Agenda

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Members to declare any interests in matters to be discussed at the meeting.

To consider any urgent business (with prior approval by the Mayor).

To receive announcements from the Mayor.

To receive petitions under Standing Order No. 5.

          To consider written questions under Standing Order No. 6 to:-

(a)     the Mayor;

(b)     the Leader of the Council;

(c)     any other member of the Cabinet;

(d)     any person appointed to preside at a committee, sub-committee or panel;

(e)     the members of the Council nominated pursuant to Section 41 of the Local Government Act 1985, on the discharge of the functions of the following Joint Authorities:-

(i)           West Midlands Combined Authority (the Leader);

(ii)         West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority (Councillor Jalil);

(iii)        Transport for the West Midlands (Councillor

Webb);

(f)      a nominated member appointed by the Council to the Board of Sandwell Leisure Trust;

(g)     a member of the Council who is, as a result of action taken by or on behalf of the Council, a member or director of any company.

          To consider the updated Improvement Plan to address the recommendations from external reviews and proposed reporting mechanisms.

To receive the minutes of the Governance and Constitution Review Committee held on 27 May 2022 and consider the recommendations contained therein.

To consider an extension to the appointment of an Independent Member for the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.

         To consider the following motions received under Standing Order No. 7:-

         Proposer: Councillor William Gill

         Seconder: Councillor Archer Williams

That this Council reaffirms its commitment to tackling the climate crisis through the recognition of the impact that single use cable ties can have and moves to resolve through the banning of political posters from Council property in order to limit the usage of single use cable ties.

Proposer: Councillor Trumpeter

Seconder: Councillor Dunn

As we have seen in Wednesbury Town Centre recently, and as we see in our other town centres on the lead up to Christmas, free parking in council owned carparks can be offered by this council with minimal fuss when it suits. Free parking benefits residents, shoppers and our fantastic local businesses in our town centres by ensuring that shoppers spend money in the towns rather than being drawn to out-of-town shopping centres that offer free car parking. 

Over 20,000 people backed the Sandwell Conservatives calls for free weekend parking in our borough at the recent elections. Therefore, this council moves to resolve to explore this and invites the executive to consider extending free car parking in all other town centres until October 2022, in line with the recent Wednesbury scheme.

Proposer: Councillor Fisher

Seconder: Councillor Chapman

That this council believes that council officers, elected members, neighbourhood policing and local residents do a great job trying to tackle off road motorbikes, but more support is needed. With off road motorbikes being one of the highest reported incidents of anti-social behaviour in Sandwell. The safety of local residents and their pets, are at risk with the nuisance they cause, along with the destruction to our parks and green spaces, this cannot continue. Will the leader of the council agree to write to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster calling for the re-introduction of a dedicated off-road motorbike team that can focus solely on this issue and give it the attention is deserves.