Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Bhupinder Gakhal and Stephen Simkins.

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 13 December 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

1.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Education, in consultation with the Deputy Director of Education, to approve the award of a contract for the Managed Client Caseload System when the evaluation process is complete.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, to approve the award of a contract for Our People Project when the evaluation process is complete.

Councillor Louise Miles presented the report seeking delegated authority for  Cabinet Members to approve the award of contracts once the evaluation process was complete.

Resolved:

1.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Education, in consultation with the Deputy Director of Education, to approve the award of a contract for the Managed Client Caseload System when the evaluation process is complete.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Public Health, to approve the award of a contract for Our People Project when the evaluation process is complete.

[To approve the acquisition of privately owned empty property by agreement or compulsory purchase]

1.   That the Director of Resident Services be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the property 52 Bridge Street, Willenhall, WV13 3EQ, and, in default of that acquisition, give authority for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to be made under Part II Section 17 of the Housing Act 1985 in respect of the property.

2.   That expenditure for the potential acquisition of the property be approved, with subsequent capital receipts being recycled within the Empty Property Strategy programme.

3.   That  in the event that the property is improved and re-occupied to the satisfaction of the Director of Resident Services, withdrawal of the property from the CPO be authorised.

4.   That following any acquisition, the Director of Resident Services be authorised to dispose of the property on the open market on condition that the property is refurbished and re-occupied within six or 12 months (as appropriate to the scale of the works).

5.   That the Chief Operating Officer be authorised to:

a.      Take all reasonable steps as soon as it is reasonably practical to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO including the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry.

b.     Approve agreements with the owners of the property setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO, and/or making arrangements for re-housing or relocation of any occupiers.

c.     Approve the making of a General Vesting Declaration (the property is brought into Council ownership via this process).

d.     Approve the disposal of the whole and/ or parts of the property by auction, tender or private treaty. 

Councillor Steve Evans presented the report on a proposal for the Council to acquire through negotiation or compulsory purchase, 52 Bridge Street, Willenhall, WV13 3EQ. The semi-detached empty property had suffered extensive fire damage and was attracting high levels of anti-social behaviour. Attempts to contact the owner to come forward and make good the property had been unsuccessful. Councillor Evans said that he hoped to get to a position where the owner comes forward, makes good the property and remedy its detrimental effect. Failing that the Council would, by agreement or through compulsory purchase, acquire the property and bring it back into use for sale or rent.

Resolved:

1.   That the Director of Resident Services be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the property 52 Bridge Street, Willenhall, WV13 3EQ, and, in default of that acquisition, give authority for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to be made under Part II Section 17 of the Housing Act 1985 in respect of the property.

2.   That expenditure for the potential acquisition of the property be approved, with subsequent capital receipts being recycled within the Empty Property Strategy programme.

3.   That  in the event that the property is improved and re-occupied to the satisfaction of the Director of Resident Services, withdrawal of the property from the CPO be authorised.

4.   That following any acquisition, the Director of Resident Services be authorised to dispose of the property on the open market on condition that the property is refurbished and re-occupied within six or 12 months (as appropriate to the scale of the works).

5.   That the Chief Operating Officer be authorised to:

a.      Take all reasonable steps as soon as it is reasonably practical to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO including the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry.

b.      Approve agreements with the owners of the property setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO, and/or making arrangements for re-housing or relocation of any occupiers.

c.      Approve the making of a General Vesting Declaration (the property is brought into Council ownership via this process).

d.      Approve the disposal of the whole and/ or parts of the property by auction, tender or private treaty. 

[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 remaining 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 remaining 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).

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

1.      That the contract for an Omnichannel Solution be awarded to Charterhouse Voice & Data Ltd of 17 St. Helen's Place, London, EC3A 6DG for a duration of seven years from 5 February 2024 to 4 February 2031 for a total contract value of £2,476,924.

2.      That the contract for the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Services with Nacro of Walkden House, 16-17 Devonshire Square, London, England, EC2M 4SQ  be varied for an increase of contract value from 18 January 2024 to 31 March 2024 with a variation value of £47,300.

3.      That the Partnership Arrangement to deliver Public Health Services with The Royal Wolverhampton Trust of New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP be varied for: (1) PrEP service for a duration of five years from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029 with a variation value of £132,150; and (2) EHC service for the duration of six months from 1 February 2024 to 31 August 2024 with a variation value of £13,500. A total variation value of £145,650.

4.      That the contract for the Tuberculosis (TB) Partnership be awarded to Black Country Integrated Care Board, NHS Black Country ICB, Civic Centre, St Peters Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SH for a duration of 10 years commencing 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2034 for a total contract value of £2,251,660.

5.      That the exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 October to 31 October 2023 be noted.

Councillor Louise Miles presented for approval the exempt report on the award of contracts for works, goods and services. The report also included a list of exemptions to Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and the Director of Finance during October 2023.

Resolved:

1.    That the contract for an Omnichannel Solution be awarded to Charterhouse Voice & Data Ltd of 17 St. Helen's Place, London, EC3A 6DG for a duration of seven years from 5 February 2024 to 4 February 2031 for a total contract value of £2,476,924.

2.    That the contract for the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Services with Nacro of Walkden House, 16-17 Devonshire Square, London, England, EC2M 4SQ be varied for an increase of contract value from 18 January 2024 to 31 March 2024 with a variation value of £47,300.

3.    That the Partnership Arrangement to deliver Public Health Services with The Royal Wolverhampton Trust of New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP be varied for: (1) Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) service for a duration of five years from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029 with a variation value of £132,150; and (2) Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) service for the duration of six months from 1 February 2024 to 31 August 2024 with a variation value of £13,500. A total variation value of £145,650.

4.    That the contract for the Tuberculosis (TB) Partnership be awarded to Black Country Integrated Care Board, NHS Black Country ICB, Civic Centre, St Peters Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SH for a duration of 10 years commencing 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2034 for a total contract value of £2,251,660.

5.    That the exemptions to the Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Head of Procurement and Director of Finance from 1 to 31 October 2023 be noted.