Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillor Bilson declared a disclosable non-pecuniary interest in respect of agenda item 9 (Grant Application 2016/17 – Grand Theatre) in view of his membership of the Grand Theatre’s Board of Directors.

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

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 April 2016 be approved as a correct record.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes.]

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

[To receive an update on external funding opportunities and to provide the necessary approvals to enable the delivery of 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 revenue budgets for Growth Hub totalling £328,000 in 2016/17 be approved.

2.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with the Service Director for City Economy, to approve the allocation of £328,000 Growth Hub funding in line with the funding schedule and agree to enter into legal agreements for the delivery of these projects and services.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approve the budgets for Black Country Advice Investment and Markets (AIM), Black Country Transformational Growth Opportunities Local Delivery (GOLD) and Black Country Impact project, upon receipt of the offer letter.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with the Service Director for City Economy, to agree grants to Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) of up to £25,000 through the externally-funded Black Country Transformational GOLD project.

5.     That approval be given to the submission of a full bid to ERDF as the accountable body for the Black Country Blue Network and that authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with the Service Director for City Economy, to sign the Grant Funding agreement, if successful.

6.     That approval be given to the submission of an outline application for ERDF funding, as appropriate for enhanced energy efficiency measures, as part of the Civic Centre building works.

7.     That approval be given to the creation of a capital budget for LGF programme/pipeline development of £250,000 per annum in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18, and that authority be delegated to the Director of Governance to finalise all the necessary legal agreements with Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council as the accountable body.

8.     That approval be given to the creation of a capital budget for Transport Director/Team costs of £250,000 per annum in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18, and that authority be delegated to the Director of Governance to finalise all the necessary legal agreements with Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council as the accountable body.

[To approve the submission of a funding bid to OLEV to be made by 31 May 2016.]

Councillor Reynolds presented the report, which sought approval to submit a bid for Government funding under the £20 million Taxi Scheme to promote low emission taxis, with the bid being estimated to be circa £680,000.

Resolved:

1.     That approval be given to the submission of a bid to the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) for funding under the £20 million Taxi Scheme.

2.     That following a successful bid, authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with the Director of Governance, to enter into any necessary agreements to obtain funding.

[To note the summary 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 approved.

[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.]

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 grants for revenue support in 2016/17 and delegate authority to the Director of Governance to execute the funding agreement.]

Councillor Reynolds presented the report, which sought approval to the making of a grant for revenue support in 2016/17.

Resolved:

1.     That approval be given to the making of a grant of £174,000 to the Grand Theatre for revenue support in 2016/17.

2.     That authority be delegated to the Director of Governance to execute the grant funding agreement.

[To approve grants for revenue support in 2016/17 and delegate authority to the Director of Governance to execute the funding agreement.]

Councillor Reynolds presented the report, which sought approval to the making of a grant for revenue support in 2016/17.

Resolved:

1.    That approval be given to the making of a grant of £64,000 to the Light House Media Centre for revenue support in 2016/17, with £43,000 being set off from the grant amount as rent, leaving an actual grant payment of £21,000.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Governance to execute the grant funding agreement.

[To award contracts and delegate authority to execute 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 contract for Ring Road Cycle Routes, St John’s and St George’s, when the evaluation process is complete.

2.     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.

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 the University of Wolverhampton Springfield Campus to Interchange Connectivity Project, when the evaluation process is complete.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, in consultation with the Strategic Director for People, to approve contracts for the West Midlands Sub-regional supported accommodation framework, when the evaluation process is complete.

5.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet member for Resources, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to approved the award to a contract for ICT Corporate Storage, when the evaluation process is complete.

6.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adults, in consultation with the Strategic Director for People, to approve the award of contracts based on a Qualified Provider Framework for Older Peoples Day Opportunities, when the evaluation process is complete.

7.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a contract for the demolition of shops and offices at 50A-51 Snow Hill, Wolverhampton, when the evaluation process is complete.

8.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Economy, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a contract for the demolition of Heantun House, Salop Street, Wolverhampton, when the evaluation process is complete.

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

Having regard to the contracts for bulk print services and for external mail, the Panel noted that these items had been withdrawn from the report.  A full options appraisal would be undertaken in respect of each contract and a report made to a future meeting of the Panel.