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 meeting of the Council held on 25 July 2024

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

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

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:- That the Code of Conduct for Elected Members contained at Appendix A be adopted.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:- That the Annual Report be received and that the progress and achievements made by the Panel, in supporting care experienced young people, in accordance with the Local Authority’s statutory responsibilities be noted.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:- That Council notes the establishment of the Service Director posts as detailed in the report and, in line with the requirement detailed in the Council constitution, approves their remuneration which will be based on current Service Director pay.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

1.    That Council approves the revisions to the Contract Procedure Rules detailed for publication on the Council’s website and implementation.

2. That Council approves the revision to the Constitution to align to the Contract Procedure Rules.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

1.    That the recommendations of the independent panel to update the allowances scheme for elected members is accepted in full; and

2.    That the scheme of allowances is backdated to the start of the municipal year in May 2024, in line with the independent panel’s recommendation, with the exception of the special responsibility allowance for the Leader of the opposition.

To consider the appointments to the following outside bodies:-

Shaw Lands Trust

Proposed – Councillors Hayward, Mitchell and Richardson, each 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 and which are asked pursuant to Standing Order No. 11.

1.    Councillor Osborne.

Can the Cabinet member for Children’s Services offer their views (or considered impact) of the announced Ofsted reforms, in response to the Big Listen survey conducted over the summer?

2.    Councillor Lodge

Residents of Grove Street, Worsbrough Dale have been left in limbo following a small housing development left their road and footpath in disrepair, as well as planning commitments to improve the road being unfulfilled. Could the Cabinet Member please outline what is currently being done to resolve this and how long residents will be expected to wait?

3.    Councillor Christmas

It has been brought to my attention that residents across the borough are experiencing considerable delays in receiving decisions on planning applications. The council's website claims it aims to deliver the majority of decisions within eight weeks. However, I am aware of multiple instances where the process has taken significantly longer. If these delays are becoming frequent, could the cabinet member provide an explanation for these delays and update members on the revised expected timescales for planning application decisions.

4.    Councillor A Wray

What is causing the regular missed wheelie bin collections for the residents in the Rockingham Ward?

5.    Councillor Eastwood

When speaking with residents I have heard concerns over the increase in battery fires both at home but also in the waste system. Can the Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment and Highways outline the steps Barnsley Council has taken to encourage the recycling of batteries and also reduce the risk of fires within our waste process?

6.    Councillor Lodge

Alongside the Trans Pennine Trail are our fantastic public footpaths and bridleways, however many of these are overgrown with limited access. Currently, they are cut on an Area Council rotational basis, does the Cabinet Member believe this is working efficiently or could a new approach be taken?

7.    Councillor Christmas

We have been pleased to see the expansion of the 20mph advisory speed limit zones outside many of the primary schools in the borough. Could the cabinet member please provide members with an update on the project, detailing:

• How many of these zones are now in place?
• How many feasibility studies have been conducted and how many more are to be expected?

8.    Councillor Webster

The latest Office for National Statistics figures (2022/23) show that one in three victims of domestic abuse are male equating to 751,000 men (3.2%) and 1.38 million women (5.7%). From this, 483,000 men and 964,000 women are victims of partner abuse. (ONS 2022/23). Can the Cabinet Member tell me what the provision for male victims of domestic abuse is there is in the Borough?

9.    Councillor Nayeri

How often are the pavements assessed for suitability for those with mobility related disabilities, including users of mobility scooters, wheelchair and walking aides?

10.Councillor P Wright

The recent opening of Trinity St Edwards, the new school on Broadway, was  ...  view the full agenda text for item 30.

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

Proposer – Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE

Seconder - Councillor Makinson

This Council acknowledges the decision by the incoming Labour Government to remove the universal access to the Winter Fuel Allowance from all pensioners to those claiming Pension Credit or other low-income related benefits.

This Council recognises that this is not a decision taken lightly and that the new government must take difficult decisions on spending to address the £22 billion black hole in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government.

This Council recognises that there are clearly some pensioners on very high incomes, or those living overseas, who do not need to be in receipt of the Winter Fuel Allowance and this is a saving that can be made.

Notwithstanding the above, this Council believes that the removal of the universal Winter Fuel Allowance will have a considerable impact on low and middle-income pensioners who are not eligible for Pension Credit or those on very low incomes who have not yet applied for Pension Credit.

This Council believes that a review of the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Allowance should take place immediately, in consultation with pensioner representative groups, and that due consideration should be given to protecting those pensioners on low and middle incomes who may be struggling with the cost of energy this winter.

Therefore, this Council resolves:

•       To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, copied to Barnsley’s Members of Parliament, to set out Barnsley Council’s concerns on this matter and to request that a review along the lines described above takes place.

•       To deliver a communications campaign – in conjunction partner organisations – to promote the uptake of Pension Credit in Barnsley both in response to the proposed changes to Winter Fuel Allowance and more generally as part of the ‘More Money in Your Pocket’ agenda that Barnsley Council has successfully run in recent years.

•       To explore options to utilise Household Support Funding to support older residents in need this winter, subject to the availability of council resources.