Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 4 - Civic Centre. View directions

Contact: Andrew Harvey  01902 552752 or Email: andrew.harvey@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence

2.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

Cllr Gibson declared a disclosable non-pecuniary interest on item 12 of the agenda as a governor of South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy.

3.

Minutes of the previous meeting (10 February 2015) pdf icon PDF 82 KB

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

Minutes:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 February 2015 be approved as a correct record.

4.

Matters arising

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes.]

Minutes:

There were no matters arising.

5.

Roll out of Broadband Vouchers pdf icon PDF 72 KB

[To approve rolling out the broadband voucher scheme in Wolverhampton and leading the rollout across the Black Country.]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Bilson introduced the report which proposed that Wolverhampton City Council enter into an agreement to lead on the roll out of vouchers for superfast broadband across the Black Country.

 

Resolved:

1)    To endorse the approach to rolling out the broadband voucher scheme in Wolverhampton and the Black Country.

 

2)    To delegate authority to the Cabinet Member of Economic Regeneration and Prosperity and Strategic Director Place to approve the terms of a formal agreement to enable the rollout of broadband vouchers to Wolverhampton.

 

3)    To agree to Wolverhampton City Council leading on the rollout of broadband vouchers across the Black Country.

6.

Charging and Contributions Policies for Adult Care and Support Services' pdf icon PDF 378 KB

[To approve the changes to charges and contributions policies for adult social care.]

Minutes:

Cllr Evans introduced the report which sought approval for changes to the Council’s charges and contributions policy as a result of the Care Act (2014). Cllr Evans highlighted that phase one of the Care Act (2014) needed to be implemented by April 2015.

 

Resolved:

1)    That the Council exercises its power to charge for residential and nursing care and non-residential care and support in every case, unless it is prohibited from doing so by law or determines not to do so under Council policy

 

2)    To approve the arrangement fee of £150 in any non-residential case where the person is able to pay the full costs of their care and support  but nevertheless the person asks the Council to make the arrangements under the Councils usual terms and conditions (outlined in paragraphs 3.5).

 

3)    To approve the annual uplifted contributions to non-residential care and support from 1 April 2015 (outlined in paragraph 3.6 and Appendix A).

7.

Armed Forces Community Covenant Grants Scheme pdf icon PDF 286 KB

[To approve the proposal for the Council to establish an expenditure budget for Community Covenant Grants.]

Minutes:

Cllr Mattu introduced the report which sought approval to establish a budget for the community covenant grant, and for the Council to approve payments to organisations that are successful in applying for the funding.

 

Resolved:

1)    That the Council establish an expenditure budget for Community Covenant Grants.

 

2)    That the Council approve the payment of grants to individual recipients.

 

3)    To approve delegated authority for the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities in consultation with the Strategic Director, Place, to agree any further changes in budget and grants payments to organisations successful in securing grant under the scheme.

8.

PCC Community Safety Grant pdf icon PDF 232 KB

[To approve delegation of the 2015/16 ring-fenced allocation from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to Safer Wolverhampton Partnership (SWP).]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Mattu introduced the report which sought approval to transfer funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner to the Council, specifically for use by the Wolverhampton Safer Partnership to aid delivery of agreed city-wide crime and community safety objectives.

 

Resolved:

To approve the delegation of the 2015/16 ring-fenced allocation from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to Safer Wolverhampton Partnership (SWP) for the purposes of delivering against the city’s Crime Reduction, Community Safety and Drugs Strategy 2014-17 and the Local Policing & Crime Plan 2015-16.

9.

Compulsory Purchase of 114 Dixon Street, Parkfields, Wolverhampton pdf icon PDF 187 KB

[To agree action in relation to an empty house (114 Dixon Street) under the Empty Property Strategy.]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Bilson introduced the report which outlined the Councils intention to enter into negotiations to acquire the property at 114 Dixon Street, Parkfields, Wolverhampton under the empty property strategy.

 

Resolved:

1)   To make the following Compulsory Purchase Order under Section 17 of Part 2 of the Housing Act 1985:

 

The Wolverhampton City Council (114 Dixon Street, Parkfields Wolverhampton) Compulsory Purchase Order 2015 as shown on the plan attached.           

                       

2)   To authorise the Strategic Director - Place on behalf of the Council to:

 

a)    Acquire interests in the land within the Order either compulsorily or by agreement before or after making the Order.

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

 

c)    Approve agreements with land owners setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the Order, and/or making arrangements for re-housing or relocation of any occupiers.

 

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

 

3)         Approve the disposal of the whole and/ or parts of the property under lease by auction, tender or private treaty.

10.

Schedule of Individual Executive Decisions pdf icon PDF 240 KB

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

 

Minutes:

Resolved:

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

11.

Exclusion of press and public

[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.]

 

Item No:

 

12

 

 

13

 

 

14

 

 

15

 

 

16

Title Applicable

 

BSF – Deeds of termination Facilities Management.

 

Bilston Centre Regeneration Local growth Funding Approvals

 

Transfer of Bilston Junior Attendance Centre to WCC

 

Short Term Leasing of Surplus Former School Site and Buildings

 

Strategic Procurement

Paragraph

 

3

 

 

 3

 

 

1 and 4

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

Minutes:

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 falling within the paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Act set out below:

 

Item No:

 

12

 

 

13

 

 

14

 

 

15

 

 

16

Title Applicable

 

BSF – Deeds of termination Facilities Management.

 

Bilston Centre Regeneration Local growth Funding Approvals

 

Transfer of Bilston Junior Attendance Centre to WCC

 

Short Term Leasing of Surplus Former School Site and Buildings

 

Strategic Procurement

Paragraph

 

3

 

 

 3

 

 

1 and 4

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

12.

BSF Facilities management - Deed of termination

[To approve the termination of a contract.]

Minutes:

Cllr Page introduced the report which sought approval to terminate the facilities management contracts between various schools and the Black Country Local Enterprise Zone.

 

Tom Senior, Senior Solicitor informed the panel of an amendment to paragraph 4.1, he stated that the figure should actually include VAT and therefore the final figure is £391,291, however the Council will be able to claim back the VAT.

 

Resolved:

1)    To note progression of discussions with the LEP regarding the terms of a full and final Commercial Settlement at the following Schools: Coppice Performing Arts School, Wednesfield High School, Kings Church of England School, Tettenhall Wood School and the South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy.

 

2)    To approve the revised terms of settlement and authorise a final payment of £391,291 to the LEP.

 

3)    To approve the termination of the Facilities Management agreement for the Kings Church of England School and Tettenhall Wood School made between (1) the Council and (2) the LEP dated 30 April 2010.

 

4)    To approve the termination of the Facilities Management agreements for Coppice Performing Arts School and Wednesfield High School dated 27 March 2013 by the Council entering into a Deed Termination with the LEP.

 

5)    To approve the termination of Facilities Management services at South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy.

 

6)    To authorise the payment of a final settlement in respect of the termination of the FM Agreements and the service at South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy based on services which have been provided and which are evidenced by the relevant documentation.

 

7)    To accept a letter of waiver relating to the right to exclusivity in the Strategic Partnering Agreement.

13.

Bilston Centre Regeneration Local Growth Funding approvals

[To approve works, contracts and funding relating to the Bilston Centre Regeneration project.]

Minutes:

Cllr Bilson introduced the report which sought approval for Local Growth Funding and the award of various contracts relating to the Bilston Centre regeneration Project.

 

Resolved:

1)    To delegate the approval of the Local Growth Funding Agreement for additional infrastructure works on the Bilston Urban Village site to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity in consultation with the Strategic Director, Place.

 

2)    To delegate approval of the award of contracts or contract variations for the undertaking of the work to be funded by the Local Growth Fund to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity in consultation with the Service Director for City Economy and the Director of Governance.

 

3)    To approve the novation of the Homes and Communities Agency’s interest in the proposed Advance Works Programme contract and its consultant appointments to the Council.

 

4)    To agree in principle to a revision in the terms for the disposal of the commercial development plot by the Homes and Communities Agency and delegate the final details of such a revision to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity in consultation with the Service Director for City Economy.

 

5)    To delegate the approval of terms for the sale and development of the site of the former Leisure Centre, Prouds Lane to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity in consultation with the Service Director for City Economy.

 

14.

Transfer of Bilston Junior Attendance Centre to WCC

[To approve the transfer of responsibility for Bilston Junior Attendance Centre to Wolverhampton City Council.]

Minutes:

Cllr Gibson introduced the report which proposed that Bilston Junior Attendance Centre be brought under the control of the Council and that the Council works collaboratively with the Black County Youth Offending Teams.

 

Resolved:

1)    To approve the transfer of responsibility for Bilston Junior Attendance Centre to Wolverhampton City Council.

 

2)    To receive a further update report when more detailed information becomes available from the National Offender Management Service and the Youth Justice Board.

15.

Short Term Leasing of Surplus Former School Site and Buildings

[To endorse the agreement of terms and approve the short term leasing of part of the surplus former Parkfields school site and buildings, prior to the disposal of this surplus asset]

Minutes:

Cllr Johnson introduced the report which outlined the use of a surplus school site and building to be leased to the British Sikh School through discussions with the Education Funding Agency.

 

Resolved:

1)    To endorse the agreement of terms (based on provisional discussions with the Education Funding Agency and detailed in this report) and approve the short term leasing of part of the surplus former Parkfields school site and buildings to the British Sikh School, prior to the disposal of this surplus asset.

 

2)    To delegate authority for the agreement of detailed terms and approval for the grant of Lease to the Cabinet Member for Resources in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place.

16.

Strategic Procurement

[To agree the award of contracts as set out in the report.]

 

Minutes:

Cllr Johnson introduced the report proposing the letting of a contract.

 

Resolved:

1)    To award the contract for Fixed Electrical Testing to Quartzelec Ltd, 1 Central Park, Ohio Avenue, Manchester, M50 2GT.

 

2)    To delegate authority to the Director of Governance to execute contracts in respect of the above, as required.