Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Training Room, Ground Floor - Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1SH

Contact: Philippa Salmon  Tel: 01902 555061 or Email: philippa.salmon@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

No apologies for absence were received.

2.

Declaration of interests

Minutes:

Tim Johnson, Strategic Director Place and Mark Taylor, Strategic Director People declared non-pecuniary interests in item 15 – WV Living Detailed Business Plan Update.

3.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 92 KB

[For approval]

Minutes:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 October 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

4.

Matters arising

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

Minutes:

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

5.

Treasury Management Activity Monitoring – Mid Year Review 2017-2018 pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That Council be recommended to note:

1. That a mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement has been undertaken and the Council has operated within the limits and requirements approved in March 2017.

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

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Johnson sought Cabinet endorsement to recommend that Council note the Treasury Management Activity Monitoring Mid-Year Review for 2017 – 2018. The report provided monitoring and progress on treasury management activity for the second quarter of 2017-2018 as part of the mid-year review, in line with the Prudential Indicators approved by Council in March 2017. The activity illustrated proactive treasury management which would provide a tangible benefit to Council tax payers.

 

Resolved:

 

That Council be recommended to note:

 

1. That a mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement has been undertaken and the Council has operated within the limits and requirements approved in March 2017.

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

6.

Capital programme 2017-2018 to 2021-2022 quarter two review pdf icon PDF 155 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That Council be recommended to:

1. Approve the revised medium term General Fund capital programme of £339.3 million, an increase of £9.2 million from the previously approved programme (paragraph 2.4 of the report), reflecting the latest projected expenditure for the medium term.

2. Approve the net additional General Fund resources of £9.2 million identified for;

a. forty new projects totalling £26.3 million (paragraph 4.1 of the report);

b. thirty-three existing projects net reduction totalling £17.1 million (paragraph 3.24 of the report)

 

1. That the General Fund virements totalling £20.5 million detailed at Appendix C to the report be approved for;

a. existing projects totalling £2.1 million (paragraph 3.25 of the report);

b. new projects totalling £18.4 million (paragraph 4.2 of the report).

2. That the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) virements totalling £14.6 million detailed at Appendix C to the report be approved for;

a. existing projects totalling £9.8 million (paragraph 3.25 of the report);

b. new project totalling £4.8 million (paragraph 4.2 of the report).

3. That the updated schedules of works be approved for the capital projects under the following directorate (paragraph 3.26 of the report);

a. Corporate: ICTS and in relation to Education; Building Schools for the Future

(BSF), Primary School Expansion Programme and Schools Capital

Maintenance (Appendix D1 to the report).

b. People: Sports Investment Strategy, Co-location Programme, Children in Need - Aiming High for Disabled Children and Early Education - Two Year Education Pilot (Appendix D2 to the report).

c. Place: Corporate Asset Management Programme, Urban Parks Refurbishment Programme, Disposals Programme, Accessing Growth Fund, Southside Programme, Maintenance of unclassified roads, Non - Highway Structures, Highway Improvement Programme, Safety Programme, Maintenance of classified roads, Lighting up the City and Local Growth Funding (LGF)

Feasibility (Appendix D3 to the report).

4. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the Head of Corporate Landlord to approve the allocation of the Energy Efficiency measures provision for future programmes budget, to individual capital projects suitably meeting set criteria, in order that they may be progressed in a timely manner (paragraph 3.27 of the report).

5. That the joint integrated funding approach with the West Midlands Combined Authority be approved with regards the Wolverhampton Interchange Programme (paragraph 3.30 of the report).

 

1. That it be noted that the General Fund expenditure position at quarter two of 2017-2018 for existing projects stands at 83.9% of the profiled projected budget (paragraph 3.3 of the report).

2. That it be noted that the General Fund forecast outturn for existing projects for 2017-2018 stands at 86.1% of the approved capital budget (paragraph 3.1 of the report).

3. That it be noted that the HRA expenditure position at quarter two of 2017-2018 for existing projects stands at 97.6% of the profiled projected budget (paragraph 3.4 of the report).

4. That it be noted that the HRA forecast outturn position for existing projects for 2017-2018 stands at 73.0% of the approved capital budget (paragraph 3.1 of the report).

5.  ...  view the full decision text for item 6.

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Johnson sought Cabinet endorsement to recommend that Council approve the Capital Programme 2017-2018 to 2021-2022

Quarter Two Review. The report provided an update on the 2017-2018 financial performance of the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account capital programmes and the revised forecast for 2017-2018 to 2021-2022 as at quarter two of 2017-2018. The revised layout of the review report would provide greater transparency of the Council’s financial performance.

 

Resolved:

 

That Council be recommended to:

1. Approve the revised medium term General Fund capital programme of £339.3 million, an increase of £9.2 million from the previously approved programme (paragraph 2.4 of the report), reflecting the latest projected expenditure for the medium term.

2. Approve the net additional General Fund resources of £9.2 million identified for;

a. forty new projects totalling £26.3 million (paragraph 4.1 of the report);

b. thirty-three existing projects net reduction totalling £17.1 million (paragraph 3.24 of the report)

 

1. That the General Fund virements totalling £20.5 million detailed at Appendix C to the report be approved for;

a. existing projects totalling £2.1 million (paragraph 3.25 of the report);

b. new projects totalling £18.4 million (paragraph 4.2 of the report).

2. That the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) virements totalling £14.6 million detailed at Appendix C to the report be approved for;

a. existing projects totalling £9.8 million (paragraph 3.25 of the report);

b. new project totalling £4.8 million (paragraph 4.2 of the report).

3. That the updated schedules of works be approved for the capital projects under the following directorate (paragraph 3.26 of the report);

a. Corporate: ICTS and in relation to Education; Building Schools for the Future

(BSF), Primary School Expansion Programme and Schools Capital

Maintenance (Appendix D1 to the report).

b. People: Sports Investment Strategy, Co-location Programme, Children in Need - Aiming High for Disabled Children and Early Education - Two Year Education Pilot (Appendix D2 to the report).

c. Place: Corporate Asset Management Programme, Urban Parks Refurbishment Programme, Disposals Programme, Accessing Growth Fund, Southside Programme, Maintenance of unclassified roads, Non - Highway Structures, Highway Improvement Programme, Safety Programme, Maintenance of classified roads, Lighting up the City and Local Growth Funding (LGF)

Feasibility (Appendix D3 to the report).

4. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the Head of Corporate Landlord to approve the allocation of the Energy Efficiency measures provision for future programmes budget, to individual capital projects suitably meeting set criteria, in order that they may be progressed in a timely manner (paragraph 3.27 of the report).

6. That the joint integrated funding approach with the West Midlands Combined Authority be approved with regards the Wolverhampton Interchange Programme (paragraph 3.30 of the report).

7. That it be noted that the General Fund expenditure position at quarter two of 2017-2018 for existing projects stands at 83.9% of the profiled projected budget (paragraph 3.3 of the report).

8. That it be noted that the General Fund forecast outturn for existing projects for 2017-2018 stands at 86.1%  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Revenue Budget Monitoring Quarter Two 2017-2018 pdf icon PDF 243 KB

Decision:

1.  That it be noted that, as a result of proactive financial management across the Council, all services have completed recovery plans which have identified efficiencies and mitigating actions to recover part of the overspend that was forecast as at quarter one of 2017-2018. The overall projected outturn for the General Fund for 2017-2018 is now forecast to be an overspend in the region of £1.0 million.

2. That it be noted that projected redundancy costs, including the cost of pension strain, totalling £2.9 million are included in the forecast outturn. The projected costs are subject to change dependent upon the actual redundancies approved by year end. It is anticipated that Capital Receipts flexibility announced by the Secretary of State, will offset the cost of redundancies.

3. That it be noted that 575 council tax accounts totalling £256,683.42, as detailed in paragraph 8.4.1 of the report, have been approved by for write off by Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

4. That it be noted that 50 Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) debts totalling £157,549.98, as detailed in paragraph 8.4.2 of the report, have been approved by for write off by Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

5. That it be noted that 156 sundry debt accounts totalling £151,758.48, as detailed in paragraph 8.3 of the report, have been approved by for write off by Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

6. That it be noted that 43 housing benefit overpayments totalling £6,321.11, as detailed in paragraph 8.7 of the report, have been approved for write off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

7. That it be noted that a £17.0 million surplus on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is projected compared with a budgeted surplus of £16.8 million as shown at Table 10 of the report and in detail at Appendix I to the report. The projected increased surplus of £177,000 will be used to redeem debt in line with the HRA Business Plan.

 

1. That the use of £1.2 million from the Regeneration Reserve be approved to fund various development works and schemes as detailed at paragraph 5.2.2 of the report.

2. That the repayment of pump priming allocation totalling £485,000 back into the

Regeneration Reserve which was previously drawn down for the Housing Development Company be approved as detailed at paragraph 5.2.2.

3. That the use of £406,000 from the Transformation Reserve to fund various

development works and schemes be approved as detailed at paragraph 5.2.3 of the report, in the event that capital receipts are not available in-year to support transformation.

4. That the use of £320,000 from the Budget Contingency Reserve to cover expert and barrister costs incurred as a result of Storm Doris inquest and back filling of three Environmental Health Officer posts be approved as detailed at paragraph 5.2.4 of the report. There is the potential for recovery of all or part of  ...  view the full decision text for item 7.

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Johnson presented the Revenue Budget Monitoring Quarter Two 2017 – 2018 for approval. The report provided a projection of the likely revenue outturn position for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Accounts, compared with the Council’s approved revenue budgets for 2017-2018.

 

Resolved:

 

1.  That it be noted that, as a result of proactive financial management across the Council, all services have completed recovery plans which have identified efficiencies and mitigating actions to recover part of the overspend that was forecast as at quarter one of 2017-2018. The overall projected outturn for the General Fund for 2017-2018 is now forecast to be an overspend in the region of £1.0 million.

2. That it be noted that projected redundancy costs, including the cost of pension strain, totalling £2.9 million were included in the forecast outturn. The projected costs were subject to change dependent upon the actual redundancies approved by year end. It is anticipated that Capital Receipts flexibility announced by the Secretary of State, would offset the cost of redundancies.

3. That it be noted that 575 council tax accounts totalling £256,683.42, as detailed in paragraph 8.4.1 of the report, have been approved by for write off by Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

4. That it be noted that 50 Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) debts totalling £157,549.98, as detailed in paragraph 8.4.2 of the report, have been approved by for write off by Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

5. That it be noted that 156 sundry debt accounts totalling £151,758.48, as detailed in paragraph 8.3 of the report, have been approved by for write off by Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

6. That it be noted that 43 housing benefit overpayments totalling £6,321.11, as detailed in paragraph 8.7 of the report, have been approved for write off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

7. That it be noted that a £17.0 million surplus on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is projected compared with a budgeted surplus of £16.8 million as shown at Table 10 of the report and in detail at Appendix I to the report. The projected increased surplus of £177,000 would be used to redeem debt in line with the HRA Business Plan.

 

1. That the use of £1.2 million from the Regeneration Reserve be approved to fund various development works and schemes as detailed at paragraph 5.2.2 of the report.

2. That the repayment of pump priming allocation totalling £485,000 back into the

Regeneration Reserve which was previously drawn down for the Housing Development Company be approved as detailed at paragraph 5.2.2.

3. That the use of £406,000 from the Transformation Reserve to fund various

development works and schemes be approved as detailed at paragraph 5.2.3 of the report, in the event that capital receipts were not available in-year to support transformation.

4. That the use of £320,000 from the Budget Contingency Reserve  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Delegations to Cabinet (Resources) Panel pdf icon PDF 59 KB

[To approve delegations to the Cabinet (Resources) Panel.]

Decision:

That the delegation of any Cabinet business to the Cabinet (Resources) Panel on 16 January 2017 be approved.

Minutes:

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal presented the Delegations to Cabinet (Resources) Panel for approval. Given the high priority nature of much of the Council’s work, there would be a need for decisions to be made at the start of 2018, therefore Cabinet business was required to be delegated to the Cabinet (Resources) Panel meeting on 16 January 2018.

 

Resolved:

 

That the delegation of any Cabinet business to the Cabinet (Resources) Panel on 16 January 2017 be approved.

9.

Homelessness Reduction Bill and Rough Sleepers pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Decision:

That the actions by which the City implements the Homeless Reduction Act be endorsed.

Minutes:

Councillor Peter Bilson presented the Homelessness Reduction Bill and Rough Sleepers report for endorsement. The report provided an update of the Homelessness Reduction Act and the increase in homelessness, in particular rough sleeping, and how this would be addressed in Wolverhampton going forward. The reconfiguration of the service currently provided as well as the introduction of new provision would offer an effective service to those already homeless and prevent homelessness for those at risk, and would allow the Council to meet the new required duty.

 

Resolved:

 

That the actions by which the City implements the Homeless Reduction Act be endorsed.

10.

Adult Social Care Annual Report: The Local Account 2016-2017 pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Report to follow.

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the Adult Social Care Local Account for 2016–2017 be approved for publication.

Minutes:

Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE presented the Adult Social Care Local Account for 2016 – 2017 for approval. It was considered good practice for councils to produce and publish an annual Local Account as they enabled councils to self-assess their performance, gather feedback on how they have done from people who have used services and set priorities for improvement. They were also seen as a way of demonstrating openness and transparency to citizens. The Local Account illustrated the challenges faced in the current financial climate and the successes that the Council had achieved despite this, and was also used as a way to involve local people with care and support needs in decisions about the priorities for the coming year.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Adult Social Care Local Account for 2016–2017 be approved for publication.

11.

Faith Covenant pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the adoption of the Covenant and proposals for implementation be agreed.

Minutes:

Councillor Paul Sweet presented the Faith Covenant for approval to adopt the Covenant and proposals for implementation. The Covenant provided a framework for local authorities (and partners) and the faith sector to better understand how they could cooperate. The principles of the Covenant illustrated the commitment the city had toward its faith sector, and acknowledged the positive contribution the sector had to the city as a whole.

 

Resolved:

 

That the adoption of the Covenant and proposals for implementation be agreed.

12.

Wolverhampton Safeguarding Boards Annual Reports pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.  That the content of the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Adult (WSAB) Annual Report be endorsed.

2.  That the content of the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) Annual Report be endorsed.

Minutes:

Councillors Val Gibson and Sandra Samuels OBE presented the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Adult Board Annual report and Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board Annual report respectively for endorsement. The Independent Chair of the Local Adult and Children Safeguarding Boards was required to publish an annual report, to provide a rigorous and transparent assessment of the performance and effectiveness of local services in safeguarding children and adults (with care and support needs); and promoting the welfare of children and wellbeing of adults. Wolverhampton had recognised that best practice was to share the annual reports to ensure clarity regarding safeguarding activity, outcomes and responsibilities across the city.

 

Resolved:

 

1.  That the content of the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Adult (WSAB) Annual Report be endorsed.

That the content of the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) Annual Report be endorsed.

13.

Merger of Springdale Infant School and Springdale Junior School pdf icon PDF 118 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.  That, in accordance with statutory guidance, the outcomes of Informal Consultation and Formal Consultation (Representation) on the proposed merger of Springdale Infant School with Springdale Junior School be formally noted.

2. That the discontinuance of Springdale Infant School be approved with effect from 31 December 2017 in accordance with Section 15(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to facilitate the merger of Springdale Infant School with Springdale Junior School with effect from 1 January 2018; and

3. That both the lowering of the age range from 7 to 11 years to 3 to 11 years and the enlargement of the school premises of Springdale Junior School (to include the physical capacity of Springdale Infant School’s buildings) be approved in accordance with Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to facilitate the merger of Springdale Infant School with Springdale Junior School with effect from 1 January 2018.

 

1.    That it be noted that the recommendations detailed in 2 and 3 are related proposals which are interdependent and cannot be considered in isolation of one another.

Minutes:

Councillor Claire Darke presented the Merger of Springdale Infant School and Springdale Junior School report for approval. The report detailed the outcomes of Informal Consultation and Formal Consultation and sought approval to merge the two schools to create a primary school to cater for pupils aged between 3 and 11 years with effect from 1 January 2018.

 

Resolved:

 

1.  That, in accordance with statutory guidance, the outcomes of Informal Consultation and Formal Consultation (Representation) on the proposed merger of Springdale Infant School with Springdale Junior School be formally noted.

2. That the discontinuance of Springdale Infant School be approved with effect from 31 December 2017 in accordance with Section 15(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to facilitate the merger of Springdale Infant School with Springdale Junior School with effect from 1 January 2018; and

3. That both the lowering of the age range from 7 to 11 years to 3 to 11 years and the enlargement of the school premises of Springdale Junior School (to include the physical capacity of Springdale Infant School’s buildings) be approved in accordance with Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to facilitate the merger of Springdale Infant School with Springdale Junior School with effect from 1 January 2018.

 

That it be noted that the recommendations detailed in 2 and 3 were related proposals which were interdependent and cannot be considered in isolation of one another.

14.

Exclusion of press and public

[To pass the following resolution:

 

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information on the grounds shown below.]

Decision:

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to any individual, information which was likely to reveal the identity of an individual and/or information relating to the business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Minutes:

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to any individual, information which was likely to reveal the identity of an individual and/or information relating to the business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

15.

WV Living Detailed Business Plan Update

Decision:

That the recommendations be approved as detailed in the exempt report.

Minutes:

Councillor Peter Bilson presented the WV Living Detailed Business Plan Update that was exempt as it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

 

Resolved:

 

That the recommendations be approved as detailed in the exempt report.

16.

Public Health Commissioning Proposals for 2018-2019 onwards

Decision:

That the recommendations be approved as detailed in the exempt report.

Minutes:

Councillor Paul Sweet presented the Public Health Commissioning Proposals for 2018 – 2019 onwards report that was exempt as it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

 

Resolved:

 

That the recommendations be approved as detailed in the exempt report.

17.

School Expansion Schemes

Decision:

That the recommendations be approved as detailed in the exempt report.

Minutes:

Councillor Claire Darke presented the School Expansion Schemes Report that was exempt as it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

 

Resolved:

 

That the recommendations be approved as detailed in the exempt report.