Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Centre
Contact: Martin Stevens Email: martin.stevens@wolverhampton.gov.uk
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Apologies [To receive any apologies for absence]. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Paul Birch and Cllr Jacqueline Sweetman.
There were no substitutions.
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Declarations of interest [To receive any declarations of interest]. Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Inclusive City Economy declared an interest on item 6 as a member of the West Midlands Trains Board. |
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Minutes of previous meeting PDF 140 KB [To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2022 as a correct record]. Additional documents: Minutes: Resolved: The minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2022 were agreed as a correct record. |
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Performance, Budget Monitoring and MTFS PDF 2 MB [To receive a presentation on Performance, Budget Monitoring and MTFS].
Additional documents: Minutes: The Director for Regeneration gave a presentation on Performance, Budget Monitoring and MTFS. He stated that the Council had built up a strong track record for managing finances well despite reductions in funding. The Council’s approach to strategic financial planning was to align resources to the “Our City, Our Plan” which was approved by Full Council on 2 March 2022. The plan provided a strategic framework for delivering the ambition that “Wulfrunians will live longer, healthier lives.” On a quarterly basis an integrated performance and budget monitoring report was presented to Cabinet. The quarter 2 position had been presented to Cabinet on 16 November 2022. Overall, a forecast overspend was reported across the Council of £1.5 million, this was mainly due to the 2022-2023 pay award.
The Director for Regeneration stated that there 56 key performance indicators in the Our City: Our Plan Performance framework. In quarter 2, 33 had shown improvement or similar performance, 17 were yet to be updated and 6 had seen a decrease in performance. For the specific priority theme of “Thriving Economy in all Parts of the City” there were a total of 7 indicators. In quarter 2, four of these had showed an improved or sustained performance in the year to date. Two had shown a decrease in performance in the year to date and for one there was no update. The KPIs with increased or similar performance in the year to date were as follows: -
The Council were still awaiting data on business survival rates, although the most recent published data showed Wolverhampton as having higher than average one year survival rates for businesses. There had been an increase in new businesses supported through Access to Business. Although there had been a decrease in overall businesses supported. The current model was being reviewed with a new business support model to be in place by April 2023. There had been a decrease in footfall and recreational settings in July to September 2022 compared to July to September 2021. This was potentially linked to holidays, with restrictions still in place in 2021, which would have seen more people stay in Wolverhampton. There had been a continued increase in the access to full fibre and electric car charging points in the City, as the roll out continued.
The Director of Regeneration stated that the KPIs with decreased performance in quarter 2 were as follows:-
The KPI where there was no update in the year to date was on businesses that survive one year in City – ONS Business Demography. The published data was expected in December 2022.
The Director of Regeneration highlighted some of the ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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Business Support at Place Level PDF 3 MB [To receive information on how the Council is helping to support businesses at local ward level and how this links with the wider work relating to the Wolverhampton Pound].
[Report is marked: To Follow]. Additional documents: Minutes: The Head of Enterprise delivered a presentation on
“Business Support”, a copy of which is attached to the
signed minutes. The Head of Enterprise explained that work within
business support was in a transitional phase due to European Union
(EU) funding support coming to an end. This funding will be
replaced by the United Kingdom (UK) Shared Prosperity program, the
Head of Enterprise stressed however that it is a lower level of
funding than the previous EU funded program but has greater
flexibility and freedom in its application. The mission of the
Council was set out in reference to business support, which was
“to enable (facilitate) a diverse and thriving local economy
that delivers real benefits for the people of Wolverhampton”
and the objectives within that mission. · Need to ensure the local and regional businesses support can respond to the economic and cost of living challenges · To ensure the local and regional programmes meets the needs of businesses in the city, that we build our intelligence quickly and effectively · Need to review structure of service and the posts in the council and those currently in Local Enterprise Partnership and Growth Hubs, to identify any Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) TUPE arrangements · That Wolverhampton has a clear engagement approach in place and we go further in our engagement with local businesses · That we ensure the model reflects the needs of the city’s diverse city business base · The city has a model in place, ready to deliver by 31 March 2023
The Chair thanked the Head of Enterprise for their presentation and sought to clarify that they had requested a report on supporting businesses at ward level, whereas the report delivered by the Head of Enterprise was city wide. The Chair requested further information in the future based upon ward level data. The Head of Enterprise ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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[To consider the future plans for Heath Town Baths].
[Presentation is marked: To Follow]. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair invited Head of City Development and Senior
Regeneration Manager to give their presentation on the Heath Town
Baths Development. The Senior Regeneration Manager
explained the surroundings of the Heath Town Bath site, which
included a variety of high value heritage sites. The Senior
Regeneration Manager gave historical background information about
the site which included when it was built and why. The baths were
closed in 2003 by decision of Cabinet after a survey of the site
carried out in 2000 identified a number
of structural issues which required high-cost repairs to
fix. The Council’s Swimming Strategy business case sought to
deliver new build leisure facilities which saw investment for the
leisure pool at Bentley Bridge and the Bert Williams Leisure
Centre. Heath Town library was replaced by new Wednesfield
library. |
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[To consider the developments at i54 relating to new businesses].
[Briefing Note is marked: To Follow]. Additional documents: Minutes: The Head of City Investment gave a presentation on I54, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes.
The Head of City Investment began with background information on the I54 site, a joint partnership venture between the City of Wolverhampton Council, Staffordshire County Council and South Staffordshire Council. The site had continued to be successful and had attracted further investment. In the next 12 to 18 months all of its existing plots will be occupied by international manufacturing businesses. He explained that the Council’s role had been as a partner in multiple areas including as occupier assessment and selection, an accountable body in financial and project management, in further securing occupiers and deals, as land owner, as a strategic influencer and as a provider of skills and employment to the site. It had become the United Kingdom’s most successful enterprise zone with over £1 billion already invested. The Head of City Investment expanded on the statistics, which included job statistics; the site currently employers 2,588 people full time, with a forecasted increase to 3,488 once the Western extension development had been completed. He further reiterated the sites success.
The Chair thanked the Head of City Investment for the presentation and agreed it was an excellent success. He asked if the statistics could be sharpened so that the Panel could be informed of how many jobs the site provided to people specifically within the Wolverhampton City area.
A Panel Member enquired into how the employment statistics on the I54 site contributed to the reduction in unemployment in the Local Authority area.
The Head of Enterprise responded that the
Council worked with the Department for Work and Pensions for
targeted activities based around the businesses on I54. They had
done targeted campaigns to encourage and aid with getting women
into construction and logistics which had worked well. Adults with
learning disabilities and the Armed Forces covenant have also had
targeted campaigns to aid getting them into employment.
The Cabinet Member for Inclusive City Economy
explained that it was not possible for the Council to decide who an
employer chose to employ. He stated that it was perhaps better to
ask what the Council was doing in regards
to skills for local people. By increasing opportunities for
local people to get the education and skills needed, they were
better able to compete in the jobs market. |