Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Carmichael, Bhullar, Fenton, Moore and Shackleton.

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

Councillor Hughes declared a personal interest on the basis that he was a member of the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust.

To consider a report of the Budget and Corporate Management Scrutiny Board in respect of the ‘Call-in’ of the Cabinet decision ‘Brandhall – Options.’

Resolved:-

(1)     that the findings of the Budget and Corporate Management Scrutiny Board made on 8 August 2022, relating to the Cabinet decision of 20 July 2022 on the  Brandhall site options (Minute No. 147/22 refers) be formally received;

(2)     that a further meeting of the Cabinet be convened at a date in September, to be agreed by the Leader of the Council, to consider a more detailed report in response to the issues identified by the Budget and Corporate Management Scrutiny Board.

In accordance with the provisions contained with Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution (Scrutiny Procedure Rules), the Council received a ‘call-in’ notification from Councillor Fenton, Chair of the Safer Neighbourhoods and Active Communities Scrutiny Board on Monday 25 July 2022, relating to the Cabinet decision of 20 July 2022 on Brandhall ‘Options’ (Minute No. 147/22 refers).

Following the ‘call-in’ notification, the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board, at its meeting held on 8 August 2022, agreed to formally recommend that the decision relating to Brandhall ‘Options’ be referred back to Cabinet for reconsideration on the basis that information utilised by Cabinet in reaching its decision might have been incomplete in the following three respects:-

·                 The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) for the site was omitted from the report and Cabinet might wish to satisfy itself that the correct process and methodology was followed in relation to the comparable assessment of the site;

·                 There was insufficient information contained in the report to confirm that alternative site options for the replacement of the Causeway Green Primary School and delivery of a new school had been fully explored, for example Cakemore playing fields did not appear to have been considered;

·                 There was insufficient explanation given with regard to how the public consultation results, particularly with regard to residents’ views, had been evaluated and weighted in reaching the decision on the preferred option.

The Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board also requested that any further financial analysis on the viability of the Brandhall site be presented at its future meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth commented that the differences of view and opinion were not deemed insurmountable and requested that a further meeting of Cabinet be convened in September in order for:-

·                 Cabinet to be afforded the opportunity to comprehensively put forward its rationale in reaching the decision, in terms of the information available to Cabinet and clarification of any procedural aspects;

·                 Officers to be able to prepare a further report providing clarification on the information presented to Cabinet on 20 July 2022 as part of its decision-making process.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth confirmed that both the Chair of the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board, Councillor Moore, and the proposer of the ‘call-in’, Councillor Fenton, had agreed to this approach.

Agreed:-

(1)     that the findings of the Budget and Corporate Management Scrutiny Board made on 8 August 2022, relating to the Cabinet decision of 20 July 2022 on the preferred option for the Brandhall site (Minute No. 147/22 refers) be formally received;

(2)     that a further meeting of the Cabinet be convened at a date in September, to be agreed by the Leader of the Council, to consider a more detailed report in response to the issues identified by the Budget and Corporate Management Scrutiny Board.