Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Paula Brookfield.

No declarations of interests were made.

[For approval]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 September 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

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

[To approve a series of dedicated and focused interventions to support 18-24 year olds into work over a 12 month period]

That Cabinet approves (subject to the support and endorsement of Full Council on 3 November 2021):

1.      The launch of a new Wolves at Work 18-24 Programme of targeted interventions which puts our young people at the centre of activity and urgently delivers the step change needed in our City to give unemployed young people opportunities for secure, sustainable employment, apprenticeships, education or training.

2.   An initial £3 million budget, from a combination of the Recovery Reserve and Covid Emergency Grant, to deliver Wolves at Work 18-24 and galvanise a ‘One City’ approach to create opportunities for our young people.

3.      The establishment of a £100,000 ‘City Ideas Fund’, initially (funded from the £3 million available), for City employers and partners to bid for and put forward ideas that will get more young people into sustained employment, apprenticeships, education or training.

4.      The delegation of authority to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance, to approve:

a.    Wolves at Work 18-24 targeted interventions and the allocation of the associated budget (from the £3 million available).

b.    The scope and governance arrangements for the ‘City Ideas Fund’.

That Cabinet notes that:

1.      Delivering Wolves at Work 18-24 is the Council and City’s number one priority and needs a coordinated and sustained response from the Council, City employers and partners, the West Midlands Combined Authority and Government Departments, as a result:

a.      The Leader of the Council will be the Lead Cabinet Member.

b.      The Chief Executive will fulfil the role of Accountable Director, with day-to-day responsibility being delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, who will fulfil the role of Senior Responsible Officer (SRO).

2.      The Council is committed to holding a Wolves at Work 18-24 City Summit to bring together a range of key partners (local, regional and national) and employers to forge a ‘One City’ approach to tackling the underlying issues which transcend organisational boundaries.

3.      The progress and impact of Wolves at Work 18-24 would be reported to Councillors as part of the established corporate performance and budget monitoring arrangements.

4.      The existing Governance arrangements relating to youth unemployment within the Council and across the City, would be mapped and reviewed to ensure that they are making a positive contribution towards Wolves at Work 18-24.

Councillor Stephen Simkins asked Cabinet to approve the recommendations contained in the report, ‘Wolves at Work 18-24 - Youth Employment’.

Councillor Ian Brookfield reported on the proposal for the Council to lead on developing and resourcing a comprehensive programme of targeted intervention-Wolves at Work 18-24 - to support young people currently claiming benefits and aged 18-24 into sustainable employment, apprenticeships, education or training. The proposal was within the scope of Cabinet to approve.  However, such was the magnitude and importance of the issue of youth employment in the City, it was proposed to take the proposals to Full Council for their endorsement.

Resolved:

That Cabinet approves (subject to the support and endorsement of Full Council on 3 November 2021):

1.      The launch of a new Wolves at Work 18-24 Programme of targeted interventions which puts our young people at the centre of activity and urgently delivers the step change needed in our City to give unemployed young people opportunities for secure, sustainable employment, apprenticeships, education or training.

2.   An initial £3 million budget, from a combination of the Recovery Reserve and Covid Emergency Grant, to deliver Wolves at Work 18-24 and galvanise a ‘One City’ approach to create opportunities for our young people.

3.      The establishment of a £100,000 ‘City Ideas Fund’, initially (funded from the £3 million available), for City employers and partners to bid for and put forward ideas that will get more young people into sustained employment, apprenticeships, education or training.

4.      The delegation of authority to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance, to approve:

a.    Wolves at Work 18-24 targeted interventions and the allocation of the associated budget (from the £3 million available).

b.    The scope and governance arrangements for the ‘City Ideas Fund’.

That Cabinet notes that:

1.      Delivering Wolves at Work 18-24 is the Council and City’s number one priority and needs a coordinated and sustained response from the Council, City employers and partners, the West Midlands Combined Authority and Government Departments, as a result:

a.      The Leader of the Council will be the Lead Cabinet Member.

b.      The Chief Executive will fulfil the role of Accountable Director, with day-to-day responsibility being delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, who will fulfil the role of Senior Responsible Officer (SRO).

2.      The Council is committed to holding a Wolves at Work 18-24 City Summit to bring together a range of key partners (local, regional and national) and employers to forge a ‘One City’ approach to tackling the underlying issues which transcend organisational boundaries.

3.      The progress and impact of Wolves at Work 18-24 would be reported to Councillors as part of the established corporate performance and budget monitoring arrangements.

4.      The existing Governance arrangements relating to youth unemployment within the Council and across the City, would be mapped and reviewed to ensure that they are making a positive contribution towards Wolves at Work 18-24.

[To provide an update on the Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022-2023 to 2023-2024]

1.      That the updated draft budget strategy for 2022-2023 to 2023-2024 be approved.

2.      That work continues to further develop proposals and further review the assumptions in the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), in order to ensure that a balanced budget can be set for 2022-2023 and future years.

3.      That it be noted that the Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial strategy remains aligned to the Council’s priorities.  The Wolves at Work 18-24 –Youth Employment report on this same agenda demonstrates the alignment of budgets to priorities and seeks approval to lead on developing and resourcing a comprehensive programme of targeted intervention to support young people currently claiming benefits and aged between 18-24, into sustainable employment, apprenticeships, education and training.

4.      That it be noted that the Council needs the Government to provide confirmation on future years funding as soon as possible, in order to ensure that the Council has a clear direction of funding available over the medium term.

5.      That it be noted that, despite austerity since 2010, the Council has a strong track record of managing money well, planning ahead and delivering excellent services.  The financial implications of the pandemic have significantly distorted the Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy.

6.      That it be noted that, a number of assumptions have been made with regards to the level of resources that would be made available to the Council as detailed in the report.  It is important to note that there continues to be considerable amount of uncertainty with regards to future income streams for local authorities over the forthcoming Spending Review period.  At the point that further information is known it would be incorporated into future reports to Councillors.  Any reduction in Government’s allocation of funding to the Council would have a significant detrimental impact and further increase the budget deficit forecast over the medium term.

7.      That it be noted that, due to external factors, budget assumptions remain subject to significant change, which could, therefore, result in alterations to the financial position facing the Council.

8.      That it be noted that that the overall risk associated with the 2022-2023 draft budget and medium term strategy is assessed as Red.

Councillor Stephen Simkins asked Cabinet to approve the recommendations contained in the report, ‘Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2022- 2023 to 2023-2024.

Councillor Ian Brookfield reported on the headlines within the update report on the draft Budget and MTFS and on proposed next steps that would be taken in order to address the financial pressures faced by the Council over the medium term.

Resolved:

1.    That the updated draft budget strategy for 2022-2023 to 2023-2024 be approved.

2.    That work continues to further develop proposals and further review the assumptions in the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), in order to ensure that a balanced budget can be set for 2022-2023 and future years.

3.    That it be noted that the Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial strategy remains aligned to the Council’s priorities.  The Wolves at Work 18-24 –Youth Employment report on this same agenda demonstrates the alignment of budgets to priorities and seeks approval to lead on developing and resourcing a comprehensive programme of targeted intervention to support young people currently claiming benefits and aged between 18-24, into sustainable employment, apprenticeships, education and training.

4.    That it be noted that the Council needs the Government to provide confirmation on future years funding as soon as possible, in order to ensure that the Council has a clear direction of funding available over the medium term.

5.    That it be noted that, despite austerity since 2010, the Council has a strong track record of managing money well, planning ahead and delivering excellent services.  The financial implications of the pandemic have significantly distorted the Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy.

6.    That it be noted that, a number of assumptions have been made with regards to the level of resources that would be made available to the Council as detailed in the report.  It is important to note that there continues to be considerable amount of uncertainty with regards to future income streams for local authorities over the forthcoming Spending Review period.  At the point that further information is known it would be incorporated into future reports to Councillors.  Any reduction in Government’s allocation of funding to the Council would have a significant detrimental impact and further increase the budget deficit forecast over the medium term.

7.    That it be noted that, due to external factors, budget assumptions remain subject to significant change, which could, therefore, result in alterations to the financial position facing the Council.

8.    That it be noted that that the overall risk associated with the 2022-2023 draft budget and medium term strategy is assessed as Red.

[To approve an updated Corporate Health and Safety Policy and receive an update on the management of health and safety across the Council]

1.      That the adoption and implementation of the revised Corporate Health and Safety Policy be approved.

2.      That the progress with regard to managing health and safety in the organisation be noted.

Councillor Stephen Simkins asked Cabinet to approve the adoption of a revised Corporate Health and Safety Policy. It identified the key elements of the Council’s health and safety management system and detailed the commitment the Council had for maintaining and improving the health, safety and welfare of its staff and others, including its customers, service users and residents who may be affected by the Council’s activities.

Councillor Ian Brookfield added that the updated policy was nevermore needed than it is now, particularly in these current times.  He extended his thanks to a group of Council employees who made sure areas are safe to work, informed people how to perform certain actions going through Covid, and without whom council services would not have been able to have continued over the last 18 months. The Council’s Health and Safety team would also be looking at what is available for elected councillors to keep them safe and enable them to represent without fear.

Cabinet also extended its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the late Sir David Amess MP who was killed at his constituency surgery.

Resolved:

1.    That the adoption and implementation of the revised Corporate Health and Safety Policy be approved.

2.    That the progress with regard to managing health and safety in the organisation be noted.

[To approve the introduction of a new fleet vehicle telematics policy]

1.      That the telematics policy proposal to support the introduction of a telematics system be approved.

2.      That the introduction of a telematics system to aid in fleet monitoring, driver behaviour, and the Council’s climate change targets, subject to business case development be endorsed.

3.      That it be noted that the report does not require approval for funding towards the telematics system. A business case would be developed in due course for subsequent budget approvals.

Councillor Steve Evans presented the report on a proposal to introduce a new fleet telematics tracker policy to support the transformation and electrification of the Council's Fleet Services. The implementation and operation of a vehicle telematics system would support the Council in achieving its aims of providing a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly modern fleet.

Resolved:

1.    That the telematics policy proposal to support the introduction of a telematics system be approved.

2.    That the introduction of a telematics system to aid in fleet monitoring, driver behaviour, and the Council’s climate change targets, subject to business case development be endorsed.

3.    That it be noted that the report does not require approval for funding towards the telematics system. A business case would be developed in due course for subsequent budget approvals.

[To endorse the partnership strategy developed by the Health and Wellbeing Together Board outlining a city approach to tacking health inequalities]

That the Wolverhampton Health Inequalities Strategy for 2021-2023 be endorsed.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal presented, for endorsement, the Wolverhampton Health Inequalities Strategy developed by partners on the Health and Wellbeing Together Board. In recognition of the impact of Covid-19 on health inequalities in the city, the strategy aimed to guide a system response to proactively address these inequalities building on the strengthened working relationships fostered during the response to the pandemic.

Resolved:

That the Wolverhampton Health Inequalities Strategy for 2021-2023 be endorsed.

[To approve the Black Country Regulators Operating Framework 2021]

1.      That the revised Black Country Regulators Operating Framework 2021 be approved.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change, in consultation with Director of City Housing and Environment to agree minor amendments to the Black Country Regulators Operating Framework following future bi-annual reviews.

3.      That it be noted that Wolverhampton’s Private Sector Housing service are now included in the operating framework.

Councillor Steve Evans presented for approval a revised Black Country Regulators Operating Framework and requested delegated authority to agree minor amendments to the Operating Framework following future bi-annual reviews.

The Regulatory Framework covered trading standards, environmental health, environmental crime, waste enforcement, highways enforcement and licencing unauthorised encampments.  It ensured there was consistency of advice and treatment of business and residents across the four Local Authorities in the Black Country. The latest bi-annual review of the framework recommended that private sector housing be included in the scope of the framework. 

Resolved:

1.    That the revised Black Country Regulators Operating Framework 2021 be approved.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change, in consultation with Director of City Housing and Environment to agree minor amendments to the Black Country Regulators Operating Framework following future bi-annual reviews.

3.    That it be noted that Wolverhampton’s Private Sector Housing service are now included in the operating framework.