Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Ian Brookfield, Paula Brookfield and Linda Leach.

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 22 March 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To seek approval to invest and enter into a ten year lease with a service office provider for the occupation of i11][Report to follow]

That Council be recommended to:

1.      Approve the creation of a capital budget for the refurbishment and fit out works of i11.

2.      Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital City and Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance and Deputy Director of Assets to finalise the capital fit out works and associated budget.

That Cabinet (Resources) Panel:

1.      Approves, subject to appropriate due diligence the Council entering into a 10 year Profit Share lease agreement with IWG (Regus) or IWG Franchise to let and fully manage the office space at building i11 as a dedicated Serviced Office location.

2.   Delegates authority to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with Deputy Director of Assets to approve the lease agreement and final Heads of Terms for the Profit Share Lease.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal presented the report on a proposal for the Council to enter into a 10-year profit sharing lease agreement with the company IWG to let and fully manage the first floor office space at the i11 building. The proposal would provide a dedicated serviced office location branded as IWG’s premium ‘Spaces’ offer. It would also increase the variety of office space available to Wolverhampton business and residents whilst boosting economic growth and supporting the Wolverhampton Pound. A capital investment was required to complete a full refurbishment fit out of the office accommodation on the first floor of the i11 building to meet the requirements of IWG ‘Spaces’ branding. The works required could be completed by IWG, which was likely to prove cost effective and reduce time scales with the Council not needing to procure its own suppliers. 

Resolved:

That Council be recommended to:

1.      Approve the creation of a capital budget for the refurbishment and fit out works of i11.

2.      Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital City and Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance and Deputy Director of Assets to finalise the capital fit out works and associated budget.

That Cabinet (Resources) Panel:

1.      Approves subject to appropriate due diligence the Council entering into a 10 year Profit Share lease agreement with IWG (Regus) or IWG Franchise to let and fully manage the office space at building i11 as a dedicated Serviced Office location.

2.   Delegates authority to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with Deputy Director of Assets to approve the lease agreement and final Heads of Terms for the Profit Share Lease.

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

1.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital City, in consultation with the Director of Strategy, to approve the award of a contract for a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement when the evaluation process is complete.

2.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities, in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer, to approve the award of a contract for Translation and Interpretation Services when the evaluation process is complete.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change in consultation with the Director of Resident Services, to approve the award of a contract for Carriageway Surfacing when the evaluation process is complete.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change, in consultation with the Director of Resident Services, to approve the award of a contract for the Repair and Maintenance of Playground Equipment when the evaluation process is complete.

5.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change in consultation with the Director of Resident Services, to approve the award of a contract for Surface Treatment Works when the evaluation process is complete.

6.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration, to approve the award of a contract for Wholesale Market Redevelopment Scheme when the evaluation process is complete.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed presented the report on the latest procurement activity covering the Resources and Digital City, Governance and Equalities, and City Environment and Climate Change portfolios.  Delegated authority was requested to award the contracts once the evaluation process is completed. She reported that in line with the Council's commitment to the Wolverhampton Pound and maximising the value of spend with local businesses, the procurement contracts evidenced that this requirement was considered when any procurement activity takes place.  The contract for Wholesale Market Redevelopment Scheme was utilising an open tender process making the opportunity available to local suppliers to bid for the work, supporting the Wolverhampton Pound.  Also, three out of six open tender processes were making the opportunity available to local suppliers to bid for the work, supporting the Wolverhampton Pound.

Resolved:

1.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital City, in consultation with the Director of Strategy, to approve the award of a contract for a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement when the evaluation process is complete.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities, in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer, to approve the award of a contract for Translation and Interpretation Services when the evaluation process is complete.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change in consultation with the Director of Resident Services, to approve the award of a contract for Carriageway Surfacing when the evaluation process is complete.

4.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change, in consultation with the Director of Resident Services, to approve the award of a contract for the Repair and Maintenance of Playground Equipment when the evaluation process is complete.

5.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change in consultation with the Director of Resident Services, to approve the award of a contract for Surface Treatment Works when the evaluation process is complete.

6.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration, to approve the award of a contract for Wholesale Market Redevelopment Scheme when the evaluation process is complete.

[To approve a programme of capital works to schools for 2023-2024]

1.      That the allocation of budgets to the detailed projects for schools’ condition allocation capital works in 2023-2024 as listed in section 4.6. of the report be approved. These budgets would be fully funded by Devolved Formula Capital grant or Schools Condition Allocation grant.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work in consultation with the Executive Director of Families, to initiate works in relation to emergency works preventing a school closure.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work in consultation with the Executive Director of Families, to initiate works in relation to asbestos removal preventing a school closure.

4.      That the provisional resources available for implementing the Investment in our School Assets 2023-2024 programme be noted.

5.      That it be noted that the resources available for Basic Need are being committed toward the expansion of the primary and secondary school estate, to support the provision of additional pupil places given a continued increase in demand.

Councillor Chris Burden presented the report on priorities for investing in the city’s school assets through the Schools Capital Programme 2023-2024. The Council had received a provisional allocation of £3.0 million from the Department for Education (DfE) for capital investment into the city’s schools for urgent works to prevent school closures or health and safety breaches.  However, that was against a value of outstanding conditions items  across all schools totalling circa £12.0 million. From the provisional £3.0 million allocation it was proposed to allocate £2.4 million to specific projects.  The remaining £586,000 was being left as a contingency for emergency works that may arise throughout the school year.

Resolved:

1.    That the allocation of budgets to the detailed projects for schools’ condition allocation capital works in 2023-2024 as listed in section 4.6. of the report be approved. These budgets would be fully funded by Devolved Formula Capital grant or Schools Condition Allocation grant.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work in consultation with the Executive Director of Families, to initiate works in relation to emergency works preventing a school closure.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work in consultation with the Executive Director of Families, to initiate works in relation to asbestos removal preventing a school closure.

4.    That the provisional resources available for implementing the Investment in our School Assets 2023-2024 programme be noted.

5.    That it be noted that the resources available for Basic Need are being committed toward the expansion of the primary and secondary school estate, to support the provision of additional pupil places given a continued increase in demand.

[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 remaining 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 remaining 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).

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

That the exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 to 28 February 2023 be noted.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed presented, for information, a list of exemptions to Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 to 28 February 2023.

Resolved:

That the exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 to 28 February 2023 be noted.

[To approve a programme of capital works to schools for 2023-2024]

1.      That the allocation of budgets to the detailed projects for schools’ condition allocation capital works in 2023-2024 as listed in section 4.6 of the report be approved. These budgets would be fully funded by Devolved Formula Capital grant or Schools Condition Allocation grant.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work in consultation with the Executive Director of Families, to initiate works in relation to emergency works preventing a school closure.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work in consultation with the Executive Director of Families, to initiate works in relation to asbestos removal preventing a school closure.

4.      That it be noted that the provisional resources available for implementing the Investment in our School Assets 2023-2024 programme is £3.0 million against a condition backlog of approximately £12 million for priority 1, 2 and 3 items.

5.      That it be noted that the resources available for Basic Need are being committed toward the expansion of the primary and secondary school estate, to support the provision of additional pupil places given a continued increase in demand.

Councillor Chris Burden presented an exempt version to the Investment in our School Assets 2023-2024 report discussed at item 6 above. The report included the budgets to the detailed projects for schools’ condition allocation capital works in 2023-2024.

Resolved:

1.    That the allocation of budgets to the detailed projects for schools’ condition allocation capital works in 2023-2024 as listed in section 4.6 of the report be approved. These budgets would be fully funded by Devolved Formula Capital grant or Schools Condition Allocation grant.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work in consultation with the Executive Director of Families, to initiate works in relation to emergency works preventing a school closure.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work in consultation with the Executive Director of Families, to initiate works in relation to asbestos removal preventing a school closure.

4.    That it be noted that the provisional resources available for implementing the Investment in our School Assets 2023-2024 programme is £3.0 million against a condition backlog of approximately £12 million for priority 1, 2 and 3 items.

5.      That it be noted that the resources available for Basic Need are being committed toward the expansion of the primary and secondary school estate, to support the provision of additional pupil places given a continued increase in demand.

[To seek approval to invest and enter into a ten year lease with a service office provider for the occupation of i11][Report to follow]

That Council be recommended to:

1.      Approve the creation of a capital budget for the refurbishment and fit out works of i11.

2.   Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital City and Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance and Deputy Director of Assets to finalise the capital fit out works and associated budget.

That Cabinet (Resources) Panel:

1.      Approves, subject to appropriate due diligence the Council entering into a 10 year Profit Share lease agreement with IWG (Regus) or IWG Franchise to let and fully manage the office space at building i11 as a dedicated Serviced Office location.

2.   Delegates authority to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with Deputy Director of Assets to approve the lease agreement and final Heads of Terms for the Profit Share Lease.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal presented an exempt version to the i11 - Investing in the City’s Workspace Offer report discussed at item 4 above. The report contained further information on the financial implications of the proposal.

Resolved:

That Council be recommended to:

1.      Approve the creation of a capital budget for the refurbishment and fit out works of i11.

2.   Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital City and Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance and Deputy Director of Assets to finalise the capital fit out works and associated budget.

That Cabinet (Resources) Panel:

1.      Approves, subject to appropriate due diligence the Council entering into a 10 year Profit Share lease agreement with IWG (Regus) or IWG Franchise to let and fully manage the office space at building i11 as a dedicated Serviced Office location.

2.   Delegates authority to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with Deputy Director of Assets to approve the lease agreement and final Heads of Terms for the Profit Share Lease.

Councillor Stephen Simkins paid tribute to Councillor Beverley Momenabadi who would be leaving the Council after the May Local Elections and moving onto pastures new. He wished her well for the future.  He also paid tribute to Councillor Linda Leach who would be moving on to the role of Deputy Mayor and he wished her a fruitful year.  He also thanked them for being committed members of Cabinet and for all the hard work they had put in over the years.