Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor Elias Mattu.

Councillor Steve Evans declared a disclosable non-pecuniary interest in respect of agenda item 8 (Accountable Body for Pocket parks bids by Bushbury EMB and Wolverhampton Homes) in view of his membership on the Scotlands Bushbury Hill Partnership.

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

Resolved:

            That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2016 be approved as a correct record.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes.]

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

[To approve formalised funding to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and align future processes to the City Boards Commissioning Cycle and Charter and the Council’s Procurement Strategy 2015-18]

Councillor Reynolds presented the report, which sought approval to a proposal that would formalise funding to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and align future processes to the City Board’s Commissioning Cycle and Charter and the Council’s Procurement Strategy 2015-18. To achieve this, all agreements for services required from the VCS would be obtained through a transparent commissioning procurement process with all grant funding arrangements ceasing by 31 March 2017.  The implementation would be overseen by the Strategic Director of Place Leadership Team.

Resolved:

1.    That, where funding is available and the service still meets City Strategy and Corporate Plan priorities, the responsible Directorate be allowed to extend existing Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) grant agreements for a period not exceeding 31 March 2017.

2.      That with effect from 1 April 2017, all services that the Council requires to be provided by the VCS should follow the processes set out in the City Boards Commissioning Cycle and Charter and the Council’s Procurement Strategy 2015-18.

[To note progress on activity for the third quarter of 2015/16]

Councillor Johnson presented the report, which outlined progress on treasury management activity for the third quarter of 2015/16, in line with the Prudential indicators approved by Council in March 2015.

Resolved:

1.    That the report be noted and, in particular, that the Council is continuing to operate within the Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators approved by Council, and also within the requirements set out in the Council’s approved Treasury Management Policy Statement.

2.    That savings of £3.7 million for the General Fund and £1.5 million for the Housing Revenue Account forecast from treasury management activities in 2015/16 be noted.

[To approve the strategy]

Councillor Johnson presented the report, which set out the strategic view and aims for procurement.  The report highlighted the priority areas the Council will focus on over the next three years and how progress and success would be measured.

Resolved:

            That the Procurement Strategy for 2015 to 2018 be approved.

[To agree that the Council acts as accountable body on behalf of Wolverhampton Homes and Bushbury Estate Management Board in respect of their bids to the Department for Communities and Local Government Pocket Parks Fund]

Councillor Bilson presented the report, which sought approval for the Council to act as accountable body on behalf of Wolverhampton Homes and Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board in respect of their bids to Department for Communities and Local Government Pocket Parks fund.

Resolved:

1.    That approval be given to the proposal that the Council act as accountable body for Wolverhampton Homes and Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board (EMB) in respect of their bids to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Park Pockets fund.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and the Director of Finance to enter into such Funding and Collaboration/Grant Agreements in relation to DCLG Pocket Parks projects as may be required.

[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/business affairs of a 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 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 any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

[To approve the principle of acquiring the property to facilitate highway widening as part of the East Park Gateway project]

Councillor Bilson presented the report, which sought approval to the principle of acquiring the property to facilitate highway widening as part of the widening as part of the East Park Gateway project.

Resolved:

1.    That approval be given in principle to the Council acquiring 70 Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton.

2.    That authority be granted to the Cabinet Member for City Assets, in consultation with the Service Director City Assets and Director of Finance, to agree the acquisition price following negotiation with the owners, should this prove possible, and approve purchase of the site through an Individual Executive Decision Notice, subject to the establishment of a budget to deal with any holding costs.

[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 the contract for Fire Warning and Fire Safety Equipment Servicing and Maintenance with Interserve (Facilities Management) limited, Norwich, be extended for six months from 1 April to 30 September 2016, with an estimated extension value of £90,000 (dependent upon demand)

2.    That the contract for Water Systems Hygiene Monitoring and Management with Integrated Water Services Limited, Fradley, be extended for six months from 1 April to 30 September 2016, with an estimated extension value of £90,000 (dependent upon demand)

3.    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 contract for highway capacity improvements at the Birmingham New Road – Shaw Road junction, when the evaluation process is complete.

4.    That approval be given to the award of contracts for the Community Short Breaks services to the providers detailed below for a period of three years from 1 May 2016 to 30 April 2019, with an option to extend up to a further one year:

·         Lot 1 - Progress Children’s Services

            Trident Reach the People Charity

            Harmony Care Homes (2003) limited

·         Lot 2 - The Way Youth Zone

            Progress Children’s Services

            Trident Reach the People Charity

·         Lot 3 -  Progress Children’s Services

·         Lot 4 -  Barnardo’s

5.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve the award of a contract for Cash in Transit when the evaluation process is complete.

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

[To declare properties surplus for disposal by auction]

Councillor Bilson presented the report, which sought approval to declare properties surplus and agree to their disposal by auction or tender process.

Resolved:

            That the following non-strategic properties be declared surplus to requirements and placed on the open market for disposal by auction or tender process for an appropriate use:

·         19 Chester Street, Whitmore Reans

·         29 Lime Street, Penn Fields

·         319 Dudley Road, Blakenhall