Decisions

Approved a payment plan for Kingswood Trust totalling £80,000 over a maximum period of three years.

1.       That the proposed leasing and service charge arrangements for Community Associations (CA’s) occupying City of Wolverhampton Council  (CWC) community centres be approved. Specifically, that negotiations for newly drafted leases commence on the principle of a notional 50/50 split of service charges between CWC and the interested CA (as option 2 of the appraisal summarised in the report) for a period of five years.

2.       That it be noted that future agreements and charges would be determined and documented in accordance with appropriate Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Code of Practice for Service Charges.

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

1.       That a grant of £54,000 to the Light House Media Centre for revenue support in 2017/18 be approved. £43,000 is set off from the grant amount as rent (payable to Corporate Landlord). This leaves an actual grant payment of £11,000.

2.       That the Director of Governance be authorised to execute the grant funding agreement.

1.       That a grant of £25,000 to the Grand Theatre for revenue support in 2017/18 be approved.

2.       That the Director of Governance be authorised to execute the grant funding agreement.

1.       That the basis for the allocation of Nursery Education Funding for 2, 3 & 4 year olds be approved.

2.       That the spend of the identified early years funding be approved.

3.       That the outcome of the public consultation that was carried out in relation to the implementation of a new funding formula be noted.

1.       That the Strategic Director, City Housing be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the property 148 Aldersley Road, Tettenhall and, in default of that acquisition, authority be granted for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to be made under Part II Section 17 Housing Act 1985 in respect of the property.

2.       That expenditure for the potential acquisition of the property be approved, with subsequent capital receipts being recycled within the Empty Property Strategy programme.

3.       That in the event that the property is improved and re-occupied to the satisfaction of the Strategic Director, City Housing, the property be withdrawn from the CPO.

4.       That following any acquisition, the Strategic Director, City Housing be authorised to dispose of the property on the open market on condition that the property is refurbished and re-occupied with in six or 12 months (as appropriate to the scale of the works).

5.       That the Director of Governance be authorised to:

a.   Take all reasonable steps as soon as it is reasonably practical to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO including the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry.

b.   Approve agreements with the owners of the property setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO, and/or making arrangements for re-housing or relocation of any occupiers.

c.   Approve the making of a General Vesting Declaration (the property is brought into Council ownership via this process).

d.   Approve the disposal of the whole and/ or parts of the property by auction, tender or private treaty.     

1.       That the Strategic Director, City Housing be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the property 30 Victoria Road, Fallings Park, and in default of that acquisition, authority be granted for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to be made under Part II Section 17 Housing Act 1985 in respect of the property.

2.       That expenditure for the potential acquisition of the property be approved, with subsequent capital receipts being recycled within the Empty Property Strategy programme.

3.       That in the event that the property is improved and re-occupied to the satisfaction of the Strategic Director, City Housing, the property be withdrawn from the CPO.

4.       That following any acquisition, the Strategic Director, City Housing be authorised to dispose of the property on the open market on condition that the property is refurbished and re-occupied with in six or 12 months (as appropriate to the scale of the works).

5.       That the Director of Governance be authorised to:

a.   Take all reasonable steps as soon as it is reasonably practical to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO including the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry.

b.   Approve agreements with the owners of the property setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO, and/or making arrangements for re-housing or relocation of any occupiers.

c.   Approve the making of a General Vesting Declaration (the property is brought into Council ownership via this process).

d.   Approve the disposal of the whole and/ or parts of the property by auction, tender or private treaty.     

To seek approval to extend the Discretionary Relief Scheme to accommodate proposals announced in the Spring 2017 Budget to allow business rates relief to certain businesses. The relief will be funded by the Government.

1.       That the following additions to the local scheme for Business Rate Discretionary Relief be approved:

a.       Discretionary relief (local newspapers) scheme

b.       Discretionary relief (supporting small businesses) scheme

c.       Discretionary relief (pubs) scheme

2.       That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Director of Finance to finalise the policy detail on receipt of Government Guidance.

3.       That authority be delegated to the Head of Revenues and Benefits to award relief in respect of these new additions to the scheme.

4.       That it be noted that a further report on discretionary transitional relief would be presented after the Government had published a response to its consultation on operation of the scheme.

[To consider various delegations of authority and the award of contracts.]

1.       That the draft 2017/18 Statutory Food Service Plan be approved.

2.       That the Cabinet Member for City Environment in consultation with the Service Director for City Environment, be authorised to approve the final version of the Statutory Food Service Plan for 2017/18.

3.       That the requirement to prepare a Food Service Plan be noted.

4.       That the impact on the ability to deliver the statutory requirements of the Food Standards Agency because of the resource reductions arising from the restructure of the service in 2014 and the demands on the service from other performed functions be noted.

5.       That the positive impact on food safety standards of the development of the food hygiene service following a systems thinking intervention, be noted.

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within the paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

None

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

That the following declarations of interests in respect of items on the agenda be received and noted:

That the apologies for absence submitted on behalf of Cllrs Milkinder Jaspal and Paul Sweet be received and noted.

To seek relevant approvals for various externally funded projects including Universal Credit Local Support Services Framework.

1.       That a revenue budget of £89,000 funded through Department for Work and Pensions grant to deliver Universal Credit Universal Support be approved.

2.       That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with the Service Director for City Economy to approve payments of grant to agreed Universal Support partners based on demand for support services.

3.       That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director Finance to finalise the budget for Universal Credit Implementation Support.

Awarded the contract for Specialist Intensive Family Therapeutic Support to Barnardo Services Limited of Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex, IG6 1C1G for a duration of three years from 1 May 2017 to 30 April 2020 for a total contract value of £1,180,000.

Awarded the contract for Environmental Enforcement to Kingdom Services Group Limited of National Support Centre Kingdom House 1 Woodlands Park Ashton Road Newton le Willows WA12 OHE for a duration of two years from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2019 with options to extend for two further one year periods for a total estimated contract value of £1,377,600.

Approved the purchase of 27,083 carbon allowances for the 2017-18 reporting period, within the Carbon Reduction Commitment - forecast sale, at a cost of £450,000