Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Aldam, Craig and Hoskin.

To receive declarations of interest.

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2021.

RESOLVED       That the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2021 are approved as a correct record.

The Chair of the Committee will answer questions from members of the public submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

There were none.

To present the 2021/22 forecast  outturn position against the revenue budgets and Capital Programme that the Committee is responsible for in order to give an expectation of possible variances against budget.

The Accountant presented the Budget Monitoring Report for Q1 2021/22 to Committee and advised an additional column had been added to table 1 of the report for Covid-19 pressures against the respective budgets.

Councillor Robinson asked a question on the reasoning for the underspend on Licensing. The Principal Licensing Officer advised it was a result of loss of income on premises licences and annual fees on taxi licensing.

Councillor Robinson also asked on the outturn variance on street naming maintenance and requested if it could be increased back to £9,000 next year following cuts in a previous budget and there being a need for more sign replacements.

Councillor John Jones raised a question on the status of Kingshill House listed under 5.1 of the report. The Strategic Director of Resources responded advising there had been a change in Trustees and that Kingshill House are developing a business plan which the Council will need to review before Asset Transfer can take place. An update will also be provided to Committee in the future.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Robinson and seconded by Councillor Tucker.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED         To Note the outturn forecast for the General Fund Revenue budget and the Capital Programme for this Committee.

This report presents the draft Council Plan which sets out the council’s priorities and objectives for the next five years.

The Chair introduced the report that outlines the Draft Council Plan for 2021-2026. The Draft Council Plan was developed in consultation with the Alliance Leadership Team, Alliance Members, Strategic Leadership Team, Leadership and Management Team, Council Officers and the Stroud District Youth Council. The plan sets out 3 principle themes; Environment and Climate Change, Economy and Regeneration and Community Resilience and Wellbeing with 5-6 objectives set alongside the themes. The final tier of the plan set out 74 identified projects alongside the respective lead Officers.

The Motion was proposed by Councillor Robinson and seconded by Councillor Edmunds.

Councillor Robinson gave thanks to those Members and Officers who helped produced the plan and commented on the clear layout.

Councillor John Jones advised Committee that he is not able to support the plan as the Conservatives have not been able to meet to be able to discuss or comment on the proposed plan. The Chair advised Committee that there will still be opportunities for comments to be made before the final plan is submitted to Full Council.

On being put to the vote, the motion received 6 votes for, 0 against and 3 abstentions.

RESOLVED         To Strategy & Resources Committee that the draft Council Plan is agreed and recommended to Council.

The Principal Licensing Officer advised the Department of Transport issued statutory Taxi Licensing Standards in July 2020 which outlined how the Council should undertake Licensing functions. In early 2021, Gloucestershire Councils drafted a Common Licensing Standards for Gloucestershire and consultation took place between April and July where no objections were received District or County wide. Stroud chose to include an additional proposal to exempt electric vehicles from our current vehicle age policy to assist with being Carbon Neutral by 2030.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Robinson and seconded Councillor John Jones.

Councillor Edmunds asked whether the age policy would be adopted across the County following the Climate Emergency. The Principal Licensing Officer advised that each of the authorities in Gloucestershire have varying vehicle policies, some like Stroud currently have an age policy and others have an amalgamation of age and emission criteria. Due to the different demands and geography of the different districts it is unlikely vehicle policies will be identical, but Stroud is working with the other district to achieve consistency where possible. 

Councillor John Jones asked if electric vehicles also included hybrid vehicles. The Principal Licensing Officer advised that the policy currently only covers electric vehicles, but hybrid vehicles will be looked at in a later review.

Councillor Robinson asked if fast charging points were being fitted at main taxi ranks. The Principal Licensing Officer advised there were no current proposals however believed Gloucestershire County Council are liaising with Stroud’s Carbon Neutral Officers

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED       a.    Adopt the Common Licensing Standards for Licensing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers in Gloucestershire - Appendix A

b.  Adopt the proposal to exempt electric vehicles from
 Stroud District Council’s current vehicle age policy

c.    Implement the above from 1^st October 2021

The Principal Licensing Officer introduced the report to Committee and advised that the licensing authority must review and readopt the Statement of Principles every three years with our current statement due to expire on 30 January 2022. The Statement of Principles went out for consultation between May and July 2021. The Statement must be adopted by Full Council following the recommendation from Committee and will come into effect by January 2022.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Prenter and seconded by Councillor Tucker.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED       To Council to adopt the Revised Statement of Principles

(Appendix A) at its meeting on 21 October 2021

To present Stroud District’s draft Leisure and Wellbeing Strategy which provides the rationale and recommendations to enable the delivery of exemplary leisure and wellbeing provision in the district over the next 20 years. This report seeks it’s adoption by the Council and a mandate to develop detailed action plans and delivery structures.

The draft strategy addresses a unique and exciting opportunity for the district, across sectors and in partnership with allied health professionals and educationists, to establish a dynamic network of services and facilities which are cutting edge and accessible to all.

The Project Manager for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing gave thanks to Max Associates and in particular Kirsty Winders who assisted in the production of the report and strategy. She advised Members the next steps were to adopt the ethos and to start work on the Facilities and Service Interventions, review the Management Options Appraisal for Stratford Park, identify funding, invest into Stratford Park Lido and work with Communities and Community Partners.

Councillor Oxley asked why no equality implications were identified on a 20-year Strategy and requested for equality impact assessments be included with reports. The Project Manager for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing advised she would circulate the equality impact assessment and explained the whole Strategy is about inclusivity and as each intervention is assessed with the action plans, further equality impact assessments will be undertaken.

Councillor Crews raised a concern on the limited opening hours at the outdoor pool at Stratford Park. The Project Manager for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing advised a feasibility study was conducted in 2017 with a business plan proposed in 2019 however the financial outcomes were not cost effective for the refurbishment and therefore further consultation would be required to identify cost effective proposals to allow longer opening hours.

Councillor John Jones asked a question on whether the Task and Finish Group had made any recommendations following their meetings. The Project Manager for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing advised the group had met three times with their main objectives being to carry out some of the objectives within the report, one of which being the Management Options Appraisal with a report coming to Committee in December.

Councillor Robinson asked for confirmation that the current contract for Sports and Leisure Management (SLM) cannot be extended again. The Project manager for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing confirmed SLM had received one extension and cannot be extended again after October 2024.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Prenter and seconded by Councillor Crews.

Councillor John Jones advised Committee that he felt the decision was premature and should be included in Decembers Committee meeting.

On being put to the vote, the motion received 8 votes for, 0 against and 1 abstention.

RESOLVED          a.  Adopt the Leisure and Wellbeing Strategy 2021-2041

b.        Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Communities in consultation with the Chair of this committee to consider in detail options for the management of leisure and wellbeing assets post October 2024 and make recommendations to this committee this committee in December (2021)

c.        Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Communities in consultation with the Chair of this Committee to consider in detail facility opportunities and make recommendations to a future meeting of this Committee.

d.        Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Communities to produce a rolling 3-year physical activity and health and wellbeing action plan to deliver the outcomes of the Leisure and Wellbeing strategy and report back to a future meeting of this Committee.

This report highlights initial learning from our local context and the new Feeding Gloucestershire partnership and recommends that Stroud District Council set up a new Food Justice Task and Finish Group to engage with the partnership and embed learning from their work into relevant council action plans.

The Community Health and Wellbeing Manager identified the key points which included setting up a Task and Finish Group comprising of Community Services and Licensing, Environment and Housing Committee and nominating an Officer to attend the County Feeding Gloucestershire Partnership.

Councillor Job asked how often the Task and Finish Group would be expected to meet. The Community Health and Wellbeing Manager responded advising she would like to meet at least quarterly.

Councillor Job expressed her interest and was appointed as the main representative for the Committee and Councillor Robinson as substitute for the Task and Finish Group.

The Community Health and Wellbeing Manager was nominated as the officer to attend the Feeding Gloucestershire Partnership.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Job and seconded by Councillor Prenter.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED          a.  Establish a Food Justice Task and Finish Group

b.        Nominate an officer to attend the new Feeding Gloucestershire Partnership

Councillor Tucker advised Committee that district based Road Safety Groups were instigated in 2004 and in 2013 Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) withdrew substantive support to these groups however the Stroud Group continued. The group have not formally met since Covid-19 and since the last Committee in June, he had emailed Councillor Dave Norman who was appointed the Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Parking and Libraries which includes road safety aspects who advised discussions were taking place between GCC and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) but as of 14 September 2021, there was no visible activity to support road safety groups. Councillor Tucker proposed that Committee do not appoint any Members to this Group until GCC and the PCC determine their proposals to re-establish these groups and he would continue to act as an unofficial spokesperson fir the interim.

Councillor Jones suggested if the Committee or Full Council should write to the Cabinet Member at GCC to ensure the groups continue. The Chair advised he would liaise with the relevant officers and would be happy to write a letter on behalf of Committee expressing the Committees concerns.

The decision was unanimous not to elect representatives to this group at this current time.

Councillor Robinson advised Committee attended his first meeting and the Chair of the Woodchester Park Mansion advised the representatives should only attend quarterly and not every meeting.

Two nominations were received from Councillor Pearcy and Councillor Smith.

On being put to the vote, Councillor Pearcy received 2 votes for and Councillor Smith 5 votes for and there were 2 abstentions.

Councillor Bennett was appointed as the representative for Homestart.

Ex-Councillor Libby Bird was reinstated as the third representative to the Stroud and Rodborough Educational Charity following no interest from Members.

There had not been a report submitted and therefore there were no comments.

A member report had been circulated prior to Committee. Councillor Cornell explained Gloucestershire’s vaccination programme has been recognised nationality with 91% of vaccinations complete for over 50s and chronic conditions. There has also been increase in 16–17-year-olds through walk in clinics and outreach work is being undertaken in those areas of public hesitation to try and reach an overall target of 95% vaccinations.

Gloucestershire was the first in the county for issuing booster vaccinations and people are only eligible for the booster if their second vaccine was over 26 weeks prior to the booster. Flu jabs are also being encouraged and where possible, issued together with the boosters which will be Pfizer. Work is still ongoing with schools for vaccines and reviewing issues on consent.

The Member report had circulated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

The Member report had circulated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

The Member report had circulated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

The chair advised members that Councillors Gray, Miles and Watson are setting out their terms of reference and a further update will be provided at next Committee.

The Member report had circulated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

The Member report had circulated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

The Member report had circulated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

The Member report had circulated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

The Member report had circulated prior to Committee. There were no further questions raised.

Councillor Robinson asked questions on the cost of the removal, who removes the vehicles and if vehicles are still provided to the Fire Service for training purposes. The Chair advised a response will be provided outside of Committee for the respective officer to advise.

The Chair advised Committee that a further report would be coming back to Committee on the new process.

Councillor Robinson asked a question on whether a decision had been made on where the funds from the lottery and if Committee will be responsible for distributing. The Strategic Director of Resources confirmed the remit of Community Services and Licensing Committee to decide how the funds are allocated.

To consider the work programme.

The Chair advised the Management Options Appraisal will be added to December Committee.

See Agenda Item 4 for deadlines for submission.

There were none.