Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Linda Leach.

There were no declarations of interest submitted.

[For approval]

That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting]

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

Council is recommended to:

1. Approve the revised City of Wolverhampton Council Capital Strategy.

2. Approve the revised medium term General Revenue Account capital programme of £334.2 million, a reduction of £7.9 million from the previously approved programme and the change in associated resources.

3. Approve the revised Housing Revenue Account capital programme of £441.9 million, a reduction of £609,000 from the previously approved programme and the change in associated resources.

Cabinet resolved:

1. That the virements for the General Revenue Account capital programme be approved as detailed at Appendix 5 to the report for;

i. Existing projects totalling £11.1 million;

ii. New projects totalling £6.8 million.

2. That the virements for the Housing Revenue Account capital programme be approved as detailed at Appendix 5 to the report for:

i. Existing projects totalling £3.8 million.

3. That the General Revenue Account outturn position for 2018-2019 which stands at 76.1% of the approved capital budget be noted.

4. That the Housing Revenue Account outturn position for 2018-2019 which stands at 86.1% of the approved capital budget be noted.

Councillor Louise Miles presented the Capital Budget Outturn 2018-2019 including Quarter One Capital Monitoring 2019-2020 for approval and recommendation to Full Council. The report provided an update on the outturn position for 2018-2019 and on the 2019-2020 financial performance of the General Revenue Account and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programmes whilst also providing a revised forecast for 2019-2020 to 2023-2024 as at quarter one of 2019-2020. Revisions to the current approved capital programmes covering the period 2019-2020 to 2023-2024 were also recommended.

Resolved:

Council is recommended to:

1. Approve the revised City of Wolverhampton Council Capital Strategy.

2. Approve the revised medium term General Revenue Account capital programme of £334.2 million, a reduction of £7.9 million from the previously approved programme and the change in associated resources.

3. Approve the revised Housing Revenue Account capital programme of £441.9 million, a reduction of £609,000 from the previously approved programme and the change in associated resources.

Cabinet resolved:

1. That the virements for the General Revenue Account capital programme be approved as detailed at Appendix 5 to the report for;

i. Existing projects totalling £11.1 million;

ii. New projects totalling £6.8 million.

2. That the virements for the Housing Revenue Account capital programme be approved as detailed at Appendix 5 to the report for:

i. Existing projects totalling £3.8 million.

3. That the General Revenue Account outturn position for 2018-2019 which stands at 76.1% of the approved capital budget be noted.

4. That the Housing Revenue Account outturn position for 2018-2019 which stands at 86.1% of the approved capital budget be noted.

Council is recommended to note:

1. The Council operated within the approved Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators, and also within the requirements set out in the Council’s approved Treasury Management Policy Statement during 2018-2019.

2. That a revenue net overspend of £2.2 million for the General Revenue Account and an underspend of £195,000 for the Housing Revenue Account were generated from treasury management activities in 2018-2019.

3. A break even position for the General Revenue Account and an underspend of £910,000 for the Housing Revenue Account are forecast from treasury management activities in 2019-2020.

Cabinet resolved:

1. That it be noted that £1.4 million was drawn down from the Treasury Management Equalisation Reserve in 2018-2019 in line with the approved budget.

2. That it be noted that during 2018-2019, it was projected that there would be an overspend against the General Revenue Account Treasury Management budget in the region of £2.0 million, primarily as a result of an increase in Minimum Revenue Provision charges following a review. Cabinet (Resources) Panel approved that the overspend could be met by a further draw down from the Treasury Management Equalisation Reserve, however, due to other underspends across the Corporate Directorate this was not required.

Councillor Louise Miles presented the Treasury Management-Annual Report 2018-2019 and Activity Monitoring Quarter One 2019-2020 for noting and recommendation to Council. The report set out the results of treasury management activities carried out in 2018-2019, together with performance against the Prudential Indicators previously approved by Council. It also provided a monitoring and progress report on treasury management

activity for the first quarter of 2019-2020, in line with the Prudential Indicators approved by Council in March 2019.

Resolved:

Council is recommended to note:

1. The Council operated within the approved Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators, and also within the requirements set out in the Council’s approved Treasury Management Policy Statement during 2018-2019.

2. That a revenue net overspend of £2.2 million for the General Revenue Account and an underspend of £195,000 for the Housing Revenue Account were generated from treasury management activities in 2018-2019.

3. A break even position for the General Revenue Account and an underspend of £910,000 for the Housing Revenue Account are forecast from treasury management activities in 2019-2020.

Cabinet resolved:

1. That it be noted that £1.4 million was drawn down from the Treasury Management Equalisation Reserve in 2018-2019 in line with the approved budget.

2. That it be noted that during 2018-2019, it was projected that there would be an overspend against the General Revenue Account Treasury Management budget in the region of £2.0 million, primarily as a result of an increase in Minimum Revenue Provision charges following a review. Cabinet (Resources) Panel approved that the overspend could be met by a further draw down from the Treasury Management Equalisation Reserve, however, due to other underspends across the Corporate Directorate this was not required.

Council is recommended to:

Approve the adoption of the Youth Justice Plan 2019-2020.

Councillor John Reynolds presented the Wolverhampton Youth Justice Plan 2019-2020 for recommendation to Full Council. The Plan related to the work of the Youth Offending Team (YOT) partnership under the oversight of the YOT Management Board and the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership.

When compared against the previous year, the first-time entrant rate for the Criminal Justice System for Wolverhampton had shown a 32% reduction in young people and a 14% reduction in the number of offences committed by young people. Key achievements included the data provided by the Wolverhampton Reoffending Live Tracker toolkit, which showed an overall binary reoffending rate of 17%, compared to a regional performance of 35.3% and national performance of 37.9%. The Youth Justice Plan for 2019-2020 also set out priorities and areas of focus for the coming year including the implementation of trauma informed practice, strengthened links with the Early Intervention service and increased participation of YOT young people.

Resolved:

Council is recommended to:

Approve the adoption of the Youth Justice Plan 2019-2020.

That the implementation of Wolverhampton’s Tackling Violence and Exploitation Strategy, as approved by the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership Board, Safeguarding Children Board and Safeguarding Adults Board, be endorsed and supported.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal presented the Wolverhampton's Tackling Violence and Exploitation Strategy for endorsement. The Strategy reflected the national shift towards a public health approach to violence and tackling all forms of serious violence and exploitation in a holistic manner. The Strategy addressed all related issues together rather than individually, namely child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation, modern slavery and gangs and youth violence. The model of delivery would focus on prevention, preparation, protection and progressing enforcement action against those involved in violence and exploitation.

Resolved:

That the implementation of Wolverhampton’s Tackling Violence and Exploitation Strategy, as approved by the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership Board, Safeguarding Children Board and Safeguarding Adults Board, be endorsed and supported.

That the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership Annual Report 2018 - 2019, as approved by the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership Board, be endorsed.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal presented the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership Annual Report 2018-2019 for endorsement. The report summarised the progress made by the Safer Wolverhampton partnership during 2018-2019 and identified areas for future development. The Safer Wolverhampton Partnership was statutorily required to produce an annual report

detailing progress against its strategic plan and performance. The annual report also detailed services which had been commissioned using the annual allocated grant from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. The report also summarised performance against the 2017-2020 Community Safety and Harm Reduction Strategy. Collaborative partnership working had been undertaken against all of the strategic priorities. Areas of note included work to reduce aggressive begging and rough sleeping, address hate related crime and violence against women and girls and prevention activities for those either at risk of gang involvement or involved in youth violence.

Resolved:

That the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership Annual Report 2018 - 2019, as approved by the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership Board, be endorsed.

1. That it be approved that the City of Wolverhampton Council, in partnership with the National House Project and Reconomy, delivers a local House Project for young people in care and care leavers.

2. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve contributions from Reconomy towards the costs of the National House project.

Councillor John Reynolds presented The House Project for approval. The report detailed the benefits of running a local House Project for children in

care and care leavers and the impact it could have on outcomes for young

people. The House Project would give greater placement choice for young

people to be supported into independence. It would also provide the additionality of peer support contributing to reducing feeling of loneliness and isolation, and offer opportunities via the potential funding for training and employment options for Wolverhampton young people in care and care leavers. Although the focus was on the benefits for young people, establishing the House Project in Wolverhampton would also be financially cost effective, resulting in an annual saving from Year 2 onwards.

The Cabinet recorded thanks to all involved in the House Project for their work.

Resolved:

1. That it be approved that the City of Wolverhampton Council, in partnership with the National House Project and Reconomy, delivers a local House Project for young people in care and care leavers.

2. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve contributions from Reconomy towards the costs of the National House project.

That the Local Lettings Plan for new build properties, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

Councillor Peter Bilson presented the Local Lettings Plan – New Build Properties for approval. Wolverhampton was set to build or acquire over 500 new affordable rent Council properties by 2024, so the Local Lettings Plan was required to support their integration into the wider housing stock.

The Local Lettings Plan had been designed to ensure the stability and sustainability of new communities created through new build development, whilst ensuring existing communities remained balanced and sustainable and would not be destabilised by the letting of concentrations of new builds within an area. The Plan would seek to make best use of stock by maximising the number of households in housing need, assisted by the development of new build properties as well as ensuring groups protected by an equality characteristic would not be disadvantaged.

Resolved:

That the Local Lettings Plan for new build properties, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

1. That, in accordance with statutory guidance, the outcome of Pre-publication Consultation and Representation regarding the proposed permanent expansion of Green Park School be formally considered.

2. That the permanent expansion of Green Park School be approved.

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre presented the Green Park School - Significant Change Proposal for formal consideration and approval. Levels of demand for educational provision in Wolverhampton had increased significantly in recent years and the total number of pupils with SEND within Wolverhampton’s schools was forecast to increase by 13% between 2017-2018 and 2025-2026. The creation of additional capacity within the popular and successful school would provide extra places to meet an increasing level of demand in the City. The capital costs of the expansion scheme would be met through grant funding.

Resolved:

1. That, in accordance with statutory guidance, the outcome of Pre-publication Consultation and Representation regarding the proposed permanent expansion of Green Park School be formally considered.

2. That the permanent expansion of Green Park School be approved.

1. That the commencement of a 12-week formal consultation on the draft All Age Travel Assistance Policy, as attached at Appendix 2 to the report, from 2 September 2019 to 29 November 2019 be approved.

2. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, in consultation with the Director of Education and the Delivering Independent Travel – Councillor Reference Group, to approve supplementary accessible documents and summary of proposals to be made available during formal consultation aimed at individuals receiving travel assistance and their families.

3. That proposals 1 – 9, which outline the significant changes to current policy practice and are already incorporated in the draft All Age Travel Assistance Policy, attached at Appendix 2 to the report be noted.

4. That it be noted that supplementary accessible documents will be available during formal consultation aimed at individuals receiving travel assistance and their families along with a summary of proposals.

5. That it be noted that the results of the consultation commencing on 2 September 2019 and engagement with the City of Wolverhampton residents and transport stakeholders would be reported to and inform a subsequent decision by Cabinet in February 2020.

6. That it be noted that a summary of this document is available within the All Age Travel Assistance Policy Presentation, attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre presented the Draft All Age Travel Assistance Policy for approval to commence a 12-week formal consultation on the Policy. The report detailed proposals to improve the Council’s

travel assistance offer, to better support the needs of residents and to promote the development of increased independence where appropriate.

The development of a full range of travel assistance options, including Personal Transport Budgets and bespoke solutions for families would provide increased choice and personalisation. The new All Age Travel Assistance Policy would be more transparent, and person-centred.

Resolved:

The Cabinet is recommended to:

1. That the commencement of a 12-week formal consultation on the draft All Age Travel Assistance Policy, as attached at Appendix 2 to the report, from 2 September 2019 to 29 November 2019 be approved.

2. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, in consultation with the Director of Education and the Delivering Independent Travel – Councillor Reference Group, to approve supplementary accessible documents and summary of proposals to be made available during formal consultation aimed at individuals receiving travel assistance and their families.

3. That proposals 1 – 9, which outline the significant changes to current policy practice and are already incorporated in the draft All Age Travel Assistance Policy, attached at Appendix 2 to the report be noted.

4. That it be noted that supplementary accessible documents will be available during formal consultation aimed at individuals receiving travel assistance and their families along with a summary of proposals.

5. That it be noted that the results of the consultation commencing on 2 September 2019 and engagement with the City of Wolverhampton residents and transport stakeholders would be reported to and inform a subsequent decision by Cabinet in February 2020.

6. That it be noted that a summary of this document is available within the All Age Travel Assistance Policy Presentation, attached at Appendix 1 to the report.