Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Roger Lawrence.

There were no declarations of interest.

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

Resolved:

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2014 as a correct record.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes.]

There were no matters arising.

[To enter into service level agreements for the Neighbourhood Employment Skills Service project and into a memorandum of understanding on behalf of the Black Country, to attract match funding for employment and social inclusion priorities.]

Cllr Bilson introduced an update on external funding opportunities.

Resolved:

(1)  To agree to enter into service level agreements with delivery organisations of the Neighbourhood Employment Skills Services.

(2)  To agree to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Big Lottery on behalf of the Black Country in order to attract match funding to employment and social inclusion priorities funded through the European Social Fund.

[To delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to select a project manager for the Civic Hall refurbishment scheme, using the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation framework.]

Cllr Bilson introduced an update on the Civic Halls project and explained a key next stage would be appointing a project manager to co-ordinate the works.

Resolved:

To delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place, to use the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) framework for selecting a Project Manager for the Civic Hall refurbishment scheme.

[To approve a local policy for discretionary rate relief in respect of newly built properties within the Black Country Enterprise Zone.]

Cllr Johnson introduced the report seeking to create a local policy of discretionary rate relief for newly-built premises in Wolverhampton within the Black Country Enterprise Zone.

Resolved:

To approve a local policy of discretionary rate relief in respect of newly built properties within the Black Country Enterprise Zone.

[To approve the establishment of three additional social work units to undertake intervention activities with the objective of reducing expenditure on looked after children and reducing social work caseloads.]

Cllr Gibson introduced proposals to recruit additional social workers to support initiatives to reduce the number of looked-after children and improve the quality of support provided to children and their families.

Resolved:

(1)  To approve the establishment of three additional social work units to undertake intervention activities with the objective of reducing expenditure on looked after children and reducing caseloads.

(2)  To approve the use of £500,000 from the Looked After Children’s service budget to fund this investment and achieve cost avoidance by continuing to reduce the numbers of looked after children.

(3)  To approve option 1 - peripatetic units as the preferred approach to maximising effectiveness of the additional resources.

[To note the summary of open and exempt individual executive decisions approved by the appropriate Cabinet Members following consultation with the relevant employees.]

Resolved:

To note the summary of open and exempt individual executive decision notices approved by the appropriate Cabinet Members following consultation with the relevant designated employees.

[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 paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Act set out below:

[To agree the strategy for bringing this project forward and approve capital funding from the strategic disposals programme budget to enable the Council to carry out  the required works to the building.]

Cllr Bilson introduced proposals to fund urgent maintenance and improvement works to the former Heath Town Baths and Library.

Resolved:

(1)  To agree the strategy for bringing this project forward, specifically to:

a.    Enhance the security arrangements at the site.

b.    Arrange for the building to be cleared to enable access to be gained to all parts of the building.

c.    Undertake a strategic market appraisal of the site to help define viable options for the buildings and site.

(2)  To approve capital funding of £100,000 from the strategic disposals programme budget to enable the Council to carry out the required capital works to the building.

(3)  To approve expenditure of up to £20,000 from the feasibility reserve to meet the required revenue costs.

[To agree to proceed with the pilot project for the delivery of newbuild Council housing, using the Council’s Strategic Construction Partnership.]

Cllr Bilson introduced proposals to run a pilot project for delivery of newbuild houses in locations across the city

Resolved:

(1)  To agree to proceed with the pilot project for the delivery of newbuild Council housing using the Council’s Strategic Construction Partnership on the sites identified below.

(2)  To agree that, following detailed site investigations and other pre-development reports, the following sites are developed by Wates Construction:

· Redcotts Close, Fallings Park ward.

· 5 and 7 Hughes Road, Bilston North ward.

· Welbury Gardens, St Peter’s ward.

(3)  To agree that, following detailed site investigations and other pre-development reports, the following site is developed by Bullock Construction:

· Land at former 1-8 Sunset Place, Spring Vale ward.

(4)  To agree that the capital costs of the development are funded by Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital, supported by Right to Buy receipts.

[To endorse the expenditure and business plan for the Care and Support Specialised Housing scheme to supplement grant funding awarded by the Homes and Communities Agency.]

Cllr Bilson introduced an update on the Care and Support Specialised Housing scheme and identified specific sites for progression.

Resolved:

(1)  To endorse the expenditure of £2.2 million included in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan for the Care and Support Specialised Housing (CaSSH) scheme to supplement grant funding of £900,000 awarded by the Homes and Communities Agency.

(2)  To approve the progression of sites at Lawnside Green, Stowlawn and Dale Street, Graiseley, for CaSSH schemes subject to satisfactory site investigations, appraisals and planning approval.

(3)  To delegate authority to approve the detail and progression of future sites to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity in consultation with the Strategic Director for Place through Individual Executive Decision Notices.

(4)  To note progress made to date with the CaSSH scheme.

(5)  To note the signing of a delivery agreement with Heantun Housing Association.

(6)  To note that a further report will be taken to Cabinet (Resources) Panel if any HRA site is to be transferred to Heantun Housing Association at less than market value. This would only occur once a financial viability due diligence exercise had been undertaken.

[To agree the proposals in relation to contracts to be let and/or amended.]

Cllr Johnson introduced the report proposing the letting of a number of contracts. He noted that the evaluation results in the report for lot two under the Day Support Services Framework were incorrect and circulated revised information.

Resolved:

(1)  To award a contract to J Freeley Ltd of 1 Portugal Street East, Manchester, M1 2WX for the demolition of 20/21 Cleveland Street.

(2)  To award a framework contract to eleven providers, on the Day Support Services Framework, for each of the lots as follows:

(3)  To award a contract to Frontier Medical Group, of Newbridge Road, Blackwood, Gwent, for the provision of the supply of needle exchange packs.

(4)  To award a contract to Nu-Weld of Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8AN for the Avenue Wall re-construction using theWolverhampton City Council (Black Country Collaboration Agreement) Framework Contract for works on Highway Structures 2012-2015.

(5)  To delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, in consultation with the Strategic Director of Place, to approve the award of a contract to Tyco Integrated Systems of Cambridge for the supply, installation and fully comprehensive maintenance of CCTV site-based systems.

(6)  To delegate authority to the Director of Governance and City Solicitor to execute contracts in respect of the above as required.