Public Session
1
Priority Business (if any)
To dispose of any business required by statute or by the Council's Procedure Rules to be brought before the Council before any other business.
65
There was no priority business.
To approve the minutes of the Council meeting of 9 December 2025.
66
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Council meeting of 9 December 2025 be approved and signed by the Chairman.
3
Apologies
To receive any apologies for non-attendance.
67
Apologies were received from Councillors B Bond MBE, V Chapman, B Cope, W Fisher, V Kelly, R Lees BEM, V Merrick, R Reade, W Sutton.
4
Declarations of Interest
To receive any declarations of interest.
68
There were no declarations of interest.
5
Questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 11.4
Note: A Councillor may ask the Chairman of the Council, a member of the Cabinet or the Chairman of any Committee, Sub-Committee or Panel a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the District of South Staffordshire provided that:-
(a) they have given at least seven working days' notice in writing of the question to the Chief Executive; or
(b) the question relates to urgent matters, they have the consent of the Cabinet Member to whom the question is to be put, and the content of the question is given to the Chief Executive by 11.00 a.m. on the day of the meeting. Every question shall be put and answered without discussion but the person to whom the question has been put may decline to answer.
69
There were no questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 11.4.
Report of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Kath Perry MBE
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The Leader of the Council, Councillor Kath Perry MBE presented a summary of matters considered at Cabinet meetings from December 2025 - February 2026 and thanked all officers and members for their work.
Report of the Committee Chairmen
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RESOLVED: that Members note the contents of the report.
Report of Councillor Kath Perry MBE, Leader of the Council
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RESOLVED: that Members:
A) Approve the report together with the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (appendix 1), revenue estimates and capital programme for the 2026/27 budget.
B) Note the Section 25 Statement (appendix 2), updated MTFS position and the revised revenue estimates for 2025/26 and 2026/27.
C) Pass a resolution in the form attached at appendix 3 (noting that this is in draft form only for Cabinet as we await further information from precepting authorities).
D) Authorise the Leader of the Council to make any necessary amendments to include any late information or to correct any errors or omissions.
Report of the Finance Director (Section 151 Officer)
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RESOLVED: that Members approve:
A) The Prudential Indicators and Limits for 2026/27 - 2030/31 contained within Appendix A of the report.
B) The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement contained within Appendix A (paragraph 2.3 which sets out the Council's policy on MRP.
C) The Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27 - 2030/31 contained within Appendix A.
D) Authorised Limit Prudential Indicator contained within Appendix A (para 3.2).
E) The Investment Strategy 2026/27 contained in the Treasury Management Strategy (appendix A) and the detailed criteria (included in Appendix B).
Report of the Finance Director (Section 151 Officer) and Finance Manager (Deputy Section 151 Officer)
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RESOLVED: that Members approve the Capital Strategy 2026/27 to 2030/31.
Report of Councillor Meg Barrow, Cabinet Member for Welfare Services
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RESOLVED: that Members:
A) Confirm the continuation of the discount removals implemented from 1st April 2025: i) removal of the 1-month 100% discount for unoccupied and unfurnished properties and ii) removal of the 12-month 50% discount for uninhabitable properties.
B) Approve the implementation of the premium framework from 1st April 2026: i) a 100% premium on dwellings unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for one year or more and ii) a 100% premium on second homes (substantially furnished but not anyone's sole or main residence), applying statutory exceptions and local discretionary reductions as set out in the report.
Report of the Assistant Director Organisation and People Development
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RESOLVED: that Members approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27.
13
Chairman's Announcements
To receive any announcements which the Chairman wishes to bring to the attention of the members.
Note: Members, officers, and the public are requested to stand at the conclusion of the meeting whilst the Chairman and Vice-Chairman leave the Council Chamber.
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The Chairman thanked the Finance Director and her team for all the work put into the Finance papers.
The Chairman thanked all those that had donated to his chosen charities this year and looked forward to seeing all members at the Civic Dinner being held on Friday 27th March.