 100% of costs for capital energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects within public sector non-domestic buildings. The first round of funding round closed on the 11th January 2021 for projects to be delivered by the 30th September 2021. Coventry City Council were initially unsuccessful in a bid to secure funding for our schools in this round, however, the Council have subsequently been granted funds as we were on the reserve list. In Round 1, the funding normal process required acceptance of the grant to be made within 20 days of offer of a grant meaning that there is insufficient time to seek approval following confirmation of successful grants. This last-minute funding offer required acceptance within 5 days.

The Council therefore wishes to be prepared for future rounds of PSDS funding by obtaining approval to act quickly when further funding becomes available. Due the scale of the PSDS funding scheme, the future offers of funding could exceed £2.5m.

It was reported at the meeting of Cabinet on 9 March 2021 that the Council had received notification that they had been successful in receiving grant funding, which would enable projects to commence earlier than expected.

The Cabinet agreed to:

1)  Approve in principle the proposal for the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Works as set out in the report (“the Project”) subject to grant funding being secured to cover the cost of delivering the Project

2)  Approve the conclusion of any necessary procurement exercises and following completion, to award and enter into such contracts with the preferred suppliers.

3)  Request that officers continue to pursue further funding opportunities that may be offered to support further decarbonisation of Coventry’s school buildings in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education & Skills and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

(a)  Approves the proposal for the Council to accept the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant funding, if successful, as the Accountable Body to support delivery of the Project.

a)  Delegates authority to the Director of Finance and the Director of Education and Skills, following consultation with Director of Law and Governance, to finalise the terms and conditions of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant and any other legal agreements required to facilitate delivery of the Project, and incorporate the awarded grant within the approved Capital Programme as necessary. </TRAILER_SECTION>

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Further to Minute 91 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Education and Skills which indicated that the Government have extended their Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme 2021 to deliver free activities and food during school holidays nationwide for pupils who are entitled to benefits-related free school meals (FSM) . The Programme was previously in a pilot phase and delivered in 17 Local Authority area (not including Coventry).

Coventry has a provisional allocation of £1.5M which will be dependent on demonstrating delivery plans for the Programme and eventual delivery. The report detailed the HAF Programme, which is designed to provide healthy food and enriching activities to disadvantaged children. The HAF Programme is not a direct replacement for current arrangements. It offers more in terms of activities for disadvantaged children and young people, but it only covers 6 of the 13 holiday weeks, 4 days per week.

Although there is local flexibility in terms of how this is delivered, the Programme has some clear aims, which are:

·  Healthy eating and greater knowledge of health and nutrition

·  Being more active during the school holidays

·  Taking part in engaging and enriching activities (with a focus on resilience, wellbeing, and wider educational attainment

·  Being safe and not socially isolated

·  Increased engagement with school and other local services

Local Authorities are encouraged to work with a wide range of providers in the delivery of this Programme, in recognition of the important role that community and voluntary organisations have played in the delivery of this.

Due to short timescales and uncertainty in relation to COVID 19 restrictions, for the Easter holiday food parcel/hampers, activity packs, and online activity sessions are proposed for children and young people. The Council have been working with the Coventry Food Network to deliver this, and a delivery plan will be submitted to the DfE in line with this. The ambition will be to reach 25% of benefits eligible FSM pupils.

For the Summer and Christmas holidays requirements will be mapped out and the Council will be engaging with schools, existing providers of holiday care/activities, and other relevant providers to coordinate provision. A team to deliver this project will be recruited.

The Programme recognises that approaches would need to be adapted where there are COVID restrictions in place.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1)  Approves receipt of the grant allocation of up to £1.5M dependent on level of delivery

2)  Delegates authority to the Director of Education and Skills, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to deliver the Programme. The City Council will centrally co-ordinate and will award monies to relevant organisations to deliver the programme. </AI7>

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(Note: Further to Minute 96(a) above, Councillor F Abbott left the meeting for the consideration of this item.)

Further to Minute 92 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services which indicated that in September 2019 the Council approved a report to support the procurement, financing, construction and operation of a material recycling facility (MRF) to be based in Coventry.  The facility at the time was in partnership with 7 other surrounding authorities (Solihull MBC, Walsall Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council), together the Partner Councils and at such time, Stratford-on Avon District Council as a feedstock supplier council only.  The respective shareholding for each Partner Council is based on the total (2018/19) tonnage of recyclable material provided by each authority – for Coventry this was 27.72% in September 2019.

The report detailed the evolution of the Project over the course of the last 18 months, including the addition of 2 further Partner Councils (with Stratford-on-Avon District Council converting its status from a feedstock supplier council into a Partner Council and the addition of Warwick District Council as a Partner Council), associated increase in facility capacity and building footprint to accommodate a technologically advanced intelligent facility. This solution will mean the Coventry MRF will be able to deliver higher purity levels of recyclate, as well as the flexibility to ensure it can react to legislation and consumer habits and the introduction of new and changing material streams. The revised annualised net savings to the Council are c£1.4m per year, which is £0.52m pa greater than contemplated within the September 2019 business case albeit with a higher capital investment requirement. A comprehensive Briefing Note, which detailed developments in the MRF industry was appended to the report.

As the procurement exercise is nearing conclusion, the  report  sought approval for the additional capital financing required, by way of a commercial loan, to the special purpose Company to be incorporated to operate the facility (AssetCo) which will be incorporated as Sherbourne Recycling Limited).  Additional funding is required to meet the requirements detailed within the report and as summarised in the paragraph above.

A corresponding private report was also submitted to the meeting setting out the commercially confidential matters of the proposals. (Minute 112 below refers.)

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1)  Approves the sum as detailed in the corresponding private report for a loan facility from the City Council for the purposes of delivering the Materials Recycling Facility. 

2)  Delegates authority to the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services and the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for City Services and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, to finalise and agree the detailed terms of the transaction with AssetCo. The authority under this delegation shall also include:  

·  the authority to enter into two payment guarantees on

  behalf of AssetCo with the Civils Contractor and the

Process Contractor;

·  the authority to incorporate AssetCo and to enter into

a shareholders' agreement with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103.

Further to Minute 93 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a joint report of the Director of Property Services and Development and the Director of Finance which indicated that the Council has a long-held ambition to realise the delivery of high-quality new hotels within the city. To support the realisation of this ambition, the Council agreed in September 2019 to enter into the necessary property arrangements with Castlebridge to help bring forward a Hotel Indigo within the Friargate area of the city. The Council also agreed funding necessary for infrastructure and public realm provision around the proposed hotel site. As a result of these decisions, the Council has been able to enter into an Agreement for Lease with Castlebridge in relation to the site for the Hotel Indigo.

The report indicated that, in order to take forward the construction of the hotel, Castlebridge need to secure the necessary development financing. Their ability to do so has, unsurprisingly, been affected by the COVID-19 crisis over the past 12 months which has had a significant impact on the leisure and hospitality sector as well as all other sectors of the economy. Notwithstanding this, they have a private funding offer which, along with their own equity injection, will fund the majority of the cost of developing out the hotel.

A corresponding private report was also submitted to the meeting setting out the commercially confidential matters of the proposals. (Minute 113 below refers.)

This report therefore sought approval to enter into a repayable loan facility agreement with Castlebridge (for an amount that is set out in the private element of this report) in order to fund the development of the hotel. The terms of the loan will be finalised following a comprehensive due diligence process to ensure the Council’s position is suitably protected.

The Cabinet:

1)  Approved the Council entering into a loan facility agreement with Castlebridge for an amount that is set out in the private elements of this report to be used solely as development finance for the delivery of the hotel in Friargate, Coventry.

2)  Delegated authority to the Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and the Director of Law and Governance, following consultation with the Director of Property and Development Services, the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, to undertake the necessary due diligence and approve the terms of the loan funding agreement and, thereafter, enter  into any associated legal agreements that are necessary to give effect to the recommendations within this report.

3)    Delegated authority to the Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and the Director of Law and Governance, following consultation with the Director of Property and Development Services, the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, to manage the loan facility. The authority under this recommendation shall include the power to negotiate and agree subsequent variations to the terms of the loan facility.

RESOLVED that the City Council a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104.

Further to Minute 94, of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Finance which indicated that the Council has a long-standing interest in Coombe Abbey Hotel as the landlord for the property as well as being the owner of the Country Park within which the hotel is located.  The Council provided financial resources in the shape of a loan to Coombe Abbey Park Limited (CAPL) in 2013 as part of re-financing the borrowing the Company had in place at the time.  Subsequent to this, the Council acquired 100% of the shares in the company in 2017 to become the sole shareholder.

Following the acquisition of shares the financial performance of the business has been affected by primarily external factors.  Over the last 12 months, the hospitality sector has suffered immensely as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic with mass cancellations across rooms, events and conferences.  In 2020 the hotel was able to trade for only 78 days without restrictions and 115 days with some restrictions in place which has affected the ability of the business to generate revenues in line with expectations. 

The Council provided a short-term loan to the business in June 2020 to support the operating costs of the business as result of the impact of Covid-19.  This facility is currently due for repayment in December 2021.

In an effort to reduce operating costs under the challenging circumstances, the Company have furloughed all but 6 members of staff. However, the inability to generate revenue has meant that the business has had to defer a number of payments that would have been due to the Council, these include rent and repayments of existing loans. The Company is now in a position where they will not have sufficient cashflow to meet expenditure beyond March 2021 without further support from the Council.

CAPL have requested that existing arrangements in place be refinanced and spread over a longer term to enable to Company to operate through any lingering impact of the pandemic, and to enable them to improve their financial position back to being profitable. Council officers have considered this request and carried out appropriate due diligence with CAPL Board and management to determine both the short and medium-term affordability.

A corresponding private report was also submitted to the meeting setting out the commercially confidential matters of the proposals. (Minute 114 below refers.)

The private report details the financial arrangements proposed, which in summary are seeking approval for a further facility to meet the costs of operation and refinance existing debt to make on going repayments manageable for the business.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1)  Approves the use of its powers under the Localism Act 2011 to provide a Loan up to sum detailed in the corresponding private report, to Coombe Abbey Park Limited (CAPL) on commercial terms as detailed in the corresponding private report.

2)  Approves CAPL as the authority to set up two company subsidiaries to help support the business plan as further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105.

Further to Minute 96 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Finance which indicated that Birmingham Airport makes a very significant contribution to the regional economy,with a direct and indirect contribution to growth andemployment. In recent years, the Council has received a significant return from its investment in Birmingham Airport Holdings Limited(“BAHL”). In both 2018/19 and 2019/20, the Council received over £1.6m income from its investment.

2020/21 has been a challenging year due to the uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic for both BAHL and the Airline sector across the UK and globally and has led to the worst decline in traffic and income in BAHL’s history. For BAHL the priority has been to maintain sufficient liquidity levels to support the airport into the future as a key strategic regeneration catalyst, whilst ensuring that it is ready to return to full capacity as soon as travel restrictions are lifted.

The report sought approval for the Council to provide Shareholder support of up to £5.7m in loans if required. Together, the 7 West Midland Authorities (“Authorities”) own 49% of BAHL, and vote in one block at meetings. The Council overall owns 5.79% of BAHL’s total ordinary shares and £1.8m of preference shares which pay a fixed dividend of 6.31%. Further detail of the current structure of BAHLwas set out an Appendix to the report. 

A corresponding private report was also submitted to the meeting setting out the commercially confidential matters of the proposals. (Minute 115 below refers.)

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1)  Approves aloan facilityto Birmingham Airport Holdings Limited oncommercial market termsup tothe valueof £5.7m.

2)  Delegates authority to the Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and the Director of Law and Governance, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, to finalise and agree the detailed terms of the transaction with BAHL. The authority under this delegation shall also include:

·  the power to enter into the relevant legal agreements and associated documents necessary to complete the transaction with BAHL; and

·  (in relation to the management of the loan facility) the power to negotiate and agree variations to the terms of the loan facility.

(Note: Further to Minute 96(b) above, Councillor E Ruane left the meeting for the consideration of this item.)

Report of the Director of Human Resources

The City Council considered a report of the Director of Human Resources which provided information on the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2021/22.

Local Authorities are required by sections 38 and 39 of the Localism Act 2011 to produce an annual Pay Policy Statement.  The statement must articulate the City Council’s policies towards a range of issues relating to the pay of the workforce, particularly the most senior staff (or “chief officers”) and the relationship of their pay to the lowest paid employees.  The proposed annual Pay Policy Statement for 2021/2022 is attached as Appendix 1.

RESOLVED that the City Council approves the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 as attached at Appendix 1 of the report.

Report of the Chief Executive

The City Council noted a report of the Chief Executive which informed Council of a decision undertaken by the Chief Executive on 25 February, 2021 in accordance with the Constitution and following consultation with the Leader of the Council, Councillor G Duggins, to exercise emergency functions to secure additional funding made available by the Government in response to the current Covid - 19 pandemic to bring forward decarbonisation projects in the public sector to stimulate the country’s economic recovery.

19.1  Written Question – There are no written questions

19.2  Oral Questions to Chairs of Scrutiny Boards/Chair of Scrutiny

Co-ordination Committee

19.3  Oral Questions to Chairs of other meetings

19.4  Oral Questions to Representatives on Outside Bodies

19.5  Oral Questions to Cabinet Members and Deputy Cabinet Members on any matter

The following Members answered oral questions put to them by other Members as set out below, together with supplementary questions on the same matters:

1)  Statement of the Leader

The Leader, Councillor G Duggins, made a Statement in respect of a number of issues relating to Covid-19.

Councillor G Ridley responded to the Statement.

2)  Statement of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People in respect of the “Children’s Services Improvement Plan.”

Councillor J Lepoidevin responded to the Statement

21.1 To be moved by Councillor P Male and seconded by Councillor J Lepoidevin:

“This Council welcomes the extension of the Furlough Scheme that will protect jobs in Coventry”

21.2 To be moved by Councillor C Thomas and seconded by Councillor K Caan:

“This Council condemns the Government’s proposals to award only a 1% pay increase to NHS workers.

NHS staff deserve a pay rise that reflects the sacrifices they have made during this year of working on the frontline in the fight against Coronavirus.

This Council joins with other organisations and our NHS colleagues to urge the Independent Pay Review Body to reject the Government’s proposals and recommend the substantial increase that NHS workers so richly deserve”.

The following Motion was moved by Councillor P Male and seconded by Councillor J Lepoidevin:

“This Council welcomes the extension of the Furlough Scheme that will protect jobs in Coventry”

The following amendment was moved by Councillor J O’Boyle and seconded by Councillor C Miks and, in accordance with the Constitution, accepted by Councillor P Male:

In the first line delete the word “welcomes” and replace with the word

“notes.” Delete the rest of the sentence after “Furlough Scheme” and insert “until September 2021 and calls upon the Government to come forward urgently with a job creation and retention strategy which focuses on the green jobs of the future to aid our economic recovery”

The amended Debate now to read: -

“This Council notes the extension of the Furlough Scheme until

September 2021 and calls upon the Government to come forward urgently with a job creation and retention strategy which focuses on the green jobs of the future to aid our economic recovery”

RESOLVED that the amended Motion as set out above be adopted.

The following Motion was moved by Councillor C Thomas and seconded by Councillor K Caan:

“This Council condemns the Government’s proposals to award only a 1% pay increase to NHS workers.

NHS staff deserve a pay rise that reflects the sacrifices they have made during this year of working on the frontline in the fight against Coronavirus.

This Council joins with other organisations and our NHS colleagues to urge the Independent Pay Review Body to reject the Government’s proposals and recommend the substantial increase that NHS workers so richly deserve”.

The following amendment was moved by Councillor J Blundell and seconded by Councillor M Heaven and lost:

That the Motion be amended as follows:-

“This Council condemns notes the Government’s current proposals to award only a 1% pay increase to NHS workers.

NHS staff deserve a pay rise that reflects the sacrifices they have made during this year of working on the frontline in the fight against Coronavirus.

The Council joins with other organisations and out NHS colleagues to urge the Independent Pay Review Body to review reject the Government’s proposals and consider an improved recommend the substantialincrease that NHS workers so richly deserve.”

RESOLVED that the Motion as set out above be adopted.

(Note: A vote on this was taken by name)

(Listing Officer: Layla Shannon, Tel: 024 7697 2007)

Further to Minute 103 above and Minute 98 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a private report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services which sets out the commercially sensitive aspects of delivering the Materials Recycling Facility.

RESOLVED that the City Council: -

1)  Approves the addition of the sum as detailed in the report to the Councils approved capital programme to reflect an increase in the proposed loan facility from the City Council for the purposes of delivering the Materials Recycling Facility. 

2)    Delegates authority to the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services and the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for City Services and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, to finalise and agree the detailed terms of the transaction with AssetCo. The authority under this delegation shall also include:  

·  the authority to enter into two payment guarantees on behalf of AssetCo with the Civils Contractor and the Process Contractor;

·  the authority to incorporate AssetCo and to enter into a shareholders' agreement with AssetCo and the other Partner Councils in respect of the governance arrangements of AssetCo;

·  the authority to enter into the Service Level Agreement with AssetCo committing the Councils' waste tonnage for 25 years; and the authority to enter into the Loan Agreement and ancillary security documents with AssetCo for a loan as detailed in the report over a repayment period of 25 years.

(Note: Councillor R Bailey abstained from voting on this item and asked that this be recorded)

(Listing Officer: A Hunt, Tel: 024 7697 6853)

Further to Minute 104 above and Minute 99 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a joint private report of the Director of Property Services and the Director of Finance which sets out the commercially sensitive aspects of the provision of loan funding to fund the development of a hotel in Friargate.

The Cabinet resolved to:

1)  Approve the Council entering into a loan facility agreement with Castlebridge for up the amount as detailed in the report to be used solely as development finance for the delivery of the hotel in Friargate, Coventry.

2)  Delegate authority to the Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and the Director of Law and Governance, following consultation with the Director of Property and Development Services, the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, to undertake the necessary due diligence and approve the terms of the loan funding agreement and, thereafter, enter  into any associated legal agreements that are necessary to give effect to the recommendations within this report.

3)    Delegate authority to the Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and the Director of Law and Governance, following consultation with the Director of Property and Development Services, the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, to manage the loan facility. The authority under this recommendation shall include the power to negotiate and agree subsequent variations to the terms of the loan facility.

RESOLVED that the City Council approves a loan as detailed in the report to be added to the Council’s Capital Programme as appropriate and used to provide a loan facility agreement with Castlebridge for the delivery of the hotel in Friargate, Coventry.

(Note: A vote on this was taken by name)

(Listing Officer: P Helm, Tel: 024 7697 2092)

Further to Minute 105 above and Minute 100 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Finance which detailed the commercially sensitive aspects of the refinancing proposals relating to Coombe Abbey Park Limited. 

RESOLVED that the City Council: -

1)  Approves the use of its powers under the Localism Act 2011 to provide a Loan up to the sum as detailed in the report to Coombe Abbey Park Limited (CAPL) on the commercial terms as detailed in the report.

2)  Approves CAPL as the authority to set up two company subsidiaries to help support the business plan as further set out in the report.

3)  Delegates authority to the Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and the Director of Law and Governance, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, to finalise and agree the detailed terms of the transaction with CAPL. The authority under this delegation shall also include the power to enter into the necessary legal agreements and subsequently the power to negotiate and agree any such variations as is deemed necessary to the terms of the loan facility and ancillary security documents.

(Listing Officer: Michael Rennie, Tel: 024 7697 2628)

Further to Minute 106 above and Minute 101 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Finance which detailed the commercially sensitive aspects of providing Shareholder support to Birmingham Airport Holdings Limited.

RESOLVED that the City Council: -

1)  Approves aloan facilityto Birmingham Airport Holdings Limitedon commercialmarket terms upto thevalue of£5.7m.

2)  Delegates authority to the Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and the Director of Law and Governance, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, to finalise and agree the detailed terms of the transaction with BAHL. The authority under this delegation shall also include:

·   the power to enter into the relevant legal agreements and associated documents necessary to complete the transaction with BAHL; and

·   (in relation to the management of the loan facility) the power to negotiate and agree variations to the terms of the loan facility.

(Note: Further to Minute 96(b) above, Councillor E Ruane left the meeting for the consideration of this item.)