Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were received for the meeting.

Councillor Hazel Malcolm declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 5 (Council Tax Charges on Empty Properties and Second Homes Policy). A family member owned an empty property.

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

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2018 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 amendments to the policy for council tax charges on long term empty properties and second homes]

1.     That an increase in the amount of council tax premium charged for long-term empty properties with effect from 1 April 2019, subject to permissive legislation being finalised and the outcome of consultation be approved.

2       That an amendment of the Council Tax Discretionary Relief policy with effect from 1 April 2019 to reduce or remove the empty property premium in certain cases be approved.

Councillor Louise Miles presented the report on proposals to increase the council tax premium charged for long-term empty properties with effect from 1 April 2019 and to amend the council tax discretionary relief policy with effect from 1 April 2019 to reduce or remove the empty property premium in certain cases.

Resolved:

1.    That an increase in the amount of council tax premium charged for long-term empty properties with effect from 1 April 2019, subject to permissive legislation being finalised and the outcome of consultation be approved.

2.    That an amendment of the Council Tax Discretionary Relief policy with effect from 1 April 2019 to reduce or remove the empty property premium in certain cases be approved.

[To note the summary of open and exempt individual executive decisions approved by cabinet members following consultation with relevant employees]

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

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 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 the paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

[To approve the award of contracts for works, goods and services]

1.     That the contract for Asset Valuation be awarded to Bruton Knowles LLP of 60, Church Street, Birmingham, B3 2DJ for a duration of two years and five months from 15 October 2018 to 31 March 2021 for a total contract value of £183,000.

2.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a contract for the Client Adviser for Housing Development when the evaluation process is completed.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a contract for Community Led Housing Construction Pilot Scheme in Heath Town when the evaluation process is completed.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of contracts for Single Homeless Persons Accommodation when the evaluation process is complete.

5.     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 the Supply and Delivery of Refuse Bins when the evaluation process is complete.

6.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment, in consultation with Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a contract for the Smestow Local Nature Reserve Habitat Improvement Works when the evaluation process is complete.

7.     That the contract with Ticketmaster UK Limited of 2nd Floor Regent Arcade House, 19-25 Argyll Street, London, W1F 7TS be extended for a duration of 24 months from 15 September 2025 to 14 September 2027 with an anticipated extension value of £690,000.

8.     That the contract with Dimensions (UK) Limited of Building 1430, Arlington Business Park, Theale, Reading, RG7 4SA be extended for a duration of 24 months from 9 November 2018 to 8 November 2020 with an extension value of £1,261,443.

9.     That an exemption from compliance with Contract Procedure Rules, to allow the transfer of funding in the amount of £1.3 million for 2018-2019 only, received from the Department of Health, to Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, who would commission the specialist health service for adults with a learning disability be approved.

10.  That contracts for Supported Living Framework for People with Forensic Needs, be awarded for a duration of two years from 16 October 2018 to 15 October 2020 for a total contract value of £1.126 million to:

·           Caretech Community Services Ltd of 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 1AG

·           Integra Supported Housing of 16 High Street, Pensnet, West Midlands, DY6 8XD

·           Pharos Care Ltd of Hazlewoods LLP, Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3AT

·           Turning Point Services Ltd of Standon House, 21 Mansell Street, London, Greater London, E1 8AA

·           Voyage Care of Voyage Care, Wall Island, Birmingham Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS14 0QP

·           Waymarks Limited of Suite 1 Buddle House,  ...  view the full decision text for item 8.

The Panel considered the report on the award of contracts for works, goods and services.

Resolved:

1.    That the contract for Asset Valuation be awarded to Bruton Knowles LLP of 60, Church Street, Birmingham, B3 2DJ for a duration of two years and five months from 15 October 2018 to 31 March 2021 for a total contract value of £183,000.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a contract for the Client Adviser for Housing Development when the evaluation process is completed.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a contract for Community Led Housing Construction Pilot Scheme in Heath Town when the evaluation process is completed.

4.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of contracts for Single Homeless Persons Accommodation when the evaluation process is complete.

5.    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 the Supply and Delivery of Refuse Bins when the evaluation process is complete.

6.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Environment, in consultation with Strategic Director for Place, to approve the award of a contract for the Smestow Local Nature Reserve Habitat Improvement Works when the evaluation process is complete.

7.    That the contract with Ticketmaster UK Limited of 2nd Floor Regent Arcade House, 19-25 Argyll Street, London, W1F 7TS be extended for a duration of 24 months from 15 September 2025 to 14 September 2027 with an anticipated extension value of £690,000.

8.    That the contract with Dimensions (UK) Limited of Building 1430, Arlington Business Park, Theale, Reading, RG7 4SA be extended for a duration of 24 months from 9 November 2018 to 8 November 2020 with an extension value of £1,261,443.

9.    That exemption from compliance with Contract Procedure Rules, to allow the transfer of funding in the amount of £1.3 million for 2018-2019 only, received from the Department of Health, to Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, who would commission the specialist health service for adults with a learning disability be approved.

10. That contracts for Supported Living Framework for People with Forensic Needs, be awarded for a duration of two years from 16 October 2018 to 15 October 2020 for a total contract value of £1.126 million to:

·           Caretech Community Services Ltd of 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 1AG

·           Integra Supported Housing of 16 High Street, Pensnet, West Midlands, DY6 8XD

·           Pharos Care Ltd of Hazlewoods LLP, Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3AT

·           Turning Point Services Ltd of Standon House, 21 Mansell Street, London, Greater London, E1 8AA

·           Voyage Care of Voyage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

[To approve the submission of a number of council owned sites to be considered for removal from the green belt for housing development through the Black Country Core Strategy review]

1.     That the submission of a number of council owned sites to be considered for removal from the Green Belt for housing development through the Black Country Core Strategy review be approved.

2.     That the submission of council owned land to be considered for removal from the Green Belt for housing or employment development through the South Staffordshire Local Plan review be approved.

3.     That the need to submit sites for consideration in the South Staffordshire Local Plan Review with immediate priority, given the intention of South Staffordshire Council to issue an Issues and Options Report in autumn 2018 be noted.

4.     That it be noted that, once submitted this matter would be public and would need to be referred to in the Council’s formal response to South Staffordshire Plan consultations, to be approved by Cabinet.

5.     That it be noted that sites removed from the Green Belt would be declared surplus and appropriated to Corporate Landlord which would  be detailed in a subsequent report to be submitted to Cabinet (Resources) Panel.

Councillor Peter Bilson presented the report which sought approval to the submission of council owned sites to be considered for removal from the Green Belt for development. The sites submitted into the Black Country Core Strategy review and the South Staffordshire Local Plan review would be further assessed to explore development and disposal options. Consideration would be given to viability of development taking into account infrastructure, access, highways implications, and re-provision of better quality open space. These works would be undertaken by an appointed professional advisor who would survey, value, consult with stakeholders and ward councillors. The professional advisor would progress planning matters and provide recommendation in respect of development viability and options for disposal.

Resolved:

1.    That the submission of a number of council owned sites to be considered for removal from the Green Belt for housing development through the Black Country Core Strategy review be approved.

2.    That the submission of council owned land to be considered for removal from the Green Belt for housing or employment development through the South Staffordshire Local Plan review be approved.

3.    That the need to submit sites for consideration in the South Staffordshire Local Plan Review with immediate priority, given the intention of South Staffordshire Council to issue an Issues and Options Report in autumn 2018 be noted.

4.    That it be noted that, once submitted this matter would be public and would need to be referred to in the Council’s formal response to South Staffordshire Plan consultations, to be approved by Cabinet.

5.    That it be noted that sites removed from the Green Belt would be declared surplus and appropriated to Corporate Landlord which would be detailed in a subsequent report to be submitted to Cabinet (Resources) Panel.