Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Online

Contact: Dereck Francis  Tel: 01902 555835 or Email: dereck.francis@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Note: Please note this meeting will be conducted in line with the The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020. 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

No apologies for absence were received for the meeting.

2.

Declaration of interests

Minutes:

No declarations of interests were made.

3.

Minutes of the previous meeting - 9 September 2020 pdf icon PDF 301 KB

[For approval]

Minutes:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 September 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

4.

Matters arising

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting]

Minutes:

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

5.

Wolverhampton Response to Government Planning Consultations pdf icon PDF 239 KB

[To approve the proposed principles for the Council’s response to the current Government Planning consultations]

Decision:

1.      That the proposed principles for a City of Wolverhampton Council response to the current Government Planning Consultations set out in paragraphs 3.6, 3.8, 4.8, 4.12, 4.15, 4.19 and 4.21 of the report be approved.

 

2.      That the feedback from Scrutiny Board on Wolverhampton Response to Government Planning Consultations be received and noted.

 

Minutes:

The intention to make a key decision on the report ‘Wolverhampton Response to Government Planning Consultations’ at the meeting was not publicised in advance as required by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.  The decision was urgent and could not be reasonably delayed for the following reasons:

 

‘The report was required to approve the Council's response to a consultation issued without prior notice by the Government in August with a deadline of end of October. In order to submit the response by the required deadline the decision must be taken without waiting 28 days.’

 

in light of the above consent had been obtained for the key decision to be made at the meeting under the General Exception provisions.

 

Councillor Stephen Simkins presented the report on the Council's response to Government consultations on planning reforms. He highlighted some of the potential implications for Wolverhampton from the reforms and sought approval to the proposed principles for the Council’s response to the consultations. In doing so he reported that Scrutiny Board had considered a report on the consultations on 29 September 2020. The Board’s observations and recommendations to Cabinet on the proposed response had been circulated to Cabinet members for their consideration.

 

Cabinet members also expressed their concerns at the proposals in the planning reforms, highlighting the potential impact on local decision making and the role of the Planning Committee; that the proposals would be a developers charter and could see a return to sub-standard developments; the replacing of section 106 contributions and the Community Infrastructure Levy with a national levy without the flexibility to adapt to local viability and infrastructure requirements; and concerns for the green belt area around the City.

 

Resolved:

1.    That the proposed principles for a City of Wolverhampton Council response to the current Government Planning Consultations set out in paragraphs 3.6, 3.8, 4.8, 4.12, 4.15, 4.19 and 4.21 of the report be approved.

 

2.    That the feedback from Scrutiny Board on Wolverhampton Response to Government Planning Consultations be received and noted.

 

6.

Funding Mechanisms for School Expansion Schemes pdf icon PDF 158 KB

[To approve entering into legal agreements for school expansion schemes]

Decision:

1.      That the Council enter into all legal agreements in relation to school expansions included in Secondary School Expansion Programme 2019-2020.

 

2.      That the Council enter into all legal agreements in relation to schools included in Primary School Expansion Programme 2021 and 2022 and the Secondary School Expansion Programme 2021 and 2022.

 

3.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services to approve the details of all agreements authorised under recommendations 1 and 2 above.

 

4    That it be noted that the Council entered into grant agreements necessary for the expansion of Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy and Aldersley High School.

 

5.   That it be noted that these approvals are essential in order to progress the expansion schemes.

Minutes:

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre presented the report seeking delegated authority to approve the details of legal agreements authorised for primary and secondary school expansion schemes. The agreements would include but not be limited to agreements for grants of funds and any ancillary agreements necessary for the expansions to progress.  He reported that the proposal would make sure that the Council was getting schemes shovel ready for immediate attention within an overall co-ordinated plan.

 

Resolved:

1.    That the Council enter into all legal agreements in relation to school expansions included in Secondary School Expansion Programme 2019-2020.

 

2.    That the Council enter into all legal agreements in relation to schools included in Primary School Expansion Programme 2021 and 2022 and the Secondary School Expansion Programme 2021 and 2022.

 

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services to approve the details of all agreements authorised under recommendations 1 and 2 above.

 

4.    That it be noted that the Council entered into grant agreements necessary for the expansion of Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy and Aldersley High School.

 

5.    That it be noted that these approvals are essential in order to progress the expansion schemes.

7.

Appointment to Outside Bodies - St John Ambulance Ambassador pdf icon PDF 32 KB

[To approve the appointment of Councillor Linda Leach as an Ambassador to St John Ambulance]

Decision:

That the appointment of Councillor Linda Leach as a St John Ambulance Ambassador be approved.

Minutes:

Councillor Ian Brookfield presented the report on the appointment of Councillor Linda Leach as a St John Ambulance Ambassador. He recalled that the Late Councillor Peter Bilson used to be a St John Ambulance Ambassador.  He was really involved with the organisation and was well respected by them.  Councillor Brookfield said that he was sure that the job Councillor Leach would do would be equally valued.

 

Resolved:

That the appointment of Councillor Linda Leach as a St John Ambulance Ambassador be approved.

8.

Exclusion of press and public

[To pass the following resolution:

 

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information on the grounds shown below.]

Decision:

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Minutes:

Resolved:

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Part 2 - exempt items, closed to press and public

The Chair reported that as stated previously the meeting was in confidential session as the information included in the report could, if released into the public domain, prejudice the financial position of the Council or its partners.  As such all present are under a legal duty of confidentiality and must not disclose any confidential information - to do so would not only be a breach of the Council's codes (for councillors and employees) but also a breach of the legal duty of confidentiality

9.

Housing Managing Agents Acquisition Policy

[To approve amendments to the Housing Allocations Policy and implementation date]

Decision:

1.      That the Managing Agents Acquisition policy be approved.

 

2.      That it be noted that the approval of the policy satisfies one of the audit recommendations of City of Wolverhampton Council’s Tenant Management Organisations Audit Programme of 2018 which advised that acquisitions of properties on the open market should be clarified and formalised within a policy framework.

Minutes:

Councillor Jacqueline Sweetman presented the report on a proposed policy whereby recognised managing agents operating within Wolverhampton, currently the four Tenant Management Organisations and Wolverhampton Homes might acquire additional properties within their respective operating areas with the support of the Council.

 

Resolved:

1.    That the Managing Agents Acquisition policy be approved.

 

2.    That it be noted that the approval of the policy satisfies one of the audit recommendations of City of Wolverhampton Council’s Tenant Management Organisations Audit Programme of 2018 which advised that acquisitions of properties on the open market should be clarified and formalised within a policy framework.