Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - 4th Floor - Civic Centre. View directions

Contact: John Wright  01902 555048 or Email: john.wright@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Photay

2.

Declarations of interests

Minutes:

The following councillors declared the interests detailed below in respect of agenda item 6 “Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Update Quarter One 2014/15”

 

Councillor

Interest

Reason

Payal Bedi

Disclosable pecuniary interest

Landlord who lets a property to Wolverhampton Homes

 

 

 

Ian Claymore

 

Disclosable non pecuniary interest

Council tenant

 

 

 

 

Susan Constable

Disclosable non pecuniary interest

Disclosable non pecuniary interest

Council tenant

Member of the board of Wolverhampton Homes

 

 

 

Dr Michael Hardacre

Disclosable non pecuniary interest

Member of the board of Wolverhampton Homes

 

 

 

Linda Leach

Disclosable non pecuniary interest

Leaseholder

 

 

 

Lorna McGregor

Disclosable non pecuniary interest

Leaseholder

 

 

 

Peter O'Neill

Disclosable non pecuniary interest

Council tenant

 

 

 

Rita Potter

Disclosable non pecuniary interest

 

Member of the board of Wolverhampton Homes

 

 

 

Paul Singh

Disclosable non pecuniary interest

Member of the board of Wolverhampton Homes

 

 

 

Tersaim  Singh

Disclosable non pecuniary interest

Member of the board of Wolverhampton Homes

 

Keith Ireland and Tim Johnson declared pecuniary interests in agenda item 13 “Senior Management Restructure”.

3.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 99 KB

[To consider the minutes of the previous Council meeting, held on 16 July 2014.]

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2014 were approved as a correct record.

4.

Communications

[To receive the Mayor’s announcements]

Minutes:

1.         The Late Honorary Alderman Frank Docherty

 

The Mayor referred to the recent death Honorary Alderman Frank Docherty and a former councillor.

 

Council stood for a minute’s silence in memory of Frank Docherty

 

2.         Commonwealth Games, European Championships & Invictus Games

 

The Mayor extended congratulations to the five athletes who enjoyed medal success at the recent Commonwealth Games, European Championships and Invictus Games namely Kristian Thomas, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Chinu Singh, Andrew Tennant and Andrew Roberts. Congratulatory messages on behalf of the Council had been sent to all the athletes and a civic reception for them  would be held.

 

3.         Wolverhampton City Marathon

 

The Mayor reported that 17th Carver Wolverhampton City Marathon was held on Sunday, 7th September.  The event had been a success and had raised money to help local charities. This year proceeds will benefit; Broad Meadow Special School, Compton Hospice, West Park Stroke Cycle Group and the Mayor’s general charities fund. 

 

4.         Remembrance Services

 

The Mayor reported that the Annual Festival of Remembrance would take place on Sunday, 2nd November, at 2pm in the Wulfrun Hall.  This year’s Remembrance Sunday services would take place on 9th November. 

5.

State of the City Address 2014

[To receive the Leader of the Council’s statement regarding the city for the municipal year 2014/15 and any responses from the leaders of the two

opposition groups.]

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Roger Lawrence delivered his State of the City

report which had been timed to coincide with the first annual Wolverhampton Business Work. 

 

He went highlighted the following issues:

·                The financial challenging facing the council

·                Establishment of the Skills Commission

·                The importance of sustaining the local economy

·                Steps being taken to reduce unemployment

 

The leaders of the two opposition groups on the council, Cllr Wendy Thompson (Conservative Group) and Cllr Richard Whitehouse (Liberal Democrat Group) in turn responded to Cllr Lawrence’s state of the city report.

6.

Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Update Quarter One 2014/15 pdf icon PDF 66 KB

[To provide Council with details of an updated Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan for approval, which has been revised to reflect information received and changes in assumptions since the last update on 5 February 2014.]

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Bilson and seconded by Councillor Johnson and

 

Resolved

 

1.    That the revised Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan, including the capital programme for 2014/15 to 2018/19 be adopted.

 

2.   That it be noted that the outturn against the 2013/14 revenue budget was a surplus before allocations of £14.5 million compared to a budgeted surplus of £10.6 million, and total capital expenditure for the year was £43.1 million.

 

3.   That it be noted that the forecast outturn against the 2014/15 revenue budget was a surplus before allocations of £18.5 million compared to a budgeted surplus of £11.9 million.

7.

Treasury Management - Annual Report 2013/14 and Activity Monitoring Quarter One 2014/15 pdf icon PDF 71 KB

[To provide Council with details of the treasury management activities carried out in 2013/14, together with performance against the prudential indicators previously approved.]

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Johnson and seconded by Councillor Bilson and

 

Resolved

1.    That the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Assistant Director Finance, be given delegated authority to amend the Treasury Management Strategy to take advantage of opportunities to increase investment returns.

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2.    That it be noted that the Council operated within the approved Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators, and also within the requirements set out in the Council's approved Treasury Management Policy Statement during 2013/14.

 

3     That it be noted that the Council was forecast to marginally exceed the self-determined upper limit on debt maturing within one year for part of 2014/15. This was as a result of taking advantage of the low interest rates available for short term borrowing and that this position would be rectified by the end of the year.

 

4     That it be noted that revenue savings of £10.7 million for the General Fund and £2.4 million for the Housing Revenue Account were generated from treasury management activities in 2013/14.

 

5.    That it be noted that revenue savings of £214,000 for the General Fund and £5.9 million for the Housing Revenue Account were forecast from treasury management activities in 2014/15.

 

8.

Black Country Growth Hub: Grants to Third Parties pdf icon PDF 66 KB

[To seek approval to increase a grant to the University of Wolverhampton and the Black Country Consortium to manage the Regional Growth Fund funded Black Country Growth Hub.]

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Bilson and seconded by Councillor Lawrence and

 

Resolved

1.    That an increase of a grant from £130,000 to £325,000 to the University of Wolverhampton, a third party provider for the management of the externally funded Black Country Growth Hub for them to act as employer for the Growth Hub team be approved.

 

2.    That the payment of a grant of £73,806 to the Black Country Consortium to fund an Access to Finance Project Manager and contribute towards one day a week of an Economic Development Co-ordinator and Administration and Finance Support together with recruitment costs for the Access to Finance Project Manager as part of the externally funded Black Country Growth be approved.

 

3.    That the Chief Legal Officer  be authorised to approve the execution of the contracts

9.

2015 Primary School Expansion Programme - Funding Strategy pdf icon PDF 69 KB

[To determine the funding arrangements for the 2015 primary school expansion programme. NB: this report will be circulated after the Cabinet (Resources) Panel meeting on 9 September.]

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Page and seconded by Councillor Johnson and

 

Resolved

 

1.         That the proposed funding strategy for the 2015 Primary School Expansion Programme be approved.

 

2.         That the establishment of a new capital budget to support the proposed funding strategy for the 2015 Primary School Expansion Programme be approved.

 

3.         That the need for the Council to underwrite the costs of prudential borrowing prior to uncommitted Building Schools for the Future capital receipts being realised and basic need allocations being made from central government be approved.

10.

Tettenhall and Heathfield Park Neighbourhood Plans pdf icon PDF 66 KB

[To decide whether to ‘make’ the neighbourhood plans for Heathfield Park and Tettenhall.]

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Bilson and seconded by Councillor Milkinder Jaspal and

 

Resolved

1.    That the Tettenhall and Heathfield Park Neighbourhood plans be adopted

 

2.    That the progress made with the Tettenhall and Heathfield Park Neighbourhood plans be noted.

11.

Adoption of the Stafford Road Corridor and Bilston Corridor Area Action Plans pdf icon PDF 68 KB

[To consider the adoption of the area action plans for the Stafford Road and Bilston corridors.]

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Bilson and seconded by Councillor Claymore and

 

Resolved

That the Stafford Road Corridor Area Action Plan and the Bilston Area Action Plan be adopted

12.

Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control pdf icon PDF 69 KB

[To consider a request that the Council sign the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control.]

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Samuels and seconded by Councillor and

 

Resolved

That the Council supports and signs the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control

13.

Senior management restructure pdf icon PDF 72 KB

[To consider the Council’s future senior management arrangements.]

Minutes:

Having declared a pecuniary interest Keith Ireland and Tim Johnson left the meeting and took no part in the consideration

 

It was moved by Councillor Lawrence and seconded by Councillor Bilson and

 

Resolved

 

1.         That the deletion of the Chief Executive post and a Strategic Director post resulting in a minimum saving of £195,000 per annum be approved.

 

2.         That the creation of a Managing Director (Head of Paid Service) post which will result in the above saving of £195,000 per annum being achieved be approved.

 

3.         That a Special Appointments Committee  be created to appoint to the post of Managing Director comprising five Labour and two Conservative Councillors in accordance with the Constitution

 

4.         That the following Councillors, or their nominees if they are unable to attend, be appointed to serve on the Special Appointments Committee:

 

            Councillor Roger Lawrence

            Councillor Peter Bilson

            Councillor Andrew Johnson

Councillor Linda Leech

Councillor Paul Sweet

            Councillor Mrs Wendy Thompson

Councillor Paul Singh

 

5.         That a minimum savings target of £350,000 for senior management restructure, as detailed in the report, be approved.

 

14.

Executive Business pdf icon PDF 79 KB

[To receive the summary of executive business and Cabinet Members to answer any questions thereon.]

Minutes:

The Council received and noted the summary of executive business

15.

Questions

1     Councillor Mark Evans to ask the Cabinet Member for Children and Families:

 

Given that the Wolverhampton Youth Zone is not now due to open until at least January 2016, and with the closure of other youth clubs in the City, what alternative provision is the Council making for the youth of the City in the meantime?

 

2     Councillor Wendy Thompson to ask the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity:

 

Following figures for August which show that Wolverhampton has the joint highest percentage of its population claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance in Great Britain, can the Cabinet Member explain why Wolverhampton shows such persistently high levels of unemployment?

 

 

Minutes:

1     Councillor Mark Evans asked the Cabinet Member for Children and Families the following question:

 “Given that the Wolverhampton Youth Zone is not now due to open until at least January 2016, and with the closure of other youth clubs in the City, what alternative provision is the Council making for the youth of the City in the meantime?”

 

The Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Cllr Gibson, replied that work was underway to support access to provision across the city through other providers. A targeted approach would point young people to the over 60 voluntary and community organisations across the city. Grants would be available for organisations that were creating new opportunities and to support targeted work in areas of particular need. The Epic café would remain open. Work was underway with On Side who were working with schools regarding the Youth Zone

 

Cllr Mark Evans asked a supplementary question about challenging the perception that Council was not doing anything to support young people and Youth Services. Cllr Gibson stated that it was difficult to get the message across about the range of activities provided by other organisations

 

2     Councillor Wendy Thompson asked the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity:

 

“Following figures for August which show that Wolverhampton has the joint highest percentage of its population claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance in Great Britain, can the Cabinet Member explain why Wolverhampton shows such persistently high levels of unemployment?”

 

The Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, Cllr Bilson replied that there had been a reduction in the number of those claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance since the previous month. The recession had hit the City hard as had cuts in public expenditure. He outlined the support that was being given to manufacturing industry in the City and the regeneration projects that were underway or planned.