No apologies for absence were received for the meeting.

Councillor Stephen Simkins declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 10 (Canalside North – Update) insofar as it refers to Bradley Canal Arm Restoration Group.

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.]

Resolved:

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

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes.]

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

[To approve the acceptance of three grants to support children and young people in Wolverhampton][Report to follow]

1.      That the establishment of supplementary revenue expenditure budgets totalling £1,712,371 be approved and funded by:

a.      What Works for Children’s Social Care, Department for Education Grant of £411,675.

b.      Department for Education, Wellbeing for Education Return Grant (2020-2021) of £36,942.

c.      National Lotteries grant of £1,263,754 to extend the HeadStart programme until July 2022. 

2.   That the Council enter into such grant agreements as are necessary for the funds to be received by the Council.

Councillor John Reynolds presented the report on an overview of three grant awards to Children Services that would support the continued transformation journey of the service and support the Council's response to the priorities of Re Lighting Our City. Approval was requested to expenditure of £1,712,371 for the three grants allocated. Referring to the grant for the Social Workers in Schools programme, where from 12 schools identified for the pilot, six would randomly be selected to have a social worker embedded as part of the staff.  Councillor Reynolds informed Cabinet that whilst it would be a random selection, he had asked officers to give some thought to the randomness of the selection so as to avoid the situation of six schools in the east of the city having a social worker and there being none in the west of the city.

Resolved:

1.   That the establishment of supplementary revenue expenditure budgets totalling £1,712,371 be approved and funded by:

a.      What Works for Children’s Social Care, Department for Education Grant of £411,675.

b.      Department for Education, Wellbeing for Education Return Grant (2020-2021) of £36,942.

c.      National Lotteries grant of £1,263,754 to extend the HeadStart programme until July 2022. 

2.   That the Council enter into such grant agreements as are necessary for the funds to be received by the Council.

[To note the summary of open and exempt decision notices approved by cabinet members in consultation with employees]

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

Resolved:

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

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 relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

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 items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The Chair reported that as stated previously the meeting was in confidential session as the information included in the reports 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.

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

1.      That the award the contract for Provision of Programme Management for the City Learning Quarter to Turner and Townsend Project Management Limited of Low Hall, Calverley Lane, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4GH for a duration of four months from 14 October 2020 to 31 January 2021 for a total contract value of £140,000 be approved.

2.      That the award the contract for Provision of Cost Management for the City Learning Quarter to Turner and Townsend Cost Management Limited of Low Hall, Calverley Lane, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4GH for a duration of four months from 14 October 2020 to 31 January 2021 for a total contract value of £40,000 be approved.

3.      That the exemptions to the Contract Procedures Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 July to 31 August 2020 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

Councillor Louise Miles presented for approval the report on the award of contracts for works, goods and services.  In doing so she drew to the meetings attention exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance for the period 1 July to 31 August 2020.

Resolved:

1.    That the award of the contract for Provision of Programme Management for the City Learning Quarter to Turner and Townsend Project Management Limited of Low Hall, Calverley Lane, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4GH for a duration of four months from 14 October 2020 to 31 January 2021 for a total contract value of £140,000 be approved.

2.    That the award of the contract for Provision of Cost Management for the City Learning Quarter to Turner and Townsend Cost Management Limited of Low Hall, Calverley Lane, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4GH for a duration of four months from 14 October 2020 to 31 January 2021 for a total contract value of £40,000 be approved.

3.    That the exemptions to the Contract Procedures Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 July to 31 August 2020 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

[To approve the development of the former Wednesfield Village Primary School with Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust for the establishment of a new Free School]

1.      That the transfer of the Former Wednesfield Village Primary School site from the Council to LocatEd for development of a new two-form entry primary and nursery Free School in conjunction with Shireland Collegiate Academy Truston a 125-year peppercorn lease be approved.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services to approve the terms of the transfer.

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre presented the report on a proposal to transfer the former Wednesfield Village Primary School site to LocalEd for the development of a new two form entry primary and nursery school in conjunction with Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust. The creation of a new school in the Wednesfield area, where there would be high demand for school places due to the impact of housing developments in closed proximity to the proposed school development would be welcomed.  

Resolved:

1.    That the transfer of the Former Wednesfield Village Primary School site from the Council to LocatEd for development of a new two-form entry primary and nursery Free School in conjunction with Shireland Collegiate Academy Truston a 125-year peppercorn lease be approved.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services to approve the terms of the transfer.

[To approve the approach proposed towards bringing forward the first phase of Canalside North]

1.      That the Heads of Terms summarised in the report which have been negotiated and agreed in principle with the developer in order for the Council to progress into an Agreement for Lease for a term of 250 years for the delivery of the first phase of Canalside North site be approved and the conditionality of the proposed transaction be noted. The Agreement for Lease (AfL) would contain conditions that the developer obtains planning permission and that the Council delivers vacant possession of the property as detailed in part 4 of the report.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and the Director of Finance to approve and negotiate any final terms.

Councillor Stephen Simkins presented the report on an update on the proposed approach towards bringing forward the first phase of Canalside North, one of the Council's key priorities for residential-led mixed use regeneration.   

Resolved:

1.    That the Heads of Terms summarised in the report which have been negotiated and agreed in principle with the developer in order for the Council to progress into an Agreement for Lease for a term of 250 years for the delivery of the first phase of Canalside North site be approved and the conditionality of the proposed transaction be noted. The Agreement for Lease (AfL) would contain conditions that the developer obtains planning permission and that the Council delivers vacant possession of the property as detailed in part 4 of the report.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and the Director of Finance to approve and negotiate any final terms.