Agenda

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 Annual meeting of the Council held on 17 May 2024 and ordinary meeting of the Council held on 23 May 2024.

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

All reports detailed below are subject to Cabinet recommendation. The Cabinet Spokesperson for the Service in question will respond to any comments or amendments concerning these.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL – to approve the publication of the new Council Plan.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL - that all streets in the Barnsley borough be designated as Consent Streets from 15 September 2024 as per Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (attached as Appendix C)

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

i)              That  Section 3c, Part 2 of the constitution be amended to clarify the Cabinet delegations to Cabinet Spokespersons as contained in Appendix B;

ii)             That Section 3a of the constitution be amended to update the terms of reference for the Audit and Governance Committee as contained in Appendix C;

iii)           That, in accordance with Section 9FB of the Local Government Act 2000, the power to appoint the Statutory Scrutiny Officer be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to designate an officer from the Governance Service for this role; and

iv)           That the Monitoring Officer be empowered to make minor amendments to the constitution.

To consider a report informing Full Council of the work undertaken by Overview and Scrutiny committee members during 2023-24.

To consider the appointment of Monitoring Officer, following the departure of Kate Charlton.

To consider the appointment of Proper Officer for Births, Deaths, and Marriages following the departure of Kate Charlton.

To consider the appointments to the following outside bodies:-

Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Migration Group

Proposed - Cabinet Spokesperson Public Health and Communities (annual appointment)

Shaw Lands Trust

Proposed - Councillor Moyes for a 3 year term

(NB. No Cabinet decisions have been called in from these meetings)

Any Member of the Council shall have the opportunity to comment on any matters referred to in the following minutes.

The relevant representatives shall then be given the opportunity to respond to any comments made by Members on those minutes.

To consider the following questions which have been received from Elected Members under Standing Order No. 11.

1.     Councillor Bullcock

The floral displays outside the Town Hall in the town centre have looked fantastic this year – as is the case every year. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the numerous planters situated in Kingstone ward which have been neglected for many years, are overgrown and attract street litter and vermin. The street backings in the ward suffer similarly from litter and flytipping. Along with my cllr colleagues and local volunteers we are doing our best to improve and maintain these areas – but is the Council responsible for these areas? If so, why are they not maintaining them?

2.    Councillor Hunt

In March 2020 the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group on Poverty recommended to Cabinet that additional investment was made to provide externally procured outreach advice services to ensure a basis local provision in each area. This recommendation was reiterated by the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group report on Child Poverty in February 2021. The Executive Director’s report to the cabinet meeting on 2nd June 2021 provisionally supported the recommendation pending a review to be carried out, later that year, of all welfare advice services offered through the Council. What was the outcome of that review and what update can be provide now on subsequent progress to address the Task and Finish Group’s recommendations and concerns?

3.    Councillor Hunt

Following inspections of the highways network what actions are subsequently carried out, and in what time frame, if pavements are found to be blocked or obstructed by adjacent overgrowing shrubbery?

Motion received under no 6 of the Council’s Standing Orders.

Proposed – Councillor T Cave

Seconder – Councillor Peace

That this Council believes:

·         Care experienced young people in the Borough face significant barriers that impact them throughout their lives.

·         Despite the resilience of many care- experienced young people in Barnsley they, too often, experience stigma and disadvantage, leading to inequality and economic and social exclusion.

·         Care experienced young people often face discrimination and stigma across housing, health, education, relationships, employment and in the criminal justice system.

·         As corporate parents, all elected members of the Council have a collective responsibility for providing the best possible care and support to care experienced young people in Barnsley, including safeguarding them from harm  and to improve the range of outcomes.

·         As corporate parents, elected members should commit to acting as mentors to care-experienced young people in their communities, ensuring their voice is heard in planning and commissioning services which affect them.

·         Elected members should ‘champion’ all children and care leavers in our care and promote their equality and inclusion in the Borough.

·         The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, including councils, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation of people with protected characteristics

Therefore, this Council resolves:

·         That it recognises care experienced young people are a group who are likely to face discrimination.

·         That it recognises it has a responsibility to put the needs of such disadvantaged people at the heart of decision-making, including via collaboration and co-production.

·         That future decisions, services and policies made and adopted by the Council should be evaluated by equality impact assessments to determine the impact of any changes upon care experienced young people, alongside those who formally share a protected characteristic.

·         In discharging its Public Sector Equality Duty, ensures experience of care among young people is considered as a protected characteristic in the Borough and is included in the Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, together with any annual publication of information relating to people who share a protected characteristic in services and employment.

·         Formally calls upon its partners, local service providers, employers and local businesses in treating care experience as a protected characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation and, in doing so, promote equality and economic and social inclusion.

·         For the Council to continually and proactively seek out and listen to the voices of care experienced young people when developing new policies based on their views

Motion received under no 6 of the Council’s Standing Orders.

Proposer – Councillor C Wray

Seconder – Councillor Denton

The Council notes:

1. That the microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023 were welcome and much needed in terms of monitoring and safeguarding pets.
2. This legislation had potential unintended consequences for the welfare of the animals it was designed to protect, due to owners abandoning those animals, particularly cats.
3. A potential increase in the numbers of stray and feral cats, amplified by abandoned cats, within the borough and the rest of the United Kingdom, with the most recent figures by Cats Protection estimating a little under 250,000 stray cats within urban areas in 2021.
4. The ecological impact that feral and stray cats can have on wildlife within their surroundings and the emotional impact this can have on residents.
5. The harm—unintentional or otherwise—members of the public might inflict on these cats and on those which are pets.

Furthermore, the Council understands:

6. The cat is the second most popular pet in the UK, roughly 12.5 million, according to the UK Pet Food Manufacturers Association.
7. All cats, owned or otherwise, have a right to a healthy life, free from abuse, as directed under the Animal Welfare Act of 2006.
8. Some owners have abandoned their pets due to the cost-of-living crisis or other circumstances, increasing the stray population.
9. Stray and feral cats might form colonies, which create issues including:

10. The increased numbers have increased the pressure and strain on local charities and rescues to previously unseen levels.
11. That monitoring and being aware of these issues is a matter of public interest and potentially of public health.

Therefore, the Council resolves:

12. To work with local charities, rescues and veterinary clinic to promote, via social media and other channels, campaigns highlighting:

o   The legislation requiring microchipping of cats as a legal requirement, focusing on links to organisations offering discounts on this service.

o   The benefits of neutering pet cats, focussing on links to organisations offering discounts on this service.

o   Promote the work of those services offering rescue cats and kittens as an alternative to purchasing pets.

13. To work with local rescues, charities, and other local representatives to analyse and monitor the number of colonies within the borough and to explore how council officers can further support these bodies and individuals.