Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Haynes and Leach

The following declarations were made in relation to Agenda Item 5 Housing Revenue Account Business Plan

Councillor Mark Evans declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 8 Funding Cuts to the West Midlands Police as he was an employee of West Midlands Police

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2014 were agreed as a correct record.

[To receive the Mayor’s announcements]

1.         Sir Jack Haywood OBE,

The Mayor referred to the recent death Sir Jack Hayward OBE who had been a Freeman of the City, Philip Bradbourn OBE and former Mayoress, Mrs Jan Furber.

The meeting stood for a minutes silence in their memory.

2.         Linda Sanders, Strategic Director People

The Mayor  welcomed Linda Sanders to her first Council meeting.

3.         The Queen’s New Year’s Honours

The Mayor reported that Mr Norris Hill  had been awarded  the MBE for services to the community in Wolverhampton and Mr Christopher Westwood had been awarded the MBE for charitable services for children with physical disabilities.  The Mayor had  written to both recipients expressing the Council’s congratulations on their well-deserved awards.

[To the updated Housing Revenue Account business plan]

It was moved by Cllr Bilson and seconded by Cllr Johnson and

            Resolved:

1.      That the business plan set out at appendix A to the Cabinet report be approved as the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan, including:

(a)  The revenue budget for 2015/16 set out in the plan;

(b)  The capital programme for 2014/15 to 2019/20 set out in the plan.

2.    That an increase in rents for HRA dwellings of an average of 3.11% with effect from 6 April 2015 be approved.

3.      That an increase in rents for HRA garages by 3.11%, with effect from 1 April 2015 be approved.

4.      That HRA service charges and district heating charges be set at the levels detailed in appendix B3, with effect from 1 April 2015.

5.      That Hostel charges be set at the levels detailed in appendix B4, with effect from 1 April 2015.

6.      That the charges to be levied on tenants and leaseholders by Wolverhampton Homes set out in appendix B5 are noted.

7.      That the forecast outturn against the 2014/15 revenue budget is a surplus before allocations of £18.9 million compared to a budgeted surplus of £11.9 million be noted.

8.      That it be noted that carelink charges were currently under review.

9.      That the Council places on record its sincere thanks to all those tenants’ representatives and all other stakeholders and partners who put forward views and comments during the consultation process.

[To approve changes to polling stations for the 2015 elections]

It was moved by Cllr Sweet and seconded by Cllr Johnson and

Resolved

1.      That Gatis Street Adventure Playground (St Peter’s ward) be replaced by the tenants’ room at Firsbrook House as a polling station for the 2015 elections.

2.      That Duke Street Youth Club (East Park ward) be replaced by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Oxford Street as a polling station for the 2015 elections

3.      That the (Acting) Returning Officer, in  consultation with the Cabinet Member for Governance and Performance, be given delegated authority to make any further changes to the schedule of polling stations for the 2015 elections

[To consider changes to the Constitution in respect of of Parent Governor representatives on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel and the governance arrangements of the Local Government Pension Scheme]

It was moved by Cllr Ian Brookfield and seconded by Cllr Wynne and

            Resolved

That the changes to the Constitution in respect of Parent Governor representatives on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel and the governance arrangements of the Local Government Pension Scheme as administered by the Council under delegation to the Pensions Committee as detailed in the appendices to the respective reports (as amended) be approved as follows:

1.      To include details of the role and responsibilities of local authority parent governor representatives appointed to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.

2.      That a maximum of two parent governor representatives to be appointed or re-appointed to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel at Annual Council.

3.      To require co-opted members, church representatives and parent governor representatives to sign and abide by the Councillors Code of Conduct as a condition of being a member of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.

4.      The eligibility conditions for parent governor representative at maintained schools to stand for election, as a local authority parent governor representative.

5.      To give authority to the Monitoring Officer to appoint a returning officer to make all the necessary arrangements and to determine all matters relating to the holding of an election of a parent governor representative, where there is a vacancy.

6.      To give discretion to the returning officer not to arrange a ballot for a vacancy where the places to be filled is equal to or exceeds the number of parent governor representatives candidates for election.

7.      To appoint parent governor representative for a maximum period of two years following an election and confirmation at annual Council.

8.      To state that parent governor representatives can, at the discretion of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel in consultation with the Director of Governance, be disqualified if they do not attend panel meetings for a period of six months.

9.      a)Those amendments required to the Constitution under the Public Service Pensions Act 2014;

b)Those amendments which are ancillary to those required under the Public Service Act 2013;

c)Those amendments requested in order to facilitate good governance and efficient operation of the West Midlands Pension Fund

 “The Government have announced that in 2015-16 the West Midlands Police service will be subject to £23M further cuts, equivalent to a further 5% reduction.  This is on top of the £120M savings already made.

This Council wishes to express its concern regarding the impact this will have for local residents in Wolverhampton. This Council therefore calls on the Government to review its unfair funding cuts to the West Midlands Police, in particular the unfair implementation of the national funding policing formula which has led to resources being passed to  areas with lower needs.”

Having declared an interest Cllr Mark Evans left the meeting and took no part in the consideration of the item.

It was moved by Cllr Mattu and seconded by Cllr Simkins that

 “The Government have announced that in 2015-16 the West Midlands Police service will be subject to £23 million further cuts, equivalent to a further 5% reduction. This is on top of the £120 million savings already made.

This Council wishes to express its concern regarding the impact this will have for local residents in Wolverhampton. This Council therefore calls on the Government to review its unfair funding cuts to the West Midlands Police, in particular the unfair implementation of the national funding policing formula which has led to resources being passed to areas with lower needs.”

Resolved

The Government have announced that in 2015-16 the West Midlands Police service will be subject to £23 million further cuts, equivalent to a further 5% reduction. This is on top of the £120 million savings already made. This Council wishes to express its concern regarding the impact this will have for local residents in Wolverhampton. This Council therefore calls on the Government to review its unfair funding cuts to the West Midlands Police, in particular the unfair implementation of the national funding policing formula which has led to resources being passed to areas with lower needs.

[To receive the summary of executive business]

Resolved

That the Summary of Executive Business be noted

1.         Councillor P. Singh to ask the Cabinet Member for Governance & Performance :-

Could the Cabinet Member advise Council on the costs of employing temporary staff through agencies in the authority for the last three completed financial years?

2.         Councillor S. Simkins to ask the Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Learning:-

Could the Cabinet Member update Council on the outcome of the latest Ofsted inspection of the Wolverhampton Adult Education Service?

1.         Costs of employing temporary staff through agencies

Councillor P. Singh asked the Cabinet Member for Governance & Performance “Could the Cabinet Member advise Council on the costs of employing temporary staff through agencies in the authority for the last three completed financial years?”

Councillor Sweet replied that during 2011/12 expenditure had been £7.611 million. During 2012/13 it had been £7.799 million and in 2013/14 it had been £7.701 million.

2.      Outcome of the latest Ofsted inspection of the Wolverhampton Adult Education Service

Councillor Simkins asked the Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Learning “Could the Cabinet Member update Council on the outcome of the latest Ofsted inspection of the Wolverhampton Adult Education Service?

Cllr Page replied that inspection had rated the service as outstanding. The service was one of only eight in the country to receive such a rating. He detailed the comments in the inspection report and the contents of a letter he had received from Nick Boles MP Minister of State for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education.