Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Grand Hall, Grand Station, Sun St, Wolverhampton, WV10 0BF

Contact: Jaswinder Kaur  01902 550320 or Email: jaswinder.kaur@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from the Mayor Elias Mattu, Councillors Payal Bedi-Chadha, Christopher Haynes, Rupinderjit Kaur, Welcome Koussoukama, Judith Rowley and Caroline Siarkiewicz.

 

2.

Declarations of interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made. 

3.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 99 KB

[To receive minutes of the meeting of the 8 November 2017. ]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

          That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on the 8 November 2017, be agreed as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Deputy Mayor.  

4.

Communications

[To receive the Mayor’s announcements]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

1.     Resolution of Thanks

 

The Deputy Mayor presented a gift of appreciation to Councillor Barry Findlay as a lasting and enjoyable reminder of his year as Mayor in 2016-2017.

 

2.     ?Lawyers in Local Government Awards

 

The Mayor was delighted to report the Council’s legal department was celebrating major success after picking up a prestigious award in November.

 

The Mayor congratulated Tom Senior, Jessica Adeniran, Bob Baldwin and Shamsher Zada who won the award for ‘Governance Team of the Year 2017’ for the second year running at the annual Lawyers in Local Government awards. It was also the third year in a row that City of Wolverhampton Council had been successful in the Lawyers in Local Government Awards. 

 

The Mayor added the Council was a finalist in a further four categories including: litigation lawyer/team of the year and people related lawyer/team of the year, whilst Lorraine Moses-Copeman was nominated for practice manager of the year.

 

3.     Carols in the City

 

The Deputy Mayor reported carols in the city took place in the lower mall of the Mander Centre on Wednesday 6 December 2017.  There were lively performances from Northwood Park and Hill Avenue primary school choirs, Palmer and Friends gospel choir, the city’s brass band, the City of Wolverhampton Council Choir and Central Youth Theatre.

 

He added the Council had been supported by Darlington Street Methodist Church, Central Youth Theatre, Wolverhampton Business Improvement District (BID) and the Mander Centre in organising the event which had been a tremendous success.

 

4.      Victorian Christmas Market

 

The Deputy Mayor invited Councillors to the first official Victorian Christmas Market which opens on Friday 15 December 2017.  The Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress would officially open the market at 10:30am this Friday. 

 

5.  Holocaust Memorial Day

 

The Deputy Mayor invited Councillors to a service of remembrance, led by Interfaith Wolverhampton, which was to be held at 11am on Holocaust Memorial Day, Friday 26 January 2017 at the Cenotaph. 

 

Finally, the Mayor wished everyone present a happy Christmas and hoped everyone enjoyed the festive break.

 

5.

Capital programme 2017-2018 to 2021-2022 quarter two review pdf icon PDF 61 KB

[To consider an update on the 2017-2018 financial performance of the General Fund and HRA capital programmes and the revised forecast for 2017-2018 as at quarter two of 2017-2018.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.  That the revised medium term General Fund capital programme of £339.3 million, an increase of £9.2 million from the previously approved programme, reflecting the latest projected expenditure for the medium term be approved.

2. That the net additional General Fund resources of £9.2 million be approved for;

i. forty new projects totalling £26.3 million;

ii. thirty three existing projects net reduction totalling £17.1 million.

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Johnson presented the Capital programme 2017-2018 to 2021-2022 quarter two review report. He provided an update on the 2017-2018 financial performance of the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programmes and the revised forecast for 2017-2018 to 2021-2022 as at quarter two of 2017-2018. He added the accurate phasing and profiling of programmes led to greater transparency and accuracy with the reporting. There had been a considerable improvement in the capital programme since the previous report.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Wendy Thompson, Councillor Andrew Johnson responded that he would provide a written response in January 2017 on the costs in relation to the three programmes.

 

Councillor Andrew Johnson proposed the recommendations and Councillor Peter Bilson seconded the recommendations.

 

Resolved:

 

1.  That the revised medium term General Fund capital programme of £339.3 million, an increase of £9.2 million from the previously approved programme, reflecting the latest projected expenditure for the medium term be approved.

 

2. That the net additional General Fund resources of £9.2 million be approved for forty new projects totalling £26.3 million and thirty-three existing projects net reduction totalling £17.1 million.

 

6.

Treasury Management Activity Monitoring – Mid Year Review 2017-2018 pdf icon PDF 59 KB

[To consider an update on the treasury management activity for the second quarter of 2017/18 as part of the mid-year review.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

1. That it be noted, that a mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement had been undertaken and the Council had operated within the limits and requirements approved in March 2017.

2. That it be noted, that savings of £1.1 million for the General Fund and £643,000 for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) were forecast from treasury management activities in 2017-2018.

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Johnson presented the Treasury Management Activity Monitoring – Mid Year Review 2017-2018 report. He provided an overview of treasury management activity and added that activity was in line with prudential indicators. He added there would be a real benefit to Council Tax payers.

 

Councillor Andrew Johnson paid tribute to work undertaken by the Director of Finance and Lee Johnson.

 

Councillor Andrew Johnson proposed the recommendations and Councillor Peter Bilson seconded the recommendations.

 

Resolved:

 

1.   That it be noted, that a mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement had been undertaken and the Council had operated within the limits and requirements approved in March 2017.

 

2. That it be noted, that savings of £1.1 million for the General Fund and £643,000 for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) were forecast from treasury management activities in 2017-2018.

 

7.

Polling Stations pdf icon PDF 59 KB

[To approve revisions to Polling Stations.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.      That two polling stations in Wednesfield North ward be merged to be one double station and the number of polling stations in Graiseley ward be reduced from seven to six be approved.

 

2.    That authority be delegated to the Returning Officer to make such changes to polling stations arrangements as may be operationally necessary to ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of the elections in 2018.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Johnson presented the polling stations report. He sought approval to make minor changes to the Council’s polling stations arrangements in the Wednesfield and Graiseley ward. He added that consultation had been undertaken with Councillors from both wards.

 

Councillor Andrew Johnson proposed the recommendations and Councillor John Reynolds seconded the recommendations.

 

Resolved:

 

1.  That two polling stations in Wednesfield North ward be merged to be one double station and the number of polling stations in Graiseley ward be reduced from seven to six be approved.

 

2.  That authority be delegated to the Returning Officer to make such changes to polling stations arrangements as may be operationally necessary to ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of the elections in 2018.

 

8.

Changes to the Constitution pdf icon PDF 65 KB

[To adopt changes to the Constitution.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.      That the new format of the Council’s Constitution be adopted.

 

2.      That changes to the current content as summarised in the Special Advisory Group report and detailed in Appendix 1 to that report be adopted subject to:

 

a.       The proposed change to Part 4 – Financial Procedure Rules, to enable timely decisions in relation to new external funding received by the Council being amended by the inclusion of the words ‘or Cabinet (Resources) Panel’ between the words ‘Cabinet’ and ‘and’ to read as follows:

 

“Where all of the following apply, an overall increase or decrease in the Council’s total budget may be approved Cabinet or Cabinet (Resources) Panel and not require the approval by Council:”

 

and at the end of clause (iv) to read as follows:

 

“(iv)    The Section 151 Officer agrees that approval may be granted by Cabinet or Cabinet (Resources) Panel.”

 

b.       The proposed change to Part 4 - Contract Procedure Rules (Section 3.10) being amended to require the Cabinet Member for Governance to approve the engagement of agency staff above a day rate of £500 and for the Human Resources Business Partner to approve engagements with a day rate below £500; and

 

That quarterly report on the use of Agency Staff also be submitted to Cabinet (Resources) Panel for information.

 

3.      That the Director of Governance be authorised to implement the new format and the changes set out in Appendix 1 of the Special Advisory Group report, as now with immediate effect.

 

4.      That it be noted, that further amendments to the Constitution would be presented in May 2018.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Johnson presented changes to the Constitution. He outlined that a number of changes had been made to the Constitution to ensure it was succinct and reflected the practices of the Council. The revisions were undertaken inhouse by the Democratic Services Team. He added the changes were presented to the Special Advisory Group and that Councillors also had the opportunity to contribute to the process during the consultation process.

 

Councillor Andrew Johnson paid tribute to the work undertaken by the Head of Governance and Democratic Services Manager.

 

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

 

Resolved:

 

1.  That the new format of the Council’s Constitution be adopted.

 

2.  That changes to the current content as summarised in the Special Advisory Group report and detailed in Appendix 1 to that report be adopted subject to:

 

a.   The proposed change to Part 4 – Financial Procedure Rules, to enable timely decisions in relation to new external funding received by the Council being amended by the inclusion of the words ‘or Cabinet (Resources) Panel’ between the words ‘Cabinet’ and ‘and’ to read as follows:

 

“Where all of the following apply, an overall increase or decrease in the Council’s total budget may be approved Cabinet or Cabinet (Resources) Panel and not require the approval by Council:”

 

and at the end of clause (iv) to read as follows:

 

“(iv)  The Section 151 Officer agrees that approval may be granted by Cabinet or Cabinet (Resources) Panel.”

 

b.   The proposed change to Part 4 - Contract Procedure Rules (Section 3.10) being amended to require the Cabinet Member for Governance to approve the engagement of agency staff above a day rate of £500 and for the Human Resources Business Partner to approve engagements with a day rate below £500; and

 

     That quarterly report on the use of Agency Staff also be submitted to Cabinet (Resources) Panel for information.

 

3.  That the Director of Governance be authorised to implement the new format and the changes set out in Appendix 1 as now with immediate effect.

 

4.  That it be noted, that further amendments to the Constitution would be presented in May 2018.

 

9.

Municipal Calendar of Meetings 2018- 2019 pdf icon PDF 65 KB

[To agree the Calendar of Meetings for 2018 – 2019.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.     That the City of Wolverhampton Council Calendar of Meetings for 2018-2019 attached as appendix 1 to the report be endorsed.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Johnson presented the timetable for Council and committee meetings for the next Council Year (2018-2019).

 

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

 

Resolved:

 

1.  That the City of Wolverhampton Council Calendar of Meetings for 2018-2019 attached as appendix 1 to the report be endorsed.

 

10.

Executive Business pdf icon PDF 65 KB

[For the Cabinet Member to answer any questions.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the summary of executive business be received.

Minutes:

The Council received a summary of executive business relating to the faith covenant.

 

In response to Councillor Andrew Wynn’s question, Councillor Paul Sweet confirmed that all working groups would feed into the decision-making process. He added that the launch had taken place on Tuesday 12 December 2017 and during the first twelve months protocols and processes would be developed.

 

Resolved:

 

That the summary of executive business be received.