Minutes of the virtual Council held on Tuesday 23 February 2021 Councillor Gareth Jones (Mayor) Present (for all or part of the meeting):- Councillors: C A Baron W J Kemp J A Barron R Kenney R J Barron P A Leason F Beatty A M Loughran A R G Brown B McKeown R P Cooke D McNaughton A G Cooper A Nixon B M Cross J A Nixon M G Dodson L Nixon A P Edgeller G P K Pardesi P M M Farrington A N Pearce I D Fordham J M Pert A T A Godfrey M Phillips M Green J K Price A S Harp P Roycroft A D Hobbs R M Smith M V Holmes R M Sutherland J Hood C V Trowbridge R A James M J Winnington P W Jones Officers in attendance:- Mr T Clegg - Chief Executive Mr R Kean - Head of Finance Mr I Curran - Head of Law and Administration Mr R Simpson - Head of Operations Dr T Redpath - Corporate Business and Partnerships Manager Mr W Conaghan - Press and Communication Manager Miss M Smith - Economic Growth and Strategic Projects Manager Mr A Bailey - Scrutiny Officer Mr J Dean - Democratic Services Officer C90 Minutes Minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 January 2021 were agreed as a correct record. 1 C91 Announcements The Mayor had hosted a second series of virtual ‘get-togethers’ with Members of the Council. The virtual events were well received and gave those attending the opportunity to catch up in an informal atmosphere. C92 Public Question Time The following question had been received pursuant to Paragraph 11.1 of the Council Procedure Rules:- Mr Roger Oldfield ‘A research study by scientists at four British and American universities was reported this month as finding that globally 8.7 million people died in 2018 from pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels. This compares with the 2.34 million who have died so far from Covid-19. More than one in 10 deaths in Europe are caused by the burning of fossil fuels to power factories, homes and vehicles. What powers does Stafford Borough Council have to reduce the threat to our health from the burning of fossil fuels for each of these three purposes? How far is it using these powers?’ Councillor J K Price, Cabinet Member, Environment Portfolio, responded as follows:- ‘District and Borough Local authorities have some powers to deal with pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels to power factories, homes and vehicles. The provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 prescribes some power generating industrial activities such as biomass power stations for local authority regulation. The emissions from such are then controlled via a bespoke permit which takes into account the local and regional impacts, larger power generators (regional power stations) are regulated by the Environment Agency. Stafford Borough Council fully utilises these powers. The Environment Act 1995-Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) sets out minimum air quality standards to be achieved arising from industrial, domestic and transportation sectors. The methodology requires assessment of the local and regional impacts arising from such activities and where shown to be necessary declare Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA’s), additional AQMA controls are adopted to enhance local controls for each sector. Domestic use of wood burning stoves is likely to be added as a consideration in LAQM shortly. Stafford Borough Council fully complies with the air quality standards prescribed and adoption of AQMA’s has not been required. 2 The Clean Air Act 1993 empowers local authorities to take action against industries and residences where smoke arising from the burning of fossil fuels or wastes breaches the prescribed standards, in particular some councils may have adopted ‘smoke control areas’ which limits the types of fuels which may be used industrially and domestically. Stafford Borough Council enforces breaches of the Act but has not declared any ‘smoke control areas’. The Environmental Protection Act Statutory Nuisance Provisions apply to domestic emissions of smoke where this results in a statutory nuisance. Stafford Borough Council fully utilises these powers. As provided for under Paragraph 11.9 of the Council Procedure Rules, Mr Oldfield asked the following supplementary question of the Cabinet Member:- ‘It is not clear if the Council meets anything but the required minimum standards required, in terms of housing developments, pressing developers to install renewable energy systems, enforcement of minimum traffic standards, promotion of traffic-free town centres, use of clear air zones and the closure of streets to traffic outside schools etc. Air pollution is an enormous problem attributing to approx. 1 in 5 deaths globally – what initiatives are the Council undertaking to become a lead pioneer in this field? Councillor J K Price responded as follows:- ‘Air pollution is not a significant problem in Stafford Borough – approved standards are consistently met. The Council is keen to further improve air quality in its area with the obvious benefits that will bring. The latest test results demonstrate that air quality standards were achieved and there were no resulting actions to be taken’. C93 Councillor Session Councillor A N Pearce had submitted the following question in accordance with Paragraph 12.3(b) of the Council Procedure Rules:- “At the full Council meeting in November 2019, the following motion was considered: ‘A Notice of Motion pursuant to Paragraph 13.1 of the Council Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor A N Pearce and seconded by Councillor M V Holmes as follows:- This Council notes that: • It had a commitment to double tree cover in the Borough by 2020 3 • Trees play an extremely important role in reducing air pollution, promoting biodiversity and absorbing carbon emissions • At a recent Public Appeals Committee meeting, residents from Eccleshall turned up in large numbers to support the implementation of a tree preservation order I therefore move that Cabinet consider the development of a Tree Strategy which will: (1) Increase the number of trees on Council owned land by direct planting or enabling community - led planting of saplings (2) Involve working with other public and private land owners in the Borough with a view to increasing the level of tree cover (3) In doing so, aim to get an extra 10,000 trees planted by 2023 (4) Develop a network of volunteer tree wardens throughout the Borough whose role will be to map the location of existing mature trees and report on and monitor their condition, notifying the Council of any threat to their continued existence’ The motion was defeated as the controlling group voted against it. However, an assurance was given that a Tree Strategy was in preparation. At the full Council meeting in November 2020, an assurance was again given that a tree strategy was in preparation. It is perhaps worth noting a) that the tree planting season for the Spring is almost over and b) that trees play a crucial role in helping to prevent flooding. Whilst fully accepting that Covid 19 has caused delays in policy development, it would be helpful if the Cabinet Member for the Environment could give an update on the development of the Tree Policy and, as a first step, it is suggested that contact is made with the Tree Council to establish a trial tree warden scheme in one of the wards in the Borough.” Councillor F Beatty, Cabinet Member - Economic Development and Planning Portfolio, responded by explaining that the tree strategy formed part of the emerging Local Plan, and that was a complicated area of work being formed by specialist Officers, in conjunction with developers. Government payments made to landowners recognised the value of maintaining the natural environment, including trees, as reflected in said payments. Further detail on this matter was expected to be contained within the Environment Bill, due to be considered by Government in Autumn of this year. The points raised by Councillor Pearce would be taken into account by the Council’s Forward Planning Team. Continuing, Councillor J K Price, Cabinet Member - Environment Portfolio, detailed tree planting taking place as part of flooding mitigation works on 4 the Isabel Trail and on the embankments of the M6 motorway, and was pleased to see the number of trees planted in the Borough, including those in Victoria and Charnley Road parks. Further schemes for additional tree planting were under development with Officers, and it was pleasing to see the Council working with partner organisations in this area of work. At the invite of the Mayor several Councillors noted tree planting initiatives taking place in their Wards. C94 Time Limit The Head of Law and Administration indicated that in accordance with paragraph 12.6 of the Council Procedure Rules the time limit for consideration of this item had been reached. C95 Offices of Mayor and Deputy Mayor RESOLVED:- that the Council receive nominations of:- (a) Councillor A Nixon for the Office of Mayor for the Municipal Year 2021/22; (b) Councillor P W Jones for the Office of Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2021/22. Councillors Nixon and Jones responded appropriately to the nominations. C96 Council Tax 2021/22 Considered the report of the Head of Finance proposing the level of Council Tax for 2021/22 inclusive of the County Council, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority and individual Parish Council requirements. The Deputy Leader introduced the report and noted the recommendations as set out in paragraph 2 before concluding his comments by moving that said recommendations be approved. The proposal was seconded by Councillor F Beatty. In accordance with Paragraph 17.4(b) of the Council Procedure Rules a recorded vote was taken; voting on the proposal was as follows:- For Against Abstain C A Baron R P Cooke J A Barron A T A Godfrey R J Barron A D Hobbs F Beatty M V Holmes A R G Brown E G R Jones A G Cooper W J Kemp 5 B M Cross A M Loughran M G Dodson D McNaughton A P Edgeller A Nixon P M M Farrington L Nixon I D Fordham G P K Pardesi M Green A N Pearce A S Harp J Hood R A James P W Jones R Kenney P A Leason B McKeown J A Nixon J M Pert M Phillips J K Price P Roycroft R M Smith R M Sutherland C V Trowbridge M J Winnington The Mayor declared that the proposal was duly carried.