Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

Cllr Sandra Samuels declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 12 (Future use of the Ekta Day Centre) in so far as she is a member of the Centre.

Cllr Roger Lawrence declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 6 (Improving security at vulnerable unauthorised encampments sites across Wolverhampton) in so far as the street in which he lives is referred to in the report.

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

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 July 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 Note the Summary of Individual Executive Decision Notices]

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 consider recommendations in relation to ‘unauthorised encampment’ sites across Wolverhampton.]

Cllr Steve Evans presented the report on proposals to make security improvements at a number of Council owned sites that are most vulnerable to unauthorised encampment by the Gypsy and Traveller community.  

Resolved:

1. That the start of a process to determine detailed costs of works to prevent unauthorised encampments on Steelpark Way, Wednesfield and Murdoch Road, Bilston be approved.

2. That the Service Director, City Environment be authorised to approve the preferred contractor to carry out the works.

3. That a contribution not exceeding £5,000 from the Budget Contingency Reserve to fund the cost of security improvement works at Bentley Bridge Swimming and Fitness Centre, Ashmore Park and the Bilston Urban Village development site be approved.

4. That a total virement of £165,000, in accordance with the Council’s financial procedure rules, from the Corporate Contingency provision, to fund the cost of security improvement works at the remaining sites as detailed in this report be approved.

5. That it be noted that approval was granted by the Strategic Executive Board on 23 August 2016 to begin the site security works at the following locations:

·             Swimming and Fitness Centre, Bentley Bridge

·             Ashmore Park

·             Fowlers Park

·             Bee Lane Playing Fields

·             Science Park (Park and Ride)

·             Bilston Urban Village development site

[To Consider a Compulsory Purchase Order under Section 17 of Part II of the Housing Act 1985]

Cllr Peter Bilson presented the report seeking approval to the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order in respect of 14 Lane Road, Wolverhampton and for negotiations to continue with any established interested parties in advance of confirmation of the Order as appropriate. The proposal would support the Council’s Empty Property Strategy 2010/15 which aims to being empty properties back into use.

Resolved:

1. That the following Compulsory Purchase Order be made under Section 17 of Part II of the Housing Act 1985:

The City of Wolverhampton Council (14 Lane Road, Lanesfield, Wolverhampton, WV4 6NG) Compulsory Purchase Order 2016.  

2.     That the Strategic Director, City Housing be authorised on behalf of the Council to:

a.       Take all reasonable steps as soon as it is reasonably practical to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the Order including the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the council’s case at any Public Inquiry.

b.       Acquire interests in the land within the Order either compulsorily or by agreement before or after making the Order.

c.       Approve agreements with land owners setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the Order, and/or making arrangements for re-housing or relocation of any occupiers.

d.       Approve to the making of a General Vesting Declaration.

e.       Following any acquisition, authorise the Strategic Director, City Housing to declare the property surplus and dispose of the property on the open market on condition that the property is refurbished and re-occupied with in 6 or 12 months (as appropriate to the scale of the works).

f.        Approve the disposal of the property by auction, tender or private treaty.

g.       Declare the property surplus to council requirements and dispose of the property on the open market via auction on condition that the property is refurbished and re-occupied within 6 or 12 months dependent of the scope of works.

[To Consider the acquisition of the property.]

Cllr Peter Bilson presented the report seeking authority to the acquisition of 21 Crawford Avenue, Lanesfield, by negotiation or by the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order under Section 17 of Part II of the Housing Act 1985. Should it be possible to reach agreement on a mutually acceptable undertaking, it was also proposed to withdraw the property from the Order. The proposal would support the Council’s Empty Property Strategy 2010/15 which aims to bring long term empty properties back into use.

Resolved:

1. That the Service Director for City Assets be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the property 21 Crawford Avenue, Lanesfield, and, in default of that acquisition, to give authority for a Compulsory Purchase Order to be made under Part II Section 17 Housing Act 1985 in respect of the property.

2. That expenditure for the potential acquisition of the property, with subsequent capital receipts being recycled within this programme be approved.

3. That in the event that the property is improved and re-occupied to the satisfaction of the Service Director for City Assets, the property be withdrawn from the Order.

4. That following any acquisition, the Service Director for City Assets be authorised to dispose of the property on the open market on condition that the property is refurbished and re-occupied with in six or 12 months (as appropriate to the scale of the works).

5. That the Director of Governance be authorised to:

a.      Take all reasonable steps as soon as it is reasonably practical to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the Order including the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry.

b.      Approve agreements with land owners setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the Order, and/or making arrangements for re-housing or relocation of any occupiers.

c.       Approve the making of a General Vesting Declaration (the property is brought into Council ownership via this process).

d.      Approve the disposal of the whole and/ or parts of the property by auction, tender or private treaty.     

[To consider expenditure and commissioning in relation to the Pathways to Support Programme.]

Cllr Val Gibson presented a report on the commissioning intentions of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) funded, Pathway to Support Programme. The project aims to enable children and young people to receive support at the earliest possible time, preventing the need to escalate to specialist services including becoming looked after, by enabling families to work together to manage difficulty and crisis at the earliest point. Under the Children’s Trust Board Partnership the Council had been successful in securing from the DCLG a one-off Transformation Challenge Award of £789,000 to discover new ways to work at an early intervention level with adult services. 

Resolved:

1. That expenditure of £789,000 for the Pathways to Support Programme received from the Department for Communities and Local Government be approved.

2. That the following commissioning intentions of the programme be approved:

·         Tendering think family champions.

·         Providing match funding to voluntary and third sector organisations to work with families at the earliest opportunity.

·         Support adult focussed services to review their policies, procedures and processes to be ‘think family’ through a small grants scheme

3. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and Resources, in consultation with the Strategic Director for People and Director of Finance, to approve the award of a contract to provide Think Family Champions and the small grants for the Pathway to Support Programme when the evaluation process is complete.

[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 consider the award of a new Service User Involvement (Drugs and Alcohol) contract and various delegations of authority.]

The recommendations for the award of contracts for works, goods and services were introduced by the relevant Cabinet Member.

Resolved:

1. That the award of a new Service User Involvement (Drugs and Alcohol) contract from 1 December 2016 to Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council, 16 & 16a Temple Street, Wolverhampton WV2 4AN for a duration of 16 months for a total contract value of £170,198 be approved.

2. 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 supply of Commercial Catering Equipment when the evaluation process is complete.

3. That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Housing and Assets, in consultation with the Strategic Director for City Housing, to approve the award of a contract for delivery of support for the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme when the evaluation process is complete.

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

[To consider the future use of the centre.]

Cllr Peter Bilson presented a report on a proposal to formally declare the Ekta Day Centre surplus to service requirements and to recommend that the building is leased to The SEWA Centre on a ten year full repairing lease at market rent of £18,250 per annum following an independent option appraisal.

Resolved:

That Ekta Day Centre be leased out on a full repairing lease to The SEWA Centre for a period of ten years on a full repairing lease with an annual market rent of £18,250.