Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were received for the meeting.

David Pattison, Chief Operating Officer reported that Mark Taylor, Deputy Chief Executive would be declaring an interest in items 5 and 7 (Acquisition and Redevelopment of Newhampton Arts Centre) in so far as he is the Chair of Governors at Wolverhampton College. He would leave the meeting when the reports are considered.

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

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 February 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

1.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve the award of a contract for Enforcement Agents (Lot 1) for five years when the evaluation process is complete.

2.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve the award of a contract for Second Referral Enforcement Agents (Lot 2) for five years 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 Enforcement Agents for the Collection of Penalty Charge Notice’s (PCN’s) (Lot 3) for five years when the evaluation process is complete.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital, in consultation with the Director of Strategy, to approve the award of a contract for Data Back Up when the evaluation process is complete.

5.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Public Health and Director of Strategy, to approve the award of a contract for Library Self Service Kiosks when the evaluation process is complete.

6.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities, in consultation with the Deputy Director of People and Change, to approve the award of a contract for Management and Leadership Coaching and Workshop Facilitation when the evaluation process is complete.

7.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Adult Services to approve the award of a contract for a Low-Level Preventative Community Wellbeing Service when the evaluation process is complete.

8.     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 West Midlands Employers/Tribepad when the evaluation process is complete.

9.     That authority be delegated to the Deputy Leader: Inclusive City Economy, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Director of Strategy, to approve the award of a contract for UKSPF Start-Up Tender when the evaluation process is complete.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed presented the report on the latest procurement activity for approval covering the Resources and Digital, City Environment and Climate Change, Adults and Wellbeing, Governance and Equalities, and Inclusive City Economy portfolios.

Resolved:

1.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve the award of a contract for Enforcement Agents (Lot 1) for five years when the evaluation process is complete.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve the award of a contract for Second Referral Enforcement Agents (Lot 2) for five years 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 Enforcement Agents for the Collection of Penalty Charge Notice’s (PCN’s) (Lot 3) for five years when the evaluation process is complete.

4.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Digital, in consultation with the Director of Strategy, to approve the award of a contract for Data Back Up when the evaluation process is complete.

5.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Public Health and Director of Strategy, to approve the award of a contract for Library Self Service Kiosks when the evaluation process is complete.

6.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities, in consultation with the Deputy Director of People and Change, to approve the award of a contract for Management and Leadership Coaching and Workshop Facilitation when the evaluation process is complete.

7.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Adult Services to approve the award of a contract for a Low-Level Preventative Community Wellbeing Service when the evaluation process is complete.

8.    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 West Midlands Employers/Tribepad when the evaluation process is complete.

9.    That authority be delegated to the Deputy Leader: Inclusive City Economy, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Director of Strategy, to approve the award of a contract for UKSPF Start-Up Tender when the evaluation process is complete.

[To approve a proposal for acquisition and redevelopment of Newhampton Arts Centre]

1.      That the acquisition of freehold interest of the one half of the Newhampton Arts Centre currently in the ownership of Wolverhampton College be approved.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Deputy Director of Assets, to approve the negotiated acquisition and contract of the freehold interest of the one half of the Newhampton Arts Centre currently in the ownership of Wolverhampton College. This would be subject to  full due diligence e.g. condition surveys etc to understand the liabilities and risks to the Council.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director of Assets, to approve the long-term lease / community asset transfer of the entire building (subject to approval of the acquisition of the part owned by Wolverhampton College) to the Newhampton Arts Centre.

4.      That the current condition and reasons for acquiring the building be noted.

5.      That the progress with emergency work to allow existing tenants to remain in the building be noted.

6.      That it be noted that supplementary budget approval was granted by Individual Executive Decision Notice in July 2023.

Having previously declared an interest, Mark Taylor - Deputy Chief Executive left the room whilst Cabinet (Resources) Panel considered the report.

Councillor Stephen Simkins presented the report on a proposal to acquire the freehold interest of the part of Newhampton Arts Centre (NAC), a multi-space and multi-user arts and culture centre operating on a site within Whitmore Reans, currently in the ownership of Wolverhampton College. Following acquisition, immediate priority renovation works would be undertaken to enable parts of the building to be brought back into immediate use by NAC, thereby protecting existing uses and creating space for new opportunities. It would also strengthen the position for the next phase of the renovation/ restoration of a locally listed building. A Community Asset Transfer of the entire NAC building to NAC was also proposed.  The community asset transfer would ensure that the Council carried nil risk but also enabled the future proofing of the facility moving forward for the good of the local and wider community.

Resolved:

1.     That the acquisition of freehold interest of the one half of the Newhampton Arts Centre currently in the ownership of Wolverhampton College be approved.

2.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Deputy Director of Assets, to approve the negotiated acquisition and contract of the freehold interest of the one half of the Newhampton Arts Centre currently in the ownership of Wolverhampton College. This would be subject to  full due diligence e.g. condition surveys etc to understand the liabilities and risks to the Council.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director of Assets, to approve the long-term lease / community asset transfer of the entire building (subject to approval of the acquisition of the part owned by Wolverhampton College) to the Newhampton Arts Centre.

4.     That the current condition and reasons for acquiring the building be noted.

5.     That the progress with emergency work to allow existing tenants to remain in the building be noted.

6.     That it be noted that supplementary budget approval was granted by Individual Executive Decision Notice in July 2023.

[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 a proposal for acquisition and redevelopment of Newhampton Arts Centre]

1.      That the acquisition of freehold interest of the one half of the Newhampton Arts Centre currently in the ownership of Wolverhampton College be approved.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Deputy Director of Assets, to approve the negotiated acquisition and contract of the freehold interest of the one half of the Newhampton Arts Centre currently in the ownership of Wolverhampton College. This would be subject to  full due diligence e.g. condition surveys etc to understand the liabilities and risks to the Council.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director of Assets, to approve the long-term lease / community asset transfer of the entire building (subject to approval of the acquisition of the part owned by Wolverhampton College) to the Newhampton Arts Centre.

4.      That the current condition and reasons for acquiring the building be noted.

5.      That the progress with emergency work to allow existing tenants to remain in the building be noted.

6.       That it be noted that supplementary budget approval was granted by Individual Executive Decision Notice in July 2023.

Having previously declared an interest, Mark Taylor - Deputy Chief Executive left the room whilst Cabinet (Resources) Panel considered the report.

Councillor Stephen Simkins presented an exempt version of the Acquisition and Redevelopment of Newhampton Arts Centre report discussed at item 5 above. The report included information that was exempt due to its commercial sensitivity.

Resolved:

1.    That the acquisition of freehold interest of the one half of the Newhampton Arts Centre currently in the ownership of Wolverhampton College be approved.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Deputy Director of Assets, to approve the negotiated acquisition and contract of the freehold interest of the one half of the Newhampton Arts Centre currently in the ownership of Wolverhampton College. This would be subject to  full due diligence e.g. condition surveys etc to understand the liabilities and risks to the Council.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Governance and Equalities in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director of Assets, to approve the long-term lease / community asset transfer of the entire building (subject to approval of the acquisition of the part owned by Wolverhampton College) to the Newhampton Arts Centre.

4.    That the current condition and reasons for acquiring the building be noted.

5.    That the progress with emergency work to allow existing tenants to remain in the building be noted.

6.    That it be noted that supplementary budget approval was granted by Individual Executive Decision Notice in July 2023.

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

1.      That the contract for the Independent Mental Health Act provision with PohWER of Hertlands House, Primett Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG13EE be extended for a duration of nine months from 14 October 2023 to 15 July 2024 with a variation value of £25,328.

2.      That the contract for the Statutory Advocacy with PohWER of Hertlands House, Primett Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG13EE be extended for a duration of nine months from 14 October 2023 to 15 July 2024 with an estimated variation value of £99,289, which would  be met by the existing original Cabinet (Resources) Panel approved expenditure.

3.      That the contract for the Wolverhampton Health Advocacy Complaints Service (WHACS) with PohWER of Hertlands House, Primett Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG13EE be extended for a duration of nine months from 14 October 2023 to 15 July 2024 with a variation value of £36,540.

4.      That the exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 to 30 June 2023 be approved.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed presented, for approval, the exempt report on the award of contracts works goods and services.

Resolved:

1.    That the contract for the Independent Mental Health Act provision with PohWER of Hertlands House, Primett Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG13EE be extended for a duration of nine months from 14 October 2023 to 15 July 2024 with a variation value of £25,328.

2.    That the contract for the Statutory Advocacy with PohWER of Hertlands House, Primett Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG13EE be extended for a duration of nine months from 14 October 2023 to 15 July 2024 with an estimated variation value of £99,289, which would be met by the existing original Cabinet (Resources) Panel approved expenditure.

3.    That the contract for the Wolverhampton Health Advocacy Complaints Service (WHACS) with PohWER of Hertlands House, Primett Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG13EE be extended for a duration of nine months from 14 October 2023 to 15 July 2024 with a variation value of £36,540.

4.    That the exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 to 30 June 2023 be noted.