Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf Councillors Elias Mattu and John Reynolds.

Councillor Johnson declared a disclosable non-pecuniary interest in respect of agenda item 10 in view of his position as a trustee of the Local Government Information Unit and Director of Local Enterprises Limited.

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

Resolved:

            That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2015 be approved as a correct record.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes.]

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

[To receive an update on current bids for European Structural Funds, future opportunities and to provide necessary approvals for other externally funded projects]

Councillor Johnson presented the report, which provided an update on current bids for European Structural Funds, future opportunities and sought necessary approvals for other externally funded projects.

Resolved:

1.    That the submission of an outline application for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) support, to deliver an enhanced nature reserve with green infrastructure in Bilston Urban Village, be approved.

2.    That in-principle approval be given to undertake feasibility work at Bilston Urban Village related to the transfer of land to The Land Trust, to ensure management of the site in perpetuity.

3.    That the Council be a delivery partner in the Black Country Digital Passport project and that authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with the Service Director City Economy, to finalise the Council’s contribution.

4.    That approval be given to the URBACT III project (Gen-Y-City), establishing a revenue budget developing urban policy in respect of the city offer and to participation in specialised study visits for the exchange of best practice.

5.    That approval be given to match funding for Black Country Technical European Social Fund Assistance.

6.    That the updates in regard to Black Country Transformational Growth Opportunities Local Delivery (GOLD) and Impact for the Black Country, as detailed in sections 3.2 and 3.3 of the report respectively, be noted.

[To note the summary of decisions approved by the appropriate Cabinet Member in consultation with the relevant employee]

Resolved:

            That the summary of open and exempt individual executive decisions approved by the appropriate Cabinet Members, following consultation with the relevant employees, be noted.

[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 falling within paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act  relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons (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 items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act relating to the business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

[To seek authority to participate in the Starter Homes scheme and to draw down allocated Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) funding for this purpose]

Councillor Bilson presented the report, which outlined the scheme and sought authority to participate in the scheme and to draw down allocated Housing and Communities Agency (HCA) funding.

Resolved:

1.    That approval be given to progression of the Starter Homes scheme and to enter into a Starter Homes Funding Agreement with the Homes and Communities Funding Agency (HCA) grant funding for this scheme.

2.    That the S.151 Officer, or Officer delegated by the S.151 Officer, be authorised to complete and return the grant claim form or forms and certificate or certificates required to claim grant under the Funding Agreement.

3.    That approval be given to the progression of any or all of the six sites included in the bid to the HCA as Starter Homes sites as detailed at section 3.2 and at Appendix 1 of the report, including any demolitions as appropriate, subject to consultation.

4.    That approval be given to the progression of the site at the rear of Reedham Gardens as a potential Starter Homes site, subject to consultation and site appraisal, including the demolition of 8 and 10 Oakley Road through the SCVP contract or other approved route, as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report.

5.    That approval be given to the proposal to declare the site at the rear of Reedham Gardens as surplus, to be disposed of to a developer in accordance with the Starter Homes scheme requirements set out by Government, subject to the outcome of a formal space consultation.

6.    That the investigation of other alternative sites for this scheme be approved.

7.    That authority be delegated to approve the detail and progression of alternative sites to the Cabinet Member for City Assets, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Housing and Service Director for City Assets.

[To approve Deed of Variation to the PFI Agreement]

Councillor Darke presented the report, which sought approval to a Deed of Variation to the PFI Agreement.  The amendment formalises the current arrangement and practice that the catering service be removed from the services being delivered by the PFI Contractor.

Resolved:

1.    That the Council enters into a Deed of Variation toi vary the PFI Agreement dated 30 April 2010, made between (1) Wolverhampton City Council and (2) Inspiredspaces Wolverhampton (Projectco1) Limited (the PFI Agreement) to remove the delivery of the Catering Management service by the Inspired spaces Wolverhampton (Projectco1) Limited (the Contractor) from the Contract.

2.    That the Council enters into any ancillary agreement and side letters necessary to implement the Deed of Variation including, but not limited, to a vires certificate confirming the Council’s capacity to enter in the Deed of Variation and side letters confirming that the Council will not regard the removal of the catering element of the PFI Agreement as a Deed of Variation.

[To consider the options and agree to progress and resource a feasibility exercise in conjunction with the Local Government Information Unit]

Councillor Johnson presented the report, which outlined the options and sought approval to progress and resource a feasibility exercise in conjunction with the Local Government Information Unit.

Resolved:

1.    That a feasibility exercise be progressed and resourced in conjunction with the Local Government Information Unit and a subsequent due diligence exercise undertaken to explore the issue of establishing an Energy Services Company.

2.    That £50,000 from the Efficiency Reserve be used to fund the feasibility exercise and due diligence assessment.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Service Director for City Assets, to agree the delivery arrangements for the feasibility and detailed due diligence assessment of the potential to establish and Energy Services Company.

[To award contracts and delegate authority to execute the contracts in respect of the recommendations as required]

The recommendations for the award of contracts for works, goods and services were introduced by the relevant Cabinet Members.

Resolved:

1.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a framework contract for the Provision of Ambient Chilled, Frozen Food and Buffet Items, when the evaluation process is complete.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a contract for Landscaping - Colman Avenue Phase 2 Neighbourhood Park when the evaluation process is complete.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve the award of contracts for Network Services – Traditional Voice, Inbound and Future Requirements for Integrated Communications Services, when the evaluation process is complete.

4.    That approval be given to the award of a contract for the 0-5 Healthy Child and Family Nurse Partnership Service to Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust of New Cross Hospital , Wolverhampton, for a duration of 16 months from 1 April 2016 to 31 July 2017, for a total contract value of £5,821,152.

5.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Governance to execute the contracts in respect of the above as required.