Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were received for the meeting.

No declarations of interests were made.

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

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 July 2021 be 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 a variation to a contract]

That a variation to the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Partnership Agreement to deliver Public Health Services to incorporate Covid-19 Infection Prevention and Control Service from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2023 with a variation value of £785,237.00 be approved.

Councillor Ian Brookfield presented the report on a proposal to approve a variation to the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Partnership Agreement to deliver Public Health Services to incorporate the Covid-19 Infection Prevention and Control Service.

Resolved:

That a variation to the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Partnership Agreement to deliver Public Health Services to incorporate the Covid-19 Infection Prevention and Control Service from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2023 with a variation value of £785,237.00 be approved.

[To approve setting up a Youth Hub in partnership with Job Centre Plus to support unemployed young people aged 16-24 years old at The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton City Centre]

1.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration to:

a.      Approve the Council entering into the required grant agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to set up the Youth Employment Hub at the Way in Wolverhampton to support young people aged 16-24 years old into employment and training opportunities.

b.      Approve the creation of the necessary supplementary revenue budgets to deliver the project.

c.      Approve the Council entering into any agreements necessary for it to manage the Hub at the Way.

2.     That it be noted that the Black Country Impact (Wolverhampton) team would be required to support the Youth Hub with key workers and progression staff employed by the Council.  Black Country Impact had received an extension and would continue to support unemployed young people until 2023.

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre presented the report that sought delegated authority to receive grants from the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWPs) Flexible Support Fund to set up, manage and deliver the Youth Hub at The Way in Wolverhampton. He informed Cabinet that the proposal represented another example of the close working relationship that the Local Authority had developed with the DWP, the Local Enterprise Partnership and other agencies.  The Hub would work as a sign posting operation for young people to ensure, as they move from being not in education, employment or training, that they are signposted to the right range of services available to them in the city.

Resolved:

1.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration to:

a.      Approve the Council entering into the required grant agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to set up the Youth Employment Hub at the Way in Wolverhampton to support young people aged 16-24 years old into employment and training opportunities.

b.      Approve the creation of the necessary supplementary revenue budgets to deliver the project.

c.      Approve the Council entering into any agreements necessary for it to manage the Hub at the Way.

2.    That it be noted that the Black Country Impact (Wolverhampton) team would be required to support the Youth Hub with key workers and progression staff employed by the Council.  Black Country Impact had received an extension and would continue to support unemployed young people until 2023.

[To approve supplementary budgets and delegate authority for the Wolverhampton Safer Streets Fund]

1.      That the City of Wolverhampton Council can act as Accountably Body for the Safer Streets Grant.

2.      That the establishment of supplementary revenue budgets totalling £187,602 and capital budgets totalling £60,000 fully funded by the £247,602 Safer Streets grant allocation be approved.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, to utilise the £247,602 Safer Streets Fund from the Home Office for 2021-2022 and to approve the award of grants for activity outlined within the report.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal presented the report seeking approval to the creation of supplementary budgets and delegated authority to spend against the Safer Streets grant funding awarded to the Council from the Home Office.  The funding would be utilised to complement mainstream activity of the Council and Safer Wolverhampton Partnership to address robbery, theft from person, vehicle crime and burglary in targeted lower super output areas, incorporating the West Midlands Police Bilston Impact Area. 

Cabinet members expressed their support for the proposal, that would contribute towards making the targeted neighbourhood safer.  They also extended thanks to the city’s Police Community Support Officers for their commitment to keeping the people of Wolverhampton safe.

Laura Phillips, Deputy Director of People and Change informed Cabinet that Councillors Beverley Momenabadi and Bhupinder Gakhal had submitted written declarations of interests in respect to this agenda item and were free to take part in the discussion.

Resolved:

1.    That the City of Wolverhampton Council can act as Accountably Body for the Safer Streets Grant.

2.    That the establishment of supplementary revenue budgets totalling £187,602 and capital budgets totalling £60,000 fully funded by the £247,602 Safer Streets grant allocation be approved.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, to utilise the £247,602 Safer Streets Fund from the Home Office for 2021-2022 and to approve the award of grants for activity outlined within the report.

[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 item of business as it involves 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 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).

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).

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.

[To approve the award of contracts for works, good or services]

1.      That the contract for Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) Application be awarded to Provance Technologies Inc of 885 Carriere Boulevard, Suite 100 Gatineau, QC J8Y 6S6 for a duration of three years from 12 July 2021 to 11 July 2024 for a total contract value of £177,560.

2.      That the contract with D W Windsor Limited of Pindar Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 0DX for Supply of LED Street Lighting and Accessories Lot 1 – Luminaires be varied from 3 June 2021 to 31 January 2023 with a variation value of £292,540.

3.      That the exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 May 2021 to 31 May 2021 be noted.

Councillor Ian Brookfield presented the report on the award of contracts for works, goods and services and on exemptions to Contracts Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance during 1 to 31 May 2021.

Resolved:

1.    That the contract for Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) Application be awarded to Provance Technologies Inc of 885 Carriere Boulevard, Suite 100 Gatineau, QC J8Y 6S6 for a duration of three years from 12 July 2021 to 11 July 2024 for a total contract value of £177,560.

2.    That the contract with D W Windsor Limited of Pindar Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 0DX for Supply of LED Street Lighting and Accessories Lot 1 – Luminaires be varied from 3 June 2021 to 31 January 2023 with a variation value of £292,540.

3.    That the exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 May 2021 to 31 May 2021 be noted.