Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest of a pecuniary or non-pecuniary nature from Members in respect of the items on this agenda.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 19 May and 25 May 2023.

To consider any communications to be submitted by the Mayor or the Chief Executive.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

That the updated Design of Housing Supplementary Planning Document be adopted.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

That the Sustainable Construction and Climate Change Adaptation Supplementary Planning Document be adopted.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

That Council considers the outcomes of the recent Ofsted focused visit on the experience and progress of young people leaving care in Barnsley, together with the next steps.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

That the Children and Young People’s Plan be adopted.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

i)             That the Asset Management Strategy (AMS) covering the period 2023/24 to 2027/28 be adopted;

ii)            That the approach to adopt a 5-year strategic land disposal programme be supported;

iii)          That commitment be given to the approach identified to manage the asset base and support achieving the £5.5m efficiencies set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy; and

iv)          That delegated authority be given to both the Executive Director of Growth and Sustainability and Director of Finance/S151 Officer to approve any investment required (against the £1m already set aside) to deliver the key actions of the Asset Management Strategy, within their delegated authority, with anything outside of this being referred to Cabinet Spokesperson(s) and/or Cabinet as appropriate.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

That Wendy Popplewell be appointed as Deputy Electoral Registration Officer and Deputy Returning Officer to operate with the full powers of the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer if they are unable to discharge them.  This will apply to all elections, referenda and other polls in the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council area.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

That the draft submission contained in Appendix 1 of the report be approved for submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

That the Statement of Licensing Policy appended to the report (Appendix 1) be published in accordance with the statutory requirements and adopted by the Council.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

That Council:-

i)             Reviews the update provided in relation to social housing reform and the implications that these proposed changes have for the Council and the assurance that it needs from the ALMO in terms of its management and maintenance of the Council’s Housing Stock under the Services Agreement 2021-2031;

ii)            Endorses the proposed Governance Structure to comply with duties under the Fire Safety and Building Safety Bills, and the appointment of the Accountable Person within the Council. Delegates responsibility to the Fire and Asbestos Compliance Officer to register the Council’s high-rise buildings and prepare and submit building safety cases, as required; and

iii)          Supports opportunities to enhance the current Assurance Framework and the draft Action Plan which includes an independent review of current governance arrangements by Campbell Tickell.

Please note the recommendation below is subject to consideration by the Audit and Governance Committee on 26 July 2023.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

i)             That the proposed amendments to the thresholds be approved to enable these to be implemented whilst the further revisions to the full document are finalised;

ii)            That the thresholds be as follows;

£0 - £50,000 – For contracts valued up to and including £50,000 an Executive Director shall proceed in a manner which ensures value for money and the efficient management of the service.  Where possible this process shall prioritise the placing of orders with local businesses.

£50,001 - £70,000 – For contracts above £50,000 and up to and including £70,000 the Executive Director must seek to achieve competition and for that purpose invite at least three quotations via YORtender.  Where appropriate at least two of the companies invited to quote should be local businesses.

£70,000 -  All procurement above £70,000 in total contract value must be undertaken by the Strategic Procurement Team.  For procurements above £70,000 to the FTS threshold for goods and services, an open tender procedure must be followed.

To consider the following appointments to Outside Bodies:-

Danum Drainage Board

Proposed - Cabinet Support Member Environment and Highways

Migration Yorkshire Board

Proposed - Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE (Chair for a 2 year term)

Shaw Lands Trust

Proposed - Mr Kevin Williams

The Alcohol Alliance

Proposed - Cabinet Spokesperson Public Health and Communities

Transport for the North Scrutiny Committee

Proposed - Cabinet Support Member Environment and Highways – Substitute Member

Virtual School Governors

Proposed – Councillor Moore

Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Migration Group

Proposed - Cabinet Spokesperson Public Health and Communities

Member Development Working Party

1 x Vacancy

SACRE

1 X Vacancy

To consider any questions which may have been received from Elected Members and which are asked pursuant to Standing Order No. 11.

Councillor N Wright

I hereby ask if this council could facilitate some basic mental health training to all ward councillors should the elected member wish to do so.

With this training elected members could gain a basic understanding to the sign & symptoms some of our residents may be demonstrating as a result of a mental health illnesses whilst out and about serving within our communities.

This can only help achieve a better understanding of how to identify individuals in need of help and along with knowing where to quickly signpost these individuals to such as dedicated mental health organisations and helplines.

Councillor Hunt

In 2020 the council purchased new Speed Indicator Devices and radar boxes. At Full Council on 3rd February 2022 in response to my question regarding the deployment of these important road safety assets the then Cabinet Member reported that the 4th COVID wave had impacted the council’s capacity to roll out the Speed Indicator Devices at that time.

The then Cabinet Member went on to say that “I am pleased to report to Members that this is a temporary situation, which officers are working tirelessly to resolve. In the coming weeks, we will deploy Speed Indicator Devices to Staincross Common (Darton East), Intake Lane (Darton West) and Racecommon Road (Kingstone) - each for a period of 4 weeks.”

Can the cabinet member please explain why the Speed Indicator Device eventually deployed to Staincross Common has remained there, not working, for several months?

Councillor Burnett

Like many parents I often enjoy walking my children to and from school. The physical and mental wellbeing benefits for children are extremely important, especially with the high levels of childhood obesity within the borough, without even mentioning the environmental benefits.

I’m pleased to see the phased introduction of 20mph speed limits outside the Borough’s primary schools, following a successful trial earlier this year. Making sure our roads are safe is vital in helping encourage parents and children to walk or cycle to school.

Could the cabinet member for highways please give us an update on the roll out of the scheme and a rough projected timespan?

Councillor Fielding

Will Trinity School on Broadway be ready to take students by September 2024, by which time the school should be accommodating 720 students?

Councillor P Wright

Does the cabinet member support Age UK Barnsley’s “Take a Seat Campaign”, which aims to support older people in Barnsley to get out and about more by providing suitable resting places?

Councillor Greenhough

Bullhouse Bridge on the Transpennine Trail at Millhouse Green has been closed since May 2022, forcing trail users including walkers, cyclists, horse riders and families to negotiate a diversion via the busy A628.

Can the cabinet member please tell us when the bridge will be reopened?