Wakefield Council | Cabinet Meeting – 19 March 2024
View the meeting agenda:
http://mg.wakefield.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=222&Year=0
I thought that was an interesting article Matthew yes I I did okay good morning everybody um can we uh we haven’t any apologies for for absence we’re all here um can we approve the minutes of the meeting on the 13th of February agreed okay thank you um I haven’t got um any
Announcements but can I just um welcome um our interim Chief exec Tony Reeves who’s here um some of you will remember him some of you won’t but I think we’re all going to meet later Tony so and the on who you don’t know you’ll meet later
Thank you okay um with no urgent items and I’ll draw your attention to item five um exclusion of public and press but I don’t think there’s anything um that we’re going to exlude you from um and I draw your attention to members Declaration of Interest okay um key decision reports um
Jack wellber Country Park thank you leader I’m uh delighted to be bringing this report to Cabinet this morning to commence phase one works on the new country Park at Welbeck this has been a long road for everyone concerned but our commitment to the site’s future as a
Green space for nature is crystal clear as well as creating a beautiful new green space for me this is about keeping faith with our residents and honoring long-standing commitments while we all the wait the outcome of the planning inspector’s decision for the rest of the site what
We can do is commence work on what we’ve already had returned to us and you can see by comparing the maps on pages 15 and 16 that this is about a third to 40% of the site area phase one therefore is about the Green Space itself and we’ll see £275,000 of
Capital injected to start the process of Country Park creation as well as that that part of the site will move into our country Park team for management as with any other country Park this also aligns very Clos with results of our recent public consultation on the site’s future
Which can be found on agenda page n we had over 600 responses from members of the public phase one will’ll see new circular walking trails the creation of new Woodland the creation of new grassland and Wildflower Meadows expansion of existing trails and linking up others areas for watching Wildlife
Like bird hides notice and information boards as well as the creation of a friends group for the site and of course we will continue to work with wellbet Waste Management to ensure they’ll fulfill their part of the whole site restoration I was up there myself a few
Weeks ago in some areas restoration and Naturalization is already well underway with beautiful areas of Woodland and stunning views over the cuer with a little help I believe the site can become a must visit Destin ation for walking and cycling and provide a 200 hectare green lung for the people of
Whitefield Stanley Altos and normont the recommendations today set out on page 11 and option one to implement a phased approach with phase one starting immediately is recommended I hope colleagues will agree today to support this important step forwards and realize A Greener future for Welbeck thank you
Leader thanks ch um before I bring anybody else in I think real great progress I mean we decided four years ago now that this is what we were going to do um it was your Flagship and it it’s come to fruition um so it’s really good news any more comments from anyone
M yeah I think this has been a long long time coming uh and I hope the people of Wakefield are actually uh welcome uh the progress that has been made uh by Jack over the last few years I know he’s been very tenacious about this but uh it has
Been a long time coming leader and and I welcome the initiative can you else okay Michael oh sorry M you thank you yes uh I think those represent communities in the shadow of well really do welcome it you can’t think probably 25 years ago when it was
No to toxic dip how far we’ve come on with this and it’s such a positive uh all the things you anyway uh the announcement youve made there I mean you look around the district the country parts that we have especially what we’ve got in our W we’ve
L have cery you know that makes such a difference people’s lives uh to the district so really welcome this Michael I’m scared to tell my on now I’m just going to speak really loudly um I’ve actually as well as everyone else I’ve met some of the
People who who live in this area and I remember attending a meeting once I remember tending to meet him once where I kind to feel like I don’t know what that new I remember T the meeting once where people were talking about how long they’ve been fighting this for and how long they’ve
Been trying to get it turned into something better rather than a smelly eyes saw and I think what really touched me was when people said you know I don’t think I’m going to be around for for me to see this but I hope me Grand M grand
Kids will and thanks to Jack and thanks to the decision made in this Council it it’s going to happen so hats on to yeah it’s a fantastic achievement and I’m put me full support behind it thanks everyone can we can we agree the report okay thank you and then uh item
Eight uh Jack um creating a districtwide net zero partnership thank you Leia um hopefully the mic problems won’t miss at me this time either but um so we all know the council’s made strong commitments towards a green of future oh try without the mic so I just
Ask yes I think it’s com from the the microphones on the desk ask everybody micophone on the desk off oh try again hopefully uh you can hear me now yeah so thank you we all know the council’s commitment to AG green a future which is seen as recognized as a
Global aist Authority for climate action with Net Zero Target 2030 but part of our role is also in shaping and influence the place beyond what the council can control in terms of our businesses our residents our community groups across the wfi district so this is what the report before you today is
Uh seeking to do Les I think your microphones yeah I think it no it wasn’t it’s off there you go thank you Third Time Lucky I’ll see if we can try with that te so um as I was saying so the council’s role is not just what we can
Do about our own corporate missions we know they’re just a small part of of the impact on the district this is about helping businesses and Community groups and and people right across the we through District to decarbonize and move towards a Greener future so this is what
The report today is seeking to do we’re looking to formalize a net zero partnership for our district and for more than a year now since our first climate Summit AT work has been going on with organizations in a range of sectors to build up this partnership I’m really pleased that we’ve already
Had so many businesses and organizations involved already with 39 individuals representing 269 organizations taking part in meetings and discussions over the last year by formalizing the partnership today the council will look to facilitate coordination on the following key themes Transportation housing and buildings industry EMP power land and Agriculture and waste and also
A just transition which is so important we get right as we know in our communities what an unjust transition looks like with the 80s and the minor strike and what happened in the Thatcher government so we want to get this right we want to work in partnership with all
Our communities and we’re going to harness the expertise talent and ambition of people across our district to help realize that Greener future so the options for the partnership are set out on agenda page 19 and option one to establish the partnership is recommended to ensure we have the right organization
In place to achieve net zeros of District by 2038 thank you thank you Jack any comments Margaret uh yes thank you ja fully fully support this um and I think it it’s going to help greatly the decision of the West JM regarding the bus franchises to get people out of the
Cars and this is what concerns me we have an awful lot of cars on roads we you’ve but part of the report is that you want to reduce the building of Roads as we go forward will you be working with developers to to formulate plans to
To encourage people to leave the car at home and actually walk cycle or take the public transport it’s a good good question Margaret thank you and fully support your comments in terms of the bus franchise and I think that’s a massive step forward for West Yorkshire we know
People being let down at the moment but also the environment is being let down if we have a better public transport Network then more people will be out of the car and using buses to get to work and for leisure which will reduce the impact on the environment so fully agree
With that in terms of developers yes we will be working closely with developers I know some are involved with the partnership um but it would be good in terms of individual developments to encourage more cycling more easy access to public transport I know that’s factored into a degree already but we i’
Like to see more of that coordination going forward and we’ll be looking to achieve that thank you morning yeah I I welcome the report as well and I I going on to what Margaret said about the bus franchising uh I I was in a position
Last week where uh I’m I’m attached to a car and actually it went in for some Works doing on it and I went for the bus and the bus missed um but you know hopefully if we can work alongside the West yorshire May for the bus franchising to encourage people to uh
Catch buses or cycle you won’t get me on a cycle but uh to I I’ve been more than willing to catch a a bus if if if the buses were regulated correctly and they were regulated for people rather than profit M you yeah I mean a fit forp purpose public transport
Net Zero go hand in hand you can’t have one without the other really we have no alternative in some location in this District whatsoever some of our rural areas where we know we haven’t got fit for purpose bus service so the announ from the where the work that you’re
Doing jack it goes hand inand it’s we need to continue uh to make sure that we have got fit for purpose service with my le I think it’s needed I think but it is needed alongside the public access to buses on that side of it just recently
Uh I had to go to leads from aale and uh as part of going uh from aale to leads I I was recommended that I went on public transport there’s no way I could get to leads for half 9 on the morning from aale I couldn’t even get to Cass from
Aale for half 9 on the morning and I think it needs to everything you’re doing I fully support but I think the real key is around public transport sustainable and reliable public transport so people can turn up at bus stops and they can get to where they
Want they need to go and I think this is the start but I fully support it and I think it should be pushed through and I think we should keep at it until we get to that position okay anyone else okay can we agree the report AG thank
You um Mar introduction of the uh financial management function to protect and sustain vital Services yeah thank you uh this is to seek approval for the introduction a fee for the provision of financial financial support management functions for users of service uh Services personal income to protect and sustain vital
Services we’d like to introduce A5 P fee to look after the finances of those people who are unable to do so uh to to keep them from risk of uh any personal finances uh from personal finance abuse I think you’ll see under 3.1 that other authorities currently charge a fee of
Between three and 15 um the the the fee the fee the the fee will be covered by the um the income that the person gets so it isn’t something that they’re going to lose it is covered by uh the income that they actually receive we’ve never charged for
The service but we have provided the service uh and what we would like to do is to uh introduce this fee from April of this year um to all current users new users to the service and any income generated from that will be put back into the service to ensure that we can
Uh that those people who are vulnerable receive a a a really good service so I’m I’m I’m looking at option three um which is outlined at 3.1 in the paper and that is the introdu introduction of A5 P fee okay thank you any comments okay can we agree the report
Thank you and then you’re on again Morin connecting care yeah this is uh this is uh asking for uh cabinet’s approval for the continuation of the involvement of age UK and the carers association in our connecting Care Program uh again the voluntary sector are key to what to some
Of the things that we actually deliver in the council uh and and ageuk and the Caris Association support those vulnerable people who are referred to our hubs uh with their personal uh personal stuff and and and and help and support them uh the good news is that this is totally funded by the
Independent care board and not uh by the council and I just have to say that since our uh partnership with the NHS and the introduction of the better care fund this is what that partnership has has brought to us it’s brought the fact that we work together uh we get funding
From the NHS to offer this additional support to those people who need that additional support whether they’re in health care or whether the they’re on the cusp of health care but they work in our hubs our connecting care hubs along with other staff uh Council uh adults
Care staff NHS staff and they offer that help and support to those people so uh I’m asking I’m seeking approval uh for the continuation of the service this thank you very much Mar any comments from anyone Margaret I fully agree with this Marine car has play such an important role not
Only in your service but in service I cover so I could there’s no way I could disagree with what you’re proposing today I think carers across our district we have so many particularly unpaid carers but the carers association do work with with all known carers and we we do actually do presentations around
You don’t know you sometimes you don’t know you’re a carer but but yeah aguk and the carers association are fantastic voluntary organizations and the NHS and those wouldn’t I don’t know where we’ be without them and as I say the the plus to this is that we’re not funding it it’s the
ICB it’s always good to hear can we agree the report age okay thank you um m you uh compensation on these and relief rate yeah thank you Denise uh this morning I’m asking for approval to relocate three uh 3.4 million into the capital program to cover the compensation payments from
Theart one of the land compensation Act 1973 for the opening of the Wakefield Eastern relief road to seek approval for the acceptance of £300,000 from the developer Consortium towards the compensation payments and the injection of that £300,000 in the capital program to note that the additional cost of the
Part one claims will be sought from the West Yorkshire mayl combine Authority as a change request under existing governance arrangements and to give authority to the chief finance officer to accept such funding so I’m asking for approval option one at 4.1 on page 139 thank you any comments I think it
Needs to be made clear about the compensation and could you just give us a bit more detail on that M so yes so the compensation currently will be S from the ia’s budget and it will be paid back from the combined Authority so rest assure that no W field taxpayers money
Is going into this it’s money it’s s from that we get from the Department of Transport and then we’ll claim that back from the combined Authority uh as we know the wait for Eastern relief Road was part of the ldf back in 2012 it was always it was always going to be built
It was going to be built in stages by uh 106 contributions um that was the way it was going to be built and it would taken a long long long time to do that fortunately in 2014 the combine Authority came on board um asking for you know plans for New
Roads uh for new developments we was there with our scheme for wait for Eastern relief road so we was given the 37 million pound to build it doing what we should always try and do best put the infrastructure in place first and then build you know get the houses built at
The end of the day this road has fetched much needed housing jobs and it keep you know at the end of the day does vetch council tax into this Authority year on year out it will do that for many more years to come so it is a cost I think it
Has been worthwh cost as well for building of that new road yeah I think it has I just wanted you to make it clear um that the comp the money is going is coming from the comand authority and of course the city Fields has brought massive investment into this
District as you’ve just pointed out and just point out we’re not alone in this you know there’s other schemes as well around West Yorkshire bigger schemes in this one as well thanks for that Matthew can we agree the report thank you Le delivering the hous and growth at City Fields yeah
That’s following on from that side of it one of the certainly biggest problems I find in uh cly my w I know everybody in other WS are housing we need to build more houses we need to make sure that we build them and we build them quickly what this report
Does is it extends that and under uh 2.1 it’s to approve the freeold disposal of 1376 acre parcel of land at City Fields I think it’s important because it will deliver 135 housers and it will deliver them quickly as well as giving a receipt into this Council so uh I’m certainly looking
For approval under uh option one on page 145 uh for this uh to go ahead everybody happy with that think it’s welcome news that we need to we need to crack on with that can we agree the report okay thank you um item item 13 is the level
Devolution framework um I really I’m pleased to share an update with you um regarding an outlining level four Devolution and the approach being taken um across West Yorkshire to consider whether a step forward towards further Devolution is the right step for us um before I outline anymore I need to
Reiterate taking action now could lead to the district benefiting sooner if there is an agreed positive step to be had towards Devolution particularly any fiscal opportunities arising from the next multi-year settlement so what’s on offer for this framework funding simplification further Devolution of adult skills more local leadership
Around affordable homes and a range of additional functions in relation to transport more details of this are in the report what what is clear is that there is no no more new money there’s also no single Financial settlement however it is a stepping stone towards a single settlement at the next multi-year
Spending review whilst myself and fell leaders in West Yorkshire made an initial application to government this only commits us to a conversation to understand the implications and opportunities it is not binding therefore we shall carry on having the discussions but we shall have to take this into real consideration of
Whether it is right for this Council um and as I say other councils in West Yorkshire will be doing the same and I know it’s been um subject of the scrutiny committees um at the at the combined Authority and I think other councils um are all have the same concerns of as
Of whether it is right for them so we’ have a long way to go on this um but this is a step forward to look at it but as I say I reiterate it’s not binding so any questions Jack thanks Denise just a comment really to fully support your
Approach I think we need to make sure this is the right Devolution deal for Whitfield we know people in Wayfield in the past have been skeptical over the role of the mayor I think Tracy’s shown some good progress and what she’s doing around transport in particular but at
The same time we need to make sure Devolution is right if it offers money Powers opportunities that will benefit weight field fair enough but also we need to have the confidence of our convictions if it’s not right at that point to say no so support exploring it
Further but at the same time I think you’re quite right we still have the right and it’s clear under 312 with the attached report that there’s still the need for individual authorities to consent to this so it’s in no way binding at this point yeah I think we
Need to make that plan mat you yeah uh just following on from that uh whenever we’ve looked at Devolution going for a combined Authority going for a maral comb Authority it’s always included additional funding and the point that there’s not really no additional funding coming with this is concerning that
We’re taking on you know more responsibility for me Devolution is fetching powers from government down locally to regionally I have concerns that this could be taking Powers locally from from the five you know West authorities upper stage into the combined Authority so that is something
I have concerns about I think we do need to be cautious we need to be working with Partners in the five districts to see if we do go for it needs to be the best deal for West yorshire that we’re all benefited from this so I think the
Cautious approach is the right way to go at the moment Michael yeah I completely age what Matthew said if if it’s going to benefit our residents it’s going to make their lives better then I’ll be all for it so I’m so glad that we’re exploring this but if it’s going to be
Taken Powers away from this Council away from people further away that is the complete opposite of devolution and I don’t think that’s suitable for for this District so let’s see what comes out of it yeah yeah it’s just to add to what what Michael said but I think it’s important
We keep using the word because it’s their Devolution it depends it’s not about Devolution it’s about decision making and how far down the decisions are made and if this Council um given the authority to make those decisions they’re taken away into a bigger area then I don’t I would never vote for that
That sort of devolution we should always be able to make decisions for local for this local area and if that is where it goes then I put my hand up but I think you’re doing the right thing leader I really do believe you’re doing the right thing being cautious about this and I
Think we’ have a long way to go before we get anywhere near the Devolution that they’re talking about yeah I think we were very cautious originally with the dvo the first dvo deal um as you know Wakefield residents didn’t want to go down that road at all but we were
Persuaded in the end to do that because of the money and the funding that was coming in this time there’s no funding um and I do worry as as colleagues have said um about taking Powers away from this District that’s the last thing we want um and and I think other
Authorities um across where your do sure thinking the same you know we’ve got the government and then we’ve got the combined Authority and sometimes it feels as if you know we’re having to work with taking you know take I’m spreading my words here be careful what
I say but you know we don’t want to be fighting on our fronts um getting stuff for weight field it’s important that that we look after our district minin did you want to come in I thought you put your hand up anybody else okay can you agree the report AG okay thanks very
Much okay uh Financial Health Report um the purpose of this report is to inform cabinet of the Financial Health um of the Authority’s Revenue budget um as you know there is an overspend at the moment of 3.8 million an increase of not 4.4 million to the previously reported in
Total the overspend equates to .4% of the net budget and we’ll be funded from reserves um most of it is set out in the report um so are there any questions we all okay with that thanks very much and then the last item is the vital signs performance report um it’s
Important that we manage our performance um and use our resources efficiently well we all know that and we’re working hard to do that with our plans and to deliver against our priorities to provide value for money to our residents and businesses and you’ll see from the
Report how we set out how we manage and monitor our performance through our Performance Management framework and we’ve really made quite a lot of positive progress in some areas however I want to highlight again that these are challenging times and we are facing significant budget pressures increasing demand and cost of living crisis
Um would any colleague like to highlight things in their area Mor yeah first of all I want to thank Jackie I mean she she focuses our minds on not just the good stuff that we’re doing but the stuff that we should be actually looking
At she does and um I just want to say that within my own area we know that uh the housing needs service and homelessness is on the increase certainly in Wakefield and and and we need to be doing something about that but I want to point out that yeah the
Council has some and its Partners have some absolutely super uh welfare provision um in place to help those people who are vulnerable however however we’re in a state of flux at the moment we’ve just got the household support fund but it’s only going to last us until September we need to be
Pressurizing either this government could help us if they’re getting again uh are the next government which hopefully will be our government and we need to be pressurizing them to actually continue to help support those people who need well welfare provision as I say homelessness is on the increase
Daily people are being thrown out of their homes they’re losing their tencies um Etc so we we need to be pressurizing uh whichever government uh to give us more funding to help those people who are struggling uh but I really I just want to thank Jackie for for for putting
The report together and focusing our minds on what not just the good things and we need to celebrate those but the things that we need to uh look at and we need to monitor yeah yeah she’s yeah uh when we look at the state of the district’s highways and we said a
Couple months ago when we put through the capital program we don’t have nowhere near enough of the money that we need we need six times more than what we actually put in this year uh and that’s coming out in the report obviously with uh number of complaints arve than was
This time year by 10% and the Wayfield Express in their own story thank you for that Tony uh about these condition of where the worst roads are which are matching up with actually what we do know it’s just about getting around there not have the resources and the
Money to fund them but you know the national pict and the local pictures what we know already thank you anybody else look yeah I think I think it’s nice when you look at this report and Jackie does give an absolutely fantastic report there’s no you know there’s nothing in
The everything’s there for us but I think there’s two things for me is one is I’ve seen that many reports where you look at the good things I do and I know people around this St I’m looking for where we need to improve and I think uh we’re always
Doing that and we’re always doing that the council what this report does on a regular basis is give us the choice to actually focus in on those things and that makes us better it makes us look at the things that we need to look at it’s
Nice to celebrate the other ones as well and we all do let’s face it uh but that’s what’s good about it no punch is pulled it’s all there it’s all in black and white and we know what we have to work on and we do thank you for that L Michael yeah I
Totally agree I think what this report shows and the great work of officers is that we are to counil that not just listening to people whe that be on the door steps whether that be on social media we’re constantly listening to what people want and to what the issues are
But we’re also looking at the data as well like Les said nothing’s hidden we’re not trying to cover up anything it’s all here in black and white what are we doing well and what can we improve on and we’re putting things in place to get there so welcome the report
It it’s making it really clear for me in my area you know where where the improvements have been and what we’ve still got to do so very useful and yeah long may we continue okay well thanks very very much all of you for your comments and updates can we note the
Performance against the vital signs indicators and the actions been taken to improve performance and can we recommend this report is submitted to the overview and scrutiny management board for consideration and further examination if appropriate y can we agree that agre thanks very much for your time for