Agenda, decisions and minutes

Prior to opening the proceedings with prayers, Reverend Ravi Singh extended to the Council the heartfelt thanks and gratitude from the family of the late Mayor Councillor Elias Mattu for all the support the Council had given them and on the organisation of Civic funeral.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Payal Bedi-Chadha, Ian Claymore and Jonathan Yardley.

Kevin O’Keefe, Director of Governance advised that the following declarations of interests had been made:

Agenda item 5 - Wolverhampton Homes Delivery Plan 2018-2019:

Agenda item 7 - Pay Policy Statement 2018-2019):

Keith Ireland (Managing Director), Kevin O’Keefe, (Director of Governance), Claire Nye (Director of Finance), Tim Johnson (Deputy Managing Director), Mark Taylor (Strategic Director for People), Emma Bennett (Director of Children’s Services), David Watts (Director of Adult’s Services) and  Laura Phillips (Head of Business Management), all declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the item as employees directly impacted by the recommendations.

No other declarations of interests were made.

[To receive minutes of the previous meeting held on the 7 March 2018.]

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

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 March 2018 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Deputy Mayor. 

[To receive the Deputy Mayor’s announcements]

a.     Former Leader of the Council Norman Davies OBE

       The Deputy Mayor announced that it was with great sadness that earlier today we had learned of the death of former Leader of the Council (1987 – 2002) Norman Davies OBE. Norman served as a Councillor for Bilston East Ward during May 1973 to 1984 and May 1986 to 2002).

       The Deputy Mayor extended the deepest sympathies of the Council to Norman’s wife Mary and family, at this very sad time.

       The Leader of the Council and Councillor Wendy Thompson paid tribute to the late former Leader of the Council Norman Davies OBE.

b.     Former Councillor Sarah Edmondson

       The Deputy Mayor announced that there was cause for further sadness, as former Councillor for Park Ward (May 1995 - 2000), Sarah Edmondson, had passed away on 26 March 2018.  Sarah was the wife of the late Councillor, former Police and Crime Commissioner, Bob Jones.

       The Deputy Mayor extended the deepest sympathies of the Council to Sarah’s cousin, Councillor John Reynolds and family at this very sad time.

       Councillor John Reynolds paid tribute to the memory of the late Sarah Edmondson.

       The Council stood in silent tribute to the late Norman Davies OBE and the late Sarah Edmondson.

c.     Crowdfund Wolves Launch

       The Deputy Mayor reported that he had attended the launch of the City of Wolverhampton’s own crowdfunding platform, ‘Crowdfund Wolves’ on Tuesday 20 March. This bespoke Wolverhampton platform would act as a vibrant market place for ideas, allowing activists and community groups to pitch project ideas to friends and neighbours, grant funders and business sponsorship.  The Crowdfunding platform, supplied by a company called Spacehive, differed from more traditional Crowdfunding platforms in allowing organisations to pledge in kind support to projects and gave the opportunity of support of funders such as Veolia and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

d.     Retiring Members of the Council

       The Deputy Mayor expressed his thanks to the following Councillors who were not seeking re-election at the local elections in May 2018:

·           Councillor Judith Rowley

·           Councillor Daniel Warren

·           Councillor Andrew Johnson

·           Councillor Mrs Christine Mills

·           Councillor Ian Claymore

·           Councillor Julie Hodgkiss

·           Councillor Pat Patten

·           Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett

·           Councillor Barry Findlay

·           Councillor Andrew Wynne

·           Councillor Tersaim Singh

[To approve the Wolverhampton Homes - Delivery Plan 2018-2019.]

1.     That the Wolverhampton Homes Annual Delivery Plan 2018 – 2019 be approved.

2.     That the five-yearly review of Wolverhampton Homes that had been undertaken by the Managing Director and Director of Finance of the Council be endorsed.

Councillor Peter Bilson presented for approval of Council Wolverhampton Homes Annual Delivery Plan 2018-2019.  The plan set out how Wolverhampton Homes proposed to deliver services and support the strategic objectives of the Council and how the plan would be achieved within the financial and human resources available.

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

Resolved:

1.    That the Wolverhampton Homes Annual Delivery Plan 2018 – 2019 be approved.

2.    That the five-yearly review of Wolverhampton Homes that had been undertaken by the Managing Director and Director of Finance of the Council be endorsed.

[To close the citywide community governance review and endorse the action plan.]

1.     That the action plan arising from the community governance review in 2017, be approved subject to the comments of the Special Advisory Group being taken on board.

2.     That the citywide community governance review 2017 be formally closed and the action plan arising from it be delivered.

Councillor Andrew Johnson presented the report which asked Council to formally close the citywide community governance review that it had approved in 2017 and to approve an action plan arising from the community governance review.

Councillor Andrew Johnson thanked the Democratic Services Manager and the Head of Corporate Communications who had led the two community governance reviews and their teams who had contributed to the action plan.

Councillor Andrew Johnson proposed and Councillor Zee Russell seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

1.    That the action plan arising from the community governance review in 2017, be approved subject to the comments of the Special Advisory Group being taken on board.

2.    That the citywide community governance review 2017 be formally closed and the action plan arising from it be delivered.

[To approve the Pay Policy Statement.]

1.      That the Pay Policy Statement for 2018 – 2019 be approved.

2.      That publication of the Pay Policy Statement by 31 March 2018 be approved in line with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

Having declared a disclosable percuniary interest in this item Keith Ireland (Managing Director), Kevin O’Keefe, (Director of Governance), Claire Nye (Director of Finance), Tim Johnson (Deputy Managing Director), Mark Taylor (Strategic Director for People), Emma Bennett (Director of Children’s Services), David Watts (Director of Adult’s Services) and Laura Phillips (Head of Business Management) all left the meeting room and took no part in the discussion on this item.

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal asked the Council to approve the new Pay Policy Statement 2018-2019 for publication in line with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal proposed and the Leader of the Council seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

1.     That the Pay Policy Statement for 2018 – 2019 be approved.

2.     That publication of the Pay Policy Statement by 31 March 2018 be approved in line with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.