Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ian Angus, Ian Claymore, Rupinderjit Kaur, Pat Patten and Mak Singh.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

[To receive minutes of the previous meeting held on the 31 January 2018.]

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

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 31 January 2018, be agreed as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Deputy Mayor.

[To receive the Deputy Mayor’s announcements]

1.       The Late Mayor, Councillor Elias Mattu

The Deputy Mayor announced that it was with great sadness that we had learned of the death of, the Mayor Councillor Elias Mattu on the 23 February 2018. He added that Elias was elected to the borough of Wolverhampton in May 2000 and he had represented the Graiseley Ward from May 2000 – February 2018

The Deputy Mayor advised that he and the Deputy Mayoress would be attending the funeral service at St. Peter’s Church. He added it was the express wish of Cllr Mattu’s family that the service was open to all and they had encouraged as many people as possible to attend.  He added with space inside the church limited, the service will be broadcast on a large screen outside.

The Deputy Mayor extended the Council’s sincere condolences to the family.

The Leader of the Council - Councillor Roger Lawrence, Councillor Wendy Thompson and Councillor Malcolm Gwinnet paid tribute to the late Mayor Councillor Elias Mattu.

2.     Mental Health Superstar shines at awards

The Deputy Mayor was delighted to report that a Wolverhampton community worker had been awarded the top award at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Thrive Mental Health Commission Awards. 

The Deputy Mayor announced Gurbax Kaur was named the region’s Mental Health Superstar at the event, which took place at West Bromwich Albion FC and was attended by Mayor for the West Midlands Andy Street and prominent mental health campaigner Norman Lamb MP.

The Deputy Mayor added Gurbax was honored for her commitment to raising awareness of mental health issues, particularly among the city’s South Asian community, where mental health can be considered a taboo subject. 

The Deputy Mayor added as the founder of Positive Participation, Gurbax works tirelessly within the community to provide specialist support to the most vulnerable, as well as advocating for the importance of local mental health services.

3.     Residents Programme

The Deputy Mayor urged residents to look out for over 50 opportunities for free support with living, learning and working in the City of Wolverhampton. He advised the residents programme of events runs from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 31 March which included free drop-in and bookable sessions to support people into work, to find an apprenticeship, to find the right home and improve their wellbeing. There were also events aimed at supporting families, supporting people to stay independent, and information on how you people can get more involved in our City. Residents were able to find further information on the website.

[To consider and determine the Council’s budgetary provisions for the forthcoming municipal year:

·        Capital Programme 2017-2018 to 2021-2022 quarter three review and 2018-2019 to 2022-2023 budget strategy including the i9 Office Development – Investment Case

·        Treasury Management Strategy 2018-2019

·        2018-2019 Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2019 - 2019-2020

·        Council Tax Formal Resolutions.]

Councillor Andrew Johnson, presented the annual capital budget including the i9 Office Development – Investment Case, treasury management strategy and revenue budget and statutory formal Council Tax resolution. He went on to outline the recommendations of the report, drawing Councillors attention to the challenges that the Council faced. He advised that the proposed budget was balanced, despite the delay in implementing the waste and recycling strategy. He added that in addition to the budget reductions made over the previous seven financial years, the Council was faced with identifying further estimated reductions for 2019-2020.

Councillor Andrew Johnson outlined the rationale for increasing Council Tax by 1.99% and the Social Care precept by 2% and emphasised that these had not been increased to the maximum limit allowed. He advised that the precept raised for social care was ringed fenced to adult social care. 

Councillor Andrew Johnson advised that the Council was in a greater financial position than neighbouring authorities. He added that the LGA Peer Review had recognised that the Council had made progress in achieving financial stability. He highlighted that the Digital Transformation Programme enabled the Council to make efficiencies and transform the way services were provided.  He went onto to add the Council had also focused on income generation and borrowed money to invest in i10 and now i9.

Councillor Andrew Johnson highlighted that technical financing provided the Council with greater flexibility and the opportunity to achieve further savings.

Councillor Andrew Johnson commended the work of the Finance Team, Cabinet and the 3C’s Scrutiny Panel.

Councillor Andrew Johnson proposed and Councillor Roger Lawrence seconded the recommendations.

Councillor Wendy Thompson provided the principle speech in response to the budget report.

The report was debated by Council.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 the votes were recorded as follows:

The motion was CARRIED by 45 votes. There were nine abstentions. 

Resolved:

1.       That the revised medium term General Fund capital programme of £373.1 million, an increase of £33.8 million from the previously approved programme (paragraph 2.4 of the Cabinet report), reflecting the latest projected expenditure for the medium term be approved.

2.       That the net additional General Fund resources of £33.8 million, identified for; 11 new projects totalling £12.6 million (paragraph 4.1 of the Cabinet report); Civic Halls, an existing project, of £23.7 million as approved by Council on 31 January 2018 (paragraph 3.23 of the Cabinet report); i9 Office Development, a new project, of £13.0 million (paragraph 4.5 of the Cabinet report); 23 existing projects net decrease totalling £15.5 million (paragraph 3.23 of the Cabinet report) be approved.

3.       That the Investment Case for the i9 office development at Wolverhampton Interchange be approved.

4.       That the allocation of up to £13 million capital investment by way of prudential borrowing to forward purchase the i9 office development be authorised.

5.       That the proposal to declare the Council’s land holdings at Railway Street car park as surplus to requirements to enable the office development be approved.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.