Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Dehar, Patten and Shah

Kevin O’Keefe and James McElligott declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 8 “Human Resources Issues”

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2014 were approved as a correct record

[To receive the Mayor’s announcements]

Electronic Devices

The Mayor requested that all mobile telephones and other devices, were set to silent for the duration of the meeting.

Sarah Norman

The Mayor, Councillor Lawrence and Councillor Thompson paid tribute to Sarah Norman, Strategic Director for People, had been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.  They thanked her for the significant contribution she had made to Wolverhampton City Council and wished her success in her new role.

WV Active Launch

The Mayor announced the launch in January of WV Active, the new name for the City of Wolverhampton’s leisure centres. He informed councillors of an event being held on 10th January 2015 at Aldersley Leisure Village which he encouraged them to promote.

Holocaust Memorial Day

A service of remembrance would  be held at 11am on Holocaust Memorial Day, 27th January at the Cenotaph. 

Committee Memberships

Resolved

That Councillor Mark Evans be replaced on Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel by Councillor Mrs Thompson. Councillor Paul Singh be replaced on Health Scrutiny by Councillor Mark Evans.

Christmas

The Mayor wished everyone a happy, healthy, safe and enjoyable Christmas.

[To consider revisions to the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 1st April 2015]

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

Resolved

That:

1.    The feedback from consultation be noted.

2.    The equality analysis be noted.

3.    A revision to the local council tax reduction scheme so that the basis on which support is calculated is revised from 88% to 78% of gross liability be approved.

•      Within the scheme, households with the following characteristics are protected and will continue to have their entitlement calculated on 88% of gross liability. where the claimant or their partner is severely disabled

•      where there is a severely disabled child

•      a single person under 25 years of age without dependents

4.    For 2015/16 and each subsequent year needs allowances, premiums and non-dependent deductions used to calculate entitlement are uprated using the percentages set by Government for the Prescribed Scheme.

5.    The revised scheme be adopted from 1 April 2015.

6.    The Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Managing Director, be authorised to make any consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution.

[To provide an update on the financial performance of the General Fund and HRA capital programmes for 2014/15 and the revised forecast for 2014/15 to 2018/19 as at quarter two of 2014/15.]

It was moved by Cllr Johnson, seconded by Cllr Bilson and

Resolved

1.     That the revised medium term general fund capital programme of £219.7 million, an increase of £24.9 million from the previously approved programme, reflecting the latest projected expenditure for the medium term, be approved

2.    That additional resources for six new and seventeen existing projects totalling £24.9 million, be approved .

3.    That the revised medium term Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programme of £239.7 million, an increase of £2.0 million from the previously approved programme, be approved.

4.    That new capital projects for ‘Heath Town estate redevelopment’ the ‘Installation and upgrade of Carelink alarm systems’ and the programme for ‘Garage Demolitions’ included within the revised HRA capital programme be approved.

5.    That the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities and the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Strategic Director for People and the Assistant Director Finance be given delegated authority to award a grant from the Sports Investment Strategy.

[To provide a monitoring and progress report on Treasury Management Activity for the second quarter of 2014/15]

It was moved by Cllr Johnson, seconded by Cllr Bilson and

Resolved

1.      That the revised upper limits for treasury management indicator (TMI 2) – upper and lower limits to the maturity structure of its borrowing be approved

2.      That the revised Annual Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement for 2014/15, the new method of calculating MRP being on an annuity basis, as set out in appendix G, be approved

3.      That the contents of the report be noted

[To seek Council approval for a number of personnel changes and appointments]

Having declared an interest Kevin O’Keefe left the room and took no part in the consideration of this item.

It was moved by Cllr Lawrence, seconded by Cllr Bilson and

Resolved

1. That the Director of Pensions post be re-designated to become Strategic Director – Pensions.

2. That the current Director of Pensions be assimilated into the Strategic Director post at pay point 303.

3. That Linda Sanders be appointed as interim Strategic Director – People with effect from 16 January 2015.

4. That Kevin O’Keefe be appointed as Director of Governance with effect from 1 January 2015 on the Council’s senior management terms and conditions.

5. That James McElligott be appointed as Director of Education with effect from 1 January 2015 on the Council’s senior management terms and conditions.

6.  That the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Strategic Director, Education and Enterprise, be given delegated responsibility to make an interim appointment to the post of Service Director – City Environment, based on the outcome of a Special Appointments Committee meeting on 22 December 2014.

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

Resolved

That the Summary of Executive Business be noted

“That this Council investigate the possibility of installing Hackney Carriage rank facilities on Bentley Bridge shopping centre, both directly adjacent to retail outlets on the site and on Bentley Bridge Way, particularly for the purpose of enabling access for disabled people to the centre.”

It was moved by Cllr P Singh and seconded by Cllr Thompson

“That this Council investigate the possibility of installing Hackney Carriage rank facilities on Bentley Bridge shopping centre, both directly adjacent to retail outlets on the site and on Bentley Bridge Way, particularly for the purpose of enabling access for disabled people to the centre.”

Cllr Reynolds moved an amendment which was seconded by Cllr Bilson that

“This resolution is referred to appropriate officers to investigate and its outcome reported to the next Hackney Carriage Working Party meeting”

Councillor Singh indicated that he was happy to accept the amendment as part of his resolution.

Resolved

1.     That this Council investigates the possibility of installing Hackney Carriage rank facilities on Bentley Bridge shopping centre, both directly adjacent to retail outlets on the site and on Bentley Bridge Way, particularly for the purpose of enabling access for disabled people to the centre

2.    This resolution be referred to appropriate officers to investigate and its outcome reported to the next Hackney Carriage Working Party meeting

1.         Councillor Haynes to ask the Cabinet Member for Leisure & Communities:-

Can the Cabinet Member indicate what plans, if any, the Council has of keeping Warstones Resource Centre in use by the Council itself or the community and, if they do intent to use the facility, what timescale he envisages for these plans?

2.         Councillor M.E. Evans to ask the Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills & Learning:-

Can the Cabinet Member advise Council, what steps are being taken to address the specific weaknesses of the local education authority as identified in its Ofsted inspection report of September 2014, and what progress he can report on these aspects?

1.         Councillor Haynes asked Cllr Mattu, the Cabinet Member for Leisure & Communities the following question:-

“Can the Cabinet Member indicate what plans, if any, the Council has of keeping Warstones Resource Centre in use by the Council itself or the community and, if they do intent to use the facility, what timescale he envisages for these plans?”

Cllr Mattu replied that the Council wanted to retain use of the site and was exploring working with partners to redevelop the site. The Council was committed to provide the community hubs service.

2.         Councillor M.E. Evans asked Cllr Page, the Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills & Learning the following question:-

“Can the Cabinet Member advise Council, what steps are being taken to address the specific weaknesses of the local education authority as identified in its Ofsted inspection report of September 2014, and what progress he can report on these aspects?”

Cllr Page replied that substantial work had been undertaken. A Director of Education had been appointed and an Education Board had been established. Regular meetings were being held with Ofsted who were supportive of the work that was being undertaken. Primary schools in the city were amongst the 10% most improved in the country. Schools were being monitored in terms of outcomes and finances. Where schools were not performing an Interim Executive Board had been put in to address the issues. Cllr Page offered to provide a more detailed briefing for Cllr Evans