9.15Am Political Group Meetings 10.00Am Annual General M

Annual General Meeting 10.00am, Friday 9th July 2021 MS Teams (Virtual) 9.15am Political Group Meetings 10.00am Annual General Meeting 1. Apologies 2. Declarations of Interest 3. Minutes of EMC Meeting held on 5th February 2021 4. Presentation Nigel Mills MP (Amber Valley) Alex Norris MP (Nottingham North), Co-Chairs, East Midlands All-Party Parliamentary Group 5. Chair’s Presentation of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 6. Questions to Chair or Nominee 7. Political Appointments a) Political Group Leaders b) Vice Chairs of East Midlands Councils c) Chair of East Midlands Councils 8. Motion(s) to East Midlands Councils 9. Chairs Report 10. Regional Infrastructure and Investment 11. Asylum and Refugee Resettlement in the East Midlands 12. Regional Employers’ Report Item 3 Minutes of the East Midlands Councils Meeting Friday 5th February 2021 (Virtual via MS Teams) General Meeting Cllr Martin Hill OBE chaired and welcomed everyone to the meeting 1. Apologies Cllr Reg Adair, Cllr Jason Atkin, Cllr Richard Auger, Cllr Patricia Bradwell, Cllr Stuart Bray, Cllr Steve Fritchley, Cllr Matthew Golby, Cllr Jeremy Keynon, Cllr Rebecca Langton, Cllr Ian McCord, Cllr Russell Roberts, Cllr Simon Whelband 2. Declarations of Interest 2.1 Cllr Martin Hill declared an interest in land on the edge of Melton Mowbray – this is a standing Declaration of Interest held on file since September 2015. 2.2 Dr Terri Eynon declared an interest as a GP vaccinator and registered medical practitioner in relation to the item on Coronavirus. 3. Minutes of EMC Annual General meeting held on 9th October 2020 3.1 These were agreed as a true and accurate record. 4. EMC Chair’s Report 4.1 Cllr Martin Hill updated members on key issues for the sector. He stated that he is grateful for the level of support government has given over the last 12 months and that the Government is listening to the concerns of the sector. The settlement is only a one-year settlement and there is a need to continue to lobby 1 Item 3 to Government to address funding for next year and pit in place longer-term arrangements. 4.2 Schools are mostly closed except for the children of key workers. Rumours are primaries schools will be opening next month and other schools following this. Arrangements for testing in schools need to be clarified. 4.3 Care homes remain a significant issue, however it appears things are now improving. 4.4 In terms of elections, local elections and those for police and crime commissioners will be held on 6th May. 4.5 The EMC Business Plan is in the process of being finalised and Cllr Hill asked members to engage with this process and inform officers if they have any views on this. 4.6 Cllr Hill updated on EMC’s budgetary position. There is a likely £50,000 deficit, however EMC has a good level of reserves to meet any predicted shortfall in income. 4.7 Cllr Philip King highlighted the funding for councils, in particular district colleagues, where there is inequality with the governments funding for leisure centres and, in particular, those who are contracted out as they do not qualify for the funding. Also, there are concerns in relation to fairer funding and the government’s decision to withdraw the new homes bonus. 4.8 Cllr Martin Hill highlighted the alleged big reform of local government finance. 4.9 Cllr David Mellen also highlighted the issue on finances and feels there hasn’t been an equal situation from the government. He acknowledged some support has been received, however there is a need for government to meet full costs as promised. 4.10 Cllr Hill highlighted to members the need to fund adult care in a more sustainable way and increasing council tax is not a fair way. Better Care funding money is always on a year-by-year basis. The reform of business rates is also overdue. 2 Item 3 4.11 Cllr Lucy Care stated the way in which the community has risen up to support communities is encouraging and she feels this is something we need to be looking at and encouraging in the future. Resolution Members of East Midlands Councils: . Considered the work programme and progress made by EMC, its member councils and partner organisations in supporting local communities in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. Considered and advised on the key issues that EMC should include within its proposed work programme for 2021/22. 5. Motion to East Midlands Councils 5.1 Cllr David Bill proposed a motion in relation to funding for railways and transport infrastructure which had been previously emailed to members. This was seconded by Cllr Alan Rhodes. 5.2 Cllr Kay Cutts submitted an amended motion which was seconded by Cllr Tricia Gilby. This revised motion is attached as Appendix 3(a). 5.3 Members held a discussion around this and felt the amendment was more positive and supportive. It highlights the work of all Leaders and also cross-party support. 5.4 Cllr Alan Rhodes feels the amendment strengthens the Motion and extremely important that cross-party support is recognised, and he supports this amendment. 5.5 Cllr Tricia Gilby highlighted the need for investor confidence and the need for HS2 to be delivered in full. 5.6 Cllr Gale Waller agreed on the need to continue to put pressure on Government and the HS2 investment programme should include the Eastern leg. There is additional infrastructure that the Eastern leg will bring, and this is why the Motion was submitted, however now having heard the revision she endorses the revised motion. 3 Item 3 5.7 Cllr Milan Radulovic stated he is a strong advocate of the HS2 station going ahead at Toton and is strongly in favour of this. The connectivity to South Yorkshire and Leeds makes it a key location site. 5.8 Cllr Simon Spencer echoed comments made. The business case originally proposed on HS2 should continue and that it should be delivered in its entirety. The economic benefits will be destroyed by moving an integral part of the programme. 5.9 Cllr James Hakewill also highlighted the road infrastructure around the A43 Kettering – Northampton route. 5.10 Cllr David Bill accepted the amended motion. 5.11 Members held a vote around the amended motion: . None against . 1 abstained 6. Covid-19 Report – epidemiology and vaccinations report 6.1 Helen Marks, Ann Crawford, Trish Thompson and Ash Banerjee addressed members on the latest epidemiology and vaccinations information. 6.2 Members received a presentation from Ann Crawford on the latest epidemiology data which included number of case rates and age range of cases. 6.3 Case rates now appear to be declining and lowering in levels across the region. There are some variances however and public health are looking at localised outbreaks. Questions/Comments 6.4 Cllr Tom Beattie stated that in relation to the figures from Corby, one of the issues/concerns is the nature of the industry in Corby and people not being able to work from home. He has written to the Prime Minister to express concerns over this and also concerns of people working in in a non-covid secure environment. 4 Item 3 6.5 Car sharing is happening, and non-essential places are opening that should not be. He feels there isn’t the level of support now for employees that was happening in March 2020. 6.6 Ann Crawford confirmed this has been looked at and flagged. 6.7 Cllr Sarah Russell enquired around the South African variant and whether there is lab testing on this. She stated that PCR doorstep testing has been ongoing in Leicester for some time. 6.8 Leicester has been running its own track and trace programme for a while which has been successful. They also have a ground team insisting on people isolating if they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive. This also includes using incentive payments. She feels other councils could also do this. 6.9 Cllr Barry Lewis highlighted the case rates around the industrial estates and along the M1 corridor. He feels there is no doubt that there is correlation between industries. The solution is to continue with the vaccination programme. Derbyshire was a pilot for the Community testing model which could be a route taken and, in particular, in hotspots. 6.10 He also enquired around early years settings and how this is dealt with in relation to community testing. He feels priority should be given for them for tests. 6.11 Helen Marks confirmed that community testing is available across the whole of the East Midlands. In terms of PCR testing there are only 2 labs doing genomic testing. 6.12 In terms of early years, regional partnerships have raised this as an issue and public health are trying to look at solutions in particular around home testing. Ann Crawford confirmed that national discussions are currently taking place in relation to early years testing. 6.13 Helen Marks stated that they continue to work closely with Directors of Public Health and that this will then feed into the national partnership team. 6.14 Cllr Philip King highlighted that there are a large number of lorry drivers coming into and out of the area and asked about testing of mobile workforce up and 5 Item 3 down the country. He also asked when the local vaccination data would be received. 6.15 Helen Marks stated that work is starting to focus on employers who employ more than 50 employees to start making arrangements for testing of their workforce.

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