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 meeting held on 10 September 2014 and of the Cabinet (Resources) Panel meeting held on 9 September 2014 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 of Cabinet and Cabinet (Resources) Panel.

[To approve the basis of the Council’s response to the South Staffordshire site allocations document – issues and options: additional sites consultation]

Cllr Peter Bilson presented a report on the issues arising from the South Staffordshire Site Allocations Document (SAD) Issues and Options: Additional Sites consultation.  The report also set out the basis for a proposed Wolverhampton City Council response to the consultation which aimed to ensure that there are appropriate gaps between the Black Country urban area and South Staffordshire villages of Perton, Codsall and Bilbrook.

Resolved:

That the undermentioned response set out in paragraphs 3.8 and 3.13 of the report be approved as the basis of the Council’s response to the South Staffordshire Site Allocations Document (SAD) – Issues and Options: Additional Sites consultation:

·                South Staffordshire covers large areas of Green Belt land, but those parts which are of most strategic importance are located around the urban area, as they stop settlements from merging and also support urbanregeneration.  Therefore it is of key importance to maintain the gap between the Black Country urban area and South Staffordshire villages.

·                In the case of Perton, site 467 could be allocated for housing up to 2028 and any safeguarded land up to 2038, as this site makes a low contribution to Green Belt purposes and will not reduce the gap between Wolverhampton and Perton.  Site 454 should not be allocated or safeguarded for housing, as it makes a high contribution to Green Belt purposes by maintaining the gap between Wolverhampton and Perton and preferable alternative sites are available, such as site 407.  If site 454 is considered for housing allocation or safeguarding, this should be designed to: minimise any reduction of the gap, include appropriate landscaped buffers to reduce impact on Wolverhampton residents and have main road access from Perton.

·                In the case of Bilbrook, site 443 should not be allocated or safeguarded for housing, as preferable alternative sites are available (sites 213 and 211) which would place less pressure on the Wolverhampton road network.

·                In the case of Codsall, sites 446 and 447 could be allocated for housing up to 2028 and safeguarded land up to 2038, as these sites make a more limited contribution to Green Belt purposes and would place less pressure on the Wolverhampton road network than alternative sites.

·                Any Perton and Codsall / Bilbrook housing allocations should be phased in the medium (5-10 years) or long (10-15 years) term, to minimise impacts on brownfield housing investment in Wolverhampton.

·                The Wobaston Road Playing Fields site (6 ha) should be included in the Preferred Options consultation as an extension to the i54 site, to be made available in the short term.

[To approve priorities for the Council led proposals for European Union Structural and Investment Funds when the fund is opened for calls in 2015]

Cllr Peter Bilson presented a report on the development and delivery of the Black Country Strategic Economic Plan and supporting growth fund opportunities.  He also asked Cabinet to approve priorities for Council led proposals for European Union Structural and Investment Funds in anticipation for when the fund is opened for calls in 2015.

Cllr Roger Lawrence added that the opportunities created by the funds were good news for the city, particularly in the first Wolverhampton ‘Business Week’ which had been well received.

Resolved:

1.    That the recommendation to prioritise development work on the undermentioned projects in anticipation of the European Union Structural and Investment Fund being opened for calls in 2015  be approved:

·            Black Country Growth Hub

·            Support for Wolverhampton Local Growth Clusters

·            Low Carbon and Environment

·            Broadband Utilisation Support

·            Employment Support for Over 25’s

·            Promoting Social Inclusion amongst disadvantaged groups

2.    That the proposed focus for the Council’s contribution to Black Country Working, based on the relevant Portfolio Holder functions as set out in the Council’s Constitution and the Education and Enterprise Directorate’s new operating framework be approved.

3.    That the opportunities to obtain significant government funding for Wolverhampton led projects through joint Black Country working be noted.

4.    That the current position with EU Strategic Investment funding and the work underway to develop revenue projects that will complement the Growth Deal Capital projects be noted.

[To delegate authority to finalise grant agreements and approve a capital programme budget for the civic halls improvement.]

Cllr Elias Mattu presented the update report on the completion of the final business case for the Civic Halls and Grand Theatre improvement proposal, since it was considered by the Cabinet (Resources) Panel on 29 July 2014.  He reported that the award of external funding towards the Civic Halls and Grand Theatre improvement projects was good news for the city and its cultural offer.  Projections were that the refurbishment project  at the two established venues within the city would safeguard the equivalent of 637 jobs in the wider economy, attract an additional 510,000 visitors per annum and result in a further 120 jobs being created as a result of increased visitor numbers and spend.   

Cllr Andrew Johnson added that the funding was good news for the city.  It would mean that with the increase capacity and improved facilities   following the proposed investment would provide an opportunity for the Civic Halls to meet its savings target in the Council’s current medium term financial strategy.

Resolved:

1.    That the project proceed, and authority be delegated to the Cabinet Members for Leisure and Communities  and Resources in consultation with the Strategic Director for Education and Enterprise, the Assistant Director for Finance and the Chief Legal Officer to for finalise the grant funding agreement with the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, who would be acting as the accountable body for the Black Country Growth Deal funding on behalf of the LEP.

2.    That a capital programme budget for the civic halls improvements of £10.4 million be approved and funded from external grant of £6.2 million and £4.2 million as a virement from the capital allocation for regeneration priorities.

[To seek approval from Cabinet for the Council’s support for the progression of a Business Improvement District for Wolverhampton City Centre].

Cllr Peter Bilson sought approval from Cabinet for the Council to support the progression of a Business Improvement District (BID) for Wolverhampton city centre. He reported that the establishment of the BID was a real opportunity to secure the city’s future as a prosperous and thriving destination. He referred to the objectives of the BID amongst which included ‘to direct and deliver £3 million of investment in the city centre over the next five years’.  He also placed on record his thanks and appreciation to the BID Team and Directors and WV1 for all the hard work they had put in to progressing the BID for the city centre.

Resolved:

1.    That the 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 authority be delegated to the Strategic Director for Education and Enterprise 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 be authorised to sit as the Council Board member on the BID Board.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity in consultation with the Strategic Director for Education and Enterprise and the Assistant Director of Finance  to:-

·           take such steps to assist in the delivery of the development and implementation of the city 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 funding of £13,250 to procure the BID Billing Software required by the Business Rates team to administer collection of the levy be approved.

5.    That if a YES vote is secured, up front funding in April 2015 of an amount of £150,000 for the first quarter of the BID levy be confirmed in order that delivery of BID projects and services are not delayed. The Council will be reimbursed after the levy is collected

6.    That officer recommendations to charge the BID company £11,200 per annum for the duration of the BID (5 years) to cover WCC’s costs associated with collection of the BID levy be confirmed.

7.    The Wolverhampton Business Improvement District Business Plan and boundary be noted.

8.    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 Business Improvement District Regulations (2004).

[To note the summary of open and exempt individual executive decisions approved by the appropriate Cabinet Members following consultation with relevant stakeholders.]

Resolved:

That the summary of open and exempt individual executive decisions approved by the appropriate Cabinet Members following consultation with relevant designated employees be noted.

[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.]

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(s) of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within the paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Act set out below:

[To approve the termination of the consortium services.]

Cllr Val Gibson introduced the report on a proposal to wind-up the West Midlands Consortium Services to travelling children, schools and families.  The key aims that led to the establishment of the consortium had significantly changed and the partners were agreed that they could better provide for travelling children through separate local arrangements than through a partnership.

Resolved:

1.    That the proposal to wind-up the ‘West Midlands Consortium Services to Travelling Children, Schools and Families’ be approved.

2.    That the plan which would ensure that the termination of the existing partnership agreement is efficiently completed in a manner which reduces any financial or legal risk to Wolverhampton City Council be approved.

3.    That the Council enter into an Agreement to terminate the West Midlands Consortium with Birmingham City Council and Staffordshire County Council and any other parties as may be necessary and authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children and Families in consultation with the Strategic Director for Communities to approve the final form of the agreement.

4.    That the tight timelines necessary for completion of the winding-up process in order to minimise any risk to the Council be noted.

[To authorise the award of contracts for goods, works and services.]

Cllr Andrew Johnson presented the report on the award of the contract for the delivery of the Council’s customer services strategy. He requested that appropriate performance targets be built into the contract terms.

Resolved:

That the contract for delivery of the Council’s customer services strategy be award to PA Consulting Group of Buckingham Palace Road, London and the Council’s Chief Legal Officer be authorised to execute the contract.