Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Linda Leach, Udey Singh, Jacqueline Sweetman and Martin Waite.

Councillor Phil Bateman declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of agenda item 5 – Bilston Urban Village as a member of the West Midlands Partnership which is affiliated to the Canal and Riverside Trust.

[To receive the minutes of the meeting of the 1 March 2017]

The Mayor proposed, the Deputy Mayor seconded, and it was resolved:

          That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 1 March 2017, be agreed as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Mayor.

[To receive the Mayor’s announcements]

1.     Terror Attacks

The Council stood in silent tribute to remember the victims of the many terror attacks in Westminster, St Petersburg and Syria.

2.     Children’s Services Ofsted Report

The Mayor congratulated everyone involved in the recent inspection of Children’s Services in Wolverhampton by Ofsted which had been judged to be Good overall. 

Councillor Val Gibson also put on record her thanks to everyone involved in the Ofsted inspection.

3.     Civic Office of the Year Award

The Mayor congratulated the Mayoral Team who had won the prestigious title of Civic Office of the Year.

4.     VE Day 2017

Councillors were advised the Central Branch of the City of Wolverhampton Royal British Legion and the Ex-Service Council would be holding a service of remembrance at the Cenotaph, St Peter's Square, on 8 May starting at 11am.

[To approve the incorporation of the West Midlands Combined Authority into the remit of the Black Country Executive Joint Committee]

1.     That authority be delegated to the Black Country Executive Joint Committee the power to make decisions relating to funding applications into and funding received through or from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

2.     That the widening of the scope of the Black Country Executive Joint Committee Constitution by amending the current Appendix 1 Terms of Reference; Functions of Black Country Executive Joint Committee, as revised and included as Appendix 2 to this report be approved.

3.     That entering into the Black Country Executive Joint Committee Collaboration Agreement’s Deed of Variation, included at Appendix 3 to this report be approved.

4.     That the Council act as the Accountable Body for the first tranche of £53 million Combined Authority Strategic Development Programme’s Land Remediation Fund to be allocated principally to the Black Country (subject to approval by WMCA in March 2017) be approved and authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Director of Finance to agree any extension to the role beyond the first tranche of funding.

5.     That authority be delegated to the Directors of Governance and Finance the drawing up of budgets, grant agreements and authorisation of payments to grant recipients subject to appropriate due diligence of claims submitted.

Councillor Roger Lawrence presented a report to consider the incorporation of the West Midlands Combined Authority into the Collaboration Agreement dated 7 May 2014, relating to the City and Growth Deals within the Black Country Executive Joint Committee’s remit. The report also sought approval for the City of Wolverhampton Council acting as accountable body for the first tranche of Land Remediation Fund allocated to the Black Country.

Councillor Roger Lawrence proposed the recommendations and Councillor Peter Bilson seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

1.     That authority be delegated to the Black Country Executive Joint Committee the power to make decisions relating to funding applications into and funding received through or from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

2.     That the widening of the scope of the Black Country Executive Joint Committee Constitution by amending the current Appendix 1 Terms of Reference; Functions of Black Country Executive Joint Committee, as revised and included as Appendix 2 to this report be approved.

3. That entering into the Black Country Executive Joint Committee Collaboration Agreement’s Deed of Variation, included at Appendix 3 to this report be approved.

4. That the Council act as the Accountable Body for the first tranche of £53 million Combined Authority Strategic Development Programme’s Land Remediation Fund to be allocated principally to the Black Country (subject to approval by WMCA in March 2017) be approved and authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Director of Finance to agree any extension to the role beyond the first tranche of funding.

5. That authority be delegated to the Directors of Governance and Finance the drawing up of budgets, grant agreements and authorisation of payments to grant recipients subject to appropriate due diligence of claims submitted.

[To approve a grant not exceeding £206,000 to the Canals and River Trust]

1.     That a grant not exceeding £206,000 be approved to the Canals and River Trust for surface and biodiversity improvements of the canal towpath between Dudley Street and Highfields Road, Bilston to support the delivery of the Bilston Urban Village proposals.

Councillor John Reynolds presented a report for approval of a grant not exceeding £206,000 be made to the Canals and River Trust (CRT) for surface and biodiversity improvements of the canal towpath between Dudley Street and Highfields Road, Bilston. The approval of the proposed grant to the CRT would be subject to the confirmation of ERDF funding for the proposals.

Councillor John Reynolds proposed the recommendations and Councillor Val Gibson seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That a grant not exceeding £206,000 be approved to the Canals and River Trust for surface and biodiversity improvements of the canal towpath between Dudley Street and Highfields Road, Bilston to support the delivery of the Bilston Urban Village proposals.

[To approve revisions to the Senior Management Structure of the Council]

1.        That with effect from the 1 April 2017, the Strategic Director, Place (Grade 15) would assume the role of Deputy Managing Director.  The post holder would use the title of Deputy Managing Director or Strategic Director, Place as necessary depending on the circumstances and audience be approved (there will be no changes to renumeration as a result of this decision).

2.        That the Director of Finance (Grade 14) be appointed the Strategic Director, People (Grade 15) with effect from 1 September 2017 (or before if the current postholder leaves earlier) be approved.  To be kept under review for efficiency and effectiveness.

3.        That the current Strategic Director, People’s temporary contract be extended from 30 June 2017 to 31 August 2017 be approved.

4.        That the current Service Director, Children and Young People (Grade 13) be appointed Director of Children’s Services (Grade 14) with effect from 1 September 2017 (or before if required) and be the designated Director of Children’s Services (DCS) statutory role be approved.

5.        That the current Service Director, Adult Social Care (Grade 13) be appointed Director of Adults Services (Grade 14) with effect from 1 September 2017 (or before if required) and be the designated Director of Adults Services (DASS) statutory role be approved.

6.        That in the short term the current Director of Finance be released for up to 3 days per week to help the West Midlands Combined Authority by covering the role of Corporate Services Director following the departure of the existing postholder on 31 March 2017 be approved.

7.        That the Chief Accountant (Grade 12) be redesignated Director of Finance (Grade 13) from 1 September 2017 (or before if required) until further notice – dependent on the review of the Strategic Director, People role be approved.

8.        That with effect from 1 April 2017 the Chief Accountant be designated the Section 151 Officer of the City of Wolverhampton Council and West Midland Pension Fund until further notice be approved.

9.        That the current Director of Finance will be the Deputy Section 151 Officer for the West Midlands Pension Fund andwould lead on West Midland Pension Fund on behalf of the Chief Accountant be approved.

10.     That the newly appointed Section 151 Officer (former Deputy Section 151 Officer) would advise on the appointment of a new Deputy Section 151 Officer, to be appointed by the Managing Director (Head of Paid Service), with effect from 1 April 2017 be approved (this attracts no additional renumeration).

11.     That the approval of any future changes to the Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer would be upon recommendation of the Head of Paid Service for the approval of full Council. 

12.     That the Deputy Section 151 Officer(s) and Deputy Monitoring Officer(s) would continue to be appointed by the Head of Paid Service as previously agreed by Council be approved.

13.     That the release of the current Strategic Director, Pensions (Grade 15) be  ...  view the full decision text for item 7.

Having declared an interest Mark Taylor, Tim Johnson, Claire Nye and Linda Sanders left the meeting room and took no part in the consideration of this item.

Councillor Roger Lawrence presented the revisions to the Senior Management Structure of the Council for approval. The underlying improvements in performance, creativity, delivery and customer focus were the driving force for these proposals.

Councillor Roger Lawrence proposed the recommendations. Councillor Milkinder Jaspal seconded the recommendations and advised that recommendation 8 and 9 had been revised and were agreed as detailed below. 

Councillor Roger Lawrence and Councillor Wendy Thompson commended the work of Julien Kramer, Linda Sanders and Geik Drever.

The Mayor also went on to thank Linda Sanders for her services to Children and Young People in Wolverhampton and extended best wishes to Julian Kramer for the future.

Resolved:

1.        That with effect from the 1 April 2017, the Strategic Director, Place (Grade 15) would assume the role of Deputy Managing Director.  The post holder would use the title of Deputy Managing Director or Strategic Director, Place as necessary depending on the circumstances and audience be approved (there will be no changes to renumeration as a result of this decision).

2.        That the Director of Finance (Grade 14) be appointed the Strategic Director, People (Grade 15) with effect from 1 September 2017 (or before if the current postholder leaves earlier) be approved.  To be kept under review for efficiency and effectiveness.

3.        That the current Strategic Director, People’s temporary contract be extended from 30 June 2017 to 31 August 2017 be approved.

4.        That the current Service Director, Children and Young People (Grade 13) be appointed Director of Children’s Services (Grade 14) with effect from 1 September 2017 (or before if required) and be the designated Director of Children’s Services (DCS) statutory role be approved.

5.        That the current Service Director, Adult Social Care (Grade 13) be appointed Director of Adults Services (Grade 14) with effect from 1 September 2017 (or before if required) and be the designated Director of Adults Services (DASS) statutory role be approved.

6.        That in the short term the current Director of Finance be released for up to 3 days per week to help the West Midlands Combined Authority by covering the role of Corporate Services Director following the departure of the existing postholder on 31 March 2017 be approved.

7.        That the Chief Accountant (Grade 12) be redesignated Director of Finance (Grade 13) from 1 September 2017 (or before if required) until further notice – dependent on the review of the Strategic Director, People role be approved.

8.        That with effect from 1 April 2017 the Chief Accountant be designated the Section 151 Officer of the City of Wolverhampton Council and West Midland Pension Fund until further notice be approved.

9.     That the current Director of Finance will be the Deputy Section 151 Officer for the West Midlands Pension Fund andwill lead on West Midland  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

[To note revisions to the Constitution]

1.     That revisions to the Constitution be noted, specifically:

a.     The petitions scheme be amended in line with the revised petitions scheme.

b.     References be removed to the Petitions Committee following the dissolution of the Petitions Committee.

c.     The terms of reference for the Pensions Committee as detailed in Appendix A to the report.

d.     Delegations to the West Midlands Joint Committee be amended as detailed in Appendix B to the report.

e.     That the delegations for officers be updated to reflect changes in responsibilities.

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal presented a report on the changes to the Constitution. It was noted a developed Constitution would be presented to Council in autumn.

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal proposed the recommendations and Councillor Andrew Johnson seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

1.     That revisions to the Constitution be noted, specifically:

a.     The petitions scheme be amended in line with the revised petitions scheme.

b.     References be removed to the Petitions Committee following the dissolution of the Petitions Committee.

c.     The terms of reference for the Pensions Committee as detailed in Appendix A to the report.

d.     Delegations to the West Midlands Joint Committee be amended as detailed in Appendix B to the report.

e.     That the delegations for officers be updated to reflect changes in responsibilities.

[To receive the summary of executive business and for Cabinet Members to answer any questions thereon]

Council received a summary of executive business in relation to:

·       The Vision for Education 2030 – Shaping a city of learning       

·       Improving Outcomes within the Early Years

·       Community Safety and Harm Reduction Strategy 2017-20

Councillor Wendy Thompson asked the Cabinet Member for Education the following question:

How was the Cabinet Member going to ensure businesses have confidence with school leavers given the failure of two schools recently?

Councillor Claire Darke responded that the Vision for Education celebrated theachievements in Education and sets the direction for the future. The Council was aspiring to achieve outstanding status the only risk was if further conservative cuts were imposed or changes to policy.

Councillor Wendy Thompson went on to ask if finance was the only answer to children receiving a good education.

Councillor Claire Darke responded that governance and leadership were vital however schools also required appropriate funding. 

Councillor Wendy Thompson asked the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People the following question:

How was the Cabinet Member going to ensure bullet point two was achieved and how records would be kept effectively in relation to bullet point three?

Councillor Val Gibson responded that in relation to bullet point two an action plan had been developed which outlined roles and responsibilities for all partners and partners would be held to account through the Children’s Trust Board. In relation to bullet point three an integrated data system was required to ensure only one record was available for a child.