Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 October 2024 were agreed and signed as a true record.

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

RESOLVED that the City Council agrees to exclude the press and public under Sections 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 relating to the private report in Minute 72 below headed ‘Temporary Accommodation - Lease of Caradoc Hall Coventry’ on the grounds that the report involves the likely disclosure of information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, in that it refers to the identity, financial business affairs of an organisation and the amount of expenditure proposed to be incurred by the Council under a particular contract for the supply of goods or services.

1. Death of Retired Judge Richard Cole

The Lord Mayor referred to the recent death of retired Judge Richard Cole who served as Honorary Recorder for Coventry from 1999-2007. Richard helped set up Coventry’s Good Citizen Award and he was presented with the honour himself in 2010 for his fundraising and charity work.

Members paid tribute to Richard and noted that a letter of condolence had been sent to his family.

2. Death of former Councillor Susanna Dixon

The Lord Mayor referred to the recent death of former Councillor Susanna Dixon. Susanna represented Wyken Ward for 9 years from 2003 to 2012. During this time, she served on many Committees and Scrutiny Boards and was also the Cabinet Member for Customer and Workforce Services.

Members paid tribute to Susanna and noted that a letter of condolence had been sent to her family.

Following the announcements, the Council held a Minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Richard and Susanna.

RESOLVED that the following petitions be referred to the appropriate Cabinet Member/City Council body/external organisations:

1. Petition requesting to stop investing in companies financing or supplying weapon systems and/or parts to Israel – 709 signatures, presented by Councillor G Lewis.

2. Petition requesting the Council to save the 26 established trees lining Clifford Bridge Road between Mill Lane and the roundabout leading to the B4082 from being cut down – 4274 signatures, presented by Councillors F Abbott and J Blundell.

3. Petition requesting the Council to improve the quality of the environment and life in the Swan Lane Catchment Area – 52 signatures, presented by Councillor N Akhtar.

4. Petition requesting the Council keep the library at the Holbrooks Community Care Association on Holbrook Lane – 73 e-signatures and 329 paper signatures, presented by Councillor R Lancaster.

5. Petition to stop the Council’s proposals to move Canley, Coundon and Bell Green libraries from their purpose-built buildings and into smaller buildings – 191 signatures, presented by Councillor G Lewis.

6. Petition requesting the lobby Citizen to abandon the proposed 160% increase in service charges at Nauls Mill House and poor service delivery – 14 signatures, presented by Councillor J Gardiner.

There were no declarations of interest.

From Cabinet, 5 November 2024

Further to Minute 31 of Cabinet, the City Council received a report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy, that had been considered by Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee at their meeting on 31st October 2024, on the Council’s Climate Change Strategy for 2024 – 2030. Appendices to the report provided the Climate Change Strategy 2024 to 2030 and the Climate Change Action Plan.

The Coventry Climate Change Strategy 2024-2030 set out how the Council planned to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change, which was central to delivery of the One Coventry Plan, and the challenges and opportunities to creating a more sustainable city through five key pathways (or themes): • Adaptation and resilience – how we adapt to weather changes caused by climate change and create more resilience in our infrastructure, services and systems. • Route to net zero – how we decarbonise our city including buildings, transport and industry and create a green economy • A circular economy – how we use resources more efficiently • Fairer green future – how we tackle inequalities and deliver a just transition • Nature – how we address the ecological emergency, reverse the decline in nature and create a greener city

Due to unprecedented challenges with the climate and natural environment, climate change was no longer something happening in the future, impacts are being seen now - in Coventry there were over 10,500 properties at risk of flooding and rising. Rising energy costs and energy inefficient homes meant that over 22% of households were in fuel poverty, and the rising cost of living meant 20% of the city was in food poverty. There was a global nature emergency, with the UK one of the world’s most nature depleted countries. In Coventry over 20% of households lived more than 300 metres from green space.

Moving towards a green economy, and the need to ensure that local people and businesses were equipped with the right skills to access jobs and opportunities, tackling climate change could help to address these issues. It presented a huge opportunity to create positive change that could improve the quality of life, health and well-being of residents and a create a more prosperous and vibrant future city.

The Strategy went well beyond the Council, it was citywide. It had been developed with expert input from the city’s independent Climate Change Board and pathway groups which was made up of over 25 public, private and third sector organisations from across Coventry. The Strategy also considered feedback to public consultation undertaken last year and was guided by Coventry’s Net Zero Carbon Route map which was produced to help better understand the city’s biggest sources of emissions and where it needed to prioritise action.

There was already a tremendous amount of activity happening across the city to tackle climate change which included:

•  The creation of a UK-first Strategic Energy Partnership with E.ON to help decarbonise the city developing a 15 year programme which supported net zero ambitions.

•  The development of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

From Cabinet, 5 November 2024

Further to Minute 35 of Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of City Services and Commercial, that sought approval of the adoption of the University of Warwick Campus Framework Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), following statutory public consultation. The SPD provided a framework for guiding the level and broad location of growth on the main University of Warwick campus as well as design principles to be considered when assessing future planning applications on the campus. Appendices to the report provided the Statement of Consultation, the Schedule of Proposed Amendments, the Amended University of Warwick Campus Framework Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), and the Equalities Impact Assessment.

The SPD provided supplementary guidance to Policy JE1 (Overall Economy and Employment Strategy) and CO1 (New or Improved Social, Community and Leisure Premises) - of the adopted Coventry Local Plan.

The SPD could only be adopted as an SPD following statutory public consultation and then subsequent formal adoption by Cabinet and Council. Following initial approval by Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities in April 2024 (their minute 16/23 referred), a public consultation was held from Friday 24th May to 5th July 2024. It was intended that the SPD was now adopted so that it could be used to help assist with decision making on planning applications.

The following amendment was moved by Councillor T Sawdon, seconded by Councillor J Blundell and, in accordance with the Constitution, accepted by Councillor N Akhtar:

That the Recommendations contained in report 8 on the agenda relating to “University of Warwick Campus Framework Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) – Consultation Update and Proposed Adoption” be amended as follows:

That the following additional Recommendation be inserted:

3)   Ensure that locally affected Councillors are involved at an early stage in any discussions relating to S106 agreements.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1)  Notes the Statement of Consultation Report at Appendix 1 to the report and the Schedule of Proposed Amendments at Appendix 2 to the report.

2)  Adopts the amended University of Warwick Campus Framework Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) at Appendix 3 to the report.

3)  Ensures that locally affected Councillors are involved at an early stage in any discussions relating to S106 agreements.

From Cabinet, 5 November 2024

Further to Minute 36 of Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing, that had also been considered by Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee at their meeting on 31st October 2024, and which sought approval to enter into a new lease for Caradoc Hall, for use as temporary accommodation for homeless households.

A corresponding private report detailing confidential financial matters was also submitted for consideration (Minute 72 below referred).

The Housing Act 1996 (as amended) placed a statutory duty on Local Authorities to provide Temporary Accommodation (TA) to homeless households who were eligible and had a priority need.

Nationally the number of households living in temporary accommodation had increased significantly over the last 3 years and as of 31st March 2024 the Government’s quarterly publications showed this was the highest recorded figure ever. Coventry had also seen an increase in demand with 1329 households living in temporary accommodation as at the 23 September 2024.

The Housing and Homelessness Service had taken steps to reduce the cost of temporary accommodation against a background of increasing demand, increasing private sector rents and the cost-of-living crisis.

The report set out the options to enter into a new lease for Caradoc Hall for 10 years. As part of the proposed lease agreement the managing agent would commit to a refurbishment of the 103 flats in line with a condition survey agreed with the Council as a well as continued improvements to the building such as replacement of the lifts. The length of the lease term reflected the current demand and included a break clause for the Council to terminate the lease arrangement after five years.

Cabinet considered a briefing note detailing Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee’s consideration of the report at their meeting on 31st October 2024 (their Minutes 42/24 and 45/24 referred), which had been circulated, setting out the areas of discussion at their meeting and their recommendation for Cabinet’s consideration.

RESOLVED that the City Council, subject to the consideration of the additional confidential information contained in the corresponding private report:

1)  Approves the proposal to enter into a new lease for 103 properties within Caradoc Hall for a period of no more than 10 years for use as temporary accommodation for homeless households.

2)  Approves the annual costs as detailed in the corresponding private report for the Caradoc Hall lease over 10 years and for this to form part of the finance revenue budget for the next ten years.

3)  Delegates authority to the Director of Adults and Housing, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, the Director of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, to undertake the necessary due diligence and agree the detailed terms of the new 10-year lease agreement of Caradoc Hall with the landlord.

Delegates authority to the Director of Adults and Housing, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, the Director of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

From the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities Meeting, 25 November 2024

Further to Minute 13 of the meeting of Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, the City Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which provided an update on the outcome of the six-week consultation undertaken on the review of the Council’s Gambling Policy Statement of Principles for the Gambling Act 2005 and to recommend a revised policy for the period 2025-2028. The Draft Gambling Policy, Consultation responses and the local area profile were appended to the report. The report had been considered by the Licensing and Regulatory Committee at their meeting on 19 November 2024 (their Minute 13/24 refers) and would also be considered by Council at their meeting on 3 December 2024.

The Gambling Act 2005 required each Licensing Authority to prepare and publish a Gambling Policy Statement of Principles. The policy sets out how the licensing authority intends to approach its licensing responsibilities and how it intended to promote the three licensing objectives.

The current Gambling Policy came into effect on 3 January 2022, to cover a period up to 31 January 2025. The policy must be renewed every three years and be subject to a full consultation process.

The report advised Members of the consultation process that had taken place and outlined the comments received and amendments made to the Council’s draft Gambling Policy.

There were no major changes to the policy except some minor wording amendments. The general principles of the Gambling Policy Statement of Principles remained the same and the document was still centred around the Gambling Act’s three licensing objectives, namely:

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Following public consultation, the revised draft Gambling Policy Statement of Principles was now ready to be recommended for adoption to take effect from 31 January 2025.

RESOLVED that the City Council adopts the revised Gambling Policy Statement of Principles attached as Appendix A of the report.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

The City Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which updated Members on the government consultation on enabling remote attendance and proxy voting at local authority meetings.

The consultation sought views on how flexibility might be increased in a way which balances the principle that significant in-person engagement at local authority meetings remains vitally important while recognising that there will sometimes be a need to accommodate Members’ requirements to attend council meetings remotely. Views were also being sought on the possible introduction of proxy voting for occasions when an Elected Member, due to personal circumstances, may be unable to attend even remotely, for example during maternity, paternity or adoption leave. The Council response to the consultation was attached as an appendix to the report.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1)  Approves the Council’s proposed response to the consultation set out in the Appendix.

2)  Delegates authority to the Director of Law and Governance to finalise and thereafter submit the Council’s response to the consultation. 

(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

Councillors R Brown, AS Khan, P Hetherton, G Duggins, and N Akhtar provided written answers to the questions set out in the Questions Booklet, together with oral responses to supplementary questions 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:

There were no Statements.

"This Council calls upon the Government to exempt social care service providers, here in Coventry and more widely, from increases to employers National Insurance contributions, proposed during the recent budget.”

The following Motion was moved by Councillor P Male and seconded by Councillor M Lapsa:

"This Council calls upon the Government to exempt social care service providers, here in Coventry and more widely, from increases to employers National Insurance contributions, proposed during the recent budget.”

The following amendment was moved by Councillor A Tucker, seconded by Councillor P Seaman and, in accordance with the Constitution, accepted by  Councillor Male:

After the words “This Council calls upon the Government to” delete the rest of the Debate and replace with the following words:

“consider equalising the National Insurance obligations of social care providers with those of the NHS as part of the proposed cross party Royal Commission to reform adult social care.”

The amended Motion now to read:

“This Council calls upon the Government to consider equalising the National Insurance obligations of social care providers with those of the NHS as part of the proposed cross party Royal Commission to reform adult social care.”

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

“This Council celebrates our inspiring Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Summer programme and our great Coventry providers and organisations delivering day-to-day throughout the year. It’s wonderful to hear the voices of children, young people and parents and the value they place on this valuable food and activity programme.  We welcome the funding and call on the government to continue to fund future programmes.”

The following Motion was moved by Councillor P Seaman and seconded by Councillor CE Thomas:

“This Council celebrates our inspiring Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Summer programme and our great Coventry providers and organisations delivering day-to-day throughout the year. It’s wonderful to hear the voices of children, young people and parents and the value they place on this valuable food and activity programme. We welcome the funding and call on the government to continue to fund future programmes.”

The following amendment was moved by Councillor J Gardiner and seconded by Councillor T Sawdon and lost:

After the words “We welcome the” insert the following words:

“4 years”

After the words “of funding” insert the following words:

“provided by the last Conservative Government with £1.6m provided in the previous financial year”

  Delete the full stop at the end on the Motion and insert the following:

“to at least this level”

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

From Cabinet, 5 November 2024

(Listing Officer: J Crawshaw – Email: Jim.Crawshaw@coventry.gov.uk)

Further to Minute 39 of Cabinet and Minute 65 above, the City Council considered a private report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing, that had been considered by Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee at their meeting on 31st October 2024, and which set out the commercially confidential matters relating to proposals to enter into a new lease for Caradoc Hall, for use as temporary accommodation.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1)  Approves the proposal to enter into a new lease for 103 properties within Caradoc Hall for a period of no more than 10 years for use as temporary accommodation for homeless households.

2)  Approves the annual costs of the Caradoc Hall lease in the sum now indicated each year for 10 years and for this to form part of the finance revenue budget for the next ten years

3)  Delegates authority to the Director of Adults and Housing, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, the Director of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, to undertake the necessary due diligence and agree the detailed terms of the new 10-year lease agreement of Caradoc Hall with the landlord.

4)  Delegates authority to the Director of Adults and Housing, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, the Director of Law and Governance, and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, to vary the lease from time to time.