No apologies for absence were received.

There were no declarations of interests.

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

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 September 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes.]

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

[To approve a new service delivery model in relation to low level mental health preventative services and a tendering exercise in relation to the proposed new service model.

Councillor Andrew Johnson advised a letter had been received from David Collins Solicitors on behalf of Positive Participation, regarding the remodelling and tender of mental health preventative contracts which, had been formally drawn to his attention by Councillor Sandra Samuels. Councillor Sandra Samuels sought permission to refer the matter to the Adult Scrutiny Panel to review the consultation process, equalities implications and any other outstanding issues. 

Resolved:

1.     That the Adult Scrutiny Panel was to:

a.     Scrutinise the consultation process to ensure that it was appropriately conducted and sufficient.

b.     Give consideration to how the Equalities implications of the report should be dealt with.

c.      Scrutinise any other outstanding matter appropriate to the remit of the Scrutiny Panel

2.     That the decisions within the report be deferred until a report was received from the Adult Scrutiny Panel. 

[To approve the fees and charges to take effect from 1 November 2016 (or as soon as possible thereafter).]

Councillor Andrew Johnson presented the report recommending tariffs for the majority of fees and charges receivable by the Council, to take effect from 1 November 2016 (or as soon as possible thereafter).

Resolved:

1.     That the fees and charges [as set out in Appendices A to D within the report] be approved to take effect from 1 November 2016 (or as soon as possible thereafter).

2.     That in the following instances, authority be delegated to the responsible Strategic Director in consultation with the Director of Finance, be approved to vary fees and charges during the financial year:

a.     Where the cost of food (including frozen food) and drink procured for resale or onward supply changes, fees and charges may be set taking the new costs into account.

b.     Where short-term change in fees and charges to ensure that a business opportunity can be pursued or secured; if the change is for a period of more than two months then the change should be referred to Cabinet (Resources) Panel for decision during the two month period.

c.     Where an opportunity arises to secure a sale by matching the price to that of an organisation the Council is in competition with, ensuring that satisfactory ‘price match’ documentation is maintained to evidence the one-off fee amendment.

d.     Where market conditions dictate, leisure membership fees may be varied providing that satisfactory market information is maintained.

e.     Leisure centre activity prices may be varied in line with market conditions providing that satisfactory market information is maintained.

f.      Charges to partner organisations for support services may be varied.

g.     Court summons costs charged to council tax and business rates payers may be varied following default on payments.

h.     Where the cost of poison procured for the purpose of pest control changes, pest control fees and charges may be varied in proportion with the change in costs.

i.       Where market conditions dictate, charges for commercial waste collection may be varied providing that satisfactory market information is maintained.

j.       Library charges may be varied to fall in line with Black Country Libraries in Partnership (BCLiP) participating authorities (Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell).

k.     Adult Education Service charges may be varied in response to Skills Funding Agency and Education Funding Agency funding allocations for the applicable academic year.   

l.       Charges to schools/academies for services delivered under Service Level Agreements (SLAs) may be varied. 

m.   Where bespoke professional services are provided to external organisations.

3.     That in the following instances, authority be delegated to the responsible Cabinet Member for the service and Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the relevant Strategic Director or the Director of Finance as appropriate, be approved to vary existing fees and charges during the financial year:

a.     Where the Council wishes to subsidise a charitable event that may not break even financially for the authority.

b.     Where the Council wishes to generate income from advertising upon Council property.

c.     Where the Council wishes to vary charges for bars and catering.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

[To approve the creation of an additional class of local discretionary council tax discount of up to 100% for care leavers up to 25 years of age with effect from 01/04/2016.]

Councillor Val Gibson presented the report seeking approval to create a new class of discretionary council tax discount for care leavers. The proposal would support the Councils Corporate Parenting Strategy which, articulates a commitment to improving outcomes for looked after children and to narrowing the gap between them and their peers.  

Resolved:

That the creation of an additional class of local discretionary council tax discount of up to 100% for care leavers up to 25 years of age with effect from 01/04/2016 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 relating to any individual, information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual and/or information relating to the business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

[To consider issues relating to commissioning advice in respect of the legal, financial, planning and technical aspects of the proposed scheme.]

Councillor Claire Darke presented the report proposing that Education service staff assist the commissioning and development of new provisions at Heath Park Academy.  The Council would incur costs on design and planning of the scheme at a cost of £150,000 to be fully funded by the Academy. The risks set out within the report were outlined and it was noted that careful consideration was required before further work was undertaken.

Resolved:

That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources, Cabinet Member for Education in conjunction with the Director of Finance to approve the recommendations within the report if the risks identified within the report can be mitigated sufficiently. 

[To consider various delegations of authority and awards of contracts.]

The recommendations for the awards of contracts for works, goods and services were introduced by the relevant Cabinet Member. Councillor Andrew Johnson advised that Appendix 1 on YOO Recruit had been withdrawn and would be considered at a future meeting.

Resolved:

1.          That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Housing and Assets, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a contract for the Heath Town Development when the evaluation process is complete.

2.          That the contract for Fire Warning and Fire Safety Equipment Servicing and Maintenance, with Interserve of Ruscombe Park, Twyford, Berkshire, RG10 9JU for one year from 01 October 2016 to 30 September 2017with an estimated extension value of £180,000 be extended.

3.          That the contract for Water Systems Hygiene Monitoring and Management, with Integrated Water Services Limited of Park Lane West, Tipton, DY4 8LHfor one year from 01 October 2016 to 30 September 2017 with an estimated extension value of £180,000 be extended.

4.          That the contract for Electrical and Mechanical Repairs, Maintenance, and Minor Works with RMC Mechanical Services Ltd of Unit 1, Steelhouse Lane, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV2 2AF; R D Jukes of Walsingham Works, Walsingham Street, Walsall WS1 2JZ and Midwest of 370 New Hampton Road West, Wolverhampton WV6 0RX for one year from 01 October 2016 to 30 September 2017with a combined estimated extension value of £5.0 million be extended.

5.          That the contract for Building Repairs, Maintenance, and Minor Works, with Gough Group Holdings Limited of Tudor House, Moseley Road, Bilston, WV14 6JD for 1 year from 01 October 2016 to 30 September 2017with an extension value of £3.0 million be extended.

6.          That the funding of £457,484 to Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (BCPFT) ofDelta House, Delta Point, Greets Green Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 9PL for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in 2016/17 be approved.

7.          That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, in consultation with the Strategic Director for People, to approve the award of a contract for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (BCPFT) of Delta House, Delta Point, Greets Green Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 9PL when the negotiation process is complete.

8.          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 Supply Chain Finance Scheme to Obillex Limited of 22 Adam & Eve Mews, London, United Kingdom, W8 6UJ for one year from 1 November 2016 to 31 October 2017 with an option to extend for a further one year when the negotiation process is complete.

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

[To consider the grant of a leasehold interest at Old Tree Nursery, Pendeford Farm.]

Councillor Peter Bilson presented the report to seek approval to grant a lease for a term of thirty years to Heantun Housing Association.

Resolved:

That the grant of a leasehold interest for a term of thirty years of land and buildings at Old Tree Nursery, Pendeford Farm to Heantun Housing Association be approved.

[To consider the freehold interest of the land be sold at Well Lane, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton.]

Councillor Peter Bilson presented the report to seek approval to declare the land surplus and transfer the freehold interest of land to the Trustees of the Guru Nanak Temple.

Resolved:

That the freehold interest of the land be sold to the Trustees of the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple at Well Lane, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton be approved.