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 consider suspending Standing Order 13(5) in respect of the following presentation only (item 3 refers) insofar as it relates to restrictions on Members speaking more than once.

The Council will receive a presentation and report from the External Auditor summarising the key issues identified during the audit of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31^st March, 2022.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL FROM THE AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE:-

(i)         That the External Auditor’s (ISA 260) Report 2021/22 be approved;

(ii)        That the findings on the current position with regard to the Value for Money conclusion be noted (as not completed); and

(iii)       That the findings from the audit work in relation to the 2021/22 Financial Statements be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance seeking the approval of the Annual Governance Statement 2021/22.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL FROM THE AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE  that the final Annual Governance Statement 2021/22 be approved and adopted.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL FROM THE AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE - that the audited Statement of Accounts 2021/22 and Letter of Representation be approved.

To receive a report of the Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance detailing the role of the Audit and Governance Committee and how it has discharged its responsibilities during 2021/22.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL FROM THE AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE - that the Audit and Governance Committee’s Annual Report for 2021/22 be approved.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 29 September 2022.

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

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

i)             That the Council approves the updated social media guidance and best practice for employees and elected members;

ii)            That the Council encourages all employees and elected members to pledge their support to the No Place for Hate campaign and to acknowledge their role and responsibility in making online hate and abuse socially unacceptable.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:- That Council endorses the Local Plan Review.

Council Committees

Cabinet

To note the appointment of Councillor Peace as Cabinet Support Member -  Environment and Highways for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2022/23, following the resignation of Councillor Risebury

Audit and Governance Committee

Proposed to appoint Mr S Wragg to replace Mr M Marks

Outside Bodies

Barnsley Ex Service Personnel Fund –

Proposed to –

Appoint Councillor Makinson

Remove Councillor Platts

Early Help Delivery Groups

Proposed to appoint as follows for a 2 year period -

Central Early Help Delivery Group (Central, Dodworth, Kingstone, Stairfoot and Worsbrough) – Proposed - Councillors Bowser, Clarke and K Dyson.

Dearne Early Help Delivery Group (Dearne North and South) – Proposed to appoint Councillors Bellamy and Cain. 

North Early Help Delivery Group (Darton East and West, Old Town and St Helen’s) – Proposed to appoint Councillors T Cave, Denton and Leech.

North East Early Help Delivery Group (Cudworth, Monk Bretton, North east and Royston) – Proposed to appoint Councillors Cherryholme, Hayward, and McCarthy.

South and Penistone Early Help Delivery Group (Darfield, Hoyland Milton, Penistone East and West, Rockingham and Wombwell) – Proposed to appoint Councillors Eastwood, Franklin, Kitching, and Sumner.

Fostering Panel

Proposed to -

Appoint Councillor Eastwood - for the remainder of the 2022/23 Municipal Year

Remove Councillor Ramchandani

To seek approval, in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, for the absence from meetings of the Authority on behalf of Councillor Pickering on the grounds of ill health and pending the receipt of medical certification that they are fit to resume their duties.

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

a)    Councillor Lodge

Pavement Parking is of significant concern to residents across the Borough, making it extremely dangerous for those with mobility difficulty, sight or hearing impairments and for pedestrians.

Will the Council work with other responsible bodies, to create a targeted awareness campaign around pavement parking and put in place measures where possible to limit the risk to the groups outlined?

b)    Councillor Kitching

What plans does the Council have to install street based EV chargers in Barnsley to assist residents without off street parking to transition to electric vehicles and what do you consider to be the barriers to their installation.

c)    Councillor Lodge

In recent weeks, £58,684.31 has been received in Section 106 monies from developments in the Worsbrough Ward, £10,000 of which has already been made available to a local group.

With the remaining balance from these first payments, will the Council look to refurbish play areas in the Worsbrough Ward?

d)    Councillor P Fielding

The Council declared a climate emergency in September 2019. In September 2020 the Council published its first Strategic Energy Action Plan setting out its ambition to reduce the Boroughs scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 65% of its 2017 levels by 2025. The Council also aims to reduce its own carbon emissions by 60% of 2019 levels by 2025. Can the Cabinet Member quantify the current reduction in carbon emissions relevant to meeting these targets?

e)    Councillor Lodge

Parks and Play areas across the Borough have been subjected to mindless vandalism over several years, which has seen thousands of pounds of damage to parks and play areas in Worsbrough alone.

Will the Council work to introduce a Public Space Protection Order, as it has done to cover moorland and the town centre, to protect our parks and play areas from further mindless vandalism?

f)     Councillor W Fielding

Can the cabinet member inform Council on the number of asylum seekers held in hostels, hotels or refuge centres in the borough?

g)    Councillor W Fielding

With reference to my previous question referring to asylum seekers, can the Cabinet Member also outline what the council’s role is in working with the Home Office, Mears Group and other agencies, specifically in relation to security and public health?

h)    Councillor Hunt

An additional £2m of highways investment was included within the 2022/23 budget. This was for highways safety measures including expanding advisory 20mph limits outside schools and schemes suggested by elected members. Please could the cabinet member provide an update on progress on this important road safety initiative?

i)     Councillor W Fielding

Can the cabinet member outline what the council is doing to provide a safe and secure place for transgender and non binary employees, contractors and partners to be themselves in an open, friendly and encouraging environment free from bullying, harassment and abuse?