Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received for the meeting.

No declarations of interests were made.

[For approval]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 March 2015 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.

The Chair agreed to a report on ‘Urban Traffic Control Relocation’ being tabled at the meeting as an urgent item.  The reason for the urgency was that a decision on the award of a contract had to be made before the date of the next scheduled meeting of the Cabinet (Resources) Panel on 2 June 2015.

The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Board had been consulted and given their approval to the report being tabled at the meeting. 

[To approve the Council’s involvement in phase two of the initiative]

Cllr Val Gibson presented the report on proposals for the Council’s involvement in phase two of the Government’s Troubled Families programme. Following the Council’s successful involvement in phase one, in achieving a 100% target to ‘turn around’ 810 families by significantly improving school attendance, the Council had been invited to participate in a phase two of the initiative. She reported that the invitation was good news for the city and would attract up to £5.1 million additional investment for the Council, working through the Early Years Services, and in partnership with the police, health, housing, education, Department for Work and Pensions and the voluntary sector, to turn families around.

Resolved:

1.    That Wolverhampton’s involvement in phase two of the Troubled Families initiative be approved and Wolverhampton’s commitment to turn around 2,840 families between April 2015 and March 2020, attracting up to £5.1 million additional investment be approved in principle.

2.    That the proposed phase two service delivery to embed this work as ‘business as usual’ within Public services be endorsed.

3.    That the longer term commitment required within the city to be successful in phase two and to ensure that resources are targeted at the right families in order to contribute to the citywide aim of preventing and reducing looked after children be noted

[To approve a policy blueprint for a new operating model for adults]

Cllr Steve Evans presented the report on a proposal to consult on a blueprint for a new operating model for the provision of adult social care.  He elaborated on the key principles underpinning the proposed new operating model.  Further work would be undertaken to design and evidence a final, detailed operating model for implementation.

Resolved:

1.    That the report be endorsed as the policy blueprint for a new operating model for adults.

2.    That a formal engagement process with stakeholders be approved and authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adult Services in consultation with the Service Director Older People to make any editorial amendments.

[To support the progression of the BID for Bilston Town centre]

Cllr Peter Bilson presented the report seeking approval to support the progression of a Business Improvement District (BID) for Bilston town centre.  The proposal followed on from the successful vote for the City Centre BID.  He informed Cabinet that the proposal was good news, particularly for Bilston Town Centre, Bilston businesses and Wolverhampton overall.  Should the BID Ballot be successful he indicated that, at an appropriate stage, he might come back to Cabinet on the appointment of an appropriate Council representative on the Board.

Cllr Bilson also reported on a correction to paragraph 4.4 of the report.  The existing should be deleted and replaced with the following:

“No additional software is required to administer the levy.  The appropriate software was purchased by the Council to support the Wolverhampton City Centre BID and an additional license will be issued for the Bilston BID.  This is reflected in the administrative charge to the BID of £3,904 set out in paragraph 3.5 above”.

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet exercise the Council’s vote in support of the proposed BID Ballot in respect of the hereditaments in the Council’s ownership within the BID area and delegates authority to the Strategic Director for Place to complete and return the voting papers on behalf of the Council.

2.    That should the BID Ballot be successful, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity in discussion with the Strategic Director Place and the Director of Governance be authorised to decide on appropriate Council Board representation.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity in consultation with the Service Director for City Economy and the Director of Finance to:

·         Take such steps to assist in the delivery of the development and implementation of the Bilston town centre BID project.

·         Formally approve the BID Business Plan and associated documents.

·         Negotiate, agree and complete the BID Operating Agreement between the Council and the BID Company if a YES vote is secured.

4.    That if a YES vote is secured, up front funding in August 2015 of an amount of £40,000 for the first quarter of the BID levy be confirmed in order that delivery of BID projects and services are not delayed. The Council would be reimbursed after the levy is collected.

5.    That the employee recommendations to charge the BID Company £3,904 per annum for the duration of the BID (five years) to cover the Council’s costs associated with collection of the BID levy be confirmed.

6.    That the Bilston town centre BID Business plan and boundary be noted.

7.    That it be noted that formal notice for the Ballot had been received therefore the Returning Officer had been instructed to organise the BID ballot in accordance with the BID Regulations (2004).

Cllr Andrew Johnson presented the report on the proposal seeking delegated authority to award a contract for building works to enable the Urban Traffic Control team to transfer to the Civic Centre by the end of August 2015.  A decision on the award of the contract was required before the next scheduled meeting of the Cabinet (Resources) Panel on 2 June in order that the building work could start and the Team move into the Civic Centre in accordance with the approved plan by 31 August 2015.

Resolved:

That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to award the contract for the building works to accommodate the Urban Traffic Control team in the Civic Centre.