Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

82.

Minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2022 pdf icon PDF 274 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the Meeting held on 22 February 2022 were signed as a true record.

83.

Coventry Good Citizen Award

To be presented by the Lord Mayor and Judge Lockhart, Honorary Recorder

Additional documents:

Minutes:

On behalf of the City Council, the Lord Mayor and Judge Lockhart, Honorary Recorder presented Pru Porretta with the Good Citizen Award. Her citation read:

 

For the past 40 years Pru has embodied the heart and soul of  Coventry’s modern day Lady Godiva, working tirelessly within the community to celebrate diversity, and devoting her time and energy to helping and raising money for charitable causes within Coventry.

 

As founder and CEO of the Godiva Trust Pru is devoted to helping all generations of women, men and children from Coventry’s diverse cultures better relate and reinterpret our heritage celebrations with a unique identity that reinforces the City’s international role as a Centre for Peace & Reconciliation. She is always seeking opportunities to enact positive social development through artistic and cultural means.

In additional to her role in the Trust and Godiva Sisters Founder Pru is a knowledgeable Heart of England tourist guide and offers her support and commitment to tourism in Coventry by providing educational workshops, storytelling of the heritage of Godiva and is involved in multicultural events, women’s events, Peace and Reconciliation Programmes throughout the City.

Even through the Covid-19 Pandemic Pru never stopped her inventiveness and resourcefulness, she made educational films such as ‘Covid through the eyes of a child’ to better educate communities during a dark time. In addition, she also organised a rose bed planting ceremony in the Peace Garden at Memorial Park as a touching and lasting tribute to our city’s victims of COVID-19, it is now a place loved ones can visit to pay their respects.

 

Pru actively promotes the City of Coventry and has built bridges with communities locally, nationally, and internationally. She is a true pioneer of Peace & Reconciliation and through her work she has made Coventry a better place. Her actions truly reflect her character, and she is a worthy recipient of this Coventry Good Citizen Award.

 

84.

Correspondence and Announcements of the Lord Mayor

Additional documents:

Minutes:

a)  Ukraine

 

A Minute’s silence was held as a mark of respect for the terrible suffering and loss of life in Ukraine.

 

b)  Retiring Councillors

 

The Lord Mayor referred to Councillors A Lucas OBE and D Skinner MBE 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.

 

 

85.

Petitions

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the following petitions be referred to the appropriate Council/outside body:

 

a)  Petition calling on Coventry City Council, UHCW NHS Trust and HM Coroners Office to provide Coventry with appropriate scanner and facilities to carry out digital autopsies – 866 signatures, presented by Councillor G Ridley

b)  Request to include the resurfacing of Upper Eastern Green Lane, Lower Eastern Green Lane and Alderminster Road in the Highways Capital Programme 2022 – 158 signatures, presented by Councillor J Lepoidevin

c)  Request to improve road safety at drop off and pick off times at Limbrick Wood School Tile Hill – 42 signatures, presented by Councillor J Lepoidevin

d)  Request to reinstate the road markings at the Wing Wah roundabout – 44 signatures, presented by Councillor J Lepoidevin

e)  Request from local residents to preserve the Lebanese Cedar tree (7025), planning application OUT/2019/0022 – 44 signatures, presented by Councillor S Keough

f)  Request to make Mantilla Drive safe to drive on – 110 signatures, presented by Councillor M Heaven

 

 

86.

Declarations of Interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

87.

Options to Improve the Provision of Temporary Accommodation for Homeless Families Through Property Acquisition pdf icon PDF 285 KB

From the Cabinet, 15 March 2022

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute 90 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing that sought approval to add £6m to the Council’s capital programme to purchase, refurbish and manage 25 properties to use as temporary accommodation for homeless families.

 

The Council has a statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation to homeless households who are eligible and have a priority need.  In order to meet demand from homeless families who require temporary accommodation of 3 or more bedrooms, it was proposed to initially add £6m to the Council’s capital programme to purchase, refurbish and manage 25 properties for use as temporary accommodation for homeless families.  Subject to review, once the 25 properties had been achieved and / or £6m resource used, the programme may be increased by a further 25 properties, bringing the total to 50 properties.  In completing the programme of work the City Council would focus on bringing as many Houses of Multiple Occupation back into family use for temporary accommodation as possible within the delivery timescales.

 

In addition, the Council would seek nomination agreements for a further 25 properties of 3 or more bedrooms for use as temporary accommodation from existing approved budgets.

 

There remained a significant demand for temporary accommodation from families and as of 11th February 2022 there were 83 families in 3 and 4 bedroomed nightly temporary accommodation.  There was no indication that this number would reduce.  Previous programmes of work undertaken within the Housing and Homelessness Service had focussed on temporary accommodation for smaller families requiring 1 or 2 bedrooms and accommodation for single people.  These initiatives had resulted in both a reduced cost and improved supply of temporary accommodation.  The proposals within the report submitted aim to deliver a similar set of outcomes to those achieved for smaller families and single people through both reducing the cost and improving the supply of temporary accommodation.

 

The following amendment was moved by Councillor M Lapsa, seconded by Councillor P Male and lost:

 

That Recommendations 1 and 4 be deleted and replaced with the following: -

 

“That Council refers the report to Cabinet for further consideration pending its examination by Scrutiny.”

 

 

RESOLVED that, the City Council:

 

1.  Approves the addition of capital resource of up to £6m to the capital programme to purchase, refurbish and manage 25 properties which are 3 or more bedrooms to use as temporary housing for homeless families.

 

2.  Approves that Nomination Agreements to be entered into for 25 properties which have 3 or more bedrooms for use as temporary housing for homeless families using existing approved budgets.

 

3.  Approves that a further £7m to purchase, refurbish and manage properties to use as temporary housing for homeless families to be added to the capital programme once the £6m has been expended and / or 25 properties have been purchased in recommendation 1 above, and authority be delegated to the Chief Operating Officer (Section 151 Officer), following consultation with the Director of Adult Services  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

88.

Transforming Mental Health Services pdf icon PDF 258 KB

From the Cabinet, 15 March 2022

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute 91 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a joint report of the Chief Operating Officer (Section 151 Officer) and the Director of Adult Services and Housing, which sought approval to enter into a partnership agreement with Coventry & Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust.

 

The ambitions set out in the Mental Health Implementation Plan 2019/20–2023/24, remained the foundation for the transformation of local mental health services across the Coventry and Warwickshire footprint.

 

To support driving that change it was proposed that the Council enter into a partnership agreement with Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust.  This would be a partnership agreement whereby NHS organisations and local authorities contribute an agreed level of resource into a single pot (the pooled budget) that would then be used to drive the integration and improvement of existing services.

 

City Council budgets would not be part of this proposed pooling arrangement, with the pooled sums being provided by Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust. The Council would provide officer time and the fulfilment of hosting responsibilities.

 

RESOLVED that, the City Council:

 

1.  Approves entering into a partnership agreement with Coventry and Warwickshire Commissioning Group and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust to support the transformation of mental health services.

 

2.  Approves that the Council be the host for the pooled budget to support the partnership arrangement.

 

89.

One Coventry Elected Member Training and Development Strategy pdf icon PDF 173 KB

From the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, 21 March 2022

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute 32 of the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which indicated that the City Council provides a range of training and support for Members, including an induction programme for newly elected Members, specific training to support Members in roles such as?members of Planning?Committee?or Licensing and Regulatory?Committee,?and specific topical issues as they arise. Members would also be able to attend training and events run by other organisations. However, the uptake of training by Members has been low.

The environment in which Members work is constantly changing. Ensuring that Members are properly supported to help them meet the high demands placed on them to carry out this challenging role effectively is increasingly important. Consultation with Members and officers suggest that the training offer has not kept pace with these demands and take up of what has been on offer has been low. With support from a Member Advisory Panel, improvements have been introduced over the last year and the report set out a strategic approach to make sure that the Member training offer meets current and future needs.

In order to enable executive oversight and strategic approach to training as well as raising the profile of training with Members, a Strategy has been developed to support the delivery and promotion of a Members’ Training Programme. The draft One Coventry Elected Members Training and Development Strategy was attached as Appendix A to the report. The draft Strategy has been developed following research to identify how to support Members training and development needs and included consultation with Members. A summary of the research findings was appended as Appendix B to the report.

 

The draft Strategy covers:

·  Purpose of the Strategy

·  Assessing Need and Requesting Training

·  Training Matrix

·  Governance and Delivery

To oversee the governance and delivery of the Strategy, a cross-party Cabinet Member Advisory Panel has been established to review Members training needs, recommend a training and development programme to the Cabinet Member, monitor delivery of, and evaluate the programme to inform future planning. This Panel has been in place since September 2021. The Terms of Reference for this Panel were detailed in Appendix 1 of the draft Strategy.

In order to ensure that a wide range of training and development is offered to Members, a training matrix will be developed and endorsed by the Members Training and Development Advisory Panel. The training matrix will be regularly reviewed and evaluated to ensure it meets Members’ training need and will provide a programme of mandatory training, which all Members will be required to complete throughout their term of office.

In addition to this there will be role specific mandatory training for those Members with special responsibilities, or who sit on specific Committees.

It is proposed that Mandatory training for all Members?will include:

·  Code of Conduct? ?

·  Fire Safety Awareness? ?

·  Safeguarding (Awareness)? including Corporate Parenting ?

·  Equality and Diversity? ?

·  Health and Safety in the Workplace? ?

·  Local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

90.

Proposed Changes to the Constitution pdf icon PDF 374 KB

From the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities 21 March 2022

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute 33 of the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which proposed a number of changes to the Constitution that reflect changes in practices within the Council.

 

The Cabinet Member recommended that the Council approve the following amendments:

 

1.  Part 2N – Coventry Shareholder Committee Terms of Reference:

 

a)  An increase from the current maximum of 5 elected Members to be a maximum of 10 elected Members at paragraph 2.1: Composition (NB minimum of 3 is to remain the same);

 

b)  Additional wording to be inserted to permit Key Decisions in relation to charitable holdings held by the Council on trust for a charity to be made by the Shareholder Committee as trustee, with decisions below the Key Decision threshold delegated to Directors, Heads of Service and Officers in the areas concerned.

 

Recommendation b) above was made on the basis that currently there was no delegation in the Constitution for Key Decisions or other decisions that do not meet the threshold for key Decisions in respect of charitable holdings.

 

2.  Part 2D – Functions of Scrutiny, paragraph 6: Educations Representatives:

 

a)  A maximum four year term of office and a minimum of two year term of office (which will be applicable to all Education Representatives);

 

b)  Removal of the requirement for a parent governor representative from both a maintained primary and secondary school in the City (instead introducing a requirement for a generic parent governor who could technically be from any maintained school) in keeping with the legislation in this area and to reflect the fact that Coventry now has no maintained secondary schools.

 

3.  Part 6: Management Structure:

 

a)  Changes to staff and job titles need to be reflected in the Constitution as well as the fact that the Management Team are now known as the Strategic Leadership team;

 

b)  The changes to staff and job titles have also subsequently resulted in changes to delegations as these have been redistributed and should also be reflected throughout the Scheme of Delegation.

 

4.  Part 2A – General Principles – Paragraph 6: Government Consultation Papers:

 

a)  The introduction of wording to permit Government Consultation Papers to be primarily considered by the relevant Cabinet Member as apposed to Council by default, unless the Government Consultation Paper is high profile or of a particular matter of substantial public importance.

 

5.  Part 2M: Taxi Licensing Delegations

 

a)  An addition be made to the Constitution to the Taxi Licensing delegations to allow Taxi Licensing Officers to take enforcement action under the “Smoke Free Legislation” at Part 2M – Scheme of Functions Delegated to Employees, paragraph 6.15 Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Scheme of Delegation, as new paragraph 1.

 

The proposed changes to the Constitution were detailed in the annexes to the report.

 

RESOLVED that, the City Council approves Recommendations (1) to (5) below, with immediate effect, and authorises the Director of Law and Governance to make any necessary amendments to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

91.

Amendments to the Constitution - The Code of Good Planning Practice for Members and Employees Dealing with Planning Matters pdf icon PDF 326 KB

From the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities 21 March 2022

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute 34 of the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which indicated that the Members’ Planning Code of Good Practice (“Model Code”) was originally prepared in 2013-4 in response to a series of successful court challenges around local planning authorities and their Members’ conduct or conflicts of interests.  The Model Code was subject to consultation and comment from a number of local authorities through the machinery of the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors (now LLG), the Local Government Association, the Local Government Ombudsman, Audit Commission and from firms of solicitors or counsel acting on their behalf. It replaced what was a number of individual and sometimes haphazard approaches in individual councils at the time.  A copy of the Model Code was attached as Appendix A to the report.

 

The report sought approval to adopt a revised Code of Good Planning Practice for Members and Employees Dealing with Planning Matters (“Revised Planning Code”), amendments to which have been made in line with the Model Code and to remove the Revised Planning Code (as adopted) from the body of the Constitution and instead append the final document to the Constitution.  A copy of the proposed Revised Planning Code was attached as Appendix B to the report.

 

The Model Code takes into account the following:

 

a)  Updates to the Seven Principles of Public Life (the ‘Nolan principles’);

 

b)  Commentary from the Committee on standards in public life;

 

c)  The changes in the approach to codes of conduct;

 

d)  The changes to predetermination introduced by the Localism Act 2011;

 

e)  The guide on ‘Openness and transparency on personal interests’ published by the Department for Communities and Local Government 2013.

 

Whilst broadly similar to the Model Code, the proposed revised Model Code contains some differences to the LLG version, in keeping with established practice at Coventry City Council. The main changes are as follows:

 

  a)  References to “you should”, “your responsibility is” etc have been removed and replaced with “Members should”, “Members’ responsibility is etc”;

 

  b)  At paragraph 3.2 the word “must” is used in relation to mandatory training for Members before sitting on the Planning Committee, ensuring that all Member must be trained before they attend Planning Committee meetings;

 

  c)  Reference is made to the Employee Code of Conduct in regard to “Respect” at paragraph 4.2 to reiterate that this value is embedded in both the Employee and Member Codes of Conduct;

 

  d)  Consideration of “material interests” has been clarified at paragraph 7.3.3;

 

  e)  Paragraph 7.4 has been removed in its entirety as bias may not just exist in relation to Council owned land.

 

 

The current Code of Good Planning Practice for Members and Employees Dealing with Planning Matters (“Current Planning Code”) sits in the Constitution and has been absorbed into the Constitution over time despite the fact that it is a document that was intended to be “appended” to the Constitution. 

 

The views of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

92.

Annual Pay Policy Statement 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 476 KB

Report of the Director of Human Resources

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The City Council considered a report of the Director of Human Resources which presented the Annual Pay Policy Statement for 2022/23.

 

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 2022/23 was attached as appendix 1 of the report.

 

RESOLVED that the City Council approves the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2022/23 as attached at Appendix 1 of the report.

93.

Motion without Notice to Re-order Agenda

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In accordance with the Constitution, a Motion without notice was moved by Councillor M Mutton and seconded by Councillor G Lloyd that the agenda be reordered to consider Agenda Item 15 – Debates as the next item of business, before Question Time (Minute 96 below refers)..

94.

Question Time pdf icon PDF 99 KB

(a)  Written Question – Booklet 1

 

(b)  Oral Questions to Chairs of Scrutiny Boards/Chair of Scrutiny

Co-ordination Committee

 

(c)  Oral Questions to Chairs of other meetings

 

(d)  Oral Questions to Representatives on Outside Bodies

 

(e)  Oral Questions to Cabinet Members and Deputy Cabinet Members on any matter

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor D Welsh provided a written answer to the question set out in the Questions Booklet together with oral responses to supplementary questions put to him at the meeting.

 

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

 

No

Questions asked by

Question put to

Subject matter

1

Councillor P Male

Councillor AS Khan

Recent stabbings in Foleshill

2

Councillor M Heaven

Councillor P Hetherton

Budget contingency plans in relation to the on-going bin strike

3

Councillor P Male

Councillor P Hetherton

Possible introduction of a charge for green waste bins when reinstated

4

Councillor P Male

Councillor R Brown

Progress on the Council becoming an Accredited Living Wage Employer

5

Councillor P Male

Councillor G Duggins

Negotiations with Unite over bin strike

6

Councillor P Male

Councillor G Duggins

Purchase of Tom White Waste and end of bin strike

7

Councillor R Simpson

Councillor D Welsh

30 year commitment not to build on Coundon Wedge

8

Councillor G Ridley

Councillor D Welsh

Sale and development of land at top of Browns Lane

9

Councillor R Simpson

Councillor K Caan

Whether the Air Quality Action Plan will improve the health of children

10

Councillor S Keough

Councillor P Hetherton

Bin collections in Keresley area

11

Councillor J Blundell

Councillor G Duggins

Unite Union funding for Labour Party and facilities time for unions

12

Councillor T Sawdon

Councillor D Welsh

Land at Kings Hill

 

95.

Statements

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader, Councillor G Duggins, made a Statement in respect of Covid, the bin strike and Coventry City Football Club.

 

Councillor G Ridley responded to the Statement.

 

96.

Debates - The Invasion of Ukraine pdf icon PDF 96 KB

15.1 To be moved by Councillor J Mutton and seconded by Councillor T Khan:

 

Coventry City Council condemns without reservation the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Government, led by President Putin.

Our thoughts and solidarity are with the Ukrainian people.

This war is a war brought about by Putin and is a war against democracy. Our thoughts are also with those brave Russian people who are protesting and demonstrating against Putin’s actions, despite the penalties they themselves face for daring to stand up and be counted.

We will be keeping our lines of communication with our twin City of Volgograd. Our Friendship and Twinning links are with Cities and their people, not with their National Governments. Keeping our lines of communication open could allow us to raise our concerns with our Twin City about the actions that are being taken in their name by their Government. This Council supports the suspension of all cultural, educational and sporting exchanges with Russia

Furthermore, Coventry City Council vow to be part of any refugee dispersal programme for refugees coming to the UK from Ukraine., and we urge the Government to bring forward revised policies to allow any Ukrainian fleeing the war to enter the UK without bureaucratic barriers.

This Council pledges support to all those communities  affected by this war as we will continue to be the City of Peace and Reconciliation, and a City of Sanctuary.

 

15.2 To be moved by Councillor G Ridley and seconded by Councillor P Male:

 

“In light of the recent unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine this Council resolves to:

 

·  Suspend the twinning link with Volgograd and instructs the Leader to write to the Mayor of Volgograd explaining why

 

·  Ask the Mayor of Volgograd to issue a statement condemning this illegal invasion of Ukraine, an independent sovereign state, and do all that he can to bring to an end this military offensive (or military operation) that has caused so much suffering and loss of life

 

·  Support and welcome Ukrainian refugees to the city

 

·  Work with other local authorities to explore the possibility of entering twining arrangements with cities in Ukraine”

 

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

With the agreement of the Leader, Councillor G Duggins and the Leader of the Opposition Group, Councillor G Ridley, the two debates as published on the agenda were withdrawn.

 

The following amended Motion was moved by Councillor J Mutton and seconded by Councillor G Ridley:

 

“Coventry City Council condemns without reservation the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Government, led by President Putin.

 

Our thoughts and solidarity are with the Ukrainian people.

 

This war is a war brought about by Putin and is a war against democracy. Our thoughts are also with those brave Russian people who are protesting and demonstrating against Putin’s actions, despite the penalties they themselves face for daring to stand up and be counted.

 

It is with a heavy heart, that at this time we will now pause our twinning links with the City of Volgograd until such a time that they can resume. We also pledge to explore the possibility of twinning with the City of Mariupol when the time is right.

 

Coventry City Council supports the suspension of all cultural, educational and sporting exchanges with Russia.

 

Furthermore, Coventry City Council vow to be part of any refugee dispersal programme for refugees coming to the UK from Ukraine., and we urge the Government to bring forward revised policies to allow any Ukrainian fleeing the war to enter the UK without bureaucratic barriers.

 

This Council pledges support to all those communities affected by this war as we will continue to be the City of Peace and Reconciliation, and a City of Sanctuary”.

 

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