Cabinet 20-12-2023 - Wednesday 20 December 2023, 6:00pm - Feedback Tab

Cabinet 20-12-2023
Wednesday, 20th December 2023 at 6:00pm

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Cllr Marcus Hart
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Cllr Ian Hardiman
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Cllr David Ross
Cllr Marcus Hart
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a very good evening everybody, it is 6 o'clock, so we will make a start, a very warm welcome to all of the members of cabinet and officers in the chamber and also Councillor Liam Carroll and Councillor Mrs. Oborski in the Chamber that don't appear to be any members viewing virtually hitherto but good evening to any members of the public who are viewing on line we will deal first of all with agenda item 1, which is apologies for absence and there are no apologies because all members of the cabinet are here

I'm assuming that Councillor Mrs. Oborski, in her capacity as Vice Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, will be presenting those reports in the absence of the Chairman and that I haven't heard from I thought the chairman was coming, but if she doesn't arrive, I will excellent OK, OK agenda item 2. Are there any declarations of interest by members of the Cabinet? First of all, no any declarations by any other members, no, in which case we shall move on to agenda item 3, which is the minutes of our meeting held on the 9th of November. Is it your wish, Cabinet, colleagues, that I signed these as a true and accurate record excellent? Thank you very much in D agenda item 4, I'm assuming solicitor the Council that there are no call-ins

and I'm assuming solicitor to the Council, there are no items requiring urgent attention or, and I'm assuming that there's no public participation this evening.

three in a row in which case we shall move on to agenda item 7.1 on page 10 of the agenda, which is the first substantive report, very important thought on the medium term financial strategy, and I'll hand over to Councillor Ross, our cabinet member for finance and capital portfolio, thank you leader good evening colleagues and good evening for those who may be viewing from home and viewing remotely.

I'd like to move Leader the recommendations as set out on paragraph 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.3 1 8 8 2.3 to 2.3 3 and in 2.4, including 2.4 1 and 2.4, to draw on page 11.

the the main challenges, looking ahead, the Council faces, are inflation.

increase in demand led services such as homelessness and further slippage in the capital programme, which will involve further cost pressures.

within the MCFs, but the budget for 24 25 as eight Cabinet spending proposals, the community leadership fund of 1,000 pounds per member over the period of the MCFs, giving a cost of 33,000 pounds per year.

increasing the civil enforcement team by one post over two years, funding for year 1, is from an unfilled post in this budget year, and 39,000 pounds is shown in the budget proposal for 25 26.

as with the civil enforcement officer driving on our Corporate Plan, by increase in litter, picking, Salome Repsol, as with the civilian force offer to living on our Corporate Plan by increasing litter-picking activity with two posts 52,056 thousand two years of a 24 25 and 25 26 we have a capital investment of 50,000 pounds for accessible play equivalent with associated revenue costs the borrowing of 7,500 pounds per year.

an increase in a property team of two posts at a cost of 116,000 120,123 thousand pounds over the MCFs. This is a spend to save policy. Colleagues, as these posts are already in place and are being financed by agency are saving approximately a 51,000 pounds in 2004 25 changes the senior management structure to provide skills and capacity to deliver the Corporate Plan at a cost of 41,000 pounds over the MCFs introduction from April 24 of one hour's free parking at 1.00 car park in each of the three towns Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, estimated costs are 51,000 54,057 thousand pounds over the MTFS

introduction of webcasting of the meetings of overview and scrutiny at a cost of 1,000 pounds per year to allow maximum access to the public and to be fully open and transparent.

strategic issues facing the Council are Wrightington model strategy services such as homelessness the private rental sector has and is to be undergoing change due to pressure on landlords with high interest rates and inflation, with some increasing rents or leaving the market. This is increasing the pressure on the Council. There was some positive news in the autumn statement with the return of the Local Housing Allowance for the 30th percentile of local market rents or the 120 million pounds additional funding, it is likely that this will provide around 100,000 pounds for Wyre Forest District Council.

a significant increase in planning fees is due to come into force as from December 6 2023, although this does not cover the full cost, the increases helpful assumptions regarding pay and will need to consider the possibility that increases may be ahead of inflation.

unplanned external shocks which have resulted in the Council Frampton, why so difficult funding or capital projects has reduced revenue reserves, interest generated through treasury management will be lower than would otherwise have been the case, the draft budget will be published on the Council's website tomorrow December 21st with council tax and business ratepayers invited to comment.

any changes made as considerations responses were made in the final budget presented to Council in February 2024.

the key assumptions in the MCFs report are set out in paragraphs 5.2 and I'll just go through those for the benefit of colleagues, which is the deferral of negative revenue support grant the new homes bonus is assumed at 228,024 25 business rates growth above baseline for the local share from the pool is assumed by 20 or 25 and 25 26 at 1 million pounds. The MCFs assumes a baseline reset in 26 27 increase in council tax of 3% from 24 25 onwards and inflation increasing fees and charges of around 5% car parking increased generally by 10 pence and 20 pence per ticket, a 4% pay increase, which is circa 600,000 pounds or 24 25 then 3% onwards.

considering the current trend for inflation 3.5% for general, inflation for 20 to 25 adds around 684,000 pounds 642,000 pounds rather across the M T F s 250,000 pounds per year for 24 25 and 25 26, to be added the reserve for the pension fund deficit contribution to protect the Council against any sharp increases ahead of the next triennial try and or try any review.

council tax base is assumed to grow by around 500 Band D houses across the MCFs, so it may have said already. Growth of around a million pounds additional income from business rates. The capital portfolio is not based on current forecasts. 2 weeks expected a break even in 24 25 and will be supported by a transfer from reserves established for this purpose, but fund is expect to return to a surplus of 35,000 pounds in 25 26 and 45,000 pounds in 26 27. Turning to the innovation fund or general just risk reserve, the innovation fund is forecast to have a balance of 560,000 pounds. As of November 2023. Taking into account commitments, the fund is budgeted to be topped up by 150,000 pounds in 24 25

150,000 pounds in 25 26 and 75,000 pounds in 2027 towards future spend to save initiatives, the General Risk Reserve stands at 1.00.3 4 6 million pounds as of the end of November 2023.

looking at commercial income, approval is sought for new commercial income targets to support the Wyre Forest Forward in 24 25 160,000 pounds of which 110,000 pounds is from extra commercial rents.

25 26 240,000 pounds of which 140,000 pounds is from extra commercial rents and in 2006 27 300,000 pounds and which are 150,000 pounds is from extra commercial rents to the table at 6.00.5 shows the forecast position for the Council when all Cabinet proposals are incorporated into the base budget.

the table at 7.00.2 shows the forecast reserves across the MCFs, which are 23 24 or 3.3 3,000,025 2024 25 or 3.0 6 8,000,025 26 at 2.00.1 4 2 million and going ahead to 2027 491,000 pounds.

I believe that I am happy to answer any questions that him or colleagues may have on the MCFs report. I would just like to say at this juncture to say a thank you to our section 1 5 1 officer this is a detailed and comprehensive report also very important as not only as it sets out the be the rest of this financial year but looks ahead to the rest of the MCFs and of course is now based on six months of his of of empirical data, so it's an excellent report, well well constructed and detail, and I would like to record my thanks to the Section 1 point officer, thank you, thank you leader.

thank you very much indeed, Councillor Ross, and let me start by formally seconding the suite of recommendations are at 2.1 on page 10 of the end agenda, right the way down at 2.00 2.4 point 2 on page 11 or and I will just spend a few minutes.

are adding to the comments that you have made, this is the start of the journey now, which will, of course, conclude on the 21 of February next year, because what we are doing is setting out the administration's position on behalf of the council on are our priorities are for the public to which we serve and importantly we're starting the firing gan on the consultation.

because, of course, whilst it would be great for myself and the cabinet to have a monopoly on good ideas, it's always worth listening to what others have got to say, and indeed what are members of the public and businesses have got to say across the district, so the consultation will be formally launched tomorrow or and will be available through survey monkey or as usual with a number of questions of which members of the public and interest parties will have four weeks to comment apart.

let me say this, we are setting out in the recommendations of the Cabinet, a suite of proposals that we're.

a first referenced in.

a political manifesto, but of course in terms of the Council's position or are broadly.

replicated within the Corporate Plan, which all members of this Council have agreed or and indeed supported, which was approved back in September this year or and this is the start of the delivery over the course of a four year term of this administration or, as I've indicated previously at Rome wasn't built in a day but what clearly what the public want.

because the they've told us, or or as the corporate plan sets out, is a clean, safe place to live, work and do business in, and this budget.

in this medium term financial strategy sets out how we're going to deliver on that and continue to deliver on economic regeneration. It's absolutely right that we are open and transparent or as a council, which is, of course, why we are proposing that overview and scrutiny committees are webcast or as of next year, or in addition to, of course, Cabinet which restarted at this April and, of course, planning is already webcast so that our communities can see, as elected members are, what we are doing on their behalf. I'm delighted that we are proposing to invest in our streetscene and increasing by 2 full-time officers and the ability to be responsive by way of a effectively a litter blitz or crew that can respond more quickly and rapidly across this district and indeed investing in a civil enforcement officer. The community leadership fund is also going to be established across the medium term financial strategy and of course, we are also proposing to have a accessible play equipment in two of our flagship flagship parks, across the district at Brinton Park, and at Riverside Meadows in Staple, and there is capital money available for that. We are, of course,

cognisant that in order to deliver for our communities, it is really important that we give the corporate leadership team the capacity and tools to do the job, there's a there's a there's a paper.

in respect of N W D R or further along the Cabinet agenda, but there is a modest sum allocated for delivery in terms of corporate leadership capacity, and we also our funding permanently the capacity within the property team to be able to ensure that we can develop and or grow our income across our very vast commercial estate, and importantly, we have cogent and what I would argue are tangible,

the targets are for commercial income are broken down to general commercial income for our services at the depot, for example, but also in respect of our property income in respect of rent or and leases are, and I would argue that we are wholly realistic on our localism targets which have been completely redressed from the previous tables where there were well over 300,000 pounds a year set by the previous administration whereas one can clearly see in the table at the top of page 28 our Localism savings targets of 40,000 next year 60 the year after and eight the year after are

we are realistic importantly, we cannot take our foot off the gas in terms of transformation, efficiency and reform, because no one can deny that still a funding gap, local government finance since 2010 has been very, very difficult because we've not been a protected area of spend in the same way that,

for example, the national health services being and in many years previously, there has been additional support for upper tier authorities in respect of social care pressures, the settlement would appear is rather unremarkable for us as a Local, a district council but of course as Councillor Ross alluded to,

demand led pressures around housing, and homelessness are probably our number one pressure in the same way it would be C and D and adults for upper tier authorities.

we, as I said, cannot take off our foot off the gas in terms of reform, efficiency and transformation, but I am very pleased to or say that in the draft MCFs as set out on page 27 of the a report, we are able to demonstrate that even in year 3 we have reserves are available over 3 million next year 2 million the year after and just shy of 600,000 in year 3 and of course as the table sets out we have a number of earmarked reserves or should I say unallocated earmarked reserves are within the paper?

finally, of course, fees and charges, some matters are a matter for us, some are matters reserved for full Council, and some are matters simply for noting which are set by statute as Councillor Ross very eloquently said, broadly going up by 5%, but in respect of a car parking charges, I think and I worked still anybody else's thunder, it is fair to say that it isn't simply a cash cow and that we've been very fair or unreasonable on the charging structure proposed for car parking, and indeed our other vast or array of services that we're able to charge for and whether that be a burial costs or a trade waste collections, etc so with that I've probably said more than Councillor Ross said

so I am happy to second and open it up for debate from cabinet colleagues Councillor Brooks, thank you leader, and I know, as you've already said, with regards to car parking charges, I'd just like to draw everyone's attention to Appendix 3 Part 2 on page 64 in the agenda which is the list of fees and charges for car parks set by in executive functions set by Cabinet.

what has been a modest percentage increase across some of the maximum stay rates, this administration has frozen some others, namely the 30 minute rate which has been frozen at 70 pence and, as has the evening rate charged from 6 pm until 8 pm at 2.00 pounds and over the page shows the season ticket rates where we've also frozen the senior citizens season ticket at 200 pounds.

for a twelve-month ticket and, as already mentioned by Councillor Ross and yourself, in addition to these freezes, we're also proposing to introduce one hour free car parking in each of the three towns Monday to Friday, 8 am until 6 pm which obviously builds on the arrangement already put in to Bewdley and as you've already said again leader Rome was built in a day and this is just the first step in delivering our manifesto, and indeed the corporate plan. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Brooks any other members of cabinet no, in which case I shall invite Councillor Mrs. Oborski first, then Councillor Carol next. Thank you very much and good evening everybody, yes, well, I will say it again. I really am relieved that you're taking a much more realistic approach to localism. The previous administration's targets were absolutely unachievable.

and quite ridiculous, and I'm really grateful that

you've seen the the light and adopted a far more rational suggestion, can I just ask a couple of questions 3.5 point 3, the levelling up and Regeneration Act 2023, the premium for long-term empty properties, I don't expect the

finance Officer to have the figures that are fingertips, but I would like to know how many such empty properties there are in Wyre Forest, if possible by ward, I don't expect that today, but if I could have it in writing at some stage fairly soon, like after you've come back from the Christmas break, I'd be grateful.

on your on page 24, adaptive play equipment, provision of disabled play, equipment in Brinton Park and Stourport Riverside, I totally support that, but you will remember that at the Planning Committee last night we gave permission planning permission for the new town centre park and the matter was raised at that meeting about the play equipment there would that also be adaptive?

Will there be enough in the budget to do that, or will somebody have to move a budget amendment because it would be a great shame if you're putting adaptive play equipment in Brinton Park and Star Park and then having a brand new town centre parking Kidderminster and not having adaptive play equipment on it it would look a bit odd to put it politely, but those are my two main queries at the moment.

thank you, Councillor Oborski, I'm sure Helen or indeed Lucy will give you that information I I we've certainly had a Cabinet report, but I don't think it went into the detail of as to ward ward by ward, but certainly we can give you some high level information in respect of that in terms of adaptive play, equipment and and forgive me and I I take your point and Councillor Brooks roadie repeated what I said, Rome wasn't built in in a day and, to be frank, there's 50,000 pounds worth of capital more than there was in any of the previous four years or of a budgets. We we, we gave a commitment. This is our proposal and not obviously planning consent was only just granted for the urban park last night, so you know

there there will be a Christmas this time next year and of course you know we can we we can certainly obviously it's a part that we own or and certainly I take the point, but whether anything will make its way for this February we've got to start somewhere France so,

so I hope that answers that Councillor Carole

thank you Chairman. Do we have enough time? I will call the adaptive play equipment and also would accept minor Councillor White Health has offered to help in any way we can, with the adapted play equipment and also which car park from the pounds will have the free hour. Thank you, Councillor Carole, yes, I can answer both of those questions I would anticipate. Of course we look forward to your support at budget time in February to be able to put the money in place to fund the

or adapted play equipment, but assuming or that there is a majority at Council to support the budget and medium term financial strategy. I would very be very disappointed if the said items we're not purchased and installed within that financial year from 1st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025. How about that? A politician giving a firm commitment that that's what Councillor Brooks is gonna do and he'll fall on his sword if it isn't ha ha. How about that? But note seriously that if the money, if the if budgets approved in February and the money goes in, which will be the first time in my memory that we've we've done it, then I would be very disappointed if it's not done within 12 months. In terms of the 3 car parks

it's abatement yards in Kidderminster, it's gardeners, Meadow in starboard, and it is Vale s, sorry Goddess Bedouin Bewdley and Vale Road in Stourport or, as it says at the bottom, on page 64 in your schedule, so those are the three car parks where they'll be up to one hour for free.

good.

any other questions.

would you like to sum up at all Councillor Russell?

or if he said at all I would say I've said it all leader, but I think somebody has said it all.

good, I set you up for that very nicely, it's been moved and seconded, are we all agreed that we kickstart and ask the public, and I will come back in the new year, we all agreed excellent, thank you very much indeed. We shall move on to agenda item 7.2 you're not quite done. Councillor Ross, the Capital Strategy and the capital programme update page 96

so thank you, thank you leader before I do start that, colleagues, I just wanted to, I did ask of section 1 5 1 officer and head of resources to.

do me a note on the provisional local government settlement and

I would just like to work to read that out.

the government published a provisional local government finance settlement for 24 25 on the 18th December 2023. A policy statement published earlier this month, with December 23, has already announced the key principles that ministers intended to use in the provisional settlement and these were unchanged in Monday's announcement. The grant we are most uncertain about going into the settlement was services grant. There were clear indications that there'll be further reductions and indeed the grant has been reduced from 4 to 3 million pounds 77 million pounds nationally, with our allocation reduced from 196,000 pounds in 23 94 for just 18,000 pounds in 24 25.

we had assumed a reduction to 96,000 in the draft NTS's. However, with the continuation of the funding guarantee, every authority gets an increase of at least 3% in resources and this reduction is fully offset there are no changes the overall funding position as soon as the draft report circulated, there is some movement between funding streams as highlighted in a supplementary paper distributed for having said that, and I would ask that again thank our section one by one officer for preparing that for me.

all right, and we now turn to the report on page 96 of your bundle, I didn't write in 7 point to the Capital Strategy for 23 24 to 34 and the capital programme update, I would like to ask Cabinet to endorse and recommend to the distributed review panel for scrutiny a PR to approve the Capital Strategy for 24 to 34 including the associated quantitative indicators in Appendix 2.

to approve variations to the capital programme and vehicle equipment and systems renewals schedule as set out in Appendix 1 Appendices A and B and approve the limits for gross debt of non treasury investments compared to net service expenditure and for capital portfolio fund as a percentage of net service expenditure as set out in Appendix 2 further The Cabinet is asked to approve that delegation is given to the Head of North Worcestershire economic Development, Regeneration in consultation with the Head of resources and solicitors, the Council and the Cabinet member for resources, a capital portfolio fund to update the capital portfolio strategy policies in the year if required.

the Capital Strategy forms part of the framework for financial planning and is integral to both medium term financial strategy and the Treasury Management Strategy, it sets out how capital investment will play its part in delivering the ambitious long-term strategic objective objectives of the Council how associated risk is managed and the implications for future financial sustainability capital expenditure in contrast to revenue expenditure which is spending on the day-to-day running costs of services such as employee costs and supplies and services capital expenditure, it seeks to provide long term solutions to Council priorities and operational requirements,

capital expenditure is technically described as expenditure on the acquisition, creation or enhancement of non current assets I items of land property and plant which have a useful life of more than one year, expenditure of a capital pulses gives rise to new assets, increases the value or useful life of existing assets or generates economics,

and social value, and an income stream or revenue savings to the Council.

the key priorities, principles and objectives.

the Council will undertake the capital expenditure in support of the priorities in the Corporate Plan for the following purposes to this to discharge statutory duties examples including homelessness, disabled facilities, grants and environmental requirements, including the Environment Act of 2021.

to support discretionary functions, including economic regeneration and development,

to facilitate the operational delivery of the Council's duties and functions, including the buildings vehicles ICT infrastructure on which they rely capital expenditure, also includes contributions made by the Council towards capital expenditure by third parties, the Council will finance capital expenditure by a mixture of grant provided by government and third parties, capital receipts, borrowings and contributions from revenue the Council's financial contribution to the Capital Strategy are expected to be,

excuse me delivered primarily by means of borrowing, which can include internal borrowing, borrowing from the public Works, Loan Board and borrowing from other third parties, the Council's borrowing will be undertaken in accordance with the Local government Act 2003 and current statutory guidance.

in order to maintain access to borrowing from the PWLB, the Council does not intend to borrow in advance of need or in order to profit from additional amount borrowed by purchasing investment assets primarily for yield.

the Council sets limits for borrowing and at least annually in accordance with the 2003 Act.

the Council plans to keep its total borrowing in broad terms to no more than 5 times net revenue expenditure.

the capital programme has a delivery plan for the corporate strategy and sets out the proposed capital expenditure for a 10 year period is approved by Council annually in your amendments or approved either by Council or under delegated powers by Cabinet.

the Capital Strategy and programme are underpinned by the borrowing strategy contained in the Treasury Management Strategy, Statement for profit, disposed strategy and the capital portfolio strategy, there are an awful lot of strategies and this is the thing.

the Council will comply with the disclosure and reporting requirements required by the statutory guidance on Local government investments, the core principles of the strategy are clearly set out in the report and the guidelines are principles for non-treasury, capital portfolio, property acquisitions, borrowing limits and the personal which the Council will seek to increase borrowing.

colleagues, this is a an excellent, detailed report that covers all that we are required to do by statute, I again thank our section 1 5 1 officer and head of resource in Helen for an excellent report detail, and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this to the cabinet, thank you Les thank you very much indeed Councillor Russell formally. Second, the recommendations are as set out and we of course doing Dawson recommend.

to the strategic group review panel for scrutiny, et cetera, et cetera, and I would echo what you say and of course, importantly, the Capital Strategy which didn't always get the same airtime, it is important and how we manage are our capital assets and what we purchased and when we purchased them as of course important implications on,

our revenue as well very detailed report really really important and would agree and echo what you've said and with that, or are there any other members of Cabinet who would like to speak, no members or otherwise, so are we all agreed?

thank you very much indeed, colleagues, and thank you Councillor Ross, we'll move on to agenda 8, first of all, we'll have agenda item 8.1 on page 1 to 7 of the agenda, which is the

Wyre Forest Health action plan I will ask them.

Councillor Ian Hardiman, the Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Wellbeing to take us through the report, please.

thank you, Chairman Leader.

and good evening everyone. This report provides members with an update on action to improve health and wellbeing and tackle health inequalities in Wyre Forest. It includes the Wyre Forest Health action plan for 2024 25 for endorsement, this is at appendix 1,

the the Worcestershire Health and Wellbeing Board oversees local health commissioning and leaves on the strategic planning and coordination of local health services, the Health and Wellbeing Board is required to develop a strategy for improving the health and wellbeing of people who live and work in Worcestershire.

the being Well in Worcestershire strategy covers the period 2022 to 2032, the being Well Strategy Group, which is a sub-group, has been delegated, the responsibility to develop detailed action plans to deliver the strategy.

district collaborative have been set up in Worcestershire to bring together organisations to work together, collaboratively to deliver the being Well in Worcestershire strategy to tackle health and wellbeing, issues and address need in the local area the Wyre Forest collaborative was established in September 2021 and aims to take a joined-up approach in identifying need addressing the wider determinants of health and reducing health inequalities.

through targeted and proactive care and support as well as Wyre Forest District Council, the collaborative partners include organisations such as Worcestershire public health, the two primary care networks.

West Mercia police onside advocacy Age, UK and more within the district council delivery of this work is primarily carried out by the health and sustainability team in strategic growth, the Wyre Forest collaborative project officer funded by Worcestershire public health, join the team in 2023.

please note, the plan will commence on the 1st of January 2024 until the 31st of December 2025.

in Wyre Forest there are various conditions with notably higher prevalence in patients compared to the national average, such as depression, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and asthma.

the Wyre Forest District Council health action plan shows how the Council will help to deliver on topics in 2024.

examples of activity carried out to deliver this work in this year included.

homelessness, health project project aimed to improve access to healthcare for patients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, the housing team have flagged up homeless service users with unmet health needs to GP practices.

and supported homeless clients in accessing health services, GP practices are now aware of the commitment to refer their service users who are at risk of homelessness to the district council for support, and indeed clinicians are now active on the district council homelessness forum.

also asset based community development, known as A B C D, had that somewhere before.

the ABCD project has focused on four areas, the horse, fair and broad waters.

fairly Park and Hoobrook ward in Kidderminster, the washes estates in starboard and the Wyre Forest Rural ward, which includes cookery wobbly and the nearby rural areas, these areas were selected based upon data on multiple deprivation, deprivation.

or and unemployment and health inequalities and with pre-existing issues exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, the wfdc community builders are working in these areas with support from the community builders these communities have been empowered to carry out a wide range of activities such as putting on new fitness activities, community gardening projects,

running warm spaces and setting up new social groups for different age groups to help tackle loneliness and isolation.

the community builders have also worked with other service providers for them to run activities in these areas, for example youth activities in local parks over the school holidays.

children and young people's mental health showcase events.

these events have been carried out in several high schools in Bewdley, starboard and Kidderminster.

the range of organisations providing services to support young people's mental health and wellbeing attend these events.

the ageing Well project.

the group focuses on several aspects to ageing well feeling well activity, active communities.

enough money, safe at home and quality health and care, in 2023, the District Council led the organisation of the showcase of services event.

events.

for the over 50 s age group which took place in October in Kidderminster and starboard.

please note, the report was considered by Overview and Scrutiny on the 7th of December.

in conclusion, the Wyre Forest Health action plan at Appendix 1.

outlines actions to be taken by the District Council to help improve health and wellbeing and tackle health inequalities in Wyre Forest, this work is underpinned by the role of the Wyre Forest collaborative and meets objectives in the being Well in Worcestershire strategy.

chairman, I therefore move the recommendation.

to approve the Wyre Forest Health Plan 2024 to 25. Thank you very much, thank you very much indeed. Councillor Hardiman you've given a very comprehensive introduction, so there is anything I need to add to that, other than of course, it was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 7th of December and we've got their comments at page 1 3 5 so,

I second the recommendation that we do approve the Wyre Forest Health action plan for 24 25, see if there are any members of cabinet that would like to speak and if not, I'll bring in Councillor Bo or Councillor Ross.

thank you, Leader, all it is, I am very interested to see Councillor Hardiman in paragraph 4.2 point 3, the children and young persons mental health showcase events as somebody who sits on children and families panel at county council, I would be very interested if you could be get your officer to to do a briefing report for me that I might take and share with my colleagues on the children and families panel at County Council thank you.

chairman, that's an absolute yes, good. We are bringing Councillor Oborski, the vice chairman of overview and scrutiny, before I go to the Overview and Scrutiny's report, I just like to make two comments on 4.2 point 1, the NHS mobile van is now attending the help night kitchen on Monday nights at the tulip tree centre so that we can get direct access to some of our very vulnerable clients and on 4.2 point 3 I'm happy to also inform you and Councillor Ross may be interested to know. Some of the local high schools have certainly already appointed a governor responsible for making sure that the students' young pupils' mental health issues are taken into account, and I actually fulfil that role on King Charles and we're making absolutely sure that young people's mental health is really thoroughly addressed.

if we can move to the recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny on page 1 3 5.

our recommendation was that you should approve the Wyre Forest South action plan 24 25, but on the basis that a further detailed performance measures are provided after 12 months so that we can actually demonstrate the effectiveness of the plan, it's a very good, very thorough plan, but, like anything,

you know, it's what actually happens is really important, and I think if we have an update after 12 months we can actually demonstrate to the public how effective the plan has actually been, rather than it just being some very worthy document which is in danger of otherwise being thanked for.

finally, and you just want to pick up that point.

I'm sorry, sorry, thank you, rather that's obviously accepted and appropriate, thank you very much.

good okay, well that's been moved and seconded, are we all agreed?

excellent will move on to agenda item 8.2, which is the second of your reports, Councillor Hardiman, the cost of living action plan update.

thank you again, Leader and Chairman.

this report provides members with an update on action to tackle the cost of living crisis, it includes the Wyre Forest cost of living action plan for 2024 25 for endorsement.

this is the the pe at Appendix 2.

on the 21 of September 22 Council decided, an emergency summit should be held to explore how more local help can be provided for those struggling with the cost of living crisis, the summit was held on the 13th of October 2022 and the cost of living action plan 22 23 was then developed and endorsed by Cabinet.

on the 20th of December again in 2022, since then, a further two cost of living summits have been held at Wyre Forest House and attended, by a way, wide range of organisations from across the district, such as local authorities, community housing, police, food banks, citizens advice Age, UK church and community groups Barnardo's Barnardo's health and social care organisations.

these events provide the opportunity to share information on specific topics, for example warm spaces, household support fund, sustainable warmth, as well as the chance for all organisations attending to update on the issues affecting them and the service they provide provide they also help with identifying ways of working together to tackle cost of living issues. A district council group with officers from customer services, revenues and benefits and strategic growth also meet regularly to discuss council specific action on delivering the work.

the new action plan will commence from the 1st of January 2024 until the 31st of December 2025. I'd like to refer to some of the key issues data insights from the Office for National Statistics show that food and energy costs have risen markedly over the last year, particularly gas prices but partly in response to the conflict in Ukraine with global recovery from the pandemic, putting further pressure on prices, whilst the prices of consumer goods and services increased by 9.6% in the year to October 2022, the fastest rate in four decades, actually the annual inflation rate has now slowed essentially.

citizens advice data insights show that increasing numbers of people who are employed, whether self-employed, part-time or full-time, are in a negative budget.

nationally, since 2019 and 2020 they have seen a 12% increase in people working full-time and in negative budget, seeking help, a further worrying trend locally is an increase in the proportion help to have a long term health or disability issue. This is up from 40% of clients in the year 2020 21 to 54% in 2023 24.

food banks locally and nationally have seen increased demand, the Trussell Trust report that their UK network distributed one and a half million food parcels to people facing hardship.

between the 1st of April and the 30th of September this year, this is an increase of 16%, compared to the same period in 2022, in addition by May 2023.

25.4% of children in Wyre Forest that's 3,125 children from reception year to year, 11.

reclaiming free school meals, the cost of living action plan seeks to help address these issues locally through the following raising awareness a key part of the Council's ongoing work is to raise awareness about the support available both from the District Council and our partner organisations in the public, voluntary and community sectors.

Over the last year, resources such as leaflets have been developed to support this and officers have carried out much outreach work to engage with people in a wide range of community venues, and this work will continue over the next year.

partnership working through the cost of living summit, the cost of living summit have helped to identify ways of working together, as well as promoting the different sources of support available energy and food, one of the major causes of the cost of living crisis is the increase of energy prices Worcestershire has higher proportion of households living in fuel poverty than the national average.

with particularly high proportions in Wyre, Forest Malvern Hills and Worcester, recent increases in energy prices are very likely to exacerbate this for the most vulnerable families, District Council teams will continue to work with organisations such as Acht on energy and local food banks to help people with energy costs and food provision.

warm spaces.

warm spaces were set up in winter 2022 23 to provide spaces in the community where people could keep warm but also meet other people to take part in activities and access, information and advice, many attendees reported that the warm spaces had helped them with their mental wellbeing over the colder months.

the warm welcome spaces scheme is being rerun in 2023 24 and small grants are being provided to support the voluntary and community organisations with the cost of running these financial assistance, this Council currently provides a range of financial assistance to households including discretionary housing payments council tax reductions scheme housing benefit welfare assistance to help with food utilities and furniture and help with rent bonds and deposits through the private sector housing team, health ancestor sustainability team and act on energy there are also grants and loans available to improve the energy efficiency and thermal comfort within people's homes.

further help has also been made available to households through the distribution of the household support fund.

this report was considered at Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 7th of December.

the costs of delivering the plan mostly relate to staff time and external grant funding that is available to the Council.

there is also funding for discretionary housing payments for the year 2023 24 in conclusion.

the Council has responded by developing and delivering a cost of living action plan to support those in greatest need within the community.

Chairman, I don't hesitate, therefore, to move the recommendation to note the first of all the update on delivery of the cost of living action plan for 2022 23 and approve the cost of living action plan for 2024 25. Thank you very much, thank you very much indeed Councillor Hardiman for that very comprehensive introduction and setting out a position, I'll formally second the recommendations that we do note the delivery

if a to and importantly approved the cost of living action plan for 24 20 5 and you're absolutely right, and I will repeat everything you've said, but I just wanted to re-emphasise the point that this council, through the household support fund and or other mechanisms in terms of the council tax reductions scheme, very much support those households who are finding it exceptionally difficult and I look forward to the day again on a more positive note. And with inflation coming down to 3.9% attributed to the reduction in fuel costs and, importantly, food costs that at some point in the future we won't actually need a cost of living summit or a cost of living action plan, because we will be where we were a couple of years ago and it just demonstrates the inflation is the enemy of everybody, but it is the enemy of those who can least afford it by far the most and anything no way to decry the situation that those at, obviously who have at least means to be able to support them, selves, and indeed the cost of living issues and, of course, with heating costs over the last year or so, but I do genuinely believe, whilst there are people struggling in its right to have this action plan that there is now some light at the end of the

Tunnel, but we will, of course, do all that we can to support households within the parameters of our action plan, and indeed there are many other statutory bodies and, of course, importantly, the voluntary and community sector within this district that do an awful lot to support those who are most vulnerable, so are I've seconded the recommendation any

members of Cabinet Councillor Ross,

thank you Chairman, it may well already be done, it's almost a question, it's a request, but it may already be taking place Councillor Hardiman, and I turn to paragraph 4.4 point 4 warmer spaces, I think it would be very helpful and, as I said, he may want to be being done if the location of those places would be are advertised on the Council's website.

so people may find out where they are thought, you're going to declare an interest because you want to go along.

Councillor Hardiman. Yes, thank you good excellent. Of course it was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and we've got their recommendations on 1 4 9, which is a great segue to bringing Councillor. Mrs. Oborski, can I just say to Councillor Ross, in fact the Lane half of Bishop sorry has she's contacted everybody today who is involved in warm spaces and asked us to let her know when we're opening up again after Christmas, so things will be on the website, can I say is as somebody who, with other hats on, is involved in 2 organised through voluntary organisations dealing with the household support fund

like to put on record my thanks to our officers for the very prompt and efficient way that they dealt with the applications for that grant this year. It's been incredibly painless

which is not always the case when you're getting grants from the anywhere in the public sector, but our officers have been superbly efficient Ramada here in particular she's been an absolute star, so please pass my congratulations on the recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny 2.1 that we note the update of the delivery of the cost of living action plan 22 23 that we approve the cost of living action plan 24 25

2.3. We would like an update on progress after the next cost of living summit, if there has to be one yes, inflation is falling, but it is still there and when inflation may be down to 3.4%, but that does mean that things are still going up in price, though not as quickly as they were before. But I think the this Council's attitude on the cost of living has been extremely positive. The cost of living action plan meetings. The summits have brought together organisations from across the district where we've been able to share experiences, and when one organisation will we say, Have you heard about this? That is happening and some of us have picked up on other grants that we weren't otherwise aware of, so we're very happy to endorse this action plan. Thank you, Councillor Oborski, with that, or are we all agreed excellent? Thank you, Councillor Hardiman. We'll move on to agenda item 9, Andy first report 9.1, which is a climate change action plan update and our handover to Councillor Dunmore, had the Cabinet Member for economic regeneration planning and the green agenda

thank you, Leader and good evening. Everyone. I'm delighted to bring this report to Cabinet tonight and the purpose of the report is to provide members with an update on action to tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions. It includes the new Wyre Forest climate change and carbon reduction plan for 2024 to 2027 and the Year 1 action plan for endorsement. The Cabinet is invited to consider the update of the climate change action plan, approve the new Wyre Forest climate change and carbon reduction plan and the accompanying action plan. If, in view of this, and to delegate to the Head of Strategic growth in consultation with Cabinet member for economic regeneration planning and the green agenda to make minor amendments as we go through this term and updates to the climate change and reduction plan, so if I may just share a bit of background, the health and sustainability team and strategic growth lead the coordination and delivery of the work to tackle climate change in the Wyre Forest, working with internal and external colleagues and stakeholders on this vital issue. The new Wyre, Forest change, climate change action plan, and carbon reduction plan 2024 to 2027, has been developed to pull together the activities the Council and some of its partners are undertaking to tackle climate change, increased resilience and reduce carbon emissions. It considers both the existing actions and new projects to be delivered in 2024 onwards.

the Wyre Forest climate change action plan outlines the work that will be undertaken during that time and onwards to deliver this, it focuses on key areas where the Wyre Forest District Council and partners can have the most impact on the district within within the current resources, the four key themes are warmer healthier homes, building a low carbon economy, transport and infrastructure healthy and resilient communities and that's by doing cost-cutting objectives and reducing the carbon emissions in the council operations.

so what are the key issues? The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on climate change IPCC, releases an assessment report on the latest climate change science every five years. The latest report considered evidence from many independent scientific analysis and has been endorsed by all UN member states, scientists and now all, but certain that climate change is mostly caused by human action and it is already leading to changes in regional weather patterns. The IPCC has also Incl A concluded that we have until 2030 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and for global warming to be kept a maximum of 1.5 degrees, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen. The risk of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people

the Paris agreement came into force in 2016 and aims to limit the rise in global temperatures to well below 2% 2 degrees and to pursue efforts to hold it to 1.5 degrees and to reach net 0 emissions in the second half of the century.

the UK is already experiencing widespread change in the climate, the highest ever recorded temperatures in the UK exceeded 40 degrees for the first time in July this year, in May 2019 UK parliament approved a motion to declare an environment and climate emergency.

the UK climate change Act 2008 was subsequently amended to set a target of achieving net 0 emissions by 2050 Wyre Forest District Council is one of more than 300 local authorities, which have also declared a climate emergency to date.

each year, central government releases per capita CO2 emissions figures for all local authorities between 2005 and 2021, which is the latest data available per capita emissions in the Wyre Forest, fell by around 40%.

more data and information on how this compares to other areas is included in the new plan councils have a pivotal role in tackling climate change and through local governance, can ensure climate change policies and programmes, protect and help the most vulnerable, including those suffering from fuel poverty, local authorities are uniquely placed to assess the needs of their areas and local residents and to act as catalysts for change.

the progress report on delivery of climate change action plan for 2022 to 23 is included at Appendix 1. Furthermore, the climate action change Ch t action charity climate emergency, UK, assesses the climate credentials of all local authorities in the UK and published their findings in a set of scores known as climate scorecards in the scorecards, every local authority is assessed using a methodology that is tailored to the responsibilities of that council and is given an overall score for each methodology set section in 2021 the first assessment year, the assessment looked at plans, local authorities had in place to tackle climate change and Wyre Forest District Council was awarded a score of 18% in 2023. The assessment was based on the action in the following categories. Buildings and heating, transport, planning and land use, governance and finance, biodiversity, collaboration and engagement, and waste reduction and food Wyre Forest council risky, received an overall score of 28%

this was slightly below the national average District Council score of 29% and slightly above the average for Worcestershire districts at 27.5% the new Wyre Forest climate change and carbon reduction plan has been developed to provide further information about the current situation and future plans to address this issue, which will be in place for three years with an action plan that is annually reviewed and updated.

the climate change and carbon reduction plan will be a live document and regularly reviewed to ensure information remains up to date, any projects requiring funding from the Council will be subject to business cases through the Commercial Board or appropriate route.

this report was fully considered at Overview and Scrutiny on the 7th of December and they requested further updates o on progress after 12 months, as per page 1 9 3, I was delighted with the overall support from the plan for the plan and thank Overview and Scrutiny Scrutiny Committee for their comments, which we will consider going forward.

from a financial perspective, the implications are minimal and mainly relate to staff time, and they will be met with existing budgets.

already agreed any programmes already agreed through the capital programme and or are funded through external grant funding and any new initiatives will obviously, as I've said, be subject to individual business cases are going through the correct routes from a legal perspective, this meets the needs of the UK climate change Act 2008 and it also supports the corporate plan of this Council to provide a green or clean, green, safe place to live, work and visit.

it also meets the needs of the home energy conservation act and from an impact assessment it supports both equality, Welch, equality, climate and health and wellbeing the risk, of course his failure to implement measures to tackle climate change could have many negative implications for the Council and Wyre Forest residents as well as failure to meet the requirements of the relevant legislation, policies and reputational risk failing to tackle the issue.

so in conclusion, the Council has declared a climate emergency and is keen to support residents and businesses to reduce carbon emissions.

and it is important that it considers how it can reduce its own carbon emissions through its operations, the action plan and in the appendix sets out the progress against the current action plan and Appendix 2 includes the proposed actions going forward, therefore I from formally move all recommendations as laid out in this report on page 150 thank you leader.

thank you very much indeed, Councillor, A Moore had a very comprehensive, so I'll formally second the recommendations as set out on a 1 15 very much agree that we should or approve the new climate change and carbon reduction plan and clearly sets out and demonstrates what we are doing as a District Council in this very, very important area of work and with that we'll see if there's any other members of cabinet that would like to speak no in which case I'll go to Councillor Mrs. Oborski because this too was considered by Scrutiny.

right. Thank you, yes, it was, can I just say that there were some concerns expressed by some of the Scrutiny Committee in view of COP 28 and the need for the world to the restaurant fossil fuels that there was a little bit of concern that some of the countries in which the Worcestershire pension fund is currently funding fossil fuel extraction there on page 1 9 to Russia, Yemen, Iran and Myanmar, don't seem to be places where some of us thought we should be investing, particularly since this country is actually supposed to be taking sanctions against Russia because of its activities in Ukraine. But there we go. But yes, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee really seriously considered this report

and we do it. We recommend that you approve the new Wyre Forest climate change and carbon reduction plan and the accompanying action plan for delivery. We agree that you should delegate to the Head of Strategic growth income consultation with the Cabinet Member for economic regeneration planning and the green agenda to make minor amendments and updates to the climate change and carbon reduction plan 2024 to 27. We were assured that any major changes would be brought back to Scrutiny and to the Cabinet, but these are just minor updates that were being approved and we agreed that the plan should be presented to and reviewed by Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 12 months' time because, like all one year plans, you have to if it's a good thing to pass the plan, but it's really important at the end of the year that you actually scrutinise how effective that plan has been put on that basis, that we were happy to support it

thank you very much indeed, Councillor Mrs. Oborski, that's really helpful, I am pleased that Scrutiny supported the substantive plan or as well I won't comment on the decisions of the pension or investment subcommittee I'm sure they do everything that is legal.

now it's been moved and seconded, are we all agreed excellent, thank you very much are and also thank you to Jenny, are our principal healthy sustainability officer for it being here for the last three reports in case a place you haven't been required to answer any technical questions so but thank you nevertheless for being here for those reports fine we will deal to a deal now finally with

agenda item 9.2 on page 1 9 4 the majority of the report, well all of the report 9.2, and this is in the open, but there is, or an exempt or schedule 1 9 9 8 for members at 12.00.1 of the agenda, I'm hoping that we will be able to

deal solely with this report in the open and that members will obviously have read the commercially sensitive information in the exempt, but let's move to 9.2, which is the termination of shared service arrangement of North Worcestershire economic development, regeneration and I'll hand over to Councillor Moorhead, thank you leader again really pleased to bring this this report.

one, and certainly one that I believe will really support economic regeneration across the district, so the purpose of this report is to agree the mutual termination with effect from 30th of June 2024 of the agreement that established North Worcestershire economic development and regeneration.

the Cabinet is recommended to agree that the collaboration agreement relating to the provision of economic development and regeneration services should be terminated mutually under clause 15.1 with effect from the 30th of June 2024, and therefore to delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for economic regeneration planning and the green agenda head of resources and solicitors of the Council authority to approve the exit agreement and take any other steps that arise from the termination process.

North Worcestershire. Economic development and regeneration so N W E D R is a shared services serving Redditch, Bromsgrove and Wyre Forest councils. It has successfully operated for over a decade and in recent years has attracted a very welcome total of 70 million pounds in government grants for the three districts to support major regeneration programmes. All three councils place high priority on economic regeneration. Implementing the programmes and projects associated with the government grant has inevitably involved considerable additional work and has affected mw ideas capacity in the last couple of years that has been exacerbated by recruitment difficulties in filling posts and keeping them filled, and the consequences of the management review in Wyre Forest District Council, which saw, among other things, that a delegation of the post of Corporate Director economic prosperity and place,

discussions have been ongoing between the leadership of three councils about future options for over a year, the three leaders have accepted advice from officers that a mutually agreed termination should be achievable and should happen on the 30th of June 2024.

clause 15.1 of the agreement provides that all parties to the agreement may agree that it should be determined brought to an end clause 15 also makes provision for the transfer of assets and intellectual property, and that, in the case of mutual termination, any costs arising are shared in the same percentages as applying as apply to sharing of operating costs of N W D R clause I 8.9 provides that in the event of termination the Council's intention is that the transfer of undertakings

which is protection of employment

regulations will apply to the staff, but that is subject to the regulations and relevant law and any subsequent agreement of the three councils.

until this agreement is terminated, n w e d are will provide a full range of support that it currently provides for the three Councils under the agreement, including work on the agreed business plan, although that is inevitably subject to the same constraints about capacity which have been experienced for some time and already mentioned.

the key issues are that a mutual circulation of the current agreement requires a formal decision by each of the three Councils. Equivalent reports are expected to be taken to the Cabinet and Executive in Bromsgrove and Redditch in February in respect of Wyre Forest District Council move into a stand-alone arrangement forms one of the steps that the administration is taking in order to align capacities with the priorities in the Corporate Plan for 2023 to 2027 some aspects of n w e d rs work are performed only for one Council and the relevant staff at the point of termination will either stay with Wyre Forest district council or be transferred to Redditch and Bromsgrove, as may be the case

disentangling the long established shared arrangements has many other detailed aspects that need to be addressed, a working group of officers across the three Councils chaired by the Chief Executive has commenced work, and positive progress is being made, the report seeks a delegation to the Chief Executive to finalise the exit agreement.

from a financial perspective Wyre Forest District Council's budget for the 23 to 24 year allocated an additional 75,000 pounds a year on the assumption that the potential moves of the company model would involve additional governments, governance costs and an upward shift in salaries where necessary, moving employment outside the confines of local government arrangements there is intense competition within the private sector for many of the roles in NSW Radio,

Wyre Forest District Council's current budget contribution for N W E D R is 518,000 pounds and the future structure outlined for Wyre Forest District Council in the appendix is estimated to have an additional financial implication cost of circa 75,000 pounds a year, which would be in line with the additional funding provided in the 2023 to 2026 medium term financial strategy.

while there are no ongoing additional financial implications expected as a result of the decision source in this report, there are expected to be some minor one-off costs associated with the termination, although, as set out in the exempt appendix as the Leader has referenced, it is difficult to quantify them accurately at this stage funding such one such one-off costs would come from the General Risk Reserve.

from a legal perspective, the Council relies on general powers such as a section 1 1 1 of the Local government Act 1972 and section 1 of the Localism Act, 2011 to undertake work on economic regeneration and the changes proposed to aim the appropriate level of resource to ensure delivery of the priorities in the Corporate Plan 23 to 27 there are no direct impacts in respect of equality, health or climate change.

and all relevant employment law will be compiled complied with accordingly, no equality impact assessment is required

there are a number of risks associated with the termination process which are set out in detail in the exempt appendix together with those mitigation process.

measures.

so this proposal, as I said at the beginning, supports the council's Corporate Plan and provides Wyre Forest with the structure and resource to drive further economic regeneration across the district, providing further jobs and supporting the local economy, therefore I formally move the recommendations in this report, thank you.

thank you, Councillor Moorhead, a fact very comprehensive outline to the recommendation, and indeed the report of course are formally second, the recommendations as set out on page 1 9 4 of the agenda in the open, a and or echo that of course very briefly this Council together with Redditch and Bromsgrove had a very proud record of working together or and actually it was very forward thinking to set up a joint service with those two North Worcestershire councils and it has served this Council and I'm sure those two very very well.

and it certainly isn't an acrimonious divorce. It's a very amicable separation because I think all three councils, and particularly I'd, refer to our corporate plan as part of the medium term financial strategy at this council's Corporate Plan around economic development and regeneration in in terms of it being a key focus for this Council. I know it is for Redditch and Bromsgrove are and it's felt that the best model is to have our own team in house to create greater or capacity in order to be able to delay to deliver these really really important projects or that we've got a and also

ones that were potentially going to have in the future, and so we see this as the best way forward, so absolutely endorse the recommendations Councillor Onslow.

thanks very much Chair just to say I think, and I obviously remember like myself. N W E D are being set up and I don't think anybody could have foreseen the absolute onslaught of online purchasing what that's done to town centres followed up by COVID. There is so much work now for this team to do that. Really I think it's absolutely the right thing and I know Redditch and Bromsgrove agree that every area needs its own focus now, so because there is just so much to do, particularly in our town centres, and so absolutely fully support this proposal

good any other members of cabinet, no in which case Councillor Mrs. Oborski, yes, I mean, I think mw idea has done a fantastic job, but like a lot of these things, it's come, you know it's fulfilled its role and now is the time to move forward with this Council having its own team to progress, more inward investment, but I do think we should you know, it must be noted what a fantastic job mw idea has done because, as you say, this is an amicable split. This is not

any sort of friction it's, then it's come through at the end of its natural cycle, and the right thing to do is for us to go forward alone, but I think the officers involved should all be congratulated.

thank you very much indeed, so it's been moved and seconded, are we all agreed, excellent and?

I'm assuming given my opening, nobody wishes to ask any technical questions in the exempt.

in which case we don't need to move the exempt, I've already drawn attention to the schedule at 12.00.1 so with that at 18 minutes past 7 I will conclude the cabinet meeting and all that remains for me to say to everyone present in the room and indeed anyone watching virtually is have a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year and see you in 2024 if I don't see before them.