Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1SH

Contact: Jaswinder Kaur  01902 550320 or Email: jaswinder.kaur@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Harman Banger, Simon Bennett, Jasbir Jaspal, Sue Roberts, John Rowley and Caroline Siarkiewicz.

 

2.

Declarations of interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Tracey Christie, Monitoring Officer advised that Charlotte Johns, Head of Strategy, declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 6, Senior Management Review – October 2019 as she was directly impacted by the recommendations.

3.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 249 KB

[To receive minutes of the meeting held on the 18 September 2019.]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor proposed, the Deputy Mayor seconded, and it was resolved:

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 18 September 2019, be agreed as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Mayor.

 

4.

Communications

[To receive the Mayor’s announcements.]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

1.    Resolution of Thanks

The Mayor presented a gift of appreciation to Councillor Phil Page as a lasting and enjoyable reminder of his year as Mayor in 2018-2019. Councillor Phil Page then gave a speech. 

 

2.    Queens Award for Voluntary Services Event

The Mayor was delighted to report that on 20 October, the Queens Award for Voluntary Service Awards were awarded to:

 

·         Gatis Community Space

·         Low Hill Community Centre

·         Wolverhampton Stroke support West Midlands

·         Wolverhampton Sickle Cell Care and Social Activity. 

 

3.    Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal

The Mayor was saddened to announce the death of Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, who was the brother of Councillor Rupinderjit Kaur. Sandeep was a police officer killed in the line of duty on 27 September in Harris County, Houston, Texas.

 

The Mayor extended the deepest sympathies of the Council to Councillor Rupinderjit Kaur and her family at this very sad time.

 

4.    Meredith Teasdale

The Mayor reported that Meredith Teasdale had left the Council in early October and she had left the schools of Wolverhampton in a good place; latest figures showed that 12,000 or more pupils attended a Good or Outstanding-rated schools in Wolverhampton today compared to five years ago, while 86% of schools were now Good and Outstanding, putting the City on par with the national average for the first time and above the West Midlands average of 84%.

 

5.    Wolves Pride

The Mayor reported the annual Wolves LGBT+ Pride Event returned to the City on Saturday 12 October. The event had an exciting line up of performers, stalls, street food vendors and bars at St Peter’s Car Park.

 

The Mayor added the Pride festival was organised by Wolverhampton LGBT+ Alliance and funded by City of Wolverhampton Council and the University of Wolverhampton.

 

6.    Remembrance Events

The Mayor informed councillors of forthcoming remembrance events due to take place:

 

  • Dutch War Graves, Jeffcock Road Cemetery, Saturday 9 November at 09:50am,
  • Remembrance Sunday, City Centre, Sunday 10 November at 10:35am, 

·         Armistice Day, at the Cenotaph, Monday 11 November at 11am.

 

7.      Orange Wolves

The Mayor reported that later this month the Council would once again be turning Wolverhampton Orange as the City says ‘no’ to gender-based violence, primarily that was committed against women and girls. Councillors were asked to do all they can to support this year’s campaign, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women takes place on the 25 November, and the United Nations Human Rights Day take place on the 10 December.

5.

Annual Scrutiny Report pdf icon PDF 300 KB

[To consider the Annual Scrutiny Report. To Follow]

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the Annual Scrutiny Report be received.

Minutes:

Councillor Paul Sweet presented the Annual Scrutiny Report. He detailed the work undertaken in relation to the scrutiny function. He advised a number of excellent reviews had also taken place on fire safety, school parking, mental health services and youth violent crime. He advised that scrutiny would continue to focus on the issues facing the community of Wolverhampton whilst also looking at broader issues facing the region.

 

He added that the West Midlands Combined Authority scrutiny had been embedded well and thanked Councillor Steve Simkins for his contribution to this this area of work.

 

Councillor Paul Sweet proposed the recommendation and Councillor Jonathan Crofts seconded the recommendation. Both paid tribute to members on the Scrutiny Board and various Panels in 2018-2019 and the Scrutiny Team.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Annual Scrutiny Report be received.

 

6.

Senior Management Review - October 2019 pdf icon PDF 134 KB

[To approve changes to the Senior Management Structure.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.    That the Head of Strategy post be redesignated and regraded to Director of

Strategy be approved.

2.    That the current Head of Strategy be assimilated into the role of Director of Strategy be approved.

 

Minutes:

Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in this item Charlotte Johns, Head of Strategy left the Council Chamber and took no part in the consideration of this item.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield presented the Review of Senior Management Restructure – April 2019 for approval. He advised the report sought approval for the creation of a Director of Strategy post. He thanked the previous Director of Education, Meredith Teasdale for her service to the Council. He advised that as a consequence of the Director of Education leaving the Council, a temporary allocation of services had taken place.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield proposed the recommendations and Councillor Peter Bilson seconded the recommendations.

 

Resolved:

 

  1. That the Head of Strategy post be redesignated and regraded to Director of Strategy be approved.
  2. That the current Head of Strategy be assimilated into the role of Director of Strategy be approved.

 

Charlotte Johns, re-entered the Council Chamber.

7.

Review of Polling Places and Districts pdf icon PDF 136 KB

[To approve changes to polling stations.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.     That the designation of polling places and districts for 2020-2025 be approved with the following amendment:

‘That no change be made to the existing polling districts KHB and KLA in East Parkand their respective polling places of East Park Library and Neighbourhood Centre,Hurstbourne Crescent and All Saints Community Centre, All Saints Road.’

2. That authority be delegated to the Returning Officer, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Leader of the Opposition, to designate such alternative polling stations or arrangements as may be required for operational reasons.

3. That it be noted, this review was separate to the work being carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, although these arrangements will have to be reviewed in the context of any changes the Commission may require in 2021.

 

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield presented the report on Review of Polling Places and Districts for approval.  He advised the outcomes from the statutory quinquennial review of polling places and districts were noted in the report. He added that disruption to schools and the use of temporary polling stations would also be minimised.   

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield proposed the recommendations and Councillor Louise Miles seconded the recommendations.

 

The report was debated by Council.

 

Resolved:

 

  1. That the designation of polling places and districts for 2020-2025 be approved with the following amendment:

That no change be made to the existing polling districts KHB and KLA in East Park and their respective polling places of East Park Library and Neighbourhood Centre, Hurstbourne Crescent and All Saints Community Centre, All Saints Road.’

  1. That authority be delegated to the Returning Officer, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Leader of the Opposition, to designate such alternative polling stations or arrangements as may be required for operational reasons.
  2. That it be noted, this review was separate to the work being carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, although these arrangements will have to be reviewed in the context of any changes the Commission may require in 2021.

8.

Dispensation For Non-Attendance At Council Meetings pdf icon PDF 134 KB

[To approve dispensation to a councillor for non-attendance at council meetings.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

That dispensation for Councillor John Rowley for non-attendance at meetings of

the Council until May 2020 as a consequence of ill health be approved.

 

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield presented the report on Dispensation For Non-Attendance At Council Meetings for approval. He advised the report sought approval for dispensation for non-attendance at Council meetings for Councillor John Rowley.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield proposed the recommendation and Councillor Wendy Thompson seconded the recommendation. Both wished Councillor John Rowley and Alderman Judith Rowley well.

 

Resolved:

 

That dispensation for Councillor John Rowley for non-attendance at meetings of the Council until May 2020 as a consequence of ill health be approved.

 

9.

Appointment of Director of Governance, Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer pdf icon PDF 267 KB

[To approve the appointment of Director of Governance.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.    That the recommendation of a Special Appointments Committee that David Pattison be appointed to the Director of Governance role, on the Council’s Senior Management terms and conditions be approved.

2.    That David Pattison in the role of Director of Governance be appointed as Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer be approved.

 

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield presented the report on the Appointment of Director of Governance, Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer for approval. The Special Appointments Committee had met on the 5 November and had recommended that David Pattison be appointed as Director of Governance on the Council’s Senior Management terms and conditions.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield proposed the recommendations and Councillor Wendy Thompson seconded the recommendations.

 

Resolved:

 

  1. That the recommendation of a Special Appointments Committee that David Pattison be appointed to the Director of Governance role, on the Council’s Senior Management terms and conditions be approved.
  2. That David Pattison in the role of Director of Governance be appointed as Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer be approved.

 

10.

Written Questions pdf icon PDF 261 KB

[That the Cabinet Member for City Economy respond to the question received.]

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the response to the written question be noted.

Minutes:

Westside Project

 

Councillor Wendy Thompson asked the Cabinet Member for City Economy the following question:

 

Given the latest setback to the Westside project because of legal issues, can the Cabinet Member for City Economy explain what these issues are and when this vital project will finally get underway?

 

In the absence of the Cabinet Member for City Economy, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield responded that the Council was currently working closely with the developer, Urban&Civic, to work through complex legal issues to bring  forward the Westside scheme. The Council had worked closely with Urban&Civic to ensure the project continued to be progressed without any loss to the project. He advised a deal was soon to be in place and when appropriate the Council would make a public announcement with the added advantage of major savings for the project too. He added once the cinema deal was signed this would then lead to further signings from the retail, restaurant and leisure sector. He added the appropriate due diligence work would be undertaken and it was envisaged a contract would be signed by the end of this year or at the latest early next year.

 

Councillor Thompson asked the following supplementary question:

 

Can the Leader clarify when the contract would be signed and confirm that work would be commenced in the early new year ? 

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield responded that the delay to the project had been financially worthwhile. He added if there were any further delays with the proposed timeline he would formally advise Councillors at a future Council meeting. He was confident that timeline provided would be met.

 

Resolved:

 

That the response to the written question be noted.