Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor Val Gibson.

There were no declarations of interest.

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.]

Resolved:

            That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2015 be approved as a correct record.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes.]

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

[To approve revised policy following consultation with the trade unions]

Councillor Sweet presented the report, which sought approval of a revised Management of Attendance policy and procedure, following a full review and consultation with the trade unions.

Resolved:

            That the revised Management of Attendance policy and procedure be approved.

[To approve further development of the employee benefits salary sacrifice schemes]

Councillor Sweet presented the report, which sought support for the further development of the Council’s employee benefits offer, including extending the scheme to include councillors, through salary sacrifice schemes.

Resolved:

            That approval be given to the further development of the employee benefits salary sacrifice schemes, delegated to Strategic Executive Board to implement, and subject to legal advice and HM Revenue & Customs guidance, the proposed schemes to include:

·         access for councillors from January 2016;

·         an annual leave purchase scheme from April 2016, and

·         a loans for qualification fees from April 2016.

[To delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Director of Finance to implement the proposals]

Councillor Johnson presented the report, which outlined the proposal to integrate shared support services between Wolverhampton Homes and City of Wolverhampton in order to create close working relationships and to generate savings.

Resolved:

a)    That delegated authority be given to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to proceed with the implementation of proposals to integrate shared support services between Wolverhampton Homes and City of Wolverhampton Council.

b)    That the proposal to apply the Transfer of Undertakings [Protection of Employment] (TUPE) for services in scope for integration of staff from Wolverhampton Homes into City of Wolverhampton Council be approved.

[To note the summary of decisions approved by the appropriate Cabinet Member in consultation with the relevant employee]

Resolved:

            That the summary of open and exempt individual executive decisions, approved by the appropriate Cabinet Members following consultation with the relevant employees be noted.

[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 falling within paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act relating to any individual/business affairs of particular persons/including the authority holding that information)]

Resolved:

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 falling within paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

[To receive an update on the delivery of the pilot project and seek approval for the second phase]

Councillor Bilson presented the report, which provided an update on delivery of the pilot project and sought approval for implementation of the second phase.

Resolved:

a)    That Council be recommended to approve an increase to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programme of £910,000 to deliver the second phase of the Strategic Construction Partnership (SCP) new build programme.

b)    That approval be given to:

1)    The development of a second phase of council owned HRA sites for the delivery of new build council housing, using the SCP contractors, Wates and United Living;

2)    The investment of a maximum of £3 million in the delivery of this second phase of the SCP new build programme;

3)    The delegation of any variation from the identified sites for the second phase of SCP new build to the Cabinet Member for City Assets, in conjunction with the Strategic Director of Housing, and

4)    The principle of an on-going programme of SCP new build development, subject to periodic review and further funding approvals, to provide opportunity for improved value for money, with sites to be approved through delegation to the Cabinet Member for City Assets, in conjunction with the Strategic Director of Housing.

[To seek approval to procure residential development of the sites and to investigate potential grant funding to support the delivery of new Council housing]

Councillor Bilson presented the report, which sought approval to procure residential development of the sites and to investigate the potential grant funding to support the delivery of new council housing.

Resolved:

a)    That Council be recommended to approve an increase to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programme of £2 million to support the development of new council housing on the Tower and Fort Works, Pelham Street/Ashland Street site.

b)    That approval be given to:

1)    the principle of disposing of the freehold interest in the site of the former Tower Works and Fort Works for the purposes of delivering new mixed tenure housing on the site and to appropriate the remainder of the site from the General Fund into the HRA for the use of new council housing;

2)    the procurement of a developer for the site of the former Tower Works and Fort Works using the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Delivery Partner Panel (DPP) 2, for the delivery of a new residential development on this site;

3)    the use of the HCA’s Service Level Agreement for their services in checking the financial standing of shortlisted bidders;

4)    the procurement of new council housing as part of the residential scheme delivered, providing the appropriate affordable housing element.

5)    the delegation to the Cabinet Member for City Assets in consultation with the Strategic Director for Housing for the final appointment of a developer following conclusion of the procurement process, and agreement of a final development scheme;

6)    bidding for HCA grant funding from the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP), subject to investigation of appropriate funding sources to support the delivery of the proposed Council houses on this site and the acceptance of any capital grant secured through this route, and

7)    that the new council housing delivered on this site may be let on Affordable Rent tenancies to comply with the requirements of any HCA AHP funding provided to the chosen development partner.

[To receive on the progress in the construction and letting of i10 and to approve the involvement of the Council as landlord cashflowing the fit-out works]

Councillor Bilson presented the report, which provided an update on the progress in the construction and letting of i10 and sought approval to the involvement of the Council as landlord cash flowing the fit-out works.

Resolved:

a)    That Council be recommended to:

1)    approve the principle of providing a landlord contribution in the form of a cash sum towards the tenant fit-out works and cash flowing the remainder of the works for the proposed commercial occupants resulting in the full occupation of i10 commercial floor space., and

2)    approve an increase in the capital budget for i10 to £1.15 million to fund the capital fir-out works.  These costs will be recouped through an increase in the rent paid by the tenants.

b)    That approval be given to:

1.    delegate authority to the Cabinet members for City Assets, City Economy and Resources, in consultation with the Service Directors for City Assets and City Economy and Director of Finance, to enter into the necessary agreements for potential commercial occupants at i10 within the parameters set out in this report, and

2.    endorse the execution of the collateral warranties relating to i10.

[To seek approval to underwrite the grant and delegated authority to review future applications for the use of Local Growth Fund feasibility funding]

Councillor Reynolds presented the report, which sought approval to underwrite the grant and delegate authority to review future applications for the use of Local Growth Fund feasibility funding.

Resolved:

a)    That approval be given to underwrite the Local Growth Fund grant for the relocation of Wolverhampton City College – feasibility study in line with the agreed Black Country Deal and Growth Deal Collaboration Agreement.

b)    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with the Service Director for City Economy and Director of Finance to review future applications for the use of Local Growth Fund feasibility funding and agree on the basis that the applicant accepts full liability in the event of circumstances leading to claw back of grant.

[To award contracts and delegate authority to execute the contracts in respect of the recommendations as required]

The recommendations for the award of contracts for works, goods and services were introduced by the relevant Cabinet Members.

Resolved:

1.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets, in consultation with the Strategic Director for place, to approve the award of a framework contract for Highways Minor Works when the evaluation process is complete.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place and Director of Finance, to approve the award of a contract for Future Space Main Contract with Speller Metcalf Limited, Worcestershire, when  the negotiation process is complete.

3.    That the Final Account with PWC LLP, London, for Programme Management and Consultancy Support for phase one of the creation of the West Midlands Combined Authority and Devolution Deal, at a total contract value of £334,249 be approved.

4.    That the Final Account with Metro Dynamics Limited, London, for Client Side Support and Economic Analysis for phase one of the creation of the West Midlands Combined Authority and Devolution Deal, at a total contract value of £358,325 be approved.

5.    That the contract for Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) and Deprivation of Liberty (DoLS) Advocacy be awarded to PohWER, Hertlands House, Stevenage, for a duration of four years from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2020. The contract is hosted by Sandwell MBC and the total cost for the Council is £112,628.

6.    That the contract for Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) be awarded to PohWER, Hertlands House, Stevenage, for a duration of four years from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2010. The contract is hosted by Sandwell MBC and the total cost for the Council is £162,102.

7.    That the contract for Transforming Sexual Health Services be awarded to Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust of New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, for a duration of three years from 1 June 2016 to 31 May 2019 at a total contract value of £7,759,410.

8.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Governance to execute contracts in respect of the above as required.